Case ID: ad_138/html/0081-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "\n      Rich, J.:.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Rochelle Park Association, Appellant, v. Grace Ensinger, Respondent.
    Second Department,
    April 22, 1910.
    Real property—deed — covenant.to join association—when not binding on grantees'.
    A covenant whereby a grantee “ for herself, her heirs and assigns,” agreed forthwith to become a member of an association organized by her grantor, and to conform to its rules, was personal to herself; it does not run with the land so as to be binding upon her grantees.
    Appeal by the plaintiff, the Rochelle Park Association, from a judgment of the Supreme Court in favor of the defendant, entered in the office of the clerk of the county of Westchester on the 10th day of August, 1909, upon the decision of the court, rendered after a trial at the Westchester Special Term, dismissing the complaint upon the merits in an action to recover annual dues alleged to be payable by the defendant as a member of the association,
    
      A. P. Bachman [ John Oscar 'Ball with him on the brief],, for the appellant.
    
      William 8. Beers, for the respondent.
   Rich, J.:.

The facts are.undisputed, and but a single question of law is presented. . The Manhattan Life Insurance Company formerly owned a tract of land in the city of New' Rochelle, which it laid out into a park, the lots constituting the same being placed in the market for sale, and conveyed under uniform restrictions and covenants. On March 4, 1892, said company conveyed one of said lots to Mary A. Ferguson. The deed contained a covenant restricting the property against certain uses, stated the cost of the dwelling house to be erected thereon, and flien provided: “ The party of the second part for herself, her heirs and assigns doth further covenant with the said party of the first part, its successors and assigns, that she will forthwith become a member of the Rochelle Park Association and conform to its rules.” The plaintiff is a corporation succeeding to all the property and rights of the' “Rochelle Park Association ” referred to in the covenant. Mary A. Ferguson' performed this covenant by signing the. constitution and by-laws of the association, and paying dues. In 1900 she conveyed to Christian Lykke, who in 1902 conveyed to Mary W.' Tyler, who in 1903 conveyed to Isabella Bloomfield, and the latter to: the defendant in 1904. Each of these conveyances contains the following provision: “ Subject . to certain covenants and , restrictions as contained in the deed of the Manhattan Life Insurance Company to Mary- A. Ferguson, bearing date the 4th day of March, 1892, and duly recorded in the office of the Regis'terof the County of Westchester, on the 5th day of March, 1892, in Liber 1,261 of Deeds, page 314.” Neither of the grantees above named became a member of the association, or paid. membership dues to it. The plaintiff’s cause of action, rests upon the two covenants abóte quoted. By the covenant contained in her deed, Mrs. Ferguson did not undertake that her heirs and her assigns should become members of the association. While they are . named, the membership requirement is confined to the grantee aloné, It is for no defined term, and was fully performed by her. The covenant was personal, did not run with the land, and did not bind.subsequent grantees. (Clark v. Devoe, 124 N. Y. 120.) The defendant never became a member of the association, and never agreed to do so, By accepting &■ deed subject to the covenants and restrictions contained in. the Ferguson deed, without expressly assuming and agreeing to perform the same, she assumed no personal liability; and even were she chargeable as- a grantee with such covenants, no action involving her personal liability could be maintained by the association against her. (Scott v. McMillan, 76 N. Y. 141.)

The judgment must be affirmed, with costs.

liiRSCHBERG, P. J., Burr, Thomas and Carr, JJ., concurred.

Judgment affirmed, with costs.