Houston Court Awards $8,056 for DWI Utility Pole Damage

On July 20, 2017, a vehicle operated by a driver, who police determined was intoxicated, struck two utility poles on Westheimer. The incident occurred when the driver failed to maintain a single lane of traffic and lost control of the vehicle. The collision caused $8,056.47 in damages to the utility poles, requiring repairs and leading to a power outage for customers.

The plaintiff, owner of the utility poles, filed a lawsuit alleging the driver negligently operated the vehicle while intoxicated. The plaintiff also claimed the vehicle owner negligently entrusted the car to the driver, asserting the owner knew or should have known the driver was unfit to operate the vehicle safely. The plaintiff sought compensation for damages, interest, and court costs from both parties.

On December 5, 2019, the plaintiff moved to dismiss the claims against the driver without prejudice, no longer intending to pursue them. Simultaneously, the plaintiff sought a default judgment against the vehicle owner, who had been properly served but failed to respond to the lawsuit. The court granted both motions on December 6, 2019, dismissing the driver and entering a default judgment against the vehicle owner. The court awarded the plaintiff $8,056.47 in damages, pre-judgment interest, post-judgment interest, and $253.00 in court costs.