CHICAGO – A business alleges that its landlord has unlawfully and illegally blocked it from accessing its properties.
Universal Beauty Products Inc. filed a lawsuit Jan. 29 in Cook County Circuit Court against Sabri Development LLC, citing conversion.
Plaintiff asserts that it was under a certain lease agreement on a property located at 5837 S. Oakley Ave. in Chicago. The terms of the lease were allegedly for three years dating May 9, 2014, to May 31, 2017. Defendant Sabri allegedly became a successor landlord for the property and lease on or about Oct. 5, 2015. The plaintiff claims that Sabri allegedly wanted immediate access and use of the premise upon which plaintiff leased. Therefore, plaintiff claims that on Oct. 5, it entered into a lease termination agreement with defendant, agreeing that Sabri shall have immediate access and right to use a portion of the property and that the lease will be terminated on Dec. 31, 2015. The plaintiff allegedly immediately began to process of vacating said premises.
However, it claims that, while it was able to remove most of its properties, the defendant allegedly refused it access to its belongings on or about Dec. 7, 2015. The plaintiff allegedly demanded access again on Dec. 18, 2015, and was denied. On Dec. 24, 2015, defendant allegedly changed the locks to the premises, illegally locking plaintiff from the area.
Universal Beauty Products Inc. is now seeking damages of more than $100,000, punitive damages, attorney fees and court costs, and any other relief deemed just by the court. It is represented by Sungwhan Kim and Byung H. Whang from B.H. Whang and Associates in Rolling Meadows.
Cook County Circuit Court case number 16-L-000989