RIECK & FLEECE, INC.,
v.
THOMAS C. CUNNIFF, ET AL.
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Rieck & Fleece, Inc. sought to enforce a materialman's lien against property owners for building materials supplied in 1935. The Florida Supreme Court affirmed dismissal of the complaint because the suit was filed more than twelve months after furnishing the materials without a statutory notice of lien that complied with statutory requirements.
The materialman's lien cannot be enforced because the suit was filed more than twelve months after furnishing the materials without a valid notice of lien. When property is held as an estate by the entireties, a properly executed notice of lien is required to extend the enforcement period beyond one year, and the notice filed here failed to comply with statutory requirements.
“Remedy to impress and enforce materialman's lien against estate by entireties is purely statutory, and statute must be strictly complied with”
Establishes the strict statutory compliance requirement for liens on property held as an estate by the entireties
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Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligenceRieck & Fleece furnished building materials and supplies to defendants Thomas C. Cunniff and Gertrude A. Cunniff (husband and wife) between April 15, …
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The appeal brings for review order dismissing bill of complaint. The bill of complaint was filed on the 22nd day of September, 1936. The purpose of the bill was to enfoi'ce an alleged lien on certain lands for building materials and supplies furnished by the complainant to the defendants for the improvement of such lands.
It was alleged that complainant began to furnish the materials on April 15, 1935, and1 continued to furnish same until the 24th day of July, 1935.
The bill of complaint, therefore, shows upon its face that the suit was instituted more than twelve months after the furnishing of the materials.
Chapter 17097, Acts of 1935, is not applicable to this suit, because Section 30 of that Act provides:
“Section 30. Act governs liens on future contracts only. This Act shall apply to such liens only as arise under direct contracts under which visible commencement of operations takes' place after the date when this Act becomes effective. Neither Section 37 nor any other provision of this Act shall apply to liens arising under earlier contracts.”
According to the allegations of the bill of complaint the complainant acquired a lien under Section 3496, R. G. S., 5350 C. G. L., which lien was subject to enforcement by foreclosure in equity under the provisions of Section 3519 R. G. S., 5382 C. G. L.
The bill of complaint shows that the complaining material-man claimed the lien because of furnishing materials under a direct contract with the defendant-owners. Therefore, unles's the property was held as an estate by the entireties, no notice of lien was required to be filed to acquire or enforce the lien against the owners.
Section 3530 R. G. S., 5393 C. G. L., provides as follows:
“When there has been no record of a notice of lien, suit to enforce lien (if it exists without such record) must be *745brought within twelve months from the performance of the work or the furnishing of the materials, and if there has been such record, the suit must be brought within twelve months from the time of such record.”
The bill of complaint shows, however, that it was instituted against the defendants Thomas A. Cunniff and Gertrude A. Cunniff, his wife, and alleges that they are the record title owners of the property. This allegation, taken more strongly against the pleader, shows' that the property was held by these two defendants as an estate by the entireties ; and, therefore, a notice of lien sufficient to extend the time in which suit could be instituted under the statute beyond one year from the date of the last furnishing of material was required to comply with the provisions of Sec. 2 of Chapter 9296, Acts' of 1923, being Sec. 5361 C. G. L. That section provides that a notice to be effectual “shall be in writing and shall be sworn to by the person filing the same, or his agent. It shall state the name of the owners of the said property, the nature and character of the labor performed or to be performed, or the materials furnished or to be furnished and the value thereof, and shall also contain a description of the property upon which the labor has' been or is to be performed or the materials have been or are to be furnished.”
The notice of lien in the instant case failed to meet the requirements of the statute in that it did not state the names of the owners of the property; it did not sufficiently describe the materials furnished; it did not state the value of the materials furnished.
“Remedy to impress and enforce materialman’s lien against estate by entireties is purely statutory, and statute must be strictly complied with (Comp. Gen. Laws 1927, Secs. 5360, 5361).” Velazquez v. Suarez, et al., 113 Fla. 856, 152 Sou. 708. Notice of lien stating the names of the *746owners of the property, but not alleging them to be the owners, does not comply with the statute. See Goldsmith v. Orange Belt Securities, 115 Fla. 683, 156 Sou. 3.
It, therefore, follows that the order appealed from must be affirmed. It is so ordered.
Affirmed.
Terrell, C. J., and Thomas, J., concur.
Whi.teield, J., concurs in opinion and judgment.
Justices' Brown and Chapman not participating as authorized by Section 4687, Compiled General Laws of 1927 and Rule 21-A of the Rules of this Court.
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Maule Indus. v. Trugman, 59 So.2d 27 (Fla. 1952)…of services pursuant to the contract, and was not dependent, as against the owner and his interest in the property, upon the filing of any notice of claim of lien. See sections 84.02, 84.03, Florida Statutes, 1949, F.S.A.; Rieck & Fleece v. Cunniff, 138 Fla. 742, 190 So. 8; Palm Beach Bank & Trust Co. v. Lainhart, supra. After the lien in favor of Blackiston accrued Blackiston assigned it to Maule Industries, Inc., who thereupon became vested with all the right, title and interest of the assignor. Compare s…
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Cent. Elec. Supply, Inc. v. Amason, 172 So. 2d 508 (Fla. 2d DCA 1965)…ceded the date of the amendment to the lien statute heretofore mentioned. Therefore, the amended act cannot aid the appellee, as we held in Quality Lime Products, Inc., v. Acme Paving Company, supra.” In the case of Rieck & Fleece v. Cunniff, 1939, 138 Fla. 742, 190 So. 8, a suit was brought by Rieck & Fleece, Inc., against Thomas C. Cunniff and others to foreclose an alleged lien on certain lands for building materials and supplies. From an order dismissing the bill of complaint, the complainant appealed.…
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Branch v. McGLYNN, 65 So. 2d 32 (Fla. 1953)…usband pursuant to section 84.12, F.S.A.1941, and could have acquired a valid lien only by giving the notice to the wife, required by Section 84.16, F.S.A. 1941, and failing in this, he forfeited his right to a lien. Rieck & Fleece, Inc. v. Cunniff, 138 Fla. 742, 190 So. 8; Velazquez v. Suarez, 113 Fla. 856, 152 So. 708; Logan Moore Lumber Co. v. Legato, 100 Fla. 1415, 131 So. 381; Allardice & Allardice, Inc. v. Weatherlow, 98 Fla. 475, 124 So. 38; Parker v. Gamble, 96 Fla. 343, 118 So. 21, are relied on to…
Authorities Cited
- Goldsmith v. Orange Belt Sec. Co., 115 Fla. 683 (Fla. 1934)
- Perfecto Velazquez v. Luciano Suarez, 113 Fla. 856 (Fla. 1934)