Langton Lime & Cement Co. v. Peery

159 P. 49, 48 Utah 112, 1916 Utah LEXIS 13
CourtUtah Supreme Court
DecidedJune 29, 1916
DocketNos. 2806, 2807
StatusPublished
Cited by9 cases

This text of 159 P. 49 (Langton Lime & Cement Co. v. Peery) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Utah Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Langton Lime & Cement Co. v. Peery, 159 P. 49, 48 Utah 112, 1916 Utah LEXIS 13 (Utah 1916).

Opinion

FRICK, J.

The Langton Lime & Cement Company, a corporation, commenced two actions to foreclose mechanics’ liens. The first action was commenced against one O. M. Engdahl, contractor, and said Peery as owner of a certain building and the real [115]*115estate upon which the same is situated, and against a number of other lien claimants whom it is not necessary to enumerate here; and the second one was commenced against said Engdahl as contractor and said Smith as the owner of a certain other building and the real estate on which the same is situated, and against other lien claimants whom it is not necessary to enumerate. The Walker Stone Company, hereinafter called company, was made a defendant in both actions as a lien claimant and it set up its liens and asked that the same be established against both properties and foreclosed. Engdahl, the contractor, made default in both actions. Either some time before or at the trial of the cases all the other lien claimants were settled with or their claims were taken care of, except the first mortgage lien, and that was not in question in the lower court nor is it in question here. The only real parties to the first action, therefore, were Peery (who is appellant here) as the owner of one of the buildings and the real estate on which it is situated, and said company (which is respondent in this court) ; and to the second action said Smith as appellant and said company as respondent. The cases were tried together below and were heard as one case by this court, and we shall dispose of them on that basis.

The court entered a default judgment, against Engdahl and declared the mortgage a first lien on both premises,- and also declared the company’s liens as second liens on both said properties, and, in case of default in payment of the company’s liens, ordered said properties sold subject to said mortgage. Both Mr. Peery and Mr. Smith appeal.

1, 2, 3 The first question requiring consideration is presented by counsel for said company. In settling the bill of exceptions and in taking the appeal neither said Peery nor said Smith served the bill of exceptions or the notice upon any of the defendants or parties other than said company. Counsel therefore contends that, under the rulings of this court in Allen v. Garner, 45 Utah 39, 143 Pac. 228, and preceding cases, the appeal should be dismissed, or, at least,, the bill of exceptions should be stricken, for the reason that neither said Engdahl nor any of the other defendants were served with notice of appeal. This court, by an unbroken line [116]*116of decisions, has held that all the parties to an action who may be adversely affected by a modification or reversal of the judgment are adverse parties under our statute and must be made parties to the appeal either as appellants or respondents. We have, however, further held that such is the case even though a party makes default in the court below. Allen v. Garner, supra. It will be observed, however, that the test whether a party below is a necessary party to an appeal, as laid down in that case, as in all other cases emanating from this court, is that the omitted party must be affected by a modification or reversal of the judgment appealed from. If a party would not be affected he is not a necessary party, and hence to omit to serve.him with notice of appeal or to serve him with a bill of exceptions is not fatal to the appeal, nor is it ground for striking the bill of exceptions. In this case, both under the contract entered into by Mr. Engdahl and under our statute, Engdahl’s status or liability is not in the least affected, regardless of what conclusion we shall reach respecting the judgment appealed from. This precise question has been before the Supreme Court of California several times in recent years, and that court has squarely held that a contractor, in the position of Engdahl, is not affected by the modification or reversal on appeal of a judgment foreclosing a mechanic's lien against the property of the owner, although a personal judgment was also entered against the contractor. Mannix v. Tyron, 152 Cal. 31, 91 Pac. 983; Quist v. Sandman, 154 Cal. 748, 99 Pac. 204, and cases cited in those two eases. Although there are some provisions in the California statute somewhat different from ours, yet the decisions and the reasoning of the California Supreme Court apply to our statute. The Supreme Court of Idaho has arrived at the same conclusion in the case of Nelson Bennett Co. v. Twin Falls, etc., Co., 13 Idaho 767, 92 Pac. 980, 13 Ann. Cas. 172. We do not deem it necessary to quote from those cases nor to cite other cases. The reasoning in all of them is not only sound but convincing. In view, therefore, that all of the other lien claimants were out of the case at the time of judgment, and that the only defendant who in fact remained in the case apart from the two appellants cannot be affected by whatever [117]*117judgment we may enter or direct, it was not necessary to serve notice of appeal upon any of th.e others; neither was it necessary to serve the proposed bill of exceptions upon any of them, or their attorneys.

Counsel for appellants, however, insists that our former decision, wherein we held that the requirement to serve notice upon an adverse party applies to one who made default in the court below, should be overruled. We think otherwise. A party in making default certainly concedes no more than that judgment as prayed for may be entered against him. By making default he indicates that he is satisfied with such a judgment. In case, therefore, the judgment is appealed to another court in which his liability may be materially affected or changed, and where additional costs may be adjudged against him, we think it is but fair and just that in case he can be served with notice of the appeal he should be. A party does not become an outlaw simply because he makes default in a court of original jurisdiction. While there are cases which are contrary to our holding in Allen v. Garner, supra, we can see no reason for changing the ruling there made that in case a party may be adversely affected by a modification or reversal of the judgment on appeal he should be served with notice when that can be done. To serve such a notice when the party’s residence is known, and when he does not conceal himself, can work no hardship upon any one. Upon the other hand, it affords every party to an action an opportunity to advise this court why the judgment should be sustained. Every one is thus given his day in the court to which an appeal is taken and in which the rights of all parties may be finally determined. Of course, where service of notice cannot be made and the appellant would be deprived of his constitutional right of prosecuting an appeal, and when timely application is made to this court setting forth the facts, some way will no doubt be found to allow the appeal and to dispose of it.

For the reasons stated, therefore, the motion to dismiss the appeal and the motion to strike the bill of exceptions must be denied.

Proceeding now to the merits. Appellants’ counsel has grouped his numerous assignments of error as follows: (1) [118]

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Bluebook (online)
159 P. 49, 48 Utah 112, 1916 Utah LEXIS 13, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/langton-lime-cement-co-v-peery-utah-1916.