EXTENSION OF A LEASE WITH A MUNICIPALITY WAS RATIFIED BY THE MUNICIPALITY’S ACCEPTANCE OF RENT PAYMENTS (SECOND DEPT).
The Second Department, reversing Supreme Court, determined a cell phone tower lease with a municipality did not expire. An extension of the lease was ratified by the municipality when it continued to accept lease payments after the expiration of the first five-year term:
… [I]n seeking a declaration that the lease expired … , the plaintiffs alleged that the Village’s Board of Trustees … only authorized the lease for a term of five years. Indeed, the resolution provided that “the term of the leases [sic] shall not exceed a period of five (5) years from the date upon which it is executed.” The lease, however, provided that the initial term of the lease “will be five (5) years from the Commencement Date'” … , “and shall automatically renew for up to ten (10) additional terms of five (5) years each.
Verizon and AG separately moved for summary judgment, arguing that the lease did not expire … , because the Village ratified the lease by accepting rental payments, issuing building permits, and granting variance applications in connection with the construction of the cell tower. …
“A contract that is not approved by a relevant municipal or governmental body, as required by law, rule, or regulation, may be ratified by the municipality or government body by subsequent conduct, such as by making payments pursuant to the contract” … . Giunta v AG Towers, Inc., 2018 NY Slip Op 01905, Second Dept 3-21-18
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