Commercial Lease Dispute
Rick Lowell represented the owner of a local gas station convenience store. The State passed new environmental laws regarding service stations, requiring them to perform substantial upgrades and modifications to their underground tanks, fuel pumping and monitoring systems. These changes were expensive; in general expected to cost over a quarter-million dollars. The landlord of the property argued that it was the tenant (i.e. the client gas station owner) who was responsible for the modifications. The lease was ambiguous. Rick represented the station owner and was successful in convincing the court that the upgrade responsibility rested with the landlord. In addition to requiring the landlord to make all of the required changes, Rick also was able to convince the court to order the landlord to pay the tenant's attorney fees.