Interstate Restaurants, Inc. v. Halsa Corporation

After extensive negotiations, a detailed agreement entered into in 1961 gave appellant, Interstate Restaurants, Inc. (Interstate), a 21-year leasehold in property owned by appellee, The Halsa Corporation (Halsa). Pursuant to the lease, Interstate commenced the operation of a restaurant, a coffee shop, and a cocktail lounge in the Skyline Inn on I Street in southwest Washington.

The relationship between the landlord and the tenant deteriorated. Approximately nine years after the period of the lease began, Halsa filed a complaint for possession of the premises. The action was predicated on…