Alexan Balekian, KSEE 24 news anchor, is suing Fresno's Furniture City over a delivery dispute. Google Street View photo

A civil trial is ongoing in Fresno Superior Court related to a small-claims dispute between a local television anchor and a furniture store.

Alexan Balekian, KSEE 24 news anchor and host of weekly political show Sunday Morning Matters, filed a claim against Furniture City near Blackstone and Barstow avenues on Jan. 19.

Balekian, who declined to comment for this story citing ongoing litigation, claims Furniture City and owner Fawzi Saed owe him $4,192 related to a furniture purchase gone bad.

According to the claim, Balekian purchased items from Furniture City that were not delivered in 6-8 weeks as stated in the contract. Balekian also said unauthorized charges were made to his credit card without delivery of the items, including a $400 delivery charge he was assured would be waived.

Balekian also alleges Furniture City co-owner Anthony Halim harassed him and his fiancé inside the store, “causing mental anguish,” according to the claim.

He added that someone with Furniture City also submitted falsified photos of “items delivered inside home” to his credit card company, according to the claim.

That accusation involved Furniture City’s third-party delivery service taking a photo of a chair that Balekian had purchased himself over the internet. Balekian claimed they were attempting to pass the chair — which was similar to those purchased from Furniture City — as part of their delivery.

A civil court trial in the case was held on Tuesday, with Balekian, Halim and Iseed Saed with Furniture City appearing in court before Judge Bob Whalen, who continued the trial to March 29.

Efforts to reach Halim at Furniture City Thursday were unsuccessful.

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