Kopelman v. Gritman

Stapletoh, J. The plaintiff in this action seeks to recover the sum of seventy-five dollars paid by him on the 22d day of November, 1910, as the first instalment of rent under a lease made on that day between the defendant, as lessor, and the plaintiff, as lessee, for the term of one year, at the yearly rent of $900, payable in equal monthly payments of $75 on the first day of each and every month. .Upon the 1st day of December, 1910, the day fixed for the commencement of the term, the plaintiff, upon seeking to obtain possession of the premises, found that they were in occupation of the defendant, through persons employed by him, or contracting with him, engaged in making substantial repairs requiring the services of painters; carpenters and other workmen, and that materials and implements of substantial bulk cumbered the premises. There was evidence from which the trial court could properly make the finding that this condition of affairs continued to the 10th day of December, 1910. Upon the premises demised was a dwelling house. No agreement existed between the lessor and the lessee in relation to the making of the repairs. The defendant agreed to let the premises to the plaintiff on the 1st day of December, 1910. . That agreement carried with it the obligation that the lessor would by no act of his prevent the lessee from entering upon and occupying the premises on the day fixed; and upon his failure to deliver possession — his conduct alone standing in the way — the plaintiff had a right to rescind the contract and to recover from the defendant the consideration advanced. Mansfield v. New York Central & H. R. R. Co., 102 N. Y. 205, 211; McGaunten v. Wilbur, 1 Cow. 257; Trull v. Granger, 8 N. Y. 115, 117; Wood v. Hubbell, 10 id. 479, 487; Harris v. Greenberger, 50 App. Div. 439, 440; Pough & Co. v. Cerimedo, 44 Misc. Rep. 246; Meyers v. Liebeskind, 46 id. 272; Bailey v. Krupp, 59 id. 459; Garrison v. Hutton, 118 App. Div. 455, 456. Garretsoh and Rapper, JJ., concur. Judgment affirmed, with costs.