Back rent on commercial
If back rent is owed, and the property is sold, lease transferred to new owner, does the previous landlord have a right to collect ?  there was a tenant estoppel signed by all parties that says rents were current

To clarify
I am the tenant
When the building was sold we were already disagreeing in amounts owed
 ( Owner was not a real estate guy)
I was under the impression that when he signed the estoppel-stating that NO RENTS WERE OWED-
this gave me a fresh start with the new owner, the whole point of the estoppel is to protect the new owner, because if there was back rent owed, it might hinder paying the new owner 
Does this make more sense?
Previous owner is now suing me and I'm not sure how to proceed
[{"id": "fjdxyyp", "text": "Usually the contract will say what happens with back rent.", "replies": [], "depth": 1}, {"id": "fjgkuf3", "text": "unless you purchased the debt in the agreement or the debt was assigned to you then typically its still the sellers and they can try to collect if they'd like.  Their methods of collection are of course more limited at this point (they can't recapture the space etc obviously).  If they have back debt and want to sell it to a collection agency or call the tenant and ask to get paid though, yeah they can probably do that.\n\nOutside of being upset they lied on the estoppel, which I get, why do you care?  Assuming you are the new owner, I'd just tell the old one and the tenant none of this involves me and you expect the current rent to be paid promptly to you at this point.\n\nIf this has escalated beyond that and that is not working then lawyer time maybe.  Is the seller telling you that you have to assist in collecting it or something?", "replies": [{"id": "fjgna33", "text": "Thank for saying what I was trying to say. Lawyers probably won't help unless/until there is monetary damage. I'm not an attorney though, ask one if you feel more comfortable.", "replies": [{"id": "fjh2xm5", "text": "Yeah im all for lawyers but I dont even get ops question.  I cant figure out if the seller is trying to shake them down for the back rent or if op wants to go after them for fraud or something.  Guess some clarification on what specifically op is attempting to resolve here would help", "replies": [], "depth": 3}], "depth": 2}], "depth": 1}, {"id": "fjim7nh", "text": "You should speak with a contract attorney to review the governing documents which are the sales contract, lease agreements, and estoppels.", "replies": [], "depth": 1}]