Harper v. Independence Development Co.

108 P. 701, 13 Ariz. 176, 1910 Ariz. LEXIS 82

• Court: Arizona Supreme Court
• Decided: April 2, 1910
• Docket: Civil No. 1125
• Status: Published

Opinion

DOAN, J.

This action was brought by appellant in the district court of Gila county, on March 26, 1908, against the appellees above named, for the sum of $9,519.28, and the foreclosure of a laborer’s lien upon a group of mining claims securing that amount. The trial court gave judgment against the Independence Development Company, and decreed a foreclosure of the lien against the six mining claims found to be owned by it, but denied any relief as against the appellees Thomas E. Parrish, G. J. Ridenour, and J. C. and R. G. Goodwin and seven mining claims found to be owned by the Goodwins. Prom the judgment of the trial court, denying relief as against the last-named appellees and their property, the appellant has taken this appeal.

The facts in this ease are quite complex, but appear from the record to be about as follows:

J. O. and R. G. Goodwin, on April 1, 1906, were the owners of a group of seven claims, adjoining each other, to wit, the Imperial No. 1, Imperial No. 2, Imperial No. 3, Oro Cobre No. 1, Oro Cobre No. 2, Oro Cobre No. 3, and Oro Cobre No. 4. On April 1, 1906, J. C. Goodwin, on behalf of himself and R. G. Goodwin, entered into an agreement with Thomas E. Parrish for the sale of the said seven claims, which agreement was as follows:

“Agreement.

“This agreement, made the first day of April, A. D. 1906, by and between J. C. Goodwin of Temple, A. T., and R. G. Goodwin of Globe, A. T., parties of the first part, and T. E. Parrish, of Phoenix, A. T., party of the second part, witnesseth: That the parties of the first part, being the owners of seven mining claims in Globe mining district, Gila county, A. T., about two and one-half (2y2) miles northeast from the 66 ranch and adjoining the Goodwin and Cole group of claims on the south, two of the claims being formerly owned by Kinney and McCarty, and then known as the Irene No. 1 and Irene No. 2, and the said claims are now known as the Superior No. 1, No. 2 and No. 3 and the Oro Cobre No. 1, No. 2, No. 3 and No. 4. Now therefore the parties of the first part agree to sell and convey the above-described property, under a good and sufficient title to the party of the second part, upon the following terms and conditions: One thousand ($1,000.00) dollars in cash, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged; twelve thousand ($12,000.00) dollars to be paid by the party of the second part or his assigns to the parties of the first part on or before twelve (12) months from the date hereof, and the further sum of twelve thousand ($12,000.00) dollars to be paid as aforesaid on or before two (2) years from the date hereof. It is further understood and agreed by and between the parties hereto that the party of the second part or his assigns may take possession of the said mining claims and develop the same during the life of this agreement; and ship ore therefrom at his discretion, provided, that from the proceeds of such shipments of ore, the party of the second part shall pay to the party of the first part one-half (y2) of the amount received from such sales of ore to be applied upon the payments as aforesaid. The party of the second part hereby agrees to abide by the terms of this agreement, and in default of any of the payments as above, to surrender the property to the parties of the first part, and forfeit all moneys paid and expended thereon.

“Signed and sealed the day and date above written.

“J. C. GOODWIN, “Party of the First Part.

“T. E. FARRISH, “Party of the Second Part.”

Thereupon Farrish went into the possession of the property embraced in the above agreement, and located four claims adjoining, as follows: Parthian, Lulla B., Nelly Bly, and Ore Here. Thereafter Farrish and others organized the Independence Development Company, deeded to this company the four claims located by Parrish already named, and assigned to it the agreement between Parrish and the Goodwins set out above. The Independence Development Company then located two additional claims adjoining the original seven Goodwin claims and the four Parrish claims. These two claims were the Parthian No. 2 and the Last Parthian, making in all thirteen claims held by the company by virtue of the assignment of the Goodwin-Parrish agreement, the deed from Parrish, and the locations of the company. The company then undertook to mine, work and develop this group of thirteen claims, which development work extended from about October 17, 1906, to May 1, 1908, and the work was done almost entirely upon one of the claims, named the Imperial No. 2, embraced in the agreement between the Goodwins and Parrish, and assigned by Parrish to the company. In the performance of the mining and development work the company employed the appellant, Harper, and some sixty other miners and laborers, and finally became indebted to Harper and the others in varying amounts. Harper acquired assignments from the other miners for the respective amounts due from the company; the amount owing to Harper individually and by virtue of the assignment of claims aggregated the sum of $9,519.28. Por this amount Harper made out, verified and recorded a lien and bill of particulars, duly served all parties with copies in duplicate of the same, and instituted suit against the Independence Development Company, J. C. and R. G. Goodwin, Thomas E. Parrish, and G. J. Ridenour, for the amount claimed and the foreclosure of the lien therefor upon the entire group of thirteen claims. The trial court gave judgment against the Independence Development Company for the amount claimed, and decreed a foreclosure of the lien upon the six claims owned by it, but denied any relief as against the Goodwins, Parrish, and Ridenour and the seven claims embraced in the Goodwin-Parrish agreement, which was assigned to the company. From this portion of the judgment this appeal was taken.

