A massive fire that ravaged a Houston home has led to a high-stakes legal battle, with the insurance company seeking over $1 million in damages. AIG Property Casualty Company, as subrogee of Charles and Carolyn Garcia, filed a complaint against Wired Electrical Services, Inc., doing business as Generators by Wired, in Harris County District Court on June 5, 2024.
According to the court filing, AIG claims that Wired Electrical Services negligently installed a generator system at the Garcias' residence in Houston. The installation took place on or about June 12, 2020. On May 20, 2024, the Garcias' house caught fire—a blaze that AIG alleges originated from the improperly installed generator system. The lawsuit asserts that Wired Electrical Services failed to perform their duties "in a good and workmanlike manner," which directly led to the catastrophic fire.
The complaint outlines several accusations against Wired Electrical Services. Firstly, it alleges negligence on the part of the company's employee who installed the generator system. "Defendant’s employee was negligent based on (a) its employee’s failure to properly install the generator system, and/or (b) its failure to perform services in a good and workmanlike manner," reads the petition. This negligence is claimed to be a proximate cause of the fire and subsequent damages.
Additionally, AIG accuses Wired Electrical Services of breaching warranties related to their installation services. The company allegedly failed "to properly install the generator system" and did not provide services "in a good and workmanlike manner." These breaches are cited as direct causes of both the fire and property damage sustained by the Garcias.
In terms of relief sought, AIG is asking for monetary compensation exceeding $1 million for property damages caused by the fire. They are also seeking reasonable attorney's fees for prosecuting this case under Texas Civil Practice & Remedies Code § 38.001. Furthermore, they request pre-judgment interest at the maximum legal rate and post-judgment interest along with court costs.
Representing AIG Property Casualty Company are attorneys from Kelly, Smith & Schmidt P.C., including Douglas P. Coleman and another unnamed attorney listed as State Bar No. 11216840. The case has been assigned Case ID 2024-35361 in Harris County District Court under Judge Marilyn Burgess.