Feature
December 12, 2019
In many states, tenants who are in default of their lease can avoid immediate eviction by getting a court to issue an order granting them a temporary reprieve to cure the problem. These orders, called “Yellowstone Injunctions” in New York, are supposed to be a last resort measure that...
Traps to Avoid
December 12, 2019
Common misconception: Leasing to a foreign business is no different from leasing to a U.S. business. Truth: Leasing to a non-U.S. business raises special legal considerations. The problem is that standard boilerplate leases aren’t designed for—and thus frequently fail to address—...
Drafting Tips
December 12, 2019
Even before the case starts, landlords are at a distinct disadvantage when they go to court over a lease interpretation: Because the landlord drafts the lease, courts will read any ambiguity in the tenant’s favor. Regrettably, landlords all too often aggravate this disadvantage by making...
Owner Loses
December 12, 2019
What Happened: For five years, a tenant leased space in Houston for use as a bar. After the lease ended, the tenant asked the landlord to return its $11,400 security deposit. When the landlord didn’t respond, it filed a lawsuit. The landlord countersued, claiming that the tenant did roughly $...
Owner Loses
December 12, 2019
What Happened: A pizzeria tenant transferred its interests in a five-year lease to two individuals via an agreement called an “assignment.” When the individuals stopped paying rent with 14 months left on the lease, the landlord sued the tenant for payment of the $125K rental balance....
