An Orlando, Florida trial court faces an unusual defense in what began as a typical commercial landlord-tenant dispute for back rent and damages for breach of a restaurant's lease. Friday's Orlando Business Journal reports in detail on the litigation. The restaurant is in the heart of Orlando's historic district and the defendant claims that the historic building is haunted. Christopher Chung has refused to move his sushi restaurant into the building because his religious beliefs require him to avoid encountering or having any association with spirits or demons.
In a classic demonstration of alternative defenses, the owner of the building denies there are ghosts in the building, and argues that even if there are ghosts, they do not interfere with the use of the property. In another defense, the owner says it offered to conduct an exorcism to free the property from the ghosts. Finally, the owner argues that the lessor is a corporation, and corporations do not have religious beliefs.
