Lake Humane Society, Richard Osborne Jr. Settle Lawsuit

and Caroline's Kids Pet Rescue have against Mentor businessman Richard Osborne Jr.

The animal care groups filed a lawsuit earlier in April in . The lawsuit says the Lake Humane Society and Caroline’s Kids Pets Rescue signed a letter of intent in November to lease 7,200-square-feet and paid Osborne a $4,500 refundable deposit.

Initially, the parties were scheduled to have a hearing regarding a default motion Tuesday morning. However, the plaintiffs filed to dismiss the lawsuit at their own expense, instead.

"He paid back the $4,500 and that was the end of it," said J. Jeffrey Holland, the attorney for both animal care groups. "The case is settled. The money is repaid and I'm glad he repaid it.'

Lake Humane Society and Caroline’s Kids Pets Rescue partnered to lease space from Osborne for nonprofit bingo events to raise funds for their operations. However, they later decided against using the space but could not get their deposit back.

"The deposit was fully and unconditionally refundable," Chuck Farone, the LHS's director, wrote in an affidavit.

Osborne previously told The News-Herald, "We started working (on the building) before we had a signed deal and we were working, we thought, in good faith," he said. "We put in a lot of work, trying to push along the process."

Lake Humane Society runs a facility on Tyler Boulevard that houses stray and unwanted dogs and cats. Caroline’s Kids Pets Rescue operates what it calls a cageless sanctuary for abandoned cats on Morley Road in Concord Township.