Thompson v. Coe

115 A. 219, 96 Conn. 644, 17 A.L.R. 1233, 1921 Conn. LEXIS 126

• Court: Supreme Court of Connecticut
• Decided: October 28, 1921
• Status: Published

Opinion

Gager, J.

This cash turns primarily on the answers to the questions whether the plaintiff exercised his option to purchase within the time provided by the contract, and whether the plaintiff had, upon the facts, any equitable right to the exercise of his option in case he did not do it technically within the term of the contract.

The plaintiff claims that the time within which he could exercise the option, without regard to the forfeiture provision of the lease, did not expire until the expiration of the year for which the lease was originally given. Whether the option to purchase contained in a lease is an independent agreement, or in connection with the lease forms one entire agreement, depends upon the intention of the parties, and this is to be resolved by the construction of the instrument read in the light of its circumstances. The instrument before us has a common and indivisible consideration. All of its parts are inseparably connected. Were the option to purchase clause detached from the rest of the instrument, it would be wholly nugatory as an executory contract. 2 Underhill on Landlord & Tenant, p. 979. Since this is the true construction of this instrument, it must result that when the lease falls the option to purchase goes with it. The parties to the lease cannot be presumed to have intended otherwise. No owner of premises would understandingly agree that a lessee should have the privilege of purchasing the premises during the term of a lease long after the lease had been forfeited. An agreement of that character would encumber the premises and in all likelihood prevent a sale or lease, or the making of improvements upon the owner’s own premises. James on Option Contracts, § 852, states the rule to be: “Where the option gives the lessee the right to purchase at any time during the continuance or term of the lease, the right must be exercised during the life of the lease.” Consequently an election made after the expiration of the term is not in time.

The plaintiff, on April 23d, 1920, attempted to ex ercise his right to purchase the premises leased, by making a tender of the. purchase price named in the lease and by demanding the execution of a deed of the premises. The defendant maintains that the lease was then terminated. Unless it were so terminated, the plaintiff was entitled to a conveyance of the premises.

From the statement of facts it appears that the rent due March 1st, 1919, was not then paid, nor was it paid- within fifteen days thereafter as provided by the lease. This nonpayment of the March rent did not, under our law, automatically terminate the lease, but gave the lessor the option to terminate by some definite, unequivocal act showing the exercise of this option by him. Hartford Wheel Club v. Travelers Ins. Co., 78 Conn. 355, 62 Atl. 207; Bowman v. Foot, 29 Conn. 331, 339. On April 7th, 1920, the defendant served the statutory notice to quit possession on or before April 13th, 1920. Did this notice to quit become operative on April 7th, 1920, the date of service, or on April 13th, 1920, the time limited within which the tenant must quit possession? We think the service of the notice to quit was a definite, unequivocal act of the lessor showing the exercise of her option to terminate, and that it took.effect on April 7th, the date the notice was served. The specification of the time within which the tenant must quit, in no way affected the notice as a termination of the lease, but was effective only to the extent of delaying the time when the landlord could bring summary process. The fact that the plaintiff tendered to the defendant the March rent on or about April 9th, 1920, and again on April 12th 1920, is quite immaterial. The tender was not in fact made before the 15th of March. No tender after that date is provided for, either under the terms of the lease or by any statute, and these tenders were under our law ineffectual to change the legal relation which arose between the parties by reason of the failure to pay the rent on or before March 15th. The lessor had declared her option to terminate April 7th. There had been a completed forfeiture under the terms of the contract prior to the plaintiff’s attempt to exercise his option to purchase on April 23d, 1920. As a matter of strict law the plaintiff was then too late.

