Suit: Bacliff contractor lied about insurance coverage

GALVESTON - A Dickinson man claims a Bacliff contractor lied to him about being insured for a renovation project at his residence and is seeking litigation, recent court documents say.

According to a lawsuit filed Jan. 21 in Galveston County District Court, Terence Martinez filed a claim using information from Sebastian Gonzalez after a rainstorm damaged what was supposed to be a new room. The claim was denied because the coverage was not valid, the suit states.

The original petition shows Martinez paid the defendant - doing business as D. Bay Home Remodeling and Landscaping - $37,000 for the addition.

After receiving the denial letter, Martinez went to Priority Insurance Agency, the defendant's insurer, to address the matter. An agent assured the plaintiff that the contractor was covered and showed him a certificate of insurance allegedly in effect, the suit says.

Martinez, however, subsequently received a letter announcing the cancellation of Gonzalez's policy. Priority is also named a defendant in the case.

Aside from arguing the defendant's coverage was bogus, the plaintiff alleges unlicensed professionals worked on the project. They left the project incomplete, prompting Martinez to hire new contractors, the suit says.

Leslie Wm. Adams & Associates is representing the plaintiff.

The case has been assigned to Galveston County 56th District Court Judge Lonnie Cox.

Case No. 11-cv-0097