Law.com Subscribers SAVE 30%

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

Cleaning up After Debtor/Tenants

BY Adam J. Rosen
February 26, 2008

The scenario is not all that unusual. The debtor files Chapter 11, rejects a commercial real property lease and moves out ' except the debtor leaves behind unwanted equipment, debris, and sometimes, damaged property. The landlord then has to clean up the property and make any necessary repairs, and as a result, has a claim against the debtor for those costs. Courts have reached conflicting conclusions regarding whether clean-up and repair costs are capped under Code
' 502(b)(6). The Ninth Circuit's recent decision in In re El Toro Materials Co., Inc., 504 F.3d 978 (9th Cir. 2007) has cleared up some of the confusion by reversing in part In re McSheridan, 184 B.R. 91 (B.A.P. 9th Cir. 1995), a Ninth Circuit BAP decision which held that a landlord's entire claim was capped. Several other courts have relied on the McSheridan decision, including In re Foamex International, Inc., 368 B.R. 383 (Bankr. D. Del. 2007), a recent Delaware bankruptcy court decision.

Capping Cleanup Costs

Section 502(b)(6) is a legislative compromise ' it limits landlords' claims in order to avoid depletion of estates, which would prevent distributions to other creditors. But, did Congress intend to cap all damages, or only damages from the loss of future rental income?

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
Yachts, Jets, Horses & Hooch: Specialized Commercial Leasing Models Image

Defining commercial real estate asset class is essentially a property explaining how it identifies — not necessarily what its original intention was or what others think it ought to be. This article discusses, from a general issue-spot and contextual analysis perspective, how lawyers ought to think about specialized leasing formats and the regulatory backdrops that may inform what the documentation needs to contain for compliance purposes.

Hyperlinked Documents: The Latest e-Discovery Challenge Image

As courts and discovery experts debate whether hyperlinked content should be treated the same as traditional attachments, legal practitioners are grappling with the technical and legal complexities of collecting, analyzing and reviewing these documents in real-world cases.

Identifying Your Practice's Differentiator Image

How to Convey Your Merits In a Way That Earns Trust, Clients and Distinctions Just as no two individuals have the exact same face, no two lawyers practice in their respective fields or serve clients in the exact same way. Think of this as a "Unique Value Proposition." Internal consideration about what you uniquely bring to your clients, colleagues, firm and industry can provide untold benefits for your law practice.

Risks and Ad Fraud Protection In Digital Advertising Image

The ever-evolving digital marketing landscape, coupled with the industry-wide adoption of programmatic advertising, poses a significant threat to the effectiveness and integrity of digital advertising campaigns. This article explores various risks to digital advertising from pixel stuffing and ad stacking to domain spoofing and bots. It will also explore what should be done to ensure ad fraud protection and improve effectiveness.

Turning Business Development Plans Into Reality Image

This article offers practical insights and best practices to navigate the path from roadmap to rainmaking, ensuring your business development efforts are not just sporadic bursts of activity, but an integrated part of your daily success.