Opinion ID: 2293386
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: facts

Text: [¶ 2] We present the evidence and the trial court's findings in the light most favorable to A.E. Robinson as the prevailing party. See Lyman v. Huber, 2010 ME 139, ¶ 2, 10 A.3d 707. Porter is the sole shareholder in County Forest, a corporation that has existed since 1986. In 2004, Porter spoke with a vice president of A.E. Robinson at a charity golf event. Subsequently, the two orally agreed that A.E. Robinson would begin delivering fuel products to G.R. Porter & Sons, [1] another corporation with which Porter was involved. In 2005, Porter began operating a fuel delivery business as Porter Cash Fuel but never registered that name with the Secretary of State. Porter testified that he intended to operate Porter Cash Fuel as a trade name of County Forest and not as a separate sole proprietorship. The record reveals that Porter ordered fuel and gas over the phone from A.E. Robinson in a series of transactions that continued for three years and eventually gave rise to this suit. [¶ 3] Several types of writings confirmed these oral agreements. Within two days after A.E. Robinson delivered its products, it mailed invoices directed to Porter Cash Fuel. A.E. Robinson also regularly sent Porter Cash Fuel statements of account. Further, an authorization for direct payment listed Porter Cash Fuel and bore two signatures, one of which belonged to Porter. None of the writings made any reference to County Forest and none indicated the corporate status of Porter Cash Fuel. All of A.E. Robinson's dealings were with Porter or with Porter Cash Fuel; it had no reason to believe it was dealing with County Forest. [¶ 4] Over the years of this business relationship, A.E. Robinson added terms to the bottom of its invoices asserting its entitlement to financing charges, collection costs, attorney fees, and court costs. Although Porter never expressly agreed to these terms, when Porter paid sporadically, some of the payments were applied to financing charges, and Porter never complained. Ultimately, the business relationship deteriorated, and A.E. Robinson refused to deliver any more products. A.E. Robinson sued County Forest and Porter seeking payment on the account. Following a non-jury trial, the court entered judgment for A.E. Robinson jointly and severally against County Forest and Porter in the amount of the invoices plus financing charges and attorney fees. County Forest and Porter appeal from the entry of that judgment.