FCM Group sued Jeffrey and Cheryl Miller over a home construction dispute in Greenwich, Connecticut. The trial court held Cheryl Miller liable for breach of contract even though she didn't sign the contract and didn't own the property. The Connecticut Supreme Court reversed this decision, ruling that a non-signatory spouse cannot be held liable for a construction contract based on equitable ownership alone. This protects spouses from construction liability when only one spouse signs the contract.
Only get signatures from the actual property owner on construction contracts—equitable ownership or marital status doesn't create liability for non-signatories
If a spouse isn't named on the contract, they cannot be sued for breach even if they benefit from the property or have an ownership interest
Make sure your contract clearly identifies who is legally bound before starting work to avoid disputes about liability later