A Galveston couple brought a lawsuit against North Houston Pole Line, L.P. and Reliant Energy, Inc. after a fire destroyed their home last year.
In the suit filed Feb. 17 in the Galveston County 10th District Court, Charles and Marsha Montgomery explain that North Houston Pole Line employees caused the Jan. 28, 2015 blaze when they “improperly connected” their house to reversed polarity power.
The act set off a power surge through the Montgomery residence and ignited the subject blaze, the original petition says.
Court documents further show that the fire consumed “much of the interior and contents,” claiming the couple subsequently sought shelter at a hotel for nearly a year.
“As a result of the fire, the plaintiffs were forced from their home and lived in a hotel from the date of the fire until reconstruction of their home allowed them to return some eight (8) months later,” the complaint says.
“During this time the plaintiffs were forced to dine in restaurants, board their pets and live hand to mouth without assistance.”
Reliant is faulted because it selected and retained North Houston Pole Line as a subcontractor.
Consequently, the complainants seek unspecified monetary damages and a jury trial.
They are represented by attorney Cris A. Rasco of The Rasco Law Firm in Texas City.
Galveston County 10th District Court Case No. 16-CV-0192