Bolding v. Clanton

1955 OK 155, 285 P.2d 213, 1955 Okla. LEXIS 701
CourtSupreme Court of Oklahoma
DecidedMay 17, 1955
DocketNo. 36627
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 1955 OK 155 (Bolding v. Clanton) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of Oklahoma primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Bolding v. Clanton, 1955 OK 155, 285 P.2d 213, 1955 Okla. LEXIS 701 (Okla. 1955).

Opinion

HALLEY, Justice.

C. C. Clanton and .wife, referred to as Lessors, owned a tract of land facing south [215]*215600 feet on Southeast 29th Street in Oklahoma City and extending 600 feet north, They had erected a home and other improvements upon this land.

On September 28, 1952, Lessors entered into a written lease contract with H. W. Bolding, Jr. and C. W. Pruett, herein referred to as Lessees, whereby Lessors leased to Lessees a portion of the above land, facing 130 feet on Southeast 29th Street and extending north 150 feet, for filling station purposes. In January, 1953, H. W. Bolding, Jr. transferred his interest in the lease contract to his father, H. W. Bolding, Sr.

The following provisions of the lease contract are necessary to an understanding of the issues involved:

(a) The term of the leasé was 10 years from September 28, 1952, with an option to renew for an additional 10 years.

(b) The rental was $100 per month' payable in advance on the first day of each month. If any installment of rent due was not paid within the 10 days from date of maturity, notice by registered mail should lie given by Lessors, who might terminate the lease on 30 days notice if rent was not paid.

(c) Any permanent type structures placed on the land by Lessees during the term of the lease should not be removed at the termination of lease but were to become the property of Lessors.

(d) Lessees agreed to erect a 4 foot cyclone fence on steel posts from the south line to a point 10 feet north of the filling station building, and to use the premises for a general filling station business for motor vehicles.

It is agreed that Lessees entered upon the leased land and erected a permanent type filling station building and began business in November, 1952, but did not build the fence described and agreed to be built by them in the lease contract.

Early in May, 1953, C. C. Clanton had a contractor erect some steel posts 20 feet north of the filling station building. He claims that this was done under an agreement with Lessees who told him they were short of funds and could not erect the fence and agreed that it be erected by the Lessors and Lessees would surrender the leased land north of the fence,

About May 15, 1953, H. W. Bolding, Sr., told C. C. Clanton that the latter was taking leased ground without authority, de-dared the lease contract broken and demanded a new lease at one-half the current rental. The Clantons refused to make a new lease contract. This was the first notice they knew of H. W. Bolding, Sr.’s in.terest in the lease. The rent had been paid up to June 1, 1953.

Qn May 20, 1953, this action was filed by Lessees praying for actual, damages in the sum of $8,500 and $5,000 punitive damages. Wrongful invasion, of the leased premises and malicious invasion of the rights of Lessees and a constructive eviction from the leased premises were also alleged.

The Lessors answered by general denial and filed a cross-petition praying judgment for the rentals then due; alleged that Lessees had violated the lease agreement; prayed that the lease be cancelled and Lessors’ title quieted and for possession of the land. ‘ ’

June 12, 1953, Lessors served notice of default in the payment of rent. June 30, 1953, the Lessees deposited' $100 with the clerk of the District Court with a proviso that this sum was “ * * * to be paid back to plaintiffs (Lessees) if they prevail and is subject to the order of the court if defendants (Lessors) prevail.” No notice of this deposit was served on Lessors and no order of the court was made in regard -thereto.

July 14, 1953, Lessors served Lessees with “30 days notice of termination clause” for non-payment of rent and to vacate the premises unless lease was reinstated. No rent wás paid and on August 16, 1953, a “Notice to quit before action for Forceable Entry, etc.” was filed according to 39 O.S. 1951 § 395> and was served on Lessees,

September 16, 1953-, Lessors filed an action for possession in the Justice of the Peace Court. The Lessees answered and on September 22, 1953, judgment was rendered giving Lessors possession. Les[216]*216sees appealed to the Court of Common Pleas, but on December 9, 1953, dismissed their appeal, making judgment for possession in the Justice of the Peace Court final.

Upon the trial of the present case, the court submitted the case to the jury which found that the Lessors were entitled to collect rent from June 1, 1953, to December 9, 1953, at $100 per month, or $630. The parties stipulated the issues to be submitted to the jury in a form of verdict. The jury found for the Lessors for $630 but found nothing for Lessees. The judgment can-celled the lease contract, cleared the title of Lessors and adjudged them to be the owners of all improvements' placed on the leased premises by Lessees.

The Lessees have appealed and we will discuss the four propositions submitted in the order presented. In the first proposition it is claimed that:

“It is a necessary implication of every valid contract with covenants binding each party that neither will interfere to prevent performance by the other.”

Under the above statement, the Lessees quote at length from the testimony of H. W. Bolding, Sr., to the effect that the Lessors wrongfully encroached upon the leasehold property and made normal operations of a filling station business impossible and destroyed the legitimate purposes of the lease. They ignored the testimony introduced by the Lessors which flatly contradicted the testimony relied upon by the Lessees.

There is ample competent evidence to sustain the findings of the jury and the court to the effect that Lessees. were entitled to no damages whatever for the alleged interference by the Lessors in the operation • of the filling station business. The. jury found for the Lessors under their cross-petition and fixed their recovery at $630, the exact amount of rent that had not been paid while Lessors occupied .and conducted their business upon the leased premises. Under the ruling of Smith v. Barry, 208 Okl. 606, 258 P.2d 165, and numerous other cases cited to the effect that where there is competent evidence to support the verdict of a jury and judgment 'based thereon such judgment will not be disturbed upon appeal.

The second proposition submitted is as follows:

“On breach of contract of lease by defendants and/or encroachment on property rights belonging to plaintiffs, acquired by said lease, these plaintiffs have right of recoupment for damages.”

We find that the above proposition, like the first, is correct as an abstract proposition of law, but under the facts before us they are not applicable here. In response to the second proposition, Lessors counter with the well established rule that where ■errors in instructions are not specifically pointed out in conformity with Rule 15 of this Court, 12 O.S.A. c. 15, Appendix, and supported in the brief of the parties complaining, any errors in instructions will be treated as waived and cite in support thereof the case of Bredy v. Cantrell, 205 Okl. 9, 234 P.2d 381, and other cases. No complaint of instructions given or refused is urged in the brief of the Lessees and any complaint involving the instructions of the. court must be considered as waived.

For their third proposition, Lessees submit:

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Bluebook (online)
1955 OK 155, 285 P.2d 213, 1955 Okla. LEXIS 701, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/bolding-v-clanton-okla-1955.