Opinion ID: 2361751
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Assignment of Lease to Wexford Motors

Text: Appellant next contends that the assignment of the lease from West Penn to Wexford Motors was improper and without effect because of failure of a condition precedent. Specifically, appellants argue that the failure of Wexford to have the lease and Exhibit B recorded defeated the transfer of interest in the leasehold. We are thus called upon to construe the operative language of the assignment: It is a condition of this agreement . . . that both the written power, and the lease and Exhibit B . . . will be accepted by the Recorder's Office of Allegheny County . . . prior to the consummation of this agreement on or before August 1, 1965. None of the documents were ever recorded by Wexford. The general rule remains that where an act or event mentioned in a contract is not expressly made a condition precedent, it will not be construed, unless such clearly appears to be the intention of the parties. . . . As our Supreme Court has held, the actions of the parties pursuant to an agreement between them are significant and substantial evidence in determining whether they intended to be bound by the agreement. American Leasing v. Morrison Co., 308 Pa.Super. 318, 327, 454 A.2d 555, 559, 560 (1982). (Citations omitted). (Emphasis added). We agree with the trial court that the language in question expressly created a condition precedent. However, failure to comply with the condition does not vitiate the transfer of the interest; the actions of the parties evince that they intended to be bound by the agreement in spite of the failure of the condition precedent. West Penn did not claim breach of the assignment agreement, and allowed the transfer of possessory interest to occur. Neither party is now disputing the agreement or transfer of the leasehold. Therefore, we affirm the trial court's determination that the lease interest was passed from West Penn to Wexford Motors.