Case Name: L. L. MOSS v. BEST KNITTING MILLS
Court: Supreme Court of North Carolina
Jurisdiction: North Carolina
Decision Date: 1925-12-09
Citations: 190 N.C. 644
Docket Number: 
Parties: L. L. MOSS v. BEST KNITTING MILLS.
Judges: 
Reporter: North Carolina Reports
Volume: 190
Pages: 644–649

Head Matter:
L. L. MOSS v. BEST KNITTING MILLS.
(Filed 9 December, 1925.)
1. Evidence — Contracts—Breach.—Experience.
In an action by a contractor to recover the balance of the contract price for supervising and conducting the erection of a building, where the defendant pleads and offers evidence to show a breach thereof by plaintiff, defendant’s evidence as to his experience is competent as to his skill and intelligence to perform his contract, as corroborative evidence of his denial of negligence and incompetence, though incompetent as to good character upon a charge of fraud, or as a defense in wrongful arrest.
2. Same — Appeal and Error*.
Where evidence is competent in part, a broadside exception will not be sustained on appeal.
3. Contracts — Performance—Evidence—Acceptance.
Parol evidence is competent to prove that the owner of a building contracted to be erected, accepted the building with full knowledge of its condition, where the contractor sues for the balance of the contract price, and the owner defends upon the ground that the plaintiff failed to erect the building as the contract required.
4. Same — Waiver.
Acceptance of a building under contract implies the owner’s satisfaction therewith, and is a waiver of many rights.
5. Evidence — Cross-Examination.
The right of a party to cross-examine witness upon the trial, is among other things, to afford him protection against the conclusion of a witness which he has stated as a fact.
6. Contracts — Damages—Evidence—Appeal and Error,.
Where a contractor to furnish labor and material and supervise construction of a building to be used as a yarn mill, sues to recover the balance due him under the contract: Held, under the facts in this case, evidence of defendant’s loss from damage to yarns caused by a leak in the roof, etc., was properly excluded.
7. Contracts — Buildings—Skill Required.
It is the duty of the contractor for the erection of a building to use ordinary skill only in its construction, unless a greater degree of skill is specially provided for by the contract.
8. Same — Substantial Performance — Damages.
Where a contractor for the erection of a building has substantially complied with his contract, and the owner has accepted same, he is liable only as to minor details, under the contract in the instant case, the cost of putting the building in proper condition required by the contract.
Appeal by defendant from Catawba Superior Court. Stacie, J.
Action to recover balance due on a building contract. From a judgment in favor of plaintiff, and that defendant take, nothing on his counterclaim, defendant appealed. No error.
The parties admitted the contract in the pleadings as follows: “That the defendants being desirous of enlarging its manufacturing plant, contracted with the plaintiff to furnish the material and perform the work and agreed to pay the plaintiff the price of the labor and' material plus ten per cent for his personal supervision.” Plaintiff claimed a balance due on this contract, and defendant denied that plaintiff had performed the contract, and alleged damages on account of his failure to discharge his duty the defendant had suffered damages.
The jury returned the following verdict:
“1. In what amount, if any, is the defendant indebted to the plaintiff for labor, materials and supervision of work? Answer: $918.
“2. In what amount, if any, is plaintiff indebted to the defendant on its counterclaim? Answer: None.”
M%. H. Yount and A. A. Whitener for plaintiff.
John 0. Stroupe and Self & Bagby for defendant.

Opinion:
VaRsek, J.
Tbe plaintiff contended, tbat be bad performed tbe contract on bis part, witb reasonable skill, and in a workman-like manner, and tbat whatever defects tbat may bave later appeared, be offered, witb dispatch, to remedy, and tbat all building, both as to labor and material, was done under tbe personal observation of one of defendant's owners, one Hollar, and tbat tbe building was, when completed,-accepted, and payments made to him, and tbe reason first given for not paying tbe balance was tbat tbe defendant did not bave enough money.
Tbe defendant insisted tbat tbe work was done in a negligent manner and tbat plaintiff knew when be entered into tbe contract tbat tbe building, an addition to a knitting mill, was to be used for mill purposes, and tbat heavy and valuable machinery would be put therein. Defendant also contended tbat tbe wall gave way; tbe roof leaked and damage bad resulted therefrom.
Defendant's first assignment of error is to tbe admission in evidence from plaintiff tbe statement "tbat be (plaintiff) does a volume of $125,000 worth of business a year."
Plaintiff is a building contractor. He further says: "I live at Hickory, N. C. I bave lived there 39 years. My work during tbat time has been carpenter's work, and construction. In connection witb this construction work, I run a lumber plant and planing mills. I do furnish tbe material for tbe bouses I build."
