Elderly couple alleges construction company did shoddy work, overcharged

An elderly couple alleges the company they hired to renovate their home failed to adequately perform construction, leading to cracked wood and sloping deck floors.

A.R. Quinn and Kaye Quinn filed a lawsuit Sept. 8 in Galveston County District Court against Steven Anderson, Meredith Anderson and Timely Remodeling and Investments. 

In their complaint, the Quinns allege they decided to renovate the kitchen, master bathroom, utility room and fence and to install a wooden deck at their home in Kemah. They hired the defendants to complete the work, according to the complaint.

The Quinns paid the defendants $14,499.50 for the work and have been issued an additional invoice for $625, the suit states.

Since then the couple discovered that they were over-billed, the complaint claims. In addition, they allege that much of the work fell way below applicable codes and standards.

"For example, with regard to construction of the deck, defendants used substandard wood that is already splitting and horribly stained it," the suit states. "More important, given the age of plaintiffs, the deck is un-level, uneven and improperly sloped. Plaintiffs demanded that it be removed and replaced and defendants refused to do so."

Instead of working with the plaintiffs, Steven Anderson verbally and physically threatened them, the complaint says.

The Quinns say the defendants violated the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act, intentionally inflicted emotional distress, negligently misrepresented their product and committed fraud.

The Quinns seek actual and exemplary damages, plus attorney fees, pre- and post-judgment interest, costs and other relief the court deems just.

Wade R. Quinn and Lance Olinde Jr. of Ramey, Chandler, Quinn and Zito, in Houston, will represent them.

Galveston County District Court case number: 14-CV-72713.

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