Man v. Katz

40 Misc. 645 | N.Y. App. Term. | 1903

Lead Opinion

Gildersleeve, J.

It appears from the evidence and admissions, of counsel that plaintiff leased a building to the Elmer Parlor Furniture Company, for a term of ten months from July 1, 1902, at a rental of $208.33 a month, payable in advance. This corporation made an assignment for- the benefit of creditors, to the defendant, who took the lease, along with other effects of the assignor, and continued in the use and occupation of the building. When the rent for October, 1902, became due, defendant failed to pay it, and plaintiff sued him individually for the rent. The case was tried in the Trial Term of the City Court, and the justice directed a verdict for plaintiff. The defendant put in no evidence, and the facts are practically undisputed. The defendant appeals, and the only question raised on the appeal is as to the individual liability of the defendant, who took the lease, as we have seen, as assignee for the benefit of creditors of the lessee, the said corporation.

We are of the opinion that the rule laid down in Walton v. Stafford, 14 App. Div. 312; affd., 162 N. Y. 563, must control *646the disposition of this appeal. The plaintiff there was an assignee for the benefit of creditors. The assignor was the lessee of certain premises and the assignee accepted the lease as an asset of the assigned estate and utilized the demised premises for the benefit of his cestui que trust. It was there held that the lease became a part of the assigned estate, held by the assignee, in his trust capacity, subject to the covenants contained therein. While it was so held, the assignee, in his representative capacity, was chargeable with all the conditions attached thereto. It was not his contract, either personal or as representative, and his liability upon the covenants was consequently not contractual. The liability was the liability of his assignor’s estate, legally resulting from its acquisition of the lease as an asset. It was, therefore, the assignee’s liability as assignee.

A distinction must be drawn between contracts of an assignor that pass into the hands of an assignee and contracts made by him as assignee in his administrative capacity. The latter creates contractual relations and may be enforced against him personally. The former is a liability of the assignor’s estate and cannot be enforced against the assignee individually.

Applying this doctrine to the case at bar the conclusion is that the plaintiff could have brought the action against defendant as assignee, and not against him in his individual capacity.

The judgment is reversed, and a new trial granted, with costs to the appellant to abide the event.

Ebeedman, P. J., concurs.





Concurrence Opinion

Giegebich, J.

(concurring)'. The action is brought against the defendant individually to recover rents of certain premises known as No. 316 Broome street, in the borough of Manhattan, city of New York. The defendant is the assignee for the benefit of creditors of the Elmer Parlor Furniture Company. The assignment to him was made on the 19th day of September, 1902, at which time his assignor was occupying the premises under a lease for a term of ten months beginning July 1, 1902, at a monthly rental of $208.33, payable in advance on the first day of each month. The defendant duly qualified as such assignee, accepted the lease, and entered into the possession of the premises, which he continued to occupy until dispossessed on or about the 29th day of October, 1902, for nonpayment of rent. This action was then begun against him individually to recover the *647October rent. Eo evidence was presented in behalf of the defendant, and upon the facts above stated a verdict was directed for the plaintiff, and from the judgment entered thereon this appeal is taken.

The respondent relies on the general principle that expenses incurred by one acting in a representative capacity can be collected by suit against him individually and only by such suit. Ferrin v. Myrick, 41 N. Y. 315; Darling v. Powell, 20 Misc. Rep. 240, and Schmittler v. Simon, 101 N. Y. 554, are cited as supporting this rule in the case of executors; New v. Nicoll, 73 N. Y. 127; Mulrein v. Smillie, 25 App. Div. 135, and Blewitt v. Olin, 14 Daly, 351, in the case of trustees; and Draper v. Salisbury, 11 Misc. Rep. 573, in the case of an assignee for the benefit of creditors.

The defendant, however, points to the case of Walton v. Stafford, 14 App. Div. 310, where, at page 312, it is said that if an assignee finds that the lease is a valuable asset he can accept it, and that “Upon its acceptance it became a part of the assigned estate, held by the assignee in his trust capacity subject to the covenants contained therein. While it was so held the asignee, in his representative capacity, was chargeable with all the conditions attached thereto. It was not his contract, either personal or as representative, and his liability upon the covenants was, consequently, not contractual. That liability was the liability of his assignor’s estate, legally resulting from its acquisition of the lease as an asset. It was, therefore, the plaintiff’s liability as assignee.”

This, I think, must be taken as overruling the decision made in Draper v. Salisbury, 11 Misc. Rep. 573, that the assignee is liable personally.

Such being the law, the trial court clearly erred in directing a verdict in favor of the plaintiff.

I am, therefore, of the opinion that the judgment should be reversed and a new trial ordered, with costs to the appellant to abide the event.

Judgment reversed and new trial ordered, with costs to appellant to abide event.