Case ID: misc_88/html/0250-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Rudd, J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

The People ex rel. The B. D. Pierce, Jr., Company, Relator, v. William Sohmer, as Comptroller of the State of New York, and John N. Carlisle, as Commissioner of Highways of the State of New York, Respondents.
    (Supreme Court, Albany Adjourned Special Term,
    December, 1914.)
    Mandamus — peremptory writ, when granted — highways — evidence.
    Where a contractor’s work on a state highway is apparently being done to the satisfaction of the state, as evidenced by the approval, from month to month as the work progresses, of those charged with the duty of inspection and supervision, and when the contractor finally announces to the state a completion of the work and the state finally and formally inspects and examines as to whether completion has been had, and the report of such inspection is to the effect that the work is complete, and then, as a final evidence, the department with responsibility of acceptance certifies to that effect, the contractor will be granted a writ of peremptory mandamus compelling the acceptance of the work by the commissioner of highways and compelling payment by the comptroller of the money due relator upon such acceptance.
    Application by the relator for a peremptory writ of mandamus compelling the acceptance by the commissioner of highways of' the state highway known as No. 5155 and compelling the payment by the comptroller of the state to the relator of the sum of $15,559.11, for work done in the construction and improvement of the state highway, known as the AlbanyGuilderland state highway.
    Eugene D. Flanigan, for relator.
    James A. Parsons, Attorney-General (James J. Barrett, Deputy Attorney-General, of counsel), for comptroller and commissioner of highways.
   Rudd, J.

The contract for the construction and improvement of this highway was entered into June 17, 1911.

The state reserved the right to make such changes in the plans and specifications as might from time to time seem to be necessary.

The state also reserves the right to make such additions, deductions or changes as it deems necessary, making an allowance or deduction therefor at the relative prices of the proposal for this work, and this contract should in no way be invalidated thereby.

Certain changes were from time to time made and the contract was modified.

A supplemental contract was entered into May 8, 1912, and a still further supplemental or special agreement was made under date of June 12, 1913.

Certain work was done. Certain materials were furnished. Monthly estimates were made. The construction of the work was supervised by the representatives of the state in the persons of division engineers, and in June, 1913, the contractor notified the state authorities that the work was completed.

The state caused official inspection to he made and on the 22d day of July, 1913, the state commissioner of highways issued an order accepting the highway.

At this time there was due to the contractor $15,559.11, including certain percentages of monthly estimates which had been retained by the state in accordance with the terms of the contract.

Demand for the payment of the sum alleged to he due has been made upon the comptroller and the sum demanded as due has not been paid.

The state commissioner of highways in effect states that while this highway was accepted in July, 1913, the acceptance was void for the reason that it was based upon inaccurate and incorrect information, and that as a matter of fact the highway has not been completed by the contractor.

The commissioner of highways states that after the acceptance of July, 1913, he caused an investigation to be made, resulting as he says in a report to the effect that the work had not been properly done, and because of that report, in July, 1914, the commissioner of highways made an order cancelling the contract and rescinding the former acceptance of the work.

There is no allegation of fraud or deceit.

The report, dated. June 5,1914, upon which the commissioner of highways bases his order rescinding the former acceptance of the work, is to the effect that the specifications were not in all respects carried out.

If that was the fact it could have been ascertained prior to the acceptance of the work in July, 1913, and it could have been known and must have been known to the representatives of the state, the inspectors and division engineers during the progress of the work.

If it was known that was the time to call the matter to the attention of the contractor. Monthly estimates should not have been given if such was the fact. The state authorities should not have allowed the road to proceed a single week under such conditions.

The state should be bound by the acts of its inspectors and division engineers equally, as the contractor is bound and controlled.

Almost a year elapsed between the formal official acceptance of the road in July, 1913, and the order rescinding acceptance in July, 1914, during all of which time the road has been in use for all kinds of traffic.

There being no fraud alleged in the carrying out of the work by the contractor, the state is bound by the official acceptance of the work made in July, 1913, which acceptance was based upon investigation made by the state representatives, resulting in reports from engineers charged with the responsibility of making that investigation.

The acceptance of the road was not an idle ceremony, and it must be assumed was not done thoughtlessly or stupidly.

It was done in accordance with the law and with the provisions of the contract, and it is binding upon the party who did it.

When a contractor’s work is apparently being done to the satisfaction of the state, as evidenced by the approval from month to month as the work progresses, of those charged with the duty of inspection and supervision, and finally when the contractor announces to the state a completion of the work and the state finally and formally inspects and examines as to whether completion has been had and the report of such inspectors is to the effect that the work is complete, and then as a final evidence the department with the responsibility of acceptance certifies to that effect, what more can the contractor do or can be expected to do ?

After using the road for almost a year it is not just or fair that some succeeding official should then determine that he would rescind the acceptance.

The money due the contractor under the acceptance should be paid.

An order may be entered granting the writ of peremptory mandamus for which application is made.

Ordered accordingly.