Case Title: Sheridan Commercial Park, Inc. v. Briggs

Citation: 

Docket Number: 

State: wyoming

Court: Wyoming Supreme Court

Date: 1993-03-12T00:00:00Z

Document:
Sheridan Commercial Park, Inc. v. Briggs1993 WY 34848 P.2d 811Case Number: 92-139Decided: 03/12/1993Supreme Court of Wyoming
SHERIDAN COMMERCIAL PARK, 
INC., a Wyoming corporation, 

Appellant 
(Defendant),

v.

Almira L. BRIGGS, 
Personal Representative of the Estate of William W. Briggs, a/k/a William Walter 
Briggs, a/k/a W.W. Briggs, deceased, 

Appellee 
(Plaintiff).

Appeal from District 
Court of Sheridan County, James W. Wolfe, J.

Bruce P. Badley, 
Badley & Rasmussen, P.C., Sheridan, Moses Garcia, Legal Intern, Sheridan, 
for appellant.

John F. Araas, 
Yonkee & Toner, Sheridan, for appellee.

Russell M. 
Blood, Brown & Drew, Casper, for amicus curiae Wyoming Ass'n of Realtors, 
Inc.

Before MACY, 
C.J., and THOMAS, CARDINE, URBIGKIT* and GOLDEN, JJ.

* Retired January 1, 1993. 

GOLDEN, Justice.

[¶1]      Appellant 
Sheridan Commercial Park, Inc. (Sheridan), appeals the district court's grant of 
summary judgment to William W. Briggs (Briggs) in an action for replevin of 
property retained by Sheridan, attorney's fees, costs and punitive damages. We 
affirm the summary judgment concerning replevin and reverse the award of 
attorney's fees, costs and punitive damages.

ISSUES

[¶2]      Sheridan presents 
the following issues on appeal:

I. The district court 
erred in assessing attorney fees and punitive damages because the case at hand 
involves no statutory or contractual provision authorizing attorney fees, and 
the legal question brought before the district court is based on good 
faith.

II. Wyo. Stat. § 29-7-101 
gives appellant a statutory lien for rent and storage services which takes 
priority over a previous perfected security interest.

III. The district court 
erred when it failed to award appellant compensation for storage services 
contravening this court's decision in Minnehoma.

Briggs frames the issues 
this way:

I. The appellee Briggs 
was entitled to summary judgment against the appellant Sheridan Commercial Park, 
Inc. on his claim of conversion because there was no genuine issue of material 
fact regarding the essential elements of the claim, which elements were 
established as a matter of law.

II. Wyo. Stat. Secs. 
29-7-101 through -106 do not entitle the appellant, as a landlord, to a lien for 
past rent due on the personal property of its tenant, or that of a third party, 
located on the rented premises.

III. The district court 
properly granted summary judgment to the appellee Briggs and against the 
appellant Sheridan Commercial Park, Inc. on the claim for attorney's fees and 
punitive damages because the basis for each of such awards were established as a 
matter of law, without proper evidence or defense presented by the 
appellant.

IV. The district court 
acted properly in not awarding compensation to the appellant for storage 
services.

V. The district court did 
not commit error in failing to grant the appellant Sheridan Commercial Park, 
Inc. unpaid back rent in the amount of $2,218.48.

VI. There was no 
reasonable cause for the filing of the appeal by the appellant, and therefore 
the appellant should be taxed with a reasonable fee and reasonable damages 
pursuant to WRAP 10.05.

FACTS

[¶3]      On June 19, 1986, 
appellee Briggs1 entered into a written loan 
agreement with Arthur J. and Candance E. Bougie (the Bougies) loaning them 
$12,000 to begin a business known as the Transmission Doctor. The Bougies signed 
a promissory note and the loan was secured by a security interest in personal 
property of the Bougies. Briggs also agreed in writing to lease to the Bougies 
$13,000 worth of equipment, tools, merchandise and other inventory for their 
venture. Briggs perfected his security interest in the Bougies' personal 
property by filing the security agreement and financing statement with the clerk 
of Sheridan County on June 20, 1986, and a financing statement with the 
Secretary of State on June 26, 1986. A continuation statement was filed by 
Briggs on April 22, 1991, giving him a continued perfected interest in property 
of the Bougies.

