Case Title: MADISON FORK RANCH v L B LODGE P

Citation: 

Docket Number: 79-038

State: montana

Court: Montana Supreme Court

Date: 1980-08-25T00:00:00Z

Document:
No. 79-38 I N THE SUIJREP.:E COURL!' O F T H E STATE OE' M O N T A I \ ! A 1980 P l a i n t i f f and Respondent., -vs- L & B L O D G E PPOE TIMBER PRODUCTS, Defendants anci Appellant-s. Appeal from: District Court. o f t h e Eighteentk! J u l i c i a l D i s t r i c t , I n and f c r t h e County o f Gal-latin, The Honora.ble W. W. Less1 ey , Judge p r e s i d i n g . Counscl o f Recorl: Bolinger, Higgins 6 Andes, Bozeman, Montana B. A. Polginger ~ r g u e d , Bozeman, MontanE. For Respondent : B e r ~ , Morgan, C o i l & S t c k e s , Bclzemar:, Montena Gregory 0. Morgan argued, Bozeman, Montana F i l e d : _ilk& ; * t . I % ? ' J - - - 4 - - Clerk M r . C h i e f J u s t i c e F r a n k I . H a s w e l l d e l i v e r e d t h e O p i n i o n o f t h e C o u r t . P l a i n t i f f - r e s p o n d e n t M a d i s o n F o r k Ranch ( R a n c h ) f i l e d a c o m p l a i n t a g a i n s t d e f e n d a n t s a l l e g i n g a b r e a c h o f c o n t r a c t i n t i m b e r c u t t i n g o p e r a t i o n s on t h e Ranch and s e e k i n g r e s c i s s i o n o f t h e c o n t r a c t and an i n j u n c t i o n . The D i s t r i c t C o u r t f o u n d a b r e a c h o f c o n t r a c t and i s s u e d a p e r m a n e n t i n j u n c t i o n p r o h i b i t i n g d e f e n d a n t s f r o m c u t t i n g any t i m b e r on t h e Ranch, b u t i t s f i n d i n g s , c o n c l u s i o n s and j u d g m e n t w e r e s i l e n t on t h e i s s u e o f r e s c i s s i o n o f t h e c o n t r a c t . D e f e n d a n t L & B Lodge P o l e T i m b e r P r o d u c t s a p p e a l s . The Ranch i s a dude r a n c h p r i v a t e l y owned b y a p a r t n e r s h i p o f f i v e n o n r e s i d e n t i n d i v i d u a l s and i s l o c a t e d n e a r t h e t o w n o f West Y e l l o w s t o n e . The Ranch i s o p e r a t e d p u r e l y f o r t h e l e i s u r e i n t e r e s t s o f i t s owners a l t h o u g h i t does accommodate some g u e s t s . I t i s n o t o p e r a t e d t o r e t u r n a p r o f i t . The p a r t n e r s h i p was f o r m e d i n t h e e a r l y 1 9 7 0 ' s . A t t h a t t i m e a f i c t i t i o u s name c e r - t i f i c a t e was f i l e d w h i c h l i s t e d t h e o r i g i n a l p a r t n e r s . However, s i n c e t h a t t i m e , t w o o r i g i n a l p a r t n e r s , D o n a l d Dodge and J o h n Tweedy, h a v e p u r c h a s e d t h e i n t e r e s t o f t h r e e o f t h e o t h e r o r i g i - n a l p a r t n e r s . No o t h e r p a r t n e r s h i p o w n e r s h i p changes have o c c u r r e d . A new f i c t i t i o u s name c e r t i f i c a t e was f i l e d p r i o r t o t r i a l b u t a f t e r commencement o f t h e a c t i o n . The o w n e r s and R o l a n d B r o n d e r , t h e Ranch f o r e m a n , became c o n c e r n e d a b o u t M o u n t a i n P i n e B e e t l e i n f e s t a t i o n o f t i m b e r on t h e Ranch i n e a r l y 1978. B r o n d e r was a u t h o r i z e d t o h i r e a l o g g e r a t t h a t t i m e . He c o n t a c t e d L & B Lodge P o l e T i m b e r P r o d u c t s t h r o u g h R o b e r t H. S m i t h . L & B Lodge P o l e T i m b e r P r o d u c t s i s owned and o p e r a t e d b y R o b e r t S m i t h and L u c i l l e S m i t h and w i l l be r e f e r r e d t o as " S m i t h . " The Ranch and S m i t h e n t e r e d i n t o an o r a l c o n t r a c t a b o u t J u n e 1, 1 9 7 8 , and e x e c u t e d a w r i t t e n c o n t r a c t t o l o g t h e p r o p e r t y i n A u g u s t , 1978. D o n a l d Dodge s t a t e d t h a t t h e R a n c h ' s p u r p o s e i n e n t e r i n g i n t o t h e o r a l c o n t r a c t was t o - 2 - r e d u c e t h e f i r e h a z a r d as w e l l as p r e s e r v e t h e a e s t h e t i c and f u t u r e e c o n o m i c v a l u e o f t h e p r o p e r t y . Dodge a l s o t e s t i f i e d t h a t t h e c o n t r a c t was s e t a t $ 1 0 p e r t h o u s a n d , w e l l b e l o w t h e m a r k e t p r i c e , t o a l l o w S m i t h t o p r o f i t a b l y s e l e c t i v e - c u t t h e p r o p e r t y . The R a n c h ' s p u r p o s e i n e x e c u t i n g t h e w r i t t e n c o n t r a c t was t o accommodate S m i t h i n a c q u i r i n g f i n a n c i n g f o r l o g g i n g e q u i p m e n t . The l o g g i n g o p e r a t i o n commenced i n l a t e May, 1978, and c o n t i n u e d t h r o u g h t h e summer w i t h B r o n d e r p r e s e n t most o f t h e t i m e . B r o n d e r , i n s u p e r v i s i n g t h e o p e r a t i o n , a d v i s e d S m i t h n o t t o c u t s t a n d s o f f i r o r a s p e n and t o l d h i m t o l e a v e o t h e r s p e c i f i c s e c t i o n s o f t r e e s and i n d i v i d u a l t r e e s f o r t h e i r a e s t h e - t i c v a l u e . Dodge t e s t i f i e d t h a t S m i t h was s a t i s f a c t o r i l y p e r f o r m i n g t h e c o n t r a c t b y s e l e c t i v e - c u t t i ng p r i o r t o t h e e x e c u - t i o n o f t h e w r i t t e n c o n t r a c t . I n J u l y , 1978, S m i t h d i s c u s s e d w i t h B r o n d e r t h e p u r c h a s e o f a " h a r v e s t e r " t o c o m p l e t e t h e l o g g i n g o p e r a t i o n . A h a r v e s t e r i s a l a r g e m a c h i n e w h i c h i s maneuvered t h r o u g h t h e woods f e l l i n g i n d i v i d u a l t r e e s and r e m o v i n g t h e l i m b s . S m i t h t e s t i f i e d t h a t B r o n d e r t h o u g h t t h e h a r v e s t e r was a good i d e a s i n c e he was con- c e r n e d w i t h t h e s c a r s l e f t b y t h e c a t e r p i l l a r t h a t S m i t h was u s i n g , and t h i s p r o b l e m w o u l d s u p p o s e d l y be e l i m i n a t e d b y u s i n g t h e r u b b e r - t i r e d h a r v e s t e r . B r o n d e r a g r e e d t o p r e s e n t t h e c o n t r a c t t o t h e p a r t n e r s i f S m i t h w o u l d have i t d r a f t e d . M r . S m i t h had h i s a t t o r n e y d r a f t t h e c o n t r a c t and i t was s i g n e d b y S m i t h and M a r g a r e t G r a n d , a p a r t n e r i n t h e Ranch, on A u g u s t 1, 1978. The l o g g i n g o p e r a t i o n