365 Pa. 141 | Pa. | 1950
Opinion by
This appeal is from an order of the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County discharging defendant’s rule for judgment on the whole record in an action arising from the filing of a mechanic’s lien by plaintiffs.
Katherine Short, one of defendants, engaged Nicholas LeDonne, the other defendant, a contractor, to erect a building on land which she owned. LeDonne in turn entered into an oral contract with plaintiffs to install the plumbing and heating systems in that building. The material and labor were supplied by plaintiffs in accordance with the oral agreement and, when defendants defaulted after part payment, plaintiffs served notice on them of an intent to file a claim for a mechanic’s lien. Defendant Short, following the procedure set forth in section 31, of the Act of June 4, 1901, P. L. 431
The purpose of the required notice is to inform the owner of the demand and the nature thereof in order that he may protect himself in the manner provided in the Act. Am. Car Co. v. Alexandria Water Co., 215 Pa. 520, 523, 64 A. 683. The question whether a particular notice contains language sufficiently descriptive to inform the owner of the nature of the demand is usually,
In the instant case plaintiffs informed defendant Short that they were filing a claim for a specific sum of money due them for labor and materials used in the installation of all heating and plumbing equipment in the building she had had constructed. This type of labor and material is so readily distinguishable in form, nature and design from any other used in the construction of a building that a requirement of a more detailed description would not only be in conflict with our earlier decisions but would also be of little advantage to the owner. Defendant Short was notified of the cost of the materials and labor for which payment had not been made and was told summarily what comprised these costs. This was sufficient to enable her to determine how much she should withhold from the contractor LeDonne .in order to avoid double payments, thereby serving the purposes of the Act of 1901, supra, and was descriptive enough to substantially comply with the requirements of section 8 of that Act.
Defendant Short has, on this appeal, raised for the first time the further objection that plaintiff failed to specify the dates when certain materials were furnished contrary to the provisions of section 8 of the Act of 1901, supra. This Court has repeatedly said that it would not consider on appeal a question which had not been raised
The description contained in plaintiffs’ notice of intent to file their mechanic’s lien having substantially met the requisites of section 8 of the Act of 1901, supra,the learned court below properly discharged defendant’s rule for judgment on the whole record.
Order affirmed.
“Any party named as a defendant in the claim filed, or admitted to defend thereagainst, may file as of course and serve a notice upon the claimant, ... to issue a scire facia's thereon within fifteen days after notice so to do.”
“Any sub-contractor, intending to file a claim, must give to tbe owner written notice to that effect, verified by affidavit, setting forth the name of the party with whom he contracted, the amount alleged to be still due, the nature of the labor or materials furnished, and the date when the last work was done or last materials furnished.”