338 So. 2d 968

Franklin PAUL v. Cecelia ADAMS.

No. 7609.

Court of Appeal of Louisiana, Fourth Circuit.

Oct. 13, 1976.

*969Gordon R. Cain, New Orleans, for plaintiff-appellee.

Charles H. White, New Orleans, for defendant-appellant.

Before SAMUEL, REDMANN and SCHOTT, JJ.

SAMUEL, Judge.

The defendant appeals from a judgment evicting her from certain business premises in the City of New Orleans.

Possession of the premises is the sole issue presented in this court. Both litigants have informed us the leased premises were totally destroyed by fire during the penden-cy of this appeal.

Appellant was occupying the premises under a written lease for a term beginning June 1,1975 and ending May 31,1977. The lease contained a provision to the effect that the lease terminated if the premises were destroyed beyond repair by fire or other casualty. Thus, if the lease is viable and defendant had a right of occupancy thereunder, she no longer has such right because the lease has come to an end.

There is some question concerning the viability of the lease because of the fact that the plaintiff appears to be a new owner who purchased the property prior to the registration of the lease. However, this does not change the fact that whatever right of occupancy the defendant may have had was lost by the admitted total destruction of the premises. When there is no lease agreement to the contrary Civil Code Article 2728 and Civil Code Article 2697, the latter here in pertinent part, are applicable. They provide:

“It [the lease] is also dissolved by the loss of the thing leased.” LSA-C.C. Art. 2728. “If, during the lease, the thing be totally destroyed by an unforseen [unforeseen] event, or it be taken for a purpose of public utility, the lease is at an end.” LSA-C.C. Art. 2697.

Thus, as appellant no longer has any right of occupancy and therefore cannot now be placed in possession, any change in the trial court judgment would serve no purpose nor have any practical legal effect. Accordingly, the appeal must be dismissed as moot.1 While some claim for damages may survive termination of the lease in suit, no such claim is presented to us by this appeal.

For the reasons assigned, the appeal in this matter is dismissed; all costs in this court are to be paid by the appellant.

APPEAL DISMISSED.

Paul v. Adams
338 So. 2d 968

Case Details

Name
Paul v. Adams
Decision Date
Oct 13, 1976
Citations

338 So. 2d 968

Jurisdiction
Louisiana

References

Referencing

Nothing yet... Still searching!

Referenced By

Nothing yet... Still searching!