Michigan linebacker Kenny Demens faces legal action again for failing to pay rent
University of Michigan linebacker Kenny Demens is facing legal action for the second time in 14 months for failing to pay rent, 15th District Court records show.
Demens and his younger brother, Koreal, were sued Aug. 24 by Briar Cove Apartments in Ann Arbor, where they signed a lease for an apartment last summer, and a default judgment was entered against them last week. They have until Sept. 19 to pay about $2,500 in back rent, records show, or they will be evicted.
On Sept. 8, the default judgment was entered after the brothers didn't show up in court to contest the suit, records show. That judgment gives the complex the right to take possession of the apartment unless the brothers come up with the entire amount owed. In total, they would have to pay $2,676.
Records show the brothers signed a lease Sept. 10, 2010, to rent the apartment for a little more than a year for $985 each month. The brothers did not return phone calls seeking comment today.
It's not the first time Kenny Demens has been sued for failing to pay rent.
Last October, a default judgment was entered against him in the amount of $10,089 after Demens and former U-M cornerback Boubacar Cissoko were sued by Hidden Valley Club Apartments in Ann Arbor for failing to pay rent. The two had rented an apartment together and records show the judgment was entered after Demens failed to appear in court to contest the suit.
Demens later pledged in a letter to the 15th District Court that "in due time I will pay everything I'm responsible for."
Cissoko was dismissed from the team in October 2009 after violating unspecified team rules twice that year. He later was convicted of assault with intent to rob while armed, assault of a prison employee and three counts of larceny from a person. State Department of Corrections records show Cissoko was paroled June 14 of this year.
Lee Higgins is a reporter for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached by phone at 734-623-2527 and email at leehiggins@annarbor.com.
Comments
Scott
Thu, Jan 5, 2012 : 5 p.m.
His scholarship includes room and board and a stipend. It is conduct unbecoming a 'Michigan man". True it's not drunken driving but stiffing the landlord on the rent (you signed the lease)is wrong. If it's too much then go live in the dorm or a cheaper apartment. Thousands do. Since this is the second time, and he seems to room with people whose priorities don't include paying the rent, it is an issue the team needs to address. We are Michigan not OSU or Miami. Our standards should be high. From a purely "management" perspective, If the coaches and the Administration set the bar high then they'll be far less problems down the line.
Trisha
Sat, Sep 17, 2011 : 1:44 p.m.
If 2 people are signed on a lease and one person leaves, the second person still living there becomes responsible for the entire amount, legally speaking. If Kenny has paid his portion, as suggested, then he is still obligated to pay the other person's half. I know this from personal experience. Maybe Kenny did pay his part of the rent and the other guys skipped out? May I suggest that more research be done before printing a story like this? Or better yet, don't print this petty garbage!!
Simon
Thu, Sep 15, 2011 : 10:44 p.m.
Lee, report the entire story, not just what looks the worst. All of the tenants are getting sued, however Demens has paid all of his portion. That's why he can still play. This is irresponsible reporting at it's best.
SalineBob
Thu, Sep 15, 2011 : 4:34 p.m.
This is relevant because he's a public university athlete in a high profile college sport watched closely by the public eye. Ironically--because we are discussing it here makes it relevant. It's noteworthy because this is his second offense. $2,500 this time, a whopping $10,000 the first time. Scholarship money should be used to pay rent. That raises the issue of athletic department oversight--especially because of his previous record. You can't watch them 24/7, however.... And if this happens to an athlete at a rival school some people are all over it.
NotBradyHoke
Thu, Sep 15, 2011 : 4:18 p.m.
When I moved out of 1008 Oakland, I owed 13 months rent. Why couldn't I get any ink?
Huron74
Thu, Sep 15, 2011 : 2:17 p.m.
Simply amazing. Ann Arbor.com goes into massive detail about the private business of an under grad student and his brother. But let some real news transpire and we get from you is a one sentence description with no names, details, or further information other than a quote from some police officials saying they'll have no comments until ..[fill in the blank]. You guys need to step up your professional standards.
Jimmy McNulty
Thu, Sep 15, 2011 : 1:05 p.m.
He could get money by pawning one of his bowl game rings..........oh, that's right.
Bertha Venation
Thu, Sep 15, 2011 : 8:51 p.m.
Good one, Jimmy! Heh... Heh...
gofigure
Thu, Sep 15, 2011 : 1:14 p.m.
That's funny!
gofigure
Thu, Sep 15, 2011 : 12:29 p.m.
$2500 divided by 14 = 178. and some change. He's living there with his brother and between the 2 of them they can't come up with $200/month?
timeatwork
Thu, Sep 15, 2011 : 12:27 p.m.
This is news because the football team is paying for his rent as part of his scholarship. This means that he is skipping out on his rent and blowing his $900 on other things. Way to live up to your commitments, it's the Michigan difference. HA.
zags
Thu, Sep 15, 2011 : 12:06 p.m.
