Court Opinion

ID: 7113078
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-07-24 12:28:45.728973+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:13:17.849185
License: Public Domain

Deemer, J.—
Plaintiff, who was engaged in constructing a natatorium in the city of Davenport, received from defendant the following proposition: “ Duggleby Bros.: We will put on five-ply, seven-year guaranteed asphalt composition and flint roofing over new natatorium building. We will also do the necessary tin and gutter work for <$500. This does not include any skylights, and we will make a price of 45 cents per square foot for any skylight work we may have. Lewis Roofing Co., by E. W. Lewis.” This proposition was accepted by plaintiff, and at that time defendant promised to make an agