HOUSTON – A Harris County man has pursued legal action against England-based Steve Hart Restoration and Race Preparation, Ltd. after he learned that a restoration job on a vintage sports car he owned was being disparaged, recent Harris County District Court records show.
In a lawsuit filed on Dec. 15 in the Harris County 11th District Court, Ken Dougherty explains that he entrusted his 1959 Maserati Tipo 60/61 Birdcage 2459 and several original parts for the vehicle to the defendant approximately a decade ago. Dougherty reportedly paid more than $400,000 for the work in question.
The project was completed in 2010, but Dougherty discovered in mid-2016 that the defendant’s namesake proprietor told potential purchasers of the Birdcage that it was a replica and not restored.
“The term ‘replica’ has a distinct meaning within the car industry and indicates that the vehicle is an imitation instead of a genuine product,” the original petition states.
It further claims the plaintiff tried to have Hart stop misrepresenting the nature of the car, but the latter refused to do so.
Consequently, Dougherty seeks unspecified monetary damages and a jury trial.
He is represented by attorney M. Kevin Powers of the law firm Porter & Powers, PLLC in Houston.
Harris County 11th District Court Case No. 2017-83317