Hodgkiss v. Dayton-Brower Co. , 156 N.Y.S. 909 ( 1915 )

Kapper, J.

On the former appeal we reversed the judgment for plaintiff upon the ground that whether there had been a surrender and acceptance presented a question of fact, it being our conviction that the trial court, as matter of law, entertained the view that there had not been a surrender and acceptance. Our attention upon this appeal is called to the fact that what the landlord did is not only undisputed, but conceded, and hence there was upon the conceded facts a surrender and acceptance as a matter of law. The premises, consisting of adjoining stores in which the tenants conducted a furniture, carpet and hardware business and into each of which stores access was had from the adjoining store by means of open archways, were so altered by the landlord, after the tenant’s abandonment, as to make them separate stores. This change was made by “ closing up of thé arches, the entrances from one room to another ” or “ between the stores,” as stated by the landlord. The alterations were beyond any necessity for the preservation of the demised premises, and where that is the case there is an acceptance. See Meeker v. Spalsbury, 66 N. J. L. 60. The tenant repeatedly stood its ground that it had been constructively evicted, and refused again and again to in any manner concede that the relation of landlord and tenant continued. No act of the tenant, when broached with the proposition to relet for its account, can be construed as an acquiescence in the landlord’s suggestion. “ To create a contract by implication there must be an unequivocal and-unqualified assertion of a right by one of the parties, and such silence by the other as to support the legal inference of his acquiescence.” Gray v. Kaufman Dairy & I. C. Co., 162 N. Y. 397. While the question of eviction presented a question of fact on the evidence with the determination of which below we are not inclined to interfere, the alterations concededly made in the premises were inconsistent with the theory that the tenancy continued. If a landlord wishes to hold for rent a tenant who has abandoned his tenancy, he must, excepting for repairs to preserve the premises from decay, leave them in such a condition that the tenant may at any moment re-enter and resume Ms former occupancy. Judgment reversed, with costs of the" first appeal only, and complaint dismissed, with costs.

Maddox and Kelby, JJ. concur,.

Judgment reversed, with costs of first appeal only.