HOUSTON – A woman residing in France alleges items she had stored in a Houston storage unit were auctioned off and that she received no notice of any amount due and owing on the unit.
Stacey Bent filed a complaint on March 12 in the Harris County District Court against Gray Cardiff & Co. Inc., doing business as Self Storage 1 Inc., alleging fraud and other counts.
According to the complaint, the plaintiff alleges that due to the flooding in her home in April 2009, she leased a storage unit at defendant's facility to store items with sentimental importance and high monetary value. The suit states she later moved to France and paid rent with the defendant over the phone.
The suit states in August 2017, she was unable to reach the defendant because the facility was closed due to Hurricane Harvey. She alleges she was finally able to reach a representative in September and was informed all of her belongings stored at the unit had been auctioned because of nonpayment. She alleges she received no notice of any amounts due and owing on the lease.
The plaintiff holds Gray Cardiff & Co. Inc. responsible because the defendant allegedly wrongfully exercised dominion and control over her property.
The plaintiff seeks monetary relief of more than $200,000 but no more than $1 million and all other lawful and equitable relief. She is represented by Carlton D. Wilde Jr. of Crady, Jewett, McCulley & Houren LLP in Houston.
Harris County District Court case number 2018-16306