Snyder v. Exum

This appeal focuses upon the meaning of a rent acceleration clause in a written lease. We must first determine whether the clause is mandatory or optional. Once we resolve that question, we must then decide whether the lessor, in suing for rent from a defaulting lessee, was required, in light of the acceleration clause, to institute a single suit to collect all the rent at one time or whether he had the option to bring multiple suits to collect the rent as it accrued.

Harry L. Snyder owned an office building in Virginia Beach. On July 24, 1979, Snyder entered into a lease with Joseph L. Exum,…