Miller v. Barnett

158 A.D. 862, 144 N.Y.S. 40, 1913 N.Y. App. Div. LEXIS 8082

• Court: Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York
• Decided: November 12, 1913
• Status: Published

Opinions

Smith, P. J.:

The plaintiffs were the owners of some premises upon which was situated a barn in the village of Saratoga Springs. They appointed S. H. Myers & Co., real estate agents in Saratoga Springs, as their agents to look after the property and procure their tenants therefor. The evidence, uncontradicted, is to the effect that the authority of said agents did not extend to determining or altering the terms of any lease. Their duties were to procure tenants upon terms specified by the landlord and thereafter to collect rents under a lease as made. Negotiations were had between Myers & Oo. through one Lefler, one of the firm, and the defendant’s husband as the defendant’s agent for leasing the property, the result of which was that a lease was executed by the plaintiffs with the defendant from May 1, 1910, to May 1, 1911, for $350, payable monthly in advance, the defendant to pay the water rates. This lease was not executed by Myers & Oo. as agents for the plaintiffs, but executed by the plaintiffs themselves. The rents were payable according to the terms of the lease at the city of Troy. This provision was evidently thereafter waived, as the rents were in fact collected by Myers & Co. and transmitted to the plaintiffs by their consent. The defendant remained in possession of the premises until the 10th day of August, 1912, when this action was commenced to collect the unpaid rent at the rate specified in the original lease up to and including August 1, 1912, amounting to about $200. The defense interposed was that prior to May 1, 1911, the defendant agreed with Myers & Oo. that the rent should be only $300 for the ensuing year, and releasing the defendant from the payment of the water rates; and, further, that before the 1st of May, 1912, another agreement was made with Myers & Co. by which the rents were reduced to $200 for the ensuing year. These agreements for a modification of the original lease were positively denied by Myers & Co. The trial judge submitted to the jury, first, whether these agreements were actually made between the defendant and Myers & Oo.; and, secondly, whether Myers & Oo. had authority from the plaintiffs to make the same. From May 1, 1911, to May 1, 1912, the defendant had paid $300, which she claims is in full satisfaction of her rent for that time. The trial judge held that if the agreement with Myers & Co. was to rent from the 1st of May, 1912, for $200 a year, the $200 was not payable until the end of the year, and, therefore, the terms of the original contract for the payment monthly in advance did not attach, and there was nothing due for the year commencing May 1, 1912. The jury decided both questions submitted in favor of the defendant, and a judgment dismiss- • ing the complaint, with costs, was entered against the plaintiffs. From this judgment and from an order denying plaintiffs’ motion for a new trial this appeal has been taken.

The determination of the-jury as to the claimed contract with-Myers & Co. cannot be said to be against the weight of evidence. While the contract is positively denied by Mr. Lefler, of Myers & Co., with whom the contract is alleged to have been made, and while it would appear he was in a way a disinterested witness, whose testimony was entitled to credit, nevertheless the defendant’s witnesses swore positively to such modification, and notwithstanding they were all members of the defendant’s family, the jury had the right to believe their evidence as against the evidence of Mr. Lefler, and their conclusion that these agreements were made with Mr. Lefler must stand as a fact in the case. The finding of the jury that Myers & Co. were authorized to make a new lease is not only against the weight of evidence, but is entirely without evidence to sustain it. In the first place the lease as originally made in 1910 was executed by the plaintiffs with the defendant. Myers & Co. were not parties thereto in any way. The authority of Myers & Co. has been shown to be simply to find a tenant, to receive rent and to make ordinary repairs. It cannot matter what Myers & Co. may have represented to the defendant, as the authority of an agent cannot be proven by the declarations of the agent. It is not pretended that the plaintiffs have done any act which may be deemed an admission of the authority of Myers & Co. to make a new lease or to modify the original one. In the absence of express authority in Myers & Co. to make a new lease or modify the original lease presumed authority therefor can only be found in the acts of the plaintiff herself or of her general agent, Mr. Hale, and no acts- of these parties are attempted to be shown which would either give actual or presumed authority to the agent, or would ratify any acts of his in making a new lease. In McAdam’s Landlord and Tenant (Vol. 1 [4th ed.], 914) the text reads: “An agent may have power to make a contract without having or retaining the power of altering or rescinding it after it has been made. This is readily illustrated by referring to the case of an agent who brings the vendor and .purchaser together on a contemplated sale of real estate. When the terms -and conditions are agreed upon and a valid contract made the power of the agent as a rule ceases, and the principals alone are left to determine when and how they will enforce, alter or rescind the agreement. Upon this principle it has been held that an agent to rent premises and collect rents has no power to consent to the substitution of a new tenant, nor to alter or vary the terms of the original hiring, either as to tenure or as to rent.” Among the cases cited in support of the text are the cases of Davidson v. Blumor (7 Daly, 205), Wilson v. Lester (64 Barb. 431) and Wallace v. Dinniny (11 Misc. Rep. 317). In Fleming v. Ryan (9 Misc. Rep. 496) the headnote reads: “Authority to make a lease cannot be implied from the mere fact that a person is authorized to collect rents and inquire of tenants if they desire to retain the premises for another year. Agency cannot be established by statements of the alleged agent made in the course of the particular transaction.” It is a well-settled principle of law that a party negotiating with an agent is put on his guard as to the authority of the agent. Without any right in Myers & Oo. either to substitute a new lease or to modify the old one, the holding over of the defendant is in law presumed to be under the terms of the original lease. So that plaintiffs are clearly entitled upon the facts shown in the case to the judgment for which they ask.

