Opinion ID: 2299034
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: introduction

Text: Three issues are raised by the parties: (1) whether the 1999 judgment was final; (2) if so, whether it was subject to being reopened and modified on the ground of fraud; and (3) if the judgment was subject to being reopened, whether the trial court erred in determining that demolition of the building, by effecting a surrender of the lease, terminated Circuit City's obligation for further payment of rent damages. We shall conclude that the 1999 judgment was final, that there was no fraud on Rockville's part that would justify a reopening of that judgment, and that the trial court therefore erred in considering, in the context of a motion to vacate or modify that judgment, whether demolition of the building terminated Circuit City's contractual obligation to pay rent damages. That does not end the matter, however. It is clear under the lease that Circuit City is entitled to credit against its continuing obligation for amounts received by Rockville pursuant to its lease with Food Lion, and, to the extent there is a dispute as to the amount of credit to which Circuit City is entitled, that Circuit City is entitled to a judicial determination of that dispute. Although the 1999 judgment may not be reopened, and there is no reason to reopen it, Circuit City is not precluded from seeking post-judgment relief in the Circuit Court to resolve the dispute over the amount of credit to which it is entitled. Because it is clear that there is such a dispute, we shall, pursuant to Maryland Rule 8-604(d), remand that aspect of the case for further proceedings and, for the guidance of the court on remand, shall make clear our view that, although demolition of the building by Food Lion, pursuant to its lease, did not serve to terminate Circuit City's obligation to continue payment of rent damages, the court, in determining the proper credit to be applied against that obligation, must consider the full net economic benefit to Rockville from the Food Lion lease, in accordance with Paragraph 24 of the Rockville-Circuit City lease.