Jessen v. Sweigert

Sharpstein, J. -If the defendant had both owned and occupied the building to which the awning that fell on the plaintiff was attached, the evidence, indubitably, would be sufficient to justify the verdict. But the defendant, while owning the building, did not occupy it. It was occupied by a tenant, under a lease, in which the defendant did not covenant to keep the premises in repair; and it is urged by defendant’s counsel, that section 1941, Civil Code, did not impose on the lessor of this building any greater or other obligations in that respect than the common law did. Conceding that to be so, is not the evidence sufficient to justify the verdict ? The fact of the awning having been suspended over the sidewalk by a prior owner of the building, is not controverted. And there is evidence tending to prove that prior to the accident the defendant was told that the awning was in an unsafe condition, and that on being so informed she expressed an intention to have it repaired. This she denied, when testifying in her own behalf. There being a material, conflict in the evidence on this question, the jury alone could determine it.

In addition to the evidence above referred to, the plaintiff in-[183]traduced an ordinance which prohibits any person owning or occupying any building, fronting upon any public street, from constructing or maintaining any awning before such building, unless such awning be securely placed. Conceding that this constituted a license, by virtue of which the owner of the building was authorized to erect or suspend an awning over a public street in front of his premises, it was a license to do so on condition that such awning should be securely placed. And so long as it continued to be so, it might be maintained. As between himself and the public, the owner by erecting the awning became obligated to make and keep it secure. If the owner had covenanted with her tenant to keep the premises in repair, any one injured by reason of her failure to do so might have maintained an action against her or the tenant. Instead of entering into such an agreement with the tenant in respect of this awning, the owner did so with the public. In Whalen v. Gloucester, 4 Hun. 24, the defendant had, under license similar to that referred to, made a hole in a sidewalk, and neglected to keep the cover of it in a proper condition. The premises were occupied by a tenant, under a lease which contained a covenant that the lessor should repair, etc. Commenting on this the court said : “ It seems to be clear, therefore, that the defendant is liable, on both theories herein presented, namely: upon her obligation to the public in her use of the street for her private purposes, and upon her failure to keep the premises in repair, as between her tenant and herself, even if such relation of landlord and tenant and the consequent possession of the latter might otherwise excuse her.”