Case Name: Gray, Appellant, vs. Stadler and another, Respondents
Court: Wisconsin Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Wisconsin
Decision Date: 1938-09-13
Citations: 228 Wis. 596
Docket Number: 
Parties: Gray, Appellant, vs. Stadler and another, Respondents.
Judges: 
Reporter: Wisconsin Reports
Volume: 228
Pages: 596–606

Head Matter:
Gray, Appellant, vs. Stadler and another, Respondents.
May 16
September 13, 1938.
Wendell McHenry of Waupaca, for the appellant.
Lloyd D. Smith of Waupaca, for the respondents.

Opinion:
The following opinion was filed June 21, 1938:
Rosenberry, C. J.
Almeda M. Hicks, on July 1, 1912, leased to the plaintiff lot 2 in Lake View Park of the town of Farmington, Waupaca county. That part of the lease material here provided:
"The premises to be used only for dwelling and summer cottage purposes, and not for the sale of merchandise or any other commodity. The party of the second part is hereby given an easement for ingress and egress to said premises over and along what is known as Plicks avenue.
"To hold for the term of fifteen years from this date with privilege of renewals for similar periods, for the annual rent of ten ($10) dollars to be paid in even and equal portions on the first day of July in each year, the first payment to be made on the date of this instrument, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged."
Thereafter, William Hicks, who was the successor in title to Almeda M. Hicks, entered into a lease with the plaintiff covering lots 2 and 3 of said Lake View Park. The second lease contained the same restrictions with respect to the use of the property as contained in the first lease. The haben-dum clause is as follows :
"To hold for the term of fifteen years from this date for the annual rent of twenty ($20) dollars, to be paid in even and equal portions on the first day of July in each year, the first payment to be made on the date of this instrument, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, also providing privilege of renewals of like periods."
The part italicized was inserted with pen and ink. Apparently some doubt arose with respect to the italicized pro vision and a supplemental agreement was entered into- on September 4, 1923, as follows:
"The renewal lease as dated September 1, 1923, as executed in order to' cover the addition of another lot adjoining original lot, was intended to'convey the same conditions as applied on said original lot as to length in term of occupancy, with the same extension in periods of fifteen years, optional with the lessee, similar in every way to the original lease as dated July 1, 1912, excepting the increased rental for such additional lot.
"It was and is fully understood and agreed that the interlining of such provision, unintentionally omitted by me the lessor, was done in my presence, with my full acceptance and before said lease was signed and witnesseth.
"[Signed] Wic. PIicks.
"Henry Wilund.
"J. Rolein Gray."
On June 12, 1929, William PIicks conveyed all of his right, title, and interest in the premises involved to the defendants, L. J. Stadler and Marietta Stadler.
The plaintiff alleges in her complaint:
"That the defendants have informed her that they will refuse to renew said lease except at an exorbitant rental therefor. That the defendants have claimed that said lease is not renewable upon the same terms and conditions as set forth in the second lease referred to heretofore and that it is entirely within the power of said defendants to fix the rental at any sum they may see fit. . . ."
, Plaintiff further alleges:
"That it was the intention of all of the parties concerned at the time both the first lease was executed and the second lease was executed that said leases would be renewable for an additional period of fifteen years for the same'rental, to wit, the sum of twenty ($20) dollars each year and as specified in the second lease."
Each of the leases contained the following clause:
"And the covenants herein contained shall bind the parties mutually, and the respective heirs, executors, administrators, and assigns."
The trial court first held that the lease executed Oil September 1, 1923, was not a renewal of the lease executed July 1, 1912, and that the plaintiff was entitled to one renewal oí the lease for fifteen years from the expiration of the fifteen-year term mentioned in Exhibit B; that Exhibit C, the supplemental agreement, simply established that all of the inter-lineations made in Exhibit B were made before the final execution of the lease. The court also raised the question whether the right of renewal could be exercised by plaintiff's heirs in case of her death. After argument the court held that the covenant of renewal was a personal covenant, and that upon giving the proper notice, the plaintiff was entitled to a renewal every fifteen years during her life;—
"that in the event of plaintiff's death during the period of said lease or any renewal thereof, then the heirs, executors, administrators, or assigns shall have the right of the plaintiff in said lease, excepting the right of renewal, and shall be bound by the covenants as to the payment of rent and other covenants until the expiration of the period."
This holding of the court was based upon the following considerations as stated in the court's decision:
"From the surrounding conditions and circumstances, and from the lease itself, considered all and every part thereof, it is believed that it was the intent and' purpose of the parties that the rental of $20 a year was only part of the consideration. The understanding was Mrs. Gray would build a substantial cottage and the premises should only be used for residence and summer cottage purposes, and the lessor expressly gave up the right to claim the stone foundation to be built under the cottage. The lessee might well trust Mrs. Gray not to injure her own or adjoining property by letting it to notorious or objectionable tenants, but well might not so trust her heirs or assigns,, whoever they might be." .
Upon this appeal it is contended'on behalf of the plaintiff that the lease executed September 1, 1923, expressly provides and conclusively shows an intention to create a right of perpetual renewal in the plaintiff, her heirs and assigns, and that is the principal question here for decision. On behalf of the defendants it is contended, first, that the plaintiff is entitled to but one renewal, and, second, that the contract is a personal one and not for the benefit of her heirs and assigns. Other contentions were made which in the view we take of the case it is not necessary to state here.
It is well established that perpetuities are not favored in the law, and that an instrument will not be construed as creating a perpetuity unless the intention to do so is clear and plainly manifest. Drake v. Board of Education (1907), 208 Mo. 540, 106 S. W. 650, 14 L. R. A. (N. S.) 829; Brush v. Beecher (1896), 110 Mich. 597, 68 N. W. 420; and Winslow v. Baltimore & Ohio R. R. (1903) 188 U. S. 646, 23 Sup. Ct. 443, 47 L. Ed. 635.
There is nothing in the document, parts of which have already been quoted, that' indicates that the parties had in mind the creation in the lessee of a right in perpetuity. The argument that the lease so provides is based upon the fact that the term "renewals" is used instead of renewal and the word "periods" instead of period. It is considered that these facts are not sufficient to- take the case out of the general rule, there being nothing to' indicate that either of the parties had in mind the creation of a perpetual right. Within the doctrine of the cases cited the language is not sufficient to require a determination that the parties SO' intended. The plaintiff is therefore entitled to> one renewal for a period of fifteen years without the right to a renewal thereafter.
Is the covenant for renewal a personal one? We find nothing in the instrument which requires a court to so> hold. The language of the instrument is that which is ordinarily and customarily used where the covenants are intended to be for the benefit of the heirs and assigns of the parties. The trial court was of the view that the surrounding circumstances required the court to hold that the lessor was not willing to trust the heirs or assigns of Mrs. Gray as lessees of the property while he was willing to trust her. The language of the lease being plain and by its terms for the benefit of her heirs and assigns, it is considered that the language of the lease cannot be so limited. To so hold is really to reconstruct the contract rather than construe it. It is therefore held that the covenant is for the benefit of the lessee, her heirs and assigns if the lease should be validly assigned as provided by its terms.
By the Court. — The judgment appealed from is modified so far as it holds that the right of plaintiff is personal and does not inure to the benefit of her heirs, executors, administrators, and assigns. The judgment in all other respects is affirmed, the plaintiff to recover her costs in this court.