What started as a shiny new East Austin apartment complex has turned into a soggy legal drama. Owners of the Highgrove apartments on Cameron Road have filed a multimillion-dollar lawsuit against San Antonio builder Bartlett Cocke, accusing the firm of serious construction defects and persistent water intrusion that have already damaged dozens of units and allegedly put all 300 at risk.
The complaint, filed by 5900 Cameron Property Owner LLC, says tenants began flagging problems not long after the complex reached substantial completion in June 2023. According to the filing, recurring leaks and failing materials have stained and warped interiors, compromised exterior finishes, and left ownership staring at a costly repair tab. With the case now shifted into Texas' new Business Court system, both sides are gearing up for a high-stakes commercial fight.
According to the San Antonio Express-News, the suit claims that windows and patio doors were not installed correctly and let rain in, that soffits, siding, and brick facades were improperly fitted, and that stucco is already cracking in spots. The filing says shower pans, the waterproof floors beneath showers that direct water to drains, failed and caused water damage in more than 60 units, and that the owner believes the same defect may affect all 300.
The owner is suing for breach of contract, negligence, and breach of express warranty and says the total amount of damages will be determined at trial after proceedings in Business Court.
The complaint calls the situation "potentially hazardous to Highgrove’s tenants," pointing to interior leaks and exterior moisture problems that it says are speeding up material aging and discoloration. It also breaks out the construction scopes at issue, alleging roughly $2.5 million in plumbing subcontracts, about $5.7 million tied to siding and close to $1 million in related work are now under dispute.
Bartlett Cocke has pushed back, telling the San Antonio Express-News that the problems stem from "new and intervening causes" and suggesting some subcontractors share responsibility.
What the Complaint Says Is Going Wrong
The lawsuit goes beyond leaky showers. It describes swollen and discolored windows and doors, cracking stucco and soffits and siding that were allegedly attached incorrectly at exterior junctions. Plaintiffs say tenants first complained in 2024 and that management has already had to order repeated repairs even though the building only recently opened for occupancy.
According to the owners, the alleged assembly and installation failures have reduced habitability for tenants and dragged down the overall property value.
A Second Hit for Bartlett Cocke in Central Texas
Highgrove is not the only Central Texas project where Bartlett Cocke is facing uncomfortable questions. Earlier this year, Greystar and a group of insurers sued the firm and several subcontractors over a plumbing failure at the Urban East apartments that they say caused more than $10 million in damage. As reported by The Real Deal, that complaint centers on an allegedly misconfigured hot water system that warped piping and unleashed widespread leaks.
With two major multifamily disputes now in play, industry observers say scrutiny of Bartlett Cocke's apartment projects across the region is likely to intensify.
What Happens Next in Business Court
Now that the Highgrove case has landed in Texas' Business Court system, judges there will handle discovery and key motions under the new business court framework. These courts take certain commercial disputes that meet specific jurisdictional thresholds, often including cases where more than $5 million is in controversy, and use procedures tailored to large, complex business litigation.
According to Mondaq, Business Court judges can issue written opinions on significant legal questions, which means the Highgrove suit could help shape how future construction defect cases are handled in Texas.
The plaintiffs say they will prove the full extent of their damages at trial. Bartlett Cocke has denied liability and is preparing to challenge both the factual allegations and the legal theories behind the claims.
