Montrose law firm accused of conflict of interest

A Montrose law firm is accused of incompetence, breach of contract and allowing a conflict of interest.

Tammy M. Stomberg filed a lawsuit March 11 in Harris County District Court against Calvin C. Braun, Michael G. Orlando, Monica S. Orlando and Orlando & Braun LLP. Stromberg claims members of the law firm failed to adequately represent her and then overcharged her for its work.

According to the complaint, Stomberg hired Orlando & Braun to represent her in a bankruptcy. She says she was quoted a flat fee of $1,900, which she paid. Stomberg says the bankruptcy was filed; however, during the process, her mortgage company allegedly tried to lift the bankruptcy in order to foreclose on her home.

Stomberg claims her attorneys failed to respond to the mortgage company's motion, so the foreclosure was granted by default. When she asked about the filings, Stomberg says Orlando & Braun demanded more money than what they originally agreed upon.

Following the bankruptcy, Stomberg claims Orlando & Braun also agreed to represent her ex-husband in his bankruptcy matters. She says it failed to avoid the conflict of interest that was created because her ex-husband owed her money for child support.

Stomberg accuses Orlando & Braun of gross negligence and breach of fiduciary duty. She asks for an unspecified amount of money in damages for additional attorney's fees, economic loss and court costs.

Attorneys Tommy R. Hastings, of The Woodlands, and Matthew D. Shaffer, of Houston, are representing Stomberg. They ask for a jury trial.

Harris County District Court Case No. 2011-15408.

This is a report on a civil lawsuit filed at the Harris County Courthouse. The details in this report come from an original complaint filed by a plaintiff. Please note, a complaint represents an accusation by a private individual, not the government. It is not an indication of guilt, and it only represents one side of the story.