Humphries v. Remco, Inc.
Humphries v. Remco, Inc.
Opinion of the Court
Appeal from a summary judgment in favor of plaintiff after he had recorded a mechanic’s lien, for an alleged balance due on a contract to lay bricks at a housing project. Affirmed in part and reversed in part. No costs awarded.
The only questions here are: 1) How many bricks were laid ?, the price per brick being conceded; and 2) Are attorney’s fees recoverable?
Defendant urges on appeal that: 1) There was a genuine issue of fact developed by the pleadings and discovery process; 2) That the matter should have been submitted to arbitration under one of the terms of the contract; and 3) That attorney’s fees should not have been awarded.
As to 1: We have examined the comparatively short record and it appears that each of the three affidavits filed by defendant which were urged in support of this point on appeal is ineffective and conceded at argument by defendant’s counsel not to be probatively responsive under Rule 56(e), Utah Rules of Civil Procedure. With respect to the answers to interrogatories incorporated by reference in one of the affidavits, we think that such interrogatories in this case, part of the pleadings, substantively create no genuine issue, since they, like the affidavits do not satisfy either the Rule or general rules of evidence
As to 2) above: The motion to submit the matter to arbitration came after judgment which was too late, — arbitration being designed to prevent litigation, — not to create more controversy in a brand new forum, with a brand new approach, with virtually a brand new trial, — which no doubt are solid reasons that gave rise to the almost universal rule that arbitration is not permissible after judgment.
As to 3) : Defendant takes the position that attorney’s fees are not awarda-ble in the absence of statute or express agreement or perhaps in punitive damage cases. The plaintiff in this case alleged in his complaint the filing for record of a mechanic’s lien in Iron County, where the. construction took place, but did not ask for its foreclosure, — for the reason, no doubt, that he could not have pursued such a remedy in Washington County, local forum in this case. It appears that defendant’s point in this respect is well taken, since plaintiff’s only claim for attorney’s fees is based on a statute
The defendant in a post-judgment motion asked that in the event judgment prevailed here, the defendant be ordered to remove the lien. The record, as is, does not permit of us entertaining such request, but it would seem to have been proper.
. Webster’s Third New International Dictionary : “A sworn statement in writing made especially under oath or on affirmation before an authorized magistrate or officer.”
. Minute Entry: “ . . . Jim K. Scarth appearing for plaintiff, no appearance of defendant or counsel for same.”
. 25 A.L.R.3d 1171 (1969).
. Title 38-1-18, U.C.A.1953.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Brian HUMPHRIES, and v. REMCO, INC., a Utah corporation, and
- Cited By
- 1 case
- Status
- Published