Tenant Landlord Dispute Won by Shareholder Sommerville

WKPZ Shareholder Frank Sommerville represented Rev. Dwayne Watson in a dispute with the church's landlord. Rev. Watson had signed the lease as the church's representative, but the landlord had typed his name in the lease as the tenant. Though the church was current on its rent payments, the landlord locked the church out of its premises and removed all Rev. Watson's personal belongings. When Rev. Watson sued the landlord to secure the return of his personal belongings, the landlord sued Rev. Watson for damaged to the church premises and for the balance she claimed was owed on the lease. She chose not to sue the church. After hearing the evidence, the Denton County, Texas jury found that the landlord was liable for theft of Rev. Watson's personal property and awarded $20,000.00 in attorneys' fees to WKPZ. The jury also found that he was not liable for the damages to the church premises and rents because he was not a party to the lease.

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