Murphy v. Little

Thompson, J. At the time the defendant purchased the property in question of John J. Thompson, the defendant was in possession thereof under a parol lease from Thompson for one. year, beginning July 20, 1892, and ending July 20, 1893, at an annual rent of $1200, payable in instalments of $100 on the first day of each month in advance. Under this lease the defendant was a tenant at will only. Y. S. § 2218; Amsden v. Blaisdell, 60 Vt. 386. The premises were conveyed, to the plaintiff by Thompson, February 23, 1893. Subsequent to the conveyance the plaintiff accepted rent of the defendant for the months of March and April, and thereby the relation of landlord and tenant was created between them, subject to the terms of the original lease. March 10, 1893, the plaintiff gave the defendant written notice to quit the premises on May 1, 1893, and April 1, 1893, he further notified him in writing, that if the notice to quit was not complied with, the rent would be $200 per 263 month after May 1, 1893. The defendant did not quit the premises pursuant to the notice to quit. The evidence tended to show that after May 1, 1893, there was a controversy between the plaintiff and the defendant in respect to the rent the latter was bound to pay for his occupation of the premises subsequent to that date. May 1, 1893, the defendant sent the plaintiff a check for $100 in a letter addressed to him, the body of which was as follows: “Enclosed $100 for May rent.” Again on May 31, 1893, the defendant sent the plaintiff a check for $100 in a letter addressed to him, the body of which was as follows: “Find check for $100 for June rent.” The plaintiff received both these checks, retained them and collected the money thereon. It is now contended by the defendant, that the acceptance of these two checks by the plaintiff, under the explicit declaration in the letters accompanying them that they were for the May and June rent, operates as an accord and satisfaction of the rent for these months. We think the construction to be given these letters is that the checks were offered and if accepted, were to be taken, for the entire rent for these months. Hence the acceptance and retention of the checks by the plaintiff operated as a satisfaction in advance of the rent for May and June. The plaintiff could not escape the legal effect of his acceptance of the amount offered, by writing the defendant for further payment of rent for these months. The satisfaction of the rent operated at once when the checks were accepted and retained by the plaintiff. Conn. River Lumber Co. v. Brown, 68 Vt. 239. Under the circumstances of this case, the acceptance of the rent for May and June, operated as a waiver of the notice to quit and th.e notice in respect to the proposed increase of rent. This suit was brought June 5, 1893. At that time there was no notice to quit operative on the defendant, nor was there any rent due,.it having been paid in advance for the entire month of June. It was, therefore, error for the county court to direct a verdict for the plaintiff. Judgment reversed and cause remanded.