Ford Coyle Properties, Inc. v. 3029 Avenue V Realty, LLC

Decision Date09 June 2009
Docket Number2009-01607.
Citation2009 NY Slip Op 04856,881 N.Y.S.2d 146,63 A.D.3d 782
PartiesFORD COYLE PROPERTIES, INC., Respondent, v. 3029 AVENUE V REALTY, LLC, et al., Appellants.
CourtNew York Supreme Court — Appellate Division

Ordered that the order is affirmed, with costs.

"A surrender by operation of law occurs when the parties to a lease do some act so inconsistent with the landlord-tenant relationship that it indicates their intent to deem the lease terminated" (Riverside Research Inst. v KMGA, Inc., 68 NY2d 689, 691-692 [1986] [citations omitted]). A surrender by operation of law is inferred from the parties' conduct (id.), where not only must the tenant abandon the premises, but the landlord must accept the premises as a surrender (see Dagett v Champney, 122 App Div 254, 256 [1907]). The mere retention of keys to the premises by the landlord after the tenant has returned them does not alone constitute a surrender by operation of law (see Thomas v Nelson, 69 NY 118 [1877]). Whether or not a surrender by operation of law has occurred in a particular case is a factual determination (see Riverside Research Inst. v KMGA, Inc., 68 NY2d at 692; Brock Enters. v Dunham's Bay Boat Co., 292 AD2d 681, 682 [2002]).

Here, the Supreme Court properly denied the defendants' motion for summary judgment dismissing the complaint. Although the defendants established their prima facie entitlement to summary judgment on the ground that there had been a surrender of the lease as a matter of law (see generally 4400 Equities, Inc. v Dhinsa, 52 AD3d 654 [2008]; Deer Hills Hardware v Conlin Realty Corp., 292 AD2d 565, 565-566 [2002]; Brock Enters. v Dunham's Bay Boat Co., 292 AD2d at 683), the plaintiff raised triable issues of fact regarding its intent in re-letting the premises in April 2006 and whether or not it accepted control and possession of the subject premises upon retaining the keys from the defendants in September 2004 (see generally Stahl Assoc. Co. v Mapes, 111 AD2d 626, 630 [1985]; cf. 80 State St. v Allwen, Inc., 6 AD3d 978, 978-979 [2004]).

DILLON, J.P., FLORIO, BALKIN and AUSTIN, JJ., concur.

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11 cases
  • GIOIA EQUITIES INC. v. ONC Dev. LL
    • United States
    • New York Supreme Court
    • February 22, 2011
    ...A.D.2d at 2-3. See Joseph P. Day Realty Corp. v. Lawrence Assoc, 270 A.D.2d at 142; Ford Covle Props., Inc. v. 3029 Ave. V Realty, LLC, 63 A.D.3d 782 (2d Dep't 2009). Defendants' version indicates simply a request to terminate the lease that plaintiff accepted and, particularly in the absen......
  • Chestnut Realty Corp. v. Kaminski
    • United States
    • New York Supreme Court — Appellate Division
    • May 30, 2012
    ...Inst. v. KMGA, Inc., 68 N.Y.2d 689, 691–692, 506 N.Y.S.2d 302, 497 N.E.2d 669;see Ford Coyle Props., Inc. v. 3029 Ave. V Realty, LLC, 63 A.D.3d 782, 881 N.Y.S.2d 146;4400 Equities, Inc. v. Dhinsa, 52 A.D.3d 654, 654–655, 862 N.Y.S.2d 512;Levitt v. Zindler, 136 App.Div. 695, 696, 121 N.Y.S. ......
  • Ross v. 120 N. James St. Corp.
    • United States
    • New York County Court
    • December 21, 2015
    ...by operation of law, but rather a factual issue to be determined by the court. See, Ford Coyle Props, Inc. v. 3029 Ave V. Realty, LLC, 63 A.D.3d 782 (2d Dept. 2009). The affidavit of John T. Ross24 controverts the affidavit of Carrie E. Hilpert25 on the issue of whether a tender of the prem......
  • Kings Holdings LLC v. Terrick
    • United States
    • New York Civil Court
    • June 26, 2012
    ...has surrendered them does not “alone constitute a surrender by operation of law.” Ford Coyle Props., Inc. V. 3029 Avenue v. Realty, 63 A.D.3d 782, 881 N.Y.S.2d 146 (2d Dept.2009); 80 State Street v. Allwen. 6 A.D.3d 978, 774 N.Y.S.2d 889 (2d Dept.2004) (plaintiff needs to take possession or......
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