Beaumont's Strong Pipkin law firm sues contractor over settlement agreement

The Beaumont law firm Strong Pipkin Bissell & Ledyard LLP is suing, claiming tortious interference with contract.

Strong Pipkin filed a lawsuit Dec. 4 in Jefferson County District Court against William B. Ewing Jr., citing tortious interference with contract.

According to the complaint, on March 28, 2011, the plaintiff entered into an attorney-retainer agreement with CIT Partners LLC, a Corpus Christi-based commercial building contractor, and its three members, which includes defendant Ewing.

The complaint says that under the terms of the agreement, any settlement decisions would be made by a majority vote between the three members of CIT.

The plaintiff states it settled the case on behalf of CIT and the members agreed to the amount. However, Ewing objected to the wording in the full release, according to the complaint.

Ewing believes the other two members did not have authority to authorize the full release and he is attempting to force the other members to accept his membership interest in CIT, force a dissolution of the partnership and delay the distribution of settlement funds, according to the complaint.

Strong Pipkin Bissell & Ledyard LLP is requesting a declaratory judgment, temporary restraining order, temporary injunction and damages in an amount equal to or less than $100,000.

The plaintiff is being represented in the case by attorney Greg M. Dykeman of Strong Pipkin Bissell & Ledyard LLP.

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

Case No. D195-023

This is a report on a civil lawsuit filed in the District Court of Jefferson County. The details in this report come from an original complaint filed by a plaintiff. Please note, a complaint represents an accusation by a private individual, not the government. It is not an indication of guilt, and it only represents one side of the story.