FAYETTEVILLE -- Haas Hall Academy breached leases with a former landlord when the school moved in August, according to a judgment entered this week in Washington County Circuit Court.
The landlord for Haas Hall Academy sued the school and its founder, Martin Schoppmeyer, over a lease dispute after the school moved to a building on North Front Street near East Joyce Boulevard before the start of this school year.
Paradigm Building, owned by developer Tracy Hoskins, claimed in the lawsuit school officials renewed the lease for the charter school at 3155 N. College Ave. and was obligated to pay $20,770 per month in rent through June 2017.
Washington County Circuit Judge Beth Storey Bryan on Wednesday issued a judgment based on earlier jury verdicts.
Among the findings, the jury found Haas Hall renewed the primary lease and an extended lease for 36 months that expires June 30, 2017, and breached the lease when it moved out July 31 and didn't pay rent for August and September.
Haas Hall and Schoppmeyer were ordered to pay a total of $41,540 rent for those two months as well as $1,162 for tenant damage beyond ordinary wear and tear.
Haas Hall wasn't legally justified in terminating the lease, according to the order of judgment. Schoppmeyer unconditionally guaranteed the primary lease and extended lease and he and Haas Hall are jointly and severally liable for the performance of the leases for the duration of the 36-month renewal period.
Mark Henry, an attorney for Haas Hall, said the school is planning to sublease the old school building through the duration of the lease.
The sides are still fighting over whether attorney fees should be assessed. Haas Hall officials contend they prevailed on more issues in the case than Hoskins and Paradigm and shouldn't have to pay for their lawyers.
The parties entered into a lease Oct. 31, 2008, and it was renewed several times over the years as rent and space increased, according to the lawsuit.
Paradigm contended the school last exercised its option to renew the lease in April 2014. The renewed lease period began June 30, 2014, and was for three years, according to the complaint.
The sides also discussed a longer-term lease that would cover more space that would allow the school to add students, according to the complaint. That agreement never came to fruition.
The complaint contended Haas Hall had been paying Paradigm $32,061 per month under the earlier lease. Beginning in July 2014 and each month since the school paid $20,770 per month based on the renewed lease.
NW News on 10/09/2015