Donaher v. City of Boston

126 Mass. 309, 1879 Mass. LEXIS 245

Opinion

Soule, J.

The petitioner made a contract with one Pierce to deliver to him all the hammered granite required for a schoolhouse on Francis Street, in process of erection on land of the city of Boston, for an entire price. Pierce was employed by the city under a written contract to erect the building. The petitioner gave no notice that he should claim a lien for materials furnished. The granite was wrought at Quincy, and so much of it as was delivered under the petitioner’s contract with Pierce was delivered at the school-house. Till thus delivered, it was the property of the petitioner; and, after delivery, it was the property of Pierce, which he might use in erecting the schoolhouse or for any other purpose, so far, at least, as the city of Boston was concerned. Under these circumstances, we are of opinion that the petitioner has no lien for labor performed in preparing the granite, as labor performed or furnished in erecting the school-house. He merely furnished material wrought to a stipulated condition for a stipulated price. The St. of 1872, c. 318, § 1, which provides that, under certain specified conditions, a lien may be maintained for labor performed under an entire contract for labor and materials, was not intended to reach cases in which finished articles of merchandise have been sold at a fixed price to a contractor. The labor performed by the petitioner at the premises was merely in completion of his contract to furnish granite wrought to a certain condition. The learned judge of the Superior Court erred, therefore, in refusing to rule on this point, as requested by the respondent, that the petitioner had furnished no labor upon the building for which he was entitled to a lien.

Exceptions sustained.