A woman who sued her neighbor, alleging her Port Arthur home was damaged when his caught on fire, has non-suited him from the litigation.
On July 28 Janet Woods filed suit against Freddy Artola in the Jefferson County District Court.
Almost two month later, Woods filed a notice of non-suit on Sept. 16, stating she no longer wishes to pursue her claims against Artola, court records show.
The following day, Judge Tom Rugg, 58th District Court, dismissed him without prejudice.
The suit alleged Wood’s home at 1610 Lakecrest Drive in Port Arthur sustained substantial damages May 17, 2013, when a fire erupted at Artola’s house at 1600 Lakecrest Drive.
The fire began in the back room of the man’s house where he was storing a vehicle with eight car batteries, according to the complaint.
According to the fire department, one of the batteries sparked and ignited the fire, the suit states.
Due to the fire, the vinyl siding, roof and windows at Woods’s home were damaged. Her home’s market value decreased, she incurred repair costs and she temporarily lost the use of her home.
Woods blamed Artola for causing the fire, saying he negligently failed to prevent injury to others, failed to avoid a foreseeable risk of injury, failed to control or avoid increasing danger, failed to use ordinary care and failed to aid others.
Woods was seeking actual, special and exemplary damages, plus attorney’s fees, costs, pre- and post-judgment interest and other relief the court deems just.
Justin G. Sanderson of Sanderson Law Firm in Beaumont represents her.
Case No. A195-916
Defendant non-suited in suit between Port Arthur neighbors
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