Irving Eliasberg, Inc. v. Roosevelt

173 A.2d 147, 157 Me. 370, 1961 Me. LEXIS 44
CourtSupreme Judicial Court of Maine
DecidedJuly 25, 1961
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 173 A.2d 147 (Irving Eliasberg, Inc. v. Roosevelt) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Judicial Court of Maine primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Irving Eliasberg, Inc. v. Roosevelt, 173 A.2d 147, 157 Me. 370, 1961 Me. LEXIS 44 (Me. 1961).

Opinion

Williamson, C. J.

This is an action by a landowner and his lessee (1) for a declaratory judgment of their rights in and to the use of an elevator and a loading platform in an adjoining building owned by the defendants, (2) for an injunction against the removal or destruction of the elevator and loading platform or money damages for such removal or destruction, and (3) damages to plaintiffs for loss from the flooding of the cellar from rain and surface water resulting from the demolition in part of the building housing the elevator.

The case is reported to us for decision on complaint, answer, and evidence legally admissible. In the event damages are recoverable, it is agreed the amount shall be fixed finally by the presiding justice after hearing.

In 1956 the plaintiff, Irving Eliasberg, Inc., a New York Corporation (hereinafter sometimes called “Eliasberg”), purchased from Passamaquoddy Properties, Inc. (hereinafter sometimes called “Passamaquoddy”), certain buildings formerly belonging to Goodall-Sanford, Inc. and which were part of what the parties graphically term a “manufacturing complex.” Building No. 4, a brick structure, owned by Eliasberg, was served by the elevator and loading platform in question located in an adjoining wooden building known as Building No. 5, being a part of a group of wooden buildings called the “white buildings.”

The elevator is used for freight and serves two floors and the basement of Building No. 4, and two stories of Building No. 5, with doors on opposite sides opening to each building. Aside from the common doors there is no connection between the buildings, and Building No. 5 can be removed without damage to Building No. 4.

The loading platform in Building No. 5 is used for receiving and shipping goods by the plaintiff tenant Sher Woven Label Co., Inc.

[372]*372Demolition of the “white buildings,” including Building No. 5, commenced in March 1960 and continued during the summer. By agreement demolition of the elevator was discontinued pending litigation.

The decision in our view of the facts turns upon the intention of the parties expressed in the “Letter Agreement,” set forth below, in light of the situation of the parties at the time the agreement was made. Monk v. Morton, 139 Me. 291, 30 A. (2nd) 17; Katz et al. v. New England Fuel Oil Co., et al., 135 Me. 452, 199 A. 274; Power Company v. Foundation Company, 129 Me. 81, 149 A. 801.

The following excerpts from deeds and agreements are of importance.

1. Deed of Building No. 4 from Passamaquoddy to Elias-berg, dated May 15, 1956, and recorded May 25, 1956, reads in part:

“And together also with the right to use the elevator and loading platform in Building No. 5 in accordance with separate written agreement made between the parties.
“EXCEPTING AND RESERVING to and for the benefit of the grantor, its successors, grantees and/or assigns, and the benefit of the Trustees of the Grossman Family Educational Trust and Sanford Properties, Inc., their successors, grantees, and/or assigns, the right to enter upon the foregoing premises for the purpose of using, maintaining, repairing and replacing and as access to any and all pipes, wires, meters and other equipment, apparatii and appurtenant fixtures, including elevators, shafts and other conveyancers wherever the same may be located in, upon or within the foregoing premises and serving other premises now or formerly owned by Goodall Worsted, Sanford Mills and/or Goodall-Sanford, Inc., and for the purpose of relocating any of the foregoing to such location or area as will not in the bona fide [373]*373judgment of the grantee unreasonably interfere with the use of the premises by the grantee or its tenants, and the cost of such relocation and repairs necessitated thereby to be borne by the grantor, its successors and/or assigns.”

2. Letter Agreement between Passamaquoddy and Elias-berg, dated May 15, 1956, being the “separate written agreement” referred to in 1. above, and recorded June 7, 1956, reads in full:

“LETTER AGREEMENT
“On this 15th day of May, 1956, PASSAMA-QUODDY PROPERTIES, INC., a Maine corporation with offices in Sanford, Maine, conveyed by Deed to Irving ELIASBERG, INC., a New York corporation with offices at 350 Fifth Avenue, New York City, New York, a certain parcel of land, together with the buildings thereon, all in accord with the Purchase and Sale Agreement executed by and between the said parties on March 17,1956.
“For One ($1.00) Dollar and other good and valuable consideration, Passamaquoddy Properties, Inc. hereby grants unto IRVING ELIASBERG, INC. the right to use in common with others the elevator and loading platform in the Southerly section of Building No. 5, which Building is located in the Goodall Division of what was formerly known and referred to as Goodall-Sanford Mills, Inc., in Sanford, Maine (See Plan attached to Deed) provided that IRVING ELIASBERG, INC. shall be responsible for damage to persons or property caused by it or its agents in the operation of said elevator, and further provided that the expense of maintaining and operating said elevator shall be shared proportionately by the said IRVING ELIASBERG, INC. with any other user or users of said loading platform and elevator and that with respect thereto IRVING ELIASBERG, INC. shall maintain liability insurance policies satisfactory to the said PASSAMAQUODDY [374]*374PROPERTIES, INC. and wherein the said PASSAMAQUODDY PROPERTIES, INC. shall be specifically named.
“PASSAMAQUODDY PROPERTIES, INC. further covenants and agrees that at such time as it conveys to third parties the said land and buildings wherein the elevator and loading platform are located, it will obtain for the said IRVING ELIASBERG, INC. a right to the use of that elevator and loading platform in common with others as herein provided for, subject to IRVING ELIASBERG, INC. agreeing to pay its proportionate share of maintenance and expense in connection therewith.
Assented to:
PASSAMAQUODDY PROPERTIES, INC.
By Bernard Grossman
Assented to:
IRVING ELIASBERG, INC.
By Irving Eliasberg Pres
STATE OF MAINE
County of York, ss. May 15, 1956 Personally appeared Bernard Grossman, Treasurer of PASSAMAQUODDY PROPERTIES, INC. and acknowledged the foregoing to be his free act and instrument in his said capacity and the free act and instrument of PASSAMA-QUODDY PROPERTIES, INC.
Before me, George S. Willard Notary Public Justice of the Peace (L.S.)”

3. “Bill of Sale and General Conveyance” from Passamaquoddy to its sole stockholder Grossman’s of Maine, Inc., of all assets including Building No. 5 under the terms of a plan of complete liquidation of Passamaquoddy dated December 31, 1958, and recorded March 31, 1959.

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205 A.2d 165 (Supreme Judicial Court of Maine, 1964)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
173 A.2d 147, 157 Me. 370, 1961 Me. LEXIS 44, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/irving-eliasberg-inc-v-roosevelt-me-1961.