Brown v. Engle
Brown v. Engle
Opinion of the Court
Opinion by
This proceeding originated in a mechanic’s lien filed to recover the balance due on a contract for installing the plumbing in one of the several dwelling houses erected by Henry B. Hook who was at the time the owner of the property. The work was begun May 5,1917, and was completed May 10, 1918. On June 17, 1918, Hook conveyed the property to C. G-. Engle who was named as owner or reputed owner in the caption of the mechanic’s lien. The balance claimed was $20. At the trial the appellant asked the court to charge that under the law and the evidence the lien in this case was improperly filed; that the verdict of the jury should be in favor of the defendant. The point was refused, and this action of the court is made the subject of complaint. The position taken by the appellant is “that the lien should have been filed and prosecuted to judgment against Hook and the appellant, and not against the appellant alone.” The consideration of the case will be clarified by keeping in mind that the lien is not filed against the individual, but against real estate. The second section of the Act of 1901 provides that “every structure or other improvement and curtilage appurtenant thereto shall be subject to lien for the payment of all debts due to contractors,” etc. The 11th section as amended by the Act of April 17, 1905, P. L. 172, prescribes what shall be set forth in the statement of claim. It must contain: (1) The name of the party claimant and of the owner or reputed owner of the building, and also of the contractor, architect or builder; (2) The amount or sum claimed to be due and the nature or kind of the work done, or the kind and amount of materials furnished, or both, and the time when the materials were furnished, or the work done, or both, as the case may be; (3) The locality of the structure or other improvement with such description thereof as may be necessary for the purpose of identification, and a description of the real estate upon which the same is situate. The statements required are fully
The judgment is affirmed.
Reference
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- 7 cases
- Status
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- Syllabus
- Mechanics’ liens — Original owner — Subsequent purchaser — Filing of liens — Sufficiency. A mechanic’s lien which sets forth the name of the person with whom the contract was made and the name of the owner of the premises at the time the lien was filed, is sufficient. The fact that the judgment was entered against the last owner only is not material. The lien does not create a personal liability, and the court could at any time order an amendment by substituting the original owner as a party defendant.