Tbe defendant's exception does not single out tbe statement as to volume of business. This is not evidence of good character as a defense to a charge of fraud (Norris v. Stewart, 105 N. C., 455; Lumber Co. v. Atkinson, 162 N. C., 298), nor as a defense in wrongful arrest (Sigmon v. Shell, 165 N. C., 582, 586), nor is it evidence of reputation as to skill and intelligence, as in case of a civil engineer who directed tbe building of a culvert (Emry v. R. R., 102 N. C., 209, 221). It was not offered to prove good character or reputation. For tbat purpose it is clearly incompetent. We think, however, tbe evidence competent for tbe jury to consider in determining tbe weight to be given tbe plaintiff's testimony as to bis performance of tbe contract. Experience frequently differentiates tbe probative value of one witness from tbat of another. It shows bis "experiential capacity." Wigmore on Evidence, 2 ed., secs. 555 et seq.
Assignment No. 2 is to tbe admission of tbe testimony of plaintiff tbat Lon Hollar "accepted" tbe building, and to tbe charge giving plaintiff's contention tbat be put up tbe building and there was no "kick" on tbe material, and when be rendered bis itemized statement, tbe prices were not objectionable to defendant. Lon Hollar was one of tbe owners of tbe defendant, in charge of its business. Acceptance may be thus proved: It is a fact, witb a mental act of intent to receive as one's own, or for the owner, as a compliance with the required duty of the offerer— here the builder. Black's Law Diet., 2 ed., 12. It may relate to a building, or personal property, or other thing which is offered actually or constructively. Rodgers v. Phillips, 40 N. Y., 524; Snow v. Warner, 10 Metcalf (Mass.), 132. Receiving the building was an acceptance in Pipkin v. Robinson, 48 N. C., 152. Acceptance may be expressed or implied from the conduct of the owner. Cigar Co. v. Wall Paper Co., 164 Ala., 547, 560; Walstron v. Construction Co., 161 Ala., 608, 618; Walters v. Harvey, 8 Del., 441; Palmer v. Meridien, 188 Ill., 508; Bozarth v. Dudley, 44 N. J. L., 304; Otis Electric Co. v. Flanders Realty Co., 244 Pa., 186. The owner may by word, or act, or failure to act or speak, accept. Walstron v. Construction Co., supra. Whether it is an acceptance is generally a question of fact (Gray v. James, 128 Mass., 110; Fuller v. Brown, 67 N. H., 188; Colby v. Franklin, 15 Wis., 311), and therefore probable by parol evidence. The right of cross-examination is protection to the adverse party against a statement of a conclusion, and not a fact. The ruling as to evidence, and the charge are correct. Acceptance implies satisfaction and waives many rights. 9 C. L, 796.
The defendant's assignments of error 3 and 4, are directed to the court's refusal to admit evidence as to defendant's loss from damage to yarns due to a leak in the roof, waste of material and injury to machine on account of effect of sinking of building, and the loss of profits.
The contract was that plaintiff furnish labor and material and supervise construction. No architect's plans and specifications were had.
Lon Hollar testified: "I was there sometime during every day, that is, every day part of the time, and some days all day. I was manager of the mill. I am over the superintendent. I am the owner. I was there and saw the work going on and saw some of the material being used. I could have seen all of it. I saw the men that worked there. I saw when they came and what they were doing. Mr. Fry did the grading for the foundation for me. There was an old cesspool where the building is. Mr. Fry covered up the cesspool. There was concrete around it. I did not think that that would be liable to sink. Mr. Moss said he would fix that. Sure, I know it was there and knew they were covering it up. He (Mr. Fry) did the grading for me. That is where one of the pillars is that sank, but there are several other pillars that sank."
He further says: "After the building was completed and Mr. Moss left there, we moved the machinery in. I don't know what caused the roof to leak."
We do not think the contract and these facts present any legal basis for the testimony offered.
Tbe court charged tbat it was plaintiff's duty to use ordinary still in tbe construction and tbat if be failed in tbis respect, defendant would be entitled to recover tbe cost of putting tbe building in proper condition.
