Court Opinion

ID: 4932441
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2021-09-24 01:09:44.292638+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:14:32.291943
License: Public Domain

PeteRS, J.
The plaintiff sued out his writ to enforce a lien for materials and labor furnished the schooner Daniel Webster, by virtue of the provisions of R. S., c. 91. Section 9 of the chapter referred to, among other things requires that “ the specification annexed to the writ shall contain a just, true, and particular account of the demand claimed to be due the plaintiff with all just credits.” He annexed to his writ a specification of items due him of about $2,400, and gave a small credit, but omitted’ to credit a further sum of about $18 which should have been credited. Such omission was occasioned through forgetfulness and inadvertency without any intention to deceive or defraud. The error was discovered before trial, and seasonably communicated by the plaintiff to the defendant, who disclaimed any objection on account of it. If the plaintiff should amend so as to credit the sum omitted, then his specification would be just what the statute requires it should be, and his writ will be valid and sufficient. In all-admiralty proceedings amendments are allowed to both libel and answer, where justice requires it, even though the papers to be amended have been sworn to. To require that a specification, such as this, should be literally exact in all respects and under all circumstances, would.be so rigid an interpretation of the statute as to take away from parties in many cases the beneficial purposes for which it was designed. It would require a person to construe *589all questions, both of law and fact, with the utmost correctness at his peril. We think under the circumstances of this case an amendment should be allowed.
In Lynch v. Cronan, 6 Gray, 581, cited by the defendant, the mechanic in his certificate claimed $24.06 ; credited $1, when he should have credited $5. No reason whatever appears why the true credit was not given. The court were divided in the opinion. In Story v. Buffum, 8 Allen, 35, also relied on by the defendant, the builder of a vessel claimed $4,250; declared in his certificate that alargo credit should be given, but credited nothing. The sum which should have been credited proved to be $8,208.69. The plaintiff testified that when he subscribed his statement he knew over $3,200 had been paid, and that he could easily have ascertained the true sum to be credited upon inquiry. The court say he should, at least, have credited the $3,200. These cases are unlike the case at bar. Besides, in the Massachusetts statute there is a provision that the lien shall be dissolved unless the person, seeking to avail himself of it, within four days files in the office oí the town clerk, if personal, and registry of deeds, if real property, a certificate in the language before quoted. Here is a positive condition fixed by statute, which must be complied with to keep a lien effectual. The court could allow no amendment of the original certificates, for they would not be within the control of the court for that or any other purpose. Our statute, so far as relating to a lien upon vessels, has no such or any similar provision.
The plaintiff made oath that in his belief he had a lien on the vessel “ for the amount of his claim.” Is this insufficient where the statute requires that his oath shall declare a lien “for the whole, or a part thereof? ” The whole certainly includes all the parts. The limitation in the oath need be observed only when the party making the oath has any doubt or belief requiring it.

Action to stand for trial with leave to amend.

AppletoN, G. J.; Cutting, WaltoN, Dickerson, and Barrows, JJ., concurred.