We do not, however, regard this as conclusive upon the plaintiff’s right to purchase. The conclusion to which the trial court came and on which its judgment was based, is stated in this way: “Upon the foregoing facts, the court reached the conclusion that there had been no forfeiture of the plaintiff’s right to purchase said premises upon the terms stated in the lease and agreement Exhibit A, and that the defendant was obligated to convey the same to the plaintiff upon the terms and conditions set forth in the judgment file. ”

If, upon the facts stated in the finding, there is any established principle of law or equity which will justify that conclusion of the court, the judgment should not be disturbed, whether the court specifically stated such principle or not. This action is in equity. From the reasons of appeal and the argument of counsel, the conclusion of the court appears to have been reached under the application of the equitable power of the court to relieve against forfeitures. The existence of such power is well settled, and at least three of the reasons of appeal are based on the assumption that the doctrine was applied in this case. In 2 Story’s Equity Jurisp. (12th Ed.) § 1314, the general doctrine is thus stated: “Whatever may be the origin of the doctrine, it has been for a great length of time established, and is now expanded, so as to embrace a variety of cases, not only where money is to be paid, but where other things are to be done, and other objects are contracted for. In short, the general principle now adopted, is, that, wherever a penalty is inserted merely to secure the performance or enjoyment of a collateral object, the latter is considered as the principal intent of the instrument, and the penalty is deemed only as accessory, and, therefore, as intended only to secure the due performance thereof or the damage really incurred by the nonperformance. ” And in § 1315, it is said: “The same doctrine has been applied by courts of equity to cases of leases, where a forfeiture of the estate, and an entry for the forfeiture, is stipulated for in the lease, in case of the nonpayment of the rent at the regular days of payment; for the right of entry is deemed to be intended to be a mere security for the payment of rent.” In 1 Pomeroy’s Equity Jurisprudence (3d Ed.) § 453, it is said: “Where a lease contains a condition that the lessor may re-enter and put an end to the lessee’s estate, or even that the lease shall be void, upon the lessee’s failure to pay the rent at the time specified, it is well settled that a court of equity will relieve the lessee and set aside a forfeiture incurred by his breach of the condition, whether the lessor has or has not entered and dispossessed the tenant. This rule is based upon the notion that such condition and forfeiture are intended merely as security for the payment of money.” In a note it is said: “By the original doctrine of equity, the relief might be granted within any reasonable time after a breach, and even after an ejectment”; but in England and in many of the States this doctrine has been modified by statute. In 2 Swift’s Digest, side page 85, it is said: “In cases of a contract by lease to pay rent, with a covenant, and clause of re-entry on nonpayment, a court of equity will relieve the tenant on payment of the rent with interest, and all expenses; and will not let him be turned out of possession; for in such cases the loss is certain, and may be recompensed by damages.” And so are the text-books generally. 24 Cyc. p. 1364. In 1 Underhill on Landlord & Tenant, it is said, § 412: “In equity general stipulations for re-entry by the landlord for the nonpayment of the rent are considered as merely intended to secure the payment of the rent and not as designed to cause a forfeiture if the tenant acts in good faith and promptly pays the rent though after it is due when it is demanded or pays it at least before the landlord shall have suffered a loss or unreasonable inconvenience from the delay or default of the tenant. It does not seem to be material in the case of a default in the performance of a covenant to pay rent that the default was intentional. ” In 2 Underhill on Landlord & Tenant, it is also said, in § 595: “An option to purchase will be specifically enforced in equity. The general rules and principles of equity which are considered and applied in the case of an application for equitable relief in the shape of specific performance are, as a rule, applicable to a demand for the specific performance of an option to purchase. ” In 2 Tiffany Landlord & Tenant, § 194 (3), p. 1412, the rule is stated: “In a court of equity, a clause of re-entry for nonpayment of rent is regarded as intended only to secure the payment of the rent, and such a court will, ordinarily at least, upon the payment of rent and of costs and expenses, relieve against the forfeiture and continue the tenant in the possession”; and in this subsection reference is made in the text and notes to the various statutory modifications of the general rule, not here pertinent. In 1 Spence, Equitable Jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery, p. 629, the jurisdiction to relieve from forfeiture for nonpayment of rent is ex plicitly stated in the text, and in a note the doctrine of the court of equity is thus stated: “If a man be bound in a penalty to pay money at a day and place by obligation, and intending to pay the same is robbed by the way, or hath entreated by word some further respite at the hands of the obligee, or cometh short of the place by some misfortune, and so failing of the payment, doth nevertheless provide and tender the money in short time after, in these and many such like cases the chancery will compel the obligee to take his principal, with some reasonable consideration of his damages. . . . The like favor ... is extendable against them that will take advantage upon any strict condition for undoing the estate of another in lands upon a small or trifling default.” In Kann v. King, 204 U. S. 43, 27 Sup. Ct. 213, 51 L. Ed. 360, 365, it was said by Mr. Justice White, referring to Sheets v. Selden, 74 U. S. (7 Wall.) 416, 19 L. Ed. 166: “That a court of equity, even in the absence of special circumstances of fraud, accident or mistake, may relieve against a forfeiture incurred by the breach of a covenant to pay rent, on the payment or tender of all arrears of rent and interest by a defaulting lessee, is elementary.” Other cases were cited, among which was Gordon v. Richardson, 185 Mass. 492, 70 N. E. 1027, 69 L. R. A. 867, where the doctrine was very lucidly stated as follows: “The ground on which a tenant gets relief in equity from the forfeiture of his estate for a failure to pay rent is that in equity the landlord’s right of re-entry is given as security for the payment of the rent, and on the rent being paid the very thing is done for which the security was given. Although the payment in that case is made after it is due, on interest being paid compensation is made for the delay in the performance, and on compensation being made the plaintiff is entitled to relief.” Citing English and Mas sachusetts cases. In its most general form the rule was stated in Mactier v. Osborn, 146 Mass. 399, 402, 15 N. E. 641, 4 Amer. St. Rep. 323: “The result of the authorities, supported by sound principle, is, that where there has been a breach of a covenant to pay rent equity will relieve against a forfeiture although the breach is wilful on the part of the lessee.” See also note in 69 L. R. A. 833.

