Texas Judge Awards $25,000 in Civil Theft Over Settlement Funds
One person filed a lawsuit after their daughter died in a car crash. The lawsuit alleged that attorneys involved in the case mishandled settlement funds. The court found the defendant guilty of civil theft and awarded damages and attorney's fees.
Case Information Updated: October 2025
About Wrongful Death Injuries
Wrongful death claims arise when a car accident fatality is caused by another party's negligence. These cases compensate surviving family members for their losses and the decedent's pain and suffering.
Case Outcome
- Outcome
- Settlement
- Amount
- $250,000
- County
- Harris County, TX
- Resolved
- 2018
Injury & Accident Details
- Injury Type
- Wrongful Death
- Accident Type
- Other
- Case Type
- Motor Vehicle Accident
Settlement Context
This settlement of $250,000 is below the median of $2,000,000 for wrongful death cases resolved by settlement. The typical range is $504,000 to $5,000,000, based on 20 cases in our database.
Case Overview
A plaintiff filed a lawsuit in Texas alleging civil theft and conspiracy following the misappropriation of settlement funds related to her daughter's death. The plaintiff's daughter died in an automobile collision in July 2010. The plaintiff later settled claims for $250,000, of which she was contractually entitled to receive $166,666.67. However, she received only approximately $83,000.
The plaintiff alleged that $25,000 of the settlement funds was improperly disbursed to the defendant, who was not entitled to receive any portion of the proceeds. The plaintiff claimed the defendant acted as a co-conspirator with her attorneys to misappropriate the funds, constituting civil theft under Texas law. The defendant filed a general denial in August 2016 but did not actively participate in subsequent proceedings.
In May 2018, the court entered a default judgment in favor of the plaintiff. The court found the defendant guilty of civil theft and as a co-conspirator in misrepresentation, fraud, and breach of fiduciary duty. The judgment awarded the plaintiff $25,000 in actual damages, along with attorney's fees, pre-judgment interest, court costs, and post-judgment interest.
Understanding This Case
- This case was resolved through a settlement, avoiding the uncertainty and expense of a trial. Settlements typically resolve faster and provide guaranteed compensation.
- 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 significantly deviates from similar cases
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