Court Opinion

ID: 9639469
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-22 16:19:16.900683+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:10:18.919019
License: Public Domain

CHASE, Circuit Judge
(dissenting).
I cannot agree that the covenants here involved ran with the land now owned by 165 Broadway Building, Inc., though, of course, some which were made at the same time did. We all agree that covenants running with the land must, in the language usually used in that regard, touch or concern it. That is, however, only one way of saying that whenever covenants do not directly or indirectly affect the land they do not run with it.
The original parties to these covenants expressly, agreed that the company should be under no obligation, under any circumstances, to restore or rebuild any wall or other structure of the owner or to pay for so doing unless damage was caused by its negligence, and none was so caused. Their agreement also provided that it should apply to and bind “all subsequent owners and persons interested in the land affected hereby”. Nor was the company bound to fulfill any covenants which did run with the land if, and after, it elected to make material changes in its line at that point. When such changes were made it was, however, under obligation to pay the sums of money, now in controversy only as to the proper payee, as refunds to the original party, its successors or assigns, of contributions that party had made toward the cost of constructing and operating the elevated ' railway station. These were merely affirmative personal reimbursement covenants which became effective when the *821company of right terminated the covenants which did run with the land. The present owner of the building has, therefore, no right to receive payments made under them. Meado-Lawn Homes, Inc. v. Westchester Lighting Company, 171 Misc. 669, 13 N.Y.S.2d 709; Id., 259 App.Div. 810, 20 N.Y.S.2d 396; Id., 284 N.Y. 667, 30 N.E. 608; Fallert Brewing Co. Ltd. v. Blass, 119 App.Div. 53, 103 N.Y.S. 865.
I dissent.