Case Name: Sarah Lynch, Respondent, v. George W. Lauer, Appellant
Court: New York City Court
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1895-10
Citations: 14 Misc. 252
Docket Number: 
Parties: Sarah Lynch, Respondent, v. George W. Lauer, Appellant.
Judges: 
Reporter: New York Miscellaneous Reports
Volume: 14
Pages: 252–253

Head Matter:
Sarah Lynch, Respondent, v. George W. Lauer, Appellant.
(City Court of New York
General Term,
October, 1895.)
All agreements as to improvements to be made on the property are merged in the written lease.
A mere threat to evict is not duress.
Where a tenant continues to occupy the premises and pay rent for three years after an alleged fraud or duress, it is too late for him to take advantage of such wrongs.
The mere service upon a tenant pf process in summary proceedings brought by a third person, claiming title to the premises, does not relieve him from the payment of rent, or authorize him to question the title of his landlord.
Appeal from judgment in favor of the plaintiff.
Action for rent.
Metzger db Goldey, for appellant.
Anderson, Howland db Murray, for respondent.

Opinion:
Fitzsimohs, J.
All agreements made between the parties hereto concerning improvements to be made upon the demised premises were merged in the lease as signed. Wilson v. Deen, 74 N. Y. 531.
Therefore, the proposed . testimony tending to show- such agreement was properly excluded by the trial judge.
A mere threat to evict is not duress within the contemplation of law, and the objection to the question at folio 76 was properly sustained.; besides, it appears that the defendant remained in possession of the premises and paid rent therefor to plaintiff for three years after the alleged fraud and duress was perpetrated.
In our judgment it was then too late for the defendant to take advantage of such alleged wrongs.
It was not the duty of the landlord to keep the premises in repair, particularly in this instance, because the lease expressly imposed upon the tenant thax obligation. '
The fact that the defendant was served with papers in a dispossess proceeding by some person claiming title to the premises in question did not relieve him from payment of rent, for it in nó way established that a superior title was in some person other than plaintiff, nor did it authorize defendant to question the title of his landlord.
As to the alleged surrender and acceptance of the lease, that question was fairly submitted on sufficient testimony to the jury, and decided against the defendant. Finding no error the judgment must be affirmed, with costs.
McCarthy, J., -concurs.
Judgment affirmed, with costs.