Malibu Bay Co. evicts Dr. Nancy Smith from the property, and brings in Dr. Dean Graulich. Smith says Malibu Bay told her their relationship had been arduous.
By Jonathan Friedman/Staff Writer
The Malibu Bay Co. sent Dr. Nancy Smith, owner of the Malibu Animal Hospital, an eviction notice at the end of March, informing her that she must leave by July 1, which upset the plans of hospital employee Dr. Lisa Newell. Several weeks before the company sent the eviction notice, it had sent the hospital another statement that the rent was being doubled to more than $12,000.
Newell said she was upset to find out Smith’s 17-year practice at the facility was being replaced by Dr. Dean Graulich. The veterinarian said she was in the process of trying to buy the practice from Smith when suddenly the Malibu Bay Co., the owner of the building, sent Smith the eviction notice. Newell said she was left not knowing what was going on until Graulich called her this week to inform her he was moving in on July 1.
“I’m furious with them [Malibu Bay],” Newell said. “My attorney tried to contact them, and they wouldn’t return the phone calls.”
Malibu Bay did not have any comment for this story. The company’s attorney, Dick Volpert, said he was unaware Smith had been sent an eviction notice.
Graulich already has a practice at Pacific Coast Animal Hospital, located on Malibu Road. The veterinarian, whose patients include the dogs of Malibu Bay President Jerry Perenchio, said he would continue to use that facility. He said he would probably work half the week there and the rest of the time at the Malibu Animal Hospital location on Pacific Coast Highway near the Cross Creek Road intersection. Although the name of the facility will change, Graulich said all the programs, including the pet adoption, would remain there. He will also bring a canine rescue program to the new facility. In addition, Graulich said Malibu Bay has promised to pay for what it called a facelift to the hospital.
“This is good for the community,” Graulich said. “People should look at this as meaning, hopefully, this building will be here for a long time.”
The hospital is located at the Chili Cook-Off site. Many have wondered what Malibu Bay plans to do with the mostly vacant property since Measure M was defeated in November. If voters had approved the measure, the city would have had an opportunity to purchase the land for $25 million. Since M’s defeat, some have speculated that Malibu Bay would either develop the site or sell it to somebody who would. Graulich, who signed a three-year lease for the hospital, said the company made him feel comfortable the building would be there for many years to come.
Graulich declined to comment on whether the new situation had caused bad blood between he and Newell or Smith. He said he hoped Newell would remain at the hospital when he took over. Smith would not comment on the latest news. Newell said she told Graulich she would think about what her next move was, but she told The Malibu Times she was hurt by what had happened.
“I’ve been here for four years, and I wanted this to be my own place,” Newell said. “If they [Malibu Bay] don’t like Nancy [Smith], that’s fine. There’s nothing I can do about that. But I was in negotiation to buy the practice. Everybody knew this.”
Smith said when Malibu Bay’s David Reznick spoke with her on the phone, he told her that her relationship with the company had been an arduous one. Smith said she did not understand why he would feel that way because she had been a good tenant.
“I pay my rent,” Smith said. “I am responsible for the entire building. I never ask for anything.”
Prior to her eviction notice, Smith said Malibu Bay had raised her rent from $7,600 to $12,000. She then paid that amount in March. She said she later told Reznick that Newell was planning to purchase the practice, and they agreed Newell’s attorney would contact him. Smith said the next communication from Reznick was that she was being evicted, and he did not return any further calls from her, Newell or Newell’s attorney.
Late last week, when Newell and Smith were still unaware that Graulich would be coming to the hospital, they launched a grassroots movement to save Smith’s practice. Newell said she was still in shock about the turn of events, and did not know whether they would continue with the movement. Newell, who was recently named to the California Board of Veterinarians, said she had a great deal to consider. She said she would be speaking further with Graulich, possibly about a partnership rather than an employer-employee relationship. Newell said she still hoped she and her attorney could speak with Reznick as well.