Opinion ID: 1385506
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: coordination of work and measurements and dimensions

Text: A. The Contractor shall carry out the Work in accordance with the Drawings and Specifications. The measurements and dimensions shown on these drawings shall be verified at the site by the Contractor. The Contractor shall be responsible for all dimensions and coordinated execution of the Work. The Contractor shall verify that bridge components will fit as specified, or notify the Engineer sufficiently in advance if components do not fit so that modifications can be made without holding up the work. The contractor shall verify all foundation plans, framing plans, and finished surfaces and shall coordinate the Work before proceeding.... Where there are discrepancies in the contract documents [the Contractor shall] notify the Engineer before proceeding with the Work. Mr. McClain testified that McClain did not check the dimensions of the existing structures or measure those dimensions before beginning work on the bridge. McClain's project manager, John A. Robertson, testified that McClain did not measure the elevations of the roads adjoining the bridge before commencing construction to ascertain if the roads corresponded with the planned bridge work. Simply stated, even though the contract plainly required that McClain verify the measurements and dimensions shown in the drawings before commencing construction, McClain failed to do so. The evidence reveals that McClain did not discover any of the elevational discrepancies until after it had begun to execute the work. Had McClain complied with the contract, the County would have had an opportunity to make necessary changes before McClain commenced work on the bridge. Accordingly, we hold that the trial court did not err by setting aside the jury's verdict on this count.
McClain and Fidelity argue that the County breached the contract because purportedly the County wrongfully terminated the contract. McClain and Fidelity contend that at the time of termination, McClain was not in default of the contract; that McClain was entitled to substantial time extensions because of the post-tensioning design errors; and that McClain had not failed to comply with the applicable contractual deadlines. McClain says that it presented sufficient evidence at trial to support these allegations. The County and Wilbur Smith assert, however, that as a matter of law the County was entitled to terminate the contract because McClain had failed to prosecute the work as required by the contract. We agree with the County and Wilbur Smith. Although the completion date was extended in December 1989, by Change Order No. 4 to July 1, 1990, a few months later McClain refused to complete construction of the bridge unless the County agreed to pay an additional $180,000 and to provide an easement for post-tensioning. As required by the contract, the County wrote McClain on June 15, 1990, informing it that McClain was in default because it had failed to prosecute the work in accordance with the agreed schedule of completion and it was obvious that the bridge could not be constructed by July 1. This termination letter reminded McClain that it had 15 days to cure the default. Copies of the letter were forwarded to Fidelity. By letter dated July 20, 1990, the County terminated the contract because McClain failed to cure the default. The construction contract contains the following language that is pertinent to this discussion: TIME FOR COMPLETION AND LIQUIDATED DAMAGES a. It is hereby understood and mutually agreed by and between the Contractor and the Owner that the date of beginning, the rate of progress, and the time for completion of the work to be done hereunder are essential conditions of the Contract. The Contractor agrees that the work shall be started promptly upon receipt of any communication authorizing the Contractor to proceed and shall be prosecuted regularly, diligently, and uninterruptedly at a rate of progress that will ensure full completion thereof in the shortest length of time consistent with good workmanship. b. It is further agreed that time is of the essence of each and every portion of this Contract and of the Specifications wherein a definite and certain length of time is fixed for the performance of any act whatsoever. .... c. It is further agreed that where an additional time is allowed for the performance of any act by the Contractor according to the new time limit fixed by such extension shall be of the essence of this Contract. (Emphasis added). The plain and unambiguous contractual language, including Change Order No. 4, required McClain to prosecute the work regularly, diligently, and uninterruptedly and to complete the bridge no later than July 1, 1990. McClain failed to complete the bridge because McClain believed that the County was required to provide the necessary easement, and Mr. McClain was of opinion that without the easement, the bridge could not be constructed in accord with the design. As we have previously stated, the clear and unambiguous language in the contract required that McClain obtain the necessary easement to undertake the post-tensioning of the bridge. Furthermore, Mr. McClain admitted that [t]he bridge is not unbuildable. If you get an access through that backwall, it could be built.... If they didn't get an easement, the bridge became unbuildable. If they got the easement, the bridge is buildable. Therefore, applying the contractual language that the parties used, we hold that, as a matter of law, the County was justified in terminating the contract with McClain because it failed to construct the bridge in a diligent and timely manner as required by the contract. []