William A. Hankinson, Respondent v. Amy E. Vantine, Appellant, Impleaded With William H. Riker, Respondents…

Summary

The New York Court of Appeals reversed the lower court's judgment that upheld a mechanic's lien against the appellant's property. The court held that a landlord's general consent to a lessee's alterations at the lessee's expense does not satisfy the consent requirement of the Mechanic's Lien Law, and that parol evidence cannot be used to vary the written consent. Consequently, the lien was invalid and a new trial was ordered.