Case Name: George W. Ledingham et al., Appellants, v. The City of Blaine et al., Respondents
Court: Washington Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Washington
Decision Date: 1919-01-10
Citations: 105 Wash. 253
Docket Number: No. 14959
Parties: George W. Ledingham et al., Appellants, v. The City of Blaine et al., Respondents.
Judges: 
Reporter: Washington Reports
Volume: 105
Pages: 253–254

Head Matter:
[No. 14959.
Department One.
January 10, 1919.]
George W. Ledingham et al., Appellants, v. The City of Blaine et al., Respondents.
Municipal Corporations (159-1)—Public Improvements—Contractor’s Bonds—“Supplies”—Notice. A subcontractor supplying a man and team on municipal work furnishes “labor” to the extent of the man’s wages, and “supplies” in the use of the team; and under Rem. Code, § 1159-1, cannot recover on the contractor’s bond for the value of the “supplies,” where he failed to give notice thereof within ten days of furnishing the same as required by the act.
Statutes (69)—Construction—Reference to Other Statutes. It will be assumed that the judicial definition of “supplies” prior to Rem. Code, § 1159-1, giving a right of action on a contractor’s bond, was incorporated therein on the passage of that act.
Appeal from a judgment of the superior court for Whatcom county, Hardin, J., entered April 3, 1918, upon findings in favor of the defendants, in an action to determine the validity of claims against a contractor’s bond, tried to the court.
Reversed.
Walter B. Whitcomb, for appellants.
Rather & Livesey, for respondents.
Reported in 177 Pac. 783.

Opinion:
Mackintosh, J.
Respondent Schrimser furnished a team and driver for work upon a contract for the grading of streets in the city of Blaine, the team and driver were furnished to a subcontractor, who agreed to pay therefor $6.50 per day; $2.50 representing the man's wages, and $4 representing pay for the use of the team. Schrimser, not having been paid, filed notice of claim against the bond furnished by the principal contractor, and in this action is asserting that claim. Schrimser did not, within ten days after beginning to furnish the use of the man and team to the subcon tractor, notify the principal contractor in writing that he had commenced to deliver materials, supplies or provisions for use upon the work.
The claimant rests his right to recover without having given the ten days' notice required by ch. 167, Laws of 1915, p. 525 (Rem. Code, §1159-1), upon the theory that he was not furnishing materials, supplies or provisions, but was furnishing labor.
There is no question that the furnishing of a man for work would be furnishing labor, and it is equally as unquestionable that the furnishing of a team would be furnishing a supply. National Surety Co. v. Bratnober Lumber Company, 67 Wash. 601, 122 Pac. 337; Hurley-Mason Co. v. American Bonding Co., 79 Wash. 564, 140 Pac. 575; State Bank of Seattle v. Ruthe, 90 Wash. 636, 156 Pac. 540. These cases defined the use of teams as a supply under the law as it existed prior to the passage of the law of 1915, but we must assume that, when this law was passed, there was incorporated in it the judicial definition that had theretofore been given to the word supply.
The record before us shows that Schrimser was furnishing both labor and supplies, for his contract called for $2,50 per day for the wages of the driver, and these have already been paid, and $4 per day for the use of the team, the contract being thus sever-able, both by its terms and by its performance. The claim for the amount due for the use of the team is not collectible in this action against the principal contractor and his bond, no notice having been given of the commencement of the furnishing of the supply.
The decree of the lower court is reversed.
Main, C. J., Tolman, Chadwick, and Mitchell, JJ., concur.