Masset v. Beckler

71 So. 2d 570, 224 La. 1067, 1954 La. LEXIS 1180
CourtSupreme Court of Louisiana
DecidedFebruary 15, 1954
DocketNo. 40821
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 71 So. 2d 570 (Masset v. Beckler) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of Louisiana primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Masset v. Beckler, 71 So. 2d 570, 224 La. 1067, 1954 La. LEXIS 1180 (La. 1954).

Opinion

FOURNET, Chief Justice.

John F. Masset instituted this suit against J. J., Bertha H., and Charles Manson, Jr., owners of a tract of land on Jefferson Highway in Jefferson Parish, seeking to be declared the owner of a building (designated as No. 4100) erected on the tract by him pursuant to a contract of lease, joining as a party defendant Mrs. Fred C. Beckler, Jr., the present occupant of the building. From a judgment in Masset’s favor ordering Mrs. Beckler to vacate the .premises within 30 ■days, she has appealed suspensively1

The plaintiff rented from the Mansons under a written contract of lease2 a vacant tract of land on Jefferson Highway for a period of five years, beginning June 1, 1945, and ending May 31, 1950, at a monthly rental of $60, renewal privileges being at the pleasure of the lessor. Immediately thereafter he constructed a building on this tract and subsequently entered into a written contract with Donald Henry leasing the building with improvements to- him for bar and restaurant purposes for a period of 53 months, beginning January 1,1946, and ending May 31, 1950 (the termination date of his lease of the ground from the Mansons), at a monthly rental of $243, evidence by 53 rent notes executed by Henry. On the day following (January 2, 1946) these parties executed what may be termed a supplemental agreement wherein, after the above facts are stated, it is stipulated that Masset “will upon the termination of his lease with the said Donald Henry, assign to the said Donald Henry the lease which he has made with” the Mansons, “Provided that the said Donald Henry shall live up to and meet all of the terms and conditions of lease entered into” with Masset, and “provided that this said lease between the parties hereto is still in full force and effect at the time of its expiration.”

Henry, who was at the time personally operating another restaurant and bar on the Airline Highway known as “Henry’s Rotisserie,” immediately painted and redecorated the building at 4100 Jefferson Highway and opened it as a bar and restaurant under [1072]*1072the name “Club Ninety,” with his then wife in charge as manager.

It appears the Henrys were having marital difficulties that culminated in the institution of a suit for separation by Mrs. Henry in August of 1947, and, on August 8, 1947, she secured an injunction preventing her husband from disposing of any community property or assets. Subsequently, in accordance with Henry’s written request of August 15, 1947, Masset released Henry from his obligation under the lease of Janu-. ary 1 and the agreement of January 2, 1946, returning to Henry his remaining rent notes duly cancelled. Masset, however, permitted the appellant (who was then Mrs. Henry) to remain in possession of the building at the same monthly rental until, in January of 1950, he notified her in writing of his intention to repossess the building and requested that she vacate the premises.3 After having abandoned eviction proceedings instituted against Mrs. Beckler following her refusal to vacate, Masset notified the Mansons by registered letter dated April 27, 1950, of his intention to remove the building in accordance with his lease contract, sending a copy of the letter under registered mail to Mrs. Beckler, the former Mrs. Henry. He was prevented from removing the building, however, by a restraining order secured at the instigation of Mrs. Beckler. Although the record does not show what was the ultimate conclusion of the injunction proceeding, the instant suit followed on March 28, 1951.

The Mansons answered, disclaiming any interest in the building. Following the dismissal of various exceptions, including exceptions of no cause and no right of action, Mrs. Beckler answered claiming ownership of the building under her averments that the lease and supplemental agreement between Masset and Henry were actually entered into in December of 1945 and postdated to January 1 and 2 of 1946; that at the time of their confection she was estranged and living apart from her husband, to the knowledge of Masset; that she subsequently, during the latter part of January, 1946, entered into a verbal agreement with the plaintiff and her husband under which Henry was relieved of all of his rights and obligations under the documents of January 1 and 2, 1946, and she was granted an oral lease of the property under these same terms and conditions, one condition being that at the termination of the lease on May 31, 1950, she would become the .owner of the building. In the alternative, she seeks to- recover $5,964.13 for improvements placed on the premises, and, in reconvention, the sum of $40,000, for humiliation, annoyance, physical injury, and loss of profits.

Counsel for appellant are here reurging the exceptions of no cause and no right of action, contending that Mrs. Beckler’s title [1074]*1074has never been put at issue since this is a petitory action, involving title to an immovable by nature, and the plaintiff has not proved written title in himself and timely objection was made during the trial on the merits to the introduction of parol evidence to establish such title.

Counsel are clearly in error in this respect. The evidence unmistakably shows that under the express written agreement between Masset and the Mansons, the plaintiff was the owner of the building erected, by him on the premises and, as such, entitled to remove it at the termination of the lease, unless previously purchased by the Mansons. The Mansons have disclaimed any title thereto. The appellants have, additionally, recognized plaintiff’s title by leasing the building from him. Mrs. Beckler not only, under her contention, leased this from him orally, but, if it is indeed an immovable by nature despite the provisions in the Manson lease, as she claims, then she is, herself, attempting to establish title to the building by oral agreement, in contravention of the provisions of Article 2275 of the LSA-Civil Code.

The basis upon which Mrs. Beckler’s claims are predicated is not borne out by the evidence. In fact, we think the evidence preponderates in favor of the plaintiff. Her allegations are that this oral agreement was entered into by her, her former husband, and Masset, and while in her testimony she sought to infer the lease was orally assigned to her with the knowledge and understanding of Henry, she stated most positively on the witness stand that when Masset came to collect the rent for the first month on January 31, 1946, she personally sat down with him and they, together, orally agreed she would be the actual lessee of the building under the same terms as set out in the documents of January 1 and 2, 1946. Her testimony is not only denied by Masset, who stated his dealings throughout were with Henry alone and that under no circumstance could he have entered into an oral agreement with Mrs. Beckler concerning this building in the face of his written contract with Henry, .but it is otherwise totally uncorroborated.

On the other hand, Masset is corroborate ed throughout by Henry, who testified he had never been released of his written obligations under the documents of January 1 and 2, 1946, until he made such request in writing in August of 1947, at which time Masset obligingly complied. The evidence further establishes that Henry personally painted and redecorated the building, spent a great deal of money equipping it, furnished supplies, and, some four months after January 1, 1946, bought fans for the place from Masset, still later arranging to lease from him additional ground space.

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Bluebook (online)
71 So. 2d 570, 224 La. 1067, 1954 La. LEXIS 1180, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/masset-v-beckler-la-1954.