The OP might not have to resort to the courts to obtain a satisfactory (financial) resolution to this problem. This organization provides free advocacy services on behalf of consumers who have had problems with travel (and other) companies:

https://elliottadvocacy.org/about/

(Up until a few years ago, Condé Nast Traveler magazine offered a similar, free "Ombudsman" service which did a very good job of resolving consumer complaints involving travel companies. Alas, that service has been discontinued.)

It's also possible that a local television station where the OP lives in Texas has a consumer-affairs reporter who would be interested in this story.