Looff v. Seattle Park Co.

126 P. 902, 70 Wash. 363, 1912 Wash. LEXIS 1057
CourtWashington Supreme Court
DecidedOctober 5, 1912
DocketNo. 10062
StatusPublished

This text of 126 P. 902 (Looff v. Seattle Park Co.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Washington Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Looff v. Seattle Park Co., 126 P. 902, 70 Wash. 363, 1912 Wash. LEXIS 1057 (Wash. 1912).

Opinion

Fullerton, J.

On January 11, 1907, the appellant Looff entered into a written agreement with the respondent Seattle Park Company, reading as follows:

“It is hereby agreed by and between the Seattle Park Company, a corporation, the party of the first part, and Charles I. D. Looff, the party of the second part, as follows:
“(1) The party of the first part agrees upon the completion of this contract as hereinafter set forth, to lease to the party of the second part the premises described as follows and upon the terms as hereinafter set forth: The easterly five (5) lots in block 456 of the Seattle tidelands and an undivided one-half (%) of block 455 of the Seattle tidelands, for the term expiring on the 31st day of August, 1916, subject to renewal as hereinafter set forth.
[365]*365“(2) It is agreed that the party of the second part shall pay for said lease the sum of $6,521.67 at the signing hereof, the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, and shall pay in manner and form as set forth in that certain lease made by the West Seattle Land and Improvement Company to W. W. Powers, J. L. Ward and assigned to the party of the first part, expiring on said 31st day of August, 1916, one-half of the ground rent reserved in said lease.
“(3) All taxes and assessments levied against the improvements and buildings which the party of the second part shall cause to be erected upon the premises described as the easterly five (5) lots of block 456, and one-half of all taxes and assessments levied upon any improvements and buildings erected upon block 455, and one-half of all the taxes and assessments levied upon the premises exclusive of improvements included in blocks 455 and 456.
“(4) The party of the second part agrees to pay to the party of the first part twenty per cent of the gross gate receipts received for general admission to said premises, not including, however, admissions charged for any particular entertainments or amusements situated thereon.
“(5) It is expressly covenanted and agreed that the party of the second part shall have the right to conduct such forms of amusement and entertainment on the said easterly- five (5) lots of block 456 as he may desire, including the sale of candies, popcorn, ice cream and soft drinks and cigars, and- all slot machines and nickel-in-the-slot machines, except as follows: That the party of the second part shall not conduct any bathing establishment, any cafes, any restaurant or any skating rink on said premises; And the party of the first part shall not conduct any amusements except as specified on said premises.
“(6) It is further agreed that the party of the second part shall keep a strip of ground 50 feet wide easterly and westerly, extending from the north line of said block 456 to the south line thereof, and being westerly fifty feet of lot four therein, clear of obstructions, buildings or improvements as an open way for the general public, and- both parties agree that the whole of said eight lots shall be open to the public upon payment of general admission, of’ which the party of the first part receives twenty per cent and the [366]*366party of the second part receives the balance of eighty per cent, except special places of amusement properly enclosed.
“(7) It is further provided that if the lease from the West Seattle Land and Improvement Company to the party of the first part above described shall be extended for any period of time, that the lease herein provided for ■ shall be extended for a corresponding period and upon the terms and conditions above set forth.
“(8) The party of the second part expressly guarantees to expend the sum of $100,000 in the building and erection of such forms of amusement and entertainment as are included within the terms of this lease upon the premises demised to him on or before the first day of August, 1907, and to begin in substantial manner the expenditure of said money and the erection of said improvements on or before the first day of February, 1907.
“(9) It is further agreed that time shall be the essence of this agreement and that if the party of the second part shall fail to begin the erection of said improvements or to complete the same as herein provided for, that all rights under this contract shall cease at the option of the party of the first part, and that the party of the first part shall have the right to keep and retain the payment made at the signing hereof, as liquidated damages for said failure.
“(10) All improvements to be erected upon block 455 shall be paid for in equal proportions by the parties "of the first' and second parts hereof, and all revenues derived therefrom shall be equally divided between the parties hereto.
“(11) It is further agreed that a daily report shall be made by the party of the second part to the party of the first part of the gross gate receipts paid for admissions to all of said premises.
“(12) Said lease shall be executed and delivered to the party of the second part upon the completion of the terms of this contract as above set forth.”

On June 25, 1908, pursuant to the foregoing agreement, the parties entered into a lease as follows:

“This Indenture, made this 25th day of June, in the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred and eight, between the Seattle Park Company, the party of the first part, and Chas. I. D. Looff, the party of the second part.
[367]*367“Witnesseth: That the said party of the first part does by these presents lease and demise nnto the said party of the second part the easterly five (5) lots in block four hundred and fifty-six (456) of the Seattle tidelands and an undivided one-half (%) of block four hundred and fifty-five (455) of the Seattle tidelands, for the term expiring on the 31st day of August, 1916, subject to renewal as hereinafter set forth, with the appurtenances. Said term beginning with the date hereof.
“The party of the second part agrees to pay as rental for said premises in the manner as set forth in that certain lease made by the West Seattle Land & Improvement Company to W. W. Powers and J. L. Ward, and which lease has been assigned to the party of the first part, and which expires on the 31st day of August, 1916, one-half of the ground rent reserved in said lease, and further the party of the second part agrees to pay all taxes and assessments against the improvements and buildings which the party of the second part, his successors or assigns shall cause to be erected upon the premises, described as the easterly five lots of block 456, and one-half of all the taxes and assessments levied upon the premises, exclusive of improvements included in blocks 455 and 456.
“The party of the second part agrees to pay to the party of the first part twenty per cent of the gross gate receipts received for general admission to said premises, not including, however, admissions charged for any particular entertainments or amusements situated thereon.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Looff v. Seattle Park Co.
109 P. 806 (Washington Supreme Court, 1910)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
126 P. 902, 70 Wash. 363, 1912 Wash. LEXIS 1057, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/looff-v-seattle-park-co-wash-1912.