Case Name: William J. F. Lyons, Respondent, v. Max Dorf, Appellant
Court: New York Supreme Court, Appellate Term
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1906-02
Citations: 49 Misc. 652
Docket Number: 
Parties: William J. F. Lyons, Respondent, v. Max Dorf, Appellant.
Judges: 
Reporter: New York Miscellaneous Reports
Volume: 49
Pages: 652–652

Head Matter:
William J. F. Lyons, Respondent, v. Max Dorf, Appellant.
Deeds —Lands, tenements and hereditaments granted — Rents—Arrearages of rent and water rents past due.
Executors and administrators — Collection of assets — Property constituting assets — Arrear' ^es of rent and water rents past due.
Appeal by the defendant from a judgment of the Municipal Court of the city of New York, Eleventh District, borough of Manhattan, rendered in favor of the plaintiff.
Spiro & Wasservogel, for appellant.
Wallace & Van Hoevenberg, for respondent.

Opinion:
Greenbaum, J.
A judgment for unpaid accrued water rents, payable by the defendant as lessee under a lease, was recovered against defendant by the plaintiff as assignee of the purchasers of the fee of the leased premises under a referee's sale in partition. Plaintiff's assignors merely obtained a referee's deed which, it may be assumed, carried with it an assignment of an existing lease of said premises.
There was no proof adduced that the plaintiff or his assignors had paid these arrearages or had obligated themselves to pay them. It cannot be said that such assignment transferred any arrearages of rent dr water rates payable by the tenant. Such past claims were personalty and, as these claims had accrued prior to the death of the owner from whom those holding title as heirs became entitled to maintain partition, it would seem that the legal representatives of the deceased or their assigns alone could maintain an action for their recovery.
The judgment must be reversed and a new trial ordered, with costs to appellant to abide the event.
Scott and Giegebich, JJ., concur.
Judgment reversed and new trial ordered, with costs to appellant to abide event. ,