Professional Janitorial Service of Houston, Inc (PJS) filed a lawsuit in Texas State District Court today against the Service Employees International Union Local 5 (SEIU) and against Dan Schlademan, their Commercial Division Director for defamation, tortious interference and business disparagement.
“The SEIU has engaged in many tortious actions including sending defamatory faxes to our customers and their tenants, harassing and intimidating our customers along with companies and individuals that may be contemplating doing business with us.” says Floyd Mahanay, PJS President. “We cannot sit idly by anymore while the SEIU continues to attack the character and reputation of PJS and harass our customers that we have had excellent relationships with over many years.”
Brent Southwell, CEO of PJS, commented: “We are looking forward to seeing what a Texas jury thinks of the SEIU’s campaign to defame, interfere and harass our customers and our company which has been doing business successfully in Houston for nineteen years. We have had an excellent reputation in the Houston real estate community and the SEIU is trying to destroy it.”
PJS is seeking injunctive relief from the court to enjoin the tortious conduct. In addition to injunctive relief, PJS seeks to recover actual damages, punitive damages and attorney fees.