Opinion ID: 267450
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Matters Applicable Generally.

Text: 20 The plaintiffs urge this Court to find as a fact that the prime contractor failed to properly prepare the site for the reception of the work of the subcontractors, to furnish materials in order to facilitate the work of the subcontractors, and to supervise and coordinate the work of the subcontractors so that the project could proceed in an orderly and economical manner, and that such failures constituted a breach of contract with all the subcontractors. The district court found as a fact that the plaintiffs, except for subcontractor Jinks, had not proven that the prime contractor breached the contract in these particulars. Autrey v. Williams & Dunlap, W.D.La.1962, 210 F.Supp. 491, 503. 21 The plaintiffs contend that certain facts specifically found by the district court (primarily those incident to the court's finding of breach in the Jinks action), or conclusively established because admitted or uncontradicted in the record, show that the district court erroneously concluded that the plaintiffs had not proven a breach of contract. In other words, certain facts found by the district court 17 or undisputed by the record 18 establish that the prime contractor failed in his duty to prepare the site, furnish materials and supervise and coordinate the work of the subcontractors. The plaintiffs urge that the prime contractor's failure in these particulars constituted a breach of the subcontracts. 22 We find it unnecessary to reach this question of breach of contract by the prime contractor. The district court prefaced its finding that the plaintiffs had failed to prove a breach by noting that the evidence was bitterly disputed and cannot be reconciled. It found that no serious protest (except by Jinks) was made at the time of these alleged incidents of breach. All parties rocked along until the government inspectors began to tighten up on approval requirements. 210 F.Supp. at 502. (Emphasis added.) 23 The plaintiffs do not challenge the finding of the district court that they failed to protest the alleged breach on the part of the prime contractor. It appears that each of them continued performance until his subcontract was terminated by the prime contractor, see 210 F.Supp. at 504, 511, 514, 518, 524, or completed, 210 F.Supp. at 519. 24 The principle is general that when a contract not already fully performed on either side is continued in spite of a known excuse, the defense thereupon is lost and the injured party is himself liable if he subsequently fails to perform, 5 Williston, Contracts § 688, at 300 (3d ed. 1961), unless the right to retain the excuse is not only asserted but assented to, ibid; see Louisiana Highway Comm. v. Farnsworth, 5 Cir. 1935, 74 F.2d 910, 913-14 (Road contractor's rights from failure to receive partial payment reserved and recognized before resuming work). 19 Thus, assuming that the prime contractor failed to prepare the site, to furnish materials and to supervise and coordinate the work, the plaintiffs elected to continue their respective contracts. See 5 Williston, Contracts § 683, at 270 (3d ed. 1961). 25 We proceed to the individual cases. 26 As the district court noted, the sub-contracts are identical except for the description of the work to be performed by the individual subcontractors. 210 F.Supp. at 499. 27