According to a case filed with the Harris County District Court on Nov. 5, Amazing Spaces, a Texas-based self-storage business with four facilities, is suing its former law firm for malpractice. The plaintiffs, Amazing Spaces founders Scott and Kathy Tautenhahn, allege one of the law firms attorneys cannibalized their business designs for his own gain.

Also listed as plaintiffs on the case are Amazing Spaces limited partnerships Tautenhahn Holdings LP, K-Kies II Ltd. and K-Kies IV Ltd.

The case filed against Locke Lord Bissell & Liddell, and attorneys Douglas Yeager, Robert Pieringer and Andrew Gregory, states the defendants breached professional standards of care, acted unconscionably and violated their fiduciary duties. Not only did the firm decline to represent Amazing Spaces in a recent matter involving trademark infringement, the plaintiffs claim an employee of the law firm stole their designs to start his own self-storage business and compete with them directly.

The plaintiffs are seeking actual, treble and punitive damages, fee forfeiture, attorney's fees, and court costs.

The case number is 2010-73570. Details can be viewed at the website for the Office of Harris County District Clerk, www.hcdistrictclerk.com.

Sources: