Court Opinion

ID: 9628672
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-22 09:28:40.535758+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:10:50.170027
License: Public Domain

Hill, J.
(dissenting) — I dissent. We have here an agreement in writing, dated November 2, 1955, which states:
“Second party hereby employs first party as above set forth on all his quantity work for a period of 5 years and agrees to pay first party therefor as herein set forth.”
The testimony of James E. Norene: that the period of five years was to begin on some undetermined date in the future, which only he could make certain (ie., when he dispensed with the services of a Mr. Goggans), was permitted to vary the clear terms of the written agreement and to make uncertain what had been clear. In permitting the variation of the terms of the written agreement by Mr. Norene’s testimony, the trial court erred. I would reverse.
Mallery, Donworth, and Foster, JJ., concur with Hill, J.