[¶4]      The Bougies 
opened the Transmission Doctor at 1621 Commercial Lane in Sheridan, leasing that 
property from Sheridan, a Wyoming corporation. In September, 1991, the Bougies 
defaulted on their payments to Briggs and closed their doors. Briggs demanded 
that both the equipment he leased to the Bougies and the Bougies' property that 
was the subject of the security agreement be returned to him. Sheridan, by 
letter dated October 3, 1991, refused to return the property to Briggs until 
$2,218.48 for past rent due on 1621 Commercial Lane was paid by Briggs, plus 
$731.52 for clean up and repair of the premises. On October 18, 1991, Briggs 
filed a complaint in county court alleging Sheridan converted the property to 
its own use and asking for reasonable value of the property plus interest; 
return of any of the property; punitive damages; attorney's fees and costs and a 
writ of replevin, under WYO. STAT. § 1-15-301 through 306 (1988). On October 24, 
1991, Sheridan moved for a change of jurisdiction to the district court noting 
that the amount involved exceeded the statutory limit of the county court. 
Sheridan claimed Briggs was a joint venturer and silent partner with the Bougies 
and that a landlord's lien for delinquent rent was due Sheridan by statute. See 
WYO. STAT. § 29-7-101 through 29-7-106 (1981). Sheridan argued that its 
landlord's lien would have priority over Briggs' perfected security interest 
under WYO. STAT. § 29-7-106. The action was transferred to district court on 
November 7, 1991.

[¶5]      On November 15, 
1991, Sheridan filed a counterclaim and answer in district court claiming Briggs 
to be a joint venturer and co-owner of the Bougies' business by virtue of the 
manner of payment recited in Briggs' agreements with the Bougies. Specifically, 
Briggs was to receive ten percent of the business's prior month's gross income, 
2/5ths to be applied towards rental payments under the lease agreement and 
3/5ths towards the loan agreement. Sheridan noted that neither the lease 
agreement nor the security agreement securing the loan contained an interest 
rate to be paid by the Bougies. Sheridan claimed priority over Briggs' perfected 
security interest for non-payment of rent amounting to $6,450 at $500 per month 
from August 1991 through May 1992, plus attorney's fees of $3,000.

[¶6]      On December 20, 
1991, Sheridan filed a motion for summary judgment seeking to deny Briggs' 
motion for writ of replevin and granting Sheridan a lien for rent and personal 
property. The district court granted Briggs' writ of replevin on January 8, 1992 
finding:

1) the Bougies were in 
default of the lease agreement and Briggs was entitled to the property he leased 
to them;

2) the Bougies were in 
default of the security agreement and financing statement and;

3) the property was 
wrongfully detained by Sheridan.

[¶7]      Sheridan sought 
review by this court on writ of certiorari which was denied on January 27, 1992, 
and Briggs filed a motion for summary judgment the following day.

[¶8]      On March 2, 1992, 
the district court granted summary judgment in favor of Briggs' finding: 1) 
Sheridan wrongfully and unlawfully converted to its use, property owned by 
Briggs and property to which Briggs had a valid perfected security interest; 2) 
WYO. STAT. § 29-7-101 et seq., does not provide for a lien against personal 
property for rent due; 3) at no time did Sheridan assert right to a "storage 
lien" against the property; 4) Sheridan's actions were willful and wanton 
misconduct entitling Briggs to punitive damages and; 5) Sheridan's actions were 
oppressive, willful detention of property, entitling Briggs to reasonable 
attorney's fees and costs.

[¶9]      On May 26, 1992, 
the district court's order and judgment awarded Briggs $8,510.73 in reasonable 
attorney's fees and costs and $750 in punitive damages. Sheridan appealed to 
this court on June 8, 1992, and the district court stayed the execution of the 
order and judgment pending the outcome of this appeal. The Wyoming Association 
of Realtors, Inc., filed an amicus curiae brief on behalf of 
Sheridan.

