Lansing v. Rattoone

Headnote

The remedy by1 distress, is for the rent alone, and not for damages for the delay; and the lessor can dis-train only for tiie amount of rent in arrear, and not for f?2 terest*

IN error, on certiorari. The return stated, that Rattoone sued Lansing, under the statute for regulating distresses, and the recovery of rents, (ll sess. c. 36.) in a special action on the case, for collecting and recovering more rent than was due.

At the trial, it appeared that Lansing had leased to one Robert Montgomery, a lot in Lansingburgh, for 5/. a year, for ever; payable on the 1st of March, yearly, with 23 days of grace; and in case of default, liberty was reserved to distrain and sell, and if no distress was-to be found, a power of re-entry was reserved. Montgome-ry had erected buildings on the lot, and five years’ rent were due from him. During three years the plaintiff below lived on the premises, as tenant to Montgomery ; and during the whole of the five years, there had been sufficient property on the premises to pay the rent. The defendant below distrained on the property of the plaintiff in error, for the five years’ rent, with four years’ interest and costs, aíld a small sum besides, which appeared to have been a mistake, in taking more interest than .would have been due, if the party was entitled to interest.

On these facts, the justice gave judgment for Rattoone, for 15 dollars 35 cents damages, being the amount" of money collected by the distress, over and above the-five years’ rent and the costs.