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Griffith et al. v. Smith et al.

Supreme Court of Georgia1923-06-07No. No. 3392
155 Ga. 717

Authorities cited

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Opinion

majority opinion

Hux, J.

Where S. “ rented ” from S. and E. “ a certain building . . for a term of five years and the privilege of five more at the same monthly rental ” named in the contract; and where the tenant entered possession of the premises, and pending such possession did “ transfer and assign the attached lease to tí. and P., in so far as 1 have authority so to do and as my interest may appear;” and where the original rent contract contained no authority to the tenant, ¡3., to transfer the lease, such attempted transfer will not have the effect of conveying the rights of the original tenant to 6. and P., over the objection of original landlords and owners of the property. Johnson v. Brice, 151 Ga. 472 (107 S. E. 338).

(а) Applying the principle ruled above to the facts of this case, the court did not err in disallowing plaintiffs’ amendment to the petition (the substance of which is set out in the statement of facts), and in dismissing the ease.

(б) As the above ruling is controlling of the case, it is unnecessary to decide whether the plaintiffs acted under a mistake of law, as alleged in the amendment. Judgment affirmed.

All the Justices concur.

On June 5, 1920, C. F. Griffith and G. C. Patrick filed an equitable petition against Mrs. E. C. Smith and Miss Marianna Sears,- seeking to enjoin the defendants from interfering with plaintiffs in the use and enjoyment of the leased property and praying that the court construe the lease contract and declare the same to be assignable and binding on the defendants, and that the cloud on the title of the plaintiffs as the assignee of Slaton be removed, etc. The trial judge granted a temporary restraining order, and while the case was still pending the plaintiffs and defendants entered into an agreement as follows (after stating the case) : “ It is hereby agreed between the parties to the above-stated case, that the same be settled on the following basis: 1. Plaintiffs are to dismiss said bill. 2. The defendants agree to rent the property described in the said petition to said Griffith and Patrick for the term of five years commencing on the 10th day of April, 1920, for the sum of $175.00 per month, payable monthly. 3. The plaintiffs are to give up and cancel the rent contract transferred to them by C. W. Slaton. 4. A regular lease contract in the form provided in Van Epps’ Form Book, p. 599, is to be drawn up and signed by the parties, except that the tenants shall have the right to sublet, provided that the subtenant shall not engage in any business that will increase the fire hazard, or damage said property, ordinary wear and tear excepted.” Subsequently the lease contract was drawn up and signed by all the parties. This contract bore date of April 10, 1920, to correspond with the commencement of the lease. On August 4, 1920, the presiding judge in term made the following order on the petition for injunction: “ It being brought to my attention officially that subsequent to the argument of this case the parties have settled between themselves the matters in controversy and entered into a new lease contract, the issues have therefore become moot and the decision of them unnecessary. In view of the foregoing, the temporary restraining order is dismissed.” The plaintiffs did not dismiss the ease and did not surrender the Slaton lease, so far as the record discloses; but the case remained on the docket of the trial court until December 15, 1921, when the plaintiffs offered an amendment to their petition. In the meantime the plaintiffs had been occupying the property under the lease contract since August, 1920.

The plaintiffs’ amendment alleged, in substance, that about August 1, 1920, while the trial judge was considering the original application for injunction, “information came to plaintiffs personally that [the trial judge] had about made up his mind and would decide that the lease held by plaintiffs was not legally assignable to them, . . and under fear of the consequences of such decision plaintiffs yielded to defendants’ importunities and made a new contract of lease,” above mentioned; that “ since said agreement was made, the legal question controlling the issue in the case has been decided by the Court .of Appeals of Georgia in the case of Jones v. Fuller [27 Ga. App. 84], 107 S. E. 544, deciding and declaring clearly and unquestionably for the first time that a lease such as the one C. W. Slaton had from the defendants, and by him assigned to the plaintiffs, conveyed such an estate to the said Slaton as he might convey or contract to another, with all the incidents and duties of the tenancy, which he, said Slaton held; that the new lease was without consideration, and made under a mistake of law.” Wherefore plaintiffs prayed that the lease dated April 10, 1920, between the plaintiffs and defendants, be canceled. By another amendment filed December 29, 1921, the plaintiffs set forth the agreement of August 3, 1920, and the new lease contract. The defendants filed objections to these amendments, and on January 21, 1922, in term, the court passed an order striking and disallowing these amendments. On June 22, 1922, the plaintiffs filed another amendment which contained substantially the same allegations as in the amendment of December, 1921. This amendment was also objected to and disallowed. At the same time the court dismissed the original petition. To these rulings the plaintiffs excepted.

John J. Hunt and E. R. Clarkson, for plaintiffs.

Cleveland & Goodrich, for defendants. -