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7 Teiss. 422

Roth v. Fabian

Louisiana Court of Appeal

Decided May 16, 1910

Louisiana Court of Appeal · decided 1910-05-16

Relies on Standard Brewing Co. v. Anderson

Decided 1910-05-16

DUFOUR, J.

¶1This is a suit coupled with a provisional seizure for the full amount of rent for the term of the lease, with attorneys’ fees, based on the claim that the failure to pay one rent note at maturity, matured the whole obligation.

¶2It appears that for seven years past the defendant had been the plaintiff’s lessee, and that the custom had arisen between them that the rent should not be exacted at maturity, but could be paid within reasonable delay thereafter.

¶3Relying upon this, Fabian did not promptly pay the rent due October 15th, and, on November 4th, Roth made written demand for the same, and, on November 8th, he placed the matter in the hands of counsel for collection.

¶4Just before the filing of the suit, Fabian offered to pay Roth’s attorney the one month’s rent, with interest and fee; this was refused. During the course of the litigation, each month’s rent was deposited in the registry of the court as it accrued.

¶5It is urged as a defense that the rent had been retained by the lessee in order to repair the cistern, or otherwise secure the proper water supply, should the lessor fail to do so, and though the lessor subsequently did the work, the lessee did not know whether or not he would do so.

¶6The fact is proved, and the lessee was justified in his action.

¶7R. C. C., Art. 2694.

¶8In 121 La. 935, the Supreme Court said:

“This Court has not heretofore had occasion to *424apply this principle in any case of lease, but the Court of Appeal for the Parish of Orleans has had occasion to do so.
May 16, 1910.Rehearing refused May 30, 1910.Writ denied by Supreme Court July 1, 1910.

¶9‘ ‘ In the case of Bacas vs. Mandot, 3 Ct. of App. 324, the Court said:

“When a lessor, month after month, has, without objection or protest, accepted the rental a few days after the maturity of the notes, he cannot, without previous notice to his tenant, claim the forfeiture of the lease, we concur in these views. ’ ’

¶10The facts of this case bring it within the scope of the decision and of the article of the Code just cited.

¶11The judgment in favor of plaintiff for the amount deposited in court by defendant, and further dissolving the writ, with attorneys’ fees, is correct.

¶12Affirmed.

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