Case Name: Ernest Tribelhorn, Inc., Respondent, v. George B. Hanavan, Appellant
Court: New York Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1909-05
Citations: 63 Misc. 296
Docket Number: 
Parties: Ernest Tribelhorn, Inc., Respondent, v. George B. Hanavan, Appellant.
Judges: 
Reporter: New York Miscellaneous Reports
Volume: 63
Pages: 296–298

Head Matter:
Ernest Tribelhorn, Inc., Respondent, v. George B. Hanavan, Appellant.
(Supreme Court, Appellate Term,
May, 1909.)
Landlord and tenant — Rent and advances—Actions — Defenses.
Where a written lease is silent upon the subject of repairs, the tenant, in an action for rent, is entitled to allege and prove as a defense to the action that, as an inducement to the execution of the lease upon his part, the landlord -promised to make certain repairs which were never completed and that the tenant never occupied the premises. • = 60S, J., dessented. 1
Appeal by the defendant from a judgment in favor of the plaintiff, rendered in the Municipal Court of the city of New York, ninth district, borough of Manhattan.
Royal H. Weller, for appellant,
Norwood & Marden, for respondent.

Opinion:
Dayton, J.
As an inducement plaintiff promised to make certain repairs at or before the signing of the lease, as is fully shown by the testimony admitted. Some pertinent questions on this head were excluded. The court directed a verdict for the plaintiff. The case of Clenighan v. McFarland, 11 N. Y. Supp. 719, seems to. be " on all fours " with that at bar, as to the right to the defense here interposed. The jury should have been allowed to pass upon any disputed questions of fact.
The judgment should be reversed and a new trial ordered, with costs to appellant to abide the event.