Wertheimer v. Hosmer

47 N.W. 47, 83 Mich. 56
CourtMichigan Supreme Court
DecidedNovember 12, 1890
StatusPublished
Cited by13 cases

This text of 47 N.W. 47 (Wertheimer v. Hosmer) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Michigan Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Wertheimer v. Hosmer, 47 N.W. 47, 83 Mich. 56 (Mich. 1890).

Opinion

Long, J.

This is an application for mandamus to compel the Honorable George S. Hosmer, circuit judge of the Wayne circuit, to dissolve an injunction issued on an ex parte showing, restraining the- defendants, who are the petitioners here, from using and enjoying certain real estate, situate in the city of Detroit.

It appears that William B. Clark, Frank H. Clark, and Fanny B. Lane are the owners of a store building in the Detroit Opera House block. They filed their bill for injunction. The bill upon which the injunction was issued states substantially that on September 15, 1887, the complainants made a written lease of the store to one Carl H. Miehell, to continue to April 30, 1891, by the terms of which Miehell was to have the use of the store, to be occupied by him for the sale of teas, coffees, spices, and similar goods. Miehell occupied for such purposes until about the month of April, 1890, when he moved into the store next adjoining, and requested the owners to permit one Thomas S. Sprague to occupy the premises for the sale of small musical instruments, and sheet-music, under him. The lease contained a clause that Miehell should not assign or transfer the lease, or sublet the premises, or any part thereof, without the written assent of the lessors. Upon MichelFs request, however, the owners, by their agent, assented to the occupying by Sprague under Miehell, Mr. Miehell to be holden for the rent; and he has continued to pay the rent therefor. Sprague continued in possession until the month of September, 1890, when he moved his entire stock out of the store, and vacated it. The bill states that on or about October 13, 1890, complainants discovered that William Wertheimer and Max Wertheimer had possession of the key of the store, [58]*58and pretended to have some rights thereto, and requested' permission to occupy the same for a misfit clothing house, which the complainants refused, and that the Wertheimers were then making repairs and changes in the interior of the store; that complainants then demanded the possession, and that they should desist from making such repairs; that the Wertheimers did desist from making repairs till about October 20, 1890, when they built platforms upon the floor, and caused shelving to be placed therein, and lettering upon the door advertising theix*business.

It is fux’ther alleged that the complainants never assented to the possession of the said Wertheimers, and that they have no right or lawful authority to occupy or use said store for a misfit-clothing hoxxse. It is also alleged in the bill that the said Wertheimers pretend and claim that they have rented said store from Sprague, and for theunexpii’ed term under the Michell lease, and that they now propose to open the same for a misfit-clothing house. It is further alleged that the said Wertheimers are wholly financially irresponsible. It is prayed in and by the bill that the Wertheimers be perpetually enjoined from interfering with the floors, walls, windows, doors, or the other-parts of the interior or extexfior of said store, and from placing 'any sign or signs upon the same, and from making use of or occupying said store or any part thereof.

Upon the filing of this bill, an injunction was issued as prayed. The defendants, without answering the bill, entered a motion to dissolve the injunction, upon the following grounds:

1. Because the complainants have an adequate remedy at law.
2. Because the complainants do not, by their bill, make out a case entitling them to the relief prayed for.
3. Because the injunction was issued ex parte, and without any notice to tlxe defendants.
[59]*594. Because no bond was filed before said injunction issued as required by the statute.
5. Because said bill is not signed by the complainants or either of them.
6. Because this court has no authority by injunction to oust said defendants from the possession and enjoyment, or interfere with the enjoyment of said premises, except after the final hearing.
7. Because said defendants were in possession under a valid lease.
8. Because the material averments in said bill have been denied under oath.

This motion was based upon the affidavits of the defendants and Thomas S. Sprague and Robert Gray, and the files and records in the case. The motion came on to be heard before Hon. George S. Ilosmer, and counter-affidavits were filed by the complainants. Upon the hearing, the court refused to dissolve the injunction. Application is now made to this Court to compel the circuit judge to set aside this order, and to dissolve the injunction. The injunction commands the defendants that they do desist and refrain from in any manner occupying or using the premises mentioned. Michell and Sprague were also made parties, and they are also enjoined from using the premises for any purpose except for the sale of teas, eofEees, spices, etc., and of small musical instruments, and from permitting any other person to occupy the premises or any part thereof.

The affidavits of the defendants show that they, in renting the store, dealt only with Sprague, and had no knowledge that Michell had anything to do with the premises; that Sprague was in possession, and represented that he was authorized to lease the premises to them; that, after obtaining possession, they proceeded to repair the interior of the store at large expense; that, on October 13, they requested leave of Sprague to paint the outside of the store, and were referred by him to the solicitor [60]*60of the complainants; that, upon applying to him, they were informed that he would not allow them to occupy, and requested them to desist from making repairs; that they did so until taking counsel, when they were advised they had the right to hold the premises, and, in reliance upon such advice, they have incurred about $1,000 expense, and have purchased $5,000, and upwards, of goods, which are in transit, and expected daily to arrive.

There is no question in the case now that the bill was not signed and verified by the complainants. This was permitted to be done in the court below, aud that question is not now pressed in this Court. The complainants in the injunction bill claim the right to have the injunction retained upon the grounds—

1. That Sprague, from whom the relators claim to have leased, had no right to give them a lease, and that relators were notified of this within three days after they took their lease; that Sprague's right could be no greater than Michell’s, and that he (Sprague) was bound by the covenants of the original lease,—that he could not sublet without the permission of the lessors; that the_ mere fact of having consented to Sprague's occupancy was not a waiver of the terms of the written lease, only as applied to Sprague; that it is not true that, when Sprague entered, this requirement of written consent was waived; that the general rule that a license once given removes all restrictions applies only where expressly or impliedly the lessor is chargeable with intention to waive the restrictions absolutely; that the rule does not interfere with the lessor's right to make a restrictive'waiver.
2.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
47 N.W. 47, 83 Mich. 56, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/wertheimer-v-hosmer-mich-1890.