Opinion ID: 1184768
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Navalco

Text: We turn now to Navalco's appeal in No. 17096 from the judgment entered after a trial by the district court, sitting without a jury, holding that Interiors and Action had valid mechanics' liens against Navalco's fee interest. Navalco also appeals from (1) the refusal of the district court to amend the findings of fact, conclusions of law, and judgment, and (2) the refusal to award Navalco judgment on its cross-claim against Green Acres. On April 20, 1979, Navalco filed a motion for summary judgment against Interiors and Action. A hearing was held on the motion on May 29, 1979, and the motion was denied. A different judge conducted the trial. The court filed its memorandum decision December 13, 1979, and findings of fact and conclusions of law as to the claim between Interiors and Action against Navalco on December 17, 1979. [6] Judgment was entered February 27, 1980. The court found that Navalco impliedly authorized plaintiffs to furnish the labor and material for the Hungry Hawaiian premises. In its memorandum decision, the trial court stated: The Court finds that Navalco impliedly authorized Interiors and Action Fire to furnish to Navalco's premises the labor and materials they furnished. This finding of implied authorization is premised entirely on what is contained in the Master Lease, Exhibit 2, the Sublease, Exhibit 3, and the acceptance of the Sublease by Navalco, Exhibit 16 and is further premised on the work contracted for by the parties to these documents and which was done for them by Interiors and Action Fire. Said finding is not premised on any other circumstance except in the case of the claim of Interiors, the Court does find that by reason of the conversation during April 1978 that Mr. Cutshaw of Interiors had with authorized representatives of Navalco that Interiors continued to do work on said premises it would not otherwise have done but for said conversation and the Court finds the reasonable value of the labor and materials furnished after the date of said conversation by Interiors to the premises to be $582.00. The reference to the conversation of April 1978, relates to a conversation in which representatives of Navalco assured the presidents of Interiors and Action that they would receive payment one way or the other. The trial court was correct in determining that work done by Interiors after the date of the conversation would not have been done had it not been for the representations made at that meeting. Action had completed its work prior to the meeting. Navalco does not dispute the award of $582 to Interiors made by the court. As to the argument that Navalco authorized the improvements by a letter of acceptance, which was signed by Navalco January 31, 1978, we are of the view that the acceptance amounted to no more than its consent that the alterations be made. The record shows no more than Navalco's knowledge of and acquiescence in the making of the improvements by Hungry Hawaiian. Navalco's knowledge and acquiescence in the making of the improvements is not sufficient to charge the fee owner's interest with a mechanic's lien, see Zions First National Bank v. Carlson, 23 Utah 2d 395, 464 P.2d 387 (1970), especially since Navalco was a remote lessor and the master lease between Navalco and Green Acres did not contemplate that the premises were to be used as a restaurant. Therefore, the judgment against Navalco, with the exception of the $582, must be reversed. [7] Finally, Navalco attacks the refusal of a different judge than the one who conducted the trial to amend the findings of fact, conclusions of law, and judgment. The motion asked that the judgment reflect the granting of relief as prayed for by Navalco in its cross-claim against Green Acres. In denying the motion, the court concluded that Navalco had abandoned its claim by not presenting any evidence at trial in support of the cross-claim and by not reserving determination of the claim to a later date. At the trial, counsel for Green Acres and Navalco represented to the court that they had arrived at a tentative settlement of the controversy between the two parties but that it had not been reduced to writing. Navalco rested its case without presenting evidence on the cross-claims. When the proposed settlement agreement was subsequently drafted by Green Acres' counsel, Navalco's counsel found it unacceptable. Not being able to recover the differences, he then filed the motion to amend. The motion, in effect, asked the court to enter judgment on the cross-claim even though no evidence had been presented and the issue had been decided. The district court correctly concluded that Navalco had waived its cross-claim against Green Acres by failing to present evidence on its cross-claim at trial, and by failing to reserve the issue for a later determination. Orderly procedure requires that a party present all his evidence on the issues once he embarks upon the proof of his case. Clegg v. Lee, 30 Utah 2d 242, 516 P.2d 348 (1973). See also Simpson v. General Motors Corp., 24 Utah 2d 301, 470 P.2d 399 (1970). Failure to adduce evidence on a claim at issue constitutes a waiver of the claim. Upton v. Heiselt, 118 Utah 573, 223 P.2d 428 (1950). In No. 17105 the judgment as to Green Acres is reversed and the case remanded for further proceedings as to Green Acres, with costs to appellants. The judgment as to Christensens is affirmed, and costs awarded them. In No. 17096 the judgment is affirmed as to $582 and reversed as to the remainder. No costs. HALL, C.J., and OAKS, J., concur. HOWE and DURHAM, JJ., do not participate herein.