27 Md. 36 | Md. | 1867
delivered the opinion of this Court.
This is an appeal taken from the Circuit Court of Baltimore City, granting an injunction, on the hill of the appellee to restrain the appellants from committing waste, by the destruction of a building or store-house owned by the appellee. The propriety of this order is to be determined by the bill alone, without looking to the answer subsequently filed.
The principles of law applicable to bills of injunction for waste have been repeatedly adjudicated by this Court, and it has been held, that an injunction is not granted to restrain a mere trespass, when the injury is not irreparable and destructive to the plaintiff’s estate, but is susceptible of perfect pecuniary compensation, and for which the party may obtain adequate satisfaction in the ordinary course of law ; and Justice Dorsey, in the case of Amelung and, others vs. Seekamp, 9 Gill & John., 474, said: — “The mere allegation of a complainant that irremediable damage or irreparable mischief will ensue, is not sufficient. To satisfy the conscience of the Court the facts must be stated, to show that the apprehension of injury is well founded.” Since that decision it has been uniformly held, that the averment of the commission of waste, and that the mischief is irreparable, will not be sufficient to justify a Court of Equity to interfere by injunction. Green vs. Keen, 4 Md. Rep., 99. Recognizing these principles to control us
The lessees, in virtue of their lease, insist that they had a right to do all they had done, for the purpose of improving the store-house, adapting it to modern taste, and benefiting their business, and that the improvements made, and contemplated to be made, were beneficial to the landlord and enhanced the value of his property. On the filial hearing of this case on its merits, the benefits and advantages accruing to the landlord will be#a proper subject for consideration. On this appeal we can only examine the bill and exhibit of the appellee, and determine whether the facts charged in the bill make a case for the interference of a Court of Equity, From a recital of them the Court is judicially informed of the nature and consequences of the acts of the appellants, and enough is shown to justify the allegation that they were committing waste, by materially injuring the building. We think such wrongs and injuries are not susceptible of adequate compensation at law ; for such compensation is too remote and contingent, and does not meet the urgency of the case. To prevent such waste and further destruction of his property, the lessor had a right to ask the aid of a Court of Chancery for an injunction. It was the appropriate remedy to meet the case, and afford the appellee full and ade
In tlie argument of this case the learned counsel for the appellants earnestly contended that, as there was no allegation or pretence that the alterations in the house were attempted to he made for the purpose of converting the premises to uses inconsistent with the lease, it did not come within the principles decided in the case of Maddox and Aur vs. White, 4 Md. Rep., 79. We cannot consent to give such a restricted meaning to the language used hy the learned Judge who delivered the opinion of the Court in that case. He certainly did not intend to limit the remedy hy injunction only to cases where the lessees attempted to convert the demised premises to uses inconsistent with the terms of the contract. In that opinion he says, “It was conceded hy the appellants’ counsel that a landlord, hy injunction, could restrain injuries to his property committed, or about to he committed, hy his tenant,” and he subsequently adds “that a lessor may, hy injunction, prevent his lessee, or those claiming or holding under him or acting hy his authority, from converting the demised premises to uses inconsistent with the terms of the contract, and for making material alterations for such purposes, as also from committing other hinds of toaste.”
Believing that our view of this case is fully sustained hy this decision, we will sign a decree affirming the order of the Circuit Court, with costs, and remanding the cause for further proceedings.
Order affirmed and cause remanded.