Gardiner v. William S. Butler & Company/Opinion of the Court

United States Supreme Court

245 U.S. 603

Gardiner  v.  William S. Butler & Company

 Argued: Dec. 18, 1917. --- Decided: Feb 4, 1918

This case comes here upon the report of a master asking the Court to decide whether two claims are provable. The first is upon a lease made by the petitioner to William S. Butler & Company. Receivers were appointed for the William S. Butler & Company corporation on November 7, 1912. At that time the winding up of the company was not contemplated by the bill or decree, but the object was to preserve the good will and pay the debts. On October 1, 1913, the petitioner entered, and on December 1, 1913, presented his proof of claims. The lease contained a clause similar to that in the lease of Wm. Filene's Sons Co., just considered (245 U.S. 597, 38 Sup. Ct. 211, 62 L. Ed. --), providing that in case of reentry the lessee should pay to the lessor the difference between the rental value and the rent and other payments required for the residue of the term. The claim was for rent up to the time of r entry and for damages for the later period. It was rejected by the courts below upon the same grounds as in the former case. 230 Fed. 1021, 144 C. C. A. 663. This decision, like the other, must be reversed.

The second claim is upon a lease by Russell to the same company of which Gardiner had purchased the reversion. In substance it is for damages similar to those held allowable under the former lease, but simply on the ground that the petitioner has lost the benefit of his bargain from the time of his reentry, the lease not containing any clause stipulating for such an allowance. Of course there are plausible analogies for the contention. But the law as to leases is not a matter of logic in vacuo; it is a matter of history that has not forgotten Lord Coke. Massachusetts has followed the English tradition and we believe that it is the general understanding in that State that in the absence of statute or express contract a lessor who has terminated a lease and evicted the tenant has no further claim against the lessee. Sutton v. Goodman, 194 Mass. 389, 395, 80 N. E. 608; Central Trust Co. v. Chicago Auditorium Association, 240 U.S. 581, 590, 36 Sup. Ct. 412, 60 L. Ed. 811, L. R. A. 1917B, 580. Upon this claim the decree below is affirmed.

Decree reversed.

Mr. Justice BRANDEIS took no part in the decision of this case.

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