Houston Judge Awards $3,449 in Eviction Lawsuit
One apartment complex filed an eviction lawsuit against a tenant for past due rent and failure to vacate. The tenant requested a postponement to find a lawyer and due to personal health issues and recovery from a car accident. The court entered a default judgment for the complex, which was later upheld after an appeal and a non-jury trial. The court awarded possession of the property and delinquent rent to the plaintiff.
Case Information Updated: October 2025
Case Outcome
- Outcome
- Verdict-Plaintiff
- Amount
- $3,449
- County
- Harris County, TX
- Resolved
- 2018
Injury & Accident Details
- Injury Type
- Other
- Accident Type
- Other
- Case Type
- Motor Vehicle Accident
Settlement Context
This verdict-plaintiff of $3,449 is below the median of $14,473 for other cases resolved by verdict-plaintiff. The typical range is $4,770 to $42,056, based on 190 cases in our database.
Case Overview
A landlord filed an eviction lawsuit against a tenant on February 16, 2016, in Houston, Texas, seeking possession of a property located at 5353 Deep Forest Drive. The plaintiff alleged the tenant owed $845.00 in past due rent and had failed to vacate the premises after being served with a notice on February 3. The landlord also sought recovery of the overdue rent, attorney's fees, court costs, and interest.
The defendant requested a postponement of the initial trial, scheduled for March 8, citing the need for legal counsel, responsibilities caring for an ill parent, and recovery from a car accident. Despite this request, the court entered a default judgment on March 8 in favor of the landlord, awarding possession of the property and $845.00 in delinquent rent with interest. The tenant subsequently filed an appeal, transferring the case to the County Civil Court at Law.
A non-jury trial was held on April 11, resulting in a final judgment for the plaintiff. The court found the tenant guilty of forcible detainer and awarded possession of the premises to the landlord. The judgment included general damages of $1,999.00 and attorney's fees and costs totaling $1,450.00. A Writ of Possession was issued on April 20, authorizing the removal of the defendant and her personal property if necessary.
Understanding This Case
- This case went to trial and resulted in a jury verdict. Verdicts can yield higher awards but carry the risk of receiving nothing if the jury rules against the plaintiff.
- This case was resolved in Harris County, Texas. Local jury tendencies, judge assignments, and regional economic conditions all influence case outcomes in this jurisdiction.
- Resolved in 2018, this case reflects the legal and economic conditions of that period, including medical costs, insurance practices, and jury award trends at the time.
VerdictlyTM Score
This outcome differs from typical similar cases
This score is calculated by analyzing injury type, accident details, geographic location, temporal trends, and comparing against 2,000+ similar cases in our database.
Want to check your case value?
Get a free case evaluation to understand what your motor vehicle accident case might be worth based on cases like this in Harris County.
Similar cases you may find useful
Handpicked by matching injury type, accident details, and outcome to this case.
One driver rear-ended another vehicle stopped at a red light. The driver who was hit filed a lawsuit seeking damages for medical expenses and pain and suffering. The parties reached a settlement agreement.
One driver's pickup truck was struck from behind by another pickup truck. This happened shortly after the first pickup truck was struck by a third vehicle. The driver of the first pickup truck claimed an injury. The second pickup truck sustained significant damage.
One driver was stopped in traffic on a highway when their vehicle was struck from behind by a bus. The driver claimed the collision caused permanent injuries, forcing them to change to a less physically demanding job. The bus company denied negligence. The jury found the bus company at fault.
One driver was stopped at an intersection preparing to turn left when their vehicle was struck from behind by another vehicle. The driver claimed neck injuries. The other driver's insurer offered its policy limit. The injured driver sued their own insurer for underinsured motorist benefits, alleging the other driver was negligent. The defense questioned the extent of injuries and suggested they were pre-existing.
One driver was stopped in traffic when their vehicle was hit from behind by another vehicle. The driver who was hit claimed serious injuries to their neck and back, including paralysis in one arm, requiring surgery. The other driver argued that a third vehicle caused the accident or that the injured driver's own actions contributed. The jury found the second driver fully at fault.
Explore More Cases Like This
Browse similar cases by injury type and location to get a better understanding of case values in your area.