More than $50,000 in damages were awarded in a civil trial over a leaky A/C unit, more than half of which will go to the plaintiffs’ attorney.
Plaintiffs Jeffery and Veronica Book sued American Air Systems on Nov. 17, 2011, in Jefferson County District Court, alleging the company installed a leaky unit in their home.
The trial began Aug. 31 in Judge Kent Walston’s 58th District Court and ended four days later.
According to the original petition, the system installed by the defendant was constantly leaking and caused tremendous damage to the couple’s home.
Although the jury found that neither party was negligent, jurors did find that American Air Systems engaged in deceptive acts, according to the charge of the court, filed Sept. 3.
Jurors awarded the couple $4,675.51 for past property damages and $6,228 for repair costs. Individually, the Books were awarded $6,000 a piece for their mental anguish, bringing their total damages award to $22,903.51.
The jury also found the defendant failed to perform their repair service in a good workmanlike manner, awarding identical damages.
For representation in the trial court, plaintiffs’ attorney John Morgan was awarded $27,721.66, according to the charge.
The State Bar of Texas recently filed a petition to disbar Morgan for making false statements that members of the Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office smoked pot and were skimming drugs from busts.
American Air Systems is represented by Joe Dodson, attorney for the Strong Pipkin Bissell & Ledyard law firm.
Case No. A191-364