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Abercrombie & Fitch sues mall giant Simon claiming improper collection of rent

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Posted at 9:34 AM, Aug 04, 2020
and last updated 2020-08-04 12:34:24-04

Abercrombie & Fitch is suing one of the nation's largest landlords in the latest showdown over the economic toll of the Covid-19 shutdown.

The Columbus, Ohio-based apparel retailer has filed suit against Indianapolis-based Simon Property Group Inc. as well as 68 operating entities of its malls around the nation, alleging the landlord "wrongfully extracted rent payments from ANF retail properties leased from Simon."

Its legal argument is a new angle in the rising storm of lawsuits over the Covid-19 shutdowns. Many states enacted lockdowns that closed nonessential retail at the outset of the Covid-19 pandemic, including indoor commercial spaces where people could congregate and transmit the virus.

While Abercrombie has four stores in Arizona, none of them are located at Simon-owned properties.

Read more of this subscription-only article from the Business Journal.