141 N.E. 917 | NY | 1923
In November, 1915, plaintiff became the lessee of Nos. 511 and 513 Main street in the city of Buffalo for a term of ten years beginning February 1, 1916. In the event of a sale, the privilege of terminating the lease was reserved to the lessors or their grantees, subject, however, to conditions which were carefully defined. One of these was to the effect that notice of termination must be given within three months after the lessors had parted with the ownership. A sale was made by the lessors in April, 1916, but neither then nor within three months thereafter was there an election to declare the tenancy at an end. A second conveyance was made in January, 1919, and still possession was unchallenged. A year later, in January, 1920, a third sale was made, this time to the defendant. The new owner took the ground that with each successive sale the privilege to terminate the tenancy revived. The tenant, unwilling to concur in that construction of the lease, declined to yield possession when served with notice to vacate, and contested the summary proceedings which were promptly started by the owner. The City Court of Buffalo, where the proceedings were begun, made a final order on July 9, 1920, awarding possession to the petitioner. The tenant appealed to the Special Term of the Supreme Court, *469
which affirmed, then to the Appellate Division, which affirmed, though by a divided vote, and finally to this court. We held that the privilege did no survive the expiration of three months following the sale by the lessors (Matter of Loew's BuffaloTheatres, Inc.,
In the meantime the defendant, the petitioner in the summary proceedings, had been let into possession under the warrant of the City Court. At once the building was torn down. On the land where it had stood and on other land adjoining, a theatre was built at a cost of over a hundred thousand dollars. One of the entrances to this theatre, the connecting lobby, and a small section of the orchestra cover the premises demised. Promptly after our decision, the tenant made demand that it be put back upon the land from which it had been ousted. The demand met with a refusal, and this action of ejectment followed. We are to determine whether the plaintiff is entitled to judgment on the pleadings.
The defendant has set up what it styles an equitable defense. Improvements, it says, have been made at great expense in reliance on a final order, now reversed, but then in force. Ouster will work hardship to the owner; it will do little good to the tenant. The building, or so much of it as stands upon this land, is suited, not for a shop, but for a theatre. The owner is solvent, and if any loss has been suffered, is ready to pay the bill. In these circumstances the tenant should be left, it is said, to an action for the recovery of damages. The Special Term and the Appellate Division, two justices dissenting, have held that this defense is good.
The order cannot be sustained without obliterating a legal estate and extinguishing a right of property. The plaintiff does not sue in equity, and is not asking for relief which the court is free in its discretion to concede or *470
to withhold. Such cases as McCann v. Chasm Power Co. (
We are told that the defendant rested upon an order of a court. The prop was insecure, and warning was not lacking of the danger of collapse. When the order was reversed and the proceeding dismissed, rights and duties were re-established, inter partes,
as if no order had been made (Bank of U.S. v. Bank ofWashington, 6 Pet. 8; Arkadelphia M. Co. v. St. Louis S.W.Ry. Co.,
The answer is not framed upon the theory of an equitable lien for the value of improvements, but such a claim, if it were made, would have no basis in the facts. The plaintiff is not an actor in the equitable forum. It does not come into court seeking equitable relief and subjecting itself to the condition of doing equity in return (Thomas v. Evans,
The point is made that the issuing of the warrant has the effect, under the statute (Code Civ. Pro. § 2253; C.P.A. § 1434), of annulling the relation of landlord and tenant. The relation will be re-established when possession is regained.
The point is made also that the failure of this court to order restitution when it determined the appeal, is to be viewed as an adjudication adverse to the tenant's right. Restitution upon motion is discretionary. One who seeks it may be left, in cases of hardship or of uncertainty, to the remedy by action (Wright
v. Nostrand,
The form of action is appropriate. The plaintiff does not seek the demolition of the new building or any part of it. All that is sought is possession of a determinate area of land. The sheriff has ample power to execute the writ (City of Syracuse v.Hogan,
Other points are urged, but we find them unsubstantial.
The order of the Appellate Division and that of the Special Term should be reversed with costs in all courts, and the motion for judgment on the pleadings granted with costs.
The first and second questions certified should be answered in the negative, and the third question in the affirmative.
HISCOCK, Ch. J., HOGAN, POUND, McLAUGHLIN and ANDREWS, JJ., concur; CRANE, J., dissents.
Orders reversed, etc. *473