Opinion ID: 721371
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Failure To Guard

Text: 51 During trial, Maddox presented evidence that it was damaged in an amount of $5,151,085. Of this amount, Maddox acknowledged that approximately $1.2 million worth of damages was due to errors by Maddox or EEI. See Maddox's Closing Argument, 21 Trial Tr. at 57-58; see also Plaintiff's Preliminary Damage Ex. 173, reprinted in Appellant's App. at 406. Nevertheless, Maddox argued during closing argument that Benham was liable to Maddox in this amount, because p 2.1.6 of the contract required Benham to guard Maddox against Maddox's own deficiencies. Whether the contract placed this duty upon Benham is an issue of law, see Anchor Centre Partners v. Mercantile Bank, 803 S.W.2d 23, 32 (Mo. banc 1991) (construction of a written contract is a question of law, not fact), and thus we review this construction de novo, see Frank B. Hall & Co. v. Alexander & Alexander, Inc., 974 F.2d 1020, 1023 (8th Cir.1992). 52 Pursuant to p 2.1.6 of the subcontract, Benham shall keep [Maddox] informed of the progress and quality of the Work, and shall endeavor to guard [Maddox] against defects and designs in the Work of [Maddox]. Appellant's App. at 184. If this were the only provision in the contract dealing with a duty to guard, we might agree with Maddox. However, this provision must be read in conjunction with p 2.1.7, which reads: 53 [Benham] shall not have control or charge of and shall not be responsible for construction means, methods, techniques, sequences or procedures ... for the acts or omissions of [Maddox], [Maddox's] subcontractors or any other persons performing any of the Work, or for the failure of any of them to carry out the Work in accordance with the Construction Documents. 54 Id. (emphasis added). 55 Given the language of p 2.1.7, it is difficult to interpret p 2.1.6 as shifting to Benham the risk that Maddox would not properly perform its obligations under its contract with EEI. Specifically, p 2.1.7 is clear that Benham is not responsible for the acts or omissions of Maddox, nor is Benham responsible for the failure of Maddox to carry out its work in accordance with the construction plans. Benham simply has no duty under the contract to act as insurance against Maddox's own carelessness. 56 This reading of p 2.1.7 does not, as Maddox suggests, render p 2.1.6 inoperative. Paragraph 2.1.6 does place a duty on Benham, namely the duty to visit the work site and make recommendations to Maddox. What this paragraph does not do is place on Benham the further duty to guarantee that Maddox will not make any errors. Thus, the two provisions can co-exist, and giving effect to one does not render the other inoperative. In this case, giving proper effect to p 2.1.7 requires that we reverse the jury's award of $1,267,367.02 to Maddox.