A Harris County resident has filed a lawsuit against her upstairs neighbor, alleging negligence that led to significant water damage in her apartment. The complaint was filed by Alicia Mireles on June 18, 2024, in the Harris County Civil Court at Law No. 3 against Zoe Woodard.
According to the court documents, Mireles claims that starting from March 7, 2024, she noticed water dripping from her ceiling onto various parts of her apartment, including cabinets, floors, and countertops. Despite multiple complaints to the property management and an inspection confirming that the water was coming from Woodard's unit directly above hers, the issue persisted. Woodard allegedly downplayed the situation by attributing it to her pet knocking over its water bowl. However, Mireles argues that the extent of the damage indicates a more severe problem than just a pet's spilled water.
The plaintiff accuses Woodard of several negligent actions: failing to control or shut off the flow of water within her home, not containing overspill or seepage properly, and not managing other persons or animals' use of water systems appropriately. Each of these alleged failures is said to have contributed significantly to the damages experienced by Mireles.
Mireles is seeking monetary relief amounting to $250,000 or less for costs related to replacement due to irreparable damage, repair costs, loss of use and enjoyment of life, inconvenience both current and future, as well as mental or emotional pain and anguish. She also requests that all required initial disclosures be made within 30 days after filing the first answer unless otherwise agreed upon by both parties or ordered by the court.
The case is being handled by Antonio Benavides from The Law Offices of Antonio Benavides P.C., representing Alicia Mireles.