1. What are the trends regarding shopping malls and 'bricks and mortar' stores? How is this impacting retail stores and chains?
2. What is a lease? What are some common terms in a lease?
3. What is bankruptcy? What are the various types of bankruptcy? Which types of bankruptcy would be options for retail stores discussed in this article?
4. The article discusses changes to leases. What are some the changes the parties might wish to make? Why would they be interested in and willing to make those changes?
5. Is a lease a valid contract? Are the retail stores featured in the article in breach of the contract? Why or why not?
6. How does U.S. law allow for parties to a contract to renegotiate changes to that contract? Why might a landlord be required to makes changes to the contract? Why might a landlord want to agree to changes?