Hughey v. Stevmier, Inc.

190 So. 2d 410, 1966 Fla. App. LEXIS 4913
CourtDistrict Court of Appeal of Florida
DecidedAugust 12, 1966
DocketNos. 6504, 6505
StatusPublished
Cited by4 cases

This text of 190 So. 2d 410 (Hughey v. Stevmier, Inc.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court of Appeal of Florida primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Hughey v. Stevmier, Inc., 190 So. 2d 410, 1966 Fla. App. LEXIS 4913 (Fla. Ct. App. 1966).

Opinion

PIERCE, Judge.

This case involves separate appeals taken by Shirley Hughey, appellant herein, who was one of the defendants in the Court below, from two orders entered on July 8, 1965, in a cause therein pending wherein appellee Stevmier, Inc., a Florida corporation, was plaintiff and Greco-Davis Contracting Company, Inc., a Florida corporation, was principal defendant and numerous other persons, including Shirley Hughey, were nominal defendants.

Stevmier, Inc., hereinafter called Stev-mier, alleged in its complaint as amended that it was in the construction business and was general contractor under a construction contract with a non-profit Florida corporation, known for convenience as Nalcrest, pursuant to which Stevmier was in process of building for Nalcrest a 500-unit retirement housing village near Lake Wales, Florida; that Stevmier’had entered into 'a sub-contract 'with Greco-Davis' Contracting Company, • Inc., whereby as subcontractor Greco-Davis was^ to furnish materials and perform certain services in connection with the Nalcrest development; that from the time the sub-contract was executed on August 2, 1962, and continuing progressively thereafter, Greco-Davis failed to maintain the schedule of work progress on the project as established in the sub-contract, that the quality of its work was frequently below specifications called for therein and was in fact delaying other sub-contractors in maintaining their work schedules, that on several occasions, both orally and in writing, Stev-mier gave cautionary warnings to Greco-Davis of said deficiencies in performance; and that finally, on February 11, 1963, while a considerable amount of work contemplated in the sub-contract remained to be performed, Greco-Davis breached the contract by removing its workmen and equipment from the construction premises; that although notified of such breach by Stevmier, Greco-Davis refused to resume operations under the sub-contract, necessitating Stevmier taking over completion of the project to the irreparable loss and damage to Stevmier.

It was further alleged that, on the date suit was filed, April 8, 1963, twelve separate materialmen’s claims of lien had been filed with the local Circuit Clerk, the largest of which was that of Shirley Hughey in the amount of $12,228.00, covering rental use of several items of heavy-duty construction equipment; that Stevmier had at all times complied with the terms of the subcontract and stood ready to make payments thereunder to Greco-Davis and also the suppliers and materialmen for work performed and materials furnished on the project, but could not do so because it was unable to ascertain the exact amounts owing to said lienors and other suppliers expected to file claims; that the total amount of such unpaid claims was expected to greatly exceed what Stevmier owed Greco-Davis [412]*412under the sub-contract, and that it had been unable to determine the validity, the bona fides, or the priority of the various liens; that Stevmier had paid Greco-Davis almost $70,000.00 upon the strength of periodical sworn affidavits relating to payment for materials and services furnished, but which affidavits failed to reflect substantial amounts of money due various materialmen and suppliers; and that unless the Circuit Court took jurisdiction of the subject matter, Stevmier would be unable to determine the validity and priority of the lienors’ respective claims, would be subject to a multiplicity of suits, would be subjected to duplicitous claims, and would otherwise be jeopardized in following through under its original construction contract with Nal-crest. It was prayed that Greco-Davis be required to render a true account of all unpaid claims, that the Court give judgment against Greco-Davis for all damages sustained by Stevmier, and that the Court determine the amounts, validity, and, priority of the various liens, including Shirley Hughey’s.

On May 7, 1963, Stevmier filed petition for declaratory and other relief, adopting the allegations of the original complaint and alleging that liens filed as of that date against the Nalcrest property amounted to $66,783.86, which amount Stevmier had deposited with the Circuit Clerk in order to transfer the liens into cash and thereby release the liens from the property as permitted by law. Shirley Hughey’s lien was, of course, among them. Said petition made further allegations of wrong-doing by Greco-Davis and prayed for further relief not involving Shirley Hughey, except that the Court construe the provisions of the Florida Statutes as applied to the transfer and removal of claims of lien and any duplicates thereof.

Three days later, on May 10, 1963, Stev-mier filed further amended complaint, re-averring the allegations of its previous complaints, made further charges against Greco-Davis, and prayed again, among other things, that the Court determine the aggregate amount and priority of all liens' filed and specify those claims which were bona fide and valid and that judgment be awarded against Greco-Davis for all damages sustained by Stevmier.

On June 11, 1963, Shirley Hughey, one of the several defendants who were in the case only because they had recorded their claims of lien and as to whom no relief was asked except that they prove and establish the validity of their claims and the exact amounts thereof and priority, filed her motion to dismiss the complaint as amended. On August 30, 1963, the Circuit Judge entered order denying the motion to dismiss and granting a motion of Stevmier to add additional lienors as parties defendant.

On September 13, 1963, Shirley Hughey filed her notice of appeal to this Court from the interlocutory order aforesaid of August 30, 1963. On December 26, 1963, this Court, on motion of Stevmier, dismissed the interlocutory appeal of Shirley Hughey.

On May 13, 1965, Stevmier filed in the trial Court separate motions for a decree pro confesso against Shirley Hughey, and for discharge of her lien and return of the cash deposit therefor with the Clerk. In support of both motions Stevmier recited the pertinent record facts aforesaid, and also that Shirley Hughey had never filed or served any other defensive pleadings in the cause or commenced any action to enforce her claim of lien, even since the appeal dismissal some sixteen months earlier.

On July 8, 1965, the Circuit Judge entered order granting Stevmier’s said motion for decree pro confesso and decreeing that “the complaint be taken as confessed by the defendant, Shirley Hughey, and that said cause do now proceed ex parte as to her.” On the same date, separate order was entered discharging the claim of lien filed by Shirley Hughey, and directing the Circuit Clerk to return to Stevmier the amount deposited to transfer the lien to cash. [413]*413These are the two orders from which Shirley Hughey has taken separate appeals, and which are now before this Court for determination.

In urging that this Court reverse the Circuit Judge, Shirley Hughey argues here that the Circujt Judge was in error in holding that her lien had expired by passage of time without commencing an action to enforce it, and in not exercising his discretion to thereafter permit her to file a responsive pleading setting up her claim. We find such contentions to be untenable and uphold the able Circuit Judge in the entry of the orders complained of.

The Florida Legislature in 1963 passed a comprehensive Mechanic’s Lien law, repealing in the process most of the old provisions.

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Bluebook (online)
190 So. 2d 410, 1966 Fla. App. LEXIS 4913, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/hughey-v-stevmier-inc-fladistctapp-1966.