Dean's Catering v. Sturm & Associates

Eldridge, Judge.

Rhonda Berry d/b/a Dean’s Catering, a commercial tenant, signed a lease with Sturm & Associates, which provided for a monthly rent of $1,000. Berry began withholding rent because of alleged leaks in the roof of the shop. Sturm filed a dispossessory action against Berry in the Magistrate Court of Gwinnett County. Following trial, the magistrate court ruled in favor of Sturm, awarding possession of the premises and back rent.

Berry filed an appeal in the Superior Court of Gwinnett County seeking de novo review of the magistrate’s order. By agreement of the parties, the case went…