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4 No. 74
Signature Realty, Inc.,
Appellant,
v.
Tim Tallman, doing business as Tallman's Tire and Auto Service,
Respondent.


2004 NY Int. 80

June 3, 2004

This memorandum is uncorrected and subject to revision before publication in the New York Reports.

Richard L. Wolfe, for appellant.
Robert K. Hilton, III, for respondent.



MEMORANDUM:

The order of the Appellate Division, insofar as appealed from, should be reversed, with costs, and the case remitted to Supreme Court for further proceedings in accordance with this memorandum.

As we recently stated in R/S Assoc. v New York Job Devel. Auth. (98 2 29, 32 [2002]), “when parties set down their agreement in a clear, complete document, their writing should as a rule be enforced according to its terms” ( see also Reiss v Financial Performance Corp., , 97 NY2d 195, 198 2001], quoting W.W.W. Assoc. v Giancontieri, , 77 NY2d 157, 162 [1990]). Nothing in the parties' agreement limits the commission to the initial lease period. On the contrary, an option to renew a lease for three five-year periods, as provided for in the subject lease, would fall within the broad category of “a lease, rental arrangement or other occupancy,” unambiguously requiring payment of 10 percent of the rent over the period of occupancy.

Given that plaintiff did not cross-move for summary judgment, this Court is not empowered to grant it summary relief ( see Merritt Hill Vineyards Incorp. v Windy Heights Vineyard, Inc., , 61 NY2d 106, 110-111 [1984]).

Order, insofar as appealed from, reversed, with costs, and case remitted to Supreme Court, Oneida County, for further proceedings in accordance with the memorandum herein. Chief Judge Kaye and Judges Smith, Ciparick, Rosenblatt, Graffeo, Read and Smith concur.

Decided June 3, 2004