Korkonikitas v. Allegheny General Hospital
Korkonikitas v. Allegheny General Hospital
Dissenting Opinion
Dissenting Opinion by
The majority here and the court below are permitting a patent evasion of the lease by the Hospital. The parking attendant shack is obviously not the building contemplated by the lease as terminating it.
Opinion of the Court
Opinion by
On November 5, 1962, the Allegheny General Hospital, a nonprofit corporation, as “Owner,” executed an instrument entitled “Agreement of Lease” with
“1.. The Owner agrees to lease to the Lessee the above described area [a lot 150 feet square] on a continuous term as long as said Hospital Officers do not decide to use the area for the erection of a building to be used with the Hospital for any purpose.
The “Agreement of Lease” further provided that the hospital would pay all real estate taxes on the lot, and that Korkonikitas would cover the lot with slag for parking use and construct entrances for ingress and egress, would carry public liability insurance for the protection of both the hospital and himself, and would pay any taxes levied on the privilege of engaging in the parking lot business. Since the execution of the “Agreement of Lease,” Korkonikitas has operated for approximately five-and-a-half years a public parking lot on the described area.
On March 12, 1968, the hospital verbally notified Korkonikitas of its intention to erect a building on the leased lot commencing June 1, 1968, and that Korkohikitas should vacate as of that date. This was followed by written notices to the same effect on April 4, 1968 and on May 1, 1968. During May 1968, Kor
After viewing the plans, Korkonikitas brought this action in Equity seeking to enjoin the hospital from terminating the lease and evicting him from the parking lot, on the ground that the hospital’s intention to erect a S' x Q' parking attendant shelter on the 150' x 150' parking lot area did not constitute a “building” within the meaning of the lease. Plaintiff contended that the lease agreement required the erection of a building which would cover the entire parking lot. The lower Court found, inter alia, that the parties intended that “the Hospital could terminate the lease by deciding to build a building, however small, to be used with the Hospital for any purpose,” and dismissed the bill.
Considering the Agreement in its entirety, we agree with this interpretation.
Parking space is today not only an appropriate use for a hospital but has become a virtual necessity. The
We find no merit in any of plaintiff’s contentions.
Decree affirmed; costs on appellant.
Italics, ours.
Since the lease did not designate any term certain, the parties did not raise, and wo need not decide because we believe the intention of the parties is clear from the language of the lease, the issue whether the tenancy was a tenancy for month-to-month or a tenancy at will. See, Jones v. Kroll, 116 Pa. 85, 8 Atl. 857; Aaron v. Woodcock, 283 Pa. 33, 128 Atl. 665; Hollis v. Burns, 100 Pa. 206; Thompson on Real Property, §1088; Coke on Littleton, §45(b).
Reference
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