BARBERTON: A Summit County judge has ruled in favor of the city of Barberton in its lawsuit against a former theater operator.
Common Pleas Judge Alison McCarty last week granted default judgment in the amount of $98,000 plus interest when Lake Entertainment Group failed to respond to a summons letter within the required 28 days.
“We’re happy with the ruling and we are now reviewing our options moving forward,” Mayor Bill Judge said regarding options for collecting the money, such as through a collection agency.
“We’re happy we’re able to keep this important downtown business open under a responsible business operator.”
Lake Entertainment Group owner Phil Canfora received a summons about a week after the lawsuit, filed May 21, that claimed he broke a commercial lease and received unjust enrichment.
“There was a notice and there was a request for answer and we responded in the most appropriate manner for our situation,” Canfora said.
“Our response was no response.”
Canfora operated the downtown theater, now Lake 8 Theater, through his company from December 2005 to December 2012.
In those seven years, Lake Entertainment paid only $36,000 of the $134,000 in lease payments, according to a court document.