Walter B. Farnham v. Darrell Windle

CUDAHY, Circuit Judge.

Farnham owned a three-story building in Chicago. He sold the building in 1981, but retained a 510-year lease at an annual rent of one dollar on the third-story front unit. He expected the buyer to convert the building into a condominium, at which time he would purchase his unit. But his plans were foiled in November 1987 by a fire on the first floor of the building. Farnham alleges that his unit was damaged by smoke and water and by holes cut in his roof by the firemen to allow ventilation in their attempts to stop the blaze. The building’s owner refused Farnham’s…