Cofran v. Shepard

Landlord and Tenant ■— Lease — Tenants in Common — Tenancy at Will — Tenant at Sufferance — Rent—Parties to Action — Misjoinder. A tenant in common of premises and a lessee thereof under a valid written lease cannot join in an action to recover rent from a tenant at sufferance, whose tenancy at will was terminated by the lease.

Contract by Smith W. Cofran and Elizabeth L. B. Stearns, for the rent of certain premises from July 21, 1886, to October 6, 1886. The case was submitted to the Superior Court, and, after judgment for the plaintiffs, to this court, on appeal, on an agreed statement of facts, in substance as follows. The premises in question are owned by Mary Leman and the plaintiff Stearns jointly. Leman and Stearns, on June 1, 1886, let the premises to the defendant, as a tenant at will, at ten dollars per month, payable at the end of each month. On July 22, 1886, Leman, without the knowledge of Stearns, but with her subsequent assent, executed and delivered a written lease of the premises for one year to the plaintiff Cofran. Cofran immediately notified the defendant of the lease, and to quit said premises without delay, and subsequently brought an action against the defendant to recover possession thereof. On October 6, 1886, Cofran was nonsuited in that action, the written lease to him was cancelled, and another lease of the premises was given by Leman and Stearns to Amos U. Shepard. The defendant occupied the premises until October 29, 1886, and paid no rent. Leman and Stearns have obtained judgment against the defendant for the use and occupation of the premises during June, 1886.' If the plaintiffs could maintain this action jointly, judgment was to be entered for the plaintiffs for twenty-five dollars.