Opinion
September 27, 1990
Appeal from the Supreme Court, New York County (David Edwards, Jr., J.).
In May 1985, plaintiff provided architectural goods and services to the defendants in the amount of $43,079. In October of 1987, he commenced an action for payment. The complaint requested only money damages. In November 1987, he filed a notice of pendency.
On February 27, 1990, the defendant filed an order to show cause requesting that the notice of pendency be canceled so it could convey the property to the IRS. There was no mechanic's lien nor did the plaintiff in his complaint request that an equitable lien be impressed.
The court properly canceled the notice of pendency.
On appeal, the plaintiff argues his complaint supported an action to impress an equitable lien by the court, and thus, the notice of pendency should not have been canceled. We disagree.
While it is true that a notice of pendency may be filed in any action which would affect the title to, or possession, use or enjoyment of real property (CPLR 6501; Civ Prac Act § 120), and a lis pendens may be filed in an action seeking to establish and impress an equitable lien (Rosenberg v. Ritter, 34 Misc.2d 1099, 1100), a lis pendens will be canceled where the facts alleged in the complaint are insufficient in law to support an equitable lien. (Supra, at 1099.) In the case at hand, the complaint requested only money damages, and not equitable relief. Where the cause of action asserts money damages arising out of a breach of contract, the complaint will be insufficient to justify a lis pendens. (Gokey v. Massey, 278 App. Div. 630.)
Concur — Kupferman, J.P., Sullivan, Carro and Smith, JJ.