Woman claims contractor failed to remodel house

GALVESTON - Complaining a local contractor failed to work on her Brenham home, Catherine Gardiner has filed a lawsuit.

Friendswood resident Phil Messarra, doing business as Master Craftsmen, "engaged in false, misleading or deceptive acts or practices," court papers filed Aug. 9 in Galveston County Court at Law No. 2 say.

Gardiner hired the defendant to undertake a remodeling job on his representations "that they had the skill, knowledge, experience, expertise, financial wherewithal, staff and personnel" for the subject project.

The suit, however, claims Messarra allowed said project to drag on "for over seven months well past the promised time of completion."

It adds he spent funds and time allotted to the plaintiff's order on other work.

The plaintiff states she wrote him a demand letter dated June 3, but the "issues and deficiencies raised in that correspondence remained after six weeks following the letter and remain to this day."

"The defendants had more than enough time in which to address and remedy these serious matters," the original petition says.

"Unfortunately, the defendants wholly failed to do so."

"Numerous" breaches prompted Gardiner to terminate Messarra.

She insists the defendant's supposed actions led to the loss of property value.

A jury trial is requested.

Attorney Douglas A. McAninch with Douglas A. McAninch P.C. in Friendswood is representing the plaintiff, and Galveston County Court at Law No. 2 Judge Barbara Roberts is presiding over the case.

Cause No. 68,040