HOUSTON — An attorney with a practice in Bryan claims the former landlord he sued filed a bogus ethics complaint against him with the State Bar of Texas in retaliation.
Adam Potter, Esq., filed a complaint April 24 in Harris County District Court against Christopher Mastrangelo alleging defamation.
According to the complaint, Potter has been a licensed attorney in Texas since 1996 and in January of 2017, he and his wife sued Mastrangelo, their former landlord, for breach of contract. Potter claims the home Mastrangelo rented to him was "defective and dangerous" including being "infested with bats, among other defects."
Potter further claims that Mastrangelo filed an ethics complaint against him with the State Bar of Texas in retaliation and alleged Potter copied him on emails that were directed to his attorney. Potter alleges that during the state bar's investigatory hearing, Mastrangelo "made false and defamatory statements" against him including that he "has a history of shaking down landlords, and if they don't pay, he files suit against them."
He also alleges Mastrangelo knew the statements were false and that Mastrangelo is the only landlord he has ever sued. Potter claims Mastrangelo's false testimony caused the state bar to file an ethics violation against him and ordered him to complete continuing legal education.
Potter seeks monetary relief between $50,000 and $100,000 and all other just relief.
Harris County District Court case number 2021-24507