Woodworth v. Harding

75 A.D. 54, 77 N.Y.S. 969, 1902 N.Y. App. Div. LEXIS 2078
CourtAppellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York
DecidedJuly 1, 1902
StatusPublished
Cited by4 cases

This text of 75 A.D. 54 (Woodworth v. Harding) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Woodworth v. Harding, 75 A.D. 54, 77 N.Y.S. 969, 1902 N.Y. App. Div. LEXIS 2078 (N.Y. Ct. App. 1902).

Opinion

Williams, J.

The judgment and order appealed from should be affirmed, with •costs.

The action was brought to recover rent for the month of October, 1901, upon a lease of a building in the city of Rochester, N. Y., used as a shoe factory. The lease was made by the plaintiff’s testator to the defendants Harding & Todd for the term of ten years, ■commencing November 1, 1894, at the annual rent of $5,938.19, payable monthly in advance, each monthly payment being $494.85. "The lessees were copartners and occupied the property in carrying ■on their firm business until the fall of 1897, when they dissolved the copartnership by mutual consent.

Todd went out of the property and thereafter conducted his business in another part of the city. Harding continued to occupy the leased property, forming a new partnership with his sons, and although Todd still remained liable under the lease for the rent, yet ■Harding and his new firm paid the same each month up to August, [56]*561901. July 30, 1901, the firm of Harding & Sons made a general assignment for the benefit of their creditors to one John F. Snow. Thereafter and oh the 2d day of August, 1901, the creditors of the firm filed a petition in involuntary bankruptcy against them, and the court in bankruptcy made an order to show cause why the. assignee should not be restrained from taking possession of the assigned property or interfering with the same. This order was. returnable August 3, 1901, and in the meantime restrained all persons from acting under the assignment or interfering with the property. The order also appointed Henry R. Kirk receiver, and directed him, on the filing and approval of his bond, to take possession of all the property of the firm and hold the same subject to the order of the court. The receiver’s bond was approved August 6, 1901, and lie at once took possession of the firm property and of the leased building in which the property was located. He remained in possession until September 20, 1901, when he returned the whole property to Harding. There is nothing in the record to show why this was done. Presumably an arrangement was made between Harding and his creditors, resulting in an order by the court dismissing the proceeding and directing the return of the property by the receiver. While the receiver was in possession, of the leased building he paid the rent for the months of August and September ás such receiver. On the seventh day of August the' defendant. Todd gave the plaintiffs, the executors of the lessor (v ho had died in February, 1901), a writing whereby he authorized them to take such proceedings as they should be advised to recover the rent, of the leased property due and unpaid, or to recover possession of the property, and agreeing that, in case they should recover possession, the lease should not be merged, but they should hold the property for his benefit, and any rent received by them should be applied on the lease without prejudice to their right to; recover the balance from him. Thereafter and August 9, 1901, the plaintiffs by written notice demanded of Harding ■& Sons and Kirk, -the receiver, the rent of the property for the months of - July and August,. 1901, $989.70, or the possession of the property, but on August 15, 1901, by notice in writing they withdrew the notice and demand of August 9, 1901. Between August 9 and 15,1901, the receiver’s, counsel, Poole, had an interview with the plaintiff’s counsel, Cogs-[57]*57well, Sr., in the latter’s office, the substance- of which was that Cogs-well aslced Poole what the receiver proposed to do about the rent of the property, and Poole replied he would do nothing except to pay for the time he occupied the property; would make no agreement for any term or rent; if any question arose as to the rent the court would fix it; to which statement Cogswell did not make any response. The receiver never had any communication personally with any one representing the plaintiffs about the renting of the property. When the assets and property were turned back to Harding September 20, 1901, he took possession and began at once moving it out of the leased building, and subsequently completed moving on the 30th of September, 1901. Some few articles remained therein as late as the middle of October very likely. Harding claims that immediately on receiving the notice and demand of rent or possession of the leased property August 9, 1901, he took steps to find other premises, to get ready when he should receive his property back, and went and examined and inqixired as to several pieces of property. He finally moved into one of the buildings he then looked at and inquii'ed about; There • was evidence in the case tending to show that defendant Todd was in and about the leased bxxilding in the months of August, September and October, 1901.

The defendant Todd did not defend the action. His liability for the October, 1901, rent was undoubted. Harding defended, alleging that he was relieved from liability for the rent sued for, because the lease was terminated as to him by :

First. The agreement of August 7, 1901, made by Todd with plaintiffs. ’ .

Second. The notice and demand by the plaintiffs of August 9, 1901.

Third. The releasing of the property to the receivei*, Kirk.

At the close of the evidence the plaintiffs’ counsel moved for a verdict on the grounds':

First. That no ouster had been shown.

Second. That Harding remained in possession in October*.

A verdict was directed by the court for plaintiffs.

The defendant’s counsel asked to go to the jury on the question whether or not the series of actions shown, the contract of August seventh between Todd and the plaintiffs, the notice to quit of [58]*58August ninth, the attempt to withdraw the notice to-quit of August fifteenth, the communication between Cogswell and Poole, and the presence of Todd in and about the premises did not show that the •plaintiffs elected to dissolve the contract between themselves and Harding and to recognize Todd as the sole lessee and debtor'under the lease. This whs refused.

The agreement made by Todd with the plaintiffs did not operate to terminate the lease as to Harding, or to relieve the latter from his joint liability with Todd for the rent thereunder. Todd had remained liable all' along, though Harding had for years had sole possession and had paid the'whole rent. The general assignment made by Harding & Sons, and the subsequent proceedings in bankruptcy commenced against them, seemed to indicate that Harding was in such financial trouble that Todd might have the rent'for July and August which was past due to pay. His agreement ■ was merely to protect the plaintiffs against losing their claims against him under the lease, if they should take any proceedings against Harding or the receiver, who was then ill possession. . The plaintiffs could safely rely on Todd’s liability and compel him to pay the rent. If they saw fit to make an effort to collect from Harding -or the receiver, it was very proper Todd should protect them from any loss of remedy against him for the rent, especially if the premises should chance to fall into the plaintiffs’ hands as á result of their efforts. The agreement in no way affected Harding or his liability for the rent. It did not release him from future liability under the lease.

The notice of August ninth, to'pay the July and August rent or quit, did not operate to oust Harding of possession under the lease, or to relieve him from liability thereunder.

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Bluebook (online)
75 A.D. 54, 77 N.Y.S. 969, 1902 N.Y. App. Div. LEXIS 2078, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/woodworth-v-harding-nyappdiv-1902.