Judge considers transferring case between competing companies

Following a Monday morning hearing, a Beaumont judge has taken under advisement a defendant company’s motion to transfer venue.

On May 31 Total Industrial Plant Services (TIPS) filed an application for injunctive relief against Safway Services and Tiodoso Estraca in Jefferson County District Court, claiming the defendants were conspiring to ruin the company.

Court records show Estraca was president of TIPS, a fireproofing company, and a board member from March 2006 to 2012.

According to TIPS’ petition, Estraca began conspiring with Safway, a former TIPS customer, in May 2011 to join the company’s new insulation and fireproofing division.

“TIPS believes that … Safway and Estraca conspired not only to openly compete with TIPS … but planned for Estraca would use his position at TIPS to purposefully weaken TIPS financially, undermine TIPS reputation … and then become an employee of Safway,” the petition states.

On June 27 Safway filed a motion to transfer venue, seeking to move the case to Harris County.

A hearing on the matter was held Oct. 22 in Judge Bob Wortham’s 58th District Court. A court official told the Southeast Texas Record he was taking the motion under advisement.

TIPS is represented by attorneys Greg Dykeman, Daniel Mabry and Martha Campbell of the Strong Pipken Bissell & Ledyard law firm in Beaumont.

Attorneys William Gage Jr. and Vianei Braun of the Houston law firm Buck Keenan represent Safway.

Case No. 192-515