Case Name: Sully v. Schmidt
Court: Buffalo Superior Court
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1890-11-15
Citations: 11 N.Y.S. 694
Docket Number: 
Parties: Sully v. Schmidt.
Judges: 
Reporter: West's New York Supplement
Volume: 11
Pages: 694–696

Head Matter:
Sully v. Schmidt.
(Superior Court of Buffalo, General Term.
November 15, 1890.)
1. Landlord and Tenant—Rent—Untenantable -Premises.
Defendant rented a portion of tbe ground-floor of plaintiff’s house, under which ran a partially open drain communicating with a canal. Water from the canal would occasionally obstruct the drain, and cause a stench. Defendant had lived in the neighborhood for several years, and was acquainted with the premises, and had lived in the house two years. • Meld, that he was not justified in abandoning the premises by Laws N. Y. 1860, c. 345, which provides that the lessee of a building which shall, without his fault, be. so injured as to become untenantable, shall. not be liable to the lessor after such injury.
2. Same—Surrender of Premises—Acceptance.
After plaintiff’s attorney had demanded the rent, and refused a surrender of the key, defendant took the key to plaintiff, stating he had left the place. Plaintiff replied that it made no difference whether he or she had it, and that he could leave it. JHeld, that this did not amount to an acceptance of the premises by plaintiff.
Affirming 11 N. Y. Supp. 153.
Hatch, J., dissenting.
Appeal from special term.
Action by Betsey Sully against Henry Schmidt for rent under a lease. At the trial the jury found a verdict for defendant. Laws H.' Y. 1860, c. 345, provides that “the lessees or occupants of any building which shall, without any fault or neglect on their part, be destroyed, or be so injured by the elements, or any other cause, as to be untenantable and unfit for occupancy, shall not be liable or bound to pay rent to the lessors or owners thereof, after such destruction or injury, unless otherwise expressly provided by written agreement or covenant, and the lessees or occupants may thereupon quit and surrender possession of the leasehold premises, and of the land so leased or occupied.” Eor proceedings and opinion at special term, see 11 H. Y. Supp. 153.
Argued before Beckwith, C. J., and Hatch, J.
Jacob A. Dreiss, for plaintiff. Truman E. White, for defendant.

Opinion:
Beckwith, C. J.,
for affirmance on opinion of Judge Titus at special term.