Case ID: so2d_813/html/0254-02.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "WARNER, J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

CRUISE.COM, INC., a Delaware corporation, Appellant, v. ELLER DRIVE PROPERTIES, INC., a Florida corporation, Appellee.
    No. 4D01-2489.
    District Court of Appeal of Florida, Fourth District.
    April 10, 2002.
    Mark V. Silverio and Brian M. Silverio of Silverio & Hall, Miami, for appellant.
    Eric D. Isicoff, Teresa Ragatz, and Daniel Stuzin of Isicoff, Ragatz & Koenigs-berg, P.A., Miami, for appellee.
   WARNER, J.

Cruise.com appeals an order granting a motion to enforce a settlement agreement between it and its landlord, Eller Properties. Cruise.com withheld the rent it had agreed to pay under a settlement of a prior dispute, after it had notified the landlord that the premises were untenantable due to a breakdown in the air conditioning system. Cruise.com contends that it was entitled to withhold the rent pursuant to section 83.201, Florida Statutes (2000), which permits rent to be withheld by the tenant where the landlord has “failed or refused” to maintain the premises, “rendering the premises wholly untenantable.” (Emphasis added). The court determined that the landlord never failed or refused to make the necessary repairs, which it completed expeditiously, nor were the premises rendered wholly untenantable, as Cruise.com employees continued to work in the premises. The trial court determined that Cruise.com was never entitled to withhold the rent because the statutory conditions were not met. We conclude that the court’s findings were supported by competent substantial evidence and affirm.

KLEIN and MAY, JJ., concur.