Owner Wins Chance to Prove Accelerated Rent Claim at Trial

What Happened: Six years into its 10-year term, an owner exercised its lease right to adjust a dental clinic tenant’s rent. But the clinic refused to pay the increase and moved out. The owner claimed the clinic was in default, terminated the lease, and demanded $1.5 million in accelerated rent due over the rest of the term. The clinic argued the accelerated rent clause was an unenforceable penalty and asked the court to dismiss the claim.