Work Continues to Bring Mall Legal Action to Successful Conclusion

The Village Square Mall and owner Michael Cohen have been found in indirect civil contempt for failing to make necessary repairs to the facility.

The finding was returned Friday in a suit brought by the City of Effingham against the Mall and Cohen. The former local operator of the Mall, Betsy Haynie, testified at the hearing as to the conditions in some portions of the Mall and as to Cohen's lack of compliance with directives from the Court.

Effingham City Attorney Tracy Willenborg said the City is working to get structural problems corrected at the Mall without having a negative impact on the businesses operating in the facility. Willenborg said efforts are still ongoing to complete a transaction that would bring new ownership to the Mall.

The case is next due in court on January 17 to see whether Cohen is willing to cooperate in the case.