In an action for rent by the owner of property against the lessee under a written lease between the lessee and the prior owner (the United States of America, hereafter referred to as the “Government”), the plaintiff appeals from so much of a judgment of the Supreme Court, Kings County, entered August 29, 1962 upon the court’s opinion and decision after a nonjury trial (see 36 Mise 2d 209), as dismissed the complaint on the merits. Judgment, insofar as appealed from, affirmed, with costs. The lease between the defendant and the Government expired on June 30, 1961. The plaintiff took title on July 17, 1961. Under the terms of the contract of sale between plaintiff and the Government the latter expressly reserved, for 120 days after the closing of title, the right to remove, or to hold sales of, any items of Government-owned property remaining on the leased premises. By June 30, 1961, all property owned by the defendant had been removed from the premises. Thereafter, three of the defendant’s employees remained on the premises in order to remove the Government-owned property pursuant to instructions of an Air Force officer on behalf of the Government. Such service was rendered by the defendant under a, separate and specific contract between it and the Government; and all Government-owned property was removed by August 25, 1961, i.e., within the 120-day period fixed by the contract of sale between the plaintiff and the Government. Under these circumstances, the defendant is not liable for the payment of rent under a provision of the lease which imposed responsibility upon the lessee in the event it held over beyond the term of such lease, or in the event the lessee failed to remove its property from the premises before expiration of the term of the lease. None of the defendant’s property remained on the premises after the termination date of the lease; and, in removing the Government-owned property, the defendant was acting for the Government. As between the plaintiff and the Government, the latter, in order to remove its property, had the right to remain on the premises at least until August 25, 1961. In thus acting for the Government in the removal of the Government’s property, the defendant was not a bailee in the usual sense.
