Little Sister’s bookstore is being sued by a numbered Saskatchewan company for more than $47,000 in allegedly unpaid rent. The company claims the gay institution breached its contract.
However, Little Sister’s co-owner Jim Deva tells Xtra the suit is just a case of “playing hardball” in a contract dispute.
The suit concerns the lease of the commercial property at Broadway and Hemlock streets, where Little Sister’s opened its spinoff, Sweet Adult Boutique, in July 2011.
Filed by 628985 Saskatchewan Ltd, the suit alleges Little Sister’s agreed to buy an assignment of the property’s lease for $50,000, part of which was to pay a company called Gaerber Ventures Ltd, to which the numbered company owed some money.
According to the statement of claim filed in BC Supreme Court Aug 1, the numbered company owed Gaerber $2,818.
Little Sister’s was to pay Gaerber the full amount; Gaerber was to take the money it was owed and forward the remaining sum to the numbered company. However, according to 628985 Saskatchewan Ltd, the bookstore has yet to pay the full amount.
“Gaerber Ventures Ltd received $2,818.91 from the defendant but did not receive the remaining purchase price of the lease of $47,181.09,” the statement of claim alleges.
The numbered company wants Little Sister’s to pay the money it allegedly owes, as well as interest on the outstanding payment and the costs of the court action.
Little Sister’s has yet to file a statement of defence with the court.
None of the numbered company’s allegations have been proven in court.
“It’s a disagreement in a contract negotiation,” Deva says. “They’re playing tough. I believe it will be resolved in the next week to 10 days.”
In addition to opening Sweet Adult Boutique last summer, Little Sister’s has recently completed a major renovation of its Davie St store.
Deva says the suit is in no way an indication that the store is in trouble. “Oh no, not at all,” he says.
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