A Potter County judge has ordered Sharpened Iron Studios (SIS) to immediately vacate its Polk Street facilities located on property owned by Amarillo College (AC), bringing a key chapter of a long-running lease dispute to a close while leaving broader legal questions unresolved. The ruling denies SIS’s request for a new trial and grants AC possession of the buildings, even as SIS maintains that the decision prevents the company from presenting its case to a jury.
The order was issued Wednesday by Potter County Court at Law #1 Judge Walt Weaver, following arguments heard earlier in the week from attorneys representing both parties. While the ruling settles the question of immediate possession of the property, it does not end the overall conflict between the college and the studio, as SIS has indicated it intends to continue pursuing legal remedies in district court.
Background of the Dispute
The dispute centers on Sharpened Iron Studios’ use of buildings at 1314 and 1320 South Polk Street, which sit on Amarillo College property. SIS has operated at the location under a series of lease agreements tied to a proposed development that included the construction of two sound stages. Under a second amended lease agreement, SIS was required to contribute $8 million toward the construction of those facilities.
However, the sound stages were never built. Amarillo College has argued that because construction never reached substantial completion, the lease never officially began. As a result, AC contends that SIS occupied the property under a tenancy at will, meaning the college retained the right to terminate the arrangement at any time.
On December 15, 2025, Judge Weaver ruled that SIS must vacate the property immediately and ordered the company to pay Amarillo College’s attorney’s fees and court costs, totaling approximately $13,500. SIS responded by filing a motion for a new trial on December 30, challenging both the legal interpretation of the lease and the process by which the decision was reached.
Arguments Presented in Court
During a Tuesday court hearing, attorneys for both sides presented their reasoning for and against granting a new trial. Kevin Isern, representing Sharpened Iron Studios, argued that the judge’s initial ruling was incorrect and that the second amended lease agreement limited Amarillo College’s ability to terminate the lease.
According to Isern’s interpretation, the language of the amended agreement meant that AC had waived its right to remove SIS from the property once the agreement was in place. He contended that disagreements over how the lease should be interpreted constituted factual disputes that should be decided by a jury, not resolved solely through summary judgment.
Judge Weaver questioned how Amarillo College would be able to guarantee the start of the construction project if SIS was already occupying the property and whether AC would have any mechanism to remove SIS in that scenario. Isern responded that, under his interpretation of the lease, AC would not have that ability, reinforcing his argument that the issue required jury consideration.
Amarillo College’s attorney, Timothy Williams, rejected that interpretation. He told the court that there was no ambiguity between the original lease agreement and the second amendment. Williams explained that the lease was structured to begin only after the two sound stages were substantially completed. Until that point, AC allowed SIS to occupy the buildings, but the formal lease terms had not taken effect.
Williams described SIS’s occupancy as a tenancy at will, emphasizing that this arrangement could be terminated at any time by either party. He cited the lease language and prior court cases to support AC’s position, stating that the lease “turns on after substantial completion” of the construction project.
Both attorneys referenced previous legal cases to support their respective arguments. Judge Weaver indicated he would review those cases before issuing a final decision.
The Court’s Final Ruling
Later Wednesday, Judge Weaver issued a Nunc Pro Tunc Final Summary Judgment that reaffirmed his earlier decision. The judgment formally adjudged the Polk Street buildings to Amarillo College and ordered Sharpened Iron Studios to vacate the premises immediately.
Unlike the December ruling, the final judgment required each party to pay its own attorney’s fees. SIS was ordered to pay Amarillo College $158.20 in court costs. The court also denied all other motions and claims, including any counterclaims or affirmative defenses that were raised or could have been raised during the case.
The judgment made clear that no additional relief would be granted beyond what was explicitly stated, effectively closing the case at the county court level.
Statements From Amarillo College and SIS
Following the ruling, Amarillo College released a statement confirming that the court had granted the college immediate possession of its facilities on South Polk Street and South Tyler Street. The statement noted that the court denied Sharpened Iron Studios’ motion and ordered the company to vacate the premises.
Amarillo College also indicated that it plans to move forward in compliance with the judgment. With the dispute over possession resolved, the college stated it will review the properties as part of its comprehensive Master Plan, which is currently in the request-for-proposals stage. According to the college, the Master Plan will guide long-term planning efforts in support of students and the broader community.
Sharpened Iron Studios, through attorney Kevin Isern, expressed strong disappointment with the outcome. Isern said his client believes the ruling effectively evicted a local business without allowing it to have its case heard by a jury. He emphasized that SIS views the decision as devastating to its operations and raised concerns about the company’s ability to recover from the loss of the property.
Isern stated that SIS intends to continue fighting the matter in the 108th District Court, with the goal of having a jury consider the damages SIS claims were caused by Amarillo College’s actions.
Practical Issues Surrounding the Move
In addition to the legal arguments, the case has raised practical questions about how and when Sharpened Iron Studios will remove its property from the site. During the Tuesday hearing, Judge Weaver indicated that the parties would need to work together to determine a timeline for vacating the buildings.
Amarillo College’s attorney stated that the college would provide five days for SIS to vacate and would cover the cost of a moving company to assist with the process. SIS, however, has argued that five days is not sufficient to remove its equipment and improvements.
According to Isern, SIS has invested millions of dollars into the property, including significant improvements and specialized equipment. He stated in court that the company is working on a timeline to remove approximately $3.5 million in improvements, suggesting that the process will require more time than AC has offered.
As of now, no final timeline has been set for when SIS must fully vacate the premises. That issue remains unresolved and may require further negotiation or court involvement.
Broader Implications
The dispute highlights the complexities that can arise when development projects tied to lease agreements fail to move forward as planned. Questions about when a lease officially begins, what rights exist prior to full execution, and how much discretion a property owner retains can have significant consequences for both parties.
For Amarillo College, the ruling clears the way for future planning related to its South Polk Street properties. For Sharpened Iron Studios, the immediate concern is relocating operations while continuing to pursue legal options it believes are still available.
As the situation develops, additional court proceedings may shed more light on the remaining claims between the parties. Until then, the county court’s ruling stands, requiring SIS to vacate the property while leaving the broader dispute over damages and responsibility to be addressed elsewhere.
