Nash & Phelps v. Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul R'y Co.
Nash & Phelps v. Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul R'y Co.
Opinion of the Court
I. The petition alleges that certain laborers performed work in constructing the railroad, under-contract with one Byan, for which no payment has been made; that claims for a lien were duly filed, and notice thereof served upon the railroad company, and that the claims have all been assigned to plaintiffs. Judgment is prayed against Langdon, Bishop & Co., contractors, and a lien is claimed against the railroad. An amended petition shows that the contractors became bound to pay the claims by reason of promises and
II. Tiie work was done by plaintiff’s assignors in July and August, 1881; the notice required by the statute, (C.ode, & 2131-,') O V
III. We are required to determine whether plaintiffs are entitled to a judgment against Langdon, Bishop & Co. We
“For yalue received we hereby assign to Nash & Phelps our accounts against the Chicago,- Milwaukee & St. Paul R. R. Co., for work done on construction of a railroad bed for said railroad company, and all our right, title and interest in certain mechanic’s liens filed in the office of the clerk of district court of Marshall county, Iowa, by us, against said railroad company. Audubon, Iowa, Nov. 18, 1881.”
This instrument transfers an account against the railroad company, and a claim for mechanic’s lien. It transfers no claim against Langdon, Bishop & Co.
The sub-contractor gave to each of plaintiff’s assignees a memorandum in the following form:
*51 “$60.66 TIME CHECK.
“Marion Extension, C. M. & St. P. R. R,
“To Langdon, Bishop <& Go., Contractors,
“Jake "Waltenberg has worked 211-2 days in tbemonth of July with team, at $3.50 per day - - $78.92
“ To account with Matt. Ryan.18.26
“Balance due _.$60.66
“ Matt. RyaN, Sub-Contractor.
“ Dated Aug. 11, 1881.”
These “time checks” were delivered to plaintiffs, the name of the respective payees being indorsed upon each. If it be conceded that this indorsement constituted an assignment, it transferred no claims against Langdon, Bishop & Co. The instrument is evidence of indebtedness of Ryan to the payee, or of the indebtedness of the railroad company to Langdon, Bishop & Go: It is not a claim, or evidence of a claim, against the parties last mentioned. Its assignment does not operate to transfer to plaintiffs a claim upon them. There is no other evidence of the transfer of these claims to plaintiffs relied upon except these instruments. We therefore conclude that plaintiffs failed to establish any interest in the claims sued upon. As we understand the record, the court below upon this ground dismissed plaintiffs’ petition. The decision was correct, and must be
Affirmed.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Nash & Phelps v. The Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul R'y Co.
- Cited By
- 1 case
- Status
- Published