Opinion ID: 2525539
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: introduction

Text: ¶ 1 Delta Equipment Industrial Systems, Inc. (DEI) appeals the district court's summary judgment dismissing DEI's setoff counterclaim and ruling that DEI is in unlawful detainer of property owned by Benedict Bichler (Bichler). Specifically, DEI challenges the district court's determination that (1) DEI lacked a valid basis for asserting a claim of setoff and (2) DEI's claim of setoff was an improper counterclaim or defense to Bichler's claim of unlawful detainer. ¶ 2 We hold that DEI had a valid basis for asserting an equitable claim of setoff and that the district court erred by finding that DEI could not bring its claim of setoff within the unlawful detainer action. We nonetheless uphold the district court's grant of summary judgment resolving the issue of possession of Bichler's property because DEI's claim of setoff does not directly relate to the issue of possession.