February 5, 1996
Memorandum to: All Interested Parties in The Pearl Restaurant
Virginia Larsen
Peter & Nadia Larsen
George & Becky Woods
John Flint
Jeff Armstrong
Steve Little
Steve Peterson
Stephen Hanscom
William Atwood
Maynard Prock
Just a little over a year ago after a meeting with Virginia, I
decided to try to make a business out of the rubble at the Black
Pearl. The city and health inspectors had condemned the place, and
I agreed to put together a deal to raise the necessary capital if
I could get a decent long term lease. After a couple of months of
negotiating we came up with the document which Virginia executed
on April 13, and Ed Black (who is no longer associated with me)
and I executed it a week or so later. Upon reflection, this
document, prepared by Stephen Hanscom (representing Virginia)
could be improved upon, but it is what we have and all of us
should be bound by it until modified.
From my perspective I expected to have to do some major renovations
to bring the property into code compliance, and expected to have
at least eight years to recover that investment into a property
which I do not own. I did the beginning of that work enabling the
restaurant to open on July 5, 1995. I was delayed in getting open
mostly because of the denial of funding by the State on the
Community Development Loan which had been approved by the city.
From an operating point of view I believe that we had a
successful season. The books show that we lost about $10,000 on
operating revenues of almost $200,000 for the shortened season. While
we had some problems they were mostly of a start-up nature and
are recognized and solvable.
I expected to get a credit against my rent for the capital improvements
that I made. These improvements were what was required to bring
the property into code compliance, and were further defined in
the agreement according to the IRS code for capital expenditures.
The document as finally executed does not actually reflect the
exact way we negotiated. There is a substantial difference
between "half of the cost of improvements apply to future
rents" and "all of the costs of improvements apply to
half of the future rents". Even though the document as
written and executed did not seem to me to require the payment of
any rents because of the amount of the capital improvements made
(in excess of $35,000 for the year actually expended with $10,000
still payable to Prock), in order to "keep the peace" I
paid $12,000 (or one half of the rents due for the year) in early
August. I gave a cashier's check to Steve Little with instructions
to pay this to the Larsens when we received the subordination
agreement from the bank which, along with the option in the
lease, guaranteed the term of the lease.
Little delivered that check to Peterson with clear written instructions
to that effect, and Peterson held the check for six weeks before
finally releasing the check, but without delivering the required
subordination agreement (which at this time can never be delivered
as the bank has sold the mortgage to William Atwood).
I spoke with Mike Jones of Peoples Heritage Bank in December, and
he advises me that he informed the Larsens, after receiving the suggested
written agreement in March, 1995, that the bank would not execute
the agreement, even though they had earlier verbally agreed to do
so. William Atwood, as successor to the Bank, has also refused to
execute such an agreement.
What this all means is that I have a month to month lease, at
the whim of William Atwood, and no rational person (or lender or investor)
would or should invest capital or energy into such a business
proposition. The Larsens knowledge that the Bank refused to
execute the required agreement constitutes convincing evidence of fraud,
and means to me that the whole transaction can be reversed on
that ground.
Steve Peterson's release of the check without the required
agreement is as clear of a case of escrow violation as one can
define, and brings him squarely into the possible lawsuits. His behavior
in this matter defines why lawyers are at the butt end of so many
jokes. To his credit Stephen Hanscom resigned from representing
the Larsens in this issue, and I understand why.
Further complicating this matter is the fact that when I was
digging into this after we closed for the season, I got a copy of
the cashiers check from Camden National Bank, and the endorsement
on the check shows that it was eventually endorsed by Peter and
deposited into a bank in Arizona. Virginia Larsen's signature on
the check is clearly different from her signature on the lease,
and makes me wonder if her best interests are really being
served, and if she understands what is happening.
Where do I go from here. All I want is the opportunity
to operate the restaurant as agreed upon for a term of eight
years. If necessary to accomplish getting this term
length, I need a good option to purchase. All of this is
necessary to protect potential investors, as I do not have the
funds to accomplish this without outside loans or investment.
Either we get this resolved soon or I will have no other
option except to start the litigation process. I have been
through more of that in my life than I care to mention, and I do
not wish to do it again, but if forced I clearly will. Steve
Little tells me that Steven Peterson advises him that he has been
instructed to begin eviction proceedings, and if they begin, all
of the above will come out as the corporation seeks the
protection of the Federal Bankruptcy Courts.
I want to operate The Pearl. I believe that the team I
assembled did a good job and can do so profitably. Will someone
from the other side of this transaction please help me to
accomplish this simple goal. I believe that it can and will be a
mutually rewarding venture.