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21 Pa. 455

Peters v. Grubb

Supreme Court of Pennsylvania

Decided September 7, 1853

Supreme Court of Pennsylvania · decided 1853-09-07

<p>1. In a lease of a furnace and grist and saw mill, the lessor promised and agreed “ to protect” the lessee, &o., “ in the use and enjoyment" of the premises, and “ to warrant and defend the premises to him and them against the claims or interruption or molestation of any person or persons whomsoever, so that the said lessee shall suffer no loss from any defect of title of the lessors to the premises:” Meld, that this was a covenant for quiet enjoyment and also of warranty.</p> <p>2. The covenant for quiet enjoyment embraced an adverse claim to the use of the water of the stream made on the part of The Commonwealth, as it would have protected against claims on the part of private persons.</p> <p>8. The water of the stream having been taken for the temporary use of the Pennsylvania Oanal by the officers of the Commonwealth, the original entry under its right of eminent domain having been made years prior to the lease in question, the case of Dobbins v. Brown, 2 Jones 75, was not applicable, and such taking was a breach of the covenant for quiet enjoyment.</p> <p>4. Parol evidence as to the time when the contest commenced between the Commonwealth and the then owner as to the right to the water, and the’ acts and declarations of the parties in reference thereto, was admissible, in order to aid in the construction of the lease; and it was proper to submit to the jury the question whether the parties to the lease had in view the claim of the state to the use of the stream.</p> <p>5. The right to the water was demised by the lease of the furnace and mills, it being necessary to the enjoyment of the estate.</p> <p>6. It was not incumbent on the tenants to whom the lessees had assigned the residue of the term and who were in possession when the interruption took place, to show that they were evicted from the premises or wholly deprived of the use of the water by the officers of the Commonwealth; the covenant for quiet enjoyment was broken by a partial deprivation by the lawful act of a paramount claimant, and the assignees were entitled to have the rent apportioned or extinguished according to the extent of their injury.</p>

Good law ✅— No negative treatment on recordhow we know

Decided 1853-09-07

How this case has been cited

Cited by 4 later decisions — most recently January 1935

1 federal appellate · 3 state decisions

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¶1The opinion of the Court was delivered, by

Knox, J.

¶2— Upon a careful examination of this record, we are satisfied that the cause was properly tried by the Court below, and that the errors assignee^ have not been sustained. The covenant in the lease is alike for quiet enjoyment and of warranty, and must be held to embrace all existing antagonistical claims, whether upon the part of the Commonwealth or of private persons.

¶3Had the original entry of the state, under her right of eminentdomain, been subsequent to the date of the lease, the case of Dobbins v. Brown, 2 Jones 75, so much relied upon by the defendants, might have ruled this case in their favor. But such is not the fact. The works of the Commonwealth, for the purpose of drawing off the water to be used in feeding the canal, were erected as early as 1834, and from that time up to the date of the lease the canal commissioners and their subordinate officers claimed, and to some extent exercised the right of using the water when necessary for the public works. Gamber contested this claim, alleging that his was the better right to the exclusive use of the water. Under these circumstances it can scarcely be doubted, that the covenant in the lease for quiet enjoyment, was intended by the parties to protect against this claim upon the part of the Commonwealth.

¶4After having received parol evidence to prove the time when the dispute commenced, and the acts and declarations of the parties in reference thereto, the judge below submitted the question to the jury to determine whether the parties to the lease had in view the claim of the state to interrupt the occupant in the use of the water, and made the contract with a view to that. If so, the Court was of the opinion, that the covenant for quiet enjoyment, in the *466lease, was broad enough to protect the tenant or his assignee, and to render the lessors responsible for the damages sustained by reason of such interruption.

¶5The reception of the evidence to aid in the construction or interpretation of the lease, was clearly right; and if there was error in submitting to the jury the question of the intent of the parties, the defendants have no just cause of complaint, as, in the opinion of this Court, the intent might have been inferred as matter of law.

¶6That the right to the water was demised needs neither argument or authority to demonstrate, as it was just as necessary to the enjoyment of the estate as the buildings or machinery.

¶7It was likewise unnecessary to establish that the plaintiffs were evicted from the premises and wholly deprived of the use of the water. The covenant for quiet enjoyment was broken when a partial deprivation ensued from the lawful acts of a paramount claimant.

¶8This view of the case disposes, substantially, of all of the assignments of error.

¶9Judgment affirmed.

¶10Woodward, J., and Lowrie, J., dissented.

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