Case Name: John F. Lambden, Respondent, v. George K. Thompson, Appellant
Court: New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1916-06-02
Citations: 173 A.D. 267
Docket Number: 
Parties: John F. Lambden, Respondent, v. George K. Thompson, Appellant.
Judges: 
Reporter: Appellate Division Reports
Volume: 173
Pages: 267–268

Head Matter:
John F. Lambden, Respondent, v. George K. Thompson, Appellant.
Second Department,
June 2, 1916.
Landlord and tenant — pleading — action to recover rent — complaint stating cause of action — death of one of two landlords — right to receive rent passes to heir who may assign—probate of will not essential.
A complaint in an action to recover rent, which alleges that the rent is due and that the defendant had promised to pay it but did not pay, states a causes of action.
Where, one of two landlords dies, the right to receive his portion of the rent passes to his hem and devisee, and she may assign her right of action to the other landlord. The probate of the will is not essential.
Appeal by the defendant, George E. Thompson, from a judgment of the County Court of Westchester county, entered in the office of the clerk of said county on the 22d day of June, 1914, upon the verdict of a jury, and also from an order entered in said clerk’s office on the 13th day of July, 1914, denying defendant’s motion for a new trial made upon the minutes, and also from an order entered in said clerk’s office on the 13th day of April, 1915, denying defendant’s motion for a resettlement of the case on appeal herein.
George 8. Daniels, for the appellant.
Frank G. Schrenkeisen, for the respondent.

Opinion:
Jenks, P. J.:
This action is brought for rent of certain premises of which the plaintiff and Eugene Lambden were landlords. It was tried by the County Court and a jury. The defendant answered by way of counterclaim only. He appeals from the judgment entered on the verdict against him, but does not bring up the evidence. He relies upon the motion to dismiss the plaintiff at the close of plaintiff's case and upon the motion made under section 999 of the Code of Civil Procedure. The allegations of rent due and that the defendant had promised to pay it but had not were sufficient. (Wallach v. Dryfoos, 140 App. Div. 438.) Eugene Lambden died in October, 1909. The rents after his decease went to his heir. (McAdam Landl. & Ten. [4th ed.] 261, citing Wright v. Williams, 5 Cow. 501; Executors of Van Rensselaer v. Executors of Platner, 2 Johns. Cas. 17.) The complaint alleges that Annie Baber Lambden was the sole heir and devisee under the will of Eugene Lambden, and that she had assigned all of her right, title and interest in the rent and cause of action to the plaintiff. This was sufficient, and probate of the will was not essential. (Corley v. McElmeel, 149 N. Y. 228.)
I advise that the judgment and order of the County Court of Westchester county be affirmed, with costs.
Carr, Stapleton, Mills and Putnam, JJ., concurred.
Judgment and order of the County Court of Westchester county affirmed, with costs.