So this is news? Where were was AA.com when Mario Manningham was facing eviction from the same apartment complex? He owed a lot more than $2,500. Same situation. He was roommates with a kid (whose name escapes me) that got kicked off the team. I suspect a bored "reporter" was trolling landlord tenant cases looking for dirt on a slow news day.
Hailmary
Thu, Sep 15, 2011 : 12:03 p.m.
It is my opinion that Bo would have been all over this young mans butt especially after this story came out. It will be interesting to see how Coach Hoke handles this situation. In some peoples lives depending on the job they have , how they conduct themselves away from the job can have a positive effect on the company or shed a negative lite on the company and themselves. In the case of being a student athlete how a young person conducts themselves at all times greatly affects everyone including the fans which is obvious by this article. Some fans will disagree with me but obviously by responding it is affecting them. Sounds like these guys are running a scam and they are using their noteriety to do so.
Edward R Murrow's Ghost
Thu, Sep 15, 2011 : 1:21 p.m.
Worth noting that the first "situation" happened on the watch of the WCiMFH. You are correct: it will be very interesting to see how Hoke handles this. Good Night and Good Luck
trespass
Thu, Sep 15, 2011 : 11:05 a.m.
If selling their free football tickets or memorabilia for spending money is an NCAA violation then it seems logical that taking scholarship money that is intended to pay for living expenses, including rent, and using it for spending money instead of paying their rent is an NCAA violation as well. So probably is letting your brother stay in your apartment rent free. Also, what landlord lets a tenant get $10,000 behind in their rent? Is that a booster giving a stealth gift to a student athlete (they may have sued in order to take the loss as a tax deduction)?
Edward R Murrow's Ghost
Thu, Sep 15, 2011 : 1:23 p.m.
"If selling their free football tickets or memorabilia for spending money is an NCAA violation then it seems logical that taking scholarship money that is intended to pay for living expenses, including rent, and using it for spending money instead of paying their rent is an NCAA violation as well." Not even close. The money is given to the athletes for housing. Nothing obligates them to spend it in that manner. But keep on a tryin'. Good Night and Good Luck
A2comments
Thu, Sep 15, 2011 : 10:45 a.m.
is he one of the students that has a university dorm room but also has an apartment that he really lives in? One of many that use their scholarship funds for a party apartment?
average joe
Thu, Sep 15, 2011 : 7:54 a.m.
This is news because he is on the team that is "...the leaders & the best".
treetowncartel
Thu, Sep 15, 2011 : 4:47 a.m.
Hmmm, will a2.com start reporting on all u of m students,faculty,alumni and students filing for bankruptcy and shirking their debts? Probabaly not.
BornInA2
Thu, Sep 15, 2011 : 3:34 a.m.
I think a player failing to pay rent twice and getting sued for it twice is news. And in this case, the reporter actually did some research to find out that this isn't the first time it's happened. This is now an unfortunately uncommon activity in our blogified news world, where most articles are little more than regurgitated facts and/or info read elsewhere. In my opinion the players need to have all other aspects of their lives in good order before they play football. If he can't pay rent, then he needs to work instead of playing. If he isn't succeeding academically, he becomes ineligible. Etc.
TheInfamousOne
Thu, Sep 15, 2011 : 2:48 a.m.
This is not news, it seems like a floodgate for slander since others are calling them "low-lifes" and speculating other peoples situtaions, what do they know?! I'm sure there are a lot of other people failing to pay their rent, why don't you go and find out who they are, I"m sure you're never run out of news.
whatsupwithMI
Thu, Sep 15, 2011 : 2:04 a.m.
If the guy was dismissed from the team in 2009: --- Cissoko was dismissed from the team in October 2009 after violating unspecified team rules twice that year. --- Why all the comment section items mentioning this reflects poorly on the _current_ 2011 team? Either the reporter is missing a big piece of his story, or the commentators are failing to read a big piece of the story....
alan
Thu, Sep 15, 2011 : 2:03 a.m.
Are people actually taking this seriously? I know that Mt. Pleasant actually hires an extra referee every summer just to preside over the eviction court to get the students out. Then they do it all over the next year. Slow news day?
USRepublic
Thu, Sep 15, 2011 : 1:52 a.m.
BTW..... This is nothing but a racist rant by a reporter who has nothing to do....and no income from a legit story. Is annarbor.com racist? I personally think so....
scott
Thu, Sep 15, 2011 : 7:36 p.m.
It's too bad that people over-react to being called racist, it's a natural tendency to tend to separate out those different from you and should be on your minds more frequently. There are also varying levels of racism, you don't have to be hanging a black person to be racist, you could just be dismissive of a comment on a message board because you want to live in a fantasy land where race doesn't exist except when it benefits you behind closed doors.....
Edward R Murrow's Ghost
Thu, Sep 15, 2011 : 1:19 p.m.
