Salt's Attorney Files Formal Answer to Unlawful Detainer Suit

Chrissy Wilmes

C. Scott Brinkman, the attorney representing American Larder LLC, better known as the acclaimed Central West End restaurant Salt (4356 Lindell Boulevard, 314-932-5787), on Wednesday filed a formal answer to the unlawful detainer complaint filed by Salt's landlord, Ta Daa LLC.

In general, the answer covers the same issues with Ta Daa's complaint that Brinkman discussed with Gut Check last week.

See Also: - "Salt Spilled? Restaurant Landlord Alleges Unpaid Rent, Sues for Eviction" - "Attorney for Salt Responds to Unlawful Detainer Lawsuit"

Among the arguments made in this answer, American Larder denies Ta Daa's claim that as of August 6, 2012, when Ta Daa notified the restaurant of the termination of its lease, that American Larder was "behind in rent (and late fees) for $51,025.97":

Defendant denies that any arrearage existed on August 6, 2012 (in rental payments or late fees). The amount cited by Plaintiff...is not an amount of arrearage that was calculated or determined by Plaintiff. To date, Plaintiff has not provided Defendant with an accounting as to the alleged amounts that are in arrears, the total number of months which are alleged to be in arrears, or any indication as to how or why a state of arrearage came to be.

As Brinkman explained to us last week, after Ta Daa informed the restaurant that it owed rent for March, April and May of this year, the restaurant calculated the amount it owed at $34,953.40 and then added compounded interest and late fees for a total of $51,025.97. The restaurant paid this amount in two payments on August 9 and 14.