Renn v. Davidson's Southport Lumber Co., Inc.

• Decision Date: 30 August 1973
• Docket Number: No. 1071A200,1071A200
• Citation: 300 N.E.2d 682,157 Ind.App. 446
• Parties: William A. RENN and Peggy J. Renn, Appellants, v. DAVIDSON'S SOUTHPORT LUMBER CO., INC., and John C. Adams d/b/a John Adams Plumbing and Excavating Co., Appellees.
• Court: Indiana Appellate Court

Page 682

300 N.E.2d 682

157 Ind.App. 446

William A. RENN and Peggy J. Renn, Appellants, v. DAVIDSON'S SOUTHPORT LUMBER CO., INC., and John C. Adams d/b/a John Adams Plumbing and Excavating Co., Appellees.

No. 1071A200.

Court of Appeals of Indiana, Second District.

Aug. 30, 1973.

Merrill Moores and David L. Millen, John L. Price, of Moores & Millen, Indianapolis, for appellants.

D. Reed Scism, of Roberts & Ryder, Leo L. Kriner, of Kriner & Harman, Indianapolis, for appellees.

WHITE, Judge.

Appellants, Mr. and Mrs. Renn (owners) hold title to a dwelling house newly constructed pursuant to their written contract with one Robert Viles d/b/a Rainbow Homes. Viles, who is not a party to this litigation, seems to have fathered it by failing to pay for building materials he purchased from appellee Davidson's Southport Lumber Co., Inc., (Lumber Co.). Lumber Co. filed a notice of mechanics lien against owners' property. Owners thereupon filed a quiet title suit against Lumber Co. Lumber Co. counterclaimed for foreclosure of the lien it claimed to hold. Owners moved for summary judgment which was granted with this proviso: 'To the extent to which . . . Davidson's Southport Lumber Co., Inc. . . . (counterclaim) allege(s) a cause of action independent and separate from the cause of action to foreclose the mechanic's lien, . . . (it) shall be deemed to continue.'

Lumber Co. then moved for and was granted summary judgment against owners in the sum of $4,771.26 on the theory that owners' contract with Viles made him their agent in the purchase of building materials of that value.

Lumber Co.'s motion for summary judgment was supported only by its verified statement of account attached to the counterclaim and by the following affidavit:

'Thomas G. Miner, being first duly sworn, deposes and says that he is Manager of the Franklin Division of Davidson's Southport Lumber Co., Inc., and in that capacity supervised the furnishing and delivering of building materials for the residence constructed on Lot 213 in Devon Hills, Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana; that said materials were purchased and delivered to said residence at the special instance and request of William A. Renn and Peggy J. Renn through their agent, Robert Viles, doing business under the firm name the style of Rainbow Homes, and that the fair and reasonable market value of the materials so furnished is Four Thousand Seven Hundred Seventy-one Dollars and Twenty-six Cents ($4,771.26); that no payments have been made on said account and that said sum is due and unpaid.'

Owners opposed Lumber Co.'s motion only by their affidavit ¹, as follows '1. That affiants did not enter into any contract, express or implied, with Davidson's Southport Lumber Co., Inc. for the furnishing and delivering of building materials for the residence on Lot 213 in Devon Hills, Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana.

'2. That affiants did not authorize any other person to enter into a contract or agreement with Davidson's Southport Lumber Co., Inc. for the furnishing and delivering of building materials for the residence on Lot 213 in Devon Hills, Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana.

'3. That specifically, affiants did not authorize Robert Viles in his individual capacity or doing business under the firm name and style of Rainbow Homes, to enter into an agreement or contract on their behalf with Davidson's Southport Lumber Co., Inc. for the furnishing and delivering of building materials for the residence on Lot 213 in Devon Hills, Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana.

'4. That affiants did not constitute Robert Viles their agent to enter into an agreement or contract with Davidson's Southport Lumber Co., Inc. for the furnishing and delivering of building materials for the residence on Lot 213 in Devon Hills, Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana; and that Robert Viles in his individual capacity or doing business under the firm name and style of Rainbow Homes did not act or purport to act as the agent for affiants in the entering into any agreement or contract with Davidson's Southport Lumber Co., Inc. for the furnishing and delivering of building materials for the residence on Lot 213 in Devon Hills, Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana.'

The court then made this entry: 'Motion for Summary Judgment under advisement. Plaintiff (owners) directed to supply contract with Viles within 2 days.'

The court's entry on the day following reads:

'Building Agreement is filed which reads in the words and figures as following:'

What follows in the record is a photocopy of a six-page, typewritten, document which is wholly unverified. For reasons which will appear, we do not consider its content relevant to our decision.

The trial court granted Lumber Co.'s motion for summary judgment. The judgment entry recited, inter alia, that,

'having considered the pleadings, the motion for summary judgment of the defendant and . . . (counter-complainant), Davidson's Southport Lumber Co., Inc., and the memorandum of the plaintiffs in opposition to said motion for summary judgment, and all affidavits filed herein and argument of counsel, the Court finds that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact undetermined between plaintiffs and the defendant'.

We note that the record does not state that the court considered the building contract in finding 'that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact undetermined'. Owners' counsel also noted that fact and asked, in owners' motion to correct errors, that the entry be modified to show that the contract had been considered. The motion to correct errors also asserted that the court erred in considering the 'purported contract . . . for the reason that . . . (it) was not authenticated or verified and did not constitute a pleading in the case'.

In their briefs and argument both parties assume that the trial court did consider the contract. The gist of owners' argument is that their answer and their affidavit denying that Viles was their agent raise a genuine issue of material fact. The gist of Lumber Co.'s argument is that owners waived all objections to consideration of the contract by filing it in response to the court's order and that its production by owners' attorneys is adequate certification of its authenticity. Further, that it conclusively proves Viles' agency.

Trial Rule 56 reads, in pertinent part:

'SUMMARY JUDGMENT

'(A) For claimant. A party seeking to recover upon a claim, counterclaim, or cross-claim or to obtain a declaratory judgment may, at any time after the expiration of twenty (20) days from the commencement of the action or after service of a motion for summary judgment by the adverse party, move with or without supporting affidavits for a summary judgment in his favor upon all or any part thereof.

'(C) Motion and proceedings thereon. The motion shall be served at least ten (10) days before the time fixed for the hearing. The adverse party prior to the day of hearing may serve opposing affidavits. The judgment sought shall be rendered forthwith if the pleadings, depositions, answers to interrogatories, and admissions on file, together with the affidavits and testimony, if any, show that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and that the moving party is entitled to a judgment as a matter of law. . . . Summary judgment shall not be granted as of course because the opposing party fails to offer opposing affidavits or evidence, but the court shall make its determination from the affidavits and testimony offered upon the matters placed in issue by the pleadings or such evidence.

'(E) Form of affidavits--Further testimony--Defense required. Supporting and opposing affidavits shall be made on personal knowledge, shall set forth such facts as would be admissible in evidence, and shall show affirmatively that the affiant is competent to testify to the matters stated therein. Sworn or certified copies of all papers or parts thereof referred to in an affidavit shall be attached thereto or served therewith. The court may permit affidavits to be supplemented or opposed by depositions, answers to interrogatories, further affidavits, or, within the discretion of the judge, testimony of witnesses. When a motion for summary judgment is made and supported as provided in this rule, an adverse party may not rest upon the mere allegations or denials of his pleading, but his response, by affidavits or as otherwise provided in this rule, must set forth specific facts...