Mudge EDWARDSVILLE — The operators of a closed Collinsville Burger King are facing a suit alleging they owe back rent and real estate taxes on the leased property. Donald Knoesel and Robert Knoesel filed a complaint March 18 in the Madison County Circuit Court against BRG Liberty LLC, alleging breach of lease. According to the complaint, the plaintiffs own a property located at 2022 Belt Line Road. They leased the property to Liberty Restaurant Group, which operated a Burger King on the premises. The plaintiffs claim that in early 2018, Liberty "assigned its rights and obligations under the lease" to BRG Liberty, which continued to operate the Burger King on the premises. The plaintiffs claim that on Nov. 6, 2020, Donald Knoesel purchased the partnership interest of Richard Knoesel and Olivia Hamilton Knoesel for the property. According to the suit, BRG agreed to pay $84,000 per year in rent with monthly installments of $7,000. However, in September 2019, the defendants stopped operating the Burger King and stopped making rent payments. The plaintiffs also claim BRG Liberty failed to pay $26,023 plus interest in real estate taxes per the lease agreement.