Case ID: us-ct-cl_57/html/0596-02.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Mr. Justice McKenna", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

MacARTHUR BROTHERS COMPANY v. THE UNITED STATES.
    [55 C. Cls. 181; 258 U. S. 6.]
    Judgment was rendered in favor of the United States in the court below. On appeal the judgment was affirmed, and the Supreme Court decided:
    (’laimant contracted with the Government to construct a portion of a canal, both parties assuming that part of the work could be done " in the dry ” and the specifications so providing; but, owing to leakage through an adjacent pier constructed by a different contractor, all the work had to he done “ in the wet ” at increased cost. The conditions were as open to claimant as to the Government; claimant was expected to and did visit the site and inform itself before making its bid; and its contract provided that the quantities in the specifications were approximate only, that no claim should be made against the United States on account of any excess or deficiency, absolute or relative, thereof, nor any allowance be made for failure of the contractor to estimate the difficulties correctly, that the expense of cofferdams, pumping plant and pumping to unwater all areas to be worked “ in the dry ” should be an incident of the general work and no special payment be made therefor, and that the United States assumed no liability whatsoever for loss of property or time due to failure of any part of the cofferdams, dikes, or pumping plant. Held, that there was no misrepresentation by the United States that any part of the work could be done “ in the dry ” and that claimant could not recover.
   Mr. Justice McKenna

delivered the opinion of the Supreme Court February 27, 1922.