John Mouat Lumber Co. v. Gilpin
John Mouat Lumber Co. v. Gilpin
Opinion of the Court
delivered the opinion of the court.
William Gilpin was the owner of section 11, in township 3 in Arapahoe county. Early in March, 1891, he made a contract with one Frain to put up some buildings and improvements on the land. Frain proceeded with the work, and between the date of the contract and the July following, bought various supplies and building materials of the Mouat Lumber Company. The contractor did not pay for the material, and in the November following the lumber company attempted to charge the owner of the land with the value of the stuff sold by proceeding under the Mechanic’s Lien Act. By the terms of the act of 1883 (General Statutes of 1883, § 2141), the subcontractor, to-preserve his rights must file his lien statement within forty days of the time that the last work is done and the materials are furnished. The defendant did not demur to the complaint, but answered denying sundry of the matters alleged, and affirmatively alleging that on the 24th of July, without knowledge of the lumber company’s claim, he paid Frain the contract price for his work. No replication was filed and when the cause came on for hearing, the defendant moved for judgment on the pleadings, which was accordingly entered. There would be no question concerning the regularity of this judgment, but for an amendment to the Lien Act passed in 1889, which in terms attempted to save the rights of contractors and material men when they
The entire case turns upon the proper construction to be given to the saving provisions of that amendment. Parties who desire to assert and preserve rights conferred by lien statutes must follow the course prescribed and do the things specified in the manner and at the times directed. It would undoubtedly have been held prior to the .amendment that a failure on the part of the subcontractor to file his statement within the time designated would be fatal. The only question here is whether in the present case the saving clause of the amendment is broad enough to embrace the present controversy. We must conclude otherwise. If the legislation be valid, it is doubtless true that the subcontractor may file his statement at any time and still assert his right to a lien, unless it appear that the case is brought within one of the three exceptions. Wherever the property has been purchased or a lien has been placed on it, and the grantee or lienee acts in good faith and without notice of the claim, their rights will be protected as against the defaulting lien claimant. The same rule applies in the case of the owner. Should it appear that he has settled with the contractor before the material man files his claim or gives his notice, and he has not proceeded according to the statute and filed it within the time therein limited, the owner is protected in his payment, and neither he nor his property can be made liable for the'
Affirmed.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.