Opinion ID: 2286750
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: the claim against george a. fuller co., inc.

Text: Appellee seeks to support the judgment against appellant Fuller on two grounds. It argues first that when Fuller accepted the benefits of the foundation contract under the assignment, it came under a duty to perform that contract according to the conditions and terms as provided therein. Second, it argues that Fuller became liable, like Spencer, White & Prentis, as general contractor under Article 9 of the General Conditions which attached to its contract of March 17, 1961, with International Land. We find that neither theory has merit. Certainly Fuller did, under the assignment, come under a duty to perform pursuant to the terms of the foundation contract, but that duty was merely to pay Spencer, White & Prentis upon the satisfactory completion of the foundation work, precisely the duty originally assumed by International Land. It is equally clear that Fuller, by virtue of its undertaking under Article 9, could have become liable to laborers and materialmen having no contractual relationship with either Fuller or International Land. We do not think, however, that that doctrine, utilized to support the judgment against Spencer, White & Prentis, can be extended to permit recovery against Fuller. When Fuller assumed the status of general contractor in March 1961, the other agreements relevant here had already been executed. Fuller, therefore, had no opportunity to exercise any control over the selection of sub- and sub-sub-contractors, nor to secure itself against the possibility of default by requiring a sub-contractor's bond. To impose liability under these circumstances would defeat the apparent intentions of the parties. The judgment, therefore, against George A. Fuller Co., Inc. must be reversed.