We do not know of any case in our reports decided on this rule, but besides the reference in 2 Swift’s Digest, side page 85, the rule seems to be recognized in Morey v. Hoyt, 62 Conn. 542, 26 Atl. 127, and Walker v. Wheeler, 2 Conn. 299. See also Hagar v. Buck, 44 Vt. 285, 291; Gorman v. Low, 2 Ed. Ch. (N. Y.) 324; Daxter v. Lansing, 7 Paige Ch. (N. Y.) 350; Thropp v. Field, 26 N. J. Eq. 82.

The jurisdiction of the court to grant relief being so well established, the next question is whether the facts present a case which entitles the plaintiff to such relief. We think the facts are strong for the plaintiff. He never intended to give up his lease; he never intended to delay a payment of rent until after the expiration of the days of grace. It had been customary, without objection, to send rent by check or money-. order through the mail; the plaintiff sent the cash by the mail on March 13th in ample time, by ordinary course of the mail, to reach the defendant within the time limited in the lease. The plaintiff made the United States mail his messenger. The reason he sent cash instead of a money-order was that, going to the post-office in the evening of March 13th he found a long line of applicants in waiting, and because it was a stormy night, and the plaintiff was partially sick and anxious to get to his home some four or five miles distant, as soon as possible, he placed three bills amounting to $30 — the rent due on the 15th, — in an envelope, marked with a return-card in the corner, and directed to the defendant in the usual way, believing in good faith that this letter would be delivered. The money was lost or stolen while in transit. This, so far as the plaintiff was concerned, was an accident. He naturally presumed the delivery of the money in ordinary course of the mail. 21 R. C. L. 764; Pitts v. Hartford Life & Annuity Co., 66 Conn. 376, 384, 34 Atl. 95; Garland v. Gaines, 73 Conn. 662, 664, 49 Atl. 19. It was not until March 25th that the plaintiff became aware of the disappearance of the money in the mails. The plaintiff, not believing the money could have been lost, assumed liability if it was lost, and requested the defendant’s attorney to inquire further and if it was really not delivered he would pay again. No disclaimer or objection to this course was made. Nothing further was heard until the notice to quit was served on April 9th, together with information that the money had not been received. Immediately on this notice from defendant’s attorney that the money had not tinned up, the plaintiff tendered the attorney the rent on April 9th and repeated the tender April 12th.

On these facts the failure to pay on March 15th was neither wilful nor intentional, but was due solely to the theft or loss of the money in the mails. It was the equivalent of the case of robbery referred to in the citation from Spence. The conduct of the plaintiff after he was informed of the nonpayment, though as a matter of law ineffective to make the payment good, is conclusive of the good faith of the plaintiff in sending the money as he did and his continuous desire to avoid a forfeiture which he had been led into making as the result of theft from the mails. In view of the previous relation of the parties, the plaintiff was guilty of no such negligence as should deprive him of his equitable remedy and inflict upon him a loss of $3,000. It would be an undeserved hardship, under the circumstances, to deprive the plaintiff of his option because of the theft of his rent from the United States mails. The action of the court in relieving against this forfeiture was within the well-settled practice of equity, and in it we can find no error.

