S & S Development Co. v. Pants Galore Stores, Inc. , 63 Mich. App. 394 ( 1975 )

Quinn, J.

Plaintiffs complaint was filed August 30, 1973. It sought damages for the alleged repudiation of a lease by defendants on August 15, 1973. Defendants filed an answer, counterclaim, and a motion for summary judgment on October 12, 1973. The motion for summary judgment was granted by order dated and filed November 5,1973 and plaintiffs complaint was dismissed. Judgment also entered in favor of defendants on their counterclaim for the amount of their security deposit. Plaintiff appeals and we affirm.

The lease was executed March 19, 1973 for a term of five years commencing August 1, 1973. The lease required plaintiff to deliver the premises for occupancy no later than August 15, 1973. In answer, defendants alleged as an affirmative defense that the premises were not ready for occupancy in accordance with the terms of the lease. This allegation stood unrefuted on October 31, 1973, the date defendants’ motion for summary judgment was heard. It supported defendants’ claim under GCR 1963, 117.2(1), that plaintiff had failed to state a claim upon which relief could be granted, and it also supported defendants’ right to a return of their security deposit.

In their answer, defendants also pleaded as an affirmative defense the refusal of plaintiff to mitigate damages by accepting defendants as its tenants pursuant to defendants’ offer of October 2, 1973. Defendants’ reliance on this affirmative defense at the argument on the motion for summary judgment and on appeal is confusing, but it does not alter the fact that the pleadings at the time of the hearing on the motion for summary judgment established justification for the alleged repudiation by defendants.

Further confusion is created by subsequent proceedings. November 7, 1973, plaintiff moved to set aside the order of dismissal and the judgment in favor of defendants on their counterclaim on the basis of lack of notice of hearing on the motion for summary judgment. This motion was originally praeciped for October 23, 1973. Plaintiff had notice of this hearing as is indicated by its counsel’s letter to defense counsel and dated October 25, 1973. By letter dated October 24, 1973, defense counsel advised plaintiff’s counsel that the motion was adjourned to October 31, 1973. An affidavit of mailing this letter is attached. Additionally, an affidavit of defense counsel alleges that the adjournment of the original hearing was by telephone agreement between counsel, and that in the same telephone conversation, defense counsel advised plaintiff’s counsel that the motion would be repraeciped for October 31, 1973. This praecipe is in the file. Plaintiff did not appear on October 31, 1973, and after a hearing, defendants’ motion was granted.

Plaintiff’s motion of November 7, 1973 was noticed for hearing and was praeciped for November 14, 1973. The file contains no order with respect to this motion, but the docket entry for November 14, 1973 indicates the motion was denied.

November 26, 1973, plaintiff moved for reconsideration of defendants’ motion for summary judgment. This motion was based on the files and records of this cause and on a proposed amended complaint. The amended complaint was not timely, GCR 1963, 118.1, nor was leave of court to file it obtained. This motion was noticed for December 5, 1973 and praeciped for the same date. It was repraeciped six times, the final date being February 6, 1974. On the latter date, counsel appeared but the matter was put over pending the filing of legal memoranda. At this same time, plaintiff apparently submitted a second amended complaint and a conclusionary affidavit of a partner of plaintiff. The second amended complaint was in violation of GCR 1963, 118.1, and was filed April 4, 1974 along with the affidavit above referred to. On April 4, 1974, plaintiff also filed an answer to the motion for summary judgment and an answer to defendants’ counterclaim. September 17, 1974, an order entered denying the motion for reconsideration.

If plaintiff had filed a timely answer to defendants’ counterclaim refuting the allegation that plaintiff had failed to deliver occupancy in accordance with the terms of the lease, or had filed a timely amended complaint stating the claim upon which relief could be granted, or had obtained leave of court to file such an amended complaint, the other issues raised would be considered. By ignoring rule requirements, these issues are not preserved.

Affirmed with costs to defendants.