Case Name: Henry H. Gee, Resp't v. Hiram J. Torrey et al., App'lts
Court: New York Supreme Court, General Term
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1894-04-12
Citations: 59 N.Y. St. Rep. 421
Docket Number: 
Parties: Henry H. Gee, Resp’t v. Hiram J. Torrey et al., App’lts.
Judges: 
Reporter: New York State Reporter
Volume: 59
Pages: 421–424

Head Matter:
Henry H. Gee, Resp’t v. Hiram J. Torrey et al., App’lts.
(Supreme Court, General Term, Fifth Department,
Filed April 12, 1894.)
Limitation—Commencement op action—Mechanic’s lien.
Section 3 the Code applies to a proceeding to foreclose a mechanic’s lien under tne Act of 1880, and it will be deemed to commence when notice is delivered to the sheriff for service.
Appeal from a judgment in favor of plaintiff.
Frederick II. Church, for app’lts; Rufus Scoot, for resp’t.

Opinion:
Haight, J.
— This action or special proceeding—whichever it may be—was brought or commenced to foreclose a lien given by chapter 440 of the Laws of 1880, known as the "Oil Well Mechanic's Lien Act." The plaintiff had erected for the defendants a derrick to be used for the drilling of an oil well upon their lands. On the 31st day of May, 1883, and within sixty days after completing the work, the plaintiff filed a notice of lien, under which he acquired a valid lien, under the act. Within six months after filing such notice of lien, the plaintiff delivered to the sheriff, for service, a notice containing a statement of the facts constituting his claim, and the amount thereof, on the property of the defendants, and requiring them to appear, in person or by attorney, within thirty days and answer the same, or in default thereof, that he would take judgment against them for the amount claimed to be due, etc. This notice was served on the defendant Hiram J. Torrey, December 1, 1883, and on the defendant, Horace Davis, December 10, 1883, the first service being one day after the expiration of six months from the filing of the notice of the lien. The defendants, in their answer, set up the six-months statute of limitation provided for,in § 10 of the act. The-provision is as follows:
"Every lien created under the provisions .of this act shall continue until the expiration of six months from the time of filing the notice prescribed in the second section .of this act, unless sooner discharged by the court or some legal act of the claimant in the proceedings; but if within such period of six months proceedings are commenced to enforce or foreclose snch lien, then such lien shall continue until judgment shall be rendered thereon, and for one year thereafter. Such lien shall also continue during the pendency of an appeal, and for one year after the determination thereof."
It will be observed that the provisions of this section do not designate or specify what shall be deemed a commencement of proceedings. Controversy has arisen as to whether the remedy provided by this act was an action or a special proceeding; but, under the view taken by us, it is unimportant, so far as the determination of the question under consideration is concerned. In the section quoted the word "proceedings" is used, while in ofher sections the word "action" is usedj and, after issue is joined, the provision is to the effect that the case shall be governed and tried in all respects as upon issues joined and judgment rendered in other actions arising on money demands upon contracts. We recognize -much force in the argument that under these provisions the remedy provided is by an action, and that the word "proceedings," used in the' provisions of the section quoted, was used through inadvertence, and without intent to change the remedy from an action to a special proceeding. But passing this question, for a consideration of the one involved, we find that under the provisions of § 5 the owner of the lien, if the claim exceeds $50, may— " Bring an action in the supreme court in the county in which the property is situated, or in the county court of said county, to enforce such lien, which action shall be commenced, and the proceedings therein conducted, and judgment entered, in the same-manner and to the same effect as in actions brought in said courts to enforce liens provided by chapter 402 of the Laws of 1854, and the several acts amending the same."
By § 6 of chapter 402 of the Laws of 1854 it is provided that such action— " Shall be commenced by serving a notice containing a statement of the facts constituting the claim, and the amount thereof, on the owner of the property "or his agent, requiring the said owner to appear in person or by attorney within thirty days after such service and answer the same, and serve a copy of such answer, together1 with a notice of any set-off that he may have, on the claimant or his attorney, or, in default thereof, that the claimant will take judgment against the said owner for the amount claimed to be due for the labor performed or the material furnished, with interest thereon, and costs."
Section 399 of the Code of Civil Procedure provides that:
" An attempt to commence an action in a court of record is equivalent to the commencement thereof against each defendant within the meaning of each provision of this act which limits the time for commencing an action, when the summons is delivered, with the intent that it shall be actually served, to the sheriff," etc.
The question is as to whether this provision of the Code applies to the notice authorized by the statute referred to. It is said that these provisions of the Code apply to actions only. It is true that the word " action," only, is used; but it is a part of the provisions of chapter 4, tit. 3, of the Code. The concluding clause of subdivision 4 of § 414 of the same chapter and title provides that:
" The word ' action ' contained in this chapter is to be construed, when it is necessary so to do, as including a special proceeding or any proceeding therein, or in an action."
Under this provision, we are authorized to construe the word " action " as also meaning " special proceeding." But an action is ordinarily commenced by summons. Special proceedings may be instituted by summons, petition, or notice. Giving to the word " action " the broader meaning provided for, section 399 must be understood as providing an attempt to commence an action or a special proceeding in a court of record is equivalent to the commencement thereof against each defendant, within the meaning of the provision of this act which limits the time for commencing an action when the summons, or the instrument upon which the special proceedings are founded, is delivered, with the intent that it shall be actually served, to the sheriff.
Again, it is contended that under § 414 of the Code the provisions of the mechanic's lien act are excepted from the provisions of the chapter of which § 399 is a part. We do not so understand it. It is as follows :
" The provisions of this chapter apply and constitute the only rules of limitation applicable to a civil action or special proceeding, except in one of the following cases: (1) A case where a different limitation is specially prescribed by law."
The mechanic's lien act, as we have seen, has a different limitation specially prescribed. It is therefore within the provisions of the exception. But, were it not for its exception, its different limitation would have been repealed by implication, for the provisions of this chapter constitute the only rules of limitation applicable to a civil action or special proceeding. But the exception preserves the different limitation, and the meaning of the section is the same as if it read: " The provisions of this chapter, and the-cases in which a different limitation is specially prescribed by law, constitute the only rules of limitation applicable to a civil action or special proceeding." As thus understood, the limitation of the mechanic's lien act is preserved; and, if so, it appears to us that § 399 of the Code applies, and the delivery of the notice to the sheriff for service within the six months must be deemed equiva ient to the commencement of the action or proceedings, under the provisions of § 10 of the statute referred to. This view makes the practice uniform, and is in accord with the result reached in Hammond v. Shephard, 50 Hun, 318; 19 St. Rep. 818. The judgment should be affirmed, with costs.
All concur.