Opinion ID: 1628617
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Putting in Default

Text: The Department asserts plaintiff cannot recover, for even if a breach of contract occurred it was a passive breach, and plaintiff is not entitled to damages prior to filing suit because he did not put the defendant in default prior thereto. Articles 1933 and 1911 of the Civil Code are relied upon to support the contention. In answer, we find several letters written by the plaintiff to the Department calling upon it to meet its obligations under the contract, and pleading with it to expedite the work. In addition, plaintiff made several trips to Baton Rouge in an effort to persuade defendant to meet its obligations and to expedite the work. Demands for the performance of a contract are not to be considered ineffective because couched in polite terms; all that is necessary is that the terms be sufficient to let the obligor know that performance of the contract is expected. Hafner Mfg. Co. v. Lieber Lumber and Shingle Co., 127 La. 348, 53 So. 646 (1909). For the reasons assigned, the judgment of the Court of Appeal, First Circuit is reversed in part and affirmed in part and judgment is rendered herein reinstating and affirming the judgment of the trial court. McCALEB, J., dissents, being of the opinion that the judgment of the Court of Appeal is correct. See La., 197 So.2d 188. HAMLIN, J., dissents, being of the opinion that the decision of the Court of Appeal is correct.