Hughes v. Grogan-Lamm Lumber Company

331 S.W.2d 799, 1960 Tex. App. LEXIS 1965
CourtCourt of Appeals of Texas
DecidedJanuary 15, 1960
Docket15534
StatusPublished
Cited by7 cases

This text of 331 S.W.2d 799 (Hughes v. Grogan-Lamm Lumber Company) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Texas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Hughes v. Grogan-Lamm Lumber Company, 331 S.W.2d 799, 1960 Tex. App. LEXIS 1965 (Tex. Ct. App. 1960).

Opinion

YOUNG, Justice.

In a non-jury trial, appellee Lumber Company recovered judgment against appellants, Hughes and wife for $10,817.77 interest and costs, together with foreclo *801 sure of mechanic’s lien contract and note. Intervenors in the suit were Farrow & Son, Plumbers, and Gentry Electric Company, who also obtained judgments for $900 and $225 respectively and foreclosure of mechanics’, materialmen’s and laborers’ lien; the involved property being situated in Dallas County and described as Lot 19, Block 22/3583 of Edgemont Addition No. 3. A similar judgment was rendered against Jim McCollough, contractor on tjie job of building a residence on the lot owned by appellants. Their answer included a charge of invalidity of mechanic’s lien, breach of performance of the construction contract; and in cross-action alleging fraud and conspiracy as between the lumber company and contractor, advancements of cash by the former but converted by the latter, not going into work of construction; furnishing of inferior and defective material, of generally inferior workmanship; entitling appellants to offsets and credits in stated amounts, attorneys fees, interest, costs, and for general relief.

The mechanic’s lien contract, signed by appellants, provided in part that McCol-lough, the contractor, should “furnish all the work, tools, labor and material of whatsoever kind and nature, and to build and complete in a workmanlike manner within 150 days from the date hereof (May 31, 1957) * * * a four bedroom, redwood frame, two bath, with double garage according to plans and specifications thereof, agreed upon by the parties hereto and furnished by the said party of the first part (Hughes and wife). A copy of said plans and specifications is on file with all of said parties”. This contract for mechanic’s lien was for the amount of $14,000 evidenced by note in like amount and maturity date, describing the property, payable to Jim McCollough, the contractor, reciting that to secure payment thereof, an express contract and mechanic’s lien is given by signers “upon said lands and improvements”. These instruments were further secured by deed of trust to Edgar W. Latton, trustee: the above mentioned note having been assigned by McCollough to Oak Cliff Bank & Trust Company and Grogan-Lamm; the bank’s interest later going to said lumber company. Also in evidence was a written approval by Edwards-Northcutt-Locke, Inc. of an application made by Hughes February 4, 1957 for a $11,000 loan to be paid in 15 years in monthly installments of $95.83 each, including principal and interest at 6.3% plus ¾2 of estimated taxes and insurance premiums, subject to stated conditions.

The contractor, McCollough, though filing answer did not appear at the trial, but we gather from the briefs that he had agreed to undertake the Hughes contract of construction for $11,110; that McCollough had agreed with the lumber company for a financing and furnishing of material in the construction up to a $11,-000 limit; the latter performing thereunder to extent and sum of $10,817.77, declaring on the note for that amount, which is the total of their judgment rendered, plus interest and costs.

Appellants’ points of error are now quoted:

“(1) The trial court committed fundamental error in entering judgment for appellee, and especially Grogan-Lamm Lumber Company, Inc., for foreclosure of a void mechanic’s lien upon a homestead. (2) The trial court committed fundamental error in entering judgment for appellee, and especially Grogan-Lamm Company, Inc., under the Mechanic’s Lien as there was a material breach in such contract in failure of completion and usage of defective materials. (3) The trial court committed error in refusing to grant appellants time to produce Jim McCollough in Court under subpoena, to require him to testify under the adverse witness rule. (4) The judgment of the trial court is contrary to the evidence and the law, in that suit was upon a Mechanic’s *802 Lien Note, in the sum of $14,000.00, without a written contract for construction, and the judgment entered is for recovery on a quantum meruit.”

Grogan-Lamm Lumber Company in reply brief asserts that appellants’ points 1, 2 and 4 are not entitled to consideration, because not set forth in motion for new trial, but citing no authority other than Rule 374. In this, appellee is mistaken. This is a non-jury trial. In Carborundum Co. v. Keese, Tex.Civ.App., 313 S.W.2d 332, 334, it is held that “although appellant filed a motion for new trial, it was not bound thereby and was not confined to the errors assigned therein.” See also text of 4 Tex.Jur.2d, Appeal and Error, page 461, and cases cited. A full reply to all points of this appeal was in order and could have been helpful to their disposition.

In point one appellants complain of court error in rendition of judgment for the lumber company “for foreclosure of a void Mechanic’s Lien upon a homestead.” This appellee does not concede any homestead character to the property in question and complainants make no reference to where in the 403-page statement of facts such status of their property is thus conclusively established. Rule 418, Texas Rules of Civil Procedure requires the “brief of the argument”, not only to indicate definitely such portion of the record that supports his contention, but also to be inclusive of a fair condensed recital of the facts pertinent to his point of error. See 4 Tex.Jur.2d 170.

Even assuming, however, that this litigation involves a homestead with applicability of Art. 16, § 50, State Constitution, Vernon’s Ann.St., the point is not well taken. Appellants say that the mechanic’s lien contract here is rendered unenforceable because of absence of provisions setting forth “specifications of materials and standard workmanship.” It appears in this connection that, despite contract provisions, there were no specifications in writing concerning grade, kind and quality of material going into the building; these things thus becoming a matter for agreement between contractor and householder, and in no wise affecting validity of the lien.

“Mechanic’s Lien on homestead held not void for uncertainty because no plans or specifications for labor and improvements on such homestead were incorporated in writing creating lien, where essential elements of parties, consideration, and subject-matter appeared on face of contract (Const. art. 16 § 50).” (Emphasis ours.) Standard Savings & Loan Ass’n v. Davis, Tex.Civ.App., 85 S.W.2d 333.
“The constitution provides that a recovery for work and material used in constructing improvements upon a homestead may be had only ‘when the work and material are contracted for in writing’. Article 16, § 50, of the Constitution. ‘The essential conditions or statement of the contract should be included in the written instrument,’ Harrop v. National Loan & Inv. Co., Tex.Civ.App., 204 S.W. 878, 880, and ‘the contract must in some fashion describe the nature of the improvement and specify the cost of work to be done and the character of material to be supplied thereunder. (Emphasis ours.) One of the objects of the requirement as to the joinder of the wife is the apprising her of the character and cost of the improvement.’ 22 Tex.Jur.

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Bluebook (online)
331 S.W.2d 799, 1960 Tex. App. LEXIS 1965, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/hughes-v-grogan-lamm-lumber-company-texapp-1960.