Wright v. La May

118 N.W. 964, 155 Mich. 119, 1908 Mich. LEXIS 945
CourtMichigan Supreme Court
DecidedDecember 21, 1908
DocketDocket No. 99
StatusPublished
Cited by3 cases

This text of 118 N.W. 964 (Wright v. La May) 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
Wright v. La May, 118 N.W. 964, 155 Mich. 119, 1908 Mich. LEXIS 945 (Mich. 1908).

Opinion

McAlvay, J.

Complainant, who is the owner of a 20-foot lot on which is erected a 3-story brick building, being No. 59 Cadillac Square, in the city of Detroit, leased these premises on November 28, 1904, to defendant, Louis La May, by written lease, for the term of five years from and after May 1, 1905, for hotel and saloon purposes; possession to be taken on the last-mentioned date. This lease contained the following provision:

“The first party grants the second party the right to alter and remodel said premises; provided, however, that [120]*120no alteration shall be made without first submitting the plans thereof to, and receiving the sanction of, first party. In case first and second parties cannot agree on such alterations, the same shall be submitted to an architect to be chosen by first party and paid by second party, and such alterations shall then be made according to his direction and under his supervision. All improvements, betterments, and changes or alterations shall, at the expiration of this lease, be and remain in said premises and belong to first party as a further consideration for this lease.”

Under the terms of this lease, said defendant entered into possession of the premises. After certain negotiations with defendant the Stroh Brewery Company were had by defendant La May, relative to using its product in the business he was to carry on under his lease, on May 26, 1905, these two defendants entered into a written contract relative to the matter, the material parts of which are as follows:

“Agreement between the Stroh Brewery Company, a corporation, party of the first part, and Louis La May, party of the second part, both of Detroit, Wayne county, Mich., to wit: In consideration of the party of the first part agreeing with and promising to the party of the second part to change the front of the building at No. 59 Cadillac Square, Detroit, Mich., occupied by and under lease to the party of the second part, at a cost of four hundred and sixty-five ($465) dollars, and to also furnish to the party of the second part certain hotel and saloon furniture and fixtures, at an approximate cost of eight hundred ($800) dollars, more or less, for free use in said building while exclusively buying, handling and selling the beer made or sold by the party of the first part, the party of the second part agrees with and promises to the party of the first part to exclusively handle, buy, and sell the beer made or sold by the party of the first part for at least five (5) years from May 1, 1905, and to pay for said beer daily, or at least once a week, at the market prices. The party of the second part also expressly promises to and agrees with the party of the first part that should he, at any time before the expiration of the five years stipulated, violate this agreement, he will reimburse the party of the first part for the money invested by the party of the first part for changing the front of said building, and [121]*121will also buy the above-mentioned hotel and saloon furniture and fixtures at cost price, as evidenced by the bills.”

This contract was executed and delivered after the officers and agents of the defendant brewery company had read and were fully informed of the terms of the lease of complainant to defendant La May. On June 14, 1905, the two defendants named entered into another contract of precisely similar import as the one above quoted, except that the amount to be expended for repairs and alterations to the front of the building was increased to $600. The front was changed and paid for by the brewery company, to the amount of about $600. In the part of the building to be used for a saloon, defendant brewery company, under its agreement in writing with La May, put in a partition across the width of the building about 10 feet back from the front. It is 7 feet high and fastened to the floor and side walls. It has 3 doors to allow people to pass in and out. The brewery company also installed a 22-foot quartered oak bar with mahogany top and 10-inch marble base, one 22-foot rail with lift-up brackets; one 20-foot quartered oak 3-arch mirror frame with plate glass mirrors; one 22-foot copper work board with ice box, bottle racks, and rinse basins; one Chicago sectional ice box; one Champion pump outfit complete. The furniture and fixtures in the saloon were specially designed and made to order for that building. The bar was fastened to the floor by screws through angle irons. In front of it fixed into the floor a mosaic tiling and drain was put in by cutting out the flooring, and about 3 inches of the joists, which was cemented along the edge of the base of the bar to prevent water getting through. The sectional ice box was installed in the basement and connected with the bar and fixtures above by pipes passing through holes made in the floor. The bar and work board weigh 500 pounds, the back bar and mirrors 1,500 pounds, and the sectional ice box 1,000 pounds. All of these improvements were made and the above equipment installed by August 3, 1905. Defendant brewery company paid for the bar equipment, [122]*122improvements, and fixtures mentioned and for the installation of all the plumbing and building the mosaic tile drain. Altogether there were seven holes made through the floor for connections with the plumbing and ice box below, which were made in such a manner that these articles installed by the brewery company cannot be removed without cutting the pipes.

' On January 30, 1906, defendant brewery company presented to La May for his signature a third agreement, which he signed. All the record shows as to this agreement is the testimony of La May, who says that an officer of defendant company presented a paper to him and asked him to sign it, which he did without reading it, and that he never knew its contents until the day of trial. The right to the possession of this property is claimed under this agreement. The material parts of this agreement are as follows:

“ It is hereby agreed between the Stroh Brewery Company of Detroit, Wayne county, Mich., party of the first part, and Louis La May, of the same place, party of the second part, that, whereas, the said party of the second part desires and agrees to buy beer made or sold by the party of the first part from said party of the first part at the market price or prices established by the party of the first part to their trade in general; and, whereas, the said second party desires said first party to loan or lease to him certain restaurant and saloon furniture and fixtures such as counters, back counters, mirrors, work boards, pumps, signs, etc., more particularly and specifically described as follows, viz.: One 22-foot white quartered oak bar with mahogany top and 10-inch marble base on bar; one 20-foot refrigerator back bar; one 20-foot mirror frame; one 22-foot brass foot rail; one 22-foot copper work board; one 15-foot white oak partition; one Champion pump outfit complete; one Chicago ice box; one cellar ice box; one round table; eight square tables; three dozen No. 41 chairs; one plate glass sign; two electric signs; four drum signs; as well as' any other furniture and fixtures that hereafter may be furnished to the party of the second part by the party of the first part — and 'it being expressly understood and agreed between the parties [123]

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
118 N.W. 964, 155 Mich. 119, 1908 Mich. LEXIS 945, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/wright-v-la-may-mich-1908.