Aladdin mall tenant sues contractors

The owner of the Denim-Denim Mens and Women's Casual Wear and Melwanis stores at the Las Vegas Strip's Desert Passage Mall sued seven contractors, alleging they tried to coerce the retailer into paying for change orders that are "excessive and unjustified" by foreclosing on its two stores.

The mall, owned by development giant TrizecHahn of Toronto, is at the Aladdin resort on the Strip. Clotheshorse Inc. leased space for the two stores from its landlord, Aladdin Bazaar LLC.

In a Clark County District Court suit, Clotheshorse sued its general contractor, Camco Pacific Construction Co. Inc., alleging it "jeopardized" the stores' opening on Aug. 17, the grand opening date of the Desert Passage Mall, when Camco "unreasonably delayed the start of the project ... and mismanaged the project resulting in unreasonable overtime charges and cost overruns."

The suit said Camco, which allegedly charged Clotheshorse for $240,000 in change orders after it paid Camco $264,041 for work done on the Melwanis store and $190,839 for the Denim-Denim store, said Camco failed to ensure its subcontractors completed work in a timely manner and to pay them, which caused numerous liens to be filed against the two stores.

The defendants include Black Rock Inc., Paul S.J. Ogaz Inc., Western Tile & Marble Contractors Inc., Jessco Electric Co. Inc., Western Fire & Protection Co. and Great American Insurance Co.

"Black Rock has dropped its lien against the two stores. We've been paid in full and released the liens on the two properties in December," responded Thomas Guarino, Black Rock's president.

Camco could not be reached for comment.

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