Commercial Tenant Prevails in CAM Dispute – Capital Expenditures Misclassified; Damages and Attorneys’ Fees Awarded to Tenant

In February 2026, Senior Attorney Sonia Mann successfully defended a commercial tenant in a significant CAM (Common Area Maintenance) charge dispute arising under a retail lease.

The dispute involved charges that had been billed to the tenant as CAM expenses, including costs associated with a full roof replacement of the commercial building. After a meticulous review of the lease and supporting invoices, Ms. Mann identified that several of the charges were improperly classified capital expenditures. Under the lease terms, those capital improvements were not recoverable as CAM and should not have been passed through to the tenant.

Through ritten and deposition discovery, Ms. Mann and her team demonstrated that the charges were incorrectly assessed. As a result, the landlord withdrew its claims and the dispute in its entirety. In addition, pursuant to the lease’s fee-shifting provisions, Parikh Law Group recovered damages and the attorneys’ fees incurred by their client in addressing the improper billing and dispute.

This outcome underscores the importance of careful lease drafting and thorough review of CAM provisions. It also highlights the value of close attention to fee-shifting clauses, which can significantly impact the financial outcome in commercial lease disputes.

Parikh Law Group remains committed to protecting commercial tenants through diligent contract analysis and strategic advocacy.