Brown
Sun Coast Resources, a Houston corporation, will try to convince a jury that Clipper Bulk Shipping absconded tens of thousands of dollars worth of marine fuel.
Jury selection in the case began Monday, May 7, in Judge Milton Shuffield's 136th District Court.
Last April, Sun Coast sued Clipper Bulk, claiming it sold Clipper Bulk 100 metric tons of marine gasoil in September 2010.
Abiding by the agreement, Sun Coast delivered the marine gasoil to an oceangoing bulk carrier, the M/V Chios Voyager, at the Port of Beaumont.
According to the original petition, the ship left the harbor on Sept. 2, 2010 but it was not until one week later that Clipper Bulk tested the marine gasoil and found it unacceptable.
"By this time, the vessel was in the Caribbean Ocean," the suit states.
"On September 14, 2010, nearly two weeks later, and when it was too late for Sun Coast to assist Clipper Bulk in removing the cargo, Clipper Bulk elected to reject the MGO alleging that it was off-specification," the complaint says.
When the ship arrived in Port Lisas, Trinidad, Clipper Bulk sold the marine gasoil for $17,940, according to the complaint. However, Sun Coast claims it still has not received payment for the oil.
Sun Coast will try to convince the jury that Clipper Bulk breached its contract.
The company is seeking actual damages of $74,155.08.
James T. Brown, Paxton N. Crew and Cameron A. Hatzel of Legge, Farrow, Kimmitt, McGrath and Brown in Houston will be representing it.
Houston attorney William Seele of Julian & Seele represents the defendant.
Case No. D189-774