DISCUSSION

[¶10]   We begin by noting our often 
repeated standard of review for summary judgment:

Summary judgment is 
proper only when there are no genuine issues of material fact and the prevailing 
party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.

 

Powder River Oil 
v. Powder River Petroleum, 830 P.2d 403, 406 (Wyo. 1992) (quoting McDonald v. 
Mobil Coal Producing, Inc., 789 P.2d 866, 869 (Wyo. 1990)).

I. Landlord's 
lien for "rent services"

[¶11]   A lien may be created only by 
statute or contract and the courts may not choose to recognize a lien absent its 
creation through one of these enumerated ways. Libertyville Township v. 
Woodbury, 121 Ill. App.3d 587, 77 Ill.Dec. 207, 212, 460 N.E.2d 66, 71 (1984); 
Kozlowski v. Briggs Leasing Corp., 96 Misc.2d 337, 408 N.Y.S.2d 1001, 1005 
(1978); Ridge Community Investors, Inc. v. Berry, 293 N.C. 688, 239 S.E.2d 566, 
572 (1977). See 51 Am.Jur.2d Liens § 6 (1979 & Supp. 1989). Thus, a landlord 
may not claim a lien against the property of its tenant for back rent due 
without agreement by contract or recognition by statute. Hayes v. Harris, 479 N.E.2d 1359, 1361 (Ind. App. 4 Dist. 1985); State Bank of Loretto v. Dixon, 214 
Minn. 39, 7 N.W.2d 351, 354 (1943); See 49 Am.Jur.2d Landlord and Tenant § 675 
(1970 & Supp. 1989); Janet Fairchild, Annotation, Application of Statutory 
Landlord's Lien to Property of Third Person Used by Tenant on Rented Premises, 
95 A.L.R.3d 1205 § 2 (1979).

[¶12]   Sheridan's claim to a lien against 
Briggs for back rent due relies on a claim of statutory entitlement under the 
following statute:

(a) any person is 
entitled to a lien on any goods, chattels or animals for his reasonable charges 
for work or services performed or feed provided when he:

(i) Makes, alters, 
repairs, bestows work upon, transports, stores or keeps the same.

WYO. STAT. § 
29-7-101(a)(1981). Sheridan follows this argument by noting that such a lien 
would have priority over Briggs' perfected security interest under the following 
statute:

(a) A lien pursuant to 
W.S. 29-7-101 through 29-7-106 except as otherwise specifically provided therein 
shall be prior to all other liens, encumbrances and security interests if the 
property claimed is in possession of the lien claimant.

WYO. STAT. § 
29-7-106(a)(1981).

[¶13]   Our well-developed guidelines in 
this area inform us that statutory interpretation is an effort to "arrive at the 
correct interpretation" and is viewed by this court as an "inquiry respecting 
the ordinary and obvious meaning of the words employed according to their 
arrangement and connection." Parker Land and Cattle Co. v. Wyoming Game and Fish 
Commission, 845 P.2d 1040, 1042 (Wyo. 1993) (quoting Rasmussen v. Baker, 7 Wyo. 
117, 133, 50 P. 819, 823 (1897)). On this subject we have very recently said 
that:

We read the text of the 
statute and pay attention to its internal structure and the functional relation 
between the parts and the whole. We make the determination as to meaning, that 
is, whether the statute's meaning is subject to varying interpretations. If we 
determine that the meaning is not subject to varying interpretations, that may 
end the exercise * * *.

Parker, at 
1045.

[¶14]   As a matter of law, the court is to 
determine whether an ambiguity exists in a statute. A statute is "unambiguous if 
its wording is such that reasonable persons are able to agree as to its meaning 
with consistence and predictability." Parker, at 1043 (citing Allied-Signal, 
Inc. v. Wyoming State Bd. of Equalization, 813 P.2d 214, 220 (Wyo. 1991)). We 
note particularly that "[l]ien statutes create remedies in derogation of common 
law and must be strictly construed." Burg v. Ruby Drilling Co., 783 P.2d 144, 
152 (Wyo. 1989) (citing Cities Serv. Oil Co. v. Pubco Petroleum Corp., 497 P.2d 1368, 1371-72 (Wyo. 1972)). We will not extend the scope of statutory lien laws. 
American Buildings Co. v. Wheelers Stores, 585 P.2d 845, 847 (Wyo. 
1978).

