Shadkor

INTRODUCTION

This appeal arises out of a dispute between Shadkor, Inc., dba Milt and Edie’s Master Dry Cleaners (Shadkor) on the one hand, and Volwood Management Company, L.P. (Volwood) and Pass Avenue Partnership (PAP) (collectively, the Landlords) on the other, over the terms of a commercial lease.1 After a jury trial during which Shadkor and the Landlords presented conflicting testimony regarding their intentions when they negotiated the lease and amendments to it, the jury found in favor of Shadkor on its breach of contract claims.2 On appeal, the Landlords contend: (1) the trial court erred by permitting the jury to decide issues the court previously determined as a matter of law in connection with Shadkor’s motion for summary adjudication; and (2) the trial court abused its discretion by denying the Landlords’ motion to bifurcate the trial. We reject both contentions and affirm. We also find the lease agreement between the parties entitles Shadkor to an award of attorneys’ fees on appeal, and remand to the trial court to calculate the amount of those fees.

FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

Shadkor is a family-owned laundry and dry-cleaning business. Since 1988, Shadkor…