Arkansas Louisiana Gas Co. v. Moffitt

436 S.W.2d 91, 245 Ark. 992, 51 A.L.R. 3d 1078, 1969 Ark. LEXIS 1391
CourtSupreme Court of Arkansas
DecidedJanuary 20, 1969
Docket5-4719
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 436 S.W.2d 91 (Arkansas Louisiana Gas Co. v. Moffitt) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of Arkansas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Arkansas Louisiana Gas Co. v. Moffitt, 436 S.W.2d 91, 245 Ark. 992, 51 A.L.R. 3d 1078, 1969 Ark. LEXIS 1391 (Ark. 1969).

Opinion

J. Fred Jones, Justice.

This is a materialmen’s lien case presented to this court on appeal by the Arkansas Louisiana Gas Company from a decree of the Cleburne County Chancery Court denying a lien on real property belonging to appellees, Ralph and Gladys Moffitt.

The record reveals the following facts: In early 1966, John E. Bryant and Sons Lumber Company, Inc. contracted with appellees, Ralph A. and Gladys L. Moffitt, to build an air conditioned motel for the Moffitts near Heber Springs, Arkansas. Bryant subcontracted the electrical and plumbing work, which included the air conditioning portion of the original contract, to appellee Hayden. On March 10, 1966, Hayden purchased from the appellant air conditioning equipment for installation in the motel. As a general policy, in the sale of its air conditioning equipment, the appellant furnished supervision and advice on installation without additional cost to contractors and other purchasers of equipment. The equipment sold to Hayden was delivered on June 3 and installed by Hayden. Appellant supervised and instructed Hayden in how to wire thermostats on the equipment and in connection with other items during the period of installation. The motel was open for business on July 1, 1966, and the air conditioning equipment was in operation on that date. On July 6, 1966, the equipment which controlled the regularity with which the blowers came on was recalibrated under the supervision of appellant. Hayden failed to pay the appellant for the equipment and on November 3, 1966, appellant filed a lien account claiming a materialmen’s lien against the motel property. The question presented to the chancellor was whether appellant’s lien account was timely filed. The chancellor held that it was not and the appellant relies on the following point for reversal :

“The chancellor’s finding that Appellant is not entitled to a lien is against the preponderance of the evidence and should be reversed.”

Memorandum of the transaction between the appellant and Hayden was evidenced by two instruments dated March 10,1966. One, a purchase order No. 5 was signed by Horace Hayden, and the other, designated in writing, “memo contract” was on a printed security agreement form and was signed by E. O. Allen, sales representative for the appellant. The purchase order No. 5 appears in the record as follows:

“Ref Ralph Moffitt
Motel Heber Springs Ark — Job #2402
Please go ahead with order for Equip on above job.
Thanhs
Horace Hayden
2477.00 + Tax 69.91
$ 2546.81”
The memo contract on the security agreement form appears as follows:
“ Memo Contract
Security Agreement
The Arkansas Louisiana Has Company agrees to sell and the undersigned purchaser agrees to buy the following described property:
1 — EE 42-96, AYS — 105, w/PK-WM,
1 — Model 428, AYS-86 & PK-86 & T’stat
1 — Lot Chiller Controls
6 — Lots Coil Controls 2327.00
Tax 69.81 Freight & Del. 150.00
2546.81
Two Cabildo Haslites & 2 yrs. service free # # #
Property purchased will be installed at Moffitt Motel — Heber Springs. Property will remain in possession of purchaser at the address in installation until the entire purchase price is paid.
No verbal agreements or warranties have been made by the parties hereto relative to this sale, it being ■understood that this written contract, including the conditions printed on the back hereof, embodies the entire agreement.”

The lien account, exhibit #2, bears no filing date and the record does not reveal where or when the lien account was filed, but it appears agreed that the original records revealed the filing date to be November 3, 1966. The place of filing and sufficiency of the lien account are not questioned. The lien account was dated October 27, 1966, and contained language as follows:

“That said Arkansas Louisiana Gas Company sold and delivered to Hayden’s Plumbing & Electric Service, beginning March 25, 1966, and continuing through July 6, 1966, under a single contract and continuous account, air conditioning equipment and materials for construction of buildings and improvements on [description] for an agreed price and sum and having a value of Two Thousand Five Hundred Forty-Six Dollars and Eighty-one cents ($2,546.81), after allowing all credits thereon;
That said air conditioning equipment and materials consisted of one EE-42-96 Servel Unit; one Model 428 Unit; one 105 AYS Tower; one 86 AYS Tower with coils, controls and necessary equipment and materials for installation; labor of installation.
That a copy of each invoice itemizing and describing said air conditioning equipment and materials was delivered to the said Hayden’s Plumbing & Electric Service at the time that said equipment and materials were purchased by them and that all of said equipment and materials were furnished for and used in the construction of the said buildings and improvements located on the land described above;
That said equipment and materials were delivered to said real estate for Ralph A. Moffitt and Gladys L. Moffitt, who are the owners of the fee simple title to said real estate, a verified statement of which is attached.
That the foregoing is a just and true account of the demand due and owing to said Arkansas Louisiana Gas Company by said Hayden’s Plumbing & Electric Service and that there is now justly due and owing on said account, after allowing all credits, the sum of $2,546.81 with interest thereon at 6% per annum.
That said Arkansas Louisiana Gas Company claims a lien ...”

As a part of the lien account, filed on November 3, 1966, the appellant attached an invoice or account statement on appellant letterhead stationery, as follows:

“Invoice No. 22-1-05-02-0084-0
Job 8495 Co 72097
Date: October 17, 1966 Order No. 5
Sold To: Hayden’s Plumbing & Electric Service P. O. Box 812 Batesville, Arkansas
Installed at: Moffett [sic] Motel
Heber Springs, Arkansas
Terms: Cash on Job Completion

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Bluebook (online)
436 S.W.2d 91, 245 Ark. 992, 51 A.L.R. 3d 1078, 1969 Ark. LEXIS 1391, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/arkansas-louisiana-gas-co-v-moffitt-ark-1969.