Case Name: New York Democrat Publishing Corporation, Appellant, v. "William" T. Laing, First Name Fictitious, etc., Doing Business as the Postal Service, and John Doe, Real Name Unknown to the Plaintiff, Respondents
Court: New York Supreme Court, Appellate Term
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1928-05-02
Citations: 132 Misc. 57
Docket Number: 
Parties: New York Democrat Publishing Corporation, Appellant, v. “William” T. Laing, First Name Fictitious, etc., Doing Business as the Postal Service, and John Doe, Real Name Unknown to the Plaintiff, Respondents.
Judges: 
Reporter: New York Miscellaneous Reports
Volume: 132
Pages: 57–58

Head Matter:
New York Democrat Publishing Corporation, Appellant, v. “William” T. Laing, First Name Fictitious, etc., Doing Business as the Postal Service, and John Doe, Real Name Unknown to the Plaintiff, Respondents.
Supreme Court, Appellate Term, First Department,
May 2, 1928.
Eugene S. Bibb, for the appellant.
George D. Zahm, for the respondents.

Opinion:
Per Curiam.
The services performed by defendant did not
bring him within the provisions of the statute (Lien Law, § 180) giving a person who makes, alters, repairs or in any way enhances the value of an article of personal property a lien thereon. (Brackett v. Pierson, 114 App. Div. 281.) Nor in this replevin action can defendant counterclaim for a balance due which includes charges for services other than those performed in connection with the replevied chattels. (Fleming v. Jackson, 222 App. Div. 296; Carpenter v. Manhattan Life Ins. Co., 93 N. Y. 552.)
Order reversed, with ten dollars costs and disbursements, and motion granted to the extent of striking out the defense and limiting defendant's counterclaim to the work done in connection with the replevied chattels, with leave to defendant to serve an amended answer within six days upon payment of such costs and disbursements.
Lydon and Levy, JJ., concur; Bijur, J., dissents.