Russell v. Woodbury

The defendants, Mark and Karen Woodbury, appeal from a ruling by the Portsmouth District Court (Coffey, S.J.) that the plaintiff, Maine Mechanical, could recover $5,020 under a mechanic’s lien on the Woodburys’ home. For the reasons that follow, we reverse.

The parties stipulated to the following facts. On September 29, 1989, Lambert Realty Ltd. (the general or principal contractor) entered into a contract to build the Woodburys’ home for an adjusted contract price of $153,462. Lambert then subcontracted with Maine Mechanical to do the plumbing and heating work on the home for a subcontract…