In Florida, it is common for shopping centers to have leases with “exclusivity covenants” allowing a commercial business the exclusive right to operate its type of business in the shopping center. For example, a shopping center may have a grocery store as an anchor tenant, i.e., a tenant that provides…
Articles Posted in Real Estate Litigation
FLORIDA BUSINESS LITIGATION: GUARANTORS AND AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSES BASED ON UNDERLYING DEBT
When a guarantor is sued based on an absolute guarantee of a debt, the guarantor may either challenge the validity of the guarantee or show that the guaranteed debt is not owed. Under Florida law, the guarantor can be held liable only when a court determines the guaranty is lawful…
Are handshake agreements binding?
An oral agreement is usually binding but not always. Florida has a statute of frauds so certain types of contracts are not binding unless they’re in writing and signed by the party against whom it’s charged. For example, selling a house or a piece of real property requires a written…
WHAT IS A LEASE GUARANTEE?
A lease guarantee is a promise by somebody to pay the obligations under the lease, separate from the signatory to the lease. This typically will happen where a business owner will lease premises in a shopping center. The business will sign a lease and the landlord of the shopping center…