Taylor v. Taylor

Summary

The Connecticut Appellate Court affirmed the trial court’s judgment discharging a mechanic’s lien filed by Thaddeus Taylor against property associated with the estate of Charles Taylor, Jr. The court held that the defendant’s claims concerning the plaintiffs’ standing and the statutory service of the lien were without merit, including because he failed to establish probable cause that the lien had been properly served.

Holdings

1. The plaintiffs had standing because, as coadministrators of the estate, they had statutory authority over the property and could bring the application to discharge the lien.
2. The trial court properly discharged the mechanic's lien because the defendant failed to establish probable cause that the lien had been served on the property owner within the time and manner required by statute.

Questions Presented

1. Whether the plaintiffs, as coadministrators of the estate and persons with authority over the subject property, had standing to apply for discharge of the mechanic's lien.
2. Whether the trial court properly discharged the mechanic's lien after finding that the defendant failed to establish probable cause that the lien had been served in the manner required by statute.

Disposition

affirmed