Case Name: F. Lerch, Appellant, v. The Wonder Department Store, Incorporated, Respondent
Court: Washington Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Washington
Decision Date: 1907-01-28
Citations: 45 Wash. 367
Docket Number: No. 6451
Parties: F. Lerch, Appellant, v. The Wonder Department Store, Incorporated, Respondent.
Judges: 
Reporter: Washington Reports
Volume: 45
Pages: 367–368

Head Matter:
[No. 6451.
Decided January 28, 1907.]
F. Lerch, Appellant, v. The Wonder Department Store, Incorporated, Respondent.
Appeal — Review-—Findings. Findings upon conflicting evidence, with no decided preponderance, will not be disturbed on appeal, where the trial court had the advantage of seeing the witnesses.
Appeal from a judgment of the superior court for Spokane county, Carey, J\, entered April 27, 1906, upon findings in favor of the defendant, after a trial on the merits before the court without a jury, in an action on a contract.
Affirmed.
John C. Kleber, for appellant.
E. C. Macdonald and Donald F. Kizer, for respondent.
Reported in 88 Pac. 521.

Opinion:
Per Curiam.
The appellant entered into a contract with the Washington Liquor Company to install a steam heating plant in its four-story brick block then, in the course of construction in the city of Spokane. The respondent had a contract with the liquor company for a lease of the building to commence on its completion. In the contract for the lease it was provided that the building should have a hot water heating plant instead of a steam heating one. When the appellant commenced to install the steam plant the attention of the respondent was called thereto, and a confer ence was had in which the differences were sought to be adjusted. It was finally agreed that the steam heating plant should be installed with certain changes which required some additional work and additional fixtures not called for by the original plans. The appellant made the changes as required, and seeks by this action to hold the respondent liable for the extra cost incurred thereby, contending that its manager promised and agreed to pay for them. The case went against him in 'the court below, and he seeks on this appeal to have the judgment reversed.
The question presented is wholly one of fact. The evidence was conflicting, with no decided preponderance, so far as we are able to discover from the record, in favor of either party. In such a case it is an important advantage to have an opportunity to see 'the witnesses, and observe' their demeanor while testifying. As the trial court had that opportunity and decided with the respondent we are content to let the finding stand.
The judgment will be affirmed.