Legal Question in Business Law in Texas

Former commercial property landlord is suing me for unpaid electric bills. The electricity was supposed to be submetered and billed for actual usage only. From 6 months into lease until it ended 3 yrs later, I had numerous emails/calls with him about bills because they seemed unreasonably high and he never provided any back up data for me to figure out why. (he just typed up a word doc each month). I continuouslyjust asked for data/documents & he dodged the issue every time or delayed response by few weeks, which dragged on until 3 months before lease expired. I paid $30k in electric for 3 years and he's suing me for 25k more. I dont think he can prove the balance because I think he manipulated numbers to charge me whatever he wanted - iwas only tenant who didn't have " all bills paid lease" (triple net?) He never dealt with my questions throughout lease. I have tons of info already pulled together but I don't know my rights - I don't think I should have to pay anything but definitely not without something to show that I was billed properly. i'm a small bus owner in & he's a RE investor/owner in CA.


Asked on 11/13/14, 6:31 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Michelle Scopellite Goldstein & Scopellite, PC

You need to hire a qualified litigation lawyer who deals with leases, to defend you in the jurisdiction and venue where the suit was filed.

That attorney will need to review the pleadings filed against you, the lease you entered into, the electric bills, the payments and the communications sent and received, etc. and then, they will need to research the law and prepare and file your Answer and defensive and/or counter Pleadings. Just thinking you don't owe the balance he claims, is not enough.

Also, a qualified attorney may be able to offer a settlement, if you do owe the balance they are suing you for.

I will say, that if you do not respond or if you try to do this on your own, you will more-than-likely end up with a more substantial judgment being entered against you and it could also possibly include an award of attorneys fees.

Goldstein & Scopellite, PC has qualified litigation attorneys available to represent you at either one of their law offices located in Dallas, Texas and Tucson, Arizona - Please visit their websites at www.LawyersDallas.com and www.Lawyers-Tucson.com for more information or to contact them. Thank you.

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Answered on 11/16/14, 11:25 pm


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