Opinion ID: 2378547
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Grinnell v. Sard

Text: Plaintiff Grinnell by his complaint seeks to impose a lien upon defendant's property for labor and materials furnished in the course of the installation of plumbing facilities. The Court below accepted the report of the Referee and gave judgment for the lien. The complaint to enforce a lien was filed in court on January 5, 1970. One who would preserve the statutory lien afforded by 10 M.R.S.A., Sec. 3251 must comply with the mandate of 10 M.R.S.A., Sec. 3255 which requires that the complaint be filed within 90 days after the last of the labor or services are performed or labor, materials or services are so furnished, and not afterwards. This would require in the instant case that such last item have been furnished not earlier than October 7, 1969. Electing not to follow the form of complaint found in Field, McKusick and Wroth, Maine Civil Practice, Vol. 1, Sec. 8.28, Page 213, the plaintiff filed a complaint which neither in the body thereof nor in the attached exhibits alleges the date when any item was furnished. The plaintiff has failed to allege or prove that any lienable item was furnished on or after October 7, 1969 as required. In the very recent case of Bellegarde Custom Kitchens v. Arnold Leavitt et al. (Me.1972) 295 A.2d 909, this Court held that the statutory requirement in Sec. 3255 is jurisdictional and, being substantive rather than procedural, is not affected by the adoption of the Maine Rules of Civil Procedure. Although the point was not raised below, this Court will note lack of jurisdiction evident upon the record on its own motion. It follows that the judgment rendered below must be set aside. The entries will be In Pendleton v. Sard Appeal sustained. Judgment vacated. New trial ordered limited to single issue as to dollar amount of lien. [1] In Sard v. Pendleton (counterclaim) Appeal denied. Judgment for Plaintiff Pendleton affirmed. In Leach v. Sard Appeal sustained. New trial ordered. In Grinnell v. Sard Appeal sustained. Judgment vacated. Complaint quashed. [2]