Bandbox Sportswear, Inc. v. Fashion Wear Realty Co.

33 A.D.2d 537, 304 N.Y.S.2d 275, 1969 N.Y. App. Div. LEXIS 3176

• Court: Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York
• Decided: October 7, 1969
• Status: Published

Opinion

Order, entered January 6, 1969, unanimously reversed, on the law, with $50 costs and disbursements to the appellant, and plaintiff’s motion to dismiss defense granted, with costs. In this action by a tenant against a landlord to recover damages sustained by the-plaintiff as a result of an explosion and fire in the central heating system in the building, section 5-321 of the General Obligations. Law precludes a defense based on the pleaded covenant in the lease insofar as such covenant purports to exempt the landlord from liability for its negligence. The defense may not be sustained on the theory that it is merely a “ mutual covenant of waiver ” of the rights of the parties against each other to the extent that the damages were covered by insurance agreed to be procured by the parties to cover their respective damages caused by an accident. In this connection, it may he noted that the defense, as alleged, does not contain a statement that the tenant’s damages were covered in whole or in part by insurance issued to it or that the tenant had received insurance proceeds in satisfaction in whole or in part of its damages. Concur — Eager, J. P., Capozzoli, Tilzer, McGivern and Markewieh, JJ.