Spaulding v. Burke

Hadley, J.

The respondent brought this suit against appellants to foreclose an alleged lien upon certain real estate belonging to appellants Burke and wife. The claim of lien is based upon the alleged services of respondent as an architect in preparing plans and specifications for a building to he erected upon the said real estate, and in superintending the construction thereof as the architect in charge. A written agreement was entered into, signed by appellant E. C. Burke and respondent, whereby, in consideration of the sum of $1,500 to he paid by said Burke, the respondent agreed to furnish the necessary plans and specifications, and to look after the construction, of a twelve-apartment building. It is alleged that $1,000 and no more lias been paid, and foreclosure of a lien is demanded for the balance.

Appellant Ackerson answered separately, denying material allegations of the complaint, admitting that she claims a lien against the premises, denying that it is inferior to respondent’s alleged lien, and alleging that it is a first lien. Appellants Burke and wife answered, admitting the claim of appellant Ackerson, and alleging, that at all times mentioned the respondent and one A. J. Bussell were copartners, under the firm name of Spaulding-Bussell Company; that appellant E. C. Burke entered into a written contract with respondent and said Bussell as said firm; that it was agreed and understood that said firm should furnish the plans, specifications, and details, and should superintend the construction of said building, for the sum of $1,500; that, prior to the commencement of this action, the said sum was fully paid. The answer also sets up a claim for damages by way of counterclaim for alleged defective work.

A trial was had before the court without a jury, which resulted in a judgment in favor of respondent against appellants Burke and wife for the sum of $500 and interest, together with an attorney’s fee of $150 and costs. The judgment was also declared to be a first lien upon the said real estate, and foreclosure of the lien was decreed. This appeal is from said judgment and decree.

The principal contention of appellants is that the contract for the services was with the firm of Spaulding-Bussell Company, and that the services were rendered by that firm rather than by respondent individually. It is therefore urged that respondent cannot himself maintain this action, since he is not, as an individual, the party in interest. The original written contract purports to have been signed by respondent as an individual, and neither the writing, nor the signature thereto, makes any reference to the firm¹ of Spaulding-Bussell Company. Nevertheless, the firm of Spaulding-Bussell Company existed when the written contract w|as signed, and the firm was engaged in conducting the general business of architects. Certain negotiations were had between respondent and appellant E. C. Burke, which involved, among other things, the services of the former as an architect. Such negotiations began some weeks before the formation of the partnership between Spaulding and Bussell, but the aforesaid written agreement was made after the partnership came into existence.

Bespondent testified that the original negotiations contemplated a partnership arrangement between himself and appellant E. O. Burke by which respondent was to share in the ownership of the property when improved, and that his services were to be considered as a contribution to this arrangement. He further testified that, after acting for a time under such an understanding, he desired to withdraw from the partnership arrangement with Burke, and that it was agreed that Burke should pay him $1,500 as a consideration for his withdrawal from, and release of, his interest in that arrangement, and also as further consideration for his services in furnishing the plans and specifications, and in superintending, as an architect, the construction of the building which Burke proposed to erect; said building to be of the same plan as originally contemplated under the joint arrangement. The Written contract was the consummation of the last named arrangement. He also testified that, immediately after the contract was made, he told Bussell, his partner in the architect business, that $600 of the $1,500 covered by the contract, would go to the firm of Spaulding-Bussell Oo., for the architect’s services, and that the balance of $900 would go to the respondent himself as his compensation for the release of his interest in the joint arrangement between bimself and Burke. Bussell denied that respondent made sucb a statement to him, and. insisted that the entire proceeds of the written contract were intended to cover architect’s services only, that the firm rendered the services, and that the whole sum belonged to it.

Accepting, however, the statement of respondent, by which he must be bound, it follows that he did turn over to the firm of Spaulding-Bussell Company an interest in the contract with Burke to the extent of $600, which sum he says was to cover the architect work contemplated by the contract. Under the respondent’s own statement, therefore, the architect firm became interested in the contract to the extent of the actual architect services, and the remainder belonged to him as his compensation for releasing his interest in his arrangement with appellant E. C. Burke. Bespondent admits the payment of $1,000 upon the $1,500 contract, and says he has accounted to the firm of Spaulding-Bussell Company for $600 which belonged to said firm for the architect services. This accounting, he said, was made by statements respectively between the Seattle and Tacoma offices of said firm, in which statements the $600 item was included.

Accepting the statement of respondent as true, it would thus appear that the claim for architect services has been paid. That claim was the only lienable item) included in the contract between respondent and appellant E. C. Burke. As we have seen, the remaining $900 was of such a nature that no lien can be enforced therefor. It was simply founded upon a promise to pay that sum in consideration of a release of interest in a joint scheme for owning lots and improving them. Bo element of a lien exists in such a contract. $400 upon the remaining $900 has been paid, and respondent seeks to enforce a lien for the balance of $500.

Respondent contends that there was no agreement, when the $1,000 was paid, as to how it should be applied, and that he therefore has the right to apply the same to the liquidation of that portion of the contract amount not covering lienable items, which he claims discharges that amount, pays $100 on the Henable architect claim, and leaves $500 thereof subject to enforcement as a lien. Conceding that respondent had a right to apply the payments as he chose, it follows from what has already been said of his own testimony that he chose to, and did, apply $600 thereof to the payment of the architect claim. When he accounted to the firm for that $600 as paid, he thereby applied so much of the $1,000 to that purpose. We think it follows that no lien can be maintained for the balance.

The findings and conclusions of the court sustain respondent’s theory that appellant E. C. Burke is personally liable for the remaining $500. We think, under the evidence, that the court did not err in that particular, and that personal judgment was properly entered in the action. § 5911, Bal. Code. The personal judgment is also against appellant Matilda Burke, the' wife of E. C. Burke; and it is urged that the court erred in its finding numbered 2, wherein it was found that the aforesaid written contract was made by both E. C. Burke and wife, through E. C. Burke. It is urged that there was no evidence which connected Matilda Burke with the contract. The record discloses no exception to that finding. It is true, Matilda Burke did except generally to the decree, as did all the appellants, but it is not specified that her exception is specially directed to the personal judgment feature, and it does not appear that the court’s attention was called to the matter now urged in her behalf. Without an exception to the finding upon which the personal judgment against her was founded, thus clearly challenging the court’s attention to the point, we do not think she should now he heard to raise it for the first time. Moran Bros. Co. v. Northern Pac. R. Co., 19 Wash. 266, 53 Pac. 49, 1101.

It is assigned that the court erred in sustaining respondent’s objection to the introduction of evidence in support of the averments in the way of counterclaim. We think the court did not err in that regard. Prior to the offer of this evidence, appellants had introduced evidence to the effect that payment in full of the contract amount had been made. The averments in the counterclaim did not state that the alleged defects '¡causing the damages claimed arose after that payment was made, and that they could not reasonably have been discovered prior to that time. Having attempted to show full payment at a time when the damage, if any, existed, we think, under the counterclaim as pleaded, that appellants were thereafter es-topped to urge damages in reduction of a contract amount which they also claimed to have voluntarily paid in full.

Por the foregoing reasons we think the judgment should he modified in the following particulars, to wit: The decree of foreclosure should he vacated, and the personal judgment modified to the extent of excluding therefrom any amount for attorney’s fees or costs incident to the preparation and filing of a lien notice. The cause is remanded with instructions to the lower court to proceed in accordance herewith. ,

Pullerton, C. J., and Anders, Mount, and Dunbar, JJ., concur.