Mellon v. St. Louis Union Trust Co.

Citations

• 225 F. 693
• 140 C.C.A. 567
• 1915 U.S. App. LEXIS 2133

Syllabus

<p>1. Mechanics’ Liens <@=>5—Statute Creating-—Construction.</p> <p>Mechanics’ liens, although unknown to the common law, are not for that reason to be strictly construed, but liberally, to carry out the intention of the Legislature to protect workmen, contractors, and materialmen.</p> <p>[Ed. Note.—For other cases, see Mechanics’ Liens, Cent. Dig. §§ 3, 5; Dec. Dig. <@=>5.]</p> <p>2. Courts <@=>366—Federal Courts—State Degisions.</p> <p>In construing a state statute, the federal courts will follow the construction placed thereon by the highest court of the state.</p> <p>[Ed. Note.—For other cases, see Courts, Cent. Dig. §§ 954-957, 960-968; Dec. Dig. <@=>366.</p> <p>Conclusiveness of judgment between federal and state courts, see notes to Kansas City, Ft. S. & M. R. Co. v. Morgan, 21 C. C. A. 478; Union & Planters1 Bank of Memphis v. City of Memphis, 49 C. 0. A. 468; Converse v. Stewart, 118 C. C. A. 215.]</p> <p>8. Mechanics’ Liens <@=>184—Property Subject—Interest or Lessee— Statute.</p> <p>Under Rev. Laws Okl. 1910, § 3862, providing that, if the title to land is not in the person, with whom a contract for the erection of a building thereon is made, but it is leased and unimproved, a lien shall be allowed on the buildings and improvements separately from the real estate, where unimproved land was leased, the lessee building thereon, the lessor’s fee in the premises was not subject to the liens arising under the building contract, since the language of the statute clearly showed that a mechanic’s lien, when the realty was leased and unimproved, should be allowed only on the buildings.</p> <p>LJEd. Note.—For other cases, see Mechanics’ Liens, Cent. Dig. § 323; Dec. Dig. <@=>184.]</p> <p>4. Mechanics’ Liens' <@=>198—Priorities—Lessor’s Lien under Lease.</p> <p>Whore land was leased, the instrument giving the lessor a first lien on a building to be erected to secure unpaid rents, etc., and the contractors for such building had notice that the party with whom they de