Macabre Sunset: Spot On!!! GN&GL
treetowncartel
Thu, Sep 15, 2011 : 4:52 a.m.
this is why i have continously named my kids Bob Evans regardless of their race or gender
AfterDark
Thu, Sep 15, 2011 : 2:51 a.m.
So you're accusing the reporter of being racist just because he knew the subject was black when he wrote the story? Sorry, that's not racism. If he had made a point of the subject's race in the story you might have an argument but just reporting the incident without indicating the subject's race is not racism. Your reaction, on the other hand...
USRepublic
Thu, Sep 15, 2011 : 2:23 a.m.
The author of the article knew the party involved was black.....therefore he must be using some degree of bigotry to attack him for such a petty matter? Just ask ask Maxine Waters......or Karen Bass....or the "Reverend" Jesse Jackson........ There is no other explanation than there is racial motivation for attacking him the way he has in this article.....
Macabre Sunset
Thu, Sep 15, 2011 : 2:11 a.m.
Of course. Any time a black person commits a crime and it's mentioned anywhere, must be racism. I agree completely. I think A2.com should do its due diligence and print a story about all the white athletes at Michigan who have defrauded multiple people of more than $10,000.
AfterDark
Thu, Sep 15, 2011 : 2:08 a.m.
There's not even a mention of race in the article. Any racial indicators must come from a reader's personal knowledge of those involved or from their own inherent bias. Which applies to you?
USRepublic
Thu, Sep 15, 2011 : 1:49 a.m.
This is news worthy? You guys are losing the war on capitalism.......you will be out of business before you delete this post. Get a grip.
heartbreakM
Thu, Sep 15, 2011 : 1:12 a.m.
It's cases like this that I feel so sorry for these coaches!! I do believe that coaches are in such a bind to lead a team to victory, train them, organize them, teach them life skills, etc. It's gotta be situations like this that they have no control over that drive them over the edge!! Don't the players get money for room and board from their scholarship? If so, this failure to pay rent should never happen.
Sparty
Thu, Sep 15, 2011 : 12:43 a.m.
How is this not a reflection on the football team, worthy of suspension until all debts are paid and court judgments satisfied? Or do they only focus on criminal convictions letting their players think it's ok to defraud people?
Nathan Parke
Thu, Sep 15, 2011 : 2:30 p.m.
Probably because its not uncommon at all. Except at Ohio and the SEC where if they dont have the money to pay their rent a booster does it for them. These kids are student athletes. It happens all the time.
longtime AA
Thu, Sep 15, 2011 : 12:38 a.m.
Dave Brandon--for all the great things you have done, and great events you have put together, a situation like this undoes much of your success.
golfer
Thu, Sep 15, 2011 : 8:51 p.m.
come on this does not even make sense. what did dave brandon do sign his lease. what do you want to do blame him for everything that happens at the uofm..it is all the kids fault and only his.
lugemachine
Thu, Sep 15, 2011 : 10:05 a.m.
..and if this were an engineering student, it would undo much of the success of that entire program as well? Thank you for my morning dose of hyperbole!
observer
Thu, Sep 15, 2011 : 12:31 a.m.
sense of entitlement, anyone.........
Engineer
Thu, Sep 15, 2011 : 12:21 a.m.
People people be glad we are not like O-lie_O down south. Then Kenny would have plenty of cash to pay his rent. He simply does not have that kind of cash. Down south he would probably buy the entire complex!
jrigglem
Thu, Sep 15, 2011 : 12:04 a.m.
He didn't pay rent on an apartment that was $840 a month but then turns around and rents a more expensive apartment?? Maybe he will be black listed from renting in other apartment communities. Or does the fact that he doesn't pay his rent not matter because he is a "big" name star?
Kafkaland
Wed, Sep 14, 2011 : 11:39 p.m.
I suspect he took his clues from that unnamed school where personal expenses of the players are a community (booster etc.) responsibility. I'm glad to read that's apparently not the case around here.
Roadman
Wed, Sep 14, 2011 : 11:23 p.m.
I fail to see the media relevance of a college student in default on his rent. There are likely hundreds of U-M students that may be in arrears to their landlord. There are likely thousands of Washtenaw County residents who are having financial/legal issues.
gofigure
Thu, Sep 15, 2011 : 12:35 p.m.
"There are likely thousands of Washtenaw County residents who are having financial/legal issues." True statement but they are not receiving scholarship money stipulated for rent.
Norman Alred
Wed, Sep 14, 2011 : 11:19 p.m.
Since when is unpaid rent news? Check on his cable and utilities...that might merit the front page!
godsbreath64
Thu, Sep 15, 2011 : 12:42 a.m.
Right you are, Norman. We should center all of our attention on Sarah and Glen, before we loose our way.
Smart Logic
Wed, Sep 14, 2011 : 11:34 p.m.
It's news since he is a sports player and our society idolizes them.