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German Masonic Temple Assn. v. City of N.Y

Court of Appeals of the State of New York
Jan 10, 1939
279 N.Y. 452 (N.Y. 1939)

Opinion

Argued December 5, 1938

Decided January 10, 1939

Appeal from the Supreme Court, Appellate Division, First Department.

Eugene Cohn for appellant. William C. Chanler, Corporation Counsel ( Sol Charles Levine, Arthur A. Segall and Charles H. Birdsall of counsel), for respondents.



Since the material allegations of the complaint are constructively admitted, there is no issue of fact and a declaratory judgment may appropriately be directed. ( Dun Bradstreet, Inc., v. City of New York, 276 N.Y. 198.)

We think that on the facts alleged by the pleading the plaintiff is not within the exemption for "those charitable and religious institutions which are supported wholly or in part by public subscriptions or endowment and are not organized or operated for profit." (Local Law No. 29, 1935 [§ 1, ¶ [h], § 2] and Local Law No. 31, 1936 [§ 1, ¶ [h], § 2] of City of New York.) Concededly the plaintiff association is operated for profit. It is not enough that all its profits are devoted to the maintenance of an asylum which is purely charitable in character. The exemption does not extend to such a situation.

The judgments dismissing the complaint should be reversed and judgment directed for the defendants in accordance with this opinion, with costs in all courts.

CRANE, Ch. J., LEHMAN, LOUGHRAN, FINCH and RIPPEY, JJ., concur; O'BRIEN and HUBBS, JJ., taking no part.

Judgment accordingly.


Summaries of

German Masonic Temple Assn. v. City of N.Y

Court of Appeals of the State of New York
Jan 10, 1939
279 N.Y. 452 (N.Y. 1939)
Case details for

German Masonic Temple Assn. v. City of N.Y

Case Details

Full title:GERMAN MASONIC TEMPLE ASSOCIATION OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK, Appellant, v…

Court:Court of Appeals of the State of New York

Date published: Jan 10, 1939

Citations

279 N.Y. 452 (N.Y. 1939)
18 N.E.2d 657

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