Housekeeper v. Livingstone

Hadley, C. J. This is an action to foreclose a mechanics’ lien against a hotel in Colfax, Whitman county. The action was brought by J. O. Housekeeper against H. W. Livingstone and M. J. Maloney and wife. Livingstone was the owner of the real estate and Maloney occupied it as a tenant under a lease. A fire had seriously damaged the building and somewhat' extensive repairs were made thereon by Housekeeper, at the request of Livingstone, the owner of the fee. As a part of the repairs made by Housekeeper, certain materials and labor were furnished by him in the way of kalsomining and glazing in parts of the building. The controversy in this case arises over the last-named items. Housekeeper claims that he made the repairs at the request of both Livingstone and Maloney, and that both the fee and the leasehold estate are chargeable with the cost thereof. Livingstone claims that he expressly limited his liability for these particular repairs to $75; that he told Housekeeper if the cost exceeded said sum he must look exclusively to Maloney for the excess. Maloney denies that he directed any part of the work to be done on account of his liability, and maintains that the entire repairs were authorized and directed by Livingstone. As lessee Maloney therefore contends that Livingstone’s estate in fee is alone subject to a lien for the whole amount, and that the leasehold estate cannot be subjected to the lien for any part of the expense. The decree of the court was that the lien for the whole amount shall be enforced against the interest of Livingstone, but not against that of Maloney, and Maloney and wife were dismissed from the action. It was provided that, in the event of a sale under the decree, the purchaser shall be let into possession subject to the possession of Maloney and wife as lessees. From the decree the defendant Livingstone and the plaintiff Housekeeper have both appealed. Appellant Livingstone contends that the court erred in finding that the labor and material in excess of the value of [211] $75 were furnished at his request. There was no writing between Livingstone and Housekeeper concerning the work, and it is somewhat difficult to determine from the evidence of the conversations between them the full legal effect thereof. Housekeeper testified that Livingstone told him to go to Maloney and tell him that Livingstone would pay $75 upon the kalsomiriing and glazing, and that if Maloney desired more work done than that amount in value, he must pay for it himself. Housekeeper, however, says that Livingstone at no time said that he would in no event pay the excess of $75, but that he merely asked Housekeeper to so tell Maloney. Livingstone’s purpose appeared to be to get an agreement from his tenant Maloney to pay for part of the repairs, and this he sought to do by sending Housekeeper to Maloney. But we believe the testimony as a whole does not establish that Livingstone limited his own liability as between himself and Housekeeper. Whatever may have been his intention as between himself and Maloney, he nevertheless permitted Housekeeper to go ahead and do the work to the betterment of his property without expressly telling Housekeeper that the liability was limited to less than the full value. Under such circumstances, we think Livingstone’s liability was not limited to $75. The property belonged to Livingstone, and the primary liability to pay for all the permanent improvements made with his knowledge and without his objection was upon him, unless he so distinctly and clearly limited his liability that Housekeeper could not have reasonably understood it otherwise. After a careful examination of the evidence, we think we would not be warranted in disturbing the court’s finding that the material and labor were furnished at Livingstone’s request. The same is also true as to the finding concerning the value of the labor and material. It is next assigned that the court erred in allowing the sum of $150 as attorney’s fees. The reasonable value of the labor and materials was found to be $340,37, and the decree is for [212] the enforcement of the lien for that amount and for costs. Considering the amount involved, it is contended that the fee allowed was too large. We think the record is such that the question of excessive attorney’s fees is not reviewable here. All parties stipulated at the trial that the court should fix the amount of attorney’s fees without the introduction of any evidence upon the subject, and the amount was so fixed without evidence. Under such circumstances there is nothing for the appellate court to review. To be sure, if it manifestly appeared that the trial court abused its powers in the premises, this court might be warranted in so holding. Such a case is not presented here, however. In the absence of any evidence upon the subject and in view of the stipulation to abide the court’s decision, together with the evident sharply contested litigation and necessity for somewhat extensive legal services as shown by the record, the case before us does not present a manifest abuse of power.' So far as the appellant Livingstone is concerned, we think the judgment should be affirmed. Referring now to the appeal of Housekeeper, we find that the assignments of error relate to the failure of the court to find that the respondents Maloney and their leasehold estate are liable. It is contended that Maloney requested the improvements as well as Livingstone. The evidence, however, shows that Livingstone repeatedly said to Maloney and others, after the fire, that he would fully repair the building as rapidly as it could be done. When Housekeeper delivered Livingstone’s message to Maloney about the proposed $75 limitation, Maloney replied, in substance, that Livingstone had always said he would repair as rapidly as possible, and Housekeeper would make the repairs in question as well as others he had already made; that he, Maloney, was greatly inconvenienced by reason of the delay, and he demanded that Housekeeper should go ahead and complete the repairs or he would get someone else to make them. The entire con [213] versation and the whole evidence together convinces us that Maloney simply demanded that Housekeeper should proceed on the authority of Livingstone, as had been all the time contemplated, or he, Maloney, would see that someone else did the work. The court heard the testimony of all these persons, and we think under the evidence that we should not say it was error to refuse to find that Maloney requested the work done on his own responsibility. The dismissal of the Maloneys from the case followed as a result, and was therefore not erroneous. The contentions upon both appeals are denied, and the judgment is affirmed. Housekeeper shall recover his costs in the Livingstone appeal, and the Maloneyr shall recover their costs in the Housekeeper appeal. Mount, Crow, and Root, JJ., concur. Dunbar and Rudkin, JJ., took no part.