Brewster v. Kable News Co.

262 A.D. 894, 28 N.Y.S.2d 849, 1941 N.Y. App. Div. LEXIS 6419

Opinion

Action on contract. Order striking out the defenses contained in paragraphs numbered “ Fourth ” to “ Twentieth ” of the answer herein, granting plaintiff’s motion, and denying defendant’s cross-motion for judgment on the pleadings and for summary judgment, and judgment entered thereon, in so far as appealed from, reversed on the law and the facts, with ten dollars costs and disbursements, plaintiff’s motion denied, and defendant’s cross-motion granted with ten dollars costs, and judgment directed to be entered in favor of defendant. As we construe the contract, the contingency relieving defendant of its obligation to pay plaintiff forty dollars a week for life is the discontinuance by defendant “ and/or its successors or assigns ” of the publication of the magazines by reason of the same being an unprofitable venture. In our opinion the undisputed facts clearly establish that the contingency did occur and that defendant’s obligation to plaintiff terminated upon the appointment of the equity receiver. The equity receiver and the purchaser at the judicial sale are not the successors or assigns of defendant within the contemplation of the contract. (Hanna v. Florence Iron Co., 222 N. Y. 290; Fidelity Trust Co. v. Brooklyn Properties Corp., 229 App. Div. 544.) Lazansky, P. J., Hagarty and Johnston, JJ., concur; Carswell and Close, JJ., dissent and vote to affirm the order and the judgment.