FRESNO — A business tenant is suing Fresno property owners, alleging breach of contract and retaliation.
Shahrokh Tork, doing business as Auto Center, filed a complaint Dec. 1 in Fresno County Superior Court against Reagan K. Bauer and Janet Bayer, doing business as Bauer Rentals, and Does 1 through 20, alleging the defendants breached their contractual obligations by failing to honor the terms of the five-year lease agreement.
According to the complaint, on Sept. 1, 2011, Tork he entered into a lease agreement with defendants to have a place to conduct his business at 6353 Blackstone, Fresno. Among the terms of the agreement, the suit says, were a monthly rental of $2,000 and a three-year lease period with an option to extend to five years.
However at some time in 2016, Tork said he experienced repeated illnesses due to significant water, structural and asbestos problems of which he immediately informed the defendants. Tork says after his report, the defendants became hostile and announced the selling of the property, and that the tenant would only hold a month-to-month lease.
The plaintiff alleges Bauer Rentals denied any responsibility for the premises, failed to fix the problems caused by the hazardous conditions on the property and failed to honor its contractual obligations.
Tork seeks trial by jury, general, special damages and punitive damages of not less than $1 million, costs of suit, prejudgment interest, and all other just and proper relief. He is represented by attorney Brian D. Whelan of Whelan Law Group in Fresno.
Fresno County Superior Court case number 17CECG04086