HOUSTON — A Houston homeowner is suing a construction company, alleging the work she paid for was not done properly.
Maurine Howard filed a complaint Aug. 30 in Harris County District Court against TNT Construction Services LLC, alleging violation of the Deceptive Trade Practices Act and fraudulent lien.
According to the complaint, Howard began to experience flooding to her home at 454 E. Harbor Lane, Houston, on Aug. 28, 2017. The following month the plaintiff said she was approached by a man named John from TNT Construction who told her that the defendant could repair the damages.
Howard says she paid the defendant $5,000 to start the project and then an additional $5,000. Despite the agreement reached and the payments the plaintiff made, the defendant allegedly failed to do the work to the standard it had represented. The lawsuit states sheetrock work was not completed, the removal of wood was inconsistent and that TNT employees broke the front window as well as the garage door. The suit alleges that by turning on the air conditioning, which TNT workers were told not to do, the defendant spread mold throughout the house.
The suit says TNT Construction even said it was owed an additional $8,000 in an affidavit Jan. 30, 2018.
Howard seeks the $10,000 she paid, $17,500 for actual damages, triple that amount for intentional deceptive acts, attorney fees, court costs, interest and all just relief. She is represented by attorneys Caroline K. Gorman and Louis E. Layrisson III of Baker Botts LLP in Houston.
Harris County District Court case number 2019-61949