Dewsnap v. Davidson
Supreme Court of Rhode Island
Assumpsit. On demurrer to the replication. This action was assumpsit for violation of a contract to build a house, the plaintiffs alleging that the house was badly constructed. The defendant pleaded that before this action he had filed a petition for a mechanic's lien to obtain payment from the plaintiffs’ interest in the house, which was carried on to a final decree in equity and settled all questions of payments and contract performance.
Read the full summary
Assumpsit. On demurrer to the replication. This action was assumpsit for violation of a contract to build a house, the plaintiffs alleging that the house was badly constructed. The defendant pleaded that before this action he had filed a petition for a mechanic's lien to obtain payment from the plaintiffs’ interest in the house, which was carried on to a final decree in equity and settled all questions of payments and contract performance. The plaintiffs replied that in the proceedings under the lien petition they made no claim for the defects of the defendant’s work and for their damages…
1Per curiam
The court is of the opinion that the demurrer to the replication should be overruled. The plaintiffs were not barred by the decree in the lien suit from bringing an action for the damages sustained by the failure of the defendant to comply with his contract. While they might have offered evidence in the lien suit to recoup the damages sustained they were not bound to do so, but were at liberty to reserve their claim and to bring suit on it as they have done. Ives v. Van Epps, 22 Wend. 155, 157; Gillespie v. Torrance, 25 N. Y. 306, 310; Britton v. Turner, 6 N. H. 481, 495; Austin v. Foster, 9…
2Cases cited3 opinions
- Gillespie v. . TorranceNew York Court of Appeals · 1862
- Ives & M'Carty v. Van Epps & ShattuckNew York Supreme Court · 1839
- Ward v. FellersMichigan Supreme Court · 1854
3Cited by2 opinions
- Vail v. Pennsylvania Fire InsuranceSupreme Court of New Jersey · 1902
- Kirven v. Virginia-Carolina Chemical Co.Supreme Court of South Carolina · 1907