HOUSTON – The owners of Catalyst Houston Luxury Apartments in downtown have been hit with a lawsuit by a tenant alleging an intruder broke into her unit and poured bleach all over her body.
Seeking up to $1 million in damages, Jane Doe I filed suit against Marquette Management and Jane Doe II on July 10 in Harris County District Court.
According to the lawsuit, on April 24 an intruder (Doe II) entered the Catalyst complex and broke into an apartment unit, groping and assaulting one of the male residents.
The resident immediately notified the concierge of the situation and asked that the complex immediately secure the premises and contact the authorities.
Marquette, however, failed to take action and failed to notify residents of the active danger on the premises, the suit states.
As a result, Doe II continued to have unfettered access to the property, and continued to pose a danger to the Catalyst residents.
Following the first incident, on the same day, Doe II broke into the plaintiff’s unit (a different unit than the first unit) and struck her, attempted to force alcohol down her throat, and poured bleach all over her body while holding her down.
“This never should have happened,” said the plaintiff’s attorney, Andrew Dao of The Buzbee Law Firm. “Prior to this incident, another incident occurred involving the same assailant—on the same day in a different unit. It is unacceptable that Catalyst knew an active threat was on the premises, and did not inform its residents and did not initiate proper security protocols.”
The plaintiff is accusing the defendant of failing to provide adequate security and failing to take steps to eliminate the active threat in the complex.
She is suing for actual and exemplary damages, as well as damages for her mental anguish, impairment, loss of enjoyment of life and medical expenses.
The plaintiff is also represented by firm founder Anthony Buzbee and Cornelia Brandfield-Harvey.