Rust-Owen Lumber Co. v. Fitch
Rust-Owen Lumber Co. v. Fitch
Opinion of the Court
This is an appeal by the defendants Basil J; Templeton, trustee, and the Pierre Savings Bank, from an order OA'erruling the demurrer interposed by them to the plaintiff’s complaint. The action is to enforce a contractor’s lien for lumber and material furnished the principal defendant, A. H. Fitch, under the mechanic’s lien law of this state. The learned counsel for the appellants contends that the complaint is insufficient for several reasons, and those relating to the complaint proper may be stated as follows: . (1) Because it does not state a cause of action against the defendants Basil J. Templeton, trustee, and the Pierre Savings Bank; (2) because it does not state when all the lumber or materials for which the lien is claimed were furnished; (3) because it does not state that the.account was filed with the county clerk within 90 days after all the materials were furnished; and (4) because it does not state when the building was commenced.
The averments in the complaint material to the first question presented are as follows: “* * t .And the plaintiff further states upon information and belief that the defendants the Pierre Savings Bank, a corporation, as aforesaid, and Basil J. Temple-ton, have, or claim to have, some interest in or lien upon said above-described premises, or some part thereof, which interest or lien, if any, has accrued subsequently to the lien of the plaintiff.” Wé are of the opinion that these allegations are sufficient as to these defendants. • These defendants are made parties because
Concurring Opinion
I concur in the decision of this case, though not agreeing with the last suggestion, — that the exhibit is not a part of the complaint, and entitled to be considered on demurrer. I adhere to my views as expressed in C. Aultman & Co. v. Siglinger, 2 S. D. 442.
Reference
- Cited By
- 1 case
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- Syllabus
- 1 In an action to enforce a contractor’s lien under the mechanic's lien law of this state, an averment in the complaint as against persons made defendants, other than .the owner of the premises sought to he charged with the lien, that they have, or claim to have, some interest in or lien upon the premises, which lien or interest, if any, accrued subsequently to the lien of the plaintiff, is sufficient, and, if such defendants have any interest in or lien upon the premises, they must set it out if they desire to defend the action. 2. An allegation in tlie complaint that the plaintiff began to furnish the lumber on the 2d day of November, 1889, and that all of said lumber and materials were furnished between that day and the 29th day of May, 1890, — at about which time the building was completed, — does ■ by a fair construction allege that the last of said material was furnished on said May 29th. 3 An allegation in the complaint that the verified account required by the statute to be filed with the clerk of the court was so filed on June 23, 1890, taken in connection with the allegation that the last of said lumber and materials was furnished on May 29th sufficiently shows that the verified account was filed within the 90 days prescribed by the statute. 4. The omission to allege in the complaint the time when the building was commenced is cured by the allegation that the lien of the defendants accrued subsequently to the lien of the plaintiff. This allegation, if denied, presents an issue under which all evidence as to the time when the building was commenced, would be admissible. 5. Objections made to the exhibit annexed to the complaint cannot be considered on a demurrer to the complaint. KELLAM, P. J., dissenting. (Syllabus by the Court.