DES MOINES, Iowa —

The owners of the shuttered Steer N' Stein are suing the Iowa State Fair, accusing it of a "coordinated and retaliatory campaign" to close their business after the fair terminated their lease earlier this year.

Mike Krantz, the owner, claims the fair terminated Steer N' Stein's lease, citing unpaid fees totaling $102,000. The lawsuit alleges that the company faced issues with a new payment system used by the fair, and the family believed they had settled the balance until they received a notice from the fair stating they owed $90,000. Krantz said they were not informed why they owed the money.

The family accuses the fair of defamation, alleging it misrepresented the amount of money involved in the dispute.

The lawsuit also claims the Iowa State Fair improperly auc

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