Duzevic a two-week reprieve from its landlord's attempt to liquidate the company.

Pusine Judge Richard Ground adjourned the liquidation hearing until May 30, the day after Romanoff is scheduled for a separate court appearance in The Imperial Hotel Co. Ltd.'s bid to oust the company from its building at the corner of Burnaby and Church streets.

Imperial's lawyer David Kessaram on Friday argued against the adjournment, claiming that the company had not submitted any evidence that it was solvent.

In separate court actions Imperial had won judgements ordering Romanoff to pay $52,500 in back rent and terminating the lease.

Romanoff had since failed to comply with the order to pay the back rent to the court Mr. Kessaram argued. Romanoff had to pay the money to the court as a condition of being granted leave to defend itself against Imperial's petitions to terminate the lease and for payment of back rent.

Instead Romanoff gave the court two cheques for $17,500 each, which both bounced. Cheques paid to Imperial for May's rent bounced twice until the third one cleared, he told the court. April's rent cheque has also bounced, he said.

"How the company intends to refinance is a mystery,'' he said. Romanoff's lawyer Kehinde George argued that the company was still viable as it was paying cash for its supplies. She said the company would either be able to pay the rent within two weeks or have worked out an agreement with Imperial.

After the court appearance Mr. Duzevic claimed he had withheld the $52,500 in rent to Imperial because the company had failed to maintain the premises.

"They damaged my ability to run a profitable business,'' he said. He said Romanoff was solvent and vowed that he would continue to operate the restaurant at its current location.

COURTS CTS