Case ID: nc_203/html/0001-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Stacy, C. J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

BERRY-FORTUNE CONSTRUCTION COMPANY v. F. P. BACON.
    (Filed 15 June, 1932.)
    Contracts F c — Where plaintiff fails to establish contract sued on a non-suit is proper.
    Where the plaintiff seeks to recover on a contract alleged to have been executed between a third party and the defendant for the plaintiff’s benefit, but the evidence fails to establish the alleged contract, a motion as of nonsuit is properly granted, and in this case it would seem that the defendant’s plea of res judicata on the ground that the matter had been determined in an action brought in another state is also well founded.
    Appeal by plaintiff from Sink, J., at September-October Term, 1931, of Pole.
    Civil action to recover on contract between defendant and the Tryon Development Company, alleged to bave been made for the benefit of the plaintiff.
    On 21 April, 1926, the plaintiff entered into a contract with, the Tryon Development Company to rebuild a large dam at Lake Lanier. It is alleged that the defendant agreed with the Tryon Development Company to furnish it “an amount sufficient to construct the dam at Lake Lanier.” The balance due the plaintiff on its contract at the time of the completion of the work was $26,096.09. A mechanic’s lien was filed by plaintiff and $17,311.19 realized therefrom, leaving a balance as of 15 August, 1927, of $8,784.90 due and unpaid.
    
      In October, 1927, tbe plaintiff instituted a suit against the defendant in Spartanburg County, S. C., to recover this unpaid balance, alleging an original promise on the part of the defendant to pay the same. This action terminated in favor of the defendant.
    The plaintiff now brings the present suit alleging that the contract between defendant and the Tryon Development Company to furnish the latter “an amount sufficient to construct the dam at Lake Lanier” was made for its benefit, and that plaintiff is entitled to recover thereon.
    The defendant pleads res judicata and the statute of frauds.
    From a judgment of nonsuit entered at the close of plaintiff’s evidence, it appeals, assigning errors.
    
      Self, Bagby, Aiken & Patrick for plaintiff.
    
    
      Massenburg & McGown, J. Hertz Brown and Shipman & Arledge for defendant.
    
   Stacy, C. J.

Plaintiff seeks to enforce a derivative right, but its evidence falls short of proving the basic contract as alleged between defendant and the Tryon Development Company. Gorrell v. Water Co., 124 N. C., 328, 32 S. E., 720; 6 R. C. L., 886. For this reason, the judgment of nonsuit is correct.

But going further, it would seem that the defendant’s plea of res judicata is also well founded. Distributing Co. v. Carraway, 196 N. C., 58, 144 S. E., 535.

Affirmed.