Michigan football player, former teammate sued for allegedly failing to pay nearly $10,000 in rent
University of Michigan linebacker Kenny Demens and former cornerback Boubacar Cissoko have not yet responded to a lawsuit alleging they owe nearly $10,000 in back rent and late fees for an Ann Arbor apartment they rented, court records show.
Hidden Valley Club Apartments is suing Demens and Cissoko for $9,925, plus interest and attorney fees.
The suit, filed in 15th District Court, alleges Demens and Cissoko signed a lease, agreeing to pay $850 each month for an apartment from May 1, 2009, through May 31, 2010.
The apartment complex “fully performed all of its obligations under the lease,” the suit claims, but Demens and Cissoko “failed to pay the agreed upon rent.”
Demens was served with the suit Sept. 27, court papers filed this month say. He could not be reached for comment Thursday.
Cissoko, who was kicked off the team last October after violating unspecified team rules twice in 2009, is serving between 19 months and 15 years in state prison for committing three thefts and an attempted robbery. Cissoko is awaiting trial on three counts of assault of a prison employee.
Lee Higgins covers crime and courts for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached by phone at (734) 623-2527 and e-mail at leehiggins@annarbor.com.
Comments
Daniel White
Fri, Dec 24, 2010 : 8:46 a.m.
A point to be made here is Hidden Vally is a Mckinley property, their lease holds tenants liable for the rent jointly and severally, meaning that if one could not pay the other is liable for the entire lease. Obviously, Boubakar's poor decisions left him unable to continue on the lease so KD was responsible for the whole nut. The judge will more than likely demand an equitable settlement for both sides, 2-3 months rent not $10,000.
Ramone
Sat, Oct 23, 2010 : 12:51 a.m.
I've already explained that this is a dumb nonstory and I want my life back. I feel dumber and self-hatred for having read this. But since I'm a glutton for punishment and I'd like to help save someone's job, I'm going to do you a favor, no charge. Actually, this isn't altruistic, I just don't want to come back to this website and read stupid things. I'd rather not hate myself for wasting 5 minutes of my life reading garbage. But first, let explain what a story is: A story has some kind of angle. It explains something. Although I would still think it was dumb, maybe this would be a story if it had, I dunno, an interview with someone, ANYONE. Maybe even the landlord. Or maybe if 10 players all moved to the complex and none were paying rent, that would be a story. Even though it would make me angry, it would be news. THIS IS NOT NEWS!!! (and it is also not a story, let alone an article) But I digress... Soo... here are some ideas for stories that would not require me to lose IQ points and want to kill myself afterwards: (You're welcome) The team has a bye week. What have they been working on? Do they feel they have progressed any? What areas? A 2010 recruit may be joining the team in January. What's going on with that? What was his journey like? Why is he still committed to coming to Michigan? They had fall break off. What was Denard doing? Did anyone take an interesting trip? Did any of the teammates go on a trip together? How are the freshmen doing? How is Brandon Graham handling the NFL? Stevie Brown? What's new with Donovan Warren? The coaches have been recruiting. Where did they go? Who did they see? Any new prospects? Areas of need they are focusing on? I hear Ricky Leach is going for the Minnesota job. Tell me about it. Why does he want to coach? Why Minnesota? What do his former teammates think about it? RABBLE RABBLE RABBLE AAARGHHH! OH THE HUMANITY! That is all.
Skipit3
Sat, Oct 23, 2010 : 12:38 a.m.
Here we go again with the usual suspects blaming everything negative about the team on RR and not giving him credit for any positive that ever happens with the program. I guess RR should pay his players' rent for them to be considered a "good" coach. Wait! That would be a NCAA violation, wouldn't it? Something that would give you haters even more ammo to denigrate the guy with. Way to go, Geniuses! By the way, I agree that this article is not worth people's time. What's informative about it? Anyone with a decent working brain can put 2 and 2 together to determine that Demens is probably in this situation because of his ex-roommate who is currently incarcerated, duh!
stevieboy
Sat, Oct 23, 2010 : 12:31 a.m.
This is really stupid! This has nothing to do with the UM football program. He is a grown man with grown up problems like anybody else. This is not news...OMG! Find a better topic please or get a different job. Seriously!!!!
Ramone
Sat, Oct 23, 2010 : 12:12 a.m.
Seriously? Is this news? This isn't news, this is gossip. I haven't read the Freep in 2 1/2 years and it looks like Annarbor.com might have to be next. This is gossip at best. Maaaaybe this belongs in a blog. Maybe. I'm not disgusted as much because it is about kids on the team as much as I am with the my opinion that this is a dumb story about mundane things. Go interview someone about something. Use your brain and what little creativity you may have to come up with a story and write an article. This paper, blog, whatever this website is now is turning into a big piece of loser garbage. Let's see if my comment gets "deleted." I hope you all don't make much money because I'd be angry if I paid anyone for this "story." I haven't read an interesting article on Annarbor.com about UM sports in about a year. How hard is this? Sports Illustrated, who is nowhere near Ann Arbor managed to come up with a great story idea and interview with Rich Rod and Annarbor.com reports on landlord tenant issues. Great job! Hard hitting journalism at its best. I want the the last 5 minutes of my life back. K goodbye.
3 And Out
Fri, Oct 22, 2010 : 6:33 p.m.
