Krenwinkel v. Henne.
Krenwinkel v. Henne.
Opinion of the Court
These two actions, brought for the foreclosure of mechanics’ liens against defendants and appellants, were consolidated in the superior court and tried as one. The liens claimed were for labor done and materials furnished in making certain alterations and improvements in a storeroom in the Henne Building, occupied by Naumann & Sehill, Inc., as tenants of the defendants and appellants, who were the owners.
Each lien claimant was an original contractor, and all the work done and materials furnished was at the instance of said tenants, and without the actual knowledge of appellants. The evidence was conflicting as to the knowledge of the employees of R. A. Rowan & Co., as shown and admitted to be the agent of appellant for the collection of rents and care of the building. Each of these respondents, except Suck, filed two claims, the first one in each ease being filed within sixty days after completion of their contract, and the second within ninety days after completion, but more than sixty days thereafter. No notice of the completion of any of the work was filed in the recorder’s office. Respondent Suck alleged that he was employed by appellants Jane Louise Henne and Jane Louise Henne, as guardian of the person and estate of Christian *582 Henne, a minor, through their agent, Naumann & Schill, Inc., to do certain work and to furnish certain materials. Appellants, by their joint answer to each complaint, deny specifically any knowledge upon their part of any of said alterations or improvements until the completion thereof, and deny, for lack of information or belief, the allegations with reference to the contract for the work and performance thereof. Naumann & Schill, Inc., allowed default to be taken against it.
Upon the consolidation of the cases as aforesaid, the trial of the issues thus presented was had, and the court found in favor of the plaintiffs and respondents here. Findings were thereafter filed, and judgment entered foreclosing the liens. The defendants, appellants here, appeal “from so much of the judgment entered in the above-entitled consolidated actions on the eleventh day of March, 1916, as affects in any manner the interests of the said defendants, and of each of them, in and to the real property described therein, and, particularly, from so much of said judgment as enforces liens in behalf of each of said plaintiffs against said real property and against the interests of each of these defendants therein.”
Appellants urge the following points of law as bases for the reversal of the said judgment: That the court erred (1) in admitting in evidence the claims of lien because of a variance between the claims of lien and the allegations of the complaint and the testimony offered in support thereof, in that the claims of lien state an agreed price for the work, etc., whereas, as alleged and proven and found by the court, no price for the work was agreed upon; (2) in admitting in evidence the second claims of lien in said cases, because the same were recorded more than sixty days after the completion of the work; and (3) in admitting in evidence the claim of lien of respondent Suck, because of a material variance between the statement of the claim of lien to the effect that the work was done by and for the appellants, whereas the allegations of the complaint and the evidence offered in support thereof are to the effect that the work was done for Naumann & Schill, Inc., a tenant of appellants. These may be narrowed down to two points: (1) error of the court in the admission of evidence, and (2) a material variance between the allegations and the proof. We are unable to agree with appellants on the points raised, or either of them.
*583
In the first claims of lien filed by respondents it was stated that the contract was agreed upon and was payable upon the completion of the contract, while in the second it was stated that there was no contract price, and that the reasonable price was being charged for the work done. Appellants contend that this constitutes a fatal variance. But does it?
Respondents ask: “Under these conditions, why should one who has contributed his 'labor toward the construction of a building, at the request of one whom he possibly believes to be the owner, be entitled to only sixty days as to the owner, and ninety days as to the reputed owner, for filing his lien ? ’ ’ Is not the answer obvious ? Section 1192, supra, places the noncontracting owner in the position of a party to the contract, in that it creates a conclusive presumption that the *585 work was done at his instance and request. This works no hardship upon him, as he must be advised as to what is being done in the way of improving his property before the presumption arises. Appellants argue: “Manifestly, then, the owners could not be expected to file a notice of completion. Nor could they be estopped by a state of facts of which they knew nothing.” We question the soundness of this argument, as it seems to us obvious that if the owners knew nothing of the improvements their interests could not be subject to lien. In view of the court’s finding that the work was done, as already set forth, and no notice of completion having been filed, respondents would have ninety days within which to file their claims. It follows, then, that the second claims for liens, filed by respondents, were filed within the statutory time.
The judgment is affirmed.
Finlayson, P. J., and Sloane, J., concurred.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- FRED A. KRENWINKEL Et Al., Respondents, v. JANE LOUISE HENNE Et Al., Appellants
- Cited By
- 2 cases
- Status
- Published