Sears Hometown Entity Loses Bid to Toss Missouri Retailer Suit

An Eddie Lampert-owned entity that holds Sears assets lost its bid to toss a suit accusing it of blocking a lawn and garden store from operating in a former Sears location.

Judge Douglas Harpool of the US District Court for the Western District of Missouri in a Thursday order denied Transform Holdco LLC’s motion to dismiss, stating the owners of the Goforth Home & Lawn store adequately pleaded antitrust injury with regard to a noncompete agreement that prevented the retailer from competing with Sears and Transform. Goforth previously operated a Sears Hometown store in the location.

The order deals a ...