Jones v. Spartanburg Herald Co.
Jones v. Spartanburg Herald Co.
Opinion of the Court
The opinion of the court was delivered by
The question raised by the appeal in this case will be understood by referring to the complaint, answer, the presiding judge’s charge to the jury, and appellant’s exceptions, which will be incorporated in the report of the case.
The other exceptions raise substantially but two questions, to wit: 1st. Was there error of law on the part of the presiding ^judge in commenting on the facts of the case in his charge to the jury? 2d. Was it error on the part of the presiding judge to charge the jury that, in order to terminate a tenancy from year to year it is necessary to give three months notice of such intention immediately preceding the end of the calendar year?
The case of Godard v. Railroad Co., 2 Rich., 346, decides two questions: 1st. That in order to terminate a tenancy from year to year it is neceasary to give reasonable notice of such intention. 2d. That in that case three months notice was admitted to be the customary notice in Charleston, where the case was tried, and that the difference in the habits and state of society in England and in this State well warranted the substitution of three for six months. That case differs from this in the very material fact that in Charleston, it was admitted, custom had fixed the notice in such cases, while here there was not even any testimony introduced tending to establish such custom. In the absence of a statute requiring three months notice, and in accordance with the principles announced in the case of Godard v. Railroad Co., supra, we are bound to hold that the Circuit Judge was in error in charging the jury that three months notice was necessary in order to terminate a tenancy from year to year. His honor should have charged that it was only necessary to give reasonable notice, and should have left it to the jury to say whether, in view of all the facts and circumstances of this case, reasonable notice was given. The exceptions raising this question are sustained.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- JONES v. SPARTANBURG HERALD COMPANY
- Cited By
- 2 cases
- Status
- Published
- Syllabus
- 1. Corporation — Action..—A corporation cannot relieve itself of liability to suit for an unpaid indebtedness by going out of business. 2. Charging! Juries — Requests.—The trial judge committed no error in failing to charge the jury that which he was not requested to charge. 3. Ibid.. — Pacts.—The charge in this case was not a charge on the facts. 4. To Terminate a Tenancy erom Year to Year, notice of termination must be given a reasonable time before the expiration of the calendar year, which may not be three months in all cases. This case distinguished from ■ Godard v. Railroad Company, 2 Rich., 346.