Bloomingdale v. Steubing

ment between them the defendant was allowed to enter and take "possession, and to try and find a tenant for the premises for the unexpired term of the plaintiffs’ lease. The allegation of thb complaint that the defendant forcibly and wrongfully entered and took possession was therefore not sustained upon the trial; but the issue submitted to thé jury was whether, having permission from plaintiffs to enter for one purpose, he availed himself of such a permission fora totally different purpose, to wit, to put the premises in repair for the term commencing after the plaintiffs’ lease expired. The lessor testified that the premises were left in bad condition, and as they could not be let in that state, plaintiffs told him to go and put them in repair. The plaintiffs denied this statement, and that, in effect, was the issue left to the jury. As it was conceded that the lessor-was to try and let the premises for the remainder of the term, the right to make such repairs as would render the premises tenantable is fairly to be implied from the arrangement between the parties. The trial judge instructed the jury that the plaintiffs were entitled to a verdict if the defendant “ went beyond what the plaintiffs intended or agreed he should do,”; and the verdict in plaintiffs’ favor was, in effect, a finding merely that he exceeded the license given, or the authority conferred upon him, as agent for the plaintiffs, to relet on their behalf. The verdict of six cents damages shows that in the apion of the jury the plaintiffs were not injured thereby, and the only question is whether there was evidence for substantial damages. No evidence of damage was given ; but plaintiffs claim to recover for the rent of the premises at the rate of $150 per month while defendant was in possession; being a total of $450, the amount which they had paid him in advance for the balance of their term. The judge instructed the jury that if defendant entered on February-1st and did what he was not entitled to do, the jury might find $450, for three months’ rent, and that if he took possession later, either in March or April, the jury might find against him at the rate of $150 per month. The instruction on the subject of damages was too favorable to plaintiffs, for, if defendant was liable for the value of the use and occupation while engaged in making extraordinary repairs, he would only be liable for the time spent therein, and not for the whole time of his possession, for he was in possession, under license for the whole term. There was no evidence that any repairs (except putting in some panes of glass and fixing water pipes, which were undoubtedly necessary to make the premises tenentable) were commenced before April 7th, and one of the plaintiffs testified that they were substantially completed on April 19th. There was no evidence as to how much of the repairs made during these twelve days were extraordinary, nor what was the value of the use and occupation of the premises during that time, in the condition in which plaintiffs left them, nor any proof of loss of tenants by defendant’s acts. No demand of possession was made of defendant at any time, nor was his license revoked, nor did he refuse to admit plaintiffs to possession. Nominal damages, therefore, were not improper ; and the general term, in its discretion, might reverse the order granting a new trial. With the exercise

of that discretion, we should not interfere. There was no exceptions which affected the recovery. Order affirmed, with costs and disbursements.

All concur.