Court Opinion

ID: 9847172
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-09-24 03:55:11.890431+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:17:02.480913
License: Public Domain

*476JUSTICE COMPTON,
dissenting.
I agree with the trial judge’s interpretation of the lease. He determined that the restrictive covenant requires the tenant, or any assignee of the tenant, “to effectively use the entire premises.” Consequently, there has been a clear breach of the lease covenant set forth in Article XIV.
In Virginia, the law is settled that the “most efficacious remedy” for the breach of a lease covenant or restriction is by way of an injunction restraining the breach. Bookman v. Cavalier Court, Inc., 198 Va. 183, 186, 93 S.E.2d 318, 320 (1956). The right to enjoin such a breach of restrictive covenants does not depend upon whether damage has resulted from the breach; “the mere breach is sufficient ground for interference by injunction.” Meagher v. Appalachian Power Co., 195 Va. 138, 147, 77 S.E.2d 461, 466 (1953). And, the grant or refusal of any injunction is within the sound discretion of the chancellor whose findings should not be disturbed unless plainly wrong. Blue Ridge Poultry and Egg Co. v. Clark, 211 Va. 139, 144, 176 S.E.2d 323, 327 (1970).
In my opinion, the trial court did not abuse its discretion, and I cannot say that its findings were plainly wrong. Therefore, I would affirm the award of an injunction.