MARY A. NIEHAUS, PETITIONER,
v.
BIG BEN'S TREE SERVICE, INC., RESPONDENT
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Mary Niehaus challenges a construction lien imposed on her property by Big Ben's Tree Service. The court held that no valid contract existed between the parties because they had fundamentally different understandings of the material term "remove"—Niehaus believed it meant complete removal from her property, while Big Ben's intended only to cut down the tree—and therefore no construction lien could attach.
A construction lien can arise only upon a valid contract between the parties. For a valid contract to exist, the parties must reach agreement as to the meaning of each material term. Here, the parties had different understandings of the material term "remove," and without mutual assent on this term, no contract was formed and therefore no construction lien could attach to the property.
[1] A construction lien can only arise when a valid contract exists between the parties.
[2] For a contract to be valid, the parties must reach agreement as to the meaning of each material term.
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Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligence“a construction lien can arise only when a valid contract exists between the parties”
Establishes the foundational requirement that a valid contract must underlie any construction lien claim.
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Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligenceNiehaus contacted Big Ben's Tree Service to remove a broken tree in danger of falling. The parties discussed a price of $4,800 for "removal" of the tr…
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HAWKES, J.
Petitioner challenges a circuit court order affirming the trial court’s imposition of a construction lien on her property. Petitioner argues the circuit court departed from the essential requirements of the law by upholding the lien, as the parties never entered into a valid contract upon which the lien could be based. We agree.
The trial court made the following five findings of fact that are dispositive in resolving this case:
• Petitioner contacted Respondent regarding the removal of a broken tree which was in danger of falling.
• Respondent claimed Petitioner agreed to have the tree cut down and “removed” for $4,800.
• Respondent intended “remove” to have its technical meaning, which he testified in tree industry “parlance” meant simply moving the tree.
• Petitioner believed “remove” meant the tree would not only be cut down, but also taken from her property.
• Since Respondent never explained the “special” industry meaning of “remove,” Petitioner’s understanding of its meaning was reasonable.
After making these findings, the trial court ruled that Respondent had a valid lien on Petitioner’s property in the amount of $5,095. This figure was reached by adding the court costs to the “removal” fee of $4,800. On appeal, the circuit court affirmed.
When determining whether to grant a common-law writ of certiorari, this Court’s review is limited to whether the circuit court afforded due process and observed the essential requirements of the law. See Houck v. Fla. Parole Comm’n, 953 So. 2d 692, 692 (Fla. 1st DCA 2007); Gillespie v. City of Destín, 946 So. 2d 1195, 1197-1198 (Fla. 1st DCA 2006). This Court accepts the trial court’s findings of fact as conclusive, unless the trial court departed from essential procedural requirements during the fact-finding process. See Chicken ‘N’ Things v. Murray, 329 So. 2d 302, 304 (Fla.1976).
Under Florida law, a construction lien can arise only when a valid contract exists between the parties. See § 713.05, Fla. Stat. (2006); Viking Cmtys. Corp. v. Peeler Constr. Co., 367 So. 2d 737, 739 (Fla. 4th DCA 1979) (stating “a contract is essential to any mechanic’s lien”). For a contract to exist, the parties must reach agreement as to the meaning of each material term. See St. Joe Corp. v. McIver, 875 So. 2d 375, 381 (Fla.2004) (stating one basic requirement of contract law is specification of material terms); State v. Family Bank of Hallandale, 623 So. 2d 474, 479 (Fla.1993) (finding “[mjutual assent [on material terms] is an absolute condition precedent to the formation of a contract”).
Here, the trial court found that the parties had different understandings of the term “removal.” This term was mate rial to the contract as, in significant part, it defined the extent of Respondent’s duties. Without agreement on this material term, the parties failed to enter into a contract.1 Without a contract, a lien could not attach to Petitioner’s property.
Accepting the trial court’s factual findings, it is impossible to conclude the statutory requirements for a construction lien have been met. Thus, the circuit court departed from the essential requirements of the law in upholding the lien. Since Petitioner successfully defended against the imposition of the lien, her motion for appellate attorney’s fees is GRANTED. See § 713.29, Florida Statutes (2006). We GRANT the writ and QUASH the circuit court’s order. ALLEN and DAVIS, JJ., concur. . We do not address whether the parties entered into a contract implied in law. A contract implied in law is not a contract at all, but a legal fiction hinging on the concept of unjust enrichment. See CDS & Assocs. of Palm Beaches, Inc. v. 1711 Donna Rd. Assocs., Inc., 743 So. 2d 1223, 1224 (Fla. 4th DCA 1999); Commerce P’Ship 8098 Ltd. P’Ship v. Equity Contracting Co., Inc., 695 So. 2d 383, 387-388 (Fla. 4th DCA 1997).
Cases With Similar Vibessemantic neighbors from the corpus
Citator
Cited By
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Sheppard v. M & R Plumbing, 82 So. 3d 950 (Fla. 1st DCA 2011)…id contract, finding M & R entitled to an award of attorneys’ fees pursuant to section 713.29 was error. “Under Florida law, a construction lien can arise only when a valid contract exists between the parties.” Niehaus v. Big Ben’s Tree Serv., Inc., 982 So. 2d 1253, 1254 (Fla. 1st DCA 2008). The jury found that the parties did not enter into a verbal contract, or otherwise reach agreement on all material terms.4 A quantum meruit claim may support a construction lien only if a contract implied in fact is allege…
Authorities Cited
- Commerce P'ship 8098 Ltd. P'ship & Forest-English, Inc. v. Equity Contracting Co., Inc., 695 So. 2d 383 (Fla. 4th DCA 1997)
- ST. JOE Corp. v. McIVER, 875 So. 2d 375 (Fla. 2004)
- Chicken'n'things & Ins. Co. of N. Am. v. Martha Murray & the Fla. Dep't of Commerce, 329 So. 2d 302 (Fla. 1976)
- State v. Fam. Bank OF Hallandale, 623 So. 2d 474 (Fla. 1993)
- Gillespie v. The City OF Destin, 946 So. 2d 1195 (Fla. 1st DCA 2006)
- Viking Cmtys. Corp. v. Peeler Constr. Co. & Star Constr. Co. of Ft. Pierce, Inc., 367 So. 2d 737 (Fla. 4th DCA 1979)
- Houck v. Fla. Parole Comm'n, 953 So. 2d 692 (Fla. 1st DCA 2007)
- CDS & Assocs. OF the Palm Beaches, Inc. v. 1711 Donna Rd. Assocs., Inc., 743 So. 2d 1223 (Fla. 4th DCA 1999)