Suit claims city of Groves owes $40,000 to green waste disposal company

A corporation that specializes in the disposal of "green waste" claims the city of Groves has failed to remit its monthly payments for the corporation's waste disposal services.

Crochet Equipment Co. filed a lawsuit Aug. 22 in Jefferson County District Court against the city of Groves.

In its complaint, Crochet alleges it agreed on March 5, 2001, to dispose of green waste that the towns of Groves, Nederland and Port Neches collected. Green waste consists of biodegradable park or garden waste.

In a contract, the towns agreed to bring the waste to Crochet for 10 years and to pay Crochet $13,574 per month, according to the complaint. Under the terms of the contract, Groves would pay 37 percent of the bill; Nederland 47 percent; and Port Neches 16 percent, the suit states.

Although Port Neches and Nederland have timely remitted their monthly payments when they received an invoice from Crochet, Groves has not done so, the complaint says.

"Despite Plaintiff's full performance of all obligations and conditions under the Contract, Defendant failed and refused to pay $40,179.04, which sum represents the total for monthly invoices in the amount of $5,022.38 per month due for the months of December 2010 and January, February, March, April, May, June and July 2011," the suit states.

In addition to the money it says Groves owes it, Crochet seeks pre- and post-judgment interest at the highest rate allowed by law, costs, attorney's fees and other relief the court deems just.

P. Dean Brinkley and Alicia K. Hall of Chambers, Templeton and Brinkley in Beaumont will be representing it.

Judge Milton Shuffield, 136th District Court, has been assigned to the case.

Case No. D190-709