McCleary v. Edwards

By the Court, Marvin, J. The objection to the admission of the deposition was not well taken. Hurd v. Pendrigh, (2 Mill, 502,) is in point, and decisive. This case is not referred to in the decision in Fleming v. Hollenback, (7 Barb. 271,) nor are the cases alike. In the latter case the commissioners [242] made their return on a separate piece of paper which was attached to the hack of the answers to the interrogatories. The difficulties in this case relate to the right to recover, and the measure of damages. The defendant insists that the plaintiff has no right to recover any damages, and if wrong in this position, then' that the plaintiff could only recover nominal damages. The plaintiff puts his case upon principles relating to the eviction of a tenant; and' I infer that the learned justice so regarded the case, as he directed the jury to find for daniages the amount of rent paid for the use of the saloons while he was deprived of their use, at the rates specified in the leases, with interest, &c. If the plaintiff was entitled to recover for the time he did not use the saloons, I think the instruction as to the measure of damages was quite as favorable to the defendant as he had a right to ask; as the plaintiff proved that the most valuable portion of the season was at the time the boats were laid up, and also that the use of the saloons was worth, each, $2400 for the season. The question then, is, was the plaintiff entitled to recover damages for the time he was deprived of the use of the bars and saloons ? The answer' to this question must depend mainly upon the construction that shall be given to the contracts. The defendant leased to the plaintiff the bars and saloons on the steamers Southern Michigan and Northern Indi ana, for the season of navigation, receiving the rent in advance. It does not appear from the case whether the defendant owned these steamers, or had any interest in them; and perhaps this is not material. The contract is silent as to what is fo be done with the boats—whether they are to be employed or not; unless it may be inferred that they were to be employed in navigation from the language used in reference to the term, viz: “ for the season of navigation.” There can, however, be no doubt that the parties contemplated that the boats were to be used in performing trips upon the lake or lakes and in carrying passengers,for the season of navigation.”-. The proof [243] shows that the season of navigation, that year, commenced early in April, and that the steamers Southern Michigan and ¡Northern Indiana were being fitted out until the 20th day of April, and the plaintiff could not use the bars and saloons until that time. The second contract, relating to the boats then being built, is specific as to the time when the term is to commence. The leasing was “ for the season of navigation of 1853, commencing on the first day of May in that year.” These boats were not fitted up and made ready for navigation until the 7th and 8th of July, and the plaintiff, of course, could have no use of the bars and saloons until that time. The boats were laid up early in October, by their masters and owners, and the plaintiff was, by them, deprived of the use of the saloons and bars. He was evicted. It does not appear that the defendant had any connection with the act of laying up the boats or evicting the plaintiff. What relation existed between the defendant and the masters and owners does not appear. It is not denied that the masters and owners had the right to lay up the boats; and the question is not raised as to their right to exclude the plaintiff from the bars and saloons. If so, then the plaintiff was evicted by a title paramount. The defendant's counsel, referring to the evidence that the saloons or bars were intended for the business of selling fruits, cigars, liquors and other things to passengers and others connected with the boat, argues that the objects and purposes of the leases must be limited to this use of the bars, and the rights of the parties be passed upon with reference to such use. That there was no obligation, on the part of the defendant to run the boats, in order that the plaintiff might keep bars thereon. The right contracted for was a mere incident to the use of the boat. As I have already said, I have no doubt the parties contemplated that the boats would be used in transporting passengers upon the lakes. Still, as the counsel says, the agreement is silent upon that question. The defendant did not agree that [244] the boats should be so employed. But he did lease to the plaintiff the bars and saloons “ for the season of navigation.” The term is clear and specific. Assume that the defendant did not undertake that the boats should be employed, and that the plaintiff therefore was to run the risk of the boats laying up, a part or portion or all of the season. The defendant did undertake that the plaintiff should have and enjoy the use of the bars and saloons “ for the season of navigation;” not simply for the time the boats should be navigated or employed in transporting passengers. The use of the saloons and bars might be of little value while the boats were laid up, but by the contract I think the defendant agreed that the plaintiff should have them during the whole season of navigation. The plaintiff was evicted, and I have come to the conclusion that he had a good cause of action for the breach of the agreement; and that the proper rule for the measure of the damages was given to the jury.- [Genesee General, Term. May 17, 1858. Grover, Marvin and Davis, Justices.] I think the judgment should be affirmed.