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The Leasing Hotline

By ALM Staff | Law Journal Newsletters |
November 21, 2008

Size of Premises

Where the facts show that the size of the premises was misrepresented, a tenant may have a right to a trial and an accounting and declaratory relief. McClain v. Octagon Plaza, LLC, B194037, Court of Appeal of California, Second Appellate District, Division Four, Jan. 31, 2008.

The tenant commenced an action for misrepresentation, breach of the covenant of good faith and fair dealing, consumer credit reporting violations, and accounting and declaratory relief. The landlord filed a demurrer; the court sustained it with leave to amend on the claims of misrepresentation, breach of the covenant of good faith and fair dealing and declaratory relief, but held a bench trial on the remaining claims of consumer credit reporting violations and an accounting. The tenant alleged that the landlord had misrepresented the size of the premises and charged her an excessive percentage of common expenses. The landlord argued that the lease agreement contained a disclaimer stating that the tenant had been given an opportunity to inspect the premises. The court held that the landlord was entitled to obtain the tenant's credit report, and the tenant had no right to an accounting. The appellate court reversed with regard to the tenant's claims for misrepresentation, an accounting and declaratory relief. It held that the disclaimer did not insulate the landlord from liability and did not establish that the tenant's reliance on the alleged misrepresentation was unjustifiable. The tenant was further entitled to an accounting limited to the disclosure of the documents supporting the tenant's share of the common expenses to verify that the listed expenses were incurred and that the amounts charged to the tenant were accurate. It further held that the landlord was entitled to choose the method of presentation of these documents to the tenant. Finally, because the complaint adequately alleged fraud based upon misrepresentations regarding the tenant's proper base rent and share of common expenses, the tenant was entitled to a claim for declaratory relief.

Size of Premises

Where the facts show that the size of the premises was misrepresented, a tenant may have a right to a trial and an accounting and declaratory relief. McClain v. Octagon Plaza, LLC, B194037, Court of Appeal of California, Second Appellate District, Division Four, Jan. 31, 2008.

The tenant commenced an action for misrepresentation, breach of the covenant of good faith and fair dealing, consumer credit reporting violations, and accounting and declaratory relief. The landlord filed a demurrer; the court sustained it with leave to amend on the claims of misrepresentation, breach of the covenant of good faith and fair dealing and declaratory relief, but held a bench trial on the remaining claims of consumer credit reporting violations and an accounting. The tenant alleged that the landlord had misrepresented the size of the premises and charged her an excessive percentage of common expenses. The landlord argued that the lease agreement contained a disclaimer stating that the tenant had been given an opportunity to inspect the premises. The court held that the landlord was entitled to obtain the tenant's credit report, and the tenant had no right to an accounting. The appellate court reversed with regard to the tenant's claims for misrepresentation, an accounting and declaratory relief. It held that the disclaimer did not insulate the landlord from liability and did not establish that the tenant's reliance on the alleged misrepresentation was unjustifiable. The tenant was further entitled to an accounting limited to the disclosure of the documents supporting the tenant's share of the common expenses to verify that the listed expenses were incurred and that the amounts charged to the tenant were accurate. It further held that the landlord was entitled to choose the method of presentation of these documents to the tenant. Finally, because the complaint adequately alleged fraud based upon misrepresentations regarding the tenant's proper base rent and share of common expenses, the tenant was entitled to a claim for declaratory relief.

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