Title: Konsler Steel Co. v. Partin

State: florida

Issuer: Florida Supreme Court

Document:

356 So. 2d 264 (1978)
KONSLER STEEL COMPANY, Petitioner,
v.
John PARTIN, Respondent.
No. 50238.

Supreme Court of Florida.
February 20, 1978.
*265 Harlan Tuck of Giles, Hedrick & Robinson, Orlando, for petitioner.
Michael D. Jones of Jones & Bishop, Altamonte Springs, for respondent.
HATCHETT, Justice.
This case involves the operation of Florida's Mechanic's Lien Law, Chapter 713, Florida Statutes. The question we must decide is whether a materialman who fails to furnish timely notice to owner, but who nevertheless files a claim of lien and furnishes notice within 90 days from the date he last furnished materials, is entitled to share in a final payment improperly made by the owner by virtue of the owner's failure to obtain a contractor's affidavit. The Fourth District Court of Appeals answered this question in the negative in a decision reported at 336 So. 2d 684 (Fla. 4th DCA 1976). That decision directly conflicts with Crane Co. v. Fine, 221 So. 2d 145 (Fla. 1969). Jurisdiction vests pursuant to Article V, Section 3(b)(3), Florida Constitution. We reverse.
The facts are as follows: Respondent is the owner of property who contracted to have a building constructed on his property by a person not a party to this litigation and who will hereinafter be referred to as `contractor.' Petitioner, Konsler Steel Company, was a supplier of materials to the job between June 7 and June 13, 1974, but was never compensated for those materials by the contractor. Consequently, on September 5, 1974, petitioner filed a claim of lien against respondent's property in the amount of $6,415. Preliminary notice to owner was mailed the same day. The claim was filed within 90 days from the final furnishing of material as is required by Section 713.08(5). Preliminary notice, however, was not made within the statutory time frame. Section 713.06(2)(a) states:
Prior to receipt of notice, respondent paid all sums due under the contract except $1,164.46. Final payment was made without obtaining the statutorily required contractor's affidavit. See Section 713.06(3)(d)(1).
After receipt of notice, respondent paid to petitioner the remaining $1,164.46 and filed suit to cancel its lien. Petitioner counterclaimed for foreclosure and both parties moved for summary judgment. The trial judge ruled in favor of petitioner and ordered foreclosure. The Fourth District Court of Appeal reversed, holding that petitioner's failure to comply with Section 713.06(2)(a) prevented perfection of the lien. The Court further held that "... strict compliance with the Mechanic's Lien Statute is an indispensible prerequisite to seeking affirmative relief thereunder." Partin v. Konsler Steel Company, supra, at 685.
We reverse the opinion of the District Court and adopt the opinion of the trial judge, which in essential part states:
Accordingly, the opinion of the Fourth District Court of Appeal is quashed and the *267 cause remanded for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.
It is so ordered.
ADKINS, ENGLAND, SUNDBERG and KARL, JJ., concur.
OVERTON, C.J., and BOYD, J., dissent.
Counsel for Respondent having filed in this cause petition for rehearing, and it having been considered, it is ordered that the petition for rehearing is visited to the revised opinion and said petition is hereby denied.
OVERTON, C.J., and ADKINS, ENGLAND, SUNDBERG, HATCHETT and KARL, JJ., concur.
BOYD, J., dissents.