In what attorneys say is the first ruling of its kind in Miami-Dade County, a popular retail store on Lincoln Road in Miami Beach is required to pay rent despite hardships caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

A force majeure clause is common in leases and can sometimes allow a party to not fulfill their contract when there is a circumstance beyond their control or an "act of God." 

Guess? Retail Inc., the clothing store, alleged that the COVID-19 pandemic left it unable to pay its rent. The retailer refused to pay after it had to close its operations around March of last year — something Guess said was done to protect the health and safety of customers and employees, and comply with government safety guidelines. 

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Melea VanOstrand

Melea VanOstrand oversees the Daily Business Review as ALM's Florida Bureau Chief. Email Melea at [email protected] or follow her on her Twitter or Facebook pages.