Galveston Yacht Club, debris removal company settle lawsuit

GALVESTON - The parties in a lawsuit alleging a failure to pay for storm cleanup had their agreed motion to dismiss with prejudice granted.

A two-page document entered July 18 by plaintiff DRC Emergency Services LLC and defendants Galveston Yacht Club Inc., The Yacht Basin Inc. Continental Casualty Co. and The Sealy & Smith Foundation states that the litigants "have resolved and settled all claims and issues, former claims and issues and potential claims and issues."

Galveston County 212th District Court Judge Susan Criss signed an order in favor of the proposed dismissal a day later.

DRC first sought legal action on Oct. 26, 2010, against the three entities, accusing the respondents of improperly compensating it for its post-Hurricane Ike services.

According to the original petition, the Galveston Yacht Club contracted with the complainant to perform debris removal services.

A massive fire damaged the yacht club after Ike, a Category 2 storm, struck Galveston Island on Sept. 13, 2008.

The suit says DRC removed more than 300 vessels, demolished multiple existing structures and docks and processed and disposed of tons of debris.

The yacht club was invoiced post-project, but it reportedly did not make full payment, it states.

Each defendant provided a formal response to DRC's allegations.

Case No. 10-cv-4028