Case Name: The Hall Steam Power Co., Respondent, v. The Campbell Printing Press & Manufacturing Co., Appellant
Court: New York Superior Court
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1894-05
Citations: 8 Misc. 430
Docket Number: 
Parties: The Hall Steam Power Co., Respondent, v. The Campbell Printing Press & Manufacturing Co., Appellant.
Judges: 
Reporter: New York Miscellaneous Reports
Volume: 8
Pages: 430–431

Head Matter:
The Hall Steam Power Co., Respondent, v. The Campbell Printing Press & Manufacturing Co., Appellant.
(New York Superior Court—General Term,
May, 1894.)
If a tenant has let the whole or any part of the premises to a subtenant it . is his duty to see that such subtenant removes at the end of the term, so as to enable him to surrender full possession to the landlord, and if he omits to do so, the latter may sue for rent or for damages.
Appeal by defendant from a judgment entered upon a verdict directed by the court in favor of the plaintiff and from the order denying defendant’s motion for a new trial.
Chas. De Ka/rt Brower, for appellant.
Bamiiel Keeler, for the respondent.

Opinion:
Freedman, J.
The action was brought by the plaintiff, as landlord, to recover damages from the defendant, as tenant, for an alleged wrongful withholding from plaintiff of the demised premises after the expiration of the term. Upon the trial it appeared that the withholding consisted in the- fact that a thjrd party, which may be justly deemed to have been a subtenant, remained in possession. The weight of authority seems to be, and the majority of the text writers agree, that if the tenant has let the whole or any part of the premises to a subtenant who is in possession at the time of the termination of the term, he must get him out, for otherwise he will not be in a situation to render that complete possession to which the landlord is entitled, and that if he omit to do so the landlord has his election to sue for rent or for damages.
In the case at bar the complaint, as a whole, is for the recovery of damages, but it also contains all the facts necessary to be alleged to sustain a recovery as for rent. The plaintiff, upon the trial, was, therefore, in a position to waive the tort and to recover as upon contract. The learned trial judge directed a verdict for one month's rent only with interest. If the action had been determined as one for damages, the result, upon the facts disclosed, would have been a verdict for a larger amount.
Upon the whole case substantial justice was done. The judgment and order should be affirmed, with costs.
Sedgwick, Ch. J., concurs.
Judgment and order affirmed, with costs.