Fort Worth Stockyards’ legal dispute with a Mule Alley tenant is heading to trial
A trial is scheduled for June in a nearly three-year legal fight between the Fort Worth Stockyards ownership group and one of its Mule Alley tenants.
Second Rodeo Brewing filed a lawsuit in Tarrant County in August 2022 against California-based Majestic Realty Co.
The brewery alleges that Majestic Realty Co. and Fort Worth Heritage, MB, LLC breached a contract and committed fraud and negligent misrepresentation. Second Rodeo is seeking at least $300,000 for damages and court fees and attorneys fees. The Stockyards owners deny the allegations and has made counter claims, according to court documents.
Second Rodeo’s complaint accuses Majestic of overcharging for a number of fees, including utilities, rent and administrative fees. Second Rodeo also stated it was promised free customer parking, which Majestic did not provide once the lease agreement was signed. The brewery alleges that faulty sewer construction caused “significant sewage backup,” delaying the business’ opening.
Majestic alleges Second Rodeo’s founder, Jason Boso, failed to complete a required document and instead accused the firm of having not held up its end of the lease agreement. At the end of a meeting to resolve the issue, Boso allegedly told Majestic he had already caused Second Rodeo to file the lawsuit.
A lawyer for Second Rodeo declined to comment until the case is resolved. Majestic’s lawyer did not respond to a request for comment. The case is set to go to trial on June 23.
Mule Alley, anchored by the luxury Hotel Drover, opened in mid-2020 with old barns converted into restaurants, boutiques and bars. The project’s construction took several years and has dramatically increased the number of visitors to the Stockyards, which now sees about 9 million people a year.
Last summer, Majestic announced its plans for a second major expansion of the Stockyards with new commercial and residential developments, underground parking garages, expanded livestock buildings and improvements to the Cowtown Coliseum. The scope of the multiyear project, including incentives, could approach $1 billion.
Majestic is also involved in another lawsuit playing out in Los Angeles County. The development firm is suing its former executive vice president, Craig Cavileer, alleging he failed to pay back $75.9 million in loans.
In court documents, Second Rodeo alleges that Cavileer personally negotiated the brewery’s lease, and at one point admitted fault when he wrote “I apologize for all of this” in an email.
Based in Los Angeles, Majestic Realty Co. is the largest private developer of master-planned business parks in the country.
