Space Planners Architects, Inc. v. Frontier Town-Missouri, Inc.

107 S.W.3d 398, 2003 Mo. App. LEXIS 459, 2003 WL 1628510
CourtMissouri Court of Appeals
DecidedMarch 31, 2003
Docket25052
StatusPublished
Cited by9 cases

This text of 107 S.W.3d 398 (Space Planners Architects, Inc. v. Frontier Town-Missouri, Inc.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Missouri Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Space Planners Architects, Inc. v. Frontier Town-Missouri, Inc., 107 S.W.3d 398, 2003 Mo. App. LEXIS 459, 2003 WL 1628510 (Mo. Ct. App. 2003).

Opinion

KENNETH W. SHRUM, Judge.

This is a suit in which four corporate entities sought statutory hens on real estate for work and materials furnished per contracts with the land owner, Frontier Town-Missouri, Inc. (“Frontier”). Two of these hen claimants, Space Planners Architects, Inc. (“Architect”) and E.T. Archer Corporation, Inc. (“Engineer”), sought hens pursuant to § 429.015. 1 Lien claimants Dave Kolb Grading, Inc. (“contractor Kolb”), and Killian Construction Company, Inc. (“contractor Killian”), sought mechanics’ hens per § 429.010. 2

*401 The trial court granted summary judgment favorable to the four lien claimants. Specifically, it granted their lien requests and declared their liens superior to the interests of the “Sly Group,” investors in Frontier. 3 The Sly Group appeals, advancing various reasons why the respective lien claimants are not entitled to judgment as a matter of law. The judgment favorable to Architect and Engineer is reversed and remand is ordered. We affirm the judgment favorable to contractor Killian and contractor Kolb.

FACTS AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

In 1996, Frontier owned certain real estate parcels in Stone County that it planned to develop into a theme park. To begin this project, Frontier engaged the services of the four lien claimants, but did so at different times under separate contracts. Details of these contracts, when each hen claimant first worked for Frontier, and what work was performed are set out below, as needed, in the analysis of Sly Group’s claims of trial court error.

Initially, Architect and Engineer filed a joint petition that sought recovery for services rendered and to impose a lien on the “Whorton” real estate tract. Contractors Kolb and Killian filed separate lawsuits. Like Architect and Engineer, contractor Killian sought to impose a hen on the Whorton tract, whereas contractor Kolb prayed for a lien on the Whorton tract plus parcels referred to as the “Stacy” tract, “Hicks” tract, “Davis” tract, and “Johnson” tract. 4

As the litigation proceeded, the three separate suits were consolidated and Frontier ultimately ceased defending the claims being asserted. The Sly Group, however, continued to defend, at least in part. Specifically, the Sly group filed a written memorandum that contained their arguments on why summary judgment should not be entered for the respective lien claimants. They failed, however, to specifically admit or deny the “material facts” listed by the lien claimants in their motions for summary judgment. 5

The trial court adjudged that contractor Kolb, Architect, and Engineer had a “mechanic’s hen binding and subjecting the [Whorton tract]” and that contractor Killi-an had a mechanic’s hen as to “any buildings, appurtenances and improvements” on the Whorton tract. After noting it was not resolving issues between the hen claimants, the court declared there was no just reason for delay pursuant to Rule 74.01(b), thus finalizing the judgment for purposes of appeal. 6 This appeal fohowed.

STANDARDS OF REVIEW: SUMMARY JUDGMENT

The granting or denial of a motion for summary judgment is governed by the mandatory requirements of Rule 74.04. *402 Wichita Falls Prod. Credit Ass’n. v. Dismang, 78 S.W.3d 812, 814 (Mo.App.2002). When considering appeals from summary judgments, this court will review the record in the light most favorable to the party against whom judgment was entered, and we will accord the non-movant the benefit of all reasonable inferences from the record. ITT Commercial Fin. v. Mid-Am. Marine, 854 S.W.2d 371, 376[1,3] (Mo.banc 1993). “Facts set forth by affidavit or otherwise in support of a party’s motion are taken as true unless contradicted by the non-moving party’s response to the summary judgment motion.” Id. at 376[2],

The propriety of summary judgment is an issue of law; consequently, our review is essentially de novo wherein we are not required to defer to the trial court’s judgment. Id. at 376[4]; Wichita Falls, 78 S.W.3d at 814. “The key to summary judgment is the undisputed right to judgment as a matter of law; not simply the absence of a fact question.” ITT, 854 S.W.2d at 380[12], A non-moving party need respond to a summary judgment motion only when a movant has made a pri-ma facie showing there is no genuine issue of material fact and he or she is entitled to a judgment as a matter of law. Id. at 381; Wichita Falls, 78 S.W.3d at 814. Even if a party fails to respond to a motion for summary judgment, we will not affirm its granting if it is not supported by the facts or the law. Public Water Supply Dist. No. 16. v. City of Buckner, 44 S.W.3d 860, 863[2] (Mo.App.2001).

DISCUSSION AND DECISION

POINTS I & II: Error In Awarding Lien To Architect and Engineer

Sly Group’s first and second points maintain that, even though they did not respond to the list of material facts contained in Architect’s and Engineer’s motions for summary judgment, the trial court erred in sustaining their motions for summary judgment. Sly Group argues that professional architects and engineers (or their firms) must register with Missouri’s Board for Architects, Professional Engineers and Surveyors (“Board”), and if they fail to do so, they can neither enforce a contract for services in this state, nor can they show entitlement to a hen under § 429.015. In essence, Sly Group’s position is that such registration is a statutorily-created condition precedent to a § 429.015 hen.

Next, Sly Group asserts that neither the petitions of Architect or Engineer, nor the hst of undisputed facts within their summary judgment motions, demonstrates that the two entities were registered to practice their respective professions in Missouri. As such, Sly Group argues that the failure by Architect and Engineer to plead or prove the “registration” element of a § 429.015 hen precluded the trial court, as a matter of law, from finding those firms were entitled to a lien. We find this argument meritorious.

Any corporation that intends to do engineering or architectural work in Missouri must register with the Board by obtaining a certificate of authority. § 327.401.2; 7 Maran-Cooke, Inc. v. Purler Excavating, Inc., 585 S.W.2d 38, 39-40 (Mo.banc 1979).

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Bluebook (online)
107 S.W.3d 398, 2003 Mo. App. LEXIS 459, 2003 WL 1628510, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/space-planners-architects-inc-v-frontier-town-missouri-inc-moctapp-2003.