Lessee v. Lessor: Latent Defect in Leased Property Fire

A lessee, who had a lease for a property that was destroyed by fire due to faulty electrical wiring, sued the lessor for breach of warranty against latent defects, claiming the wiring presented a defect that made the property unfit for its intended use, while the lessor argued the fire was an unavoidable accident and the lessee was aware of the wiring's age. The court dismissed the appeal, reasoning that a latent defect must be one that substantially compromises the utility of the leased property, and a fire resulting from aging electrical infrastructure, while potentially a cause for liability under other legal theories, did not constitute a latent defect rendering the property entirely unfit for its intended use at the time of the lease, particularly as the lessee did not prove the defect existed and was unknown at the time of contracting.