Connecticut Gen. Life Ins. v. Birzer Bldg. Co.

101 N.E.2d 403, 61 Ohio Law. Abs. 470, 1950 Ohio Misc. LEXIS 367
Court of Common Pleas of Ohio, Hamilton County·Decided April 7, 1950·No. Nos. A-113084, A-113085·Published·Cited by 2 cases

Opinion

OPINION

By WEBER, J.

The matter set forth in the two petitions and amended petitions requires the rendition of certain money judgments, determination of the validity of liens, foreclosure of the mortgages and sale of the properties, and also to determine priorities and marshaling of liens.

In order to expedite the sale of the property, this opinion is directed solely to the determination of the validity of the lien filed by the defendant, Anthony Birzer, rendering judgment on the notes set out in the two petitions and ordering [472] the foreclosure of the two mortgages given to secure the two notes and the sale of each of the properties respectively described in each of the cases.

On December 1, 1947, Anthony Birzer recorded a lien in Lien Book 61, page 467, under the provisions of §8339 et séq GC, on all the real estate owned by the Birzer Building Company, including the real estate described in the petitions filed in the above two cases, for work previously done. Anthony Birzer, on December 13, 1947, filed a petition and on April 6, 1948, an amended petition, Case No. A-107970, describing the real estate described in the petitions filed in cases No. A-113084 and A-113085, praying for a judgment of $2,750.00 and for a determination of the validity and priority of his lien and for a foreclosure and sale of the real estate.

The only defendants in Case No. A-107970 are the Birzer Building Company and Mack Wahn. The Birzer Building Company was in- default for answer. On January 3, 1949, a decree was entered by Judge Hess rendering judgment for the plaintiff, Anthony Birzer, in the sum of $2,750 with interest from November 20, 1947, the total judgment being $2,935.50, with interest from January 3, 1949, also that the said lien of Anthony Birzer was a valid lien. On January 5, 1949, the General Casualty Company of America filed a motion to be made a party and to vacate said judgment. On January 13, 1949, the Hilltop Building Materials, Inc., filed a motion to be made a party and to vacate said judgment. Both motions were overruled.

On May 10, 1948, the Birzer Building Company executed a note to the Connecticut General Life Insurance Company and secured the same by mortgage recorded May 19, 1948. in Mortgage Book 2210, page 462, on the real estate described in the petition of the Connecticut General Life Insurance Company filed November 6, 1948, Case No. A-113085.

On May 10, 1948, the Birzer Building Company executed a note to the Connecticut General Life Insurance Company and secured the same by mortgage recorded on May 19, 1948, in Mortgage Book 2210, page 457, on the real estate described in the petition of the Connecticut General Life Insurance Company filed November 6, 1948, Case No. A-113084.

The Birzer Building Company, Anthony Birzer, the General Casualty Company of America were made defendants in cases No. A-113084 and A-113085. There were other defendants, including numerous holders of mechanics’ liens filed under §8310 et seq GC. On July 29, 1949, The Lawyer’s Title Insurance Company was made a party in these cases.

On September 10, 1948, work was stopped on the two build[473] ing projects. It is claimed there was a default in the payments on the notes and that the conditions of the mortgages were broken. In Case No. A-113084 the plaintiff asks for a judgment against the Birzer Building Company in the sum of $2,749.80, for moneys advanced according to the terms of the contract, with interest at four per cent per annum from October 1, 1948, foreclosure of the mortgage and sale of the property described in the petition and a determination of priority and marshaling of liens.

In Case No. A-113085 the plaintiff asks for a judgment of $10,914 for moneys advanced according to the terms of the contract, with interest at four per cent per annum from September 1, 1948, foreclosure of the mortgage and sale of the property described in the petition and a determination of priority and marshaling of liens.

The Hilltop Building Materials, Inc., which filed three mechanics’ liens under the provisions of §8310 et seq GC, in their answer claims that the lien of Anthony Birzer is invalid.

The General Casualty Company of America in their answer also claims that the lien of Anthony Birzer is invalid. With notice of the lien of Anthony Birzer The Lawyer’s Title Insurance Company insured the title to the properties described in these petitions; the Birzer Building Company as principal and the General Casualty Company of America as surety executed a bond indemnifying The Lawyer’s Title Insurance Company against loss by reason of the claim or lien of Anthony Birzer under its title of insurance.

The first question determined in this opinion is whether the judgment rendered in the decree entered by Judge Hess on January 3, 1949, is res judicata and binding on all the defendants in these two cases. The mortgage interest of the Connecticut General Life Insurance Company is derived from the title of the Birzer Building Company to the real estate described; the interest of The Lawyer’s Title Insurance Company and the interest of the General Casualty Company of America are derived, through said mortgage, from the title of the Birzer Building Company to the real estate described. The parties are all in privity of estate with the Birzer Building Company, the defendant in Case No. A-107970.

The holders of the mechanics’ liens against the property filed under §8310 et seq GC, also derive their interest from the title of the Birzer Building Company to the property described, and they are also in privity of estate with the Birzer Building Company, the defendant in Case No. 107970. All these parties defendants claim that their interests existed in the property described in the petition in Case No. A-107970. [474] These interests were acquired during the pendency of said suit. If they had an interest, they were proper, though not necessary parties; they could have intervened in said suit at any time before judgment, that is, before January 3, 1949, and contested the validity of the lien of Anthony Birzer. Their motions to be made a party were filed after the entry of the decree rendering judgment in favor of Anthony Birzer and declaring his lien to be valid. The precise question is whether that decree is res judicata and binding on all said parties in the cases now before the Court, namely, A-113084 and A-113085.

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Connecticut Gen. Life Ins. v. Birzer Bldg. Co., 101 N.E.2d 403, 61 Ohio Law. Abs. 470, 1950 Ohio Misc. LEXIS 367 (Ohio Super. Ct. 1950).

101 N.E.2d 403 (Connecticut Gen. Life Ins. v. Birzer Bldg. Co.) — published by Counsel Stack Legal Research, free access to 12M+ legal documents.

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