changed c o n s i d e r a b l y when S m i t h b e g a n u s i n g t h e h a r v e s t e r . The r e s u l t was t h a t many more t r e e s w e r e removed o r k n o c k e d down a f t e r t h e w r i t t e n c o n t r a c t was d r a f t e d and s i g n e d . T h i s e f f e c t i s a t t r i b u t e d t o t h e c h a r a c t e r and s i z e o f t h e h a r v e s t e r . The f o l l o w i n g c o n t r a c t p r o v i s i o n i s t h e c e n t e r o f con- t r o v e r s y i n t h i s c a s e : " T h a t t h e p a r t y o f t h e f i r s t p a r t a g r e e s t o s e l l t o t h e p a r t y o f t h e s e c o n d p a r t a l l m e r c h a n t a b l e t i m b e r on s a i d l a n d s w h i c h has been o r now i s i n f e c t e d b y t h e p i n e b e e t l e , and t h e p a r t y o f t h e s e c o n d p a r t a g r e e s t o c u t and remove a l l o f s a i d m e r c h a n t a b l e t i m b e r f r o m s a i d l a n d s on o r b e f o r e , 1 9 . . . ' I S m i t h t e s t i f i e d t h a t he u n d e r s t o o d t h e meaning o f " i n f e c t e d m e r c h a n t a b l e t i m b e r " t o mean a1 1 t r e e s s u s c e p t i b l e t o i n f e s t a t i o n b y t h e b e e t l e s i n c e t h e y w o u l d d i e e v e n t u a l l y . He s t a t e d t h a t t h e v e r b a l a g r e e m e n t w h i c h p r e d a t e d t h e w r i t t e n a g r e e m e n t gave h i m t h i s i n t e r p r e t a t i o n . P u r s u a n t t o t h i s i n t e r p r e t a t i o n S m i t h b e l i e v e d he c o u l d t a k e a1 l t r e e s w h i c h w e r e s e v e n i n c h e s i n d i a m e t e r o r l a r g e r a t c h e s t h e i g h t . S m i t h a l s o t e s t i f i e d t h a t B r o n d e r t o l d h i m t h a t he w a n t e d t h e f i r e h a z a r d r e m o v e d e n t i r e l y and t h e t r e e s s a l v a g e d t h a t c o u l d be s a l v a g e d . S m i t h s a i d i t was a g r e e d t h a t he w o u l d t a k e a l l t r e e s t h a t w o u l d be h i t b y t h e b e e t l e s , a l t h o u g h B r o n d e r t o l d h i m on s e v e r a l o c c a s i o n s n o t t o t a k e c e r t a i n t r e e s b e c a u s e o f t h e i r a e s t h e t i c v a l ue. As a c o n s e q u e n c e , S m i t h t e s t i f i e d t h a t he was s e l e c t i v e - c u t t i n g down t o s e v e n i n c h c h e s t h i g h t r e e s and l e a v i n g s t a n d s o f f i r and aspen. B r o n d e r d i d n o t a p p e a r a t t r i a l . On S e p t e m b e r 6, 1 9 7 8 , t h e Ranch n o t i f i e d S m i t h t h a t t h e y c o n s i d e r e d t h e c o n t r a c t t e r m i n a t e d as a r e s u l t o f h i s f a i l u r e t o p e r f o r m a c c o r d i n g t o i t s t e r m s . A c o m p l a i n t was f i l e d S e p t e m b e r 11, 1 9 7 8 , and a t e m p o r a r y r e s t r a i n i n g o r d e r was i s s u e d on O c t o b e r 2, 1978. A show c a u s e h e a r i n g was h e l d and on O c t o b e r 1 0 , 1 9 7 8 , t h e D i s t r i c t C o u r t " r e l e a s e d and v a c a t e d " t h e t e m p o r a r y r e s t r a i n i n g o r d e r . S m i t h r e - e n t e r e d t h e p r o p e r t y a b o u t O c t o b e r 1 9 , 1 9 7 8 , and l o g g e d 15 t o 25 more a c r e s b e f o r e December 5, 1 9 7 8 . He was p r e - v e n t e d f r o m any f u r t h e r l o g g i n g o f t h e p r o p e r t y i n t h e s p r i n g o f 1 9 7 9 , b y R o l a n d B r o n d e r . S m i t h ' s m o t i o n s f o r d i s m i s s a l and summary j u d g m e n t based o n t h e R a n c h ' s f a i l u r e t o f i l e a new f i c t i t i o u s name c e r t i f i c a t e w e r e b o t h d e n i e d . The t r i a l was h e l d J u n e 1, 1979. S e v e r a l e x p e r t w i t n e s s e s t e s t i f i e d as t o t h e i r i n t e r p r e t a t i o n o f t h e c o n t r a c t and t h e o p e r a t i o n c o n d u c t e d by Smith. One o f t h e e x p e r t s , R o b e r t M c K n i g h t , c r u i s e d t h e t i m b e r on t h e Ranch. M c K n i g h t has a B.S. d e g r e e i n s c i e n c e and f o r e s t r y w i t h 131k y e a r s e x p e r i e n c e w i t h t i m b e r and f o r e s t r y companies i n s o u t h w e s t e r n Montana and 2 5 y e a r s e x p e r i e n c e i n c r u i s i n g t i m b e r . He d e t e r m i n e d t h a t t h e r e was an a v e r a g e o f 153 t r e e s p e r a c r e c o n s i s t i n g o f 75 merchan- t a b l e t r e e s p e r a c r e , 43 w e r e i n f e c t e d . He d e f i n e d m e r c h a n t a b l e as e i g h t i n c h e s i n d i a m e t e r a t b r e a s t h e i g h t . He a l s o t e s t i f i e d t h a t most o f t h e a r e a s l o g g e d b y S m i t h on t h e Ranch were c l e a r - c u t and t h a t t h e m a r k e t p r i c e f o r a c l e a r - c u t o p e r a t i o n i n t h e summer o f 1978 was a t l e a s t $50 p e r thousand. Dodge had a l s o t e s t i f i e d t h a t a f t e r t h e e x e c u t i o n o f t h e w r i t t e n c o n t r a c t , t h e o p e r a t i o n became a c l e a r - c u t o p e r a t i o n . W i l l i a m D r i v e r , t h e t i m b e r s a l e s and d i s e a s e c o n t r o l spe- c i a l i s t f o r t h e G a l l a t i n and C u s t e r F o r e s t , t e s t i f i e d , as d i d M c K n i g h t , t h a t t h e c o n t r a c t was a s e l e c t i v e - c u t c o n t r a c t on a p e r t r e e b a s i s . The D i s t r i c t C o u r t e n t e r e d f i n d i n g s o f f a c t and c o n c l u - s i o n s o f l a w on June 19, 1979. The c o u r t f o u n d , i n p e r t i n e n t p a r t : " . . . T h a t t h e p u r p o s e f o r w h i c h t h e p l a i n t i f f e n t e r e d i n t o t h i s agreement was t o r e d u c e t h e f i r e h a z a r d t o t h e p l a i n t i f f ' s b u i l d i n g s and l a n d s , a l o n g w i t h t h e p e r s o n n e l r e s i d i n g t h e r e o n , as w e l l as p r e s e r v e t h e a e s t h e t i c and f u t u r e economic v a l u e s o f t h e p r o p e r t y f r o m t h e p i n e b e e t l e ; " T h a t t h e d e f e n d a n t s have f a i l e d and r e f u s e d t o p e r f o r m c e r t a i n o b l i g a t i o n s u n d e r t h e c o n t r a c t i n t h a t t h e y have c u t t r e e s w h i c h a r e n o t m e r c h a n t a b l e and have c u t m e r c h a n t a b l e t r e e s w h i c h a r e n o t i n f e c t e d o r were n