It is tbe duty of tbe builder to perform bis work in a proper and workman-like manner (Byerly v. Kepley, 46 N. C., 35; Electric Supply Co. v. Electric Light Co., 186 Mass., 449; Gettis v. Cole, 177 Mass., 584; Smith v. Clark, 58 Mo., 145; Gwinnup v. Shies, 161 Ind., 500; Mayer Ice Machine Co. v. Van Voorhis, 88 N. J. L., 7). Tbis means tbat tbe work stall be done in an ordinarily skillful manner, as a skilled workman should do it (Fitzgerald v. LaPorte, 64 Ark., 34; Ideal Heating Co. v. Kramer, 127 Iowa, 137, 9 C. J., 750). There is an .implied agreement such skill as is customary (Somerby v. Tappan, Wright (Ohio 229), will be used. In order to meet tbis requirement tbe law exacts ordinary care and skill only. Doster v. Brown, 25 Ga., 24; Whitcomb v. Roll, 81 N. E., 106; Ind. School Dist. v. Swearngin, 119 Iowa, 702; Peacock v. Gleesen, 117 Iowa, 291 (only reasonable diligence in drilling well); Hartford Co. v. Tobacco W. Co. (Ky), 121 S. W., 477; Giles v. Robinson, 114 Maine, 552; Cunningham v. Hall, 4 Allen (Mass.), 268; Holland v. Rhoades, 56 Oreg., 206; Fletcher v. Seekel, 1 R. I., 267; Stanton v. Dennis, 64 Wash., 85. Manner of best builders not required in absence of specifications (Blodgett Const. Co. v. Lumber Co., 129 La., 1057). Measured by tbe rule clearly deducible from tbe foregoing authorities, we bold tbat tbe challenged rulings of tbe trial court are correct.
Under instructions, free from error, tbe jury has necessarily found tbat plaintiff has performed bis contract, both substantially and fully. Tbe foundation was laid under defendant's observation and where be bad excavated for it. If tbe old cesspool was not a proper place to put tbe wall foundation, tbe plaintiff could not be held liable therefor when be did not select tbe foundation site, but used tbe excavated foundation as selected and excavated by tbe defendant.
. Tbe instructions were not contradictory. Tbe roof might leak, and tbe windows might not now fit properly, and tbe bouse may have sunk on account of tbe giving way of tbe soil where tbe old cesspool- was, regardless of tbe skill and diligence of tbe plaintiff. Tbis was tbe view submitted in tbe charge and tbe evidence supports tbis view.
Tbe reasonable cost of tbe labor to remedy any defects for which plaintiff was responsible was tbe correct rule under tbe instant contract. Tbe building bad been taken and put to use by defendant. It was certainly substantial compliance on plaintiff's part on defendant's own testimony. Poe v. Brevard, 174 N. C., 710; Pinches v. Church, 55 Conn., 183; Smith v. Gugerty, 4 Barb. (N. Y.), 614; Carroll v. Welch, 26 Tex., 147; Woodruff v. Hough, 91 U. S., 596; Mitchell v. Caplinger, 97 Ark., 278; Connell v. Higgins, 170 Cal., 541; Chariott v. McMullen, 84 Conn., 702; Finegan & Co. v. L'Engle & Son, 8 Fla., 413; Erikson v. Ward, 266 Ill., 259; White v. Oliver, 36 Maine, 92; Hennessey v. Preston, 219 Mass., 61; Strome v. Lyon, 110 Mich., 680; Crouch v. Gurmann, 134 N. Y., 45; Russell v. Comrs., 123 N. C., 264; Twitty v. M'Guire, 7 N. C., 501.
This rule of "substantial compliance" is only applied when a builder has undesignedly violated the strict terms of his contract, and the owner has received and retained the benefit of the builder's labor and material, and the builder is ready to remedy. The defects must be trivial and slight, such as are covered by the maxim de minimis non curat lex. The owner is entitled to damages by reason of the failure to perform strictly. Howie v. Rea, 70 N. C., 559; Crouch v. Gurmann, supra; Bergfores v. Caron, 190 Mass., 168. His damages is the cost of material and labor (in the instant case labor only) in putting the structure in condition called for by the contract. Since no specific condition was called for in the contract sued on, a result such as ordinary care and shill in supervising would produce was contemplated. Mitchell v. Caplinger, supra; Morehouse v. Bradley, 80 Conn., 611; Cullen v. Sears, 112 Mass., 299; Phelps v. Beebe, 71 Mich., 554; Crouch v. Gurmann, supra; Filbert v. Philadelphia, 181 Pa., 530; R. R. Co. v. Howard, 13 How. (U. S.), 307; Graves v. Allert & Fuess, 142 S. W., 869, 39 L. R. A. (N. S.), 591, note.
The owner was advertent to the entire course of construction and the jury was within the evidence if it found the owner's consent applied to the causes of the defects.
We have examined all the exceptions and none of them show prejudicial error. The charge fairly presented every contention of the parties. The controversy was largely in the domain of fact. We find in the trial
No error.