Hansen v. Greenspan

1 Mass. App. Div. 26
CourtMassachusetts District Court, Appellate Division
DecidedJanuary 6, 1936
StatusPublished

This text of 1 Mass. App. Div. 26 (Hansen v. Greenspan) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Massachusetts District Court, Appellate Division primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Hansen v. Greenspan, 1 Mass. App. Div. 26 (Mass. Ct. App. 1936).

Opinion

Hibbard, P. J.

This is an action of contract before us on a report erroneously captioned “Draft Report”. The Declaration is in two counts. The first count in substance alleges that the defendant owes the plaintiff the sum of eighty-five ($85.) dollars for use and occupation of a certain tenement from March 9, 1935 to April 9, 1935. The second count alleges that the defendant is the head of a family and that the rent due the plaintiff from March 9, 1935 to April 9, 1935 is for necessaries for the use and occupation of a dwelling house. Both counts are for the same cause of action. The defendant’s answer was a general denial and allegation of payment. The only person to testify at the trial was the defendant. This testimony is set forth in substance in the finding of fact made by the Court hereinafter referred to.

At the close of the trial and before the final argument, the defendant made the following requests for rulings:

“1. A husband holding possession under his wife’s right is not a tenant at sufferance, and is, therefore, not liable for use and occupation if he continues to hold the premises under his wife’s right. Merrill v. Bullock, 105 Mass. 486.
2. No action can be maintained by the power of an estate in lands against one who never occupied under agreement, permission, or assent, expressed or implied, between the occupant and the owner, or any one in privity with him. Merrill v. Bullock, 105 Mass. 486.
3. Assuming that the defendant is the head of a family, his occupation of the premises must be referred to his wife’s interest in them and be deemed to have [28]*28been with, her license or permission. Kirchgassner v. Rodick, 170 Mass. 543, 49 N. E. 1015.
4. The plaintiff cannot recover unless they can show that the defendant occupied the premises as the plaintiff’s tenant under a contract, expressed or implied. A contract cannot be implied where there is no privity between the parties and where the defendant denied the plaintiff’s right to assert any claim or title against the defendant for rent. Burke vs. Willard, 243 Mass. 547; 137 N. E. 744.
5. The burden of proof is on the plaintiffs to show that the defendant neglected or refused to supply his wife with what was necessary for decency and comfort. Richardson v. Payne, 114 Mass. 429.
6. There was no agreement between the parties as to payment of rent.
7. No contract expressed or implied was ever entered into between the parties.
8. The defendant cannot be held liable to the plaintiff for the use and occupation of the premises because the defendant cannot be considered a tenant.
9. After lawful entry by a mortgagee, the mortgagor may become a tenant at sufferance but as such it is doubtful whether he is liable for use and occupation under General Laws chapter 186, section 3. The defendant in this case not being the mortgagor there is clearly no liability, for rent or for use and occupation, to the plaintiff. Burke v. Willard, 243 Mass. 547; Merrill v. Bullock, 105 Mass. 485; Morse v. Merritt, 110 Mass. 458; Porter v. Hubbard, 134 Mass. 233; Murray v. Riley, 140 Mass. 490; Carpenter v. Allen, 189 Mass. 246.
10. Upon all the law and the evidence and the pleadings, the Oourt should find for the defendant.”

Of these rulings, the first, second and fourth were granted as propositions of law. The rest were denied. The finding of fact by the Trial Judge was as follows:

“I find that the defendant Abraham Greenspan is the head of a family consisting of his wife, Clara M. Greenspan, and their two children. On June 8, 1934, the said Clara M. Greenspan gave to the plaintiffs a [29]*29mortgage on land situate at 27 Colt Street in Holyoke, where the defendant and his family were then living.

On March 8, 1935, an open, peaceable and unopposed entry was made on the premises described in said mortgage in the usual form. On March 8, 1935, the following letter was written to and received by the defendant:

‘March 8, 1935.
Mr. Abraham Greenspan 27 Colt Street Holyoke, Mass.
Dear Sir:
You are hereby notified that I have made an entry for foreclosure on the property occupied by you, and that from this day on, you are to pay rent to us for the use of the premises, #27 Colt Street, Holyoke, Mass, at the rate of eighty-five dollars ($85.00) per month; payable in advance.
Very truly yours,
Ida S. Hansen and John E. Hansen by Benjamin F. Evarts, Their Attorney.’

On March 11, 1935, the defendant wrote to, and the plaintiffs received the following letter:

‘March 11, 1935.
Mrs. Ida S. Hansen, 6 Thorpe Avenue Holyoke, Mass.
Dear Madam:
I wish to acknowledge your letter of March 8th for you by Attorney Benjamin F. Evarts.
Please take notice that under no circumstances, directly or indirectly will I enter into any contract or relationship with you. Mrs. Clara M. Greenspan is the owner of the property at 27 Colt Street. Any arrangements for rent, for occupancy or for any matter relating to your mortgage must be taken up with her and not with me.
Very truly yours,’

[30]*30On March 12, 1935, the plaintiff’s attorney wrote to and the defendant received the following letter:

‘March 12, 1935.
Mr. Abraham Greenspan Hadley Falls Building Holyoke, Mass.
Dear Sir:
Your letter of March 11,1935, addressed to Mrs. Ida S. Hansen, has been turned over to me as her attorney.
In reply to the same I wish to say that you are to be held for use and occupation of the premises from the date of entry.
Very truly yours,
Bestjamin F. Evarts. ’
Notwithstanding his letter of March 11, 1935, the defendant continued to occupy the premises until April 24, 1935. On the day of the foreclosure sale, April 9, 1935, the defendant said to Mrs. Hansen, ‘You are not my landlord. I don’t owe you any rent.’
I find as a matter of fact and as a matter of law that this continued occupation constituted an implied contract.
41 C. J. p. 906, sec. 1259, and Massachusetts cases cited.
I find for the plaintiffs in the sum of eighty-five dollars ($85.00).
Merrill L. Welches,
Special Justice.”

The defendant claiming to be aggrieved by the refusals to rule requested the report.

It is tó be noted with respect to this finding that although the Trial Court found for the plaintiffs he made no statement as to upon which count he so found.

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Related

Clough v. Whitcomb
105 Mass. 482 (Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, 1870)
Merrill v. Bullock
105 Mass. 486 (Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, 1870)
Morse v. Merritt
110 Mass. 458 (Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, 1872)
Richardson v. Payne
114 Mass. 429 (Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, 1874)
Porter v. Hubbard
134 Mass. 233 (Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, 1883)
Murray v. Riley
6 N.E. 512 (Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, 1886)
Kirchgassner v. Rodick
49 N.E. 1015 (Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, 1898)
Carpenter v. Allen
75 N.E. 622 (Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, 1905)
Burke v. Willard
137 N.E. 744 (Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, 1923)
Burke v. Willard
144 N.E. 223 (Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, 1924)
Kaufmann v. Sydeman
146 N.E. 365 (Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, 1925)

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Bluebook (online)
1 Mass. App. Div. 26, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/hansen-v-greenspan-massdistctapp-1936.