Allen v. Montgomery , 25 Ga. App. 817 ( 1920 )

Stephens, J.

1. This was a proceeding by a landlord to dispossess his tenant, upon the ground that there was a tenancy at will and that the tenant had, by the landlord, been given sixty-days’ notice, as required by the statute, of an intention on the part of the landlord to terminate the tenancy. The sole question for our determination is whether or not the tenant, when the landlord sought to dispossess him, held as a tenant at will or under an unexpired lease for a year. The tenant had rented the premises under a written lease for a “ term of twelve months commencing on the 1st day of April, 1918, and ending on the 31st day of March, 1919.” This lease had already expired, and the tenant was, at the time the landlord sought to dispossess him, living on the premises under either an express or an implied renewal of this lease, or under a separate and distinct agreement for another year, or as a tenant at will. If the tenancy was at will the tenant was properly dispossessed; but if the tenancy was for a year, either under a renewal of the old lease or under a new contract for a year, the tenant was, since his term had not expired, improperly dispossessed.

The evidence shows that on the 11th day of April, 1919, after the expiration of the lease which expired on the 31st day of March, 1919, the tenant remained in possession and paid to the agent of the landlord as rent for the said month of April the amount stipulated in the lease as the monthly rental for the premises, which amount was accepted by the agent, who, as is inferable from the evidence, was acting for the landlord. Such acceptance of rent by the landlord amounted to a consent to allow the tenant to remain on the premises as tenant. "If there be a lease for a year and by consent of both parties the tenant continue in possession afterwards, the law implies a tacit renovation of the contract. They are supposed to have renewed the old agreement, which 'wad to hold for a year.” Lord Mansfield in Wright v. Darby, 1 T. R. 161; cited with approval in Roberson v. Simons, 109 Ga. 360, 362 (34 S. E. 604). See also Kennesaw Guano Co. v. Miles, 132 Ga. 763, 770 (64 S. E. 1087); Cavanaugh v. Clinch, 88 Ga. 610 (15 S. E. 673); Ridgway v. Bryant, 8 Ga. App. 564 (70 S. E. 28). The tenant holding for a year under renewal of the original lease can not afterwards be dispossessed as a tenant at will after sixty days’ notice to him by the landlord of a termination of such tenancy.

2. It is contended, however, in behalf of the landlord, that the original lease was invalid and no tenancy for a year was thereby created. The invalidity of the lease is urged upon the ground that the agent of the landlord who executed the lease had no authority to do so, since the lease was a written instrument under seal and there was no authority under seal authorizing the agent to execute it in behalf of the landlord. While it is true that an agent, without authority under seal, can not bind his principal by a contract under seal, yet it is nevertheless true that where a contract does not, for its validity, require a seal, its execution under seal by. an agent without authority under seal does not necessarily render the instrument void as against the principal. If a contract is unnecessarily executed under seal, it may nevertheless be treated as a valid common-law parol contract. If the sealed instrument would have been a valid contract without the seal, and its execution without a seal was within the authority of the agent executing it, its execution under seal will be treated as surplusage. While the contract would, as against the principal, be void as a specialty, it would nevertheless be a good and valid writing by parol. In Drumright v. Philpot, 16 Ga. 424 (60 Am. Dec. 738), it is held: “Where there is a complete execution of his authority by an agent, and something more is added, not warranted, the execution is good for that which is authorized, and the excess only is void.” The court in its opinion says: “It'can not be disputed that an agency) whether general or special and whether conferred in one way or another, unless the contrary manifestly appears, is always construed to include all the usual and necessary means of executing it with effect. [Citations.] And it has been held that an agent, employed to sell a slave, may warrant him to be sound, unless inhibited by the terms of the authority under which he acted. [Citations.] Gouch [the agent], then, was clothed, by implication, with power to warrant the soundness of Becky and her two children. Strike off the seal as being unauthorized, still, the warranty is good.” The court then proceeds to quote from Lord Coke: “Where a man doeth that which he is authorized to do and more, there it is good for that which is warranted, and void for the rest ”; and quotes from Judge Story: “Where there is a complete execution of the authority and something ex abundanti is added,-which is improper, there the execution is good and the excess, only, is void.”

The written lease, therefore, in the instant case — treating the seal as surplusage-—-constituted a simple contract in writing between the landlord and the tenant. It was signed by the agent of the landlord styling himself as agent for his principal, and recited in its body that' it was a contract between the agent by name describing himself as the duly constituted agent for the landlord, and describing the premises leased, which the evidence shows belonged to the principal, and which the agent had general parol authority to rent upon such terms as he thought best. “Contracts not under seal, other than negotiable instruments, require but little observance of mere form. The intention of the parties is the prevailing consideration in the construction of this class of contracts; and the rule is well established that, if the nature and circumstances of the transaction show that the intention was to bind the principal and not the agent, effect will be given to such intention, though the agent signs -in his own name merely.” 1 Am. & Eng. Ency. of Law (2d ed.), 1050, 1051. See 2 C. J. 674; Merchants’ Bank of Macon v. Central Bank of Georgia, 1 Ga. 418 (44 Am. Dec. 665); Cleveland v. Stewart, 3 Ga. 283; Raleigh & Gaston R. Co. v. Pullman Co., 122 Ga. 700, 709 (50 S. E. 1008). This contract, if renewed, continued for another year, and the tenant could not be dispossessed as a tenant at will after sixty days’ notice from his landlord.

