The Georgia Court of Appeals could decide if guests at extended stays ever become tenants. The question, which went before judges Tuesday, determines whether the hotels must follow state eviction laws.
The three residents of Efficiency Lodge originally filed the lawsuit last fall to keep their housing. They fell behind on rent during the pandemic, and the extended stay was threatening to lock them out.
Former Georgia Gov. Roy Barnes told judges the hotel has that right. He is the attorney for the extended-stay chain, owned by his brother, Ray Barnes. He said every contract describes Efficiency Lodge as a hotel and the people it rents to as guests.
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