Supreme Court on May 16.

The Imperial Hotel Co. Ltd. petition to liquidate the restaurant will bring to a head its rent dispute with Romanoff.

Imperial wants to kick the restaurant out of its building on the corner of Burnaby and Church streets. It also wants the five months of back rent Romanoff owes the company.

In December a Supreme Court judge ordered Romanoff's owner to abide by an earlier order to pay $52,500 in back rent. The judge also gave Anton Duzevic and the Bermuda Business Club permission to mount a defence against Imperial's rent charges.

Mr. Duzevic claims the rent was withheld because of problems with the premises at the Imperial Building. Mr. Duzevic alleges that Imperial has failed to maintain the premises which led to the restaurant losing "a sum exceeding $100,000'' in profit and in the cost of repairs.

The Royal Gazette was unable to contact Mr. Duzevic. Imperial's lawyer said Romanoff had still not paid the back rent despite the court order.

COURTS CTS