o t i n f e c t e d by t h e p i n e b e e t l e ; t h a t t h e d e f e n d a n t s , i n t h e i r l o g g i n g o p e r a t i o n s , have wasted and d e s t r o y e d many o f t h e young, g r e e n , n o n i n f e c t e d t r e e s s t a n d i n g on t h e p r o p e r t y and w i l l , u n l e s s o t h e r - w i s e r e s t r a i n e d by t h i s C o u r t , c o n t i n u e t o w a s t e and d e s t r o y t h e young, g r e e n , u n i n f e c t e d t r e e s s t a n d i n g on t h e p r o p e r t y , w h i c h t r e e s a r e o f v a l u e t o t h e p l a i n t i f f f o r a e s t h e t i c and eco- nomic purposes." On t h e b a s i s o f t h e p r e c e d i n g f i n d i n g s , t h e D i s t r i c t C o u r t c o n c l u d e d t h a t S m i t h had b r e a c h e d t h e c o n t r a c t , and t h a t s i n c e t h e d e s t r u c t i o n and t h e t h r e a t e n e d f u t u r e d e s t r u c t i o n t o t h e s t a n d i n g t i m b e r c o u l d n o t be r e m e d i e d b y an a c t i o n a t l a w , an i n j u n c t i o n was p r o p e r . The j u d g m e n t and p e r m a n e n t i n j u n c t i o n was e n t e r e d on J u n e 28, 1979. The i n j u n c t i o n p e r p e t u a l l y e n j o i n e d S m i t h f r o m e n t e r i n g t h e Ranch f o r t h e p u r p o s e o f c u t t i n g o r o t h e r w i s e d e s t r o y i n g a n y s t a n d i n g t i m b e r on t h e Ranch. The c o u r t a l s o g r a n t e d t h e Ranch a l i e n upon a l l t i m b e r c u t b u t n o t d e c k e d on t h e i r l a n d . The f o l l o w i n g i s s u e s a r e r a i s e d on a p p e a l : 1 . W h e t h e r t h e d e f e n d a n t ' s a c t s i n c u t t i n g u n i n f e c t e d m e r c h a n t a b l e t r e e s and d e s t r o y i n g y o u n g , g r e e n , u n i n f e c t e d ( u n m e r c h a n t a b l e ) t r e e s c o n s t i t u t e d a b r e a c h o f c o n t r a c t ? 2. W h e t h e r t h e i n j u n c t i o n i s o v e r b r o a d ? 3. W h e t h e r t h e D i s t r i c t C o u r t e r r e d i n d e n y i n g d e f e n d a n t ' s m o t i o n s f o r d i s m i s s a l and summary j u d g m e n t w h i c h w e r e b a s e d on p l a i n t i f f ' s f a i l u r e t o f i l e a new f i c t i t i o u s name c e r - t i f i c a t e p r i o r t o f i l i n g i t s c o m p l a i n t ? 4. W h e t h e r t h e D i s t r i c t C o u r t e r r e d i n g r a n t i n g p l a i n t i f f a l i e n on t h e c u t , u n d e c k e d l o g s ? I n a d d r e s s i n g t h e b r e a c h o f c o n t r a c t i s s u e , we n o t e t h a t many l e g a l d i s t i n c t i o n s have been d r a w n b y c o u r t s as t o t h e r i g h t s o f t h e p a r t i e s t o a c o n t r a c t f o r t h e s a l e o f t i m b e r . The d i s t i n c t i o n s a r e drawn d e p e n d i n g on w h e t h e r t h e i n s t r u m e n t i s a c o n t r a c t f o r s a l e o r a c o n v e y a n c e o f r e a l p r o p e r t y , w h e t h e r t h e c o n t r a c t i s o r a l o r w r i t t e n , w h e t h e r t h e c o n t r a c t i s e x e c u t e d o r e x e c u t o r y , o r w h e t h e r a mere r e v o c a b l e l i c e n s e has b e e n c o n v e y e d o r t i t l e t o t h e t i m b e r i s passed. D e p e n d i n g on t h e c i r c u m s t a n c e s , c o u r t s have t r e a t e d t i m b e r a g r e e m e n t s as e i t h e r a c o n t r a c t f o r s a l e , a l e a s e o f t h e l a n d , an employment c o n t r a c t , a l i c e n s e t o c u t t i m b e r o r a c o n v e y a n c e p a s s i n g t i t l e t o t h e g r a n t e e . 54 C.J.S. L o g s a n d L o g g i n g 9 9 . To d a t e , t h i s C o u r t h a s d e c l a r e d t h a t an o r a l o r s i m p l e c o n t r a c t f o r t h e s a l e o f t i m b e r i s a mere l i c e n s e r e v o c a b l e a t t h e w i l l o f t h e v e n d o r . S o r e n s e n v. J a c o b s o n ( 1 9 5 1 ) , 1 2 5 Mont.148, 2 3 2 P.2d 332. I n G u l l i c k s e n v. Shadoan ( 1 9 5 0 ) , 1 2 4 M o n t . 56, 218 P.2d 714, we h e l d t h a t a w r i t t e n , u n r e c o r d e d c o n t r a c t f o r t h e s a l e o f t i m b e r was i n e f f e c t i v e t o b i n d a s u b s e q u e n t p u r c h a s e r o f t h e l a n d who d i d n o t h a v e n o t i c e . I n d i c t a , i t was s t a t e d t h a t t h e p r e s e n c e o r a b s e n c e o f n o t i c e was i r r e l e v a n t s i n c e t h e c o n t r a c t was e x e c u t o r y and w o u l d n o t p r e v e n t a u n i l a t e r a l r e v o c a t i o n o f t h e l i c e n s e . Pegg v. M i d - S t a t e D e v e l o p m e n t Corp. ( 1 9 7 4 ) , 1 6 4 Mont. 525, 529 P.2d 1399, e x p r e s s l y o v e r r u l e d t h i s d i c t a i n G u l l i c k s e n i n h o l d i n g t h a t a w r i t t e n c o n t r a c t f o r t h e s a l e o f t i m b e r i s e n f o r - c e a b l e a g a i n s t a s u b s e q u e n t p u r c h a s e r w i t h n o t i c e o f t h e c o n t r a c t . However, t h e c a s e i s d i s t i n g u i s h a b l e f r o m t h e p r e s e n t c a s e i n t h a t t h e c o n t r a c t p u r p o r t e d t o c o n v e y t i t l e t o a l l m e r c h a n t a b l e t i m b e r and no b r e a c h o f c o n t r a c t was i n v o l v e d . No M o n t a n a c a s e s have a d d r e s s e d t h e i s s u e o f b r e a c h o f c o n t r a c t b y h a r v e s t i n g t i m b e r w h i c h i s n o t t h e p r o p e r s u b j e c t o f t h e c o n t r a c t . B o t h p a r t i e s t r e a t t h e i n s t r u m e n t as a c o n t r a c t f o r t h e s a l e o f t i m b e r r a t h e r t h a n a c o n v e y a n c e o f an i n t e r e s t i n l a n d . W e a g r e e w i t h t h i s a p p r o a c h and p r o c e e d a c c o r d i n g l y . A t t r i a l a p p e l l a n t d e v o t e d much e f f o r t t o s h o w i n g t h a t t h e b e s t management p r a c t i c e t o c o n t r o l t h e s p r e a d o f t h e p i n e b e e t l e i s t o remove a l l s u s c e p t i b l e t r e e s . He a r g u e s t h a t t h i s e s t a b l i s h e s a " u s a g e o f t r a d e " w h i c h i s t o be g i v e n e f f e c t i n c o n s t r u i n g t h e c o n t r a c t u n d e r t h e U n i f o r m Commerci a1 Code, s e c - t i o n 3 0 - 2 - 2 0 8 , MCA. However, s e c t i o n 3 0 - 2 - 1 0 7 ( 1 ) , MCA, e s t a b l i s h e s t h a t a c o n t r a c t f o r t h e s a l e o f t i m b e r i s s u b j e c t t o t h e p r o v i s i o n s o f t h e U C C o n l y i f i t i s t o be " s e v e r e d b y t h e s e l l e r " . Thus, t h i s c o n t r a c t i s n o t s u b j e c t t o t h e p r o v i s i o n s o f t h e UCC and o u r c o n s t r u c t i o n o f t h e a g r e e m e n t i s d e p e n d e n t on common l a w c o n s t r u c t i o n r u l e s . Any l a n g u a g e i n Pegg v. M i d - S t a t e D e v e l o p m e n t Corp., s u p r a , w h i c h i n f e r s t h a t t h i s c o n t r a c t i s w i t h i n t h e p r o v i s i o n s o f t h e UCC i s o v e r r u l e d . As we s t a t e d i n D a n i e l s o n v. D a n i e l s o n ( 1 9 7 7 ) , 172 M o n t . 