Opinion ID: 1742950
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: The Purported Contract Modifications

Text: At the outset of this discussion, we must address MSD's claim that Change Order No. 16 modified the contract. According to MSD, once it was concluded that the Surfpac warranty was worthless, MSD executed a change order that validly modified the original contract by reducing from the total contract price the value of the Surfpac warranty. Change Order No. 16 reduced the contract price by $184,214.28 as a result of the lien and subsequent failure of American Surfpac. If the contract had been validly modified to reduce the Surfpac warranty from the cost of the contract, then MSD would not have to rely on a breach of contract claim herein. The record, however, reveals insufficient evidence that the contract was modified, other than MSD's bare assertions that a modification occurred. All copies of Change Order No. 16 included in the record are unsigned. They also are undated. Furthermore, even if properly executed, we cannot determine if the change order would operate as a valid modification pursuant to the terms of the original contract, as neither party has designated for the record a copy of pertinent portions of the original contract between 3D and MSD. In short, we have been provided with no evidence upon which to base a determination that a valid modification occurred. Therefore, we reject MSD's initial argument that the contract had been validly modified.