Siegel v. Reece Buttonhole Mach. Co. , 152 N.Y.S. 191 ( 1915 )

COHALAN, J.

Defendant, in the court below, moved for judgment on the pleadings. The complaint alleges that on the 29th day of April, 1914, the Siegel Vest Company and the defendant entered into an agreement wherein the Siegel Vest Company leased a buttonhole machine from the defendant for a period of 99 years, at a rental of $20 per month; th.at a delivery of the machine into the possession of the plaintiff's assignor was made; that the same was taken away for tffe purpose of repairing it by the defendant; that there was a failure to return the same; and thereupon damages are claimed for the loss of the use of the machine in the sum of $2,000. The defendant pleads the statute of frauds.

In pursuance of the agreement of hiring, the sum of $20 was paid to the defendant. It is unquestioned that the contract was not in writing. It was executed only to the extent that the- machine had been installed in the plaintiff’s place of business and one month’s rent therefor had been paid. So far as it was executed, of course, the statute of frauds has no application; but so far as it was executory, the statute does apply. The plaintiff could not be deprived of any rights gained by the part performance of the contract, and rightfully held possession of the machine so long as the defendant permitted him to hold it. The oral lease, however, being void, did not permit the plaintiff to set up any affirmative right thereunder for the future; hence the defendant had a right to retake the machine at any time without being chargeable with liability as for a breach. The fact that the action is for a breach of contract conclusively shows that it was not executed. The complaint, therefore, as amplified by the bill of particulars, sets forth no cause of action, and the defendant was entitled to judgment on the pleadings. The court below, however, should have granted the appellant the right to amend the complaint.

In this respect the order appealed from is modified, and, as so modified, the order is affirmed, without costs. Disbursements of the appeal to the appellant. All concur.