The ruling here relied upon, in Drumright v. Philpot, can not be disposed of as being obiter, upon the ground that the decision could have been predicated alone upon the other proposition that a partner, as such, acting under parol authority, or where there is ratification not under seal, may bind the partnership by his act under seal. Since the court'predicated its decision upon both of these propositions, neither one of the propositions can be regarded as obiter. 26 Am. & Eng. Ency. of Law (2d ed.), 171. As a matter of fact, the court seemed to rely with more confidence upon the proposition that since it was not essential to the validity of the transaction to execute the contract under seal, the seal would be treated as surplusage and the partner regarded as a mere agent for the partnership, who, if acting under parol authority, or' if there was ratification of his act not under seal, could bind the partnership by-the instrument treated as a simple contract. See 16 Ga. 431. Also see paper by A. H. Davis on "Sealed Instruments,” 5 Ga. Bar Asso. R. (1888), 171, 174-5. For authorities holding that a partner is an agent for the partnership, see Story on Partnership, 1; 30 Cyc. 477; Merchants & Farmers Bank v. Johnston, 130 Ga. 661, 664 (61 S. E. 543, 17 L. R. A. (N. S.) 969, 14 Ann. Cas. 546).

The original common-law rule that a seal is essential to the validity of a writing is medieval nonsense, and should have no place in modern jurisprudence. Chief Justice Lumpkin condemned it in his opinion in Drumright v. Philpot, with the statement that it had been repudiated by both Lord Mansfield and Chief Justice Marshall. The decision in Drumright v. Philpot was an effort to break away from what Chief Justice Lumpkin there characterized as a "threadbare technicality.” See also his opinion in Lowe v. Morris, 13 Ga. 147. The doctrine of Drum-right v. Philpot is in accordance with the weight of authority in America, and seems also to be the law in England. See Papley v. Butterfield, 1 Metcalf (Mass. 1840), 515 (35 Am. Dec. 374); Wagoner v. Watts, 44 N. J. L. 126; Edwards v. Dillon, 147 Ill. 14 (37 Am. St. Rep. 199), and cases there cited; 52 L. R. A. (N. S.). 510, note; 1 Am. & Eng. Ency. of Law (2d ed.), 953; 2 C. J. 458; 1 Mechem on Agency (2d ed.), § 215; Story on Agency (8th ed.), § 49; 30 Cyc. 487, and cases cited; Hunter v. Parker, 7 Meeson & Welsby, 322; Bowstead on Agency (6th ed., London), 40 et seq.; Merchant v. Morton (1901, 2 K. B. 829); Lindley on Partnership (8th ed.), 173.

