Title: Morrow v. Wood
Citation: 411 So. 2d 120
Docket Number: N/A
State: Alabama
Issuer: Alabama Supreme Court
Date: March 19, 1982

411 So. 2d 120 (1982)
Robert C. MORROW
v.
E. Lloyd WOOD and Faye P. Wood.
80-643.

Supreme Court of Alabama.
March 19, 1982.
Jack Drake of Drake &amp; Pierce, University, for appellant.
Olin W. Zeanah and Wilbor J. Hust, Jr. of Zeanah, Donald &amp; Hust, Tuscaloosa, for appellees.
*121 MADDOX, Justice.
This case arises out of a controversy involving a written lease agreement. The wording contained in that agreement, and the true intent of the parties with regard to that agreement, is the sole issue. The trial court ruled in favor of the tenant.
The pertinent provision of the lease, as set forth in the plaintiff landlord's complaint, is as follows:
In his complaint the landlord asserted the following concerning the provision:
In other words, the landlord contended at trial, and also contends on appeal, that the "option" clause of the lease agreement was, in effect, an "automatic renewal" clause; hence, contends the landlord, because the tenant did not notify him within the stated ninety-day period that he wished to terminate the lease agreement, then the lease automatically renewed and bound both parties to their respective obligations for an additional five years. We agree with the trial judge, who, after hearing the case ore tenus, made the following findings:
This case was heard ore tenus; therefore, every presumption will be indulged in favor of the trial court, and its findings will not be disturbed on appeal unless palpably wrong or clearly erroneous. The findings of fact by the trial court and its conclusion of law are clearly supported by the very wording of the lease agreement entered into by the parties. Furthermore, its findings of fact are supported by the evidence given at trial concerning what the parties intended with regard to the lease. The judgment of the trial court, therefore, is due to be affirmed.
AFFIRMED.
TORBERT, C. J., and JONES, SHORES and BEATTY, JJ., concur.