[¶15]   With these rules in mind, we review 
Sheridan's primary argument that renting a building is the same as providing a 
service under the statute, creating something called "rent services." Though 
Sheridan cites the work of authors in business and marketing fields for support 
of this proposition, what matters here is the correct interpretation of the 
statute. Nowhere in WYO. STAT. § 29-7-101(a) is rent mentioned, though we note 
in other areas that the legislature has included the ability to impose a lien 
for rent when it chose to do so. For example, WYO. STAT. § 29-7-301 (1981) 
considers a lien for rent, stating in pertinent part:

(a) Any person leasing or 
renting space for a house trailer site shall have a lien on any house trailer 
thereon situated for unpaid lease or rental payments and for other unpaid 
charges due the lessor under the terms or conditions of any lease or rental 
agreement.

Applying a 
strict construction to § 29-7-101(a), it is clear that rent was not intended to 
be included under this unambiguous statute. We are certain that had the 
legislature intended it to be otherwise, the drafting of the statute would more 
closely resemble § 29-7-301, which specifically provides for a lien for back 
rent due.

[¶16]   The most recent case implicating § 
29-7-101(a) does not support Sheridan's statutory interpretation. We find 
Sheridan's reliance to be misplaced regarding Minnehoma Fin. Co. v. Pauli, 565 P.2d 835 (Wyo. 1977). In that case, the Guests, who purchased a mobile home, 
subject to a security interest by Minnehoma Financial Company, vacated the home 
leaving it on a rented trailer space belonging to Pauli, who then moved the 
trailer to an adjacent area and stored it. Pauli claimed a valid storage lien 
under WYO. STAT. § 29-115 (1957) (1967 Wyo. Sess. Laws, ch. 89, § 1) the 
predecessor to WYO. STAT. § 29-7-101(a). Under § 29-115, the "owner or person in 
possession" was required to request the "labor, services, material or feed" 
before a lien could arise. This court held Pauli had a valid lien arising 
through "an implied request to store" when "the owner of goods abandons such 
goods on the property of another." Minnehoma, 565 P.2d  at 840.

[¶17]   The facts before us are easily 
distinguished from Minnehoma. There, Pauli sought a lien for storage, clearly 
provided under § 29-115 and § 29-7-101(a), not for back rent due or "rent 
services." Briggs made no request, implied or otherwise, to have the goods 
stored; instead, he tried unsuccessfully to have Sheridan return them. 
Abandonment was not actuated by Briggs, but by the Bougies.

[¶18]   Sheridan attempts to shore up this 
claim for a landlord's lien for back rent due with the allegation that Briggs 
was a joint venturer and partner with the Bougies. Specifically, Sheridan takes 
issue with the manner in which Briggs was to receive payment under the 
agreements, collecting ten percent of the business's prior month's gross income, 
absent any interest charges to the Bougies.

[¶19]   "The burden of establishing the 
existence of a joint venture is upon the party asserting that the relationship 
exists." Popejoy v. Steinle, 820 P.2d 545, 548 (Wyo. 1991) (quoting Stone v. 
First Wyoming Bank N.A., Lusk, 625 F.2d 332, 341, n. 12 (10th Cir. 1980)). 
Sheridan must "demonstrate each of the elements of a joint venture relationship 
in order to prevail." Popejoy, at 545. We have explained the nature of joint 
ventures in this way:

     Joint adventures, 
commonly referred to as joint ventures, are a species of and are governed by the 
law of partnerships.

* * * *

     The Uniform 
Partnership Act * * * defines a partnership as "an association of two or more 
persons to carry on as coowners a business for profit." This section has been 
interpreted as requiring the parties to agree to share in some way in the 
profits and losses of the business venture. It is the generally accepted rule 
that a partnership or joint adventure cannot be inferred when the understanding 
with reference to the undertaking does not contemplate a mutual promise to 
share, in the fashion agreed upon, in the profits derived from the venture and 
the losses sustained in its operation.

