Gopen v. American Supply Co., Inc.

The primary issues raised on these appeals are whether there was sufficient evidence to hold a parent corporation, American Supply Company, Inc. (American), liable on a lease signed by its wholly owned and impecunious subsidiary, Kelmerchanic Realty Corporation (Kelmerchanic), and whether the parent is subject to liability to the landlord under G. L. c. 93A on a lease entered into in 1967, prior to the enactment of c. 93A by St. 1967, c. 813, § 1.

Two judgments here relevant were entered in the Superi- or Court. The first, entered after a jury verdict, awarded the plaintiffs, the trustees of…