Opinion ID: 1697383
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: whether the trial court erred in granting the state's and tompkins, barron & fields's motion for partial summary judgment as to whether the state wrongfully terminated the construction contract.

Text: ¶ 12. Johnson argues there were clear issues of fact created by discovery produced by Johnson which were ignored and rejected by the trial court. Johnson argues because the trial court tried issues of fact on a Rule 56 motion, the grant of summary judgment should be reversed and remanded for a trial on the merits. ¶ 13. The crux of Johnson's argument lies with the affidavit of Lynton B. Cooper. Johnson contends this affidavit is all that is necessary to create a genuine issue of material fact as to the claims of negligence against Tompkins and as to the claims of breach of warranty and contract against the State. Johnson claims Cooper's affidavit specifically outlines the inadequacies of the design and the reasons the design fails to comply with the standard of care which should be exercised by a reasonably prudent architect. ¶ 14. Johnson also argues that there are numerous other documents and testimony, aside from the affidavit of Cooper, which create a genuine issue of material fact. Johnson claims Tompkins had difficulty interpreting its own design sixteen months after Johnson had begun building the armory referenced by correspondence between Tompkins and Berridge Manufacturing Company. Johnson argues the roof installed by the replacement contractor was not built according to the original plans and specifications. Johnson also argues the full scale model was inadequate because the model only attempted to recreate the first two sections, not all eight sections. ¶ 15. The State argues the trial court correctly applied Rule 56 standards in granting summary judgment in favor of the State and Tompkins regarding Johnson's alleged wrongful termination. The State contends Johnson did not demonstrate any genuine issue of material fact. The State argues Johnson offered only conclusory assertions which the trial court correctly rejected. ¶ 16. In reviewing Cooper's affidavit, the trial court determined it to be conclusory in nature, and without substantial support for the conclusions being drawn. The trial court found that the plans were followed by the replacement contractors and the contractors who built the full scale model of a portion of the roof. The trial court further found that there were no genuine issues of material fact remaining for trial and, therefore, granted summary judgment in favor of the State and Tompkins. ¶ 17. This Court has continuously held: Summary judgments should be granted with great caution. Smith v. Sanders, 485 So.2d 1051, 1054 (Miss.1986); Brown, 444 So.2d at 363. The Comment to Rule 56 provides that the court cannot try issues of fact on a Rule 56 motion; it may only determine whether there are issues to be tried. Brown, 444 So.2d at 362. When there is doubt as to whether a genuine issue of material fact exists, the non-moving party should be given the benefit of that doubt, and the motion should be denied. Id. In spite of this requirement of caution in granting summary judgment, this Court has held that the non-moving party must be diligent in opposing the motion for summary judgment. Smith v. H.C. Bailey Companies, 477 So.2d 224, 233 (Miss.1985); Bourn v. Tomlinson Interest, Inc., 456 So.2d 747, 749 (Miss.1984). Moreover, in order for summary judgment to be inappropriate, there must be genuine issues of material fact; the existence of a hundred contested issues of fact will not thwart summary judgment where none of them is material. Shaw v. Burchfield, 481 So.2d 247, 252 (Miss.1985). A fact issue is material if it tends to resolve any of the issues properly raised by the parties. Pearl River County Bd. of Sup'rs v. South East Collections Agency, Inc., 459 So.2d 783 (Miss.1984). ... In Galloway et al. v. The Travelers Insurance Co. et al, 515 So.2d 678 (Miss.1987), this Court quoted with approval the following language from the Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 106 S.Ct. 2548, 91 L.Ed.2d 265 (1986), decision: In our view, the plain language of Rule 56(c) mandates the entry of summary judgment, after adequate time for discovery and upon motion, against a party who fails to make a showing sufficient to establish the existence of an element essential to that party's case, and on which that party will bear the burden of proof at trial. In such a situation, there can be no genuine issue as to any material fact, since a complete failure of proof concerning an essential element of the non-moving party's case necessarily renders all other facts immaterial. Galloway, at 683. Grisham v. John Q. Long V.F.W. Post, No. 4057, Inc., 519 So.2d 413, 415-16 (Miss.1988). ¶ 18. We agree with the trial court that the Cooper affidavit was conclusory and did not present a material issue of genuine fact. In his Memorandum Opinion and Order, the circuit judge stated: In particular, Cooper states in conclusory fashion that the plans and specifications were defective, unclear and/or ambiguous. The Court has reviewed the proof regarding the plans and specifications in the original form and in the re-bid form, and finds that there can be no legitimate dispute that the plans and specifications could be followed, and were followed in connection with the actual roof construction completed by Mandal's Inc. and construction of the full scale model of the roof portion which has been demonstrated to the Court through photographs. ¶ 19. The circuit judge was presented with numerous documents by all parties to this action, and he determined there was no competent or probative proof submitted by Johnson to rebut the evidence presented by the State and Tompkins. Johnson's argument that the trial court improperly tried issues of fact on a Rule 56 motion is without merit.
