Max Fine & Sons, Inc. v. Lindarose, Inc.

.The following is the opinion of the court below: Cropsey, J. Plaintiff claims that the mechanic’s hen of defendant Gelband, though filed before its mortgage which it seeks to foreclose was recorded, is subordinate to it. This is the only controversy. The claim is based upon provisions of the Lien Law. They provide briefly that where the holders of at least seventy-five per cent of the aggregate amount of the mechanics’ hens filed against property give their consents, all the hens so filed shall be subordinated to a, bond and mortgage to be made by the owner as prescribed by the statute. This general subject is covered by sections 26 to 30, which were added by chapter 507 of the Laws of 1916. The necessary consents were obtained and filed and the bond and mortgage in suit were executed. The defendant Gelband did not sign the consent and he contends that the statute is unconstitutional and that plaintiff did not show compliance with it. Though these provisions have been on the statute books for nearly ten years, neither side has submitted any decision referring to them. The claim of unconstitutionality seems to be groundless. Defendant did not have any hen when the statute in question was enacted. Those who then did have hens were protected, the amendment providing that it did not apply to them. (§ 32.) At the time defendant acquired his hen the statute contained the provisions in question. So while the statute gave him the right to a hen, it made that right conditional. It was subject to the action of the holders of at least seventy-five per cent of the amount of ah the hens. They could by complying with the law make all the hens subordinate to a mortgage that was recorded later. But as defendant’s only right to a hen was derived from the statute he cannot complain because that right was thus conditionally given. Were there no statute on the subject, the defendant would have no hen. No such hen existed at common law. (Birmingham Iron Foundry v. Glen Cove Starch Mfg. Co., 78 N. Y. 30, 32.) Therefore, he is entitled [618] to no more than the Legislature gave him. The Constitution is in no way involved. The plaintiff desires to offer further proof to show that its mortgage was made in accordance with the provisions of the statute, so the case will be reopened, and the trial continued in chambers on January 8, 1926, at eleven a. m., when both parties may introduce further evidence.