Case Name: MADDEN v. BULLOCK
Court: New York Supreme Court, Appellate Term
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1909-03-17
Citations: 115 N.Y.S. 723
Docket Number: 
Parties: MADDEN v. BULLOCK.
Judges: 
Reporter: West's New York Supplement
Volume: 115
Pages: 723–724

Head Matter:
MADDEN v. BULLOCK.
(Supreme Court, Appellate Term.
March 17, 1909.)
Landlord and .Tenant (§ 172 )—Action for Rent—Constructive Eviction as Defense.
In an action for rent of an apartment vacated by lessee, it appeared that the premises were in an almost intolerable condition from stenches of dead and decaying rats which lessor undertook unsuccessfully to remove, and made matters worse by tearing up and not replacing flooring, and by using chloride of lime, so that lessee was powerless to abate this peril to health. Held, that this warranted a defense of constructive eviction in an action for rent.
[Ed. Note.—For other cases, see Landlord and Tenant, Cent. Dig. §§ 695-703; Dec. Dig. § 172.*]
MacLean, J., dissenting.
Appeal from Municipal Court, Borough of Manhattan, Eirst District.
Action by James Madden against William Bullock. From a judgment for defendant, plaintiff appeals. Affirmed.
Argued before GILDERSLEEVE, P. J., and MacLEAN and DAYTON, JJ.
Wesselman & Kraus, for appellant.
Charles Maitland Beattie, for respondent.
For other cases see same topic & § number in Dec. & Am. Digs. 1907 to date, & Rep’r Indexes

Opinion:
PER CURIAM.
The action is for rent of an apartment. The defense is a constructive eviction. The court found for defendant. Plaintiff appeals.
The evidence shows an almost intolerable condition, arising from loathsome stenches of dead and decaying rats, which plaintiff undertook unsuccessfully to remove, and made matters worse by tearing up and not replacing flooring, and by using" chloride of lime. The defendant was powerless to abate this peril to health. Such a condition cannot be called an inconvenience, nor was its source discoverable by ordinary inspection.
The judgment should be affirmed, with costs.