¶ 20. Although the trial court, Tompkins and the State relied heavily on Johnson's failure to prove impossibility of performance, Johnson argues that this claim is not one for impossibility of performance, but for negligence and defective design. Instead Johnson contends the plans and specifications for the curved portion of the barrel vaulted roof were defective and ambiguous; therefore, it argues that the termination of Johnson's contract for failure to complete the roof was wrongful and a breach of contract. Johnson claims the issue of defective and ambiguous plans and specifications is a genuine issue of material fact which should be submitted to a jury. ¶ 21. Tompkins argues Johnson repeatedly claimed it was impossible to construct the roof using the Tompkins design. However, neither Johnson, nor its subcontractor, ever made any attempt to construct the roof according to the plans and specifications. This led to Johnson's dismissal from the contract. ¶ 22. Tompkins argues that in order for Johnson to recover from Tompkins based on defective plans and specifications, Johnson must establish that it attempted to build the structure in compliance with the plans and specifications provided and that the impossibility of construction and compliance with plans and specifications provided was impossible not only to Johnson, but to any other who would attempt to build the structure in accordance with the plans and specifications. Tompkins argues Johnson failed to meet all of these essential elements; therefore, the grant of summary judgment as to wrongful termination was proper. ¶ 23. The State adopts the argument of Tompkins regarding defective design. The State also argues the replacement contractor was successfully able to accomplish the architect's design with a bent pipe substituted in place of the Z purlins. The State claims Johnson missed the scheduled completion date after never attempting to construct the roof as designed. The State also argues rolled Z purlins were commercially available from a metals fabricator in California even though Johnson claimed such an item did not exist. The State also contends John Liggett of American Metal Works in Brandon was able to successfully construct a full scale model of Tompkins's design of the roof using the rolled Z purlins as called for in the design. ¶ 24. As a finding of fact, the trial court determined that, although Johnson claimed it was impossible to construct the compound curved portion of the roof, the plans and specifications were not impossible with which to comply. The trial court stated the full scale model of a portion of the roof used rolled Z purlins which Johnson claimed did not exist. ¶ 25. Under basic substantive law regarding contracts, several factors have been considered in evaluating a claim of commercial impossibility. Two of those factors are: (1) whether any other contractor was able to comply with the specifications, see Foster Wheeler Corp. v. United States, 206 Ct.Cl. 533, 546-47, 513 F.2d 588, 595 (1975), and (2) the extent of the contractor's efforts in meeting the specifications, see Oak Adec, Inc. v. United States, 24 Cl.Ct. 502, 504 (1991); Whittaker, Power Sources. Div., 79-1 B.C.A. (CCH) ¶ 13,805, 1979 WL 2453 (A.S.B.C.A.1979). The contractor must prove that the industry as a whole found the specifications impossible. Id. See also Jennie-O Foods, Inc. v. United States, 217 Ct.Cl. 314, 580 F.2d 400, 410 (1978); Foster Wheeler, 513 F.2d at 595. [C]ase law does support a requirement that the contractor demonstrate that the specifications were, from an objective point, incapable of performance. Natus Corp. v. United States, 178 Ct.Cl. 1, 10, 371 F.2d 450, 456 (1967); ESB, Inc., 81-1 B.C.A. (CCH) ¶ 15,012, 1981 WL 7038 (A.S.B.C.A.1981). However, it is plain that this analysis evolved as an addition to an underlying demonstration of subjective impossibility (the contractor itself cannot do the work). The contractor must also show that no one else could perform. See Restatement (Second) of Contracts § 261 cmt. e (1981). Hence, the courts use an objective standard to prevent an incompetent or negligent contractor from recovering by simply alleging that it (subjectively) could not perform the work. As stated by the board in ASC Sys. Corp., 78-1 B.C.A. (CCH) ¶ 13,119, 1978 WL 1866 (A.S.B.C.A.1978): [p]erformance impossibility must be established on an objective basis, not subjectively. That is, the contractor may not rely solely upon his own inability to accomplish the specified task; he must also negate the possibility of performance by others.... ASC Sys., 78-1 B.C.A. at 64, 134. The objective standard is thus not intended to be a sword for plaintiffs alleging impossibility, but rather a shield to be used by defendants to deflect such charges by a contractor whose own inability was the cause of non-performance. The standard does not operate as Oak Adec contends to insulate the contractor from inquiry into its management of the contracts. Any question that a contractor must demonstrate its own effort to perform was answered by the Court of Claims in Jennie-O Foods. There, the court stated: The [commercial impracticability] doctrine may be utilized only when the promisor has exhausted all its alternatives, when in fact it is determined that all means of performance are commercially senseless. There can be little sympathy for contractors who seek refuge behind the label of commercial senselessness (impracticability) without proof that they have made an effort to obtain performance in an alternative fashion. Jennie-O Foods, 217 Ct.Cl. at 328, 580 F.2d at 409 (citation omitted). It is thus clear that the subjective experience of the contractor is a factor that must be considered when determining whether a contract is commercially impossible. Oak Adec, 24 Cl.Ct. at 505-06 (emphasis in original). ¶ 26. Johnson failed in his burden of proving impossibility not only on a subjective basis, but also on an objective basis. The roof was successfully rebid and built substituting pipe for the rolled Z purlins. Also, a full scale model of a portion of the roof was constructed using rolled Z purlins as called for in the original plans and specifications. Although Johnson claimed materials were not available to meet the specifications because a rolled Z purlin did not exist, the trial court was presented with evidence of compound curved Z purlins which were obtained by American Metals of Brandon and successfully used in the full scale model of a portion of the roof. Because Johnson failed to prove any other contractor was unable to comply with the original design and specifications and because Johnson failed to attempt to construct the roof according to the original design and specifications, this Court finds Johnson's claim for defective design must fail. ¶ 27. Although Johnson claims it is not arguing impossibility but is suing for negligent design and wrongful termination, we agree with the trial court, Tompkins and the State that impossibility of performance is the true claim. Johnson stated materials were unavailable and the plans and specifications were defective; therefore, it was impossible to construct the roof as depicted in Addendum No. 1. However, Johnson made no effort to construct the structure as shown in the plans but instead attempted to place a roof over the structure that did not incorporate Z purlins, and therefore, did not achieve a satisfactory result. It was also determined that a metal supplier in California could supply bent or rolled Z purlins. The roof was successfully rebid and completed with modifications due to time constraints. A full scale model of a portion of the roof was also successfully completed using the original plans and Addendum No. 1. This Court finds summary judgment was proper because Johnson was unable to meet all the elements of its claim of defective design.