Section 454. Power to sue for expenses or compensation.

Instead of proceeding in the manner aforesaid for the recovery of any expenses or compensation of which the amount due has been ascertained as hereinbefore provided, or after such proceedings have been taken unsuccessfully or with only partial success, the sum due or the balance of the sum due, as the case may be, may be recovered by a suit brought against the person liable for the same in any court of competent jurisdiction.