It should, perhaps, be remarked here that the foregoing statement is of the general chancery practice, and the action of the court is .to be defended as based upon chancery practice unaffected by local statute. In Massachusetts (Revised Laws, 1902, p. 1259, Chap. 129, § 11) provision is made for payment or tender of the rent after default and at least four days before an action to recover possession. In England (Halsbury, Laws of England, Vol. 18, p. 544) and in many of our States, statutes provide in various ways for relief from forfeiture in case of nonpayment of rent. Some of these statutory methods are collected in 2 Tiffany on Landlord & Tenant, § 194. In effect, they all provide for avoidance in some way and to some extent of forfeiture, by payment or tender of past due rent and costs in case the lessor has brought his action. In some cases a bill in equity must be filed, and the time for action by the lessee is definitely limited. These statutory provisions are a partial adoption and in some cases the definite extension, of the general equitable rule we have stated. They are all a legislative recognition of the justice of the rule as a general proposition. It is not necessary to go into any detail as we have no such statutes, but attention should be called to them as the basis of many decisions and text-book statements, quite unapplicable in this jurisdiction in so far as they differ from the general equitable doctrine.

On April 16th, 1920, the defendant began a summary process suit, returnable April 23d, based on the failure to pay rent due March 15th. This action was continued until May 12th, 1920, when it was discontinued by the defendant, and therefore plays no part in the present controversy. The present action now under discussion was brought in the Superior Court on April 24th, 1920, on the day following the refusal of the defendant to recognize the plaintiff’s optional right of purchase. On May 14th, 1920, the defendant instituted a second summary process suit against the plaintiff, founded on the forfeiture to pay the rent due on or before March 15th, 1920, and on this summary process suit the defendant obtained judgment May 22d, 1920. The present plaintiff immediately filed a supplemental complaint and on May 25th, 1920, obtained an injunction from this court against the taking of the execution by the present defendant in the summary process suit. This injunction was made permanent in the final judgment in the present case. The defendant claimed that this judgment in summary process operated as a conclusive bar to the maintenance of the present action. This cannot be. The Superior Court, on April 24th and thereafter, had full legal and equitable jurisdiction to determine whether at law or in equity the plaintiff was entitled on April 23d, 1920, to exercise his option to purchase.'' The only jurisdiction of the justice court in summary process was to determine as to the right of possession on account of forfeiture for nonpayment of rent. It makes no difference on equitable grounds whether j there had been a technical forfeiture at law or not. j The jurisdiction of the Superior Court was ample, asj we have seen, to determine the whole question of whether there was a legal forfeiture and whether, if so, it was suffi- ' cient to defeat the plaintiff’s purchase option in equity. The court determined that it was not, and that it would relieve the plaintiff from the effects of the forfeiture and would enjoin the defendant from making any use of the judgment in summary process to thwart the effect of this judgment in the equity action; and this it had full power to do under its established equitable jurisdiction. The decision of this court in Gainty v. Russell, 40 Conn. 450, is conclusive: “A court of chancery whose jurisdiction is not disputed, and is first invoked, cannot be ousted of it by a subsequent proceeding in a court of law, on the ground that the latter tribunal has also jurisdiction.” To the same effect are Downes v. Bristol, 41 Conn. 274; Alden v. Trubee, 44 Conn. 455.

There is a minor point we do not wish to be considered as having overlooked. The rule in releasing from a forfeiture for nonpayment at the time, requires the payment of what was due with interest. The decree in this case provides for the payment of $60 rent, and says nothing of interest. The interest could not on the most technical view, have been as much as $3, and we do not think for this small sum the case should be sent back even for the correction of the judgment. That amount is too petty, and it further does not appear that the attention of the court was called to the point of interest.

Corrections of the finding, assigned as error, are either not supported by the evidence, or are inconsequential in their effect; and the grounds of appeal, although quite numerous, are, we think, sufficiently answered in the decision above reached.

There is no error.

In this opinion the other judges concurred.