Just the Facts: Storable v. SafeLease [UPDATE]

Posted by Brad Hadfield on Feb 28, 2025 3:14:02 PM

Our previous story has been updated to reflect new information.

Many in the self-storage industry are aware of the legal battle between Storable, the brand behind SiteLink, storEDGE, and Easy Storage Solutions, and SafeLease, the popular self-storage insurance and technology suite.

Storable addressed the matter when its CEO, Chuck Gordon, emailed customers on January 28, 2025 stating the following:

We have been informed that SafeLease has chosen to put you [our customers] in the middle of their business dispute. This is not something we would have done – but given their false claims, we felt the need to explain the truth of what is happening.

In the correspondence, Storable claims that in 2024 the company found that SafeLease had built an extensive automated system with which to access Storable platforms, stating that without a formal agreement in place, it was a direct violation of Storable’s TOS. The email goes on to state that this raised concern about data privacy, compliance, liability, and performance risks, and more.

The email wraps up stating that the court ruled in Storable's favor on January 21, 2025:

SafeLease asked the court to force Storable to give it access to our systems for free and without any agreement with us. After reviewing the evidence, the court ruled on January 21, 2025, in favor of Storable, affirming that our actions to enforce platform security and our Terms of Service were appropriate and justified.

Since then, MSM has learned that the court had previously granted a temporary restraining order (TRO) on December 31, 2024 in SafeLease's favor, restoring the company's access to storEDGE, SiteLink, and Easy Storage Solutions. That TRO expired on January 21, 2025, at which point the Travis County district court denied a temporary injunction (TI). This enabled Storable to lock SafeLease out of all three of its platforms, which is noted in the email from Gordon:

If you wish to continue using SafeLease, you are more than welcome to do so. There will likely need to be some manual transferring of data from you since SafeLease cannot access our systems anymore without an API agreement.

SafeLease then removed the case to the Texas Business Court, alleging that Storable engaged in wrongful behavior by restricting their access to customer data which was needed to provide insurance services to existing customers.

After further litigation, the Texas Business Court sided with SafeLease on February 19, 2025, issuing the temporary injunction that the company had sought. This TI prevents Storable from blocking SafeLease's access to customer-owned data, which the court determined would harm SafeLease and its customers. The court stated:

Defendants reasonably do or should know that their actions impede, prevent, and interfere with performance of these customer contracts, proximately causing harm and loss to SafeLease and its business, operations, reputation, and goodwill.

Storable’s accusations that SafeLease misused data, introduced malware, or caused system disruptions were also dismissed by the court:

The evidence failed to show that SafeLease misused or improperly disclosed customer data... The evidence presented by Defendants [Storable] to support these claims was not credible, and SafeLease’s controverting evidence was credible.

The TI stands until the case goes to trial in 2026. For now, the court order makes it clear that Storable can take no action to prevent, impede, or otherwise interfere with SafeLease’s authorized-user access to mutual customers’ data stored in FMS systems licensed by Storable. Next year's trial will determine the final outcome.

MSM reached out both companies for comment.

“Our only priority at Storable is focusing on delivering reliable solutions that empower our customers to run their businesses more effectively. We believe in vendor choice and encourage our customers to work with the providers that best fit their needs. We have differing views regarding the way SafeLease is accessing our systems and are actively pursuing legal action to address this issue...

...I encourage people to go to page 8 of the ruling itself (which you can see on SafeLease's website) and note a key fact: That the court preserved the status quo which means access for existing customers, not the right to add any new ones."

– Chuck Gordon, CEO of Storable

“SafeLease, its customers, and the industry are very fortunate that after a three-day hearing, with lots of witness testimony and evidence, the Texas Business Court entered an injunction preventing Storable from continuing to harm competition in the tenant insurance market. We’re delighted to continue offering broad coverage options, featuring high-touch service and support, and among the industry’s highest revenue shares...

...We encourage interested potential customers to reach out through our website to see how SafeLease can benefit your facilities, both on Storable software and on modern alternatives from SafeLease’s premier partners, Cubby, Self-Storage Manager, and Monument.”

– Steven Stein, CEO of SafeLease

SafeLease's legal team also provided MSM with a link to a SafeLease webpage where the entire February 19 Business Court Order can be read, along with key findings: