Pfister & Vogel Co. v. Fitzpatrick Shoe Co.

Decision Date25 February 1908
Citation83 N.E. 878,197 Mass. 277
PartiesPFISTER & VOGEL CO. v. FITZPATRICK SHOE CO. In re FITZPATRICK.
CourtUnited States State Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts Supreme Court
COUNSEL

Oscar A. Marden, for petitioner.

William A. Knowlton and Johnson, Clapp & Underwood, for respondent.

OPINION

RUGG, J.

This petition for leave to prove claim was heard before a justice of this court, who found that the alterations, for which the petitioner asks damages, were made with the knowledge and assent of the petitioner, that they were reasonably necessary to adapt the premises to the uses of the defendant tenant as shoe manufacturer, and that the premises have not deteriorated during the occupancy by the willful or negligent conduct of the lessee. These findings will not be disturbed unless shown to be plainly wrong. The evidence was oral, and the presiding justice saw the witnesses, and had the opportunity to test by his own observation the weight to which each was entitled. Without resting upon this ground, however, the finding appears upon the record to have been fully warranted. It is obvious that the building of the petitioner at the time it was leased was ill adapted for economical use in connection with the defendant's other factory without the making of some changes. There was evidence tending to show a discussion between the landlord and tenant as to these necessary changes, in which the former refused to bear any expense in that connection and gave the tenant to understand that he had no opposition to any changes it desired to make at its own expense. He knew of the alterations at the time they were made, and offered no objection respecting them until the lapse of more than four years. This evidence not only justified but almost compelled a finding that the petitioner agreed to the making of whatever reasonable adaptations of the building to its needs the tenant chose at its own cost. The alterations, although sufficient to constitute waste in the absence of assent from the landlord, were not very extensive nor expensive. Under these circumstances he cannot now ask to have the premises put in the same condition as they were at the time of the beginning of the defendant's occupancy.

In accordance with the terms of the report, let the entry be:

Petition dismissed.

To continue reading

Request your trial
8 cases
  • Walker v. Rednalloh Co.
    • United States
    • United States State Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts Supreme Court
    • March 3, 1938
    ...of the lessors, who interposed no objection thereto, must be taken to have been consented to by them. Pfister & Vogel Co. v. Fitzpatrick Shoe Co., 197 Mass. 277, 278, 83 N.E. 878. The defendant's consent to such alterations was not obtained. We think that the agreement for substantial alter......
  • Lamonica v. Bosenberg
    • United States
    • New Mexico Supreme Court
    • February 3, 1964
    ...be taken to have been consented to by the landlord. Walker v. Rednalloh Co., 299 Mass. 591, 13 N.E.2d 394; Pfister & Vogel Co. v. Fitzpatrick Shoe Co., 197 Mass. 277, 278, 83 N.E. 878. The cases generally hold that where, as here, the alterations were made with the landlord's knowledge and ......
  • Cawley v. Jean
    • United States
    • United States State Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts Supreme Court
    • June 17, 1914
    ... ... J. L. Mott Iron ... Works, 207 Mass. 501, 93 N.E. 798; Pfister & Vogel ... Co. v. Fitzpatrick Shoe Co., 197 Mass. 277, 83 N.E. 878 ... ...
  • Perry v. J.L. Mott Iron Works Co.
    • United States
    • United States State Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts Supreme Court
    • January 6, 1911
    ... ... unless some provision of the lease gives this right ... Pfister & Vogel Co. v. Fitzpatrick, 197 Mass. 277, ... 83 N.E. 878. It is plain ... ...
  • Request a trial to view additional results

VLEX uses login cookies to provide you with a better browsing experience. If you click on 'Accept' or continue browsing this site we consider that you accept our cookie policy. ACCEPT