Opinion ID: 1708748
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: third assignment of error

Text: In his last assignment of error, Gibbs focuses on the court of appeal's decision to the extent it relied on the trial court ruling which determined the suspensive condition had failed due to non-fulfillment. This ruling was based on La. Civ. Code art. 2038, and rendered the obligation unenforceable. La. Civ. Code art. 2038 states: When an obligation has been contracted on condition that an event shall happen within a limited time, the condition is considered as broken, when the time has expired without the event having taken place. If there be no time fixed, the condition may always be performed, and it is not considered as broken, until it is become certain that the event will not happen. Gibbs in brief asserts La. Civ. Code art. 2038 does not apply to defeat the suspensive condition. Gibbs contends though a deadline was imposed for meeting the suspensive condition, the deadline date here had not passed at the time the contract was rescinded. The deadline date for the presentation of the letter of credit was the date on which Thomas was to begin his job, as Gibbs would have required presentation prior to commencement of Thomas' job. Thus, as urged by Gibbs, the condition was not broken under La. Civ. Code art. 2038, and the contract should be enforceable. We agree. The trial court findings are not supported by the evidence. The trial court determined the work was to have started in November and so the time for beginning the work had lapsed prior to rescission. Both Gibbs and Thomas testified at trial Thomas' starting date had been moved back due to delays in construction, and Thomas was consequently not to begin his portion until December 1983 or January 1984. The rescission letter was written November 10. Where the commencement date of Thomas' job was at least one to two months away at the time of rescission, the deadline date for presenting the letter of credit had not passed. Therefore, the condition was not broken under La. Civ. Code art. 2038, and the contract is enforceable.