Over $500k lawsuit filed against Zoetic Global by Youngstown building owner

A lawsuit has been filed against the Cleveland-based company Zoetic Global by JPS Ventures, the owner of the property where Zoetic was planning to open a refrigerant plant.

According to the lawsuit, JPS cites a breach of contract on behalf of Zoetic for owing $91,593.75 in outstanding rent after vacating the property, $6,900 in late fees over 69 days, $23,776.54 in utilities, $72,500 in physical damages to the property, and owing an additional $333,093.75.

The lawsuit calls for Zoetic to pay a total of $527,864.04 plus interest in total combined damages.

Zoetic vacated the building in early April and cited a security breach as the reason for leaving the property.

A representative for JPS Ventures at the time said that they suspected Zoetic of escaping their fiscal obligations, claiming the company was "attempting to leave town like a thief in the night."

Zoetic COO Charlene Gruhn states that the payments to JPS were incorrectly recorded and the missing payments were under a former executive. Gruhn also said that the payments are not the reason for vacating the property.

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