Elliot Lake mall owners testify

The final phase of the inquiry into the cause of the Elliot Lake mall collapse began Monday morning, with the owners of the ill-fated mall taking the stand.

Leven Nazarian, the son of owner Bob Nazarian, testified three tenants of the mall threatened to leave because of poor conditions. Nazarian, however, said he didn’t think the building was in too bad of shape.

In 2008 the bank threatened to pull the mortgage on the mall because of its poor repair. Nazarian testified the company was searching for $3 million to finance them. His father, Bob Nazarian, has been accused of badgering contractors into downplaying structural problems with the mall.