M. J. M. Purchasing, Inc. v. Knauf

32 Misc. 2d 277, 223 N.Y.S.2d 974, 1961 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 2120
CourtNew York Supreme Court
DecidedNovember 3, 1961
StatusPublished

This text of 32 Misc. 2d 277 (M. J. M. Purchasing, Inc. v. Knauf) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering New York Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
M. J. M. Purchasing, Inc. v. Knauf, 32 Misc. 2d 277, 223 N.Y.S.2d 974, 1961 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 2120 (N.Y. Super. Ct. 1961).

Opinion

Charles Lambíase, J.

Petitioners ask ‘ ‘ for an order annulling and setting aside the revocation of the license duly issued to M. J. M. Purchasing Corporation by you, as the Town Board of the Town of Irondequoit, New York, effective on the 19th day of August, 1961, at 11:59 o’clock p.m., and for a further order reinstating the said license and for such other and further relief as to the court may seem just and proper.” (Notice of motion dated Sept. 1, 1961.)

Respondents ask “ for an order pursuant to rule 112 of the Rules of Civil Practice, for judgment on the pleadings dismissing the petition herein on the grounds that the petitioners failed to state in their petition facts sufficient to constitute grounds for the relief sought therein, and granting judgment in favor of the respondents, with costs, and for such other and further relief as to the Court may seem just and proper.” (Notice of cross motion, dated Sept. 22, 1961.)

On the 22nd day of June, 1961 petitioner, M. J. M. Purchasing, Inc., was granted a license by the Town of Irondequoit, New York, allowing the occupation or business of a “ Co-Kart ” concession in said Town of Irondequoit, New York. Such license by its terms expires on December 31, 1961. Such a concession was erected at some cost upon the property of M. J. M. Purchasing, Inc., at 4822 Culver Road, in the Town of Irondequoit, County of Monroe, and State of New York, known as Boardwalk Amusement Park ”, and an inventory for the conduct of the business was purchased. On August 4, 1961 it was opened for business operated by petitioner, Kart-Ways, Inc., under lease dated July 7, 1961 with petitioner, M. J. M. Purchasing, Inc., reference to which lease is hereby made for the particulars thereof.

On August 18,1961 M. J. M. Purchasing, Inc., received a letter from the Clerk of the Town of Irondequoit stating that the [279]*279Town Board of the Town of Irondequoit had revoked the license in question, which revocation became effective on August 19, 1961 at 11:59 p.m. and still continues in effect. Operations continued until August 19, 1961 at 11:59 p.m. There were no reasons given for the revocation. There was no notice of any hearing given to nor was there any hearing held for either of the petitioners before the revocation became effective.

It is the contention of the petitioners that the action of the Town of Irondequoit in revoking the license was a unilateral act without any reason being given therefor and without any notice of hearing or without hearing as required by the State and Federal Constitutions and by section 137 of the Town Law of the State of New York and is, therefore, null and void.

It is the position of respondents that the license issued by the Town of Irondequoit on the 22nd day of June, 1961 to M. J. M. Purchasing, Inc., for the operation of ‘ ‘ Go-Karts ’ ’ in the Town of Irondequoit specifically and clearly stated ‘ ‘ this license is not transferable ’ ’; that M. J. M. Purchasing, Inc., secured said license under false representations and under the pretense that it was going to operate a ‘ ‘ Go-Kart ’ ’ concession whereas, in fact, the “Go-Kart” concession that was subsequently operated in the Town of Irondequoit, New York, under the license hereinbefore mentioned in the area known as the “ Boardwalk Amusement Park ” was operated by petitioner, Kart-Ways, Inc.; that Kart-Ways, Inc., at no time applied for a “ Go-Kart ” concession license from the Town of Irondequoit, New York; that at no time was a license issued by the Town of Irondequoit or anyone empowered to do so in its behalf to petitioner Kart-Ways, Inc.; and that the Town of Irondequoit, New York, never consented to or approved, either expressly or impliedly, the transfer of the license from petitioner, M. J. M. Purchasing, Inc., to Kart-Ways, Inc., from the time that the license was granted to the date that it was revoked. They urge that the town, its officers and officials, acted in good faith when it revoked the license herein.

Thereafter and on September 7, 1961 at a public meeting of the Town Board of the Town of Irondequoit, New York, M. J. M. Purchasing, Inc., appeared by attorney requesting that the said Town Board reinstate the ‘ ‘ Go-Kart ’ ’ license involved. Certain recommendations were discussed at that time, and the Town Board advised the attorney for the petitioner, M. J. M. Purchasing, Inc., that a special meeting would be called for September 14, 1961 with the attorneys for the respective parties, members of the Town Board, and the Chief of Police of the town to be present. Such special meeting was held on that date with the [280]*280afore-mentioned persons present, and the agenda thereof included an inspection of the premises in question. The meeting was adjourned and decision of the Town Board was reserved. To the date of the argument of these motions, the Town Board had not rendered its decision with respect to the matter.

The lease hereinbefore referred to provides: “ 16. * * * It is further understood and agreed that this lease shall be conditioned upon the Landlord obtaining a use or concession permit which will authorize the Tenant to conduct the intended business purpose herein i.e. go-kart track from the proper town and governmental officials. In the event the Landlord shall fail to procure said permit within ten (10) days from the date of the execution of this lease, or any subsequent season during the term herein, then and in that event this lease shall be null and void and neither party shall be obligated to perform herein.”

It is alleged in the petition verified by both petitioners “ That said G-o-Kart concession was to be operated by Kart-Ways, Inc., under the direct control of the owner of the property, to wit: M. J. M. Purchasing, Inc., as part of the Boardwalk Amusement Park operated and owned by M. J. M. Purchasing, Inc.” (Par. 8.) This allegation, insofar as it alleges that operation was to be “ under the direct control of the owner of the property, to wit: M. J. M. Purchasing, Inc., as part of the Boardwalk Amusement Park operated and owned by M. J. M. Purchasing, Inc.” is specifically denied by respondents. (Answer, par. 2.) No allegation is made in the petition that the town ever consented to or approved any transfer of the license from M. J. M. Purchasing, Inc., to petitioner Kart-Ways, Inc. In fact, we gain from the allegations of the petition that the position of M. J. M. Purchasing, Inc., and of Kart-Ways, Inc., is that the operation by the latter was in fact that of the former.

It would seem that whatever the rights of petitioner Kart-Ways, Inc., they have been acquired under the lease. In the light of the position taken by it, its quarrel, if any, is with M. J. M. Purchasing, Inc.; while the issue with reference to the license is distinctly between M. J. M. Purchasing, Inc., and respondents and not between Kart-Ways, Inc., and respondents.

We have concluded, therefore, that as to petitioner, Kart-Ways, Inc., the petition fails to state facts sufficient to entitle it to the relief sought. This leaves for consideration the issue between petitioner, M. J. M. Purchasing, Inc., and respondents, to which we now turn our attention.

Under article 9 (§ 137) of the Town Law of the State of New York, the Town of Irondequoit is given the power to enact [281]*281licensing ordinances for certain types of occupations. The question as io whether the concession herein licensed comes within the purview of this article has been assumed by the parties for the purposes of this proceeding. The license was issued to M. J. M.

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Bluebook (online)
32 Misc. 2d 277, 223 N.Y.S.2d 974, 1961 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 2120, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/m-j-m-purchasing-inc-v-knauf-nysupct-1961.