Knutzen v. Hanson

28 Neb. 591
CourtNebraska Supreme Court
DecidedJanuary 23, 1890
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 28 Neb. 591 (Knutzen v. Hanson) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Nebraska Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Knutzen v. Hanson, 28 Neb. 591 (Neb. 1890).

Opinion

Maxwell, J.

This action was brought in the district court of Buffalo county, by the plaintiff against the defendants, to foreclose a mechanic’s lien on certain premises in the city of Kearney. To this petition Cooper & Cole Bros., partners, filed an answer in the nature of a cross-petition. To this answer, asking affirmative relief, Robt. A. Moore filed an answer in which he alleged, in substance, that he was a bona fide purchaser of said premises after the filing of the alleged lien, and that he had no notice, actual or constructive, of the alleged lien of Cooper & Cole Bros., and that, therefore, he is entitled to protection, and as to him at least, such lien is-void.

The claim of the plaintiff was satisfied before the trial, and hence the contest was between the defendants on the issues made by the pleadings.

The court found against Cooper & Cole Bros, and dismissed the action as to them, from which they appealed to this court.

Two questions are presented by the record: First — Had Cooper & Cole Bros, a valid lien upon the premises? And, second — Hid they comply with the terms of a certain contract which will presently be set out ?

The proceedings to obtain a lien were as follows :

$261.50. Kearney, Neb., Jan. 19, 1887.
“ ‘ Fifteen days after date, I promise to pay to the order of W. J. Cooper & Cole Bros., at' First National Bank Kearney, the sum of $261.50, value received, with ten per cent interest from date, the interest payable annually. Defaulting interest to draw same rate of interest as principal; and I agree to pay a reasonable attorney’s fee, provided by law, for the collection of this note, in case it shall be collected by attorney or by suit. The attorney’s fee to be taxed as part of the costs of the ease.
C. E. Hanson.’
[594]*594“January 19, 1887, to one note in the words and figures following:
$261.50. Kearney, Neb., January 19, 1887.
“ Thirty days after date, I promise to pay to the order of W. J. Cooper & Cole Bros., at the First National Bank of Kearney, the sum of $261.50, value received, with ten per cent interest, the interest payable annually. Defaulting interest to draw same rate of interest as principal; and I agree to pay a reasonable attorney’s fee, as provided bylaw, for the collection of this note, in case it shall be collected by attorney or by suit. The attorney’s fee to be taxed as part, ■of the costs of the case. C. E. Hanson.
‘ No. 6014.’
“ Total amount_due on the above notes is $523, together ■with interest at ten per cent from January 19, 1887.
State oe Nebraska, \ Lancaster County, fss'
“ W. J. Cooper, being first duly sworn; deposes and says •that he is one of the firm of W. J. Cooper & Cole Bros.; that the above notes, amounting to $523, against C. E. Hanson are just and correct and that the same now remain owing and unpaid to the said W. J. Cooper & Cole Bros.; that said notes were given on an adjustment -for material and work furnished and done by the said firm of W. J. Cooper & Cole Bros., to the said C. E. Hanson, between the lstdayof October, 1886, and the 19th day of January, 1887, in pursuance to a written contract between the said firm of "W. J. Cooper & Cole Bros, and the said C. E. Hanson; said material was furnished and said work was done in and about the placing of a steam heating plant in a certain house or building situated upon lot No. 371 in the original town of Kearney Junction, Buffalo county, Nebraska, which lot was owned by said C. E. Hanson at the time said contract was entered into and said material furnished aud said work done, and the said W. J. Cooper & Cole [595]*595Bros, claim a lien upon said premises as security for the payment of said notes.”

This was duly signed and sworn to by Cooper and filed in the proper office within the time required by law. The statute authorizes the filing of a copy of the notes given for labor or material used in the construction or repair of a building where there is a contract, expressed or implied, to obtain a mechanic’s lien. To obtain the lien it must appear from papers filed in the case for that purpose that the labor or material was furnished in pursuance of a contract, express or implied, for the erection or repair of the building in question. Properly the items should be set out at length on a paper attached to the copy of the notes.

The writer, several years ago, in view of the embarrassment frequently arising from this class of liens, gave a form of a lien based upon a note for labor or material. (Maxw., Practice in Justice’s Court [5th Ed.], 565-6.) The affidavit in the case at bar alleges that the goods, were furnished in pursuance of a written contract, etc., and that the “material was furnished and said work was done in and about the placing of a steam heating plant in a certain house, etc., owned by C. E. Hanson,” etc. This affidavit and the proceedings to obtain a lien are quite informal, but we do not think they are void. The giving of the notes by Hanson was an agreement on his part' that the amount expressed therein was due and it does clearly appear from the papers in that case for what purpose the notes were given.

Such lien placed in the proper record of the county within the time required by law is notice to every person of the claim against the land and he cannot shut his eyes to the existence of such claim.

The mechanic’s lien law, being remedial in its nature, is to receive a liberal construction, so far ás the proceedings to obtain and enforce the lien are concerned.

Of course questions as to the amount due must be deter[596]*596mined like other questions of fact, and the lien given merely provides a remedy for the collection of the claim. In our view, the- lien in this case was sufficient to entitle Cooper & Cole Bros. to relief, and to charge a purchaser with notice.

Moore, therefore, purchased subject to said lien, and is bound thereby. Moore claims that there is no denial in the reply that he was a bona fide purchaser, and that therefore the fact is admitted. This is a mistake of fact, however, as Cooper & Cole Bros, in the pleadings claim a lien superior to the rights of Moore, and allege that he purchased subject to their claim. There is no admission therefore, that he was a bona fide purchaser.

The following is the contract between Cooper & Cole Bros, and Hanson:

“Kearney, Neb., l/l/’86.
“I hereby authorize and contract with W. J. Cooper & Cole Bros., of Lincoln, Neb., to put in steam heating apparatus in my new store, now building at Kearney, and also in new store building north of mine, as follows:
“ To put in radiators in both store rooms and in second story of my building, also to run risers into second story of building adjoining mine on north, said risers to be capped. Marble tops on all radiators on first floor, except in prescription room. Boilers, as also labor as far as I wish, to be furnished by me. Said job to be put in successful operation by the said W. J. Cooper &

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

S. Morgan Smith Co. v. Van Ackeren Bros.
254 N.W. 673 (Nebraska Supreme Court, 1934)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
28 Neb. 591, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/knutzen-v-hanson-neb-1890.