286 Mass. 173 | Mass. | 1934
The plaintiff brought suit against John Zahos and .Constantine H. Zahos as copartners doing business at Malden and at Newton as Zahos Brothers, in Malden also as Imperial Lunch Company, and in Newton as Imperial Cafeteria. She declared in four counts which she stated were for the same cause of action. The first count was for a joint and several liability for rent under a written lease for $300 due and unpaid for the month of April, 1932; the second count on account annexed was for rent, use and occupation for $300 under a lease beginning in 1927 and ending August 31, 1932; the third was for $151.52 upon a check for $150 drawn on an account in the First National Bank of Malden to the order of the plaintiff, dated April 19, 1932, dishonored on presentment with protest fee of $1.52; and the fourth for $151.52 on a similar check for $150, dated April 28, 1932, dishonored on presentment with protest fee of $1.52. The defendants John and Constantine answered separately, general denial and payment.
There was evidence of a lease of premises in Malden in 1927 by the plaintiff as lessor, executed by her and by “Zahos Brothers By John Zahos Member of Partnership” which called for a monthly rent of $300 payable in advance; and of occupation by John Zahos and Constantine H. Zahos doing business as Zahos Brothers under a sign “Imperial Lunch.” This lease was to expire August 31,1932. Rent was paid by check. All rent due thereunder was received by the plaintiff except $300 due for the month of April, 1932. John Zahos, although he signed the lease, operated the restaurant on the premises with Constantine H. Zahos only during the years 1927 and 1928. John had no account with the First National Bank of Malden. In 1931, an account was opened in the name of “Imperial Lunch Co. Malden, Mass. C. H. Zahos.”
No question is raised other than the propriety of the rulings and of the finding that there was no payment by the checks. We consider no others.
Our law is thoroughly established that acceptance and retention by a creditor of a check from a debtor does not necessarily constitute a payment. Illustrated Card & Novelty Co. v. Dolan, 208 Mass. 53. Bergman v. Granstein, 235 Mass. 378. Feinberg v. Levine, 237 Mass. 185, 187. Wasilauskas v. Brookline Savings Bank, 259 Mass. 215, 218, 219. Whether there is a payment depends upon whether the creditor accepts it as payment, or so conducts himself that he is not at liberty to deny acceptance as payment. This, ordinarily, is matter of fact rather than of law. Smith v. Collins, 115 Mass. 388, 398. Dutton v. Bennett, 256 Mass. 397, 402. See Poresky v. Wood, 248 Mass. 464.
In the case before us the evidence will support the finding that the plaintiff never accepted the two checks sent by Constantine as payment for rent. The fact that post dated checks were sent to her might fairly be taken to indicate that the debtors relied upon some laxity in doing business on her part, and did not believe the checks on April 2, 1932, were taken by her as the equivalent of payment by cash. We are unable to accept- the argument that by putting in the answers to the interrogatories, the plaintiff is bound by them as proof that, being “given in payment,” the checks were therefore accepted by her in payment.
The defendants produce no evidence of loss caused by the plaintiff’s delay, so as to be able to profit by G. L. (Ter. Ed.) c. 107, § 209: “A check must be presented for payment within a reasonable time after its issue or the drawer will be discharged from liability thereon to the extent of the loss caused by the delay.” Her illness would be taken to explain and excuse the months of delay between receipt and presentment, Furber v. Dane, 204 Mass. 412,
John Zahos signed the lease. It was in force in April, 1932. Neither he nor any one else has paid the agreed rent for that month. There is no error in judgment against him.
Order dismissing report affirmed.