Potvin v. Wickersham
Potvin v. Wickersham
Opinion of the Court
The opinion of the court was delivered by
This is an appeal from an order granting a motion for an injunctional order and continuing a restraining order previously issued, based upon substantially the following facts. The Denny Hotel company was constructing a hotel in the city of Seattle. The respondent Potvin was the contractor for the erection of the building. Huttig Brothers Manufacturing Company furnished certain materials for the buildings, which were then upon the ground ready to be used; and the respondents Dexter Horton & Co., by virtue
The appellant’s contention is based upon two grounds, the first of which is that the hotel company was the sole owner of the materials and that none of the plaintiffs had any title thereto. In support of this it is contended that, although the material in question was ordered or purchased by Potvin, he did so as agent for the hotel company, and that the hotel company became the owner thereof, especially in view of the fact that Huttig Brothers Manufacturing Company had sought and obtained a lien against the building therefor. This lien claim, however, had not been paid.
It seems to us that this contention cannot be maintained, for the lien given to material men by the statute in such cases is a cumulative remedy, and it is provided (Gen. Stat., §1676) that it should not be construed to impair or affect the right of material men to maintain a personal action against the person liable therefor, and Huttig Brothers Manufacturing Company could maintain an action against Potvin, the contractor, for the price of these materials furnished to him, notwithstanding the fact that they had aright to, and had sought to enforce, a lien against the building therefor.
It appears that the materials in question had been
Affirmed.
Anders, Dunbar and Gordon JJ., concur.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- F. S. Potvin v. A. Wickersham
- Cited By
- 3 cases
- Status
- Published
- Syllabus
- MECHANIC'S LIEN — EXEMPTION OP MATERIAL FURNISHED PROM JUDGMENT LIENS AGAINST OWNER. The fact that a material man, who has furnished building material to a contractor, has filed notice of lien against the owner of the building in which it is to be used, will not, when the lien claim has not been paid, vest the title to such material in the owner of the building so as to render it liable to execution on judgments against him. Under Gen. Stat., §1675, exempting from execution material designed in good faith to be used in the construction of a building, such material will be exempt, although the completion of the building has been delayed for a number of years pending litigation, and whether the material is to be used by the one engaged in the construction of the building at the time of its purchase or by one succeeding to his rights.