Owner Wins

Tenant's Security Deposit Not Credited to Unpaid Rent

August 30, 2012    

Facts: A real estate company rented a corner store and partial basement of a building for a 10-year lease term. The tenant paid $42,000 as a security deposit. Two guarantors also signed separate written guaranty agreements, guaranteeing full performance of the terms of the lease...

Lease Modification Must Be in Writing

July 26, 2012    

Facts: A women’s clothing manufacturing company rented space in an office building. The chief executive officer of the company signed the lease on behalf of the company, gave a security deposit, and executed a “good-guy” guaranty, personally guaranteeing that...

Owner Assumed Duty for 'Punch List'

May 3, 2012    

Facts: A utility company signed a lease for an office building that would be constructed according to a building plan between it and the owner. The lease would commence when the building was “substantially complete,” meaning that the building had been constructed according to...

Rent Abatement Mandatory Under 'Self-Executing' Provision

April 12, 2012    

Facts: In April, an owner and tenant signed a lease for retail space in a shopping center that was still under construction. The lease provided that the owner would deliver the property to the tenant in an improved condition specified in the lease by the time the lease was to start, in...

Tenant Agreed to Owner's Exculpatory Clause in Lease

April 12, 2012    

Facts: A clause in a lease between a retail tenant and shopping center owner generally exempted the owner from liability and stated that an insurance claim was the tenant's sole recourse for the owner's negligence. Another paragraph specifically precluded the tenant from suing the...

Did Prospective Tenant Make Oral Promise to Lease?

February 9, 2012    

Facts: A representative of a technology services firm toured a vacant building with two prospective owners who were considering buying the property, but only if they could find an appropriate tenant for it. The representative expressed interest in renting the space, but didn't sign a...

Lease Assignee Doesn't Own Former Tenant's Structure

November 28, 2011    

Facts: For over 30 years, an auto body business rented commercial property made up of several buildings. Ten years into the lease, the tenant built a small building on the property to use as a “paint room” where it could paint cars it had repaired. A few years later, it...

Lease's Silence on Rent Abatement Meant It Wasn't Permitted

August 31, 2011    

Facts: The owner of a strip mall and a tenant signed a three-year lease for space in which the tenant was to operate its salon and spa.

Owner Made Reasonable Efforts to Mitigate Damages

July 31, 2011    

Facts: A franchised restaurant tenant signed a lease with a property owner/developer while the shopping center where it would rent space was still being developed. The tenant as a corporation signed the lease as both tenant and guarantor.

Estoppel Certificate Precluded Tenant's Breach Claim

May 25, 2011    

Facts: The exclusive-use provision in a tenant's lease barred the owner from renting space in its shopping center to other tenants that sold stationary and school supplies. Several months later a school supply store opened in the center, but the tenant didn't object.

Tenant Couldn't Prove Intent, Ability to Reclaim Property Left Behind

April 25, 2011    

Facts: A tenant that operated a thrift store was evicted for nonpayment of rent. The owner believed the store's inventory, which the tenant had left behind, was “junk” and disposed of it without waiting 15 days—the statutory period during which tenants have an...

Notice to Quit Not Required Prior to Eviction Lawsuit

April 25, 2011    

Facts: Under its lease, a tenant was responsible for maintaining the space it rented to operate its restaurant. The tenant was also prohibited from making alterations and improvements without written approval. “Events of default” included nonperformance of these or any lease...