Case Name: Adolph Rothlein, Plaintiff, v. Sara S. Hewitt, Defendant
Court: New York Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1899-12
Citations: 29 Misc. 664
Docket Number: 
Parties: Adolph Rothlein, Plaintiff, v. Sara S. Hewitt, Defendant.
Judges: 
Reporter: New York Miscellaneous Reports
Volume: 29
Pages: 664–664

Head Matter:
Adolph Rothlein, Plaintiff, v. Sara S. Hewitt, Defendant.
(Supreme Court, Kings Special Term,
December, 1899.)
Place of trial — As determined by the nature of the action — Code Civ. Pro., § 988.
An action for trespass on the demised premises brought by a tenant against his landlord is within section 982 of the Code of Civil Procedure, and must be tried in the county where such premises are situated.
Motion by the defendant to change the place of trial from Kings to Hew York as of right. Action for damages for trespass upon real property, the complaint being that the plaintiff being a tenant of certain real estate of the defendant in the city of Hew York, the defendant entered thereon by force and made certain alterations which curtailed the size and use of the premises, and interrupted the plaintiff’s business, to his damage. The answer pleads a defense that the lease reserved to the landlord the right to make such entry and alterations.
Parsons, Shepard & Ogden for motion.
Abraham B. Schleimer opposed."

Opinion:
G-atnob, J.:
This action is not included among those which must be tried in the county where the subject of the action is situated, unless under the general provision that every action " to recover or procure a judgment establishing, determining, defining, forfeiting, annulling or otherwise affecting an estate, right, title, lien or other interest in real property", must be tried in the county where such real property is situated (Code Civ. Pro., § 982). The judgment asked for here affects the " right " of the defendant to enter upon her real property. Besides, it seems that every action of trespass to real property is local to the county where such property is situated. The common-law action of trespass quaere clausum fregit was frequently resorted to to try title, and was therefore local. How even a suit in equity to restrain such trespass is said to be local (Litchfield v. International Paper Co., 41 App. Div. 446).
Motion granted.