Lessor's Right to Rent Arrears After Lessee's Unilateral Abandonment

A lower court had incorrectly dismissed a claim for rent arrears and damages against a lessee who had abandoned leased commercial premises before the lease expired, despite the contract stipulating the lessee remained liable for the rent for the entire term unless the lessor consented to a termination or the lease was validly terminated by mutual agreement or court order. The Supreme Court held that the lower court's reasoning was flawed because the lessee's unilateral abandonment did not extinguish their contractual obligation to pay rent for the full duration of the lease, and thus the lessor was entitled to the arrears and damages, necessitating the quashing of the judgment.