Case ID: hay-haz_2/html/0202-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Philip Gormley vs. Bartlett Smith.
    At Law.
    Decided April 17, 1856.
    
      Action for Work and Labor.
    
    On a contract with the defendant to haul all the stone which the defendant had contracted to supply for the Capitol extension, the plaintiff hauled about one-half, and was forbidden by the defendant to proceed further.
    In an action on the contract it was held: That the plaintiff is entitled to the contract price for the stone he had hauled, and the gain or profit he would have made if he had been allowed to complete the contract.
    Mr. W. D. Davidge and Mr. Ennis for the plaintiff.
    Mr. J. M. Carrisre for the defendant.
   This action of trespass on the case was brought on the following bill of particulars:

Bartlett Smith

To Philip Gormley, Dr.

Aug., 1851. to May, 1852. To hauling 15664 perches of gueiss rock for the extension of the U. S.Capitol, at 40 cents per perch. $ 6265 60

May, 1852. to Dec., 1852. To profit on hauling 17976 perches of gueiss rock for same, said profit being 18 cents per perch. 3495 37

$ 9760 97

Dec., 1852. By cash to this date 3370^ 00

Balance due $ 6390 97

On the trial of the case the following instructions were prayed for by the respective counsel.

On the trial of this cause, the plaintiff, to maintain the issue on his part, gave in evidence the proposition in writing from the plaintiff to the defendant,- and proved by Samuel Strong, a witness on his part, produced by him, that the witness was the superintendent of the work of the extension of the Capitol; and that he received from the defendant the said paper, and that the defendant, in his presence accepted the said proposition, and the witness then and there noted the said acceptance at the bottom of the said paper. That the plaintiff thereafter promptly proceeded to perform the said contract on his part till he was forbidden from proceeding further by the defendant, who rescinded the contract, without expressing any reason for so doing. That the plaintiff had in part discharged his duty tinder said contract faithfully till then, and was prepared and able, and offered to complete it. And that the fair gain which he would have made thereon was 18 cents per perch, and that the whole amount of the stone hauled for the said work, from the said canal, was 33,640 perches, of which the said plaintiff hauled 15,664.

That while the said work was progressing, the said Smith assigned his contract for the north wing to one O’Neal.

That the plaintiff offered and was ready to proceed, notwithstanding said assignment, but that the defendant aforesaid, assigned the same so as to cut off the plaintiff’s right, and that he was notified by the plaintiff that he should claim the hauling of the whole and hold him responsible; but the defendant nevertheless forbade the plaintiff from further proceeding.

The witness further proved that the contract between the plaintiff and the defendant was for the hauling of all the stone which should be required for the Capitol extension both wings, for the supply of all of the stone the defendant held a contract with the government. And thereupon the defendant prajmd the Court to instruct the jury that the plaintiff is only entitled to recover in this action the balance of the account for stone actually hauled at the rate proven, and not for any gain or profit which he would have made if he had hauled all the stone required for the said work. Which instruction to the Court, (Dunlop, Morsell and Merrick) refused to give, to which refusal the defendant, through his attorney, excepted.

Verdict for the plaintiff. Damages $6399.97, with interest, from Dec. 1, 1852.

Motion for new trial.

Motion overruled and judgment on the verdict.