Photo by Chris Rief aka Spodie Odie.

Rogue States — the Dupont Circle burger joint which was forced to closed after a judge ruled it’s burger fumes were wafting in to a neighboring law firm’s office space and causing nausea, headaches and general annoyance — has finally been vindicated. Tim Carman reports that owner Raynold Mendizabal has worked out a deal with the Rogue States’ landlord and will reopen his 1300 Connecticut Avenue NW restaurant in February.

Originally, Mendizabal’s landlord, TRT, refused to allow Mendizabal to build a roof vent which would aim the exhaust fumes away from the complaining law offices at Steptoe and Johnson, despite the fact that Mendizabal willing to do it at his own expense. It sounds like TRT finally realized — although not soon enough to save Mendizabal thousands in legal fees and lost revenue — that people weren’t too thrilled with the way that they were, essentially, screwing the friendly neighborhood burger joint. Chalk one up for burgers and freedom!

Carman also noted that the reopening won’t affect Mendizabal’s intentions to open a second Rogue States at 1931 14th Street NW next spring.