Detroit-Pontiac Investment Co. v. Heitsch

270 N.W. 265, 278 Mich. 197, 1936 Mich. LEXIS 850

• Court: Michigan Supreme Court
• Decided: December 9, 1936
• Docket: Docket No. 4, Calendar No. 38,400.
• Status: Published

Opinion

Fead, J.

In November, 1927, plaintiff leased to defendant the entire second floor of a building “subject to month to month tenancy of the present occupants,” to whom plaintiff gave written notice of the lease and advice that they must arrange with defendant for further occupancy. Defendant’s lease terminated in October, 1929, and this action was brought to recover the last four months’ rent. Plaintiff had judgment on trial before the court.

Among the tenants so notified were V. L. Adams, a news dealer, and B. A. Monteith, a milliner, who occupied space on the first floor and used rooms on the second floor in connection therewith. After the lease to defendant, plaintiff continued to collect from such tenants the same rent it had charged them before such letting to defendant.

Prom the latter fact alone defendant contends that plaintiff continued to collect rent from Adams and Monteith for second floor occupancy; that such collection amounted to a partial eviction of defendant which exempted him from the payment of rent; and also that it entitled him to a set-off in the amount of the rental value of the second floor space occupied by Adams and Monteith, on the theory of money had and received by plaintiff for defendant’s benefit.

Defendant’s contention may be attacked from several sides, but it is sufficient to note that the record does not indicate that, after the lease to defendant, any part of the rent paid by Adams and Monteith to plaintiff represented use of second floor space nor that plaintiff attempted to exercise any control over the second story.

Affirmed, with costs.

North, C. J., and Wiest, Bushnell, Sharpe, and Toy, JJ., concurred. Potter and Butzel, JJ., did not sit.