O'Neill v. Van Tassell — 50 N.Y. St. Rep. 662

Majority

p. 662

Paul F. O'Neill, Resp't, v. Emory M. Van Tassell, App'lt.^[1]

(Court of Appeals,

Filed February 28, 1893.)

Headnote

Vendor and purchaser—Encumbrances—Party wall.

A contract for the sale of real estate recited that the north wall was a party wall, and bound the vendor to give a deed free from all encumbrances. It appeared that the south wall was also subject to a party wall agreement. Held, that the statement that the northerly wall was a party wall clearly signified that the other walls were independent structures, and that the covenant running with the land was a perpetual encumbrance which justified the purchaser in refusing to accept the deed.

Appeal from judgment of the supreme court, general term, first department, affirming judgment in favor of plaintiff.

TFto. H. Arnoux, for app’Jt;

Charles B. Miller, for resp’t.

The plaintiff has recovered the amount of a deposit made upon the purchase of real property with the expense incurred in the examination of the title, upon the ground of the inability of the defendant vendor to execute to the plaintiff a proper deed, conveying and assuring to him the fee simple of the premises, free from all encumbrances. The defendant denies that his title is defective, or encumbered, and asks, by way of counterclaim, judgment for a specific performance, alleging all the material facts entitling him to such relief. The property which was the subject of the sale consisted of two houses and lots, Nos. 22 and 24 Renwick street, New York city. The plaintiff objected to the title (1) on account of a material discrepancy between the actual dimensions of the lots and the dimensions given in the contract; (2) because of the existence of a party wall with a perpetual covenant running with the land, which required the owner to share equally with the adjoining owner the expenses of repairing or rebuilding the wall, and that whenever rebuilt it should be on the same spot, of the same size, and of similar materials as it was on July 2, 1873; and (3) for the reason that the premises were charged ratably with other lots with the payment of the expenses of maintaining an alley for their common benefit, and of the taxes and assessments imposed thereon.

We deem it necessary only to consider the second objection, which relates to the existence of the party wall and its accompanying covenants. The agreement, after describing the lot, states: “The northerly wall of number twenty-four being a party wall.” We think that this was equivalent to a representation that the southerly wall of number twenty-two was not a party wall.

p. 663

Such would be the ordinary understanding of the parties from the language employed in the connection in which it was used. It very clearly indicates that it was the subject of the negotiations of the parties, and that it was considered to be a material fact by them. The use of the phrase is entirely meaningless and superfluous, unless it is to be construed as a limitation of the existence of encumbrances of this character to a single party wall. The dimensions of the lots given also indicate what was in the minds of the parties in this respect. The forty-one feet frontage cannot be obtained, even approximately, without including the whole of the southerly wall. It is evident from the entire scope of the agreement that the vendor stipulated that there was only one party wall on the premises, and that was the northerly wall of number twenty-four. This case is materially different from Hendricks v. Stark, 37 N. Y., 106 , upon which defendant relies. In that case there was no representation in the contract upon the subject; the dimensions of the lot included the center of the walls; it was plainly discernible from an inspection of the premises that the outside walls were party walls; and, most important of all, the party wall agreement in that case contained no covenant to rebuild or repair, and related solely to the existing wall so long as it might stand. In that case the court says: “ There was nothing in the description of the premises in question, as the 1 Collins Hotel,’ which imported ex vi termini that the walls were of this or a different character.” Here the statement that the northerly wall of one of the houses is a party wall, by the force of the expression used, very clearly signifies that the other walls are independent structures. It also appears that an inspection of the premises would not disclose the existence of the southerly party wall. But the chief point of distinction consists in the fact that there is here a covenant running with the land which compels the owner to rebuild and repair, and when rebuilt it must be on the same spot, of the same size, and of similar materials as when originally constructed. Such a covenant cannot be regarded in any other light than as a perpetual encumbrance, which in the case of urban property restricts its free use and enjoyment, and may seriously embarrass the owner in respect to its future improvement. If he desired to enlarge or rebuild, he might be compelled to build an entirely independent wall upon his own premises, and thus further reduce the available space of his own lot, and still be liable upon his continuing obligation to repair or rebuild the party wall.

The judgment and order must be affirmed, with costs.

All concur.