Expert witnesses selected in case over boat deal

GALVESTON � A League City attorney facing a lawsuit over a boat business deal has designated two individuals as expert witnesses.

Darold Maxwell entered Galveston attorney Timothy A. Beeton and League City resident Boris Jones in his designation before the Galveston County 212th District Court on March 30.

Galveston County sailboat rigger W. Ken Bunting III's suit against Maxwell, filed last Sept. 30, claims the lawyer failed to fulfill his promise of providing monetary backing and general administration for their marine electronics business in exchange for the plaintiff's labor and contributed capital.

The plaintiff worked on the defendant's personal vessel for several years prior to the start of the business.

According to the suit, Bunting was originally reluctant to enter the venture, but Maxwell convinced the plaintiff to join on the guarantee that he would support it financially as well as purchase a 32-foot Grand Banks show boat to serve as the company's marketing tool.


Bunting insists that the defendant, however, did not purchase the vessel nor perform his obligatory services for the business.

The suit alleges Maxwell furthered another business instead using the resources he and the plaintiff culled together as well as persuaded him to sell his real property in Kemah before completely abandoning the business.

Beeton, who is the defendant's counsel, will testify as to "necessity and reasonableness" of attorney's fees incurred by Maxwell in the litigation while Jones will speak about the technical aspects of Elite Yacht Electronics, LLC's business.

A jury trial is set for Oct. 17 later this year.

West & West LLP is representing Bunting.

Galveston County 212th District Court Judge Susan Criss is presiding over the case.

Case No. 10-cv-3786