Gould v. Barnard

Per Curiam. The record herein presents a singular case. The action was brought to enforce payment of $345.60 for certain plumbing alleged to have been done in defendant’s building, situate in the city of Butte, Montana, by foreclosure of a mechanic’s lien on said building. The controversy centers upon the plumbing done in fitting rooms in said building to be occupied by Dr. Murray. It appears that the block was rebuilt, after destruction by fire, by J. W. Lambourn, contractor and builder, under a contract with defendant, Barnard, the owner of said property; that such contract provided for the construction of said block, with certain plumbing to be done therein, which building contract, according to the testimony of defendant, contemplated and included the plumbing, which is the subject of controversy in this suit. . It further appears that plaintiffs were contracted with by said Lambourn to do certain other plumbing in said building, under two special contracts, one of which called for plumbing to the amount of $790, and the other called for plumbing to the amount of $465. In their complaint plaintiffs set forth three items of plumbing—the first two above mentioned, and the [336] third item of $345.60—and admit payment of the first- two, and seek to enforce payment for the third item by this action, by foreclosure of the lien which it appears they filed upon said property. Defendant denies that the value of said third item of plumbing exceeded $100, and also alleges that the same was included and paid for in the plumbing comprised in the contract above mentioned, for which $790 were paid. The jury impaneled to try the issue involved returned their verdict in favor of plaintiffs, and judgment was rendered accordingly, foreclosing their lien. The caséis here on defendant’s appeal from the order denying his motion for new trial on the assignment that the evidence is insufficient to support the verdict; appellant’s counsel insisting that there is no evidence to support the finding that the plumbing here in controversy was done under, or by virtue of, any contract. We are inclined to the opinion that it might have been necessary to sustain appellant’s contention, had the want of a contract or authority to do said work been made an issue, and defendant’s counsel had rested their case upon their motion for nonsuit interposed at the close,of plaintiffs’ testimony; for the record, up to that point, hardly presents sufficient evidence to support a finding in favor of plaintiffs. The weakness of the case, up to that point, lies in the failure to show, substantially, an express or implied contract on the part of defendant, or his builder, Lambourn, with plaintiffs, to do the plumbing in question. But defendant did not rest on his motion for non-suit, and his position was never so strong afterwards. The testimony which he introduced, we think, materially cures the weakness of plaintiffs’ showing, and they are entitled to any support supplied by the evidénce offered on the part of defendant after the motion for nonsuit was overruled. (Sweeney v. Great Falls etc. Ry. Co., 11 Mont. 531; McKay v. Montana Union Ry. Co., 13 Mont. 15.) It is shown by the evidence offered by defendant that the plumbing in controversy was done in fitting up said rooms for Dr. Murray, as provided in the contract between defendant, Barnard, and Lambourn, contractor, to erect and finish said block. Defendant, Barnard, asserts this in his testimony; and the same is asserted in the deposition of Lambourn, introduced [337] on behalf of defendant, with the qualification, according to Lambourn’s statement, that such plumbing exceeded that called for in the building contract by one item. The same is further shown by the testimony of Perry on behalf of defendant, to the effect that he, along with defendant, on the completion of said building, went through it, and checked up the items of plumbing, to see whether the same had been done as required by the terms of the building contract with Lambourn, and that they found such plumbing, including that in the rooms for Dr. Murray, done satisfactorily, according to the terms of said contract. Therefore, it appears that this plumbing in controversy was not work or expense put upon said building in excess of that contemplated by the building contract; and it also follows that said contractor, Lambourn, pursuant to the terms of the building contract, was obliged to do, or cause to be done, the plumbing in said rooms, as it was found by the owner in checking the work over. The evidence introduced on behalf of defendant shows that both the contractor, Lambourn, and Barnard were present every day during the construction and plumbing of said building, superintending the same. Now, as observed above, the evidence offered in the case is obscure, as to showing any special contract to do this particular plumbing, but the amount of a contract, expressed or implied, to do the plumbing in said rooms, was not the real issue presented by defendant’s answer. The answer does not deny that plaintiffs had authority to do said plumbing. The issue tendered is, as before stated: 1. That the value of said plumbing does not exceed $100; and 2. That it was paid for in the item of $790 paid to plaintiffs for certain plumbing in said building, as aforesaid. The answer does not controvert the fact that plaintiffs had express or implied authority to do the plumbing in controversy. The controversy is therefore narrowed down, according to the pleadings, to the question whether said plumbing was of the reasonable value alleged by plaintiffs, and whether it had been paid for, on both of which issues the evidence offered by defendant hardly raises a substantial conflict. [338] The ease made out shows that defendant contracted with Lambourn to have said plumbing in the rooms to be occupied by Dr. Murray done along with the rest of the plumbing called for in the building contract, and that defendant paid Lambourn therefor. But that plaintiffs received payment for said plumbing is not shown. As the lien law now stands in this state, in order to protect his property against this lien, Barnard should have seen to it that the subcontractors were paid for work done, within the contract price. The building is therefore liable to a lien therefor. Order denying a new trial affirmed. Affirmed. All concur.