Opinion ID: 1918123
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Performance of the Contracts

Text: [¶ 6] Cellar Dwellers began work on D'Alessio's home in the fall of 2006. D'Alessio timely paid Cellar Dwellers the $12,000 and $10,000 initial installments in accordance with the Plumbing and Heating Contracts. In November 2006, through a change order, D'Alessio requested significant changes to the Plumbing Contract, generating $17,464.85 in additional expenses. D'Alessio timely and fully paid for these costs, and Cellar Dwellers completed the work called for in the change order. D'Alessio also made a second timely payment pursuant to the Plumbing Contract, after Cellar Dwellers' completion of the rough in. [3] [¶ 7] On December 19, 2006, Cellar Dwellers finished piping out the boiler and tank, triggering payment of the second $10,000 Heating Contract installment. No payment was made until late January 2007, when D'Alessio presented Cellar Dwellers with a $5000 check and promised full payment in a week or two. Relying on this representation, Cellar Dwellers continued working and shortly thereafter received a second $5000 check. D'Alessio later instructed Cellar Dwellers not to cash the check, prompting Cellar Dwellers to stop working. Cellar Dwellers resumed work approximately two days later, assured by D'Alessio that the remaining $5000 would be forthcoming. Ultimately, D'Alessio paid $10,000 more, making a final $5000 payment on February 2, 2007. In total, Cellar Dwellers received $25,000 toward the Heating Contract, leaving a remaining balance of $2995 due upon completion of Cellar Dwellers' work. [¶ 8] On January 29, 2007, Cellar Dwellers properly installed the central vacuum system and billed D'Alessio $2478.35. D'Alessio has not made a payment for these services. [¶ 9] Cellar Dwellers repeatedly told D'Alessio that work would cease unless he made payments. In late February 2007, before completing the basement plumbing and heating, Cellar Dwellers withdrew from the job site. At this point, the value of the services and materials not yet provided to D'Alessio totaled $3000. The plumbing and heating in the upstairs living area was completely finished and, as the District Court later found, had been done in a workmanlike manner. Although the work called for by the Plumbing and Heating Contracts had not been completed, Cellar Dwellers sent D'Alessio several invoices after stopping work. D'Alessio contacted Cellar Dwellers to ascertain the total cost to finish the basement heating and plumbing installation, but the parties were never able to reach an agreement to complete the project.