55, 58, 560 P.2d 8 9 3 , 894, "It i s c l e a r f r o m M o n t a n a c a s e s t h a t where t h e l a n g u a g e o f a w r i t t e n c o n t r a c t i s c l e a r and unam- b i g u o u s t h e r e i s n o t h i n g f o r t h e c o u r t t o c o n s t r u e ; t h e d u t y o f t h e c o u r t i s s i m p l y t o a p p l y t h e l a n g u a g e a s w r i t t e n t o t h e f a c t s o f t h e c a s e , and d e c i d e t h e c a s e a c c o r d i n g l y . " The a p p e l l a n t c o n t e n d s t h a t an a m b i g u i t y i s c r e a t e d i n t h e c o n t r a c t b y t h e u s e o f t h e a d j e c t i v e " i n f e c t e d " s i n c e i t c a n be c o n s t r u e d t o m o d i f y t h e word " l a n d s " o r t o m o d i f y t h e word " t i m b e r . " W e c a n n o t a g r e e . The s e n t e n c e i n q u e s t i o n s t a t e s " . . . a g r e e s t o s e l l . . . a l l m e r c h a n t a b l e t i m b e r on s a i d l a n d s w h i c h h a s b e e n o r now i s i n f e c t e d b y t h e p i n e b e e t l e . . ." T i m b e r may be " i n f e c t e d b y t h e p i n e b e e t l e , " h o w e v e r , t h e p i n e b e e t l e does n o t s t r i k e and i n f e c t l a n d . Thus, we f i n d t h e l a n g u a g e c l e a r a n d unambiguous; r e s p o n d e n t c o n t r a c t e d t o s e l l " a l l m e r c h a n t a b l e t i m b e r . . . w h i c h h a s b e e n o r now i s i n f e c t e d b~ t h e p i n e ----- b e e t l e " and a p p e l l a n t c o n t r a c t e d t o " c u t and remove a l l o f s a i d m e r c h a n t a b l e t i m b e r . . ." ( E m p h a s i s added.) S i n c e t h e l a n g u a g e o f t h e c o n t r a c t i s c l e a r and u n a m b i g u o u s , t h e t r i a l c o u r t ' s d u t y was " s i m p l y t o a p p l y t h e l a n g u a g e as w r i t t e n t o t h e f a c t s o f t h e c a s e , and d e c i d e t h e c a s e a c c o r d i n g l y . " D a n i e l son, s u p r a . I n so d o i n g , t h e D i s t r i c t C o u r t f o u n d t h a t a p p e l l a n t b r e a c h e d t h e c o n t r a c t b y c u t t i n g t r e e s w h i c h w e r e n o t " m e r c h a n t a b l e " and m e r c h a n t a b l e t r e e s w h i c h a r e n o t i n f e c t e d b y t h e p i n e b e e t l e . W i t h r e g a r d t o t h e s t a n d a r d o f r e v i e w , t h i s C o u r t has r e p e a t e d l y s t a t e d i t w i l l n o t o v e r t u r n f i n d i n g s o f f a c t and c o n c l u s i o n s o f l a w i f s u p p o r t e d b y s u b s t a n t i a l e v i d e n c e and b y t h e law. When r e v i e w i n g e v i d e n c e i t w i l l be v i e w e d i n t h e 1 i g h t most f a v o r a b l e t o t h e p r e v a i l i n g p a r t y . L u p p o l d v. L e w i s ( 1 9 7 7 ) , 1 7 2 M o n t . 280, 284, 563 P.2d 538, 5 4 0 - 5 4 1 , and c a s e s c i t e d t h e r e i n . The r e c o r d i n t h e p r e s e n t c a s e r e v e a l s t h a t a p p e l l a n t f r e e l y a d m i t s t h a t he i s c u t t i n g a1 1 t r e e s 7 " o r g r e a t e r i n d i a m e t e r a t c h e s t h e i g h t r e g a r d l e s s o f w h e t h e r t h e i n d i v i d u a l t r e e has been o r i s i n f e c t e d . T h e r e i s a l s o s u b s t a n t i a l t e s t i - mony and p h o t o g r a p h i c e x h i b i t s w h i c h e s t a b l i s h t h a t t h e h a r v e s t e r h a s d e s t r o y e d many o f t h e s m a l l , y o u n g , g r e e n t r e e s w h i c h a r e n o t i n f e c t e d n o r s u s c e p t i b l e t o t h e p i n e b e e t l e . Two w i t n e s s e s , an e x p e r t and D o n a l d Dodge, a l s o t e s t i f i e d t h a t a t l e a s t 9 0 a c r e s o f t h e Ranch h a v e been c l e a r - c u t . On t h e b a s i s o f t h e s e f a c t s , when v i e w e d i n t h e l i g h t m o s t f a v o r a b l e t o t h e p r e v a i l i n g p a r t y , we f i n d s u b s t a n t i a l e v i d e n c e t o s u p p o r t t h e D i s t r i c t C o u r t ' s f i n - d i n g s o f f a c t and c o n c l u s i o n s o f law. A p p e l l a n t a l s o a r g u e s t h a t t h e D i s t r i c t C o u r t ' s f a i l u r e t o s p e c i f i c a l l y s t a t e t h a t t h e d e f e n d a n t ' s c u t t i n g o f y o u n g g r e e n t r e e s and u n i n f e c t e d m e r c h a n t a b l e t r e e s was u n r e a s o n a b l e s u p p o r t s a c o n c l u s i o n o f no b r e a c h o f c o n t r a c t . I n l i g h t o f t h e e v i d e n c e a d d u c e d i n c l u d i n g a p p e l l a n t ' s a d m i s s i o n s and e x p e r t t e s t i m o n y t h a t 90 a c r e s was c l e a r - c u t , we f i n d t h i s c o n t e n t i o n w i t h o u t m e r i t . The u n r e a s o n a b l e n e s s o f a p p e l l a n t ' s c o n d u c t i s n e c e s s a r i l y i m p l i e d i n t h e D i s t r i c t C o u r t ' s f i n d i n g s and c o n c l u - s i o n and i s s u p p o r t e d b y s u b s t a n t i a l e v i d e n c e . The t r i a l c o u r t ' s j u d g m e n t i s presumed c o r r e c t and t h i s C o u r t w i l l draw e v e r y l e g i - t i m a t e i n f e r e n c e t o s u p p o r t t h a t p r e s u m p t i o n . R u l e 52, M.R.Civ.P.; H a v r e I r r i g a t i o n Co. v. M a j e r u s ( 1 9 5 7 ) , 1 3 2 M o n t . 