Springer v. Kroeschell

1. PRACTICE — in chancery — suits for mechanics' liens may beconsolidated. Suits having different parties and involving different rights, brought to enforce several mechanics' liens on the same property, may be consolidated, although the general chancery practice does not favor consolidation.

2. EVIDENCE — resulting trust may be established by parol. A resulting trust may be established by parol, and for this purpose declarations of one holding the legal title that another person's money paid for the land are competent.

3. MECHANICS' LIENS — when equitable owner is estopped to denytrustee's right. Equitable owners of land, who permit the holder of the legal title to make contracts and actively superintend the construction of a building on the land, are estopped to deny that such trustee is the "owner," within the meaning of the Mechanic's Lien law, as against parties furnishing labor and materials who are ignorant of the trust.

4. SAME — an equitable owner may contract for improvements. One holding the equitable title to real estate is an "owner," within the meaning of the act on mechanics' liens, and a lien may be enforced for labor and materials furnished in pursuance of his contract.

5. SAME — when trustee is estopped to deny beneficiary's ownership.A. holder of the legal title to property who actively superintends the construction of a building thereon cannot deny ownership, within the meaning of the statute, of the beneficiaries who, with his knowledge, make contracts for work and material.

6. SAME — sufficiency of statement filed with clerk. Where labor is done and materials are furnished under an entire contract, a statement filed with the clerk that "said labor was performed and said materials furnished between September 18, 1890, and October 31, 1890," is a sufficient compliance with the statute. (Laws of 1887, p. 219.)

7. SAME — sufficiency of description of property in claim for lien.A statement filed with the clerk which claims for labor and materials used in "a brick building" upon "lots 10 and 11," sufficiently complies with the provision of the statute requiring "a correct description of the property," (Laws of 1887, p. 219, sec. 4,) even as against a purchaser, although the building mentioned covered a small part of another lot in the same block. in Chicago on lots 10 and 11 and the south 72/12 feet of lot 7 in block 51 in school section addition to Chicago, being otherwise known as 175 South Canal street.

First — It is said, that the court erred in entering an order for the consolidation of the causes. We think, that the consolidation of the causes was justified by the decision of this court in Thielman v.Carr, 75 Ill. 385, where it was held, that, "while the general chancery practice is opposed to the consolidation of cases having different parties and involving different rights, yet such a practice is proper when the litigation grows out of the enforcement of mechanics' liens under the statute, and may be necessary, in some cases, to enable the court to settle and adjust the rights of the various lienholders, or those claiming liens." We see no reason for changing the views there expressed upon this subject.

Second — It is urged, that the claims of the several appellees, and the decree of the court allowing such claims and awarding liens for the amounts thereof, are based upon different and inconsistent theories as to the ownership of the premises; and that this inconsistency appears not only in the pleadings but also in the evidence introduced. The appellees, together with the character and amounts of their claims as allowed by the decree, are as follows: Kroeschell Brothers, contractors for the steam-heating apparatus in the building, $2450.00; Perkins Brothers, contractors for the painting and glazing, $1681.26; Patrick Nacey, contractor for the plumbing and gas-fitting, $3295.67; George B. Carpenter, contractor for the furnishing of certain ropes, § 177.00; J. L. Fulton, paving the court and driveway and third floor of the building with asphalt, $1174.45; Clapp Automatic Fire Extinguisher Company, furnishing the building with the equipment of the Clapp system of automatic fire protection, consisting of 870 sprinkler heads, tank, alarm valves, hose, air pump, etc., $3568.93; Charles Munson Belting Company, contractors for the belting for the manufacturing plant in said building, $745.27; Field Lumber Company, contractors for furnishing certain lumber for said building, $1960.55; T. W. Harvey Lumber Company, contractors for part of the lumber for said building, $1231.16.

The proof in regard to the title of the property shows the following facts: The premises in question were leased by the widow and heirs of Joel Ellis, deceased, and the executors and trustees of his estate, to Hibbert J. Lehman under a lease for ninety-nine years, dated May 21, 1889. Subsequently, the fee of the premises was conveyed by said executors and trustees and widow and heirs to said Hibbert J. Lehman by warranty deeds, dated March 19, 1890, and recorded March 24, 1890. By warranty deed, dated November 14, 1890, and recorded November 17, 1890, the premises were conveyed by Hibbert J. Lehman to the appellant, Warren Springer.

The evidence shows, and the decree finds, that Hibbert J. Lehman held the legal title in trust for "George Lehman Sons Company." This company, sometimes known as a corporation called the "George Lehman Sons Company," and sometimes as the firm of George Lehman Sons, contractors and builders, consisted of George Lehman, and his sons, Hibbert J. Lehman, Edwin Lehman, and Milo B. Lehman. George Lehman was president of the company, and Hibbert J. Lehman was its secretary. There is some evidence tending to show, that Springer, the appellant, was a stockholder in the "George Lehman Sons Company." All the contracts made by the appellees with Hibbert J. Lehman, or "George Lehman Sons Company," or both of them, or with Hibbert J. Lehman as trustee, or with any of the Lehmans, for doing work or furnishing material for the building upon the premises in question, were made while Hibbert J. Lehman held the title, and before the conveyance of the property to the appellant on November 14, 1890. All the work had been done, and all the material had been furnished by the appellees for the building, before the conveyance was made to appellant on November 14, 1890, and certainly before that conveyance was recorded on November 17, 1890.

Appellant complains, that the trial court permitted oral testimony to be introduced for the purpose of showing, that Hibbert J. Lehman held the title to the property in trust for the company. The testimony consisted of proof of admissions or declarations, made by George Lehman and Hibbert J. Lehman in March, 1890, to a representative of one of the appellee creditors to the effect, that the premises had been purchased with money raised by the Lehmans, or their company, and that the title had been placed in said Hibbert for convenience. Under this state of facts a resulting trust arose in Hibbert in favor of those who furnished the money. Where one party takes the title to a piece of land, but another, or others, advance the purchase money, a resulting trust will exist in favor of the latter, and the holder of the legal' title will be regarded as the trustee of the party furnishing the money. It is well settled, that such resulting trusts may be established by parol evidence. It is allowable to prove by parol, that the party holding the legal title admitted, that another person's money was paid for the land. (Va Buskirk v. VanBuskirk, 148 Ill. 9). The resulting trust arises by operation of law out of the purchase by one and the conveyance of the title purchased to another. (Ibid). We do not think, that, under the circumstances, the admission of the oral evidence complained of was erroneous.

As to some of the appellees, their pleadings aver, and their proofs show, that they made their contracts with Hibbert J. Lehman as owner. The first section of the Mechanic's Lien law, as it existed when these contracts were made, gives the lien to any person, "who shall, by contract, express or implied, or partly expressed and partly implied, with the owner of any lot or piece of land, furnish labor or material." (2 Starr Cur. Stat. p. 1512). It would appear from the evidence and from the finding of the decree, that those of the appellees, who thus contracted directly with the holder of the legal title as owner, had no notice that the title was so held in trust for other persons. In thus contracting with the holder of the legal title without notice of the interests of the cestui que trust, was the statutory requirement, that the contract should be with the "owner," complied with? It must be remembered, that the party here holding the legal title was superintending the construction of the building. Hibbert J. Lehman was not only permitted by the real owners to hold the title, but to supervise the erection of the building upon these premises, and to deal with parties furnishing work and materials therefor. Where the owner of property allows another to appear as the owner thereof, and innocent persons are thus led into dealing with such apparent owner, they will be protected. By such act the real owner is precluded from disputing, as against them, the existence of the title which he suffered to be vested in the party dealing with them. (Anderson v.Armstead, 69 Ill. 452). As Hibbert J. Lehman could not deny his ownership as against the appellees dealing with him as owner, and as the other Lehmans, or the company which they composed, are estopped by their conduct from denying his ownership as against such appellees, it follows that their contracts must be regarded as having been made with the owner within the meaning of the statute. Where the equitable owner of land, who has paid an agreed price therefor, permits a building to be erected thereon, and suffers the legal title to remain in another until its completion, the holder of the legal title is, for all practical' purposes pertaining to the construction of the building, the owner within the meaning of the Mechanic's Lien law, and the equitable estate will be equally bound with the legal title to satisfy the liens of mechanics, or material-men, growing out of contracts made with him in the construction of the building. (Hinckley v. Field's Biscuit, etc. Co. 91 Cal. 136). "Where a party holds the legal title, and makes improvements, the land is bound for the liens of the mechanics; and this party is the owner, though the funds, with which the property was purchased, belonged to other persons." (Phillips on Mechanics' Liens, sec. 66; Anderson v. Dillaye,47 N. Y. 678).

As to several of the appellees, the allegations and proofs are, that they contracted with Hibbert J. Lehman and the "George Lehman Sons Company." Others allege and prove, that they contracted with Hibbert J. Lehman as the trustee of the "George Lehman Sons Company." One of them alleges and proves, that he contracted with the "George Lehman Sons Company," and one, that he contracted with Hibbert J. Lehman and his father and two brothers. We regard these differences as immaterial. If the contract was made both with the trustee and cestui quetrust, it was of course made with the owners of the property. If the contract was made with the cestui que trust alone, it was made with the owner of the equitable title. The word, "owner," in the statute includes the owner in equity as well as at law. It "covers one who has the equitable title." (Phillips on Mechanics' Liens, secs. 67, 188;Atkins v. Little, 17 Minn. 342; Mortgage Trust Co. v. Sutton,46 Kan. 166; Drug Co. v. Bown, 46 id. 543; Rollin v. Cross, 45 N. Y. 766.) Ordinarily, the lien will only take effect upon the equitable, and not upon the legal, interest, where the contract is with the owner of the equitable interest. But, here, the holder of the legal title was a stockholder and officer in the company for whose benefit he held the title, and was authorized by the company to superintend the construction of the building and make contracts with workmen and material-men with reference to its construction. He would be estopped to set up any rights which he himself might have as holder of the legal title as against those with whom he dealt in the capacity of agent for the holders of the equitable title. And, so, the contracts for work and material for the building, made with him as trustee for the company, were sufficient to create a lien upon the property, because of his authority from thecestui que trust to erect the building and make contracts for its erection. (Phillips on Mechanics' Liens, sec. 80; Taylor v.Gilsdorff, 74 Ill. 354; Board of Education v. Greenebaum, 39 id. 609). If, under the views already expressed, a contract with Hibbert J. Lehman, the holder of the legal title as shown by the records, was a contract with the "owner," it would be none the less so, because, in one case, the father and brothers joined in the contract. If but one of several persons, who purchase material for a building, owns, or holds the title to, the land, the lien will be good. (VanCourt v.Bushnell, 21 Ill. 624; Roach v. Chapin, 27 id. 194; Croskey v.Corey, 48 id. 442.)

We are of opinion that the objections to the decree upon the ground of alleged insufficiency in the pleadings and proofs as to ownership are not well taken.

Third — Other specific objections are made, some of which will be briefly noticed.

It is said, that the statement or account or demand, filed by one of the creditors with the clerk of the circuit court, as required by section 4 of the Mechanic's Lien law, as amended by the act of May 31, 1887, (3 Starr Cur. Stat. p. 819), is not a statement or account or demand, "setting forth the time when such material was furnished or labor performed" within the meaning of that section. Upon turning to the statement in question, we find that it states, that "said labor was performed and materials furnished between September 18, 1890, and October 31, 1890." We think, that this statement was sufficient, as the labor was done and the materials were furnished under an entire contract. "Where the work was done or the materials furnished under an entire contract, the different times when the work was performed, or the materials furnished, need not be stated." (Phillips on Mechanics' Liens, sec. 359). "Certainty to a common intent is all that is required in stating a mechanic's claim, and where the law requires the time when the work was to be done to be set forth, a claim which states, that the work * * * was done between April 16, 1841, and August 29, 1841, is sufficient." (Id. sec. 360). We do not think, that the contrary of this doctrine is announced in Campbell v. Jacobson, 145 Ill. 389, when the language of that decision is examined in connection with the statement there set forth.

It is further contended, that the statement or claim for lien, filed by one of the creditors with the clerk of the circuit court, does not correctly describe the property. The statement here referred to recites, that "the labor and materials mentioned were performed and used in the repairing and improvement of a brick building upon the following described premises in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, to wit: Lots ten (10) and eleven (11) in block fifty-one (51) in school section addition to Chicago in the east half of the north-west quarter of section 11, town 39, north, range 14, east of the third principal meridian." It is conceded, that the correct description of the property is, "Lots ten (10) and eleven (11) and the south seven and two-twelfths (7 2/12) feet of lot 7 in block fifty-one (51)," etc. The description in this particular statement of one of the creditors fails to mention seven and one-sixth feet of the land in question. The statements, filed by all the other creditors, contained the correct description.

We recognize the force of this objection, and a proper disposition of it is not free from difficulty. The appellant in this case is a purchaser from the owners who made the contracts with appellees for the construction of the building. The lien, given by the statute to a mechanic or material-man for work done or materials furnished in the erection or repair of a building, will attach from the date of the contract; and whoever purchases the property after the contract is made purchases subject to the lien under that contract, and is bound by it. (Clark v. Moore, 64 Ill. 273; FranklinSavings Bank v. Taylor, 131 id. 376; Paddock v. Stout, 121 id. 571; Coleman on Mechanics' Liens, secs. 110, 164, 168). But it is a general rule, that, where the interests of such a purchaser are to be affected, a stricter construction of the Lien law will be adhered to than is followed in cases arising between the mechanic or material-man and the original owner. (Nibbe v. Brauhn, 24 Ill. 268; Phillips on Mechanics' Liens, sec. 20). The question then arises, whether the description of the premises contained in the statement or claim for lien, as above quoted, is a sufficient compliance, as against a purchaser from the owners, with said section 4, which requires a statement "containing a correct description of the property to be charged with the lien."

Said section 4 provides, that "every creditor or contractor, who wishes to avail himself of the provisions of this act, shall file with the clerk of the circuit court of the county in which the building, erection or other improvement to be charged with the lien is situated, a just and true statement or account or demand due him after allowing all credits, setting forth the time when such material was furnished or labor performed, and containing a correct description of the property to be charged with the lien, and verified by an affidavit," etc.

Section 28 in the amended act of 1887 provides, that "no creditor shall be allowed to enforce a lien created under the provisions of this act, as against or to the prejudice of any other creditor or encumbrancer or purchaser, unless a claim for a lien shall have been filed with the clerk of the circuit court, as provided in section 4 of this act, within four months after the last payment shall have become due and payable," etc. (3 Starr Cur. Stat. pp. 819, 822).

We have said, that the object of requiring the statement to set forth "the times when such material was furnished or labor performed," is to enable those interested to know from the claim itself, that it is such as can be enforced. (McDonald v. Rosengarten, 134 Ill. 126).

In Campbell v. Jacobson, supra, we said that the requirement set forth in section 4 "must be at least substantially complied with, and, unless that is done, the (his) lien can not be enforced."

The description of the property in the statement, or claim of lien, is designed to be of value, as notice, both to the owner and to purchasers. (Phillips on Mechanics' Liens, sec. 378). "Only such descriptions as are calculated to mislead subsequent purchasers and creditors, or fail to locate the premises, invalidate the claim." (2 Jones on Liens, sec. 1421). Acts, giving mechanics' liens, are said, as a general thing, to contemplate that the claimants should prepare their own papers; and, hence, courts are reluctant to set aside such claims merely for loose description. A description is sufficient, if there is enough in it to enable a party familiar with the locality to identify the premises, intended to be described, with reasonable certainty. "It is not necessary that the description should be either full or precise;" and, so far as purchasers are concerned, its office is to give them notice. (Phillips on Mechanics' Liens, secs. 379, 381). "The property must be described with convenient or reasonable certainty." (Ibid). Some of the text books and decisions require greater certainty in the description, where the rights of third persons are to be affected by the lien, than in cases where the contest is wholly between the material-man and the land owner, whose property has been improved by the material furnished. It appears from the record in this case, that one of the considerations for the transfer of the property in question to appellant was, that he should take the building subject to all liens. But, whether he can be regarded as a third person within the meaning of the distinction above drawn, or not, sections 4 and 28, as quoted, when read together, plainly mean, that a statement is sufficient, even as against other creditors, encumbrancers or purchasers, if it contains "a correct description of the property to be charged with the lien." (Campbell v. Jacobson, supra).

What, then, is "a correct description?" Mr. Phillips, in his work on Mechanics' Liens, says: "The general rule," (that a description that identifies is sufficient), "is not altered, although the law may require a ``correct' description of the property to be given. The term, ``correct description,' means only such description which identifies the individual object intended to be designated." (Phillips on Mechanics' Liens, sec. 378).

Applying these definitions to the description now under consideration, we are inclined to hold, that the description is sufficient under all the facts of this case, although it is inaccurate. The statement sets forth, that the material of this particular creditor was furnished for the repairing and improvement of the brick building upon lots 10 and 11. As matter of fact, that building covered seven and two-twelfths feet more than lots 10 and 11. But lots 10, 11 and 7 were all in block 51. There were no other lots 10 and 11 in block 51 than those on which this building, which covered lots 10 and 11 and the south seven and one-sixth feet of lot 7, stood. Section 1 of the act of 1874, which was in force in February, 1891, when the first petition herein was filed, provides, that the party entitled to the lien shall have it upon the landand building. (2 Starr Cur. p. 1512). Now, it is quite manifest, that a statement, which claimed a lien upon the building situated on lots 10 and 11 in block 51, was sufficient to notify owners and purchasers, that a lien was claimed upon the building which covered those two lots and the seven and one-sixth feet adjoining them. The description was not calculated to mislead subsequent purchasers and creditors, and was sufficient to enable them to identify the premises, intended to be described, as the premises which were covered by the brick building referred to.

In Willamette Steam Mills Co. v. Kremer, 94 Cal. 205, the Supreme Court of California has held just such a defective description as that under consideration to be sufficient. In that case, under a statute which gave mechanics and material-men a lien for labor and materials furnished for the construction of a building, and required the filing of a claim containing "a description of the property to be charged with the lien sufficient for identification," a claim of lien was filed, which described the building as being on lot 6 in block 28, when, as matter of fact, it was upon lot 6 and a part of lot 7, and the court there said: "We are of the opinion, that the description of the property in the claim of lien filed * * * is a sufficient compliance with the statute. * * * Nor was the sufficiency of the description impaired by the statement that the building was on lot 6 in that block. The greater portion of it was in fact upon that lot, and the building intended was thus sufficiently identified, notwithstanding it extended a short distance beyond the line of division between the two lots. * * * In the absence of any ambiguity or uncertainty, the statement must be held sufficient, whenever it can be determined from it what building was intended; and, as a general rule, the sufficiency of the description is a question of fact to be determined by the trial court."

Fourth — Various other objections are discussed by counsel for appellant. Many of these objections, though specific enough as stated by counsel in their briefs, were not thus specific as made before the master, and in the exceptions to his report. Such objections and exceptions were so general in their character, as to give no indication of the particular points now sought to be included in them. This is not a correct practice. Objections to a master's report should be made before the master before the report is returned into court, and should point out the grounds of objection with reasonable certainty; the exceptions, filed to the report after it is returned into court, should correspond with the objections made before the master, and be confined to such objections as were allowed or overruled by the master; and such exceptions are regarded as in the nature of special demurrers, and the party objecting must point out the error. (Hurd v. Goodrich, 59 Ill. 450; Moffett v. Hanner, 154 id. 649).

We have, however, considered the objections of counsel other than those herein particularly discussed, and find that they are exceedingly technical, and not well taken. They relate mostly to the sufficiency of the statements required to be filed by section 4. We think, that the respective statements filed by the appellees with the clerk of the circuit court, conform substantially to that section, and were filed within the time thereby required. Others of the objections relate to the statements, under oath, delivered by the several appellees to the owner or owners of the premises, giving the number, name of every sub-contractor, mechanic or workman in their employ, or persons furnishing material, with their names, rates of wages, etc., as required by section 35 of the Mechanic's Lien law as amended by act of June 16, 1887. (3 Starr Cur. p. 825). We think, that these statements were in substantial compliance with section 35, and that there are no defects in them, sufficient to justify a reversal.

The judgment of the Appellate Court is affirmed.

Judgment affirmed.