Last updated on August 1st, 2022 at 11:54 amA Milwaukee law firm that represented the owners of the abandoned Northridge Mall, helping them to win an appeal of a city raze order, has filed a breach of contract lawsuit against the company. In a complaint filed in Milwaukee County Circuit Court on Friday, von Briesen
Want to Read the Entire Article?
Become a BizTimes Insider today and get immediate access to our subscriber-only content and much more.
Already an Insider? Log In
Or purchase a bypass link here
A status conference in the raze order case has been set for Aug. 15 in Milwaukee County Circuit Court, but attorneys from von Briesen & Roper won't be there to represent Black Spruce. The firm withdrew as legal counsel on April 21, due to Black Spruce’s failure to comply with the terms of the engagement agreement, the lawsuit states.
Attempts to reach U.S. Black Spruce Enterprise Group, Inc., which lists its address as a townhome in Germantown, Maryland, were unsuccessful on Monday
Dates have yet to be set in the money judgment/breach of contract case Von Briesen is pursuing against Black Sprue.
Fires likely arson
The lawsuit comes on the heels of 
A view of the abandoned Northridge Mall from July 21, 2022. Attorneys for the mall's owner, U.S. Black Spruce Enterprises Group, Inc., are being sued by their former attorneys for breach of contract. (Cara Spoto/BizTimes)[/caption]
On Thursday, fencing on the outskirts of the parking lot, presumably meant to keep vandals away, was trampled, torn or even open in several places. There were also several easy access points to the building, including an open door to a utility stairwell.
The mall has been vacant and unused – for commercial purposes that is – since 2003. Black Spruce purchased its buildings in 2008.
In 2020, the city estimated the cost to repair the three buildings that Black Spruce owns at $11.7 million, without including all expected costs such as abatement of hazardous materials.