Updated 4/27/22 5:45 p.m. with judgement.
ST. LOUIS (KMOX) -- Circuit Judge Michael Colona decided Reign Nightclub must pay its former landlord $339,704.13 including attorneys fees and damages for "unlawful detainer," or staying in the space past lease termination.
You can read the entire judgement, issued Wednesday, here.
Our original story:
The owner of Reign, the downtown nightclub blamed for violence and ordered closed by the city last year, apparently wasn't prepared for a big court date on Tuesday.
Reign's owner sued the venue's owner Dana Kelly for past rent owed, plus damages and expenses for unlawful detainer, basically staying past the termination of the lease. There's a separate suit we've reported about which alleges Reign trashed the place and caused damage before leaving.
Kelly apparently showed up to the first day of the jury trial without an attorney. Missouri law says corporations must be represented by a licensed attorney. So Judge Michael Colona decided to just enter a default judgement, accepting the landlord's allegations. His decision on damages could be issued Wednesday.
The landlord, Copia Acquisition, is asking for more than $339,000 in this case. The other suit alleging physical damage to the space goes before a different judge on May 2nd.