Galveston attorney sues client to recover $7K debt

GALVESTON - A local attorney claims a client owes an outstanding debt to him and has filed suit against her, recent court documents say.

A lawsuit filed March 22 in Galveston County District Court asserts that Texas City resident Judy Loud has failed and refused to remit $7,328.28 to attorney Timothy A. Beeton, doing business as Simpson Beeton & Finegan LLP.

According to the suit, Loud hired Beeton in August 2010 to represent her in a case heard in Galveston County Probate Court.

The defendant signed an official engagement letter confirming the terms of Beeton's representation the following month.

Beeton served as Loud's counsel from Aug. 20, 2010, through Nov. 29, 2010, and billed the respondent for a total of $10,328.

According to the suit, Loud paid $3,000 toward to the amount, leaving the $7,328 in dispute.

The plaintiff claims he wrote the defendant six times between January 2010 and July 2012 in an effort to recoup the funds.

"Despite repeated assurances from the defendant that she would make monthly payments to the plaintiff on this account, as of the filing of this suit, the defendant has failed to pay anything on the $7,328.28 balance that remains due and outstanding to the plaintiff," the original petition says.

Beeton insists that he fully performed his contractual obligations to Loud.

He seeks attorney's fees of $750 along with the money that is the focus of the litigation.

The plaintiff is representing himself.

Galveston County 122nd District Court Judge John Ellisor is presiding over the case.

Case No. 13-CV-447