Former NFL star-turned-orthopedic surgeon Gregory Primus, MD, owner of the Chicago Center for Sports and Orthopedic Surgery, alleges that his practice is being evicted by the building housing the facility, according to an Oct. 31 report from The Chicago Crusader.
Dr. Primus is battling with Blue Star Properties and property owner 1301 East, arguing that the entities are evicting his practice illegally.
He also argues that the entities breached his lease, as they failed to provide "a safe environment for their business, and in particular make roof repairs to prevent recurrent water leaks and damage."
Dr. Primus and his practice are the building's master tenant. Dr. Primus also sought to bring additional medical specialists into the community, adding podiatry, chiropractic medicine, pain management, neurology, primary care, gastroenterology, interventional radiology, physical therapy, mental health services and urgent care in the facility. This made the practice one of the first Black-owned inner city urgent care facilities in the nation that serves a primarily minority population, according to the report. The facility is in the Hyde Park neighborhood on the South Side of Chicago.
Dr. Primus originally signed his building lease in 2017, adding expanded space in 2018. Before signing the lease, Dr. Primus heard rumors of a leaky roof at the building, but it was not disclosed to him by the landlord, he told the publication.
He alleges that he demanded a "watertight" roof before signing a lease and moving into the facility and the landlords assured him that it would be done.
Before moving into the building, he claims there was water leaking and "significant water intrusion issues related to the foundation of the building along with elevated moisture levels."
After moving into the building, he allegedly exchanged thousands of emails with the landlord regarding water issues that continued through the roof and foundations of the building. Dr. Primus says the eviction by Blue Star Properties is illegal because promises were made in writing to repair the water issues and remediate many internal damages due to recent flooding.
Dr. Primus claims some of his patients have already faced slip-and-fall injuries due to the water, and some complained of mold. He chose to vacate part of his practice over fear of more patient harm.
"Instead of honoring their written commitment to provide a water-tight seal on the roof, when we were forced to close the sports center and vacate that portion of the building due to recurrent water leaks, property managers used that as an excuse to evict us," Dr. Primus told the Crusader.
Blue Star Properties and the property owners did not respond to the Crusader's requests for comment.