Opinion
2019-05797 Index 501742/19
03-16-2022
In the Matter of Red Hook 160, LLC, respondent, v. 2M Mechanical, LLC, appellant.
Azam & Hertz, LLP (Khalid Azam and Cox Padmore Skolnik & Shakarchy LLP, New York, NY [Stefan B. Kalina and Steven D. Skolnik], of counsel), for appellant. Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP, New York, NY (Michael R. Glanzman and Daniel Q. Horner of counsel), for respondent.
Azam & Hertz, LLP (Khalid Azam and Cox Padmore Skolnik & Shakarchy LLP, New York, NY [Stefan B. Kalina and Steven D. Skolnik], of counsel), for appellant.
Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP, New York, NY (Michael R. Glanzman and Daniel Q. Horner of counsel), for respondent.
HECTOR D. LASALLE, P.J. FRANCESCA E. CONNOLLY ANGELA G. IANNACCI PAUL WOOTEN, JJ.
DECISION & ORDER
In a proceeding pursuant to Lien Law § 38 to compel 2M Mechanical, LLC, to provide an itemized statement relating to a mechanic's lien, 2M Mechanical, LLC, appeals from an order of the Supreme Court, Kings County (Francois A. Rivera, J.), dated April 17, 2019. The order, insofar as appealed from, granted that branch of the petitioner's motion which was to cancel a mechanic's lien.
ORDERED that the order is reversed insofar as appealed from, on the law, with costs, and that branch of the petitioner's motion which was to cancel a mechanic's lien is denied.
On or about December 30, 2018, the appellant, 2M Mechanical, LLC (hereinafter 2M), filed a notice of mechanic's lien against real property owned by the petitioner, Red Hook 160, LLC (hereinafter Red Hook). Red Hook served a demand for an itemized statement pursuant to Lien Law § 38, and thereafter commenced this proceeding to compel 2M to provide an itemized statement that complied with the requirements of the Lien Law. Although 2M subsequently produced an itemized statement, the Supreme Court determined that the statement did not meet the statutory requirements, and consequently cancelled the lien (see id.).
On or about March 19, 2019, 2M filed a second notice of mechanic's lien pertaining to the same claim, which included additional itemization. Red Hook moved, inter alia, to cancel the second mechanic's lien, on the basis that the filing of a second mechanic's lien after cancellation of the first lien under Lien Law § 38 was impermissible. By order dated April 17, 2019, the Supreme Court granted that branch of Red Hook's motion. 2M appeals.
Lien Law § 38 requires a lienor, upon demand, to provide a statement in writing setting forth, among other things, "the items of labor and/or material and the value thereof which make up the amount for which he [or she] claims a lien." The statute further authorizes the commencement of a special proceeding upon a lienor's failure to comply, and ultimately permits a court to cancel a lien if the lienor does not sufficiently comply with a court order requiring itemization (see id.). The statute, however, does not prohibit a lienor from filing a new lien on the same claim following such cancellation (see id.; cf. Lien Law § 39), and the courts have generally recognized that the timely filing of a successive lien on the same claim is permissible to cure an irregularity (see Berger Mfg. Co. v City of New York, 206 NY 24, 32; Munoz Trucking Corp. v Darcon Constr., Inc., 153 A.D.3d 838, 839; Madison Lexington Venture v Crimmins Contr. Co., 159 A.D.2d 256, 257). Therefore, since 2M's second mechanic's lien was filed within the time provided by statute (see Lien Law § 10), the Supreme Court erred in granting that branch of Red Hook's motion which was to cancel it (see Berger Mfg. Co. v City of New York, 206 NY at 32; Munoz Trucking Corp. v Darcon Constr., Inc., 153 A.D.3d at 839; Madison Lexington Venture v Crimmins Contr. Co., 159 A.D.2d at 257; Matter of Cohen, 209 A.D. 413, 414; see also Supreme Plumbing Co., Inc. v Seadco Bldg. Corp., Inc., 224 A.D. 844).
The parties' remaining contentions need not be reached in light of our determination.
LASALLE, P.J., CONNOLLY, IANNACCI and WOOTEN, JJ., concur.