Case Name: Isaac Sunshine, Appellant, v. Thomas Morgan, Defendant-Respondent, Aaron Fischer, Defendant-Appellant, James Shea, Defendant
Court: New York Supreme Court, Appellate Term
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1902-11
Citations: 39 Misc. 778
Docket Number: 
Parties: Isaac Sunshine, Appellant, v. Thomas Morgan, Defendant-Respondent, Aaron Fischer, Defendant-Appellant, James Shea, Defendant.
Judges: 
Reporter: New York Miscellaneous Reports
Volume: 39
Pages: 778–780

Head Matter:
Isaac Sunshine, Appellant, v. Thomas Morgan, Defendant-Respondent, Aaron Fischer, Defendant-Appellant, James Shea, Defendant.
Appeal by the plaintiff and by the defendant Fischer from a judgment of the Municipal Court of the city of New York, eighth district, borough of Manhattan, in favor of the defendant, in an action to foreclose a mechanic’s lien.
Maas & Goldberg (Victor Goldberg, of counsel), for appellant Sunshine.
Ernest Cheltick, for appellant Fischer.
McCurdy & Yard (John Yard, of counsel), for respondent Morgan.

Opinion:
MacLean, J.
Of the parties defendant, Morgan was the owner and lessor, Shea the lessee, and Fischer a subsequent lienor. Sunshine was the first lienor. In, a lease of certain premises by Morgan, dated September 4, 1901, for a term of five years from November first of that year, Shea agreed, at his cost and expense, to make all repairs, both external and internal, including the roofs and sidewalk, during the term, and in consideration of this covenant and its performance, Shea was given possession on the fourth of September, and had his rent reduced to $400 for the first year. Sunshine and Fischer, under engagement by Shea, did repairing, furnishing material and labor upon the building which had been injured by fire. Judgments have been rendered in their favor against Shea. The question upon this appeal is whether the plaintiff is entitled to a lien upon the premises, as one who has performed labor and furnished material for the improvement of the property with the consent of the owner.
Before the lease was executed, Mr. Shea said that he would have to paint and plaster the building throughout, change partition, flooring and staging, and paint the exterior. ' Mr. Morgan said he wanted to see the plans so that he would know his building was not injured. The plans were submitted and approved. Then, with the plans lying in his desk, Mr. Morgan signed a lease, containing the provision noted above; he wanted to see that the repairs were done properly so as not to have trouble with the department, and hoped everything would go along smoothly, that Shea would go right to work at it and finish it up; but he declined to sign an application to the building department, saying Mr. Shea must make his own repairs himself and pay for them. ' Both lienors had all their transactions with the defendant Shea Neither saw nor had any comm unication with the defendant owner, until after the work was done, excepting that Sunshine, when at work at the premises, saw him, was asked what would be on the wall, and said we will put burlap on the wall. The consent of the owner to the performance of the labor, or the furnishing of material, by either lienor, cannot he spelled out of this. " Mere acquiescence in the erection or alteration with knowledge is not sufficient evidence of the consent which the statute requires. There must he something more. Consent is nqt a vacant or neutral attitude in respect of a question of such material interest to the property owner. It is affirmative in its nature." De Klyn v. Gould, 165 N. Y. 282, 287. Counsel for the appellant here urges that his position is within the ruling in National Wall Paper Co. v. Sire, 163 N. Y. 122. In that case, however, the tenant was under no obligation to make the improvement, and before he engaged the contractor to make, it he conferred with the lessor, exhibited him a specimen room and told him he ought to pay part of it. Moreover, that lessor was in attendance during the progress o.f the work, and frequently expressed his admiration and approval. The claims of both lienors were properly dismissed.
Judgment affirmed, with costs to the respondents.
Freedman, P. J., concurs.