The Camelot Club, which abruptly closed Friday, is being sued for more than $257,000, plus late fees and interest, by its landlord, which says the club owes months of back rent.
Tower Real Estate LLC filed the lawsuit against Camelot Club on Feb. 29, about two weeks before the club abruptly closed. On Friday, Tom Tanner, the club’s owner, attributed the closure to a dwindling membership and a “dramatic rent increase.” He declined to provided specifics about the club’s financial status to Daily Report during that conversation.
According to court documents, Tanner was set to appear in court for a hearing this morning. Tanner could not be reached for comment and neither could Lonny Guidroz, attorney for Tower Real Estate.
Tower Real Estate says Camelot failed to pay rent for “many months” and only made partial payments for some months. It also accuses Camelot of writing insufficient checks on several occasions.
In the original Feb. 29 petition, filed in the 19th Judicial District Court in East Baton Rouge Parish, Tower Real Estate says it feared Camelot would vacate the premises before the rent owed was collected. The LLC later filed a rule for eviction, citing breach of contract.
“As more than 5 days have elapsed since the defendant’s receipt of the notice of eviction and the defendant has still not complied with said notice…mover requests that the defendant be evicted from the premises due to one or more of the grounds set forth,” reads a March 8 filing in the case.
Camelot Club is being sued for $257,289.17. Tanner, the original petition says, also was allegedly personally indebted to Tower Real Estate for $11,383.08 plus interest on any delinquent amount at a 21% rate per annum and all attorney’s fees and expenses associated with the amounts due. The original petition says Tanner signed documents making himself personally obligated to Tower Real Estate for the amounts due. Tower Real Estate also is trying to recoup the amount Tanner allegedly owes.
Camelot Club, which was a prominent locale for businessmen, politicians, lobbyists and events, was ordered March 3 not to remove anything from the property, located at 451 Florida St. in downtown Baton Rouge. Five days later, Tower Real Estate LLC filed on March 8 a rule of eviction with the court.
According to the rule of eviction, Camelot Club entered into a written lease agreement with Tower Real Estate LLC for two suites at the Florida Street property on April 1, 2013. The lease outlined a graduated monthly rent schedule starting in the first year at $25,688.79 and ending in the last year at $27,771.67.
The lease provides for a late charge of 5 cents per dollar per month from the due date until the rent is paid. In addition, any late or overdue payment is also charged a 16% interest rate.
—Alexandria Burris