While under this view of the case it becomes immaterial, it is perhaps well to note that there was at no time any attempt to create a new lease. Occupying the premises under a written lease with specified terms of payment, even if Myers & Oo. had authority to alter the lease, the only attempted alteration was as to the gross sum payable for rent. That part of the lease which called for payments per month in advance was not attempted to be changed. So that even if Myers & Oo. had authority to alter this lease as to the amount of rent the plaintiffs would be entitled to recover for the months of May, June, July and August, 1912, for the stipulated rent for those months.

It is contended by the respondent, however, that plaintiffs have forfeited their rights in this action by reason of the neglect of their attorneys to make proper objection and take exception and make proper motions at the trial. When the evidence as to the modification of the lease by Myers & Co. was offered the plaintiffs’ counsel stated fully his claim that there was no authority in Myers & Co. to make such alteration. The defendant’s counsel then assured the court that he would connect the plaintiffs with the transactions so as to show authority to make such alteration. Upon his assurance the evidence was admitted. When thereafter the defendant failed to show circumstances from which authority could be implied the plaintiffs’ attorney should properly have moved- to strike such evidence from the case. This he failed to do. At the end of the case the plaintiffs should have moved for a directed verdict, at least for the advanced monthly payments for the year 1912. This they failed to do, and allowed the trial judge to submit to the jury without objection the questions of fact as to the actual making of the modification and the authority of Myers & Co. to make the same. If this were an. appeal from a judgment alone this neglect of the attorney would have forfeited the plaintiffs’ rights. But the plaintiffs thereafter made a motion for a new trial -under section 999 of the Code of Civil Procedure. Upon that motion the Trial Term had authority, if the interests of justice so required, to grant a new trial, notwithstanding any failure on the part of the attorneys to take proper objections or exceptions or to make proper motions. In review of this order denying the motion .for a new trial we have the same right, due weight being given to the determination of the trial judge that justice did not so require. If I am right in the conclusion which I have reached, that upon all the evidence in the case no defense has been established, and the plaintiffs are clearly entitled to the relief asked for, it becomes our duty to set aside this judgment and grant a new trial.

