RHEEM MANUFACTURING COMPANY, Plaintiff and Appellant, v. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA et al., Defendants and Respondents. (And Consolidated Cases.)

Holding

The court held that a purchase-money deed of trust, recorded prior to the commencement of any improvements on the property, retains priority over subsequently filed mechanics' liens, and that the beneficiary of such a deed is not an "owner" or person with an "estate" in the property under Code of Civil Procedure section 1183.1, subdivision (b), and thus has no duty to post a notice of nonresponsibility to protect its priority.