Opinion ID: 2115564
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Sufficiency of the evidence for Kirsch's services.

Text: In addition to the Harper award, the appellant also challenges the amount claimed to represent the reasonable value of the services of Richard Kirsch, one of Harper's employees during the period in question. Kirsch was a Marquette University engineering student employed for the summer in Harper's office. After the July 12th phone call from Mr. Gardner, Harper sent Kirsch to the Jewett & Sherman Company offices; and Kirsch did most of his work right at the Jewett & Sherman Company plant. There is no question about Kirsch's actual hours. He worked a total of 160.5 hours, and Harper said his hourly rate was $5. Five times the 2.5 overhead factor results in $12.50 an hour. $12.50 times 160.5 hours is $2,006.25. That is the amount Harper claimed at trial that he was entitled to for Kirsch's services. However, Harper made an agreement with Jewett & Sherman to bill them for Kirsch's services at a flat $3 an hour. When Kirsch returned to school, Harper sent Jewett & Sherman a bill in the sum of $480. Jewett & Sherman drafted and mailed a check for that amount. Harper testified he never received that check. Jewett & Sherman Company's records show that the check had never been cashed up until the time of trial. Harper testified that he agreed to the $3 an hour proposition on Kirsch's services. On cross-examination Harper stated that he could not remember what he actually paid Kirsch that summer, but he did admit that it was less than $5 per hour. Respondent never rendered appellant an adjusted statement for Kirsch's services after the original bill of $480. We think respondent is bound by the agreement of $3 per hour and his billing for Kirsch's services in the sum of $480. We conclude that in this case the proper measure of recovery was the hourly method of measuring value of services, that respondent can collect nothing for Harper's individual services because of failure of proof, that respondent is entitled to $480, not $2,006.25, for the drafting services of Richard Kirsch. The respondent's total demand and proof submitted for architectural services was $10,965.63. The elimination of the claimed value of $5,850 of Harper's individual services and the reduction of the value of Richard Kirsch's services to $480 results in a recovery of $3,589.38 for architectural services. Accordingly, under the evidence and the law, that portion of the verdict awarding architectural services in the sum of $14,141 must be reduced to $3,589.38. This sum, added to the damages awarded for other services, results in a total verdict of $8,896.88. The cause is remanded with directions to enter judgment on the verdict as amended, together with interest and costs. By the Court. Judgment reversed, and cause remanded for further proceedings consistent with the directions in the opinion. Appellant allowed costs on this appeal.