Bass v. Boetel & Co.

Bass (plaintiff) leased property to operate a billiards parlor under a lease permitting the landlord to reenter without notice upon default. When Bass fell three months behind on rent, Boetel & Company (defendant), the successor landlord, changed the locks and removed and kept much of Bass's equipment without giving him written notice to quit or serving any legal process. Bass sued for damages to his confiscated equipment; the jury awarded him $12,000, but the trial court gave no specific instructions on how to calculate those damages. Boetel appealed.