It is contended that by failing to move for a directed verdict the plaintiffs have acquiesced in ruling that there were questions of fact for the jury, and by failing to except to their submission to the jury they have consented to abide by their decision, whether or not there was any evidence to authorize such submission. Defendant’s contention thus stated is not without authority. The Court of Appeals has consistently held that a failure by defendant to move for a dismissal of the complaint concedes that there is a question for the jury. (See Hopkins v. Clark, 158 N. Y. 299,) The rule as thus stated by the Court of Appeals was for a time adopted by some of the Appellate Divisions of the State as the rule guiding their right to review. The fact was lost sight of that the right of review in the Appellate Division upon an appeal from an order denying a motion for a new trial was much broader than the right of the Court of Appeals in review of appeal from a judgment. Later this distinction was announced by the Court of Appeals itself in the case of Alden v. Knights of Maccabees (178 N. Y. 541). In that case Judge Cullen, in writing the opinion, says: “The learned Appellate Division, however, was of opinion that the trial court erred in excluding the evidence offered by the plaintiff to show that the answer of the deceased was made in compliance with the direction of one of the managing officers of the company. It held that it was authorized to review this ruling, though no exception to it was taken on the trial. There can be no doubt as to the broad supervisory power possessed by the Appellate Division over trials had in the Supreme Court. It may reverse on questions of fact; it may reverse because the action has been submitted on an erroneous theory, because one of the parties has been taken by surprise, or because of the admission or rejection of improper evidence, though no exception to the ruling be taken, provided that the jurisdiction of the Appellate Division is properly invoked. But in the case of jury trials, to invoke the supervisory power of the Appellate Division a motion for a new trial must be made, and from the order denying the new trial an appeal must be taken to that branch of the court.” It has always been held that upon an appeal to the Appellate Division from the judgment alone error could not be claimed except through an exception taken at the trial. (Gillett v. Trustees of Kinderhook, 77 Hun, 604; Perry v. Village of Potsdam, 106 App. Div. 297.) Where, however, the appeal is from an order denying a motion for a new trial the Appellate Divisions have authorized a review of errors though no exception be taken at the trial. (McGrath v. Home Insurance Co., 88 App. Div. 153; explained in Perry v. Village of Potsdam, 106 id. 298; Raible v. Hygienic Ice & Refrigerating Co., 134 id. 705; Weizinger v. Erie R. R. Co., 106 id. 411; Goldman v. Swartwout, 117 id. 185; Caciatore v. Transit Construction Co., 147 id. 676; Spencer v. Hardin, 149 id. 667.) It is true that there are cases in the Appellate Division, especially cases in the Second Department, which seem to hold the same strict rule as upon an appeal from a judgment alone. The later cases, however, even in that department, seem to vary that rule, as indicated in the case of Caciatore v. Transit Construction Co. (supra). In Viele v. Mack Paving & Construction Co. (150 App. Div. 840) Justice Burr writes: “ Having determined to take his chances with the jury he should he content with the verdict rendered, unless clearly against the weight of the evidence, since he urges no exceptions.” Whatever rule may be deduced, however, from the varying and inconsistent decisions in the Appellate Divisions, the Court of Appeals has settled the rule in the case of Shotwell v. Dixon (163 N. Y. 43). Iii that case the headnote reads: “Where no cause of action is established by the plaintiff, defendant is neither required to make a motion for a non-suit to protect his rights, nor is he called upon to introduce evidence to contradict or explain facts insufficient to establish a liability against him.” At page 53 Judge Martin, writing for the court, says: “ The contention of the appellant, that the defendants, by submitting the case upon the testimony without making a motion for a nonsuit, conceded that the evidence was sufficient to make the question of the creditors’ knowledge one of fact, cannot be sustained. It cannot be properly held that where a plaintiff fails to establish a cause of action, the defendant, by submitting the case without moving for a non-suit, supplies the necessary proof, or is to be regarded as waiving his right to raise that question upon appeal.” This authority seems to me decisive of the question at issue.

In the case at bar there was no evidence whatever of any authority in Myers & Oo. to alter this lease. The trial judge left the jury to say whether Mr. Lefler’s conduct with reference to this property was such as to justify a belief on the part of the defendant that he had the power as plaintiffs’ agent to rent this property upon such terms as he and the customer could agree upon. With uncontradicted proof that actual authority did not exist, he has allowed the jury to infer authority from the act of the agent himself, with which the principal was in no. way connected. Both upon reason and authority agency could not be so established, nor could any estoppel against the principal be thus substantiated.

The judgment and order should be reversed upon law and fact, and judgment directed for the plaintiffs for the sum of $209.95, with interest from the 10th day of August, 1912. The finding of fact of which the court disapproves is that Myers & Co. were authorized to alter the original lease made between the plaintiffs and defendant, the court holding that there was no evidence upon which such finding could be justified.

All concurred, except Kellogg, J., writing for reversal and judgment for sixty-six dollars and sixty-six cents, with interest.