Filaretou v. Christou

This appeal involves a summary proceeding for the removal of a tenant holding over after expiration of a lease. The appellant, Filaretou, was the defendant-tenant below.

The appellant contends that the lower court erred in not permitting him to prove the equitable defenses set up in his answer. An examination of the pleadings and the record shows that the matters sought to be shown as equitable defenses actually, in effect, ask for affirmative relief to show a new lease which is contrary to the provisions of Florida Statute § 52.20, F.S.A.

The lease in question provides:

“ * * * the option of…