Angry Consignors Suing Repeats Owners, Seek Reparation

At least six people who consigned with Repeats Quality Consignment are suing the business’ owners, and at least three appeared in court for a show-cause hearing on Sept. 11 before a district court judge.

Mary Tempestilli—a former Repeats employee and consigner—said she joined with two others to address the court as the owners James and Patricia Lawler also gave their side of the story. 

Residents who consigned with Repeats Quality Consignments are suing the business' owners for failing to retrieve consignors' property before being evicted on April 27.

The Lawlers claimed they only had a two-day notice to leave the South River Colony Shopping Center, and were left scrambling to gather all the consigned items. In a previous interview, James Lawler told Patch he stored “three truckloads” of merchandise on April 20 but was unable to retrieve all the consigned goods—leaving about a half of the store’s items strewn in the parking lot behind their store.

James Lawler told Patch the salvaged items were placed in five storage units, but when his wife addressed the judge on Sept. 11, she claimed they no longer had access to the units because they couldn’t pay for the rent, Tempestilli said.

Following the eviction, residents sifted through unclaimed clothing, trinkets and furniture in the parking lot, taking whatever they wanted. In just a few days, all the items in the parking lot were gone, Kahve Café owner Joe Valentino told Patch back in May. More than 800 consignors partnered with the local business. Some had no idea the shop had been evicted even seven days after Repeats went under.

During the Sept. 11 hearing, Tempestilli said she and the other consignors who filed suits are not just focused on getting their property or money back, they want to stand up to the Lawlers.

“We were there because it’s the right thing to do. Somebody has to step up, go through the process. Yeah it’s painful, but even if we get nothing out of it, at least we pursued it every way we could,” she said.

Tempestilli, an Arnold resident, personally lost about $80 when Repeats was evicted, but said others like Kim Tyson lost antique furniture and at least four Coach handbags.

The Capital reported that in addition to the civil suits, Repeats’ former landlord SRC Main Street LLC is suing the Lawlers for $25,346. The landlord’s attorney said the Lawlers missed rent and didn’t pay late fees, according to The Capital article.

Tempestilli said a second show-cause hearing is scheduled for Oct. 4 in Glen Burnie as additional consignors attempt to sue the former Repeats owners.  She added that the other consignors’ attorney is proposing that all the charges be consolidated into one case.

The Lawlers did not respond to several phone calls requesting comment. However, James Lawler told Patch back in May that while their consignors lost furniture and clothes in the eviction, he said he and his wife “lost everything.” 

The Capital reported that the district court judge set a trial date for the Tempestilli and the other consignors to seek fair market value for their lost items. Patch was unable to reach State's Attorney's Office spokeswoman Kristin Fleckenstein to learn the exact date of the trial.