Zerega v. Will , 54 N.Y.S. 361 ( 1898 )

McLAUGHLIN, J.

The plaintiff, by an instrument in writing for a term and at a monthly rental therein specified, leased to the defendant a portion of a building. The defendant paid the rent for the first month (May, 1890), and went into and continued in possession of the same until near the close of the month, when he vacated. When the rent for the next month (June) became due, the defendant having failed to pay, the plaintiff brought an action in the city court of New York to recover the same. The defendant appeared in that, action, and the defense there interposed was substantially the same, except surrender and acceptance, as the one interposed in this action. The action was tried, and the plaintiff had a judgment for the amount claimed. The balance of the rent under the lease having become, due, and the defendant having failed to pay, this action was brought, and the plaintiff had a judgment for the amount claimed, and the defendant has appealed.

The judgment is assailed principally upon the ground of errors alleged to have been committed by the trial court (1) in permitting the plaintiff to put in evidence the judgment roll in the city court action; and (2) in excluding certain testimony offered by the defendant.

We think the judgment roll was admissible. The motion was between the same parties, to recover rent claimed to be due under the lease here involved. The defendant there claimed he ought not to pay, because he had been evicted, and that is one of the defenses here relied upon. That he was not evicted prior to the time the rent for the month of June became due was settled and determined in the city court action, and the judgment there rendered conclusively determined and established that fact. Gates v. Preston, 41 N. Y. 113; Webb v. Buckelew, 82 N. Y. 559; Griffin v. Railroad Co., 102 N. Y. 449, 7 N. E. 735. There was no evidence upon the trial of this action that the defendant was evicted after the rent for the month of June became due. Indeed, it affirmatively appeared from the defendant’s own testimony that he left the premises leased before the 1st day of June; and his testimony was not disputed, but was supported by that of several other witnesses. It is apparent, therefore, that the judgment roll was admissible as bearing upon the defense of eviction. It was also admissible as bearing upon the question of whether there had been a surrender and acceptance. The defendant testified that he left the premises “the latter part of May”; and his contention is that when he vacated he surrendered the premises to, and the same were accepted by, the plaintiff. That question was, however, settled and determined in the action in the city court, and the judgment then rendered is conclusive and binding upon the parties upon that subject. “The rule is well settled” that, where the second action is upon the same claim or demand as the first, “a former judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction is final and conclusive between the parties, not only as to the matters actually determined, but as to every other matter which the parties might have litigated and have decided, as incident to, or essentially connected with, the subject-matter of the litigation within the purview of the original action, either as matter of claim or defense.” Griffin v. Railroad Co., supra, and Cromwell v. Sac Co., 94 U. S. 351.

Upon the trial the defendant endeavored to show by his own testimony a surrender and acceptance of the premises. The testimony was excluded upon the objection of the plaintiff, and we think properly. Each of the questions to which objection was made related to a time prior to the rendition of the judgment in the city court action, and each ruling simply went to the extent of excluding evidence of a surrender prior to that time. Had the defendant sought to prove a surrender and acceptance subsequent to the time the plaintiff’s right to recover rent for the month of June accrued, the testimony would have been proper and admissible; but this he did not attempt to do, and the reason is obvious. The defendant had testified that he left the premises in May, and thérefore he was asked if he did not surrender in May, June, or July.

The court also properly declined to receive evidence as to the condition of the basement. It appeared that the defendant had an opportunity to examine the premises leased prior to the time the lease was made, and the lease contained no express covenant of warranty, in the absence of which the defendant assumed the risk of their condition. Franklin v. Brown, 118 N. Y. 110, 23 N. E. 126.

The defendant failed to establish any defense to the action. There was an entire failure of proof showing or tending to show either an eviction, or a surrender and acceptance. The trial court therefore was-right in directing a verdict for the plaintiff.

The judgment appealed from must be affirmed, with costs. All concur.