Coombs

Separate appeals were taken from judgments foreclosing mechanics’ liens in these actions, which were consolidated for trial.

The appellant is the owner of eight lots in Los Angeles County which are described in the complaint. November 30, 1922, he executed a ten-year lease of the property to Green Mill Catering Company, a corporation. The lease recited that it was the intention of the lessee to promptly erect a building thereon to he used for restaurant and entertainment purposes. Before this structure was commenced and on December 11, 1922, the appellant posted and recorded notices under the provisions of section 1192 of the Code of Civil Procedure for the purpose of exempting the real property from liability for a failure to pay for this structure. A few days later the lessee constructed a concrete foundation for the proposed building. No further work was ever performed on this building. The Catering Company became financially embarrassed. The construction of the building was abandoned. The lease was transferred to another corporation called the Green Mill, Inc. The appellant resided on the premises and knew of the abandonment of the structure on the part of the Catering…