JULIO VIYELLA, SYLVIA VIYELLA, HIS WIFE, AND JULIO A. VIYELLA, INC., APPELLANTS,
v.
WILLIE JACKSON D/B/A JACKSON TERRAZZO, APPELLEE

Fla. 3d DCA | 1977-07-06
No. 77-384
Before HENDRY, C. J., and PEARSON and BARKDULL, JJ.
347 So. 2d 830 Florida District Court of Appeal, Third District (1977) Positive Treatment
Cited by 2 cases

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Synopsis

In this mechanic's lien dispute, the Florida Third District Court of Appeal affirmed the trial court's denial of defendants' motion to dismiss a complaint by a terrazzo installer. The court held that the 45-day notice requirement for mechanic's liens does not bar claims filed after that period, and that the affidavit requirement applies only to contractors, not sub-contractors.


Holding

The court held that failure to serve notice within 45 days does not bar a mechanic's lien claim but only affects priority status, and that the affidavit requirement applies only to contractors, not sub-contractors. Because Jackson's complaint contained sufficient allegations that he was a sub-contractor, it stated a valid claim for relief.


Headnotes

[1] Failure to serve a notice of intention to claim a lien within forty-five days of commencing to furnish services or materials is not an absolute bar to a claim of lien.

[2] The forty-five day rule for serving a notice of intention to claim a lien establishes a priority category for lienors who give notice within that period.

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Key Quotes

“the failure to serve the notice of intention to claim a lien within forty-five days of a lienor's commencing to furnish his services or materials is not an absolute bar to a claim of lien”

Establishes that the 45-day notice requirement does not completely bar mechanic's lien claims filed after that period

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Facts & Procedural History

Willie Jackson, a laborer who installs terrazzo floors, filed a three-count complaint against the Viyellas and their construction company. The Viyella…

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Opinion of the Court
HENDRY, Chief Judge.

HENDRY, Chief Judge.

Appellants, defendants below, bring this interlocutory appeal from an order denying their motion to dismiss the complaint of appellee, plaintiff below.

Appellee, a laborer who installs terrazzo floors, filed a three count complaint against appellants. Count I of the complaint sought foreclosure of a mechanic’s lien; count II sought damages for work done and materials furnished; and count III sought damages based upon the dishonoring of two checks payable to appellee from appellant, Julio A. Viyella, Inc. Appellants moved to dismiss the complaint alleging, as to count I, a failure to comply with Chapter 713 (Part I, Mechanics’ Lien Law), Florida Statutes (1975); and as to counts II and III, inter alia, a failure to state a cause of action. By order, the motion to dismiss was denied and appellants brought this interlocutory appeal. By order of this court, we granted appellee’s motion to dismiss the appeal as it pertains to counts II and III as not being the proper subject for interlocutory appeals pursuant to Fla.App.

Rule 4.2(a). As applies to count I, foreclosure of a mechanic’s lien, this appeal follows. Appellants’ basic contentions are twofold.

First, appellants contend that the trial judge erred in refusing to dismiss count I of appellee’s complaint in that appellee violated the forty-five day period of serving a “notice to the owner” pursuant to Section 713.06(2)(a), Florida Statutes (1975). In addition, appellants contend that appellee failed to serve an affidavit on the owners, pursuant to Section 713.06(3)(d)(l), Florida Statutes (1975).

Appellants’ first contention is quickly disposed of in that the failure to serve the notice of intention to claim a lien within forty-five days of a lienor’s commencing to furnish his services or materials is not an absolute bar to a claim of lien. Torres v. MacIntyre, 334 So. 2d 59 (Fla.3d DCA 1976). Rather, the forty-five day rule was intended to establish a priority category for lien-ors who give notice to the owner within said period. Crane Co. v. Fine, 221 So. 2d 145 (Fla.1969).

As for appellants’ second contention, concerning the filing of an affidavit five days before instituting suit to enforce a lien, we note that said requirement applies only to contractors, and not sub-contractors. Art Berman Concrete, Inc. v. Sey Construction Corp., 247 So. 2d 791 (Fla.3d DCA 1971).

Reading paragraphs three and four of appellee’s complaint, it would appear that there were sufficient allegations contained therein to reasonably conclude that appellee was a sub-contractor. Paragraph three of count I alleged that appellants, Julio and Sylvia Viyella entered into a construction contract with Julio A. Viyella, Inc. Paragraph four alleged that Julio A. Viyella, Inc., then contracted with appellee to install terrazzo floors on the property to be constructed by Viyella, Inc., and owned by appellants, Julio and Sylvia Viyella.

Therefore, taking the well pled allegations as true, we hold that appellee’s complaint stated a valid claim for relief and affirm the order of the trial court denying appellants’ motion to dismiss the complaint. Green v. Florida East Coast Railway Company, 141 So. 2d 326 (Fla.1st DCA 1962).

Any other points raised by appellants are without merit.

Affirmed.


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Citator

Cited By

  • Fid. & Deposit Co. OF Md. v. DELTA Painting Corp., 529 So. 2d 781 (Fla. 4th DCA 1988)
    …d in full or otherwise indicates those who have not been paid and the amount due or to become due for labor, services or materials furnished. Art Berman Concrete, Inc. v. Sey Construction Corp., 247 So. 2d 791 (Fla. 3d DCA 1971); Viyella v. Jackson, 347 So. 2d 830 (Fla. 3d DCA 1977); Sowers v. Hoenstine, 417 So. 2d 1137 (Fla. 5th DCA 1982). Although the statute does not supply a mandatory form for the final contractor’s affidavit the intent of the statute is to protect the owner, by providing assurance that…

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