United Plumbing v. Gibraltar Savings & Loan Ass'n

441 P.2d 575, 7 Ariz. App. 540, 1968 Ariz. App. LEXIS 438
CourtCourt of Appeals of Arizona
DecidedMay 29, 1968
DocketNo. 1 CA-CIV 602
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 441 P.2d 575 (United Plumbing v. Gibraltar Savings & Loan Ass'n) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Arizona primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

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United Plumbing v. Gibraltar Savings & Loan Ass'n, 441 P.2d 575, 7 Ariz. App. 540, 1968 Ariz. App. LEXIS 438 (Ark. Ct. App. 1968).

Opinion

HATHAWAY, Chief Judge.

The appellants, United Plumbing (United) and Glajon Wholesale Co. (Glajon), sought to recover on mechanics and materialmen liens against Federal Savings and Loan Insurance Corporation, Gibraltar Savings & Loan Association’s receiver in bankruptcy. Gibraltar had held certain funds for the financing of two construction projects undertaken by Morton and Clair Braiker, dba Braiker Construction Company (hereinafter referred to as the Braikers). After making specific findings of fact and conclusions of law the trial court rendered judgment for Gibraltar, hence this appeal.

Viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to support the judgment, the facts are as follows. In the spring of 1963 the Braikers undertook two large construction projects on property generally known as Independence Acres and Whispering Sands. For the financing of this construction the Braikers entered into several building loan agreements with Gibraltar and with the exceptions of the dates and amounts the building loan agreements are identical. The loans were secured by numerous mortgages taken on the lots on which apartment complexes were to be built and by assignments of the proceeds of the loans to Gibraltar to take effect in the event of default.

The funds held by Gibraltar were to be distributed in five 20 percent distributions according to a specific schedule based upon the stage of completion of each construction project. An addendum was added to each agreement providing that the first four construction draws were to be payable jointly to the Braikers and the escrow agent handling the mortgage escrows, either Phoenix Title & Trust Company or Lawyer’s Title & Trust Company.

Gibraltar disbursed approximately 80 percent of the total funds from the building loan accounts to the Braikers as per [542]*542the agreements. Approximately one fourth of the disbursed funds were used for the purchase of the lots upon which the improvements were ultimately constructed.

The Braikers furnished Gibraltar with a financial statement showing the Braikers’ substantial financial worth. Apparently, Gibraltar did not investigate the Braikers’ actual financial worth and questionable financial background since the sole proceeds with which the Braikers, who had twice previously filed in bankruptcy, intended to finance the construction and purchase the lots consisted of the loan proceeds with Gibraltar.

After substantial completion of the construction on the two projects and the first four draws from the loan account were made, the Braikers’ financial difficulties became evident and they were ultimately forced into bankruptcy.

The appellants filed mechanics and materialmen liens against the property and the remaining work to be done on the projects halted. Gibraltar declared a default, accelerated its loans, applied the undisbursed loan proceeds to each particular loan and foreclosed on its mortgages. The trustee in bankruptcy for the Braikers sold the property on which the projects were being constructed free and clear of all mechanics and materialmen liens after its determination that the mortgage held by Gibraltar was a superior lien. Gibraltar entered into an agreement with the purchaser of these properties at the bankruptcy sale whereby the remaining undisbursed loan proceeds, plus additional funds were provided by Gibraltar for the completion of the projects. Thereafter, on November 6, 1964, the appellants filed pleadings with the trial court asserting their claims against Gibraltar for the remaining sums due them on the projects. The trial court found in favor of Gibraltar and the appellants have appealed therefrom.

The questions presented on appeal are:

1. Whether the appellants were entitled to an equitable lien on the undisbursed loan proceeds held by Gibraltar.
2. Whether the agreement between the Braikers and Gibraltar that Gibraltar will hold the loan proceeds disbursed to it in trust for the payment of mechanics and materialmen created a trust enforceable by the appellants, when in the same agreement the parties thereto have provided that the agreement is for the sole benefit of the parties and it is not intended to benefit any third persons.
3. Whether the appellants were third party beneficiaries of the agreement between the Braikers and Gibraltar.

In asserting their equitable lien doctrine the appellants rely heavily upon Pioneer Plumbing Supply Co. v. Southwest Savings and Loan Association, 3 Ariz.App. 495, 415 P.2d 893 (1966). The appellate court, however, in Pioneer was recently vacated by the Arizona Supreme Court in 102 Ariz. 258, 428 P.2d 115 (1967). There, dealing with a similar fact situation, our Supreme Court stated:

“To hold that Southwest had any duty to pay funds to Pioneer or Rural, or that Pioneer or Rural had a lien upon funds which the agreement expressly provided would go toward the reduction of the face of the mortgage, would be an alteration of the written agreement.” 428 P. 2d at 120.

That principle equally applies to the appellants’ claims here.

However, in Pioneer our Supreme Court did not foreclose the idea of the application of the equitable lien doctrine under the proper circumstances. The court said:

“* * * before the mechanics lien claimant can defeat the legal priority of a prior recorded mortgage, he must show that the mortgagee did something upon which he had a right to rely, and that he relied .thereon to his detriment. In the instant case Southwest’s creation of the loan funds did not in itself entitle Rural and Pioneer to rely on these funds for payments for which Southwest never became liable due to W. & R.’s default, [543]*543and Southwest did nothing else to induce' a reliance.” 428 P.2d at 122.

We have searched the record and find substantial evidence to support the trial court’s findings that Gibraltar made no representations to either of the appellants prior to the beginning of construction that would have allowed them to reasonably rely upon Gibraltar for payment to them for materials and time expended. Although prior to initiating construction Gibraltar’s representatives talked to both of the appellants and related that Gibraltar was financing the Braikers, there is undisputed testimony that Gibraltar refused, as requested by appellants prior to construction, to disburse the loan funds payable jointly to the appellants and the Braikers. In light of this refusal and the agreement between Gibraltar and the Braikers, it is clear that neither of the appellants could or should have reasonably relied upon Gibraltar for payment.

The appellants base their next contention upon paragraph 5(b) of the loan agreements between Gibraltar and the Braikers. That paragraph in pertinent part states:

“The undersigned, and each of them, agree that all the funds received hereunder are received in trust for the purpose of paying in full all contractors and/or materialmen and/or laborers (other than the undersigned) then or thereafter engaged in said construction; and that the undersigned shall not have any beneficial interest in said funds unless and until said purpose has been fulfilled.”

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441 P.2d 575, 7 Ariz. App. 540, 1968 Ariz. App. LEXIS 438, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/united-plumbing-v-gibraltar-savings-loan-assn-arizctapp-1968.