Odum v. Loomis & Christian
Odum v. Loomis & Christian
Opinion of the Court
Opinion by
§ 5 2 4. Mechanic's lien; purchaser without notice; staU ute construed. Appellees furnished material to Dyson & Brooks, and labor also, to construct certain improvements. Appellant purchased the property upon which the improvements had been placed, paid a valuable consideration therefor, and had no notice of any lien upon it. The purchase was made within six months after appellees’ debt against Dyson & Brooks had become due. Appellees brought this suit against Dyson & Brooks and appellant to recover of Dyson & Brooks their debt, and to enforce a mechanic’s and materialman’s lien upon the property. Appellees had not had their lien recorded under the provisions of the statute. [2 Pas. Dig. 7112 et seq.] Held, when the party claims the benefit of a statutory lien he must show that he has' strictly complied with all the prerequisites of the statute, the aid of which he invokes; and however just and equitable may be its operations between the owner and the mechanic or material-man, care must be taken that it be not extended beyond its legitimate scope, to the prejudice of third persons who have no means of knowing the existence of such incumbrance, save such as the statute points out. [Phillips on Mechanics’ Liens, § 20; 3 Minn. 86.] The lien given by our statute is binding against the party to whom the material is furnished or the work done; but the statute cannot be construed so as to bind the property in the hands of a bona fide purchaser for value, without notice of ■ such lien upon it, although the property was pur
Reversed and remanded.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.