GALVESTON - Palmer Laundromat alleges that Warwick Roofing and Lam Refrigeration are responsible for construction problems which resulted in the collapse of its building's roof and the structure's subsequent demolition, recent court documents say.
A lawsuit filed Sept. 20 in Galveston County District Court claims Warwick, doing business as Industrial Roofing and Insulation, failed to perform its duties in connection with the roof while Lam neglected to properly determine the structural needs of the building when installing a new heating and air conditioning unit.
Industrial Roofing entered into a written contract in May 2009 with Palmer to furnish all materials and "reroof the existing built-up roof with a new structural polyurethane foam roofing system finished with the FlexKote elastomeric coating system" in exchange for $18,943.75, the original petition shows.
The suit adds Industrial Roofing agreed to a procedure that included the removal of the existing roof down to the deck and the re-decking of the entire roof surface as well as repairs to any rafters that may be deteriorated.
Palmer says Industrial also provided a 10-year warranty for its work.
Meanwhile, Lam was hired to put a replacement HVAC unit on the roof.
According to the suit, the defendants did not honor the plaintiffs' requests as specified in their respective contracts.
Palmer discovered the construction defects when the roof collapsed on Sept. 28, 2009, the complaint says.
The plaintiff asserts the problems caused the building's projected reasonable and fair market value of more than $300,000 to plummet, stating the structure was consequently torn down.
A jury trial is requested.
Gauthier, Houghtaling & Williams LLP is representing Palmer, and Galveston County 405th District Court Judge Wayne Mallia is presiding over the case.
Case No. 11-cv-1486
Laundromat sues after roof collapses
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