Popejoy, at 549 
(quoting True v. Hi-Plains Elevator Machinery, Inc., 577 P.2d 991, 996-97 (Wyo. 
1978)) (emphasis added).

[¶20]   Briggs' agreements with the Bougies 
were based on sharing a percentage of the profits generated from the business 
only up to the amounts of the loan and lease and did not include sharing 
the losses of the business. These are not the characteristics of a joint venture 
or partnership. Even if Briggs could be deemed a partner we find no statutory 
support for a lien for "rent services," and Sheridan would need to show that the 
lease agreement between Sheridan and the Bougies contemplated such a lien. This 
Sheridan cannot do. The lease agreement between Sheridan and the Bougies did not 
provide for a landlord's lien for default of rent.

[¶21]   Finding no support in either 
statute or contract for the imposition of a landlord's lien for "rent services" 
and, finding as well, that Briggs was not a joint venturer or partner with the 
Bougies, we must uphold the grant of summary judgment giving Briggs a writ of 
replevin.

[¶22]   In addition to Sheridan's 
allegation of a right to a "landlord's lien for rent due" Sheridan now also 
argues entitlement to a storage lien. The district court found that Sheridan had 
"at no time in this matter validly or properly asserted a storage lien." It is 
common knowledge that this court will "not consider issues raised for the first 
time on appeal," and we will not now consider the merits of this claim by 
Sheridan. Kemper Architects v. McFall, 843 P.2d 1178, 1189 (Wyo. 
1992).

II. Attorney's 
fees, costs and punitive damages

[¶23]   Briggs was awarded $8,500 in 
attorney's fees and costs and $750 in punitive damages. On the issue of 
attorney's fees, we have said:

[T]he first principle of 
award of attorney's fees is that either authentication by contract or provision 
by statute is required. Bowers Welding and Hotshot, Inc., 699 P.2d 299 [Wyo. 
1985]; Alyeska Pipeline Service Co. v. Wilderness Soc., 421 U.S. 240, 95 S. Ct. 1612, 44 L. Ed. 2d 141 (1975). This is the American rule that each party in a 
lawsuit ordinarily shall bear his own attorney's fees unless there is an express 
statutory authorization (or contractual provision) to the contrary.

UNC Teton 
Exploration Drilling, Inc., v. Peyton, 774 P.2d 584, 594 (Wyo. 1989). See also, 
Devous v. Wyoming State Bd. of Medical Examiners, 845 P.2d 408, 418 (Wyo. 
1993).

[¶24]   We have upheld recovery of 
attorney's fees where specified by contract or statute. Gose v. Hess, 822 P.2d 846, 848 (Wyo. 1991). See also, Hinckley v. Hinckley, 812 P.2d 907, 915 (Wyo. 
1991); Moncrief v. Harvey, 816 P.2d 97, 109 (Wyo. 1991). We have denied 
attorney's fees where no "statutory authority nor contractual liability" could 
be demonstrated. Bowers Welding and Hotshot, Inc. v. Bromley, 699 P.2d 299, 307 
(Wyo. 1985). We have been strict in our interpretation of statutes permitting 
this type of award. (See, Devous, where we disallowed attorney's fees under a 
statute that only specified costs). In the case at bar, the award of attorney's 
fees and costs is not supported by either a contract between the parties or the 
statute in question, § 29-7-101(a).

[¶25]   In an action for replevin, this 
court has long held that attorney's fees cannot be allowed. Fin. Corp. of Wyo. 
v. Commercial Credit Co., 41 Wyo. 198, 283 P. 1100, 1105 (Wyo. 1930). We have, 
however, recognized an exception to the general rule denying recovery of 
attorney's fees and costs in a replevin action where "fraud, malice, oppression 
or wilful wrong" can be shown. Olds v. Hosford, 354 P.2d 947, 950 (Wyo. 1960). 
As we note in our discussion of punitive damages, Sheridan's conduct does not 
rise to the level of fraud, malice, oppression or wilful wrong and we cannot 
support an award of attorney's fees on this basis.

