Opinion
Argued June 12, 1889
Decided October 22, 1889
Nathaniel C. Moak for appellant. Lewis Sanders for respondent.
This action was brought to foreclose a mortgage. The defendant Simonson was made a party defendant, as having or claiming to have some interest in or lien upon the mortgaged premises, which interest or lien, if any, had accrued subsequently to the lien of the mortgage.
The answer interposed alleged, in substance, that the mortgage was executed by the defendant, Andrew Kelly, as a security for money thereafter to be advanced by the plaintiff, under an agreement, in writing, by which Kelly had agreed to erect four buildings upon the premises covered by the mortgage, and that the plaintiff was to advance $8,000 on each of such buildings as they progressed in construction; that the defendant, Simonson, furnished materials for such buildings, at prices agreed upon, and which, in the aggregate, amounted to the sum of $2,715.73, and that he had filed in the office of the clerk of the county of New York a notice of his claim and a lien upon the four houses and premises; that at the time of filing such lien the plaintiff had not advanced upon the mortgage the sums of money agreed to be advanced. Other matters were alleged in the answer which it will not be necessary to here consider. He prayed judgment that the premises be sold, and that the moneys arising from the sale be brought into court, and that he be first paid the amount due upon his lien for materials furnished, with costs, etc.
Upon the trial it appeared that the defendant's lien was filed on the 18th day of April, 1884, and that on the 5th day of September, 1884, no notice of pendency of action to foreclose the lien had been filed. Thereupon the referee ruled out and excluded the evidence offered by the defendant, to prove the defenses alleged in his answer, and found as facts that the defendant had not filed any notice of pendency of any action to foreclose his lien within ninety days after the filling of such lien.
The question presented for review is as to whether the claim of the defendant continued a lien upon the premises after the expiration of ninety days from the time it was filed.
The statute in force at the time provided that "no lien provided for in this title shall bind the property therein described for a longer period than ninety days after the claim has been filed, unless an action be commenced within that time to enforce the same and a notice of the pendency of such action filed with the clerk of the county and an entry of the fact of such notice made on the lien docket. And where a claimant is made a party defendant to any action brought to enforce any other lien, the notice of the pendency of such action must be filed by him or in his behalf. But the neglect to file such notice shall not abate any action which may be pending to enforce the lien. Such action may be prosecuted to judgment against the persons liable for the debt." (Laws of 1882, chap. 410, § 1813, as amended by Laws of 1883, chap. 276)
Under the first clause of the section it will be observed that no lien shall bind the property for a longer period than ninety days, unless an action be commenced within that time and a notice of the pendency of such action is filed with the clerk of the county. It is not claimed that the defendant, Simonson, had commenced an action to enforce his lien within that time or that he had filed such notice. His lien would, therefore, cease to exist after the expiration of ninety days, under the express provisions of the statute, unless it was saved by the foreclosure action instituted by the plaintiff.
The second clause of the section, as we have seen, provides that where a claimant is made a party defendant to any action brought to enforce any other lien, a notice of the pendency of such action must be filed, etc. Although he appeared in the foreclosure action and answered, he did not file any notice of the pendency of such action. If, therefore, the lien of the mortgage is one within the contemplation of this statute, the defendant's lien has expired and no longer exists, for he has omitted to comply with the provisions of the statute for continuing the life of his lien. It is contended, however, that the lien referred to in this connection means other mechanics' liens, and does not include a lien by mortgage; that the word "other," appearing in the statute, means the same class or kind previously described; and that, inasmuch as the chapter pertains to mechanics' liens, that other mechanics' liens than the defendant's were the liens referred to; and our attention is called to the case of People v. Richards ( 108 N.Y. 137-150). In that case the defendant had been convicted of the crime of burglary for violating a sepulcher. The question was as to whether the sepulcher was an erection or an enclosure within the meaning of the Penal Code. The words under construction were "other erections or enclosures." It was held in that case that the word "other" included things of a similar nature to those already described.
Another case to which our attention is called is that of Flanagan v. Hollingsworth (2 How. Pr. [N.S.] 391). The parties were owners of real estate in the same vicinity, which was subject to a covenant that the owner would not erect any cow stable, hog pens, etc., or any other dangerous, noxious, unwholesome or offensive establishment, trade, calling or business, whatsoever. It was held not to exclude a livery stable; that effect must be given to each word of the covenant. It does not appear to us that this case affords much aid in the determination of the question under consideration.
Were the word "other" the only word to be construed, the former case would have some application, but in construing the provision we must consider that which precedes and follows in order, if possible, to determine the legislative intent. Where a claimant is made a party defendant to any action brought to enforce any other lien a notice of pendency, etc., must be filed. The word "other" is preceded by the word "any" and, under the rule of Flanagan v. Hollingsworth, we must give each word its appropriate meaning.
The word "any" is used in various ways and may convey different meanings. It may mean one or many, each or every. In some instances it means an indefinite number. The connection in which it is used in the statute under consideration appears to us to indicate each and every, and is the same as if the statute read "any action brought to enforce each and every other lien." It consequently appears to us that the statute is broad enough to include a mortgage lien and is not confined to mechanics' liens.
Again, it does not appear to us that it was the intention to limit the provision to mechanics' liens. The object of the notice of pendency of action was to give notice to subsequent purchasers or incumbrancers, and all persons interested, of the nature of the claim, that an action had been commenced upon it and was pending, so that purchasers, incumbrancers and persons having an interest might be warned and placed upon their guard. There is just as much necessity for a notice of pendency to be filed where a foreclosure action is brought as there is when an action is brought to foreclose another mechanics' lien. The notice of pendency filed by the plaintiff in the foreclosure action gives notice only of the pendency of that action, and subsequent purchasers were informed as to the nature and amount of the claim; but if a mechanic's lienor is made a party defendant, a subsequent purchaser, in the absence of a notice of pendency, has no notice of the existence of his lien, its nature or amount. True, he may find that the original claim was filed, but upon an examination of the lien docket he finds that the ninety days have expired and no notice of any action brought. He has notice of the existence of the foreclosure action, but he may be willing to take title to the premises and assume the mortgage and pay the amount claimed in that action. All this he may do and have no notice, constructive or otherwise, of the existence of an answer, on the part of a lienor, in which a judgment is demanded for the sale of the premises and that his lien be first paid out of the proceeds.
It is claimed that this statute was construed in the case of McDermott v. McDonald (18 J. S. 153). In that case the court was construing section 4 of chapter 315 of the Laws of 1878. That section was similar to the provisions of the first clause of the section we have under consideration; but it did not contain the latter clause, which we are here called upon to construe. It does not, therefore, become a precedent that aids us in this case.
For these reasons the judgment should be affirmed, with costs.
I concur in the result reached by Judge HAIGHT. The statute (Laws of 1882, chap. 410, § 1813, as amended by the Laws of 1883, chap. 276) provides, in effect, that the lien provided for by that act shall not bind the property for a longer period than ninety days after the claim has been filed, unless, first, the lienor commence an action within that time to enforce the same; or, second, the claimant be made a party defendant in an action brought to enforce any other lien and in which a notice of pendency of such action shall be filed by him, or in his behalf.
This defendant did not commence an action within the prescribed ninety days. Neither was a notice of pendency of action filed by him, or in his behalf, in this or any other action brought to enforce a lien.
It follows that at the expiration of ninety days his claim ceased to be a lien binding upon the real estate in controversy, and the decision of the referee was, therefore, warranted.
All concur; PARKER and BROWN, JJ., in result as stated in the opinion of PARKER, J.
Judgment affirmed.