From Casetext: Smarter Legal Research

Transit Drive-In Theater v. Outdoor Theatre

Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, Fourth Department
Jul 2, 1976
53 A.D.2d 1009 (N.Y. App. Div. 1976)

Opinion

July 2, 1976

Appeal from the Erie Supreme Court.

Present — Marsh, P.J., Mahoney, Dillon, Goldman and Witmer, JJ.


Order unanimously affirmed, with costs. Memorandum: Defendant appeals from an order denying its motion for summary judgment. In 1963 the parties entered into a one-year lease relative to defendant's operation of a "snackbar" concession at plaintiff's drive-in theater. Paragraph 14 of the lease provided that neither party would be liable to the other for property damage resulting from negligence and that the insurance policies of both parties would be indorsed accordingly. Paragraph 6 of the lease required defendant to maintain and repair "all of Operator's equipment which it uses" and paragraph 16 required it to "keep its refreshment stands in a clean and orderly condition". Although the lease was not renewed after its 1964 expiration date, the parties maintained a landlord-tenant relationship until December 31, 1974. In 1973 a fire occurred in the snackbar building, damaging the structure and its contents, and plaintiff commenced this negligence action. Defendant contends that the terms of the original lease were applicable at the time of the fire and it is therefore relieved of liability by the provisions of paragraph 14. It is generally true that where a tenant holds over, the law implies that he does so upon the same terms and conditions as under his previous tenancy (City of New York v Pennsylvania R.R. Co., 37 N.Y.2d 298; Kennedy v City of New York, 196 N.Y. 19; Baylies v Ingram, 84 App. Div. 360, affd 181 N.Y. 518). However, the implication does not obtain where the acts and conduct of the parties negate the existence of the original contract (Stern v Equitable Trust Co., 238 N.Y. 267, 269); or where the implication is inappropriate by reason of changed conditions (Baylies v Ingram, supra, p 362); or where the circumstances tend to refute any intent to continue the applicability of a particular provision which is not an essential element of the landlord-tenant relationship (Gulf Oil Corp. v Buram Realty Co., 11 N.Y.2d 223). Summary judgment should not be granted where genuine factual issues are raised or where any material issue is arguable (Stone v Goodson, 8 N.Y.2d 8; Falk v Goodman, 7 N.Y.2d 87). The moving party must present evidentiary facts which clearly demonstrate that, as a matter of law, a defense cannot be sustained (4 Weinstein-Korn-Miller, N Y Civ Prac, par 3212.05C). The evidentiary facts presented here are incomplete and fail to meet that standard. Factual questions concerning defendant's affirmative duty under the lease to maintain the premises and the continued compliance of the parties with the several other lease provisions should be resolved in order to determine the nature of the relationship of the parties after the expiration of the lease and whether they intended paragraph 14 to survive. Accordingly, Special Term properly denied defendant's motion for summary judgment.


Summaries of

Transit Drive-In Theater v. Outdoor Theatre

Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, Fourth Department
Jul 2, 1976
53 A.D.2d 1009 (N.Y. App. Div. 1976)
Case details for

Transit Drive-In Theater v. Outdoor Theatre

Case Details

Full title:TRANSIT DRIVE-IN THEATER, INC., Respondent, v. OUTDOOR THEATRE CATERERS…

Court:Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, Fourth Department

Date published: Jul 2, 1976

Citations

53 A.D.2d 1009 (N.Y. App. Div. 1976)

Citing Cases

White Castle System, Inc. v. Blohm

But the language of Tubbs ("the parties are free to prove `a changed condition of affairs,'" 88 Misc.2d at…

Valley Park Assocs. v. Sontag

Furthermore, this new tenancy impliedly continues on the same terms and subject to the same covenants as…