Editor's note: The claims against Matt Morgan's company have been dismissed.
HOUSTON – Matt Morgan, a public adjuster running for Texas House District 26, surprised more than a few people when he almost moved past his fellow Republican contender in last month’s primary, capturing 49.7 percent of the vote to force an upcoming runoff election.
Although Morgan’s runoff opponent, Jacey Jetton, holds a significant financial edge over him, Morgan isn’t completely without allies, as Texas storm attorneys have stuffed his coffers with cash, including a $6,000 donation from Benjamin Crowell, a partner at Crowell & Kucera – a law firm Morgan’s business is being accused of soliciting for a legal action against an insurance company.
Earlier this year, Morgan’s adjusting company, Morgan Elite Specialist Services, along with two of its employees, were named in a third party petition, court records show.
The petition stems from a lawsuit brought by William Wright against Homeowners of America Insurance Company (HOAIC).
Wright, represented by Crowell & Kucera, filed suit against HOAIC last December, alleging the insurer “wrongfully” denied his claim for water damage resulting from a pressurized irrigation line breaking on Jan. 1, 2017.
Court records show that on May 25, 2017, HOAIC received correspondence from Morgan Elite Specialist Services (MESS) with a contract for public adjusting for an unspecified loss. In turn, HOAIC requested records in connection with any additional amounts claimed, which MESS allegedly declined to provide and instead looked to Crowell & Kucera.
In its third party petition, HOAIC accuses Morgan Elite Specialist Services and its employees of withholding information for the purposes of soliciting Crowell & Kucera for legal action with “intent to obtain economic benefit.”
Morgan told The Record all allegations of wrongdoing against his company and employees are baseless and untrue.
“Unfortunately, responding to frivolous lawsuits has become part of running a successful small business,” said Morgan. “It is evident that the third party plaintiff in this situation filed a petition for the sole purpose of harassment as even their own court filings lack any legal, or factual, justification for their ridiculous claim.”
Court records show Morgan’s company has already moved to dismiss the petition, filing a motion on March 13 stating that HOAIC’s attorneys apparently have “a long history of slinging false allegations and going beyond zealous advocacy.”
Morgan says he expects the “frivolous claim to be thrown out as soon as a judge hears the case.”
“Experiences like this are part of why I decided to run for state representative, so I could help others who have faced these same challenges," he added.
Reasons for running aside, Crowell is not the only trial lawyer specializing in insurance litigation that has contributed to Morgan’s campaign.
Morgan has also received donations from:
- Houston attorney Chad Wilson ($2,500);
- Kenneth Home, a Chad T. Wilson Law Firm employee ($2,500); and
- Storm attorney Jesse Corona ($1,000).
In February, Morgan also reported a $5,000 in-kind political contribution from storm attorney Eric Dick, campaign finance records show.
Morgan previously told The Record that the attorneys are his friends and that he's known them for years.
MESS is represented by the Houston law firm of Sponsel Miller Greenberg.
HOAIC is represented by attorneys Michael Wilson and Adrienne Redlinger of the Perkins Law Group in Austin.
The case is in Fort Bend District Court, case No. 19-DCV-269349.