Mechanic's lien

Defined in 7 dictionaries — Case Law, Cyclopedic (1922), Ballentine's (1916), Bouvier (1914), Black's (1910), Black's (1891), Abbott (1879)

Definitions from Case Law

From 55 U.S. 434 - Winder v. Caldwell · 1852Most cited · 74 citing opinions

The title to this act shows its policy and intention. It is to secure, to 'mechanics and others, payment for labor done and materials found;' and the persons enumerated in the first section are, plainly, those mechanics and tradesmen whose personal labor or property have been incorporated into the building, and not the agents, supervisors, undertakers, or contractors, who employed them.… Its object is, not to secure contractors, who can take care of themselves, but those who may suffer loss by confiding in them. It is not the merit of the contractor, that gave rise to the system, but the protection of those who might be wronged by him, if the owner were not compelled thus to take care of their interests before he pays away the price stipulated.

The Cyclopedic Law Dictionary

Walter A. Shumaker and George Foster Longsdorf; ed. James C. Cahill · 1922

A statutory lien in favor of persons who have performed labor or furnished material for the erection or repair of any building, upon the building and the land on which it is situated.

Ballentine's Law Dictionary

James A. Ballentine · 1916

A lien upon a chattel in one’s possession for the value of his labor bestowed upon it; the' statutory lien upon land in favor of one erecting improvements thereon for the value of his labor, materials or both. See 24 Tex. Civ. App. 160, 58 S. W. 628.

Bouvier's Law Dictionary and Concise Encyclopedia

John Bouvier; revised by Francis Rawle · 1914

See Lien.

Black's Law Dictionary

Henry Campbell Black, M.A. · 1910

A spectes of lien created by statute in most of the states, which exists in favor of persons who have performed work or furnished material in and for the erection of a building. Their lien attaches to the land as well as the

A Dictionary of Law

Henry Campbell Black · 1891

A species of lien ¢reated by statute in most of the states, which exists in favor of persons who have performed work or furnished material in and fur the erection ofa building. Their lien attaches to the land as well as the building, and is intended to secure for them a priority of payment, The lien of a mechanic Is created by law, and is intended to be a security for the price and value of work performed and materials furnished, and as such it attaches te and exists on the land and the building erected thereon, from the commencementof the time that the labor is being performel and the materials furnished; and the mechanic has an actual and positive interest in the building anterior to the time of its recognition by the court, or the reducing of the amount due to a judgment. 12 Iowa, 292.

Dictionary of Terms and Phrases Used in American or English Jurisprudence

Benjamin Vaughan Abbott · 1879

A species of remedy allowed by the statute laws of most of the states to persons furnishing materials or labor towards the construction of a building, whereby, in proper cases, payment oiE their demands may be enforced out of the realty. See Lien.