We are not unmindful of the decisions of the Supreme Court subsequent to Drumright v. Philpot, supra, which hold contrary to the doctrine of that case. In Rowe v. Ware, 30 Ga. 278, the Supreme Court, in holding that' the authority of an agent to execute a contract under seal must be conferred upon the 'agent by an instrument under seal, also held that, even though a seal was not essential to the validity of the contract, the seal can not be disregarded and treated as surplusage. Judge Linton Stephens, in speaking for the court in that case, said: “But it was said that the bond need not have been under seal, though in point of fact it was so, and therefore the seal might be disregarded. Not so. The question was, whether Taylor had authority to sign the names of Hooks and Herndon to this bond as it is—■ sealed as it is. Whether a bond without a seal (to use for convenience a short but inaccurate phrase) would be valid has nothing to do with the case. If Taylor ever signed such .an one, we know nothing of it. Was he legally authorized to sign the bond? is the question. He was not, and therefore this bond does not bind them.” This case, which made no reference to Drumright v. Philpot, has been followed with approval in subsequent decisions of the Supreme Court, none of which review or question the ruling in Drumright v. Philpot. See Pollard v. Gibbs, 55 Ga. 45; Overman v. Atkinson, 102 Ga. 750 (29 S. E. 758); Van Dyke v. Van Dyke, 123 Ga. 686 (51 S. E. 582); Brandon v. Pritchett, 126 Ga. 286 (55 S. E. 241, 7 Ann. Cas. 1093); Lynch v. Poole, 138 Ga. 303 (75 S. E. 158); Neely v. Stevens, 138 Ga. 305 (75 S. E. 159); Hayes v. City of Atlanta, 1 Ga. App. 25 (57 S. E. 1087); Dalton Buggy Co. v. Wood, 7 Ga. App. 477 (67 S. E. 121). The decision in Drumright v. Philpot was rendered by a full bench, and has never been overruled. See references thereto in Barclay v. Hopkins, 59 Ga. 562; Colquitt v. Smith, 76 Ga. 709; Strong v. West, 110 Ga. 383 (35 S. E. 693); Smith v. Farmers Mutual Ins. Asso., 111. Ga. 787 (36 S. E. 957); Merchants & Farmers Bank v. Johnston, 130 Ga. 661 (61 S. E. 543, 17 L. R. A. (N. S.) 969, 14 Ann. Cas. 546). Not being overruled, it therefore, under the peculiar rule obtaining in this State, speaks with the full force effect of a statute, and is not superseded by subsequent rulings in conflict with it. Civil Code (1910), § 6307; Calhoun v. Cawley, 104 Ga. 335 (30 S. E. 773); Sheppard, v. Bridges, 137 Ga. 615, 626 (74 S. E. 245). The act of the legislature, approved December 9, 1858 (Ga. L. 1858, p. 74), giving statutory force and effect to full-bench decisions of the Supreme Court, was passed prior to the decision of Rowe v. Ware, 30 Ga. 378, supra. The provision in the Civil Code of 1895, § 5588 (also Civil Code of 1883, § 317), that a decision concurred in by a full bench of three Justices can not be overruled unless expressly questioned and reviewed and the court in its decision distinctly, states whether it adheres to, overrules, or modifies such decision, has never been repealed. The act of 1896 (Ga. L. 1896, p. 44), reorganizing the Supreme Court after it was increased to six Justices, modified the law as contained in this section, to conform with the new arrangement, but did not repeal the provision therein that a decision by the Supreme Court rendered by a full bench of three Justices can not be overruled unless expressly questioned and reviewed and the court in its decision distinctly states whether it adheres to, overrules, or modifies such decision. Weaver v. Carter, 101 Ga. 206, 207-8. See, in this connection, Strickland v. State, 115 Ga. 222, 226 (41 S. E. 713); Calhoun v. Cawley, 104 Ga. 335, 344 (30 S. E. 773); Adkins v. State, 103 Ga. 5 (1), 12 (30 S. E. 257).

We are, therefore, notwithstanding the later decisions of the Supreme Court, bound by Drumright v. Philpot, since it is the oldest decision and has not been expressly overruled. Interpreting that decision as we do, we hold upon its authority that, since the agent had valid authority to lease the premises for the landlord upon the terms contained in the written lease, it was a good contract for a year, 'as provided therein, although the agent, without authority, executed the lease, under seal. We have come to this conclusion by following the rules laid down in the statutes and in the decisions of the Supreme Court governing the courts in arriving at correct decisions. If we are wrong in our interpretation of Drumright v. Philpot, and in our conclusion as to its force .as authority, the Supreme Court can correct us. We will not, however, rest our decision alone upon its authority.

3. If, however, the lease was invalid as between the landlord and the tenant, there was no renewal implied by law for another year. Was there then in fact a contract of renewal? The evidence warranted 'a finding that on April 11,1919, after the alleged lease had already expired on the 31st day of March preceding, the tenant made to the agent of the landlord a payment to cover the rent for the month of April, in a sum equal to the monthly rental which was stiprdated in the alleged lease, and that accompanying this payment, which was made by check through the mail to the agent, there was inclosed a letter from the tenant to the agent offering to “renew” the alleged lease for another year, the receipt of which letter was never acknowledged. Whether or not there had been a valid lease between the parties for the preceding year, there nevertheless could have been a contract subsequently entered into between the qjarties for another year upon the same terms contained in the invalid lease, whether or not the new contract was properly, or improperly, styled a renewal of the alleged lease. Was there such a contract? If on the 11th day of April, when the tenant sought to renew the alleged lease upon the assumption that it was a valid contract between the parties, there had been no valid lease between the parties for the preceding year, still the payment by the tenant to the landlord, through the latter’s agent, of the rent for April (which, without an express agreement as to payment in advance, was not due until the end of the month of April) constituted, with the tenant’s promise to become a tenant for a year from the 1st of April, a sufficient consideration to support a promise, whether express or implied, by the landlord to “renew” or rent the premises for another year. If the payment thus made by the tenant on the condition contained in the letter was accepted1 by the landlord through his agent, and the tenant was allowed to continue on the premises as tenant, there was created a new lease contract for a year beginning the 1st of April, 1919. The evidence, while conflicting as to the receipt of the letter by the agent, authorized the inference that he did receive it, since he admits receiving the cheek. The evidence authorized the inference that there was a tacit acceptance by the landlord of the tenant’s offer, thus establishing a lease contract for a year between the parties.

The judge of the municipal court of Atlanta, who, without a jury, tried the ease in the first instance, was authorized to hold that the tenant was holding the premises as a tenant for a year and could not be properly dispossessed as a tenant at will. The judge of the superior court therefore erred in sustaining the certiorari and in entering a final judgment dispossessing the tenant.

Judgment reversed.

Jenkins, P. J., concurs. Smith, J., dissents.