ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — 9 Investigates found out an Orange County charter school is being sued for what could add up to several hundred thousand dollars in unpaid rent.
St. John’s Presbyterian Church in Ocoee filed suit after Kid’s Community College moved out three years into a five-year lease.
According to court documents, the school had leased a building at the church across town through the summer of 2017.
Document: Audit of charter school
The lease said Kid’s Community College was supposed to pay $8,000 a month starting in the summer of 2012 to the summer of 2017.
But a notice explains the church’s claim that the school stopped paying, despite receiving more than $1 million tax dollars last year.
A school spokesperson said she wouldn’t comment specifically on the lawsuit.
“It is my understanding that they have had legal disputes regarding their leasing practices in the past,” said Elizabeth Thompson.
9 Investigates found disputes, but none covering something like a tenant walking out with two years left on a lease.
The school recently incorporated a new company at the same address.
The school spokesperson had no comment on whether it was an attempt to bury the company legally responsible for those rent payments.
“It didn’t appear that there was an out clause,” said Barry Miller of the Barry Miller Law Group.
The real estate attorney said it’s a tenant’s market for that kind of commercial real estate.
He said the church will really have to work If it’s going to be able to collect.
"Let's say there's a year left on your lease. The landlord can't just sit back and wait and try to collect the rent for the whole year. They've got to try to re-rent the property to lessen their damages,” said Miller.
Channel 9 reached out to the pastor of the church and church’s attorney wanting to get some answers about their side of the story. They have not responded.
Cox Media Group
