Verdictly
Verdict-Plaintiff
Harris County • 2015

Texas Judge Awards $11,416 in Deceptive Trade Practices Case

One driver sued a collision center after their car was towed and repaired. The driver alleged deceptive practices and unconscionable conduct, claiming they were misled about repairs and payment. The collision center counterclaimed for repair and storage costs. The court found in favor of the driver.

Case Information Updated: October 2025

Back to cases
Other Injury
Other Accident
Motor Vehicle Negligence

Case Outcome

Outcome
Verdict-Plaintiff
Amount
$11,417
County
Harris County, TX
Resolved
2015

Injury & Accident Details

Injury Type
Other
Accident Type
Other
Case Type
Motor Vehicle Negligence

Settlement Context

This verdict-plaintiff of $11,417 is near the median of $22,000 for other cases resolved by verdict-plaintiff. The typical range is $8,200 to $102,285, based on 304 cases in our database.

Case Overview

In May 2014, following a motor vehicle accident involving the plaintiff's 2003 BMW, the defendant, Allied Collision Center Inc., towed the vehicle from the scene. The plaintiff alleged the defendant's wrecker driver required her to sign a blank invoice before towing, purportedly stating the car would go to storage only and she could select a body shop later. Days later, the plaintiff requested to move the vehicle elsewhere, but the defendant stated work had already commenced. The defendant maintained the signed form authorized repairs.

The plaintiff sued the defendant under the Deceptive Trade Practices Act, alleging unconscionable conduct and false, misleading, and deceptive acts. She also contended the defendant refused to release her vehicle without full payment of the insurance repair estimate, despite having performed minimal work. The defendant counterclaimed for unjust enrichment and quantum meruit for work performed and storage. The plaintiff denied the counterclaim, arguing the work and most storage were unauthorized.

The plaintiff sought the value of her vehicle, estimated at $7,000 including sentimental value, and multiple damages under the DTPA, asserting the defendant's conduct was knowing and intentional. She also sought car rental expenses, attorney fees, and litigation costs. The defendant disputed these claims, citing the car's market value was under $3,000, its pre-existing collision damage, and salvage title. The defendant also argued a lack of documentation for certain expenses and costs.

Following a bench trial, the court found the defendant engaged in unconscionable conduct and false, misleading, and deceptive acts, deeming these actions knowing and intentional. The court awarded the plaintiff $2,634.23 in actual damages, $5,268.46 in multiple damages, $3,913.93 in attorney fees, and $500 in litigation costs, totaling $11,416.62. The defendant announced plans to appeal the judgment and requested the court strike findings on attorney fees and litigation costs.

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 2015, 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

85
/100
Highly Fair

This outcome aligns very well with 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 know what your case might be worth?

Get a free case evaluation to understand what your motor vehicle accident case might be worth based on cases like this in Harris County.

Check Your Case Value

Similar cases you may find useful

Handpicked by matching injury type, accident details, and outcome to this case.

Undisclosed
Settlement
Other Injury
Other Accident
Motor Vehicle Negligence

A motor vehicle collision occurred in Mesa County, Colorado, involving a vehicle operated by the defendant and another car carrying the plaintiff as a passenger. The plaintiff alleged the incident caused permanent personal injuries, pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, and resulted in medical expenses and economic losses. The plaintiff filed a vehicular liability action in the Colorado District Court, Twenty-First Judicial District, County of Mesa, claiming the defendant's negligence. Allegations included failing to operate the vehicle prudently, maintain a proper lookout, obey traffic control devices, driving at an excessive speed, and failing to stop at a red light. The plaintiff sought damages for the alleged harm. In response, the defendant denied the allegations of negligence. The defendant also asserted affirmative defenses, including claims of failure to state a claim, culpable conduct, and failure to mitigate damages. The parties subsequently filed a notice with the court indicating that they had reached a settlement in the action.

Mesa County • 2017
View full case
Undisclosed
Settlement
Other Injury
Other Accident
Breach of contract

A plaintiff with a classic automobile insurance policy filed a claim after three vehicles went missing or were stolen from a storage location in Denver, Colorado. The policy required storage in a specific secure building, but the plaintiff had moved the vehicles during renovations. Two vehicles were later recovered severely damaged, while a third remained unlocated. The insurer made a partial payment for one vehicle but denied full coverage, attributing some damage to wear and tear and denying the unrecovered vehicle's claim. The plaintiff sued the insurer in federal court, alleging breach of contract, unreasonable delay and denial of payment under Colorado statutes, and common-law bad faith. The insurer counterclaimed, seeking a declaratory judgment, alleging breach of the policy's misrepresentation and concealment provisions, and requesting recoupment of payments. These counterclaims were permitted to proceed following a magistrate judge's recommendation, which a district judge adopted. The plaintiff later amended the complaint to add the insurance producer as a defendant, alleging negligence if insurer coverage was denied. In July 2023, the plaintiff and the insurer filed a stipulation of dismissal with prejudice for all claims between them, indicating a settlement had been reached. The specific terms of this settlement were not publicly disclosed. Each party agreed to bear its own costs and attorney fees.

Dallas County • 2023
View full case
Undisclosed
Verdict-Defense
Other Injury
Other Accident
Motor Vehicle Negligence

The employer, Star*Tel Systems, appealed a decision by an administrative law judge in Kentucky. The judge had previously determined that an employee sustained a permanent and total disability following a work-related motor vehicle accident. The appeal challenged the judge's opinion, order, and award.

Dallas County • 2015
View full case
Undisclosed
Verdict-Defense
Other Injury
Other Accident
Motor Vehicle Negligence

A personal injury case arose from an auto accident. The plaintiff retained an expert in economics to assess damages. The defendant presented experts in emergency medicine, biomechanics, and accident reconstruction, suggesting disputes over the nature or cause of injuries. An occupational therapy expert also participated in the case. The matter proceeded to a trial, which concluded on December 9, 2016. Details regarding the verdict or any award were not specified in the record.

Larimer County • 2016
View full case
$2,000,000
Verdict-Plaintiff
Back Strain / Soft Tissue
Other Accident
Medical Malpractice

A plaintiff filed a medical malpractice lawsuit alleging a nurse negligently administered an injection, causing permanent injury. The plaintiff, who received injections for migraine headaches, claimed the defendant nurse failed to properly calculate anatomical landmarks before administering Phenergan in the right hip area. The plaintiff asserted that the caustic material was injected near the sciatic nerve, causing immediate severe pain, numbness, and a permanent limp. The plaintiff later developed Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) and underwent surgical implantation of a neurostimulator for pain management. The defendant denied negligence, arguing the injection was not given in the wrong area and was unrelated to the plaintiff's complaints. The defendant noted a lack of immediate documentation for the plaintiff's pain complaints. The plaintiff countered that she reported immediate pain to the nurse and made documented complaints the following day. The plaintiff also argued that the nurse's deposition testimony, which demonstrated her landmark calculation, indicated an improper starting point for the injection. The defendant further suggested the plaintiff's difficulties stemmed from a car accident occurring several weeks after the injection. The plaintiff disputed this, stating the collision primarily resulted in cervical complaints and did not cause new hip issues, emphasizing consistent hip pain reports since the injection. After a week-long trial, the jury found for the plaintiff, awarding $2,000,000 for past and future pain and suffering. This award was subsequently reduced to $755,000 to comply with Maryland's medical malpractice cap on non-economic damages for the year the cause of action arose.

Baltimore County • 2019
View full case