Court Opinion

ID: 6163586
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-02-05 18:19:38.023015+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:55:32.665516
License: Public Domain

McAdam, C. J.
The parties evidently contemplated that by the transfer of the lease, with the written consent of the landlord, the tenants would be relieved from further liability, and that ICoclc and Beauerman, as assigneesr would be substituted thereto; for the agreement signed by the defendant as-surety was made to George W. Libby, the landlord, and is in the nature of a. covenant “under seal” to pay “him” such sums of money as may be required to satisfy the conditions of the lease. It was not a covenant to pay money to the plaintiffs on the happening of any default, for their names do not appear in the instrument, which, being under seal, and made to Libby, is not enforceable by the plaintiffs. Nevins v. Gardner, 1 City Ct. R. 407." The fact that the instrument was not delivered to the plaintiffs, that they never claimed possession of it, that it was taken to Libby, the landlord, and offered to him.. *2if he would sign the consent to the transfer, indicates that it was not intended that the plaintiffs should, in an)' event, be allowed to sue upon it. Libby refused to accept the defendant as surety, declined to sign the consent, and expressed a determination to look to the tenants for the rent till the end of the lease; whereupon the defendant declined to deliver his agreement of surety-ship, and it was produced by him at the trial as an instrument still in his possession.
It is unnecessary to decide whether the receipt of rent by the landlord 'subsequent to the assignment, with knowledge of the transfer, dispensed with the legal necessity of the landlord’s written consent, or what effect the consent would have had, if it had been obtained; for a surety has the right to impose any lawful condition he pleases upon the delivery of his obligation, and it remains inoperative until it is performed. People v. Bostwick, 43 Barb. 9, affirmed 32 N. Y. 445. A contract of suretyship may be complete in itself, and yet, as long as it remains in the hands of the parties executing it, be of no legal effect. Baylies, Sur. 97. It seems clear, therefore, that as there was no delivery to give legal inception to the contract, and no performance of the condition on which it was to be delivered, that no liability was created by the mere execution of the writing. Bor the several reasons stated, there must be judgment for the defendant.