Fifty Associates v. Howland

52 Mass. 99 | Mass. | 1846

Wilde, J.

This action is founded on the Rev. Sts. c. 104, § 2, which provide, that “ when the lessee of any lands and tenements, or any person holding under such lessee, shall hold possession of the demised premises without right,-after the determination of the lease, either by its own limitation or by a notice to quit, as provided in the 60th chapter, the person entitled to the premises may be restored to the possession thereof, in the manner provided ” in the said 104th chapter. And the principal question in this case is, whether the defendant, at the time of the commencement of the action, did hold possession of the demised premises without right, after the determination of the lease by its own limitation; for no notice to quit, as provided in the 60th chapter, was proved or alleged. The lease under which the defendant held a part of the demised premises, as under tenant of Alfred Randall, the lessee, was for the term of five years, which had not expired when this action was commenced. But the plaintiffs’ counsel relies on a proviso in the lease, which, it is contended, is to be construed as a conditional limitation of the estate demised ; and if so, undoubtedly this summary process may be well maintained. [Here the proviso, as above set forth, was recited by the judge.] The question then is, whether the words of this proviso are words of condition or conditiona, limitation. The distinction is correctly laid down by Blackstone, as cited by the defendant’s counsel: 11 When an estate X is so expressly confined and limited by the words of its creation, that it cannot endure for any longer time than till the contingency happens upon which the estate is to fail, this is denominated a limitation; as when land is granted to a man, so long as he is parson of Dale, or while he continues unmarried, or until, out of the rents and profits, he shall have made £500, and the like. In such case, the estate determines as soon as the contingency happens, and the next subsequent estate, which depends on such determination, becomes immediately vested, without any act to be done by him who is next in expectancy. But when an estate is, strictly speaking, on condition in deed, (as if granted expressly upon condition to be void upon the payment of £40 by the grantor, <fcc.) the law permits it to endure beyond the time when .such contingency happens, unless the grantor, or his heirs or assigns, take advantage of the breach of the condition, and make either an entry or claim in order to avoid the estate.” 2 Bl. Com. 155. According to this distinction, which is fully supported by the authorities, it seems quite clear that the words of the proviso in the plaintiff’s lease created an estate on condition, and cannot be construed as rvords of limitation. The estate of the lessee was not to cease or become forfeited by his non-performance of the condition, before the entry of the lessors; and if no such entry had been made, the estate of the lessee would have continued to the end of the term. So if the lessors had, after the breach of the condition by non-payment of rent, accepted the rent in arrear, it would have been a waiver of the forfeiture, after which the lessors could not enter for the breach of the condition; and so is the language of the proviso. The provision is, that after the breach of the condition by the lessee’s non-performance of any of his covenants, “ the lessors may, lawfully, immediately, or at any time whilst such neglect or default continues, and without further notice or demand, enter into and upon the said prem ises, and repossess the same as of their former estate." Until entry, therefore, the lessee’s estate continued, notwithstanding the breach of the condition. By the words of the proviso, the lessee’s estate is expressly declared to be an estate upon condition ; and Lord Coke says, in Mary Portington's case, 10 Co. 41, that if there be express words of condition annexed to the estate, it cannot be construed a limitation. But this rule of construction was denied by Lord Hale, in Lady Anne Fry's case, 1 Vent. 202, 203, to be law in all cases ; for, as he held, although the words be proper to create a condition, yet if, upon the non-performance thereof, the estate be limited over to another person, this shall be a limitation ; for it shall not be in the power of the grantor or lessor, •by his not claiming or entering, to defeat the interest of such person. And this seems to be a well founded exception to the general rule of construction as laid down by Lord Coke ; but it is not applicable to the present case. 2 Wooddeson, 143, 144. Bac. Ab. Conditions, H. 2 Crabb on Real Property, § 2136. Stearns v. Godfrey, 4 Shepley, 158. No right is reserved to the. plaintiffs, except to repossess their former estate by entry after condition broken. It therefore follows, conclusively, that the lessee’s estate was not determined by the limitation in the lease, but by the lessors’ entry for condition broken, if that was legally made. On the question, whether it was legally made, though argued by the counsel, it is not necessary to give an opinion. For if the condition was valid and the entry of the plaintiffs lawful, yet they are not entitled to maintain this summary process under the statute, to recover possession.^*

* By St. 1847, c. 267, §§ 1, 2, in all caaes of neglect or refusal to pay the rent due, according to the terms of any written lease, fourteen days" notice to quit, given in writing by the landlord to the tenant, shall be sufficient to determine the lease; and whenever any lease shall be so determined, the lessor, or his assigns, may recover possession of the demised premises, by the procesi provided by the Rev. Sts. c. 104, in cases of forcible entry and detainer: Provided, however, that if the tenant shall pay or tender to the landlord the rent due, with interest thereon, at any time before final judgment under said pro cess, the lease shall be and continue in full force.