Former Gurnee day-care center in court fight
Accused in a lawsuit of being late on nearly $79,000 in rent payments, a day-care operator is countering that health concerns over mold caused the Gurnee facility's sudden closure in November.
Young Scholars Child Care Center Ltd. and A.B. Scott and Co. Inc. have been scrapping in Lake County circuit court since February 2010. A.B. Scott owns a mall on Grand Avenue across from Six Flags Great America.
Parents of 68 children had about a week to find a new facility when Young Scholars, owned by Kora Smith, announced it would close Nov. 19. Some upset parents said they should have been given more time to find new day care.
A.B. Scott attorney Thomas Hood of Gurnee filed the lawsuit against Young Scholars on Feb. 3, 2010, contending the day-care operator owed $78,621 in back rent. Hood could not be reached Monday.
In a counterclaim to the A.B. Scott suit filed Dec. 10, Young Scholars says it was justified in quickly leaving the Grand Avenue mall “for safety and health reasons” because of mold test results.
“The results of the test performed by Mold Test of Chicago revealed abnormally high levels of various strains of mold throughout the (space), which Kora was informed over an extended period of time could pose a health risk to ... occupants,” wrote Young Scholars attorney David Stieper of Hoffman Estates.
Court papers claim water leaks developed in the roof over Young Scholars in October 2009. Other problems included a main hallway ceiling collapse last June and a “musty smell” in November, court documents say.
Young Scholars began using 12,232 square feet in January 2008 through a five-year lease. Young Scholars' $18,000-per-month space had been occupied by the Child's Place II day-care facility, according to court papers.
Meanwhile, the former director of Young Scholars' Gurnee operation said Monday she's been informed a new facility will not reopen on Tri-State Parkway in the village, contrary to what staff and parents were originally told in a letter.
Smith could not be reached for comment regarding the new Gurnee location, and her lawyer said he was unfamiliar with the plan. Smith had told the Daily Herald the building would be ready in February.
Tracy Ames, 36, the ex-director, said she and most of the 13 other Young Scholars employees are seeking new jobs. Ames helped to write a letter to parents promoting the shift to Tri-State Parkway.
Ames said she viewed Young Scholars' sudden shutdown in November as a chance to be on a holiday break and start fresh at the new venue. She said she did not expect to remain unemployed.
“It's really hard, because we believed it was going to reopen,” said Ames, a 16-year day-care industry veteran.
Young Scholars also operates a day-care facility in Island Lake.