Matthew Sheridan was a minor when he rented a second-floor apartment in Omaha, Nebraska, from Webster Street Partnership (“the Landlord”). After a couple of months, Sheridan was unable to pay the rent and decided to abandon the apartment and move back home with his parents. The Landlord sued to collect unpaid rents.

CASE QUESTIONS

1. Could the Landlord collect the unpaid rent from Sheridan?

2. In answering the above question, should it matter that Sheridan had chosen to voluntarily leave his parents’ home, with the understanding that he could return whenever he desired? What if Sheridan had been an orphan with no home to go back to?