Case Name: J. L. & D. M. DAVIS v. METHODIST PROTESTANT CHURCH OF HAYNESVILLE
Court: Louisiana Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Louisiana
Decision Date: 1927-02-28
Citations: 163 La. 384
Docket Number: No. 26438
Parties: J. L. & D. M. DAVIS v. METHODIST PROTESTANT CHURCH OF HAYNESVILLE.
Judges: 
Reporter: Louisiana Reports
Volume: 163
Pages: 383–385

Head Matter:
(111 So. 794)
No. 26438.
J. L. & D. M. DAVIS v. METHODIST PROTESTANT CHURCH OF HAYNESVILLE.
(Feb. 28, 1927.)
T. H. MeEaehern, of Homer, for appel- ‘ lants.
Meadors & Atkins, of Homer, for appellee.

Opinion:
ST. PAUL, ,T.
The defendant's church was built by Tull & Sample, contractors, and plaintiff (a partnership) became sureties on the bond given by the contractors for the faithful execution of the work; which of course included the obligation to deliver the building free of incumbrances arising from liens for materials purchased by the contractors and not paid for, even though not specially mentioned. .
I.
Plaintiffs furnished certain material to the contractor which were not paid for, and ,now claim a lien on the building.
The defense is that the lien was not recorded in time; that, in any event, plaintiffs, being sureties on the bond given by the contractors as aforesaid, are estopped from proceeding against the building contrary to their guaranty that the contractor would faithfully do the work (and deliver it free of liens); and in the alternative, defendant prays for judgment, on the bond, against plaintiff for a like amount as claimed.
II.
The trial judge rejected plaintiffs' claim on the ground that the lien was not recorded in time. But we find it unnecessary to lbok into that phase of the ease, since plaintiffs are clearly estopped by their bond from proceeding against the building.
Manifestly, as we have said, an engagement to erect a building at one's own expense for labor and materials cannot be faithfully performed by failing to pay for the materials and leaving them to be paid through liens filed against the building. And since plaintiffs bound themselves to see that the obligation of the contractors was faithfully performed, it follows that they are estopped from asserting liens against the building the result of which would be that the contractors would not have faithfully performed their obligations under the contract.
Decree.
The judgment appealed from is therefore affirmed.