Nationsrent sues construction company over unpaid equipment rental

A rental company claims a construction company refuses to pay for equipment it used to make improvements on a Port Arthur property.

Sunbelt Rentals, also known as Nationsrent, filed a lawsuit Dec. 22 in Jefferson County District Court against Dream Catchers Builders and First National Bank.

Sunbelt claims it supplied Dream Catchers with construction equipment to improve property at Vista Village, located at 535 Drummond St. in Port Arthur.

First National Bank owned the property where Dream Catchers agreed to make the improvements after acquiring it through a foreclosure on Nov. 2, according to the complaint.

"Despite Plaintiff timely fulfilling all of its obligations under the Contract by providing the rental construction equipment to Defendant Dream Catchers, Defendants have repeatedly failed and refused to pay Plaintiff for rental equipment furnished to Dream Catchers for improvement of the property," the suit states.

As a result, the defendants owe Sunbelt $14,538.38, the complaint says.

Because it has not received payment for its rental products, Sunbelt claims it filed a mechanics and materialman's lien on the property. Now, it wants the court to order foreclosure on the lien and a sale of the property.

In addition, Sunbelt seeks the money it says the defendants owe it, plus pre-judgment interest at the contract rate, costs, post-judgment interest, attorney's fees and other relief the court deems just.

Mark W. Stout and Jerrod Leo Rinehart of Padfield and Stout in Fort Worth will be representing it.

Judge Bob Wortham, 58th District Court, has been assigned to the case.

Case No. A189-013