Planters Lumber Company v. Wilson & Company

413 S.W.2d 55, 241 Ark. 1005, 1967 Ark. LEXIS 1387
CourtSupreme Court of Arkansas
DecidedFebruary 13, 1967
Docket5-4108
StatusPublished
Cited by8 cases

This text of 413 S.W.2d 55 (Planters Lumber Company v. Wilson & Company) 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
Planters Lumber Company v. Wilson & Company, 413 S.W.2d 55, 241 Ark. 1005, 1967 Ark. LEXIS 1387 (Ark. 1967).

Opinion

Lyle Brown, Justice.

This appeal questions the correctness of the decree of the chancellor, declaring the mortgage lien of appellee, The Wilson Company, Inc., superior to the materialman’s lien of appellant, Planters Lumber Company, Inc. Wilson advanced certain monies to Boy Stillman under a construction mortgage. Upon default by Stillman, Wilson brought foreclosure proceedings and made Planters a party, the latter having filed a lien for materials supplied in the construction of a house on each of the two lots mortgaged. The bill for materials and its timely filing are not in dispute. Both parties were awarded judgment against Stillman; he does not appeal.

Separate foreclosure suits were filed, one involving* Lot 2, Darby’s Subdivision, Pulaski County, and the other involving Lot 4 in the same subdivision. The cases Were consolidated for trial. The causes are so similar that they need be considered separately only briefly.

Lot- 2: Wilson Company conveyed to Stillman by warranty deed dated October 9, 1964, reciting* $100.00 and other consideration paid. A week later Stillman executed a construction mortgage to Wilson Company, which was promptly recorded. Wilson pledged $15,000.00 for construction money. However, Wilson withheld $3,-200.00, the purchase price of the lot, and delivered $11,-800.00 to the disbursing agent. Also, during the course of construction, Wilson directed the disbursing agent to return $465.81 to Wilson for accrued interest owed by ' Stillman on' the note.

Lot 4: Wilson Company conveyed to Stillman by warranty deed dated January 6, 1965, reciting $100.00 and other consideration paid. Stillman executed a construction mortgage, dated December 14, 1964, to Wilson Company, which was immediately recorded. Wilson pledged $14,400.00 for construction money, but delivered to the disbursing agent only $11,200.00, having withheld $3,200.00 for the purchase price of the lot. Also, during the course of construction, Wilson directed the disbursing agent to return $394.28 to Wilson for accrued interest owed by Stillman on the note.

As, .to both lots, Arkansas Abstract Company, the disbursing agent designated by Wilson, paid out the balance of the construction monies for construction pur.poge.s,. except for some minor expenses incident to the venture; these expenditures are not questioned. All bills for-labor and materials were paid except those forming the;r,basis of Planters’ claim.

■Both,.parties to this appeal base their claims to priority on Ark. Stat. Ann. § 51-605 (1947). This section, in conjunction with Ark. Stat. Ann. § 51-601, gives to a materialman a lien upon the improvement for which the materials are furnished. The lien is in preference to any prior lien existing upon said land or building, unless the prior lien was given for the purpose of raising money with which to make the improvement, in which event the lien is prior to the lien given by these two sections.

We hold that, as to Lot 2, Wilson Company has a valid lien for construction money advanced, in the sum of $11,334.19, calculated by taking the sum of $11,800.00, which was turned over to the disbursing agent, and subtracting therefrom the sum of $465.81, which Wilson directed the disbursing agent to return to Wilson for interest on the loan. We further hold that Planters Company is entitled to a second lien on Lot' 2 in the principal sum of $2,834.57, the full amount of its materials''bill.

We hold that, as to Lot 4, Wilson Company has a valid lien for construction money advanced in the sum of $10,805.72, calculated by taking the sum of $11,200.00, which Wilson turned over to the disbursing agent,'and subtracting therefrom the sum of $394.28, which Wilson directed the disbursing agent to return to it as interest on the loan. We further hold that Planters is entitled to a second lien on Lot 4 in' the principal sum of $2,181.95, the full amount of its materials bill.

The ' essence of our modification of the decree of the chancellor is to deny to Wilson Company a lien prior to that of the materialman, first, for money advanced to purchase the lot, and, second, for money owed to it by Stillman for interest on the loan.

The Purchase Price of the Lots. Wilson delivered to Stillman a warranty deed which recited a paid Consideration and mentioned no encumbrance. Secondly, Wilson caused to be executed and placed of record identical mortgages on the two lots, except £or: the amounts pledged for construction. We' shall, úse.! the mortgage on' Lot 4 to recite certain pertinent provisions:

“TO HAVE AND TO HOLD The same, with all and singular the tenements, hereditaments and appurtenances thereunto belonging, unto the said Grantee, and to its successors and assigns forever. “And the said Grantor does hereby covenant and agree that Grantor is the lawful owner of the premises above granted, and seized of a good and indefeasible estate of inheritance therein, free and clear of all incumbrances, and that Grantor will warrant and defend the same in the quiet and peaceable possession of said Grantee, its successors and assigns forever, against the lawful claims of all persons whomsoever.
“PROVIDED ALWAYS, That this instrument is made, executed and delivered upon the following conditions, to-wit:
“FIRST: Grantor has applied to the Grantee for a loan in the principal sum of Fourteen Thousand Pour Hundred and No/100 Dollars ($14,400.00) to be used solely for and in construction of a one-family residence on the lands above described, and the Grantee has agreed to make said loan for such purposes, and the Grantor is justly indebted to the Grantee for advances made or to be made hereafter by Grantee to Grantor from time to time for such purposes, aggregating the principal sum aforesaid, each such advance to be evidenced by a negotiable promissory note of Grantor, payable to the order of Grantee, of even date with the date such advance is- made and in the principal sum thereof, and each such note to bear interest from date until maturity at Six % per annum and from maturity until paid at 10% per annum, said notes to be due and payable as follows: On or before June 14, 1965. Grantee agrees that the acceptance and recordation of this mortgage binds Grantee, its successors and assigns, absolutely and unconditionally, to make said loan and advances. Such advances will be made as requested by Grantor as such work progTesses.”

Sucli recitations in these two instruments, the deed and the mortgage, constitute notice to the world that Stillman owns Lot 4 free and clear of any encumbrances. Further, Wilson warrants, not only to Stillman, but to possible laborers, materialmen, and other creditors who may be asked to participate in construction, that Wilson is bound absolutely and unconditionally to make the advances as the work progresses.

With this information gleaned from the record, an alert materialman might desire to make another financial check as the work progresses; namely, to check with the disbursing agent to get the total expended for construction. Had Planters so inquired, it would have found the running account to have shown ample funds unexpended.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Ingle v. Marked Tree Equipment Co.
428 S.W.2d 286 (Supreme Court of Arkansas, 1968)
First Natinal Bank of Conway v. Conway Sheet Metal Co.
428 S.W.2d 293 (Supreme Court of Arkansas, 1968)
House v. Scott
429 S.W.2d 108 (Supreme Court of Arkansas, 1968)
House v. Long
426 S.W.2d 814 (Supreme Court of Arkansas, 1968)
Clark v. General Electric Co.
420 S.W.2d 830 (Supreme Court of Arkansas, 1967)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
413 S.W.2d 55, 241 Ark. 1005, 1967 Ark. LEXIS 1387, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/planters-lumber-company-v-wilson-company-ark-1967.