31 Pa. Super. 78 | Pa. Super. Ct. | 1906
Opinion by
The city of Philadelphia, on May 18, 1880, filed a municipal' claim for curbing and grading against a lot on the southwest corner of Indiana and Boudinot streets, and against Frank G. Nell and John Wallace, registered owners, and Paul Thurlow, registered and known owner. A writ of scire facias to continue the lien of the claim was issued on March 6, 1885, and personally served upon Paul Thurlow, the registered and actual owner, and judgment duly entered, on April 25, 1885, for want of an affidavit of defense. Writs of scire facias were issued to revive and continue the lien of the claim on March 14, 1890, and April 19, 1890, respectively, and were returned nihil habet, and judgment for want of an appearance was entered on September 25, 1893. Proceedings were again taken to revive and continue the'lien of the claim in 1898, writs of scire facias having issued on June 17, and July 20, respectively, and judgment was entered upon two returns of nihil habet on October 20, 1898, for want of an appearance. On June 22, 1903, a suggestion was filed of record that Samuel Rowen and John H. Stokley were then the actual registered owners, and on the same day a writ of scire facias issued to continue the lien of the claim, which writ was personally served on Rowen and Stokley and there was a return of nihil habet as to the other
The only defense averred in the affidavits is'that William D. Neilson purchased the property at sheriff’s sale on July 1,1895, and duly entered his deed for the same in the registry office of the bureau of surveys on July 15, 1895; that said Neilson, the then actual and registered owner of said lot, who had duly recorded and registered his deed therefor, was not made a party defendant in the scire facias which issued to continue the lien of the claim in 1898. The deponents aver that the lien of the claim has expired because of the failure to summon Neilson as a defendant in the proceedings to revive the lien had in 1898.
The learned counsel representing the appellants contends that the registry acts of March 14,1865, and March 29, 1867, require that the registered owner at the time the scire facias issues shall be made a party to the proceedings, and that the Act of June 1, 1887, P. L. 289, “limiting the'time during which judgments shall be a lien on real estate” makes it
As against claims for taxes and municipal improvements the right of an owner to personal notice, in the city of Philadelphia, depends upon whether he has registered his title, under the provisions of the acts of 1865 and 1867; the fact that he had recorded his deed gives him no advantage. When the title has not been registered at the time the claim accrues as a lien of record, the mention of the name of the owner in connection with the assessment of the land is only required as descriptive of the land, and when the assessment and the claim themselves clearly and absolutely identify the land, that is all
The judgment is affirmed.