A Waxahachie resident is suing a property management company and its associated entities for negligence after suffering severe injuries due to hazardous conditions on the premises. Jamilla Brathwaite filed the complaint in Harris County District Court on July 2, 2024, against Allied Orion Group, LLC, One Bent Tree, Ltd., and Waxahachie Bent Tree, Inc.
The lawsuit stems from an incident that occurred on March 31, 2023. According to the complaint, Brathwaite was walking towards her assigned mailbox at Bent Tree Townhomes in Waxahachie when she slipped and fell due to water obstructing the parking lot. The fall resulted in a broken wrist that required surgical intervention. Brathwaite alleges that the defendants were aware of the dangerous condition posed by the water but failed to warn residents or remedy the situation. "Defendants knew or reasonably should have known that a condition on Premises posed an unreasonable risk of harm to invitees," states the petition.
Brathwaite accuses Allied Orion Group, LLC (AOG), One Bent Tree, Ltd. (OBT), and Waxahachie Bent Tree, Inc. (WBT) of premises liability and negligence. She claims that AOG is responsible as the property management company while OBT owns the townhomes and WBT serves as its general partner. The plaintiff asserts that these entities failed in their duty to maintain safe conditions for tenants and visitors. Specifically, she cites their failure to adequately warn about or address the water accumulation caused by clogged drainage systems.
The plaintiff seeks monetary relief exceeding $1 million for physical pain, mental anguish, physical impairment, disfigurement, loss of earning capacity, and medical expenses incurred both past and future. Additionally, Brathwaite is pursuing exemplary damages due to what she describes as "an extreme degree of risk" knowingly ignored by the defendants.
Represented by attorney Pedro “Peter” de la Cerda from DFW Injury Lawyers based in Dallas, Brathwaite has requested a jury trial for this case. The presiding judge over this matter will be from Harris County's 190th Judicial District Court under Case ID 2024-42049.