Mount Vernon deemed liable for breaching contract with Kela Tennis Center

The City of Mount Vernon has been deemed liable for breaching a contract with the owner of Kela Tennis Center by the state Supreme Court in White Plains. The city destroyed the tennis center on the grounds of Memorial Field in the middle of the night in June 2018.

News 12 Staff

Apr 5, 2023, 12:19 AM

Updated 611 days ago

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The City of Mount Vernon has been deemed liable for breaching a contract with the owner of Kela Tennis Center by the state Supreme Court in White Plains. The city destroyed the tennis center on the grounds of Memorial Field in the middle of the night in June 2018.
Kela Simunyola filed a lawsuit against the city and then-Mayor Richard Thomas after contractors were sent to vandalize his tennis center. The jury will decide on the compensation amount starting Monday, with Simunyola seeking $10 million in damages.
Current Mayor Shawyn Patterson-Howard stated they would respond after the next trial phase, while former Mayor Thomas expressed disappointment in the verdict. 
Thomas believes the city must appeal the decision, as he argues that the destruction was necessary to address environmental hazards at Memorial Field. The case unfolds as the trial enters its next phase, determining the financial consequences for the city.