WEST LOOP — In addition to facing criminal charges in multiple rape cases, a West Loop tanning salon owner also faces eviction from his West Loop storefront.
The landlord who owns 1018 W. Madison St. aims to evict Soleil, Marc Winner's now-shuttered tanning salon on the ground floor of the 1018 W. Madison building, according to court filings.
Accused of raping at least four women, Winner was released on bond last week, making a dramatic exit from Cook County Jail.
In a lawsuit filed May 23, 1016 W. Madison LLC alleges Winner, an owner of the business, used the leased storefront in the commission of a criminal act, against state rules.
The specific acts "include sexual assault," the suit alleges, noting that by the time the initial suit was filed in May, Winner had been arrested and charged with sexually assaulting three women between 2009 and 2015. Since then, prosecutors have filed charges in a fourth rape case.
"Each victim [from the first three cases] either visited or worked at the tanning salon," the suit alleged
In response, attorney Robert J. Shelist, representing Winner, filed a motion to dismiss the case. Winner's attorney says that the landlord's complaint contains allegations, not facts, that amount to "pure conjecture."
"At present, there are merely allegations of criminal wrongdoing filed against Mr. Winner ... to date, Mr. Winner has pleaded not guilty to all charges and protests his innocence," the response reads. "Mr. Winner has not even had his day in Court to defend himself in Court."
Attorney Cary Schiff is representing the landlord, who according to state LLC records is Andrea Granias. Attorney Shelist, who is representing Winner in the eviction case, declined to comment Wednesday.
A hearing on the West Loop eviction case is scheduled for 2 p.m. Thursday in Room 1402 at the Daley Center, 50 W. Washington Blvd.
Second eviction case
In November 2015, a Chicago realty company also filed a lawsuit aiming to evict Winner from a River North location, court records show.
In October 2014, Winner signed a lease to rent two storefronts at 770 N. LaSalle St. in River North with plans to open businesses in the building, according to court documents. AI Realty officials contend that Winner failed to open the businesses by an agreed-upon date, but the firm was also concerned he wouldn't be able to open a business in the future either because of his mounting legal troubles after his October 2015 arrest.
"Marc Winner has had some publicized legal issues which will undoubtedly impede his ability to do further work," the lawsuit reads.
Tanning salon closed
In late May, the city's Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection shut down Soleil Tanning for operating without a business license. Winner has not applied to renew the license yet, department spokeswoman Mika Stambaugh said.
Last week, the McGuire Condominium Board, which represents condo owners living at 1016 and 1018 W. Madison St., asked Ald. Danny Solis (25th) to do all he can to keep Soleil Tanning closed.
Winner's former tanning salon is on the ground floor of the 1018 W. Madison building.
"We know that you agree that there could hardly be any greater public menace," the letter from the condo association reads.
Prosecutors allege Winner raped nine women. Five of those incidents happened too long ago for charges to be filed against Winner, Assistant State's Attorney Mikki Miller has said. The remaining four cases are pending before Cook County Judge Carol M. Howard.
In three of those cases, Winner is accused of raping employees or customers at his tanning salon.
Winner was being held without bail in the third case until last week, when Howard set his bail in that matter at $100,000. Winner was previously hit with $500,000 bail for his first two cases, and $25,000 for the fourth pending case. That means: Winner's total bail is $625,000, and he posted $62,500 to go free.
When Lesley Barton heard about the bail reduction, she said, "This is exactly why rape victims don't come forward." Winner was accused of sexually assaulting Barton in 2001 — but prosecutors only pushed for a misdemeanor battery charge in that case, and Winner was sentenced to probation.
RELATED: Tanning Salon Owner Marc Winner Raped Me in 2001 But Went Free, Woman Says
Winner will next appear in court on criminal charges Sept. 15 before Judge Howard.
To learn more about Winner's pending cases, read:
• Accused Serial Rapist Marc Winner Could Be Free Soon After Bail Reduction
• Marc Winner Raped Woman In His Mom's Edgewater Home, Officials Say
• City Shuts Down Accused Serial Rapist Marc Winner's Tanning Salon
• Accused Rapist Marc Winner Attacked in County Jail, Officials Say
• Accused Serial Rapist's Tanning Salon Operating Illegally, City Says
• Accused Serial Rapist's Tanning Salon Should Be Shut Down, Alderman Says
• Suspected Serial Rapist Marc Winner 'Anxious' For Trial, Attorney Says
• Tanning Salon Owner Marc Winner Raped Me in 2001 But Went Free, Woman Says
• Salon Owner Charged In 3 Rape Cases Denied Bail, 'A Danger,' Judge Says
• Tanning Salon Owner Allegedly Raped 2nd Woman After Judge Tossed 2013 Case
For more neighborhood news, listen to DNAinfo Radio here:
