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71 Me. 62

Ware v. Lithgow

Supreme Judicial Court of Maine

Decided February 16, 1880

Supreme Judicial Court of Maine · decided 1880-02-16

ON EXCEPTIONS. Writ is dated July 21, 1874. The defendant filed a general demurrer to the declaration, which was joined. The presiding judge sustained the demurrer and adjudged the declaration bad, and the plaintiff alleged exceptions.

Relies on Grannis v. Clark · Crouch v. Fowle · Barney v. Keith

Decided 1880-02-16

AttletoN, C. J.

¶1This is an action of covenant broken, for the breach of the covenant for quiet enjoyment. The defendant filed a general demurrer to the declaration which was joined. The presiding justice sustained the demurrer and adjudged the declaration bad.

¶2The declaration sets forth that "the defendant did lease, demise and let unto” the plaintiff, a certain parcel of land situate in said Augusta, &c.

¶3*64Tbe word " demise” in a lease, implies a covenant for quiet enjoyment. This word imports a covenant that the lessor had authority to make a valid lease of the promises. Grannis v. Clark, 8 Cow. 36; and a covenant for the quiet enjoyment of the premises leased. Barney v. Keith, 4 Wend. 502; Crouch v. Fowle, 9 N. H. 219. Though the covenant be an implied one, it may be stated according to its legal effect, Dexter v. Manley, 4 Cush. 14.

¶4The declaration is fatally defective in not setting forth any breach of the covenant for quiet enjoyment. The allegations are, that the defendant leased portions of the premises to certain persons, and sold to another the grass on the remainder. It is nowhere stated that his lessees have entered on the premises leased, or interfered with the plaintiff’s quiet enjoyment of the same, or that the vendee of the grass has cut or carried away any. No eviction is alleged. No tortious interference with any of the plaintiff’s rights is disclosed. Every allegation in the writ may be true, and the plaintiff may have been in the quiet enjoyment of the premises leased.

¶5Exceptions overruled.

Wat,TON, Barrows, .DaNforth, Libbey and Symores, JJ., concurred.
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