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SOUTHEAST TEXAS RECORD

Thursday, March 28, 2024

Insurance firm blames subcontractor for fire

Insurance 11

HOUSTON — An insurance company is suing a Humble subcontractor, alleging the defendant's negligence led to a fire. 

Starr Surplus Lines Insurance filed a lawsuit Nov. 23 in the Houston Division of the Southern District of Texas against Seibert Enterprises LLC, alleging failure to take proper precautions in performing torching operations.

According to the complaint, Starr Surplus Lines will suffer monetary damages if it is required to defend or indemnify Seibert's claims of ADB Commercial Construction Inc. for the fire caused by the defendant's employees and/or agents on a project subcontracted to them. The suit says the Sept. 9, 2014, fire during the remodeling of a Houston restaurant caused a loss of at least $443,000 in business income and restoration expenses of more than $86,000.   

The plaintiff alleges the defendant's personnel caused the fire to erupt by initially igniting the fiberglass installation and failing to contain the blaze once it began.

Starr Surplus Lines Insurance seeks trial by jury, declaration it owes no duty to defend or indemnify the defendant for the claims of property damage, and all other equitable relief. It is represented by attorneys Harrison H. Yoss and Travis M. Brown of Thompson, Coe, Cousins & Irons LLP in Dallas.

Houston Division of the Southern District of Texas Case number 4:16-cv-03490

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