Cissoko may be able to pay his part of by being the guy who can 'get you things' on the inside... as for Demens...who knows... hopefully he wont take a loan from an agent to pay it.
3 And Out
Fri, Oct 22, 2010 : 6:30 p.m.
Since Rich Rodriguez has been sued in 2 million dollar lawsuits for skipping out on loans that he signed for but has not paid....perhaps his players are just taking after him...following his lead?
Macabre Sunset
Fri, Oct 22, 2010 : 4:42 p.m.
Darn it. I guess this association explains why Demens was held off the field until last week, because he's obviously a huge upgrade from Ezeh.
GroundHogDay
Fri, Oct 22, 2010 : 2:01 p.m.
Has anyone here heard of the term "jointly and severally"? Most student housing leases in Ann Arbor contain this term. It means that if Kenny Demens completely paid his share and Boubacar Cissoko paid none, then Mr. Demens would still be liable for the unpaid rent. I am not saying this is the situation, but considering Mr. Cissoko's current situation, it is not out of the realm of possibility. There are a lot of rash and judgmental comments here without much circumspection of the situation.
Blueman Rick
Fri, Oct 22, 2010 : 1:19 p.m.
Ostensiblyly, UM is recruiting players of great character. More and more, UM is beginning to resemble JJ's U of Miami.
quetzalcoatl
Fri, Oct 22, 2010 : 11:49 a.m.
The U-M football program simply should not tolerate those who cannot, or will not, fulfill such basic rules of law as living up to a signed contract. Coach Rodriguez should personally serve as a shining beacon, a glittering example.... Wait. Never mind.
amzack
Fri, Oct 22, 2010 : 10:29 a.m.
Amalie: you still need to fix the headline link on UofM's mlive.com page - that headline still reads "...$100,000..."
Joe
Fri, Oct 22, 2010 : 8:56 a.m.
These are students, since when are their private financial affairs something to report on? He hasn't committed a crime, he's not a public official of any kind, he doesn't deserve this intrusion into his personal affairs.
Chris
Fri, Oct 22, 2010 : 8:47 a.m.
"Demens was served with the suit Sept. 27, court papers filed this month say" I'm curious exactly when "this month" the papers were filed and exactly when annarbor.com was aware of this story. It is just a coincidence that it appears the week after Demens plays a significant roll in a game and begins to earn some recognition for his play? I guess this story wouldn't have been as damaging to the program had it been written 2 weeks ago about a former player and a reserve LB.
Chuck
Fri, Oct 22, 2010 : 8:46 a.m.
Is this any surprise?
James
Fri, Oct 22, 2010 : 8:34 a.m.
My guess is Demens payed all of his rent. If you do the math at $850 per month for 12 months equals $10,200. Cissoko was kicked off the team after living in that apartment 3 months so with the late fees tacked on and the few months he did pay the rent I would assume it is on Cissoko but because Demens & Cissoko both signed the contract they are both taken to court.
walker101
Fri, Oct 22, 2010 : 7:49 a.m.
Players like coach.
Forever27
Fri, Oct 22, 2010 : 7:27 a.m.
they'll settle the law suit and each student will pay their owed share. @stephenb1707, how does this have anything to do with Rich Rod? Haters gonna hate, I guess.
81wolverine
Fri, Oct 22, 2010 : 7:18 a.m.
Demens' choice in roomates wasn't the best, that's for sure. The apartments will never see any money from Cissoko, so they better hope Demens can come up with the money eventually. College kids do stupid things with money they get sometimes, so I'm not totally surprised. When I was at U-M, I knew of students who took their scholarship money and used it to buy expensive stereo equipment! But, why the coaches or his parents didn't find out about it a lot sooner is strange. Also, you'd think they would have started eviction proceedings before the debt ever got that huge.
InsideTheHall
Fri, Oct 22, 2010 : 7:09 a.m.
dell, the football team should not have to teach that it should be taught by the parents! Many, dare I say most, college students have no clue how to budget money.
dell
Fri, Oct 22, 2010 : 6:47 a.m.
Players who are on scholarship are provided nearly $1000 month for rent and food when they live off campus. It is the responsibility of the players to pay their obligations. What did these players do with the money if they didn't pay rent? Is it about the team or should it be about providing guidance so Mr Demens does not end up in the same trouble as Mr Cissoko. Does the football program have anyone who can teach these kids financial responsibility?
Stephenb1707
Fri, Oct 22, 2010 : 6:31 a.m.
"Love is never having to say you are sorry" Yes, one of the dumbest lines ever but let those who have never made a mistake cast the first stone.The rest should not act like they are so perfect. Whether it is 100K or 10K it still reflects negatively on M programs. I know RR would help if he had any money left over after all the law suits. Thank God we cannot lose this week.
sweetdaddy1963
Fri, Oct 22, 2010 : 6:11 a.m.
Really,Really Ann Arbor.com this is a everyday matter that happen to people everyday the big headline 100k and its just about a broken lease no way will hidden valley get that much. Students have been renting there for years, and I'm sure they are not the first students that this has happen too! Thanks for giving the freep and radio stations more amo towards a program thats on the right track. Thanks!
braggslaw
Fri, Oct 22, 2010 : 6:01 a.m.
Stinks, Kenny was playing well