5 Wash. 496 | Wash. | 1893
The opinion of the court was delivered by
This case was brought by the appellant to foreclose a lien for lumber furnished to be used in the construction of a building erected on certain real estate in the city of Seattle, in which the respondent Rengstorff had a leasehold interest. McDonald and Docking were partners engaged in the business of constructing buildings, and en-. tered into the contract with Rengstorff for the construction of this building. Piper and Sweeney had no actual part in the construction of the building, but were sureties for the contractors; although, instead of signing a bond for that
In the action to foreclose, McDonald and Docking, and Piper and Sweeney, together with Kengstorff, the owner, were made parties defendant. The appellant claims to be entitled to a judgment against Piper and Sweeney in consequence of their having joined in the original contract, which provided that the building should be turned over to Rengstorff free from liens, and that by establishing the liens these parties also would be liable to it. This position is untenable. The fact that Piper and Sweeney joined in the contract with McDonald and Docking for the construction of the building, would not render them liable to the plaintiff, for it appears by the proof that the object in having them made parties to the contract with Kengstorff was to afford Kengstorff additional security to that which he would have had, had the contract been solely with McDonald and Docking. It also appears that the material in. question was charged to McDonald and Docking, and was furnished solely on their credit. It was not known to the appellant at the time it furnished the materials that Piper and Sweeney were parties to the building contract. In no view of the case could the plaintiff have judgment against Piper and Sweeney.
Subsequent to the signing of the contract Docking severed his connection with McDonald in the construction of the building, and McDonald alone continued the construction thereof. It does not appear that any new agreement was entered into or understanding had between said contractors and Rengstorff, or between McDonald and Docking and the plaintiff.
The court rendered judgment in favor of the plaintiff against McDonald, who made default, but held the lien no
The lien notice was rightly rejected, but we think the court erred in its final disposition of the case. The defendants entered upon a trial as to the merits of the case, and evidence was introduced relating to the contract between the plaintiff and the contractors McDonald and Docking, under which the material in question was furnished, without any objection or any demand to have the case tried by a jury, and plaintiff having in nowise released Docking, he was still bound under the contract under which the material was furnished, and the judgment should havé been rendered in favor of the plaintiff against the contractors McDonald and Docking for the amount found to be due for said materials. See Hildebrandt v. Savage, 4 Wash. 524 (30 Pac. Rep. 643).
• The judgment of the court below is reversed, except as to McDonald, and the cause is remanded with instructions to also render a judgment in favor of the plaintiff against Docking for the amount found to be due.
For the reasons given by me in the case of Hildebrandt v. Savage, supra, I hold that no judgment should have been entered in this case.