The Leasing Hotline
Highlights of the latest commercial leasing cases from around the country.
Features
Opportunities for Landlord Abound When Tenant Exercises Renewal Option
When a tenant exercises an option to renew its lease, the landlord's usual inclination is to save time and effort by treating the tenant's notice letter as sufficient to accomplish the renewal. This inclination should be strongly resisted ' not only because such a notice may be inadequate, but also because the landlord may be missing out on an opportunity to update the original lease and often improve upon the existing documentation. This is especially true where the renewal is at 'market,' which offers the landlord the possibility to argue that certain changes are necessary to conform to market conditions.
In the Spotlight: But for an Option, the Kingdom Was Lost
When I was just a young boy, my father sat me down and said, 'Son, if you're going to rent, remember to get options to renew,' And he added, 'Don't be a sucker. Make sure those options are at a fixed rent.'
Drafting a More Effective Default Clause
Attorneys are making too much money litigating disputes between commercial landlords and tenants. Even the most frequently used 'standard form' leases permit tenants to stall and strangle property owners. Moreover, these same leases leave tenants without proper recourse when property owners fail to follow written commitments. Instead of blaming the judicial system, a judge, a landlord, or tenant ' to paraphrase Shakespeare ' it is time that we practitioners recognize that the fault is not in our stars but in our leases. Because they are the enforcement provision in a commercial lease, default clauses must be revised and developed to better meet the needs of landlords and tenants under the judicial system.
Features
Reduced Qui Tam Exposure for Firms That Fail to Self-Report?
A recent decision of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia limited the reach of the 'reverse false claims' provision of the civil False Claims Act, 31 U.S.C. ' 3730(a)(7). This opinion, if followed by other courts, will reduce the risk of civil False Claims Act liability for companies accused of failing to self-report regulatory violations in settings where self-disclosure is required.
Milberg Weiss and The 'Nigerian Barge' Case
The recent indictment of the securities class-action powerhouse Milberg Weiss Bershad & Schulman and two of its named partners has been the topic of much recent discussion, centering on the law firm's notable refusal to waive the attorney-client privilege during the government investigation, which likely contributed to the government's decision to indict the firm. But the indictment is also notable as the latest high-profile use of the federal mail and wire fraud statutes to combat private-sector corruption.
Need Help?
- Prefer an IP authenticated environment? Request a transition or call 800-756-8993.
- Need other assistance? email Customer Service or call 1-877-256-2472.
MOST POPULAR STORIES
- Major Labels File Lawsuits Over AI Companies' Alleged Copying of 'World's Most Popular' RecordingsMajor record labels including Capitol Records and Sony Music Entertainment sued two music-focused generative artificial intelligence companies, accusing them of "willful copyright infringement on an almost unimaginable scale."Read More ›
- Leveraging the Patent Professional for New Venture DevelopmentBusiness-focused patent protection fundamentally improves the ability of a given product or process to attract a market. It is important for patent professionals to structure regular interactions with business leaders to both impact early business decisions, as well as gain alignment to an individual industry's dynamics. While there can be no fundamental template applicable to all technologies and all business needs, this article is intended to be a guide for efficient integration.Read More ›
- Removing Restrictive Covenants In New YorkIn Rockwell v. Despart, the New York Supreme Court, Third Department, recently revisited a recurring question: When may a landowner seek judicial removal of a covenant restricting use of her land?Read More ›
- When Is a Repair Structural or Nonstructural Under a Commercial Lease?A common question that commercial landlords and tenants face is which of them is responsible for a repair to the subject premises. These disputes often center on whether the repair is "structural" or "nonstructural."Read More ›
- Why So Many Great Lawyers Stink at Business Development and What Law Firms Are Doing About ItWhy is it that those who are best skilled at advocating for others are ill-equipped at advocating for their own skills and what to do about it?Read More ›