It appears from the record that the labor performed by plaintiff and his assignors was such work as would, under chapter 2, title 40, Revised Statutes of Arizona of 1901, entitle them to a lien. Plaintiff clearly had the right to bring suit thereon for his individual claim and as assignee of the claims of his fellow-workmen. The record shows that the lien for the aggregate amount, $9,519,28, was duly perfected under the statute, and suit properly brought within the statutory period thereafter. The judgment of the trial court against the Independence Development Company for $9,519.28 was perfectly proper, as was'the foreclosure of the lien against the six claims owned by it. It remains to determine whether the trial court erred: In denying judgment against J. C. and R. G. Goodwin, Thomas E. Parrish, and G. J. Ridenour, and denying foreclosure of the lien against the property owned by them, in whole or in part, to wit, the seven claims named in the above agreement; in denying foreclosure of the lien against the interest of the Independence Development Company and that of Thomas E. Parrish in the same last-named claims; in holding that no lien existed against the seven Goodwin, claims, for the reason that no personal liability attached to J. C. and R. G. Goodwin. These are the questions as raised by the appellant’s assignments of error.

It seems clear that no personal liability attached to J. C. and R. G. Goodwin, Thomas E. Parrish, or G. J. Ridenour in favor of appellant or his fellow workmen and miners for labor performed by them. Appellant and others were under contract to, and employed by, the Independence Development Company, and by no other person or persons. Ridenour’s relation to the company does not appear, and the record discloses no dealings or negotiations with the appellant. As to Parrish, he was-evidently a stockholder and officer of the company, and his dealing and negotiations with the appellant and others, if there were any, were clearly in the capacity of agent; for such the company alone was liable. As to J. C. and R. G. Goodwin, appellant bases their personal liability upon the fact that the work done and labor performed was so done and performed upon the property owned by them, to wit, the Imperial No. 2 claim, with their knowledge and consent, and, further, upon the fact that R. G. Goodwin was frequently upon the ground during the performance of the said labor. Considerable evidence has been presented in the record to show that R. G. Goodwin frequently encouraged the work, advised appellant and others to continue working on the property after their wages were long in arrears, stating that he thought everything would come out all right; that in case the company did not pay, he would see that the boys would get their money; that he would see that the mine was either worked by himself or by somebody for the men, and, even if necessary, he would sell the mine, and the men would not lose their money. This evidence is voluminous, and all to the same effect. Admitting it all, however strong the assurances were, they created no personal liability on the part of Goodwin. The statements in the record consist of expressions of confidence in the success of the undertaking; assurances that the company would pay; opinions that the mines should be good for the money; general statements that if the company did not pay, the men should not lose their money, even if he had to sell or work the mine, or have some one else work it. These were made generally to some person in regard to what would happen to or be done for others. He did not promise expressly to pay the wages of any man to whom he talked, nor did anyone testify that he or anyone continued working or performed labor in consideration of or reliance on any statement or promise made by Goodwin. That the continuance of this work may have been of great benefit to the Goodwins and their property is immaterial. All these statements and promises, if any of them could be called promises, were admittedly verbal, made to various men at different times. The appellant and others were not employed by the owners of the property, upon which the work was done, nor by any agent of such owners. They were employed by the Independence Development Company, which company held the property upon which the work was actually done under an option that had been assigned to the company by Thomas E. Farrish, who procured the same from the owners of the property, J. C. and R. G. Goodwin. It appears in the record that this condition of affairs was generally known to the men. In view of the foregoing, there appears no ground for any personal liability on the part of J. C. Goodwin, R. G. Goodwin, Thomas E. Farrish, or G. J. Ridenour in favor of appellant.

