Singh v. Sterling United Inc.

Inderjit Singh owns a tract of commercial property in Forsyth County. Singh leased a portion of that property to Sterling United, Inc., which operated a gas station and convenience store thereon. After Singh filed a dispossessory action in magistrate court, Sterling United counterclaimed for breach of contract and for specific performance of a purchase option, which Singh had granted to Sterling United under the lease. The magistrate court transferred the case to superior court, where Singh dismissed the dispossessory claim and asserted a breach of contract claim and sought a declaratory judgment against Sterling United.

Following a trial, the jury rendered a verdict for Sterling United on Singh’s breach of contract claim and awarded Sterling United $1 in nominal damages and $266,218.09 in attorney fees and costs on its breach of contract claim. The jury also answered an interrogatory in connection with Sterling United’s specific performance claim. The trial court, which had reserved ruling thereon, then ordered that the Purchase Option be enforced. The trial court later found Singh in contempt of court for failing to comply with its order that Singh provide certain information to Sterling United.