A judge has ruled in favor of Closed Loop Refining and Recovery’s former landlord in a case centered on CRT glass stockpiling. Just how much the defunct company will be asked to pay in damages, however, is still up in the air.
Judge Michael J. Holbrook of the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas issued a default judgment in the case last week after Closed Loop’s attorney failed to “appear or answer on behalf of the defendant.”
A damages hearing to determine the full amount Closed Loop owes its former landlord, Garrison Southfield Park, has been set for April 24.
“Plaintiff has set forth evidence to conclusively establish some aspects of the monetary damages owed under the parties’ agreement but concedes that a final determination of damages requires a hearing,” the ruling from Holbrook reads.
Closed Loop closed the doors of its Columbus headquarters last year, abandoning millions of pounds of CRT glass at the site. The company also deserted millions of pounds of glass at a separate warehouse in Columbus and at three warehouses in Arizona. The firm’s downfall was the subject of a recent podcast by Vice based on extensive reporting by E-Scrap News.
Millions of dollars sought
According to court documents, Garrison Southfield Park, which sued Closed Loop last year for breaking its lease and leaving millions of pounds of CRT material behind, is seeking $4.1 million for breaking its lease.
The court has not yet approved an award related to clean-up costs. Court documents show an environmental expert has estimated “it will cost millions of dollars to remove Closed Loop’s CRT waste and remediate the property.”
“Garrison cannot find another tenant for the property while the CRT waste remains at the property and the property has not been fully remediated,” a February motion for the default ruling reads.
Attorneys representing both parties did not respond to requests for comment.
Magistrate Elizabeth Watters will oversee the damages hearing in April.
