Can a landlord bill for $7k in back utilities after 10 years?

[Johann Jells]

This story came up on another site. Lease says tenant pays 1/3 of the utility bill. Landlord maybe bills once but never collects, then 10 years after the lease has gone MtM presents them with a $7000 bill. Sounds to me like he's got no chance, there's got to be some precedent set by never billing and collecting, right? I've never heard of such an open ended liability.