BELLEVILLE — A Belleville rental property owner is suing a management company for allegedly failing to evict a nonpaying tenant before the COVID-19 eviction moratorium, allegedly causing him to lose more than $7,000.
Floyd Hubbard filed a complaint on Sept. 9 n the St. Clair County Circuit Court against Christone Enterprises, alleging breach of contract and negligence.
According to his complaint, Hubbard entered into a contract with Christone Enterprises on March 7, 2017 to manage his residential real estate on Crosswinds Drive in Belleville. Hubbard claims Christone failed to notify a tenant that they must vacate the property in November 2019, due to lack of payment which caused Hubbard to have to file a "forcible entry and detainer" against the tenant on Feb. 25. The forcible entry and detainer was suspended due to the COVID-19 eviction suspensions.
Hubbard alleges that Christone notified him that the tenant had moved out on July 13 and that the property had "severe damage." Hubbard also alleges that between February 2020 and July 2020, he lost $7,470.83 in unpaid rent. Additionally, on June 14, he attempted to sell the property but lost property value due to the damage. He alleges he lost money due to the time the property could not be on the market.
Hubbard seeks monetary and all other just relief. He is represented by Jeanna Raney of Blake Behme Gilbreth Links PC in Belleville.
St. Clair County Circuit Court case number 20-L-0684