¶1The serious question herein for determination is, can the owner be allowed for amount expended for premiums and counsel fees in bonding liens?
¶2In the case (1892) of Biershenk v. Stokes (18 N. Y. Supp. 854) it was held that no such amounts may be legally allowed.
¶3In the case of Sealy Co., Inc., v. Ards Building Corporation (216 App. Div. 313) the court wrote (at p. 316): “ The sum left in any event is but $36, as demonstrated above, which was subject to counsel fees, expenses of bonding and petty charges for completing the work,” and in the dissenting opinion the court wrote (at pp. 317 and 318): “ This left a corrected balance of $36.13 which defendant owner claimed was subject to counsel fees and expenses of bonding, although there is no proof as to these items, and they are not pleaded in the answer of the defendant owner. They cannot be allowed without being pleaded or proved.” That case was affirmed in 244 New York, 565.
¶4Herein such claim was pleaded and proved.
¶5I find as follows:
¶6That the amount due from owner is.................. $1,250 00
¶7Cost of unfinished work.................. $489 72
¶8Premiums on three bonds................. 146 00
¶9Counsel fees for bonding three liens........ 75 00
¶10Total........................................ 710 72
¶11Amount due from owner............................ $539 28
¶12With $100 costs................................... 100 00
¶13In all....................................... $639 28
¶14Present findings.--