Chambers County accepts mutual dismissal to end Kilgore Parkway engineering lawsuit

Chambers County commissioners voted to accept a settlement that will dismiss competing claims in litigation arising from the Kilgore Parkway Regional Drainage Project and authorized the county judge to sign the settlement papers.

The settlement resolves a multi‑year dispute between the county and the engineering firm Lipke, Cartwright & Roberts over alleged design and capacity miscalculations on the regional drainage system. Nathan Brandemar, the county’s attorney in the case, told the court the proposal would have both sides dismiss their claims and “bear their own costs, their attorneys fees, etcetera.”

Why this matters: the litigation grew out of a design contract for a major drainage component of Kilgore Parkway. The county had denied a payment claim from the engineering firm while also pursuing counterclaims for alleged errors in the design. Brandemar summarized the essence of the settlement as an agreement for both sides to walk away without further payments, which he recommended as fair and equitable.

Brandemar described the litigation history and the technical dispute: the county contended the engineer’s calculations understated required drainage capacity, and the engineer asserted unpaid fees. After depositions and litigation activity, the parties negotiated a mutual dismissal. Commissioners moved and seconded the authorization; the court recorded the motion as carried and directed the county judge to sign the settlement documents.

No payment from the county to the firm was reported in the transcript and the settlement was characterized by Brandemar as each side bearing its own costs. The court provided no additional financial figures in open session.