Hyperlawhypertext legal database Buess v. City of New York 141 N.Y.S. 426

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Buess v. City of New York

141 N.Y.S. 426 Court Argued April term, 1913, before GUY, GERARD, and PAGE, JJ. Decision date 1913-04-16 English

Delivered by PAGE, J.

Contents

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p. 426
(80 Misc. Rep. 391.)
BUESS v. CITY OF NEW YORK et al.
(Supreme Court, Appellate Term, First Department.
April 16, 1913.)

Headnote

1. Courts (§ 188[2] )—City Court—Jurisdiction—Liens.
Lien Law (Consol. Laws 1909, c. 33) § 42, provides that a lien for materials furnished for a public improvement may be enforced against the funds of the state or the municipal corporation for which the improvement is constructed, as prescribed by article 2 of the chapter, as in mechanic’s lien suits. Held that, since the enactment of Laws 1860, c. 379, the City Court of New York and its predecessor, the Marine Court, have had no jurisdiction in actions in which New York City was a party defendant, and the City (Dourt has no jurisdiction, though the relief demanded was not against the city, but against other defendants
p. 427
to the extent of the fund in the city’s possession, and section 42 did not give the City Court jurisdiction.
[Ed. Note.—For other cases, see Courts, Cent. Dig. §§ 439, 440, 442, 447, 448, 451, 452, 454, 458, 464, 465, 467, 468; Dec. Dig. § 188.*]
2. Municipal Corporations (§ 373*)—Public Improvements—Liens—Funds Applicable.
Though a materialman’s lien for materials furnished in erecting a public improvement for New York City may have been bonded, it is still necessary to establish a valid lien upon the primary fund due from the city, in order to require payment pursuant to the terms of the undertaking.
[Ed. Note.—For other cases, see Municipal Corporations, Cent. Dig. § 913; Dec. Dig. § 373.[2] ]
Appeal from City Court of New York, Trial Term.
Action by William Buess against the City of New York and others. From an order denying a motion to dismiss the complaint, defendants appeal. Order reversed, and judgment of dismissal directed.
Argued April term, 1913, before GUY, GERARD, and PAGE, JJ.
M. Carl Levine, of New York City, for appellants.
Morris Blau, of New York City, for respondent.

This is an action to foreclose a mechanic’s lien, and the city of New York is a party defendant. The jurisdiction of the City Court has been sustained on two grounds: First, that section 42 of the Lien Law confers jurisdiction upon that court; and, second, that although the City Court has no jurisdiction of a case in which the city of New York is a party defendant, it has jurisdiction in an action where the relief demanded in the complaint is not against the city, but against defendants to the extent of the fund in the possession of the city. Section 42 of the Lien Law provides:

“A lien for labor done or materials furnished for a public improvement may be enforced against the funds of the state or the municipal corporation for which such public improvement is constructed, to the extent prescribed in article 2 of this chapter, and against the contractor or subcontractor liable for the debt, by a civil action, in the same court and in the same manner as a mechanic’s lien on real property.”

[1] This action undoubtedly extends the jurisdiction of certain courts of limited jurisdiction as to the subject-matter of the action. But it cannot be held to repeal a limitation, as to parties, imposed upon one of the courts of that class.

It is not necessary to discuss the various phases in which the question of lack of jurisdiction of the City Court in actions in which the city of New York is a party defendant has been presented and discussed by the courts. Callahan v. Mayor, etc., 66 N. Y. 656 ; O’Connor v. City of New York, 51 Misc. Rep. 560 , 101 N. Y. Supp. 295 ; Id., 120 App. Div. 875 , 105 N. Y. Supp. 1134 ; Id., 191 N. Y. 238 , 83 N. E. 979 . It is settled that since the passage of chapter 379 of the Laws of 1860 the City Court of the City of New York or its predecessor, the Marine Court, has not had jurisdiction of an action or special proceeding wherein the city of New York was a party defendant.

p. 428
The city of New York is a party defendant to this action, and presumptively a necessary-party defendant. • Section 60 of the Lien Law provides that in such an action, if the court finds the lien is established, it should render judgment directing the state or municipal corporation to pay to the lienors so much of the “funds or money which may be due from the state or municipal corporation to the contractor as will satisfy such lien with interest and costs,-not exceeding the amount due to the contractor.” The very foundation of the action is the existence of a fund due the contractor from the city upon the contract. This may require the court to adjudicate a dispute between the city and the contractor as to whether there is a fund so due, and to ascertain the amount thereof, and to direct the payment out of the fund by the state or municipality.

[2] Although the lien may have been bonded, it is still’ necessary to establish a valid lien üpon the primary fund to require payment pursuant to the terms of the undertaking. Berger Mfg. Co. v. City of New York, 206 N. Y. 24 , 31, 99 N. E. 153 . It may be that ordinarily in actions of this character the amount due is conceded, and has been paid over voluntarily upon the filing of the bond and the discharge of the lien, and hence it is not necessary in such cases to make the city a party defendant. Hawkins v. Mapes-River Construction Co., 82 App. Div. 72 , 80, 81 N. Y. Supp. 794 ; Maneely v. City of New York, 119 App. Div. 376 , 393, 105 N. Y. Supp. 976 . But the plaintiff has made the city a party defendant, and as we have seen the city may be a necessary and material party to the action. Having madé the city a party defendant, he has brought his action in a court without jurisdiction to try his case.

The order will be reversed, with $10 costs and disbursements, and judgment directed to be entered for the defendants, dismissing the complaint, with costs. All concur.

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