Law.com Subscribers SAVE 30%

Call 855-808-4530 or email [email protected] to receive your discount on a new subscription.

Drafting a More Effective Default Clause

By Adam Leitman Bailey
August 30, 2006

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.

By taking advantage of equitable judicial relief, tenants have been able to avoid having to follow their lease terms, and poorly drafted provisions have permitted tenants to avoid timely payment of their rent and other monies owed under the lease. However, by drafting lease terms 1) that terminate a lease for the chronic nonpayment of rent, 2) that omit any cure period for lease violations, and 3) that make all monies owed under the lease 'additional rent,' many of these problems may be eliminated.

This premium content is locked for Entertainment Law & Finance subscribers only

  • Stay current on the latest information, rulings, regulations, and trends
  • Includes practical, must-have information on copyrights, royalties, AI, and more
  • Tap into expert guidance from top entertainment lawyers and experts

For enterprise-wide or corporate acess, please contact Customer Service at [email protected] or 877-256-2473

Read These Next
The DOJ's Corporate Enforcement Policy: One Year Later Image

The DOJ's Criminal Division issued three declinations since the issuance of the revised CEP a year ago. Review of these cases gives insight into DOJ's implementation of the new policy in practice.

The Bankruptcy Hotline Image

Recent cases of importance to your practice.

Use of Deferred Prosecution Agreements In White Collar Investigations Image

This article discusses the practical and policy reasons for the use of DPAs and NPAs in white-collar criminal investigations, and considers the NDAA's new reporting provision and its relationship with other efforts to enhance transparency in DOJ decision-making.

How AI Has Affected PR Image

When we consider how the use of AI affects legal PR and communications, we have to look at it as an industrywide global phenomenon. A recent online conference provided an overview of the latest AI trends in public relations, and specifically, the impact of AI on communications. Here are some of the key points and takeaways from several of the speakers, who provided current best practices, tips, concerns and case studies.

New York's Latest Cybersecurity Commitment Image

On Aug. 9, 2023, Gov. Kathy Hochul introduced New York's inaugural comprehensive cybersecurity strategy. In sum, the plan aims to update government networks, bolster county-level digital defenses, and regulate critical infrastructure.