Tulsa Herald v. National Mutual Casualty Co.

1917 OK 203, 182 P.2d 496, 199 Okla. 29, 1947 Okla. LEXIS 558
CourtSupreme Court of Oklahoma
DecidedJune 24, 1947
DocketNo. 32505
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 1917 OK 203 (Tulsa Herald v. National Mutual Casualty Co.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of Oklahoma primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Tulsa Herald v. National Mutual Casualty Co., 1917 OK 203, 182 P.2d 496, 199 Okla. 29, 1947 Okla. LEXIS 558 (Okla. 1947).

Opinion

RILEY, J.

This is an appeal from a judgment for plaintiff (defendant in error, National Mutual Casualty Company) in an action in unlawful detainer. The action was commenced in a justice of the peace court to recover possession of office rooms 301 and 302 of the National Mutual Building in Tulsa. Trial in the justice of the peace court resulted in a verdict for defendant; plaintiff appealed to the'common pleas court where a jury was impaneled and counsel for both parties made their opening statements. Thereupon counsel for plaintiff moved the court for judgment on the opening statement of defendant’s counsel, and counsel for defendant moved for judgment on the opening statement of plaintiff’s counsel. The parties agreed that neither would offer further evidence and that the sole question presented to the trial court was one of law.

The jury was discharged and certain written instruments of record were submitted to the trial court for consideration in connection with the opening statements. These documents consisted of: (1) a real estate lease betwegji plaintiff and defendant for Rooms 309 and 310, National Mutual Building; (2) letter dated December 27, 1940, from plaintiff to defendant, purporting to give defendant an option to renew and extend the original lease; (3) another letter of the same date from plaintiff to defendant pertaining to a proposed removal by defendant from room 309 to 311; (4) supplemental agreement relating to rooms 310 and 311; (5) letter or memorandum, dated July 15, 1943, from plaintiff to defendant company; (6) letter from L. A. Swain, building manager for plaintiff, to defendant; (7) letter, dated October 11, 1945, from defendant to L. A. Swain, building manager for National Mutual Casualty Building.

The trial court thereupon rendered judgment for plaintiff, and defendant appealed. The sole question presented on appeal is whether defendant had a valid option to extend or renew a five-year lease on the rooms here involved.

The original written lease under which defendant went into possession of rooms 309 and 310 is dated November 9, 1940. By its terms it leased rooms 309 and 310 in plaintiff’s building to defendant for a term of five years for a total consideration of $2,100, payable in monthly installments of $35 each. The lease was signed:

“The National Mutual Casualty Company,
“By George C. Massey,
“Building Manager
“Lessor
“Douglas Tomlinson
“Lessee
“Publisher, Tulsa Herald.”

The record discloses that about December 27, 1940, plaintiff had a request from another tenant, Central Petroleum Company, for additional space, and particularly room 309, one of the rooms occupied by defendant and covered by its lease. Plaintiff requested defendant to vacate room 309 and take in its place room 311 in order to accommodate plaintiff and Central Petroleum Company. Thereupon plaintiff, through its building manager, George C. Massey, wrote defendant the letter of December 27, 1940, wherein he related to defendant plaintiff’s desire for room* 309 and [31]*31the reason therefor, and in said letter stated:

“If agreeable with you, I will add room 311 to your lease at the same figure and the room will be painted and Venetian blinds added. I understand that you have this week added a built in cabinet in room 309 and it would have to be taken out and reset in room 311. Also you have a straight line telephone in room 309.
“The Central Petroleum Company have agreed to pay your expense of this move, an estimated cost of $15.00 to $20.00.”

The opening statements of both parties agree that defendant consented to the move and later was moved from room 309 to 311, and on the same date, plaintiff, by its building manager, wrote defendant as follows:

“Gentlemen:
“This letter will serve as your option to renew and extend your present lease at its expiration for an additional five years.
“If you elect to exercise said option you will give lessor notice (30) thirty days before expiration of said lease.
“Yours truly,
“The National Mutual Bldg.
“By Geo. C. Massey,
“Building Manager.”

On January 15, 1941, plaintiff, by its building manager, George C. Massey, and defendant executed a written agreement modifying the original lease by striking room 309 and substituting therefor room 311, and further providing:

“All other terms and conditions of said lease shall remain in full force and effect, it being the intention hereby to substitute room 311 for room 309.”

Later, about July, 1943, the plaintiff company wanted possession of rooms 310 and 311 to make room for expansion of Chandler-Frates Company, a corporation. Mr. Frates, president of plaintiff corporation, was also president of Chandler-Frates Company. Some conversation appears to have been had with respect to the matter, and on July 15, 1943, plaintiff, by its building manager, Massey, submitted to defendant, in writing, the following proposition:

“RE: Move from your present rooms into 301 & 302.
“Please refer to our previous conversations regarding your move in order to make room for expansion of the Chandler-Frates Co.
“As previously agreed with you and of course with the approval of Mr. Tomlinson your Ft. Worth Manager, The Tulsa Herald Publishing Company will be moved from rooms 310 & 311 into rooms 301 and 302 in this building at no expense to them. The new suite will be overhauled to conform to your present requirements and carpet will be installed as per your agreement with Chandler-Frates Company.
“There will be no change in your lease except the change in room numbers.
“In your present rooms you have 500 sq. feet of space and in the new rooms you will have 545 sq. feet or an added footage of 45.
“National Mutual Building,
“By Geo. C. Massey “Building Manager.”

It was endorsed:

“OK — Douglas Tomlinson,
“Publisher Tulsa Herald.”

The record shows and it is agreed that the second move was made accordingly and that defendant thereafter occupied and paid rent on rooms 301 and 302 until August, 1944, at which time L. A. Swain succeeded George C. Massey as building manager for plaintiff.

In October, 1944, Horace Jones, manager for defendant company, being under the impression that defendant’s lease would expire November 15th of that year, wrote Mr. Swain a letter calling attention to the option to extend defendant’s lease another five years and [32]*32stating that a copy oí the agreement to that effect was attached, and then stated:

“This letter is the required notice of intention to renew the lease for an additional five years.”

On October 6, 1944, L. A. Swain, as building manager for plaintiff, wrote Mr.

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Related

Wallace v. Williams
1957 OK 130 (Supreme Court of Oklahoma, 1957)

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Bluebook (online)
1917 OK 203, 182 P.2d 496, 199 Okla. 29, 1947 Okla. LEXIS 558, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/tulsa-herald-v-national-mutual-casualty-co-okla-1947.