Tone v. Brace

1 Cl. Ch. 503
Procedural entryThis page is a short order in Tone v. Brace. Read the opinion of the Court — 8 Paige Ch. 597
New York Court of Chancery·Decided March 15, 1841·Published

Opinion

The Vice Chancellor.

This case was before [506]*506me in August last, upon a motion to dissolve the m-junction* It was then briefly argued, and the opinion directing the dissolution of the injunction was briefly expressed, and püt upon the ground that if the complainant had any remedy upon the covenants of his lease, he had an adequate remedy at law, and could not come here unless the defendant was insolvent; which was denied. (Ante, p. 291.)

The complainant, in his argument upon this petition, has gone into the whole merits of his case, and the original right-to an injunction in this suit, and the eventual right of final relief in this court, if the present aspect of the facts remains unchanged by proof. The words used in this lease by the defendant in the granting part, are demise and lease. Under the settled rules of law, previous to the enactment of the Revised Statutes, it must be conceded, and it seems to be conceded by the defendant’s counsel, that these Words are sufficient to imply a covenant, so that the lessee, upon an eviction before the expiration of the term, could upon them maintain an action for his damages, by* reason of such eviction. Grannis vs. Clark, 8 Cowen, 36 ; Barney vs. Keith, 4 Wendall, 502. And the complainant insists that this settled rule of the common law is not altered by the 140th section of the Revised Statutes, relative to alienation by deed. That section (1 Rev. Stat. p. 731) declares that 66 no covenant shall be implied in any conveyance of real estate, whether such conveyance contain special covenants or not.” The Supreme Court have held, in the case of Kinney vs. Watts, 14 Wendell, 38, that this section, connected with the definitions given by the statute itself to the terms used, is applicable to implied covenants in leases, as [507]*507well as in other conveyances. The Revised Statutes, in the general provisions at the close of many of its chapters, give a definition to the terms used in such chapters; and such definition is frequently limited to such chapter. And in other chapters a different definition is given to the same words, for the purposes of such other chapter. In this case, the 140th section above quoted, is contained in the first chapter of Part 2. As to this chapter, the word “conveyance” is not defined by the statute itself; but in Title 5, Sec. 10, of the same chapter, we find a definition given of the term “real estate” as follows: (1 Rev. Stat. p. 741.) “ The terms 6 real estate’ and “ lands” as used in this chapter, shall “ be construed as co-extensive, in meaning, with lands, tenements, “ and hereditaments,” Chapter 3 of Part 2 of the statutes is the recording act, and the same, terms in relation to real estate, are there also used;. and the terms “purchaser” and “conveyance” are there defined, and so is the term “ real estate but the definition of the latter term is different from that in Chap. 1, (1 Rev. Stat. p. 751, Sec. 36,) and is as follows; “ The term 6 real estate,3 as used in this “ chapter, shall he construed as co-extensive in mea“ning with land, tenements, and hereditaments, and “ as embracing all chattels real, except leases for a “ term not exceeding three years.” It will be perceived that this definition applies only to Chap. 3 ; and that it is different from the definition of the same term applied to Chap. 1. Yet it is remarkable; that the Supreme Court, in the above case of Kinney vs. Watts, have applied the definition attached to Chap. 3, to show the construction and import of a section in Chap. 1, and to show that the 140th sec» [508]*508tion of Chap. 1 repudiated implied covenants in leases. This is an obvious error and misapplication. Yet it does not therefore follow that they have not given that section the proper construction. It is to be remarked that the 4th article of Title 2 of Chap. 1, is entitled" “ Of alienation by deed”—that Title 4 of the same chapter, is headed “ Of estates for years and at will,” &c.—that as to this chapter, the term “ conveyance” is not defined—and that the definition of “ real estate” in this chapter, does not embrace “chattels real.” It is to be remarked, also, that the 139th section of Art. 4, (1 Rev. Stat. p. 731,) specifically repudiates implied covenants in mortgages. We then turn to the reviser’s notes upon this article, and we there see that they reported two sections there marked 172 and 173, (3 Rev. Stat. 594,) which were not enacted. We see that the revisers explained these sections, by stating what the law then was as to implied covenants in conveyances of the fee, and suggesting that such implied covenants (to wit, implied covenants in conveyances of a fee or freehold) ought to be entirely abolished or their consequences declared, by enactment. We see, farther, that this 140th section was inserted by the legislature in pursuance of this suggestion ; by which we infer that, instead of tracing out implied covenants in the conveyances thus spoken of, they intended wholly to abolish implied covenants in that kind of conveyances which was then under legislative consideration. It is true, that the notes of the revisers are hardly legitimate exponents of what was the legislative will; but when the construction of a legislative enactment so enacted, and after such a revision, is doubtful, Stich notes may properly and profitably be referred [509]*509to, with a view of truly ascertaining the legislative intent.

In looking a.t all these circumstances to which allusion has been above made, I am strongly ■ impressed with the conviction that the legislature, in the whole of Art. 4, Title 2, had only in contemplation conveyances of a freehold. This view comports with the heading of the article, “ Of alienation by deed,” which, in the popular construction of the term, at least, contemplates when so used, conveyance of only a freehold. This view comports with the provision as to mortgages, in the 139th section, which case the legislature supposed might not be reached by the language of the 140th section, unless it Was specially enacted. The 145th section may seem, to some extent, to conflict with it, where the word “ conveyance” is used, so that it will eventually carry a chattel interest; but it seems to be used in this section in a case where, upon the face of the instrument, purported to convey a freehold, while the grantor had only a chattel interest, which interest should in such event vest in the grantee. The fact, also, that a subsequent title in the same chapter, relates to estates for years, where provisions as to covenants in leases would find an appropriate place, seems to ■ aid the views above expressed; and the notes of the revisers, likewise, give them strong countenance.

It would hardly afford any considerable aid .to either side of the argument, to go into a nice criticism of the import of the terms 66 conveyance,” “ tenements,” “lease,” or any other terms used in the chapter, and which are not defined. Legislative bodies generally use language and terms in the sense that such terms are commonly úsed, without reference to [510]*510any erudite or far fetched constructions. Upon the whole, I have from examination, and that contrary to my first impression, imbibed the strong conviction the legislature did not intend, by the language used in the 140th section, to prohibit implied covenants in leases for years. This conclusion of course leads to the consequence that the complainant has a remedy upon the implied covenant in his lease, to recover damages for his eviction, of the defendant.

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

Tone v. Brace, 1 Cl. Ch. 503 (N.Y. 1841).

1 Cl. Ch. 503 (Tone v. Brace) — published by Counsel Stack Legal Research, free access to 12M+ legal documents.

Related

M'Allister v. Reab
4 Wend. 483 (New York Supreme Court, 1830)
Allen v. Pell
4 Wend. 505 (New York Supreme Court, 1830)
Etheridge v. Osborn
12 Wend. 529 (New York Supreme Court, 1834)
Kinney v. Watts
14 Wend. 38 (New York Supreme Court, 1835)
Ives & M'Carty v. Van Epps & Shattuck
22 Wend. 155 (New York Supreme Court, 1839)
Bloomfield v. Snowden
2 Paige Ch. 355 (New York Court of Chancery, 1831)
Hart v. Mayor of Albany
3 Paige Ch. 381 (New York Court of Chancery, 1831)
Reab v. McAlister
8 Wend. 109 (Court for the Trial of Impeachments and Correction of Errors, 1831)