Court Opinion

ID: 7822566
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-09-07 17:59:42.649433+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:30:46.404484
License: Public Domain

Darrell Hickman, Justice, concurring. I agree with the result in this case but concur to emphasize the respective legal duties. The appellees, homeowners, had no duty to make out a joint check to the builder and materialman, and had no duty to purchase a bond, although either act would have been good judgment on their part. The appellant, Howard Building Centre, knew that the builder had a duty to pay for the material purchased for the appellee; but in its own selfish interest, appellant made an agreement with the builder which would prevent the application of those funds to the account of the appellees. There is no question that Howard Building Centre knew that the funds it was receiving were not being applied to the acounts they should have been, which could result in a loss to a homeowner. Therefore, it should be denied its rights as a materialman. This is just the sort of chicanery that can occur when a builder is financed by a materialman.