Muzzi v. Bel Air Mart

Opinion

HULL, J.

Defendant Bel Air Mart (Bel Air) is the anchor tenant in a shopping center owned by plaintiffs. After a dispute arose over Bel Air’s use of common areas behind the store, plaintiffs filed suit for declaratory relief. The trial court found that Bel Air violated its lease by placing large seasonal storage containers in the center’s parking spaces. However, the court also concluded that Bel Air’s practice of keeping bread racks and similar items in parking spaces was permissible under lease provisions allowing the use of common areas for the loading and unloading of merchandise.

Pla…