Rent dispute, changed locks results in lawsuit

WINFIELD – A Putnam County company is suing over claims its landlord changed the locks after a rent dispute.

Dennis Corporation filed a lawsuit Aug. 1 in Putnam Circuit Court against CPB LLC, citing wrongful lockout. Dennis Corporation is an engineering, surveying and construction management firm based in South Carolina.

According to the complaint, Dennis Corporation's lease of CPB's property on Teays Valley Road expired Jan. 16, 2012, and the two parties agreed not to renew the lease for another three-year term. The complaint states, however, they continued the business relationship with Dennis Corporation continuing to occupy the space until the present.

Dennis Corporation says this year a rent dispute arose due to excessive late fees and interest and CPB placed a landlord's lien on Dennis Corporation's property and changed the locks June 16, demanding payment of an alleged $23,400 owed. CPB is accused of wrongful lockout and constructive conversion of the plaintiff's property.

Dennis Corporation is seeking damages, attorney's fees, and an order enjoining CPB from further lockout efforts. It is being represented in the case by attorney Timothy P. Rosinsky of Rosinsky Law Office in Huntington. The case has been assigned to Circuit Judge Phillip M. Stowers.

Putnam Circuit Court Case No. 14-C-218