Property owners next to Harpo’s respond to lawsuit

The attorney for the property owners next to Harpo’s responded to the bar’s lawsuit over a shared door access Friday.

Earlier this month, ABC 17 News reported Harpo’s was suing its neighbor, Varose, LLC, after they supposedly blocked the bar’s emergency exit. Harpo’s owners claimed this caused the bar to close business Ten Below and lose revenue.

In court documents obtained by ABC 17 News Friday, Varose, LLC claimed Harpo’s used the easement, or shared passageway, for more than just an emergency exit, breaching their contract.

They said Harpo’s has used the easement for storage and drainage. They even found Harpo’s customers passed out on their property after using the door to leave the bar.

Varose, LLC did admit they obstructed the 2010 easement, but only in response to Harpo’s unlawful use of the area. They also said that easement was meant to be temporary and rested on Harpo’s promise to install alarm and video monitoring equipment that would transmit to the Columbia Fire Department. Varose, LLC said that installation never happened.

It requested the court end the 2010 easement “due to Plaintiff’s repeated and continuous unlawful use of the easement area, for its costs and together with such other relief as is appropriate.”