Stop & Shot, Inc. v. Ganem
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| Stop & Shot, Inc. v. Ganem | |
| Court | Supreme Court of Massachusetts |
|---|---|
| Citation | 347 Mass. 697 200 N.E.2d 248 (1964) |
| Date decided | 1964 |
Facts
Plaintiff leased a building from defendant for a grocery store, and promised to pay a flat rent plus percentage of sales rent. Then plaintiff opened another competing store within ½ mile, and another one within a mile, and no longer had to pay percentage rent because of the diversion of business.
Procedural History
Defendant sought declaratory relief. Judgment for plaintiff.
Issues
Whether there is in a lease an implied covenant to continue operations and not to open a competing store when the rent is based on income.
Holding
Claim dismissed, and judgment for plaintiff.
Reasons
An apparently substantial minimum rent in a complete written lease gives ground for the inference that fixed rent and the lessee’s self-interest in producing sales is all that the lessor requires.