410, 414, 3 1 8 P.2d 1076, 1078. On t h e r e c o r d b e f o r e u s t h e r e i s s u b s t a n t i a l e v i d e n c e t o s u p p o r t " u n r e a s o n a b l e n e s s " as w e l l as a m a t e r i a l b r e a c h o f c o n t r a c t . A p p e l l a n t c o n t e n d s t h a t t h e D i s t r i c t C o u r t e r r e d i n e n j o i n i n g a l l c u t t i n g i n s t e a d o f m e r e l y e n j o i n i n g t h e c u t t i n g o f t i m b e r n o t i n c l u d e d i n t h e c o n t r a c t . I t i s a r g u e d t h a t t h e a p p e l l a n t s h o u l d be a l l o w e d t o c u t t h e m e r c h a n t a b l e i n f e c t e d t i m b e r on t h e Ranch e v e n i f a b r e a c h o f c o n t r a c t i s f o u n d . I t i s c o n t e n d e d t h a t t h i s c a s e f a l l s w i t h i n t h e r u l e t h a t an i n j u n c t i o n s h o u l d be l i m i t e d t o e n j o i n i n g t h e wrong and s h o u l d n o t e x t e n d t o p r e v e n t i n g l a w f u l a c t i v i t y u n d e r t h e c o n t r a c t . K a s a l a v. K a l i s p e l l Pee Wee B a s e b a l l L e a g u e ( 1 9 6 8 ) , 1 5 1 Mont. 1 0 9 , 439 P.2d 6 5 , i s c i t e d as a u t h o r i t y f o r t h i s p r o p o s i t i o n . W e n o t e t w o g e n e r a l p r i n c i p l e s o f l a w r e l a t e d t o i n j u n c - t i v e r e l i e f . "An i n j u n c t i o n i s a w r i t f r a m e d a c c o r d i n g t o t h e c i r c u m s t a n c e s o f t h e c a s e commanding an a c t w h i c h t h e c o u r t r e g a r d s as e s s e n t i a l t o j u s t i c e , o r r e s t r a i n i n g an a c t w h i c h i t e s t e e m s c o n t r a r y t o e q u i t y and good c o n s c i e n c e . " 43 C.J.S. I n j u n c t i o n s 92. O r d i n a r i l y , i n j u n c t i v e r e l i e f i s p r o p e r o n l y i f an a c t has been done o r i s t h r e a t e n e d w h i c h w i l l p r o d u c e i r r e - p a r a b l e i n j u r y t o t h e p a r t y a s k i n g f o r s u c h r e l i e f , and a c t s w h i c h r e s u l t i n a s e r i o u s change o f , o r a r e d e s t r u c t i v e t o , t h e p r o p e r t y a f f e c t e d e i t h e r p h y s i c a l l y o r i n t h e c h a r a c t e r i n w h i c h i t has been h e l d o r e n j o y e d , do an i r r e p a r a b l e i n j u r y . 43 C.J.S. I n j u n c t i o n s 928. It i s a l s o w e l l - e s t a b l i s h e d t h a t t h e g r a n t i n g o f an i n j u n c t i o n i s a m a t t e r o f d i s c r e t i o n r e s t i n g i n t h e D i s t r i c t C o u r t and i t w i l l be s u s t a i n e d u n l e s s an abuse o f d i s c r e t i o n i s shown. E r i e and M u l v i h i l l v. S t a t e Hwy. Comm'n ( 1 9 6 9 ) , 1 5 4 M o n t . 1 5 0 , 4 6 1 P.2d 207. The D i s t r i c t C o u r t c o n c l u d e d t h a t an i n j u n c t i o n was p r o p e r a f t e r f i n d i n g t h a t " t h e s t a n d i n g t i m b e r i s p a r t o f t h e r e a l p r o p e r t y , t h e d e s t r u c t i o n o f w h i c h o r t h e t h r e a t e n e d d e s t r u c t i o n o f w h i c h , c a n n o t be r e m e d i e d b y an a c t i o n a t law." I n r e a c h i n g t h i s c o n c l u s i o n t h e c o u r t c o n s i d e r e d t h e c h a r a c t e r and use o f t h e p r o p e r t y as w e l l as t h e c o n d u c t o f t h e a p p e l l a n t . The D i s t r i c t C o u r t f o u n d i n s t r u m e n t a l t h e f a c t t h a t t h e p r o p e r t y ' s p r i n c i p a l v a l u e o v e r t h e l a s t one h u n d r e d y e a r p e r i o d has been " r e c r e a - t i o n a l , a e s t h e t i c and e n v i r o n m e n t a l ." The c o u r t a1 so s t a t e d t h a t " t h e p e r i o d n e c e s s a r y t o m a t u r e l o d g e p o l e p i n e i s i n e x c e s s o f s i x t y ( 6 0 ) y e a r s . " The t h r e a t e n e d f u t u r e harm i s d e m o n s t r a t e d b y S m i t h r e - e n t e r i n g t h e l a n d t o c u t 15 t o 25 a d d i t i o n a l a c r e s a f t e r b e i n g n o t i f i e d t h a t t h e Ranch c o n s i d e r e d h i m i n b r e a c h and t h e c o n t r a c t t e r m i n a t e d . U n d e r t h e s e f a c t s we do n o t f i n d an a b u s e o f d i s c r e t i o n . N e i t h e r do we f i n d t h e i n j u n c t i o n o v e r b r o a d . On t h e b a s i s o f a p p e l l a n t ' s c o n d u c t i n r e - e n t e r i n g t h e l a n d a f t e r a n o t i f i c a t i o n o f t e r m i n a t i o n , t h e D i s t r i c t C o u r t was w a r r a n t e d i n e n j o i n i n g a l l f u t u r e c u t t i n g t o p r e v e n t f u t u r e i r r e p a r a b l e i n j u r y t o t h e Ranch. A p p e l l a n t s t r e n u o u s l y a r g u e s on a p p e a l t h a t r e s c i s s i o n i s n o t a p p r o p r i a t e i n t h i s c a s e u n d e r s e c t i o n 2 8 - 2 - 1 7 1 1 , MCA. The t r i a l c o u r t c o n c l u d e d t h a t t h e d e s t r u c t i o n o r t h r e a t e n e d d e s t r u c t i o n t o t h e t i m b e r c a n n o t be " r e m e d i e d b y an a c t i o n a t l a w . " A l t h o u g h c o u r t s have f o u n d r e s c i s s i o n a t l a w ( a s d i s t i n g u i s h e d f r o m r e s c i s s i o n i n e q u i t y ) t o be an a p p r o p r i a t e remedy when c o n f r o n t e d b y a m a t e r i a l b r e a c h o f a t i m b e r s a l e s c o n t r a c t , see C r o f o o t Lumber v. Thompson ( 1 9 5 8 ) , 163 Cal .App.Zd 324, 329 P.2d 302, t h e a r e a i s f a r f r o m w e l l - s e t t l e d and h a s n o t b e e n a d d r e s s e d b y t h i s C o u r t . However we need n o t a d d r e s s t h i s i s s u e i n t h e p r e s e n t a p p e a l s i n c e t h e D i s t r i c t C o u r t w i l l n o t be r e v e r s e d on a p p e a l f o r a c c e p t i n g t h e a p p e a l i n g p a r t i e s l e g a l t h e o r i e s a t t r i a l . A p p e l l a n t n e x t c o n t e n d s t h a t t h e D i s t r i c t C o u r t e r r e d i n d e n y i n g i t s m o t i o n s t o d i s m i s s and f o r summary j u d g m e n t w h i c h w e r e b a s e d on M o n t a n a ' s f i c t i t i o u s name s t a t u t e s . A l t h o u g h t h e 1 9 7 9 l e g i s l a t u r e r e p e a l e d t h e f i c t i t i o u s name p r o v i s i o n s , t h e f o l l o w i n g s t a t u t e s , a p p e a r i n g i n s e c t i o n 6 3 - 6 0 1 , R.C.M. 1 9 4 7 t h r o u g h s e c t i o n 63-603, R.C.M., 1947, w e r e i n e f f e c t t h r o u g h o u t t h e l o w e r c o u r t p r o c e e d i n g s : " 6 3 - 6 0 1 . F i c t i t i o u s name. E v e r y p a r t n e r s h i p , o t h e r t h a n a l i m i t e d p a r t n e r s h i p , t r a n s a c t i n g b u s i n e s s i n t h i s s t a t e u n d e r a f i c t i t i o u s name, o r a d e s i g n a t i o n n o t s h o w i n g t h e names o f t h e p e r s o n s i n t e r e s t e d as p a r t n e r s i n s u c h b u s i n e s s , m u s t f i l e w i t h t h e c l e r k o f t h e c o u n t y i n w h i c h i t s p r i n c i p a l p l a c e o f b u s i n e s s i s s i t u a t e d , a c e r t i f i c a t e , s t a t i n g t h e names i n f u l l o f a l l t h e members o f s u c h p a r t n e r s h i p and t h e i r p l a c e s o f r e s i d e n c e , and p u b l i s h t h e same once a week, f o r f o u r s u c c e s s i v e weeks, i n a n e w s p a p e r p u b l i s h e d i n t h e c o u n t y , i f t h e r e be one, and i f t h e r e be none i n s u c h c o u n t y , t h e n i n a n e w s p a p e r pub1 i s h e d i n an a d j o i n i n g c o u n t y . "63-602. C e r t i f i c a t e - - w h e n -- t o b e f i l e d . The c e r t i f i c a t e f i l e d w i t h t h e c l e r k , as p r o v i d e d i n t h e p r e c e d i n g s e c t i o n , m u s t be s i g n e d b y t h e p a r t n e r s , and a c k n o w l e d g e d b e f o r e some o f f i c e r a u t h o r i z e d t o t a k e a c k n o w l e d g m e n t o f c o n v e y a n c e s o f r e a l p r o p e r t y . Where t h e p a r t n e r s h i p i s h e r e a f t e r f o r m e d , t h e c e r t i f i c a t e m u s t be f i l e d a n d t h e p u b l i c a t i o n d e s i g n a t e d i n t h a t s e c t i o n m u s t be made w i t h i n one m o n t h a f t e r t h e f o r - m a t i o n o f t h e p a r t n e r s h i p , o r w i t h i n one month f r o m t h e t i m e d e s i g n a t e d i n t h e a g r e e m e n t o f i t s members f o r t h e commencement o f t h e p a r t n e r s h i p ; w h e r e t h e p a r t n e r s h i p has been h e r e t o f o r e f o r m e d , t h e c e r t i f i c a t e must be f i l e d and t h e p u b l i c a t i o n made w i t h i n s i x m o n t h s a f t e r t h e p a s s a g e o f t h i s code. P e r s o n s d o i n g b u s i n e s s p a r t n e r s c o n t r a r y -- t o t h e p r o v i s i o n s -- o f t h i s c h a p t e r , - o r any a s s i g n s t h e r e o f , s h a l l -- n o t m a i t a i n any a c t i o n u p o n o r o n a c c o u n t o f any -- c o n t r a c t s made o r t r a n s a c t i o n s h a d i n t h e i r ----- a r t n e r s h i p name, i n a n y c o u r t o f t h i s s t a t e , { n t i l t h e y h a v e f i r s t f i l e d t h e c e m i c a t e an made t h e p u b 1 i c a t i o n h e r e i n r e q u i r e d . ( ~ m p h z -- added. ) " 6 3 - 6 0 3 . Change o f m e m b e r s h i p - - f i l i n g -- new c e r - t i f i c a t e . On e v e r y change o f t h e members o f a p a r t n e r s h i p , o t h e r t h a n a l i m i t e d p a r t n e r s h i p , t r a n s a c t i n g b u s i n e s s i n t h i s s t a t e u n d e r a f i c - t i t i o u s name, o r a d e s i g n a t i o n w h i c h does n o t show t h e names o f t h e p e r s o n s i n t e r e s t e d as p a r t n e r s i n i t s b u s i n e s s , a new c e r t i f i c a t e m u s t b e f i l e d w i t h t h e c o u n t y c l e r k , and a new p u b l i - c a t i o n made, as r e q u i r e d b y t h i s c h a p t e r , on t h e f o r m a t i o n o f such p a r t n e r s h i p . " The M a d i s o n F o r k Ranch c o m p l i e d w i t h t h e p r o v i s i o n s o f t h e p r e c e d i n g s t a t u t e i n 1973 when t h e p a r t n e r s h i p was f o r m e d . However, p r i o r t o t h e commencement o f t h i s a c t i o n t w o o r i g i n a l p a r t n e r s p u r c h a s e d t h e i n t e r e s t s o f t h r e e o t h e r o r i g i n a l p a r t n e r s . A new c e r t i f i c a t e was n o t f i l e d p r i o r t o t h i s s u i t . The a p p e l l a n t ' s m o t i o n s t o d i s m i s s and f o r summary j u d g m e n t based on n o n c o m p l i a n c e w i t h t h e s e p r o v i s i o n s w e r e b o t h d e n i e d and t h e r e s p o n d e n t was g r a n t e d a c o n t i n u a n c e t o c o m p l y w i t h t h e p r o v i s i o n s . The new c e r t i f i c a t e was f i l e d a p p r o x i m a t e l y one m o n t h p r i o r t o t r i a l . The c r i t i c a l l a n g u a g e i n t h e s t a t u t e s i s " . . . s h a l 1 n o t m a i n t a i n any a c t i o n . . . u n t i l t h e y h a v e f i r s t f i l e d t h e c e r - t i f i c a t e and made t h e p u b l i c a t i o n h e r e i n r e q u i r e d " i n s e c t i o n 63-602, R.C.M. 1947. The c a s e s c o n s t r u i n g t h i s l a n g u a g e h a v e d i s t i n g u i s h e d b e t w e e n " m a i n t a i n " and "commence." I n R e i l l y v. H a t h e w a y ( 1 9 1 2 ) , 4 6 M o n t . 1, 11, 1 2 5 P. 417, t h i s C o u r t c o n s t r u e d t h i s s e c t i o n ' s p r e d e c e s s o r as f o l l o w s : " W i t h o u t d e c i d i n g w h e t h e r t h e s t a t u t o r y p r o v i - s i o n s h e r e t o f o r e r e f e r r e d t o a p p l y t o t h e p l a i n t i f f , i t i s s u f f i c i e n t t o h o l d , on t h e a u t h o r i t y o f Carson-Rand Co. v. S t e r n , 129 Mo. 381, 3 2 L.R.A. 420, 3 1 S.W. 772, and N i c h o l s o n v. A u b u r n G o l d M i n . & M. Co., 6 C a l . A p p . 547, 9 2 P. 651, t h a t i t i s n o t t h e r i g h t t o b e g i n an ----- a c t i o n , b u t t h e r i g h t t o m a i n t a i n i t , t h a t i s w i t h h e l d x the s t a t u t e f o r f a i l u r e o o p f i - w i t h i t s t e r m s ; and i f , b e f o r e t h e d e f e n s e i s i n t e r E e n e p l a i n t i f f c o m p l i e s w i t h t h e s t a - t u t o r y p r o v i s i o n s , t h e a c t i o n may be m a i n t a i n e d . The d e f e n s e i s an a f f i r m a t i v e one and i s w a i v e d u n l e s s p l e a d e d i n t h e answer. ( V a u g h a n v. K u j a t h , 4 4 M o n t . 484, 1 2 0 P. 1 1 2 1 ; C a l i f o r n i a S. & L. S o c i e t y v. H a r r i s , 111 C a l . 133, 4 3 P. 525.) The a p p e l l a n t a l l e g e d t h a t he had c o m p l i e d w i t h t h e s t a t u t e , and, w h i l e t h i s a l l e - g a t i o n was n o t n e c e s s a r y i n o r d e r t o s t a t e a c a u s e o f a c t i o n , i t was, n e v e r t h e l e s s , d e n i e d , a n d we t h i n k t h e d e n i a l was s u f f i c i e n t t o r a i s e t h e i s s u e . B u t so l o n g as t h e s t a t u t e was c o m p l i e d w i t h b y t h e a p p e l l a n t b e f o r e t h e answer was i n t e r p o s e d , t h e a c t i o n s h o u l d n o t a b a t e . The r i g h t t o m a i n t a i n t h e a c t i o n s i m p l y s u s e n d e d u n t i l t h e s t a t u t e - i s c o m p l i e d w i t h . " E m p h a s i s added.) P-- I n C r o f t v. B a i n ( 1 9 1 4 ) , 49 M o n t . 484, 489, 1 4 3 P. 960, we s a i d : "The d i s a b i l i t y imposed b y s e c t i o n 5 5 0 5 f o r f a i l u r e t o c o m p l y w i t h t h e r e q u i r e m e n t o f sec- t i o n 5504 c a n n o t be o f a v a i l t o t h e d e f e n d a n t e x c e p t upon a f f i r m a t i v e a1 l e g a t i o n and p r o o f . I t i s i n t h e n a t u r e o f m a t t e r i n a b a t e m e n t . ( R e i l l y v. Hatheway, 46 M o n t . 1, 1 2 5 P. 417; C a l i f o r n i a Sav. & L. Soc. v. H a r r i s , 111 C a l . 1 3 3 , 43 P. 525.) The i n h i b i t i o n does n o t d e s t r o y t h e r i g h t o f a c t i o n upon w h i c h r e c o v e r y i s s o u g h t , b u t m e r e l y imposes a d i s a b i l i t y t o m a i n t a i n t h e a c t i o n t h e r e o n u n t i l - t h e r e q u i r e - merit o f s e c t i o n 5504 h a s b e e n c o m p l i e d w i t h . " ( E m p h E i s added . ) - - I n c o n s t r u i n g t h e same r e s t r i c t i o n " t o m a i n t a i n " an a c t i o n f o r n o n c o m p l i a n c e w i t h t h e C a l i f o r n i a f i c t i t i o u s name s t a t u t e s , a C a l i f o r n i a C o u r t s t a t e d : "An o b j e c t i o n t o t h e m a i n t e n a n c e o f an a c t i o n on t h e g r o u n d t h a t p l a i n t i f f has n o t c o m p l i e d w i t h t h e p r o v i s i o n s o f s e c t i o n s 2466 and 2 4 6 8 o f t h e C i v i l Code b y f i l i n g and p u b l i s h i n g t h e c e r - t i f i c a t e r e q u i r e d t h e r e b y , i s a mere m a t t e r o f a b a t e m e n t p e n d i n g t h e t r i a l , w h i c h h a s t h e r e s u l t o f s u s p e n d i n g t h e t r i a l u n t i l t h e s t a t u t e i s c o m p l i e d w i t h . It i s n o t j u r i s d i c t i o n a l . B r y a n t v. We1 1 b a n k s , 8 8 C a l .App. 144, 150, 263 P . 332; C a l i f o r n i a S a v i n g s & L o a n Soc. v. H a r r i s , 111 C a l . 1 3 3 , 136, 4 3 P. 525; O n t a r i o S t a t e Bank v. T i b b i t s , 8 0 C a l . 68, 22 P. 66, 1 C.J.S., A b a t e m e n t and R e v i v a l , 991, p. 129. I n t h e a u t h o r i t y l a s t c i t e d i t i s s a i d : " ' T h e f a i l u r e o f an i n d i v i d u a l o r p a r t n e r s h i p p l a i n t i f f , d o i n g b u s i n e s s u n d e r an assumed, f i c t i t i o u s , o r r e p r e s e n t a t i v e name, t o c o m p l y w i t h an a p p l i c a b l e s t a t u t e r e q u i r i n g t h e f i l i n g o f a p r e s c r i b e d a f f i d a v i t o r c e r t i f i c a t e , i s m e r e l y a m a t t e r i n a b a t e m e n t , u n t i l t h e s t a t u t e i s c o m p l i e d w i t h . ' " I n t h e B r y a n t case, s u p r a [ 8 8 C a l .App. 144, 1 5 0 , 263 P. 3 3 5 1 , i t i s s a i d t h a t i t i s a s u f - f i c i e n t c o m p l i a n c e w i t h s e c t i o n 2 4 6 8 o f t h e C i v i l Code i f t h e c e r t i f i c a t e i s f i l e d and p u b l i s h e d ' a t any t i m e b e f o r e t r i a l . ' The s t a - t u t e i n q u e s t i o n does n o t p r o h i b i t t h e i n s t i - t u t i n g o r commencement o f an a c t i o n f o r f a i l u r e t o f i l e t h e c e r t i f i c a t e . It mere1 v f o r b i d s t h e m a i n t e n a n c e o f t h e a c t i o n ' u n t i l t i e c e r t i f i c a t e h a s been f i l e d and t h e p u b l i c a t i o n has been made.' B e f o r e an a c t i o n i s f i n a l l y d i s m i s s e d on t h a t g r o u n d , p r i o r t o t h e t r i a l t h e p l a i n t i f f s h o u l d be g i v e n an o p p o r t u n i t y t o c o m p l y w i t h t h e s t a t u t e i f i t so d e s i r e s . " K a d o t a F i g A s s ' n v. Case-Swayne Co. ( 1 9 4 6 ) , 73 C a l .App.2d 796, 1 6 7 P.2d 518, 523. W e a g r e e w i t h t h e d i s t i n c t i o n d r a w n b e t w e e n " m a i n t e n a n c e " a n d "commencement" i n t h e p r e v i o u s l y c i t e d a u t h o r i t y . The D i s t r i c t C o u r t was n o t i n e r r o r i n a l l o w i n g p l a i n t i f f t o c o m p l y w i t h t h e f i c t i t i o u s name p r o v i s i o n s p r i o r t o t r i a l . A p p e l l a n t ' s f i n a l c o n t e n t i o n i s t h a t t h e r e i s no l e g a l a u t h o r i t y t o s u p p o r t t h e g r a n t i n g o f t h e l i e n on t h e c u t u n d e c k e d l o g s . The r e s p o n d e n t c o n t e n d s t h a t t h e l i e n g r a n t e d i s an e q u i t a b l e l i e n and i s a p p r o p r i a t e i n t h i s c a s e . The f a c t u a l b a s i s f o r t h e l i e n g r a n t e d i s S m i t h ' s a l l e g e d f a i l u r e t o d i s p o s e o f s l a s h p u r s u a n t t o t h e c o n t r a c t and t h e eco- n o m i c damage c a u s e d t o t h e p r o p e r t y as a r e s u l t o f t h e c u t t i n g o p e r a t i o n . As a r e s u l t o f a p p e l l a n t ' s a l l e g e d l y n o t c o m p l y i n g w i t h t h e s l a s h r e m o v a l p r o v i s i o n , t h e Ranch w i l l i n c u r e e x p e n s e i n o b t a i n i n g a n o t h e r t o remove t h e s l a s h . The s l a s h r e m o v a l c l a u s e p r o v i d e s t h a t S m i t h a g r e e s t o p i l e and d i s p o s e o f t h e s l a s h i n s u c h manner as t o be s a t i s f a c t o r y t o t h e S t a t e o f Montana. E v i d e n c e adduced a t t r i a l c o n c e r n i n g s l a s h d i s p o s a l i n c l u d e d t e s t i m o n y f r o m an i n s p e c t o r f o r t h e S t a t e D i v i s i o n o f F o r e s t r y , C u r t i s Tesmer. Tesmer t e s t i f i e d t h a t S m i t h was i n c o m p l i a n c e w i t h t h e s l a s h r e d u c t i o n a g r e e m e n t w i t h a f e w e x c e p - t i o n s i n S e p t e m b e r , 1 9 7 8 ( p r i o r t o S m i t h ' s r e - e n t r y t o c u t 1 5 t o 2 5 m o r e a c r e s i n O c t o b e r , 1 9 7 8 ) . Dodge a l s o t e s t i f i e d t h a t t h e Ranch w o u l d i n c u r s u b s t a n t i a l c o s t i n r e m o v i n g s l a s h n o t d i s p o s e d o f b y S m i t h . No e v i d e n c e was s u b m i t t e d on t h e amount o f e c o n o m i c damage s u f f e r e d b y t h e Ranch as a r e s u l t o f S m i t h ' s b r e a c h i n c u t t i n g t r e e s n o t c o n v e y e d i n t h e c o n t r a c t , i n t h e a l l e g e d f a i l u r e t o d i s p o s e o f s l a s h o r i n t h e v a l u e o f t r e e s c u t and n o t decked. I n a d d i t i o n , t h e r e s p o n d e n t ' s p l e a d i n g s make no m e n t i o n o f a c l a i m f o r a l i e n . The r e s p o n d e n t c i t e s A m e r i c a n E q u i t a b l e A s s u r a n c e Co. v. Newman ( 1 9 5 7 ) , 1 3 2 M o n t . 63, 3 1 3 P.2d 1023, and S o r e n s e n v. J a c o b s o n , s u p r a , as a u t h o r i t y f o r t h e g r a n t i n g o f t h i s e q u i t a b l e l i e n . W e f i n d n e i t h e r case r e l e v a n t t o t h e p r e s e n t a p p e a l ; Newman i n v o l v e d s u b r o g a t i o n and S o r e n s e n i n v o l v e d a p u r c h a s e money l i e n . A l i e n i s m e r e l y a c h a r g e o r encumbrance on p r o p e r t y w h i c h s u b j e c t s t h e p r o p e r t y t o t h e payment o f a c l a i m o r d e b t . The i s s u e o f damages was n e v e r r a i s e d , no e v i d e n c e was adduced on t h e amount o f damages and t h e D i s t r i c t C o u r t f a i l e d t o s t a t e t h e amount o f t h e l i e n g r a n t e d . A l t h o u g h we r e c o g n i z e t h a t an e q u i t a b l e l i e n may be g r a n t e d u n d e r a g r e a t v a r i e t y o f c i r c u m s t a n c e s , i n c l u d i n g b r e a c h o f c o n t r a c t , t h e r e i s no b a s i s f o r s u c h a l i e n where, as h e r e , t h e r e i s no a s c e r t a i n e d d e b t o r c l a i m . The j u d g m e n t i s m o d i f i e d b y v a c a t i n g t h e l i e n p r o v i s i o n s and, as m o d i f i e d , t h e j u d g m e n t i s a f f i r m e d , c o s t s t o r e s p o n d e n t . C h i e f J u s t i c e W e c o n c u r : Mr. Justice John C. Sheehy concurs in part and dissents in part. I concur with the rest of the foregoing opinion, but I dissent from that part vacating the equitable lien created by the District Court. The majority is in error when it determines that there is no claim or debt here to which an equitable lien may reach. It is inconsistent to hold on the one hand that Madison Fork Ranch is entitled to an injunction because Smith indiscrim- inately cut logs by clear-cutting irrespective of whether the trees were infected by the pine beetle, and on the other hand, to deny an equitable lien where the felled logs are wrongfully appropriated by Smith. The doctrine of equitable liens is not limited merely to property which is subject to the payment of a claim or debt. The power of a District Court to grant an equitable lien is as broad as the reach of equity itself, out of considerations of right and justice, to protect for the rightful owner property unlawfully appropriated. "An equitable lien may arise independently of any express agreement; it may arise by implication from the conduct and dealings of the parties. As the rule is frequently stated, in the absence of an express contract, an equitable lien, based on those maxims which lie at the foundation of equity juris- prudence, may arise by implication out of general considerations of right and justice, where, as applied to the relations of the parties and the circumstances of their dealings, there is some obligation or duty to be enforced. However, the tendency is to limit rather than extend the doctrine of constructive liens, and, in order that such a lien may be claimed, either the aid of a court of equity must be requisite to the owner so that he can be compelled to do equity or there must be some element of fraud in the matter as a ground of equitable relief. Such a lien will not be implied and enforced where the facts and circumstances present no grounds for equitable relief, and there is an adequate remedy at law, as where the parties themselves have stipulated for a purely legal liability . . . ". . . - - I f a c o u r t of equity can t r a c e money o r property u n l a w f u l l y o b t a i n e d o r a p p r o p r i a t e d i n t o any o t h e r shape, it w i l l intervene t o secure it f o r -- -- -- t h e owner, by holding it t o be h i s or by giving him l i e n on it; b u t such a l i e n cannot be enforced on o property which has not been enhanced o r augmented by t h e unlawful appropriation . . ." 53 C.J.S. 844, 545, Liens, S4 (1). (Emphasis added. 1 A s t o those logs which w e r e r i g h t f u l l y c u t by Smith, t h a t i s those trees which w e r e i n f e s t e d by t h e mountain pine b e e t l e , such trees became t h e property of Smith under t h e t e r m s of t h i s agreement immediately upon severance thereof. A s t o those trees which were wrongfully f e l l e d by Smith, those t h a t w e r e n o t s o i n f e c t e d , t h e r e w a s an unlawful appropriation. Those lawfully appropriated and those unlawfully appropriated now appear t o be i n a s i n g l e mass, u n i d e n t i f i a b l e perhaps, and t h e s i t u a t i o n is one r i p e f o r t h e e q u i t a b l e power of t h e D i s t r i c t Court t o p r o t e c t t h e property of Madison Fork Ranch. In Krusen Land & Timber Co. v. Tampa Suburban Corp. ( F l . 1935), 158 So. 712, where t h e lumber company received lumber belonging t o o t h e r s and knowingly sawed and commingled it with its own i n an u n i d e n t i f i a b l e m a s s , t h e lumber company w a s a t r u s t e e - ex maleficio and an e q u i t a b l e l i e n could be enforced a g a i n s t t h e whole m a s s of lumber. The Court i n granting i n j u n c t i v e r e l i e f was s i t t i n g i n equity. A c o u r t s i t t i n g i n equity has a l l power r e q u i s i t e t o render j u s t i c e between t h e p a r t i e s , p a r t i c u l a r l y i f t h e i n t e n t and d i s p o s i t i o n of one p a r t y is not t o perform its c o n t r a c t u a l o b l i g a t i o n s . Link v. S t a t e By & Through Dept. of Fish & G a m e (1979), - Mont. , 591 P.2d 214, 36 St.Rep. 355. The majority has hobbled t h e e q u i t y c o u r t unnecessarily i n preventing it from giving complete e q u i t a b l e r e l i e f . I would a f f i r m i n t o t o . J u s t i c e