San Diego sues SeaWorld for $12M+ in overdue rent.
San Diego Sues SeaWorld for $12.2 Million in Unpaid Rent
In a bold move, the city of San Diego has filed a lawsuit against SeaWorld on September 7, alleging that the popular theme park has failed to pay over $12.2 million in rent, late fees, and interest.
This legal action comes after the city’s warning that it would pursue litigation if SeaWorld did not settle its outstanding rent and penalties by a specified deadline.
SeaWorld has countered the claim, arguing that the payments were waived due to the prolonged closures forced by the pandemic. However, city officials maintain that the rent was merely deferred and not waived.
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A representative for SeaWorld responded to the lawsuit, stating that the company has a longstanding relationship with the city and hopes to resolve the matter amicably. They emphasized their contributions to the community, including animal rescues, recycling drives, and various events. Additionally, SeaWorld highlighted that they have already paid over $146 million in lease payments to the city since 2010.
The complaint, filed in San Diego Superior Court, alleges that SeaWorld has consistently underpaid rent from January 1, 2019, to April 30, 2022.
According to the San Diego City Attorney’s Office, SeaWorld’s lease agreement requires minimum annual rent payments of $10.4 million, along with a 3 percent surcharge.
The City Attorney’s Office further pointed out that SeaWorld is the only major lessee in default of its rent obligations since the start of the pandemic, despite approximately 800 other organizations having similar lease agreements with the city.
In May, the San Diego City Council voted unanimously to authorize litigation, expressing their expectation of fair treatment from a partnership that has been highly profitable for SeaWorld over the past 60 years.
“City taxpayers should not have to bear the burden of SeaWorld’s debts and liabilities, especially during these challenging times,” stated San Diego City Attorney Mara Elliott. ”We are confident that the court will uphold our position.”
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