The next question presented is: Was the property owned by J. C. and R. G. Goodwin and embraced in the GoodwinFarrish agreement subject to appellant’s lien for work done under employment by the company, but with the knowledge of the Goodwins? Appellant contends that the relation of vendor and vendee existed between the Goodwins and Farrish, and has cited authorities holding that a lien exists in favor of a miner or laborer who performs work at the instance of the vendee. These authorities are of no weight in the determination of this case, for the reason that the relation of vendor and vendee contended for does-not here exist. The Goodwin-Farrish agreement must be construed to be an option, and nothing more. This agreement has heretofore been set out, and did not create the relation of vendor and vendee between the Goodwins and Farrish. By its terms there was no sale, Farrish did not agree, nor was he bound to do anything except “abide by the terms of this agreement, and in default of any payment to surrender the property and forfeit all moneys paid and expended thereon.” The Goodwins agreed to sell to Farrish upon certain conditions, namely, the payment of certain sums at one and two years’ time, and it was agreed that “Farrish or his assigns may take possession of said mining claims and develop the same during the life of this agreement.”

Farrish did not bind himself to buy or pay for the property, nor did he bind himself to take possession of and develop it. He merely agreed to abide by the terms of the agreement,'which were, among other things, that “Farrish or •his assigns may take possession,” etc. The entire matter was left to his election within the life of the agreement. This 'agreement was then nothing more than an option, and appellant’s right to a lien in this case against the owners, of the property is settled and determined by the rule laid down in Gates v. Fredericks, 5 Ariz. 343, 52 Pac. 1118, Hadley v. Cummings, 7 Ariz. 258, 64 Pac. 443, Griffin v. Hurley, 7 Ariz. 399, 65 Pac. 147, and Bogan v. Roy & Titcomb, 10 Ariz. 237, 86 Pac. 13, which is, in substance, that Where an owner of mining property gives an option to another, who enters and works such property, employing laborers and miners to perform such work, no indebtedness is established in favor of the miners and laborers against the owner of the property, and no lien is fastened upon his interest therein. For it is held that such work is not performed by virtue of any employment from the owner, and the holder of such option is neither the vendee nor the agent of the Owner. Under the rules laid down by this court in these eases, and since adhered to, the Imperial No. 2 claim and the other six Goodwin claims stand upon the same ground, and are not subject to appellant’s lien.

We next consider the interest of Thomas E. Parrish and the interest of the Independence Development Company in the seven Goodwin claims. No interest of Thomas E. Parrish appears in the record in or to any of these seven Goodwin claims, he having assigned his entire interest to the Independence Development Company; so this point may be dismissed.

The interest of the Independence Development Company in these claims was merely the right to exercise the option obtained by Parrish from the Goodwins and assigned to the company — the right to take possession and work the property, and, upon making the payments on April 1, 1907, and 1908, to receive conveyance of title to the seven claims. This interest, unless such payments were thus made, would cease and expire on April 1, 1908, and after this date the company would have no interest of any kind in or to these claims. It is elementary that in all such agreements, looking to the sale of mining property, time is of the essence. Durant v. Comegys, 3 Idaho (Hash.), 204, 28 Pac. 425. Goodwin’s agreement to sell and convey was predicated upon the payment of $12,000 one year from the date of agreement, and the further payment of $12,000 two years from the said date, as express conditions precedent to said sale and conveyance, and only on compliance with them would Parrish or his assigns, or any one of them, be entitled to the conveyance under the .agreement. It required the payment of the stipulated sums on those dates to impose any obligation under the agreement on J. C. and E. G. Goodwin to sell or convey the property mentioned therein. The time specified in the agreement expired April 1, 1908; neither the company nor anyone for it having complied with the conditions prescribed in the agreement, there existed after that date no obligation on the part of J. C. or E. G. Goodwin to sell or convey the property embraced therein. This cause was tried October 28, 1908, some six months after the option had expired. Therefore, the Independence Development Company had no interest in the seven Goodwin claims at either the time of the trial or at the time the judgment was rendered. Clearly, no decree of foreclosure against an interest which had ceased to exist could have been rendered.

Had any interest in or right or title to the seven Goodwin claims existed in the Independence Development Company, it would have been subject to appellant’s lien, and no doubt the trial court would have granted a decree in favor of appellant foreclosing it.

It is urged by the appellant that the trial court held that appellant’s lien was not operative against the seven Goodwin claims for the reason that no personal liability attached to J. C. or R. G. Goodwin, and this is assigned as error. The contention is not material, for the reason that upon the record, the court correctly held, not only that the appellant had failed to establish any personal liability on the part of J. C. or R. G. Goodwin, or either of them, hut that neither the seven Goodwin claims nor the interest of J. C. and R. G. Goodwin, or either of them in said claims, or any of them, could he subject to any lien for labor performed for the Independence Development Company.

The questions above determined dispose of all of appellant’s assignments of error. The record disclosing no reversible error, the judgment of the lower court is affirmed.

KENT, C. J., and CAMPBELL, DOE, and LEWIS, JJ., • concur.