George W. Watkins Family v. Messenger

SWANSTROM, Judge.

This dispute concerns the validity of a written lease agreement and the lessee’s liability to the lessor when an assignee of the lease defaults in the payment of rent. Harry Messenger, the lessee, appeals from a district court judgment in favor of the George W. Watkins family, a partnership, and Hope C. Watkins (the lessors). Farmer’s Exchange, Inc., was the assignee of the lease. 1

The issues are whether Hope Watkins’ initialling of changes in the written lease agreement satisfied the signature requirement of the statute of frauds; whether there was consideration given by the…