Simmonds v. Bell

BURNETT, J.

Plaintiff executed and delivered to defendant a lease which by its terms expired on November 20, 1916. The lease contained the following covenant: “The lessees have the privilege of renewing this lease at its expiration on November 20, 1916, for five additional years at a monthly rental to be agreed upon by the lessor and lessees, and if they cannot agree on a monthly rental, they shall submit to an arbitration board of three or more persons, and their decision shall fix the monthly rental.”

It is admitted that the lessee, Bell, remained in possession of the premises until February 20, 1919, when he vacated the same. On November 20, 1916, the lessee was in arrears for two months’ rent to the amount of $180. No written notice of intention to exercise the option for renewal of the lease was ever given, and the evidence is in conflict as to whether there was an oral notice to that effect. No hoard of arbitration was ever selected; no award was ever made, the amount‘of rent for the new term was never agreed upon, and no new lease was ever prepared or exe

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cuted. The complaint contained three counts. The first was for an injunction against the continuance of certain acts claimed to constitute a nuisance, for damages therefor, and for possession of said premises. The second was for rental and water rates from November 20, 1916, to October 5, 1918, and the third for damages for strip and waste in the sum of $150. It was stipulated at the trial that the plaintiff need not file a supplemental complaint or new action for such rents as he might claim for the period between the filing of the complaint and the vacation of the premises by defendant, which occurred before said trial, but that such matter might be considered by the court as though properly pleaded and denied.

The court found that the lease was terminated on November 20, 1916, and thereafter the defendant remained in possession by consent of plaintiff at the rental of $90 per month. There is evidence to support this finding, and the computation made by the court as to the amount due plaintiff for said possession is not subject to criticism. The court also allowed' plaintiff $150 for strip and waste, as alleged in the complaint, and it is not disputed by appellant that there is sufficient evidence to sustain that contention. As against said allowance the court permitted an offset in behalf of defendant to the extent of $984.50. It is not claimed by appellant that the record demands the allowance of a larger counterclaim. In short, the case is one involving no novel principal of law, but presenting the simple proposition of the amount due for rent, the record containing evidence to support the findings of the court.