Case ID: mass_29/html/0129-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Wilde J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Bradford Howland et al. versus Timothy G. Coffin.
    An action of debt for rent reserved by an indenture of lease, may be maintained by the assignee of the lessor against the assignee of the lessee; and evidence to show that the «anual value of the leased premises is less than the rent reserved, is inadmissible.
    This was an action of debt for rent from June 3, 1823, to December 3, 1824, and from June 3, 1825, to December 3-, 1829, at $75 a year.
    It was agreed that the premises for which the rent was claimed, were, on May 6, 1822, the property of Uriah Brown-ell, who, on that day, by an instrument under seal, demised the same to one John Randolph for the term of twelve years from that date, Randolph yielding rent therefor at the rate of $ 75 a year, payable semi-annually. The defendant purchased all the right which Randolph had in the premises, and afterwards the plaintiffs purchased all the right which Brownell had therein.
    If the defendant was bound to pay the amount of rent reserved in the indenture of lease, he was to be defaulted and damages to be assessed accordingly ; but if he had a right to show that the premises weré not of that annual value, a new trial was to be granted and damages to be assessed by the jury.
    
      Oct. 27»
    
      Warren, for the plaintiffs,
    cited Howland v. Coffin, 9 Pick. 52; Hammond on Parties, 116, 121 ; Bac. Abr. Covenant, E 3, E 5, and note; St. 32 Hen. 8, c. 34 ; 4 Dane’s Abr. 50, 128 ; Com. Dig. Covenant, C 3; Palmer v. Ekins, 2 Ld. Raym. 1550.
    
      Coffin, pro se, cited Fletcher v. M‘Farlane, 12 Mass. R. 43 ; Walker's case, 3 Co. 22.
    
      Oct. 29th
    
   Wilde J.

delivered the opinion of the Court. We entertain no doubt, notwithstanding the dictum in Walker's case, 3 Co. Rep. 22, that this action is well maintained. The only point of defence now made was recently decided by this Court in an action between the same parties, and we have heard nothing since to change the opinion we then formed. The action is founded on a privity of estate between the parties. The defendant took the term subject to all the advantages and disadvantages attached to it by the terms of the lease. The covenant for the payment of rent ran with the land and by the assignment of the term became binding on the defendant. So by the assignment of the reversion the plaintiffs became entitled to all the rights of the lessor. It is said in note 6, 1 Wms’s Saund. 241, that at common law an action of debt lay for the assignee of the reversion, for the recovery of rent, which is incident to the reversion. And if this W'ere not so at common law, it is clearly so by the statute of 32 Hen. 8, c. 34, which seems to have been overlooked in Walker’s case. The law there laid down on the point in question, is not supported by the subsequent authorities, and cannot be sustained on principle or any reasonable construction of the statute. Walker’s case, though decided right as to the question on which the case turned, has since been questioned as to other points not now under consideration, and which therefore it is not necessary now to discuss. Vide Hammond on Parties to Actions, 116 to 133.

According to the agreement of the parties, the defendant is to be defaulted.