The Ekstensive Metal Works lawsuit picture is not one case but many: individual customers of the Houston custom fabrication shop, made famous by MotorTrend’s Texas Metal, have filed separate civil suits in Harris County, Texas alleging they paid large deposits for vehicle builds that were never delivered or dragged on for years past the promised completion date. There is no class action, no settlement fund, and no collective recovery. Anyone trying to get their money back is on their own docket.1Lawfold. Ekstensive Metal Works Lawsuit
What Customers Are Alleging
The complaints follow a consistent shape. Customers say they paid deposits ranging from $5,000 to $30,000, with some individual payments above $20,000, for custom builds that were quoted at six to twelve months and then stretched to two, three, or four years. In some cases the vehicles were never delivered at all. Deposits were not returned, and communication broke down.1Lawfold. Ekstensive Metal Works Lawsuit
The Better Business Bureau has flagged the company with a “pattern-of-conduct” designation and downgraded its rating. Former customers have also filed complaints with the Texas Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division, though as of mid-2026 there is no public confirmation that those complaints have prompted a formal state investigation.1Lawfold. Ekstensive Metal Works Lawsuit
The Court Cases on Record
Two Harris County cases show how the litigation has played out.
Dave Shade Jr. sued Ekstensive Metal Works on June 8, 2020, in the 11th District Court, bringing a breach of contract claim categorized as a consumer contract and Deceptive Trade Practices Act matter.2Trellis Law. Shade, Dave (Jr) vs. Ekstensive Metal Works LLC The case went to a jury, which returned a verdict for Shade on April 18, 2024. Final judgment was signed on September 9, 2024. The public record does not state the dollar amount awarded, and the case is closed.3UniCourt. Shade, Dave (Jr) vs. Ekstensive Metal Works LLC
Kim Hooper filed a debt collection suit on February 3, 2023, naming both Ekstensive Metal Works LLC and William Carlton individually. The case was classified as involving agreements to pay specific amounts of money. Public docket activity after service has been limited, and the current resolution is not reflected in the available record.4UniCourt. Hooper, Kim vs. Ekstensive Metal Works LLC
Some plaintiffs have also obtained default judgments when the shop failed to respond to their filings at all.1Lawfold. Ekstensive Metal Works Lawsuit
How the Texas DTPA Applies
Several suits invoke the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices-Consumer Protection Act. The DTPA matters for customers because it allows treble damages, three times the actual financial loss, when intentional or knowing deceptive conduct is proven. The Texas Supreme Court held in Woods v. Littleton that treble damages under Section 17.50(b)(1) are mandatory once actual damages are established, not something the trial judge can decline to award.5Texas Tech University Libraries. Treble Damages Are Mandatory Under Section 17.50(b)(1) of the Texas DTPA For a customer who lost a $20,000 deposit, that provision can drive a judgment of $60,000 or more before fees.
Where to File and How to Complain
Harris County splits civil cases by dollar amount. Claims up to $20,000 go to Justice of the Peace Court. Claims from $20,001 to $250,000 go to Harris County Court at Law. Claims above $250,000 go to district court.
Consumers can also file a complaint with the Texas Attorney General’s office, which accepts reports about businesses that fail to deliver paid-for goods or services. Filing a complaint does not guarantee an investigation or any specific outcome, and it is not a substitute for a civil suit if you want your money back.6Texas Attorney General. File a Consumer Complaint
Current Status of the Shop
As of 2026, Ekstensive Metal Works has significantly reduced or suspended its public-facing operations. Its social media accounts have gone dormant, and website activity is minimal. Civil lawsuits remain active in Harris County, and no collective resolution has emerged for affected customers.1Lawfold. Ekstensive Metal Works Lawsuit Anyone still owed a deposit or a finished vehicle faces the same path the earlier plaintiffs took: an individual claim, filed in the right Harris County court for the amount at stake, with the DTPA available as a basis for enhanced damages where the facts support it.