Court Opinion

ID: 5469782
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-01-09 20:28:37.760929+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:33:15.727393
License: Public Domain

By the court, Ingraham, P. J.
The only question in the case is, whether Stover can take the benefit of the lease from. Reynolds to him. Such lease would have been valid, and would have entitled him to the property, if he had not by his contract with Stiner acknowledged his title as landlord, and made an agreement with him up to May, 1865. It does not appear that he ever made any claim under the two year lease, or gave any notice of its existence to Stiner, but as the justice has found the existence of an agreement for letting between Stover and Stiner, we are bound to consider that such a contract was made, and that Stover became the tenant of Stiner up to the 1st of May, 1865. Having thus acknowledged the landlord’s right to the premises, and made an agreement with him as tenant for a limited period, he cannot dispute his landlord’s title, under an outstanding title held by him, of which the landlord had no notice (9 N. Y. R. p. 45). It may also be doubted whether the lease to Stover was of any validity as against Stiner. This lease was given by one holding a lease for five years, which does not appear to have been recorded, and which would not be valid against any subsequent conveyance. If the lease to Angevine became invalid as against Stover for want of being recorded, the sub-lease to Stover would be also of no validity. Stiner was entitled to the posses,sion of the premises whenever Stover’s title ended, and he was the only person who could maintain these proceedings. The case of Griffin agt. Clark (33 Barb. 45), is not in conflict with this ruling. I may entertain doubt from the evidence as to the fact of the new hiring by Stover' from Stiner. The facts as stated might be construed as a mere attornment by Stover to Stiner under his lease, but as the justice has held otherwise, and the evidence of Stiner will warrant this finding, we cannot interfere on that ground.
The judgment should be affirmed.