Heinlein v. Murphy

Van Wyck, J. The plaintiffs having recovered judgment against the owner on a claim for which a mechanic’s lien had been filed, and being unable to collect the same, then brought this action against the sureties on the bond given to discharge the lien, and recovered judgment against them for the amount of the claim and interest, and from this latter judgment this appeal is taken. The appellants’ counsel contends that the same should be reversed on several grounds, but we are unable to agree . with his propositions for the following reasons: We think a contractor can file a valid mechanic’s lien for the whole contract price before all the work is done, or all the materials furnished, provided the balance of the contract is thereafter fully completed according to the terms thereof. Laws of 1885, chap. 342, §§ 1, 4 ; Van Clief v. Van Vechten, 130 N. Y. 571. In our opinion, the plaintiff was regular in first suing and recovering judgment against the owner, and, being unable to collect the same, then in suing the sureties on the bond given to discharge the lien, though we do not feel called upon to decide whether or not the bondsmen could have been made parties to the first action. This first action having been brought within a year from the date when the mechanic’s lien was filed, it was not discharged by lapse of time. § 24, subd. 4. Then again, .in section 24, subdivision 6, it seems to have been contemplated that the liability of the sureties should be predicated upon a judgment recovered on the mechanic’s lien against the owner. Lawson v. Reilly, 13 Civ. Proc. Rep. 290. It is very questionable whether appellants can complain for the first time on appeal, that the action was not brought against the sureties within a year from the date of filing the lien,- when they raised no such question on their motion to dismiss, or by suitable requests for findings before the trial court. If any such question had been suggested before the trial court, it might have been met by showing an order of the court extending the time to bring the action. § 4, subd. 4. It is true that plaintiffs agreed, in consideration of the assignment of an alleged claim of $2,000, and the payment thereof to them, to release the sureties from then1 obligation, but the49 assignment was never made, and no payment was ever made, and as a consequence, the sureties Avere not released. The judgment must he affirmed, with costs. Osborne, J., concurs. Judgment affirmed.