Court Filings Detail Bitter Split Between San Angelo Plumbing Businesses

SAN ANGELO, TX — A legal dispute between two San Angelo plumbing businesses and members of the same family is moving forward in Tom Green County district court, with hearings now scheduled for early 2026.

Doucet Plumbing Inc., also known as 3D’s Plumbing, filed suit earlier this year against True Tex Plumbing LLC and Cody Wayne Doucet, Kacey Diane Doucet and Caleb Wayne Doucet, alleging misuse of customer information, trade secret theft, and unfair competition. The case is pending in the 51st Judicial District Court before Judge Carmen Dusek.

3D’s Plumbing, founded in 1988, is owned by Kenneth Doucet and his wife, Sonya. The lawsuit is against one of their sons, Cody, a daughter-in-law, Kacey, and a grandson, Caleb. 

According to the original petition, 3D’s Plumbing alleges that while employed by the company, Kacey, who is Cody’s wife and served as office manager, improperly retained access to confidential customer lists, pricing strategies, and compliance records. 

The lawsuit further alleges that after Kacey was terminated in August 2023, Cody and Caleb Doucet continued working for 3D’s Plumbing while also operating or preparing to operate a competing business, True Tex Plumbing. The filing alleges customers were contacted using 3D’s customer information and were told that True Tex was affiliated with 3D’s Plumbing or that 3D’s was no longer providing certain services.

3D’s Plumbing claims the alleged conduct resulted in lost customers, lost profits, and damage to the company’s reputation. The company sought a temporary restraining order and temporary injunction to prevent the defendants from contacting its customers, using its customer lists or pricing strategies, or representing any affiliation with 3D’s Plumbing. The lawsuit also seeks damages, attorney’s fees, and court costs.

The defendants later filed counterclaims, alleging unpaid compensation and asserting that certain services were performed without proper payment.

In a subsequent court filing, 3D’s Plumbing formally denied those counterclaims. The company denied the existence of any valid contract requiring additional compensation and disputed claims that the defendants were independent contractors entitled to unpaid wages. The filing states that any compensation paid was made in accordance with company policy and fully satisfied any obligations.

In its response, 3D’s Plumbing raised several affirmative defenses, including the statute of frauds, accord and satisfaction, offset, and failure to mitigate damages. The company also denied that the defendants are entitled to recover damages or attorney’s fees.

Court records show a motion hearing was scheduled for Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2025, followed by a pre-trial hearing at 9 a.m. Jan. 23, 2026, both in the 51st District Court.

No rulings on the requested injunctive relief have been reflected on the docket as of Tuesday. The case remains pending.