Court Opinion

ID: 9614689
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-22 04:27:14.678812+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:03:38.202542
License: Public Domain

Sanders, Chief Judge
(concurring):
On the issue of whether Bi-Lo breached the lease, I would affirm for a slightly different reason than the reason stated by the majority (or, perhaps, for the same reason, less elaborately stated). The lease required that “[t]he leased premises shall be used only for the operation of a supermarket.” There is abundant evidence from which it can be inferred that Bi-Lo did not merely allow the premises to stand vacant but, in fact, affirmatively used the premises for a purpose not allowed by the lease; namely, as part of a scheme to stifle competition. The existence of the scheme, *523and how the premises was used in carrying it out, can be inferred from the testimony of Mr. Schafer. Corroborating evidence is found in the testimony of Mr. Kapp as to what Mr. Adamson had advised him. (The testimony of both witnesses is adequately summarized in the opinion of the majority.) For this reason, I would affirm the conclusion of the trial judge that Bi-Lo breached the lease.