[¶26]   Of punitive damages we have 
said:

Punitive damages are not 
a favorite of the law and are to be allowed with caution within narrow limits. 
Town of Jackson v. Shaw, Wyo., 569 P.2d 1246 (1977). Since the purpose of 
punitive damages is not to compensate a plaintiff, but to punish a defendant and 
deter others, such damages are to be awarded only for conduct involving some 
element of outrage, similar to that usually found in crime. RESTATEMENT (SECOND) 
OF TORTS § 908 Comment b (1979).

Weaver v. 
Mitchell, 715 P.2d 1361, 1369-70 (Wyo. 1986). See, 22 Am.Jur.2d Damages § 733 
(1988).

[¶27]   Whether punitive damages are to be 
awarded is within the discretion of the trial court, a determination we will not 
reverse without finding a clear abuse of discretion. Cates v. Daniels, 628 P.2d 862, 868 (Wyo. 1981). We must ask "whether the court could reasonably conclude 
as it did" for there is "no right in any party to punitive damages." Squaw 
Mountain Cattle Co. v. Bowen, 804 P.2d 1292, 1298 (Wyo. 1991) (quoting Mader v. 
Stephenson, 552 P.2d 1114, 1115 (Wyo. 1976)). Outrageous conduct, malice and 
willful and wanton misconduct have been sufficient to warrant punitive damages. 
Squaw Mountain, 804 P.2d  at 1298. However, punitive damages will not lie against 
"one who acts in good faith under an erroneous sense of duty or against a 
defendant who acts in good faith and under the advice of counsel." U.S. Through 
Farmers Home Admin. v. Redland, 695 P.2d 1031, 1039 (Wyo. 1985). See also, 
Knight v. Beckwith Commercial Co., 6 Wyo. 500, 46 P. 1094 (1896), exemplary 
damages excluded where outrage or bad faith could not be found.

[¶28]   In awarding punitive damages, the 
district court found that Sheridan's actions "amounted to willful and wanton 
misconduct and an oppressive, willful detention of the property against the 
Plaintiff's ownership rights and right to immediate possession." At a hearing on 
this issue, the district court stated:

[C]ertainly the plaintiff 
has been damaged. The plaintiff has had to retain the services of an attorney to 
contest this, go to the Supreme Court, come back here all over some property * * 
* the past rent is less than the attorney's fees that have been spent in this 
thing.

There was never any claim 
of any lien for storage. This was merely a case in which the defendant asserted 
possession of the goods for back rent and he had no legal right to do so. And he 
continued to assert that and continued to assert that.

[¶29]   We note the following cases which 
recognize that it is difficult to support a claim of outrageous conduct, malice 
and willful and wanton misconduct. In Weaver, we reversed an award of punitive 
damages where the negligence of a logging truck driver caused injury to the 
plaintiff, finding that the facts did not support outrageous conduct, malice and 
willful and wanton misconduct. In Squaw Mountain, we affirmed the trial court's 
decision denying punitive damages where a company president ignored his 
fiduciary duty to the company's shareholders and appropriated over one million 
dollars for his own benefit.

[¶30]   "Sometimes the line between conduct 
justifying punitive damages and less culpable conduct is fine." Mayflower 
Restaurant Co. v. Griego, 741 P.2d 1106, 1116 (Wyo. 1987). We hold that the 
conduct of Sheridan did not cross that fine line, and the district court abused 
its discretion in finding that it did. The award of punitive damages must be 
reversed.

DISPOSITION

[¶31]   Sheridan is not entitled to a 
landlord's lien for back rent due under either WYO. STAT. § 29-7-101(a) or the 
lease agreement with the Bougies. The award of attorney's fees and costs is not 
supported by either statute or contract and Sheridan's conduct in detaining 
Briggs' property was not so outrageous, malicious, willful or wanton as to 
justify either these fees or punitive damages. We affirm the grant of summary 
judgment as it concerns Briggs' action in replevin and reverse the award of 
attorney's fees, costs and punitive damages.

FOOTNOTES

1 Mr. Briggs died on 
September 9, 1992. On October 20, 1992, this court granted a motion to 
substitute Almira L. Briggs, personal representative of the estate of William W. 
Briggs as the party appellee in this action.