Forbes v. Smiley
Forbes v. Smiley
Opinion of the Court
The defendant was the tenant at will of the plaintiff, holding under a verbal agreement to pay rent quarterly, at the rate of $90 per year. While so holding, the plaintiff notified the defendant that, if he remained in the occupation after the expiration of the quarter not then expired, he must pay at the rate of $125 per year. This the defendant declined to do, saying, at one time, he " would move * * * first,” and, at another time, "he said he would leave the store or move * *' * first.” When asked when he would leave the store, " he said he would leave it in thirty days,” and, when asked if he wanted to be notified out " according to law,” "he said no.” During these negotiations he offered to pay $25 per quarter, and, previous to the commencement of this suit, he tendered the sum of. $25 for the quarter’s rent sued for.
The plaintiff declined to lease for less than $125 per year, and brings this suit to recover at that rate.
Upon this state of facts, " the presiding Judge instructed the jury to determine from the evidence, what the rent was reasonably worth for the quarter sued for, and, if it did not exceed the $25 tendered, to return a verdict for the defendant; if it did exceed that sum, to return a verdict for the plaintiff, not exceeding, however, the sum of 31,25 sued for, and interest from the date of the writ.”
The jury returned a verdict for the plaintiff for the sum ' of $34,56.
From the evidence reported and the acts of the parties prior to the commencement of the suit, it is quite apparent that both parties regarded the original contract at an end, and it is quite as apparent no new contract was made in its
Judgment for the plaintiff for the amount of the verdict and interest thereon since its rendition to the time of final judgment.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Esther S. Forbes versus Sumner Smiley
- Status
- Published