A local property owner is seeking justice after a hazardous chemical spill caused significant damage to their property. Snook Lane Rentals, LLC filed a complaint in the Harris County Civil Court at Law No. 1 on July 22, 2024, against Meyer Laboratory, Inc. and its employee Ryan Earnst.
According to the complaint, Snook Lane Rentals owns a property in Harris County that was leased to Meyer Laboratory for business purposes. The lease agreement began on May 1, 2022. However, in August 2022, the plaintiff discovered a corrosive stain leading from Meyer Laboratory's rented unit into the storm sewer. Upon investigation, it was revealed that the stain was caused by Hammer Clean, a product manufactured by Meyer Laboratory designed to dissolve concrete. Plaintiff alleges that Ryan Earnst admitted to spilling the chemical while loading it onto a truck with a forklift.
The lawsuit claims that Meyer Laboratory breached several sections of their lease contract by failing to notify the plaintiff about storing hazardous materials on the premises and not obtaining consent for such storage. The plaintiff further contends that they requested critical information about the spilled chemical from Meyer Laboratory but were ignored. This led them to independently test an exemplar sample of Hammer Clean, confirming its toxic and corrosive nature.
Snook Lane Rentals asserts that Meyer Laboratory's actions constitute gross negligence due to their failure to handle and store hazardous chemicals properly and their subsequent mishandling of the spill incident. The plaintiff states that these actions have caused extensive damage to their property, including the concrete floor, walls, carpet, door frame, and more.
The plaintiffs are seeking monetary relief exceeding $100,000 for repairs and remediation costs associated with restoring the damaged unit back to rentable condition. They also seek compensation for loss of use and lost rent during this period. Additionally, they are asking for exemplary damages due to gross negligence and attorney’s fees under various Texas statutes.
Representing Snook Lane Rentals is attorney Scott R. Breitenwischer from RB Legal Group. The case is being heard by Judge Teneshia Hudspeth under Case ID: 1231423.