Tenhet v. Boswell
Supreme Court of California
554 P.2d 330 (Cal. 1976)
Relevant factsFree
Johnson and Tenhet (plaintiff) owned land together as joint tenants, and Johnson leased the property to Boswell (defendant) but died before the lease term ended. Tenhet demanded that Boswell vacate the property based on Johnson's death, and when Boswell refused, Tenhet sued for a declaratory judgment that the lease had been invalidated.
IssueFree
Whether a lease granted by one joint tenant severs the joint tenancy, or instead expires automatically when that joint tenant dies.