Case ID: misc_59/html/0491-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "\n      Per Curiam.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Harry Alexander, Respondent, v. Mary A. Costello, Appellant.
    (Supreme Court, Appellate Term,
    June, 1908.)
    Mechanics’ liens — Foreclosure — Judgment — Rendition of personal judgment — On failure to establish lien — Where no contractual relations exist.
    In an action to foreclose a mechanic’s lien, where the notice of lien is defective and it appears that the lienor was not the person with whom the owner contracted and no contractual relation is established between them, a personal judgment cannot he awarded in favor of the lienor against the owner.
    Appeal by the defendant from a judgment of the Municipal Court of the city of Few York, second district, borough of the Bronx, in favor of plaintiff, upon the direction of a verdict.
    Lawrence E. Brown, for appellant.
    Leidy & Goodstein, for respondent.
   Per Curiam.

The action was brought to foreclose a mechanic’s lien. The notice of lien recites that the “ agreed

price or value ” of the labor performed and materials furnished is $1,175. The validity of the lien cannot be upheld, since this statement in the disjunctive is not in compliance with the law. Siegel v. Ehrshowsky, 46 Misc. Rep. 605. Further, the complaint alleges that the labor was performed and materials furnished at the request of the defendant. The proof fails to support this allegation, but shows that the contract was made with one Thomas Costello, the defendant’s husband, as contractor.' The notice of lien states that the name of the person with whom plaintiff’s contract was made was Thomas F. Costello. The contractor is not joined as a party, and the complaint contains no allegation that any sum was actually due to the contractor. There is no contractual relation established between the owner and the lienor to support a personal judgment; and, as has been shown, the lien is fatally defective.

The judgment must be reversed and a new trial ordered, with costs to the appellant to abide the event.

Present: Gildersleeve, Dayton and Gerard, JJ.

Judgment reversed and new trial ordered, with costs to appellant to abide event.