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King v. LawsonKing v. Lawson

Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court
Nov 15, 1867
Reporters:
Before:
Chapman
Chapman, J.

It appears that Williams was tenant at will to tne plaintiff, and sold out his interest to the defendant and put him in possession, claiming ‍​​‌‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​​​‍that he was the tenant of Williams. This assignment of his estate by Williams operated to terminate his own tenancy. Cooper v. Adams, 6 Cush. 87. But it gave the defendant no tenancy at will, and he could not assert the rights of a tenant at will as against the plaintiff. The notice of January 1, ‍​​‌‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​​​‍1866, was capable of explanation; the evidence which was given tended to explain it, and to show that *312it was not a ratification of the assignment of Williams to the defendant, or a waiver of objections to it; and the question was properly left to the jury under instructions.

On the 8th of ‍​​‌‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​​​‍February 1866, when this action was commenced, the plaintiff” had a good cause of action against the defendant. But the plaintiff” himself was only a lessee for years, and his term expired October 1,1866, while the action was pending, and the defendant has held the property since that time under a ‍​​‌‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​​​‍valid lease from the owners. Of course the plaintiff is not now entitled to possession; and it is contended that he is not entitled to any judgment in his favor. But this matter was considered and settled in Coburn v. Palmer, 8 Cush. 124. According to the decision in that case the plaintiff” is entitled to ‍​​‌‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​​​‍costs, and to such judgment also as will entitle him to the benefit of his recognizance, and for payment of rent until his estate terminated. Exceptions overruled.

Case Details

Case Name: King v. Lawson
Court Name: Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court
Date Published: Nov 15, 1867
Citation: 98 Mass. 309
Court Abbreviation: Mass.
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