Luther v. Silver

Harris, J.

The action is one to enforce a mechanic’s lien on real property. The defendant Silver appeared voluntarily herein and has answered. Prior to the commencement of the action an application was made to discharge the hen and to substitute in place thereof an undertaking, and an order to that effect was granted in the County Court and such undertaking was provided, with the defendant American Surety Company of New York as surety thereon. The action was brought to trial, and on the trial it appeared that the amount of the lien which the action was brought to enforce, to wit, the sum of $4,271.56, was an amount beyond the jurisdiction of the County Court of Erie county. (Lien Law, § 41.) Thereupon the court refused to proceed with the trial of the action, and the attorney for the plaintiffs, having been thus advised of his error in bringing this action in the County Court of the county of Erie, made the motion now under consideration.

On the argument of this motion the defendants have raised the point that so long as the County Court of Erie county did not have jurisdiction to the amount for which it was sought to enforce the lien, the situation is the same as if no action had been brought at all and that, therefore, section 110 of the Civil Practice Act would not apply and that this motion should be denied. However, I am of the opinion that service having been made of the summons herein, the County Court of Erie county has jurisdiction over the parties and over this action. It is true that the County Court, if a motion to dismiss, on the ground of lack of jurisdiction, were made, could have dismissed the action, but to grant an order of dismissal it would have had to have jurisdiction to do so.

In my opinion, this is an action that clearly comes within the provisions of section 110 of the Civil Practice Act and, therefore, the plaintiffs are entitled to an order transferring the above-entitled cause from the County Court of Erie county to the Supreme Court of Erie county.

In view of the fact that this action had proceeded to trial, I believe that there should be imposed in connection with this order certain costs which the plaintiffs should pay as a condition of such order being granted. I am, therefore, allowing the sum of thirty dollars to the defendants herein. Such allowance is made to the defendants together and not to each defendant, due to the fact that both defendants have the same interest in this action and, although they have appeared by separate attorneys, both attorneys are engaged in practice together.

Accordingly, an order based upon the above may be presented to me for signature.