This аction was brought by appellant to establish and enforce a mechanic’s lien in the sum of $13,035.94 for material used in the construction of a dwelling for John F. Kinstler and Gretta E. Kinstler. The case was tried to the court without a jury. After trial but before judgment, John F. Kinstler died. Judgment was entered in favor of appellant and against respondent Gretta E. Kinstler in the sum of $6,323.11, which was also declared to be a lien on the real estate and prior and superior to an existing mortgage. Appellant’s Motion to Amend Judgment or for a New Trial was overruled, and it appeals.
On Oсtober 11, 1967, the Kinstlers entered into a contract with one Henry Ge-meinhardt for the construction of a house ' to be built on a lot owned by J. Raymond Brummet and Freda M. Brummet, Keith W. Major and Gladys Major, and Robert J. Major and Edith Major. Gemeinhardt started construction, but in March, 1968 notified the Kinstlers thаt he would not complete the house. John F. Kinstler then took over as his own contractor and completed the house. On September 18, 1968, the property was conveyed to the Kinstlers by the Brummets and Majors, and a loan transaction with General American Life Insurancе Company was closed. An escrow account in the sum of $14,600.24 was established to cover the mechanic’s lien claim.
After Gemeinhardt abandoned the job, Kinstler contacted each of the subcontractors, inquired of them concerning the work they had done and their bills to date, and asked if they were interested in completing the job. It was agreed that they would continue and that the Kinstlers would pay them in full for their work. Kinstler also talked with Buell Baclesse, appellant’s president. He was advised by Baclesse that the balance due from Gemеinhardt was $5,100.00, Kinstler testified that he told Baclesse he would pay him every pen *552 ny he was legally obligated to pay. He further testified that he was satisfied that the work the subcontractors had bills for was in the house, but that “everything just didn’t smell right” with appellant’s bill, that he had paid out money to Gemеin-hardt and thought appellant had been paid, and that other business transactions between Gemeinhardt and Baclesse had created further suspicions. In addition, Kin-stler found that several items furnished to Gemeinhardt and billed to the Kinstler property were not used on the Kinstler homе, but on other properties owned by Gemeinhardt.
The trial court found that the items furnished between November 6, 1967 and March 18, 1968, totaling $6,338.56, were sold to Henry Gemeinhardt as the original contractor and that he was a necessary and indispensable party to the action. The Court further held that since Gemeinhardt was not joined as a defendant, judgment for the amount due on these materials could not be entered against any of the named defendants and the real estate could not be impressed with a lien for such items. Judgment was entered in favor of aрpellant and against respondent Gretta E. Kinstler in the sum of $6,323.11, the amount due for the materials furnished between April 1, 1968 and July 31, 1968, and the property was charged with a lien in that amount. Gretta E. Kinstler, Adminis-tratrix of the estate of John F. Kinstler, was substituted as an additional party defendant after judgment but before this appeal.
Our review of this court-tried case, governed by Rule 73.01(d), V.A.M.R., is upon both the law and the evidence as in suits of an equitable nature, deferring, however, to the trial court’s findings upon controverted factual matters. Madget v. Jenkins,
Appellant contends first that, by agreeing and assuming to pay outstanding claims for materials and labor of some subcontractors, and by knowingly availing themselvеs of the acts and retaining the benefits of the transactions between Ge-meinhardt and appellant, the Kinstlers made and constituted Gemeinhardt their agent, and were bound and concluded by his transactions, or that by agreeing to pay the claims of the subcontractors they became from that time the principal contractor, both as to the materials already furnished and to those subsequently furnished.
The relation of principal and agent is created by manifestation of consent of one person to another that the other shаll act on his behalf and subject to his control, and consent by the other so to act. Utlaut v. Glick Real Estate Company,
The contract between the Kinstlers and Gemeinhardt provided that Gemeinhardt was to furnish all of the materials and perform all of the work shown on the working drawings and described in the specifications. Gemeinhardt did in fact commence performance under the contract as a general contractor by employing all the subcontractors and purchasing all the materials. Respondents’ evidence further established that although the Kinstlers knew where the materials were being purchased, and on a number of occasions met with Gemeinhardt at appellant’s lumberyard to pick out items for the house, thе choice of subcontractors and materialmen was made *553 by Gemeinhardt alone. Buell Baclesse also testified that although the Kinstlers were in his store and lumberyard many times, they did not personally order any items or materials. He further testified that it was customary for the prоperty owner to consult with the material supplier from time to time with regard to materials to be used in construction.
The contract clearly established an owner independent contractor relationship. There was no evidence of any actions on the part of the Kinstlers or Gemeinhardt consistent with a principal agency relationship, nor was there any evidence that Bac-lesse considered or treated Gemeinhardt as the agent of the Kinstlers. He looked to Gemeinhardt for payment, billing him on a monthly basis. No statements were sent to the Kinstlers. He dealt with and regarded Gemeinhardt as an independent contractor and did not rely upon any claimed agency. He cannot now reverse his position. Jeff-Cole Quarries, Inc. v. Bell, supra. The materials furnished between November 6, 1967 and Marсh 18, 1969 were sold to Ge-meinhardt as the general contractor for the Kinstlers and must be considered as having been sold under a contract separate from that under which materials were later furnished directly to the Kinstlers. As to these materials, Gemeinhardt was a necessary and indispensable party to any suit to enforce a lien against the Kinstlers. Section 429.190 RSMo 1969, V.A.M.S.; Macklind Inv. Co. v. Ferry,
Appellant alleges alternatively that, even though a mechanic’s lien should fail as to these materials, a contract, express, implied or constructive, еxisted between appellant and the Kinstlers and the trial court erred in failing to find a personal judgment against Mrs. Kinstler and Mr. Kinstler’s estate.
The law is settled in Missouri that no privity of contract exists between a property owner and a subcontractor, the contractor being the link which connects the two. Fury v. Boeckler,
There was no privity of contract between appellant and the Kinstlers by reаson of the mechanic’s lien statute, and the trial court found no contract, express, implied or constructive, to exist between them. Appellant contends, however, that an express contract was shown by Mr. Kinstler’s request that materials continue to be furnished, and by his prоmise to pay for all *554 materials if payment could be delayed until construction was completed. Although the appellant’s evidence tends to support this allegation, John Kinstler denied it, testifying that he agreed to pay appellant only what he was legally obligаted for. Appellant contends further that if no express contract existed, the Kinstlers’ statements, coupled with their actions, gave rise to an implied contract. Again, the evidence concerning the words and actions of the Kinst-lers conflicted. The trial court heard and observed the witnesses and found no contract to exist between appellant and the Kinstlers which would obligate the Kinst-lers to pay for materials furnished to Ge-meinhardt. We defer to those findings. Madget v. Jenkins, supra; Jeff-Cole Quarries, Inc. v. Bell, supra.
Appellant also contends that he is entitled to recover on quantum meruit under the doctrine of constructive or quasi contract. A review of the pleadings and evidence shows that the case was tried on the theory that a contract in fact existed between appellant and the Kinstlеrs, appellant’s allegation of constructive contract not appearing until this appeal. This point must be ruled against appellant for two reasons. A contract implied in law is imposed without regard to promise or intention of the party to be bound, the аssent resting solely in legal fiction, the liability based in reason and justice. Bennett v. Adams,
The evidenсe established that the materials furnished to Gemeinhardt, except for a few items of little significance here, were used in construction of the Kinstler residence, that they constituted a “benefit” to the Kinstlers, and that they were never paid for. The evidence did not, howevеr, establish “unjust enrichment” of the Kinstlers by reason of their retention. John Kinstler testified that on February 13, 1968, Gemeinhardt stated he was going to need some money and that he arranged to have $6,000.00 placed in an escrow account to be disbursed upon presentation of bills by Gemeinhаrdt. The next day, Gemeinhardt advised Kinstler that his account with appellant was over $6,000.00, whereupon Kinstler authorized a payment in that amount to Gemeinhardt. An objection to this testimony was sustained by the trial court on the ground that it constituted hearsay. The hearsay rule, however, hаs no application where the extra-judicial utterance is offered, not as evidence of the truth of the facts asserted therein, but to show the reasons for the witnesses’ actions. Bond v. Wabash Railroad Co.,
To recover on quantum meruit, there must also be proof that the charges were fair and reasonable. Adams v. Smith,
The trial court correctly found that Henry Gemeinhardt was a necessary and indispensable party to appellant’s action for the materials furnished between November *555 6, 1967 and March 18, 1968, and without whom judgment could not be entered against the other defendants and the real estate impressed with a lien.
The judgment must be amended in one respect. Suggestion of Death was filed by defendant Gretta E. Kinstler prior to judgment. Appellant’s Motion for Substitution of Party was filed and Substitution ordered after judgment, but in time. Rule 52.13(a)(1). The judgment should have been amended to reflect the substitution. Section 429.200 RSMo 1969. We amend by adding “Gretta E. Kinstler, Ad-ministratrix of the Estate of John F. Kinst-ler,” as a defendant against whom the judgment was entered, and as amended, we affirm.
All concur.