Craven v. Coplika

171 A. 802, 12 N.J. Misc. 369, 1934 N.J. Misc. LEXIS 12
CourtUnited States District Court
DecidedMarch 19, 1934
StatusPublished

This text of 171 A. 802 (Craven v. Coplika) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States District Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Craven v. Coplika, 171 A. 802, 12 N.J. Misc. 369, 1934 N.J. Misc. LEXIS 12 (usdistct 1934).

Opinion

Eggerh, J.

This is an action in dispossession brought by the mortgagee in possession for the premises located at 280 Monmouth street in the city of Jersey City, New Jersey. Plaintiff relies on sections 107, 108 of the District Court act (2 Comp. Stat., p. 1988) and sections 18A and 18B of the Landlord and Tenant act (3 Comp. Stat., pp. 3070, 3071) for her right to maintain this action. Although not specifically stated but argued in plaintiff’s brief, section 26 of the Landlord and Tenant act, supra, is also relied upon. Section 26 reads as follows:

“Nothing herein contained shall extend to vacate or affect any attornment made pursuant to, or in consequence of, some judgment of law, or decree or order of a court of equity, or made with the privity and consent of the landlord or landlords-lessor or lessors, or to any mortgagee after the mortgage has become forfeited."

[370]*370A motion to strike out the summons in dispossession on the ground of lack of jurisdiction is before the court for determination.

The facts in the case follow:

On or about January 29th, 1934, the plaintiff commenced an action in the Court of Chancery of New Jersey for the foreclosure of the mortgage on the premises in question and the said action is now pending and undetermined. It appears that plaintiff has not applied for a receiver of rents. On January 22d, 1934, the plaintiff caused to be served upon the tenants the following notice:

“To the tenants of No. 280 Monmouth Street, Jersey City, N. J.:

Take notice, that Helen F. Craven, as executrix under the last will and testament of Michael Craven, deceased, has taken possession of the premises known as No. 280 Monmouth Street, Jersey City, New Jersey, as mortgagee, and as mortgagee in possession, is entitled to receive the rents of the premises in which you are a tenant. That she has designated John Craven & Son Company, of No. 225 Montgomery Street, Jersey City, New Jersey, as her agent, to operate, manage and maintain the said premises as her agent, to rent the premises and collect the rents, and any matters pertaining to the rent in your possession of the said premises, should be taken up with them.

Helen F. Craven,
Dated January 22d, 1934. As executrix, &c.”

The tenants refused and failed to pay the rent to plaintiff, whereupon these suits were commenced on February 20th, 1934.

The primary question before the court is this:

“Does the affidavit contain averments sufficient to create the existence of the relation of landlord and tenant.”

The right of the court to take jurisdiction must depend on the facts alleged:

“Where the facts stated in the affidavit do not show the existence of the relation of landlord and tenant, the court [371]*371does not acquire jurisdiction, though such relation is stated in the affidavit as a conclusion of law.” Gray v. Reynolds, 67 N. J. L. 169; 50 Atl. Rep. 670.

And if it appears that such facts do not create the existence of the relations demanded by the statute, then the action must fail for lack of jurisdiction. There is no other alternative open to the court.

“Proceedings to dispossess the tenant are entirely statutory and the statute must be strictly followed to warrant a judgment of dispossession.” Arnheiter v. McAghon, 96 N. J. L. 70; 114 Atl. Rep. 752.

The affidavits in the matter sub judice are substantially as follows:

“First District Court op Jersey City.
State of New Jersey, County of Hudson, City of Jersey City, ss:
Helen F. Craven, executrix under the last will and testament of Michael Craven, deceased, mortgagee in possession, plaintiff, v. Basil Coplika, defendant.
In dispossession.

Mildred Tyler, being duly sworn, says that she is the secretary to John Craven & Son Co., the duly authorized agent, to rent, collect rent, and dispossess tenants, of into and for premises of the above named plaintiff, landlord, that the .above named defendant is now in occupancy and the possession of part of a certain house and premises of the above named plaintiff, situate in the City of Jersey City, in said County and State, and known and designated as second floor north, No. 280 Monmouth St., in said Jersey City, under an agreement made by and between the above named plaintiff and the above named defendant, Tenant in possession when we took charge on or about 22d day of January, A. D. 1934, whereby the above named plaintiff, let and rented said premises to the above named defendant for the term of one month and thence from month to month thereafter, from the 22d day of January, A. D. 1934, at the monthly rent of $23 dollars, payable monthly in advance, that the said defendant thereupon entered into possession of said premises as tenant [372]*372thereof, by virtue of the said agreement, and is now indebted to the above named plaintiff in the sum of $46 dollars, $23 to Feb. 1, 1934; $23 to Mar. 1, 1934, for rent of the said premises, due on the 1st day of February, A. D. 1934.

And deponent further says, that the said defendant has not paid the rent or delivered up the possession of the said premises; but that he has made default in payment of the said rent, and holds over and continues in possession of the said premises, without permission of the above named plaintiff.

Mildred Tyler.
Sworn and subscribed this 19th day of February, A. D. 1934, before me at Jersey City.
William Brown,
Notary Public of New Jersey

A perusal of the affidavit, supra, and the others .are identical, discloses that:

“Helen F. Craven is the executrix under the last will and testament of Michael Craven, deceased, mortgagee in possession; that Mildred Tyler is the secretary to John Craven & Son Co., who are the duly authorized agents, to rent, collect rent, and dispossess tenants, of unto and for the premises of the above named plaintiff landlord.”

Ergo j if the status of the plaintiff mortgagee in the instant case is that of a landlord, then she is entitled to maintain this action, and the jurisdiction of the court is established. The court perceives no such relationship in the instant case.

In the case of Hinck v. Cohn, 86 N. J. L. 617; 92 Atl. Rep. 378, in an opinion rendered by Mr. Justice Trenchard for the Court of Errors and Appeals, it was held that:

“After there has been a default, the mortgagee is entitled to possession, and has a right to collect rents after he has been put into constructive possession by the attornment of the tenant.” Citing Mershon v. Castree, 57 N. J. L. 484; 31 Atl. Rep. 662; Shields v. Lozear, 34 N. J. L. 496; Sanderson v. Price, 21 Id. 637.

[373]*373In Stanton v. Metropolitan Lumber Co., 107 N. J. Eq. 345; 152 Atl. Rep.

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152 A. 457 (New Jersey Court of Chancery, 1930)
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154 A. 860 (New Jersey Court of Chancery, 1931)
Stanton v. Metropolitan Lumber Co.
152 A. 653 (New Jersey Court of Chancery, 1930)
Stewart v. Fairchild-Baldwin Co.
106 A. 406 (New Jersey Court of Chancery, 1919)
Gray v. Reynolds
50 A. 670 (Supreme Court of New Jersey, 1901)
Hinck v. Cohn
92 A. 378 (Supreme Court of New Jersey, 1914)
Arnheiter v. McAghon
114 A. 752 (Supreme Court of New Jersey, 1921)

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Bluebook (online)
171 A. 802, 12 N.J. Misc. 369, 1934 N.J. Misc. LEXIS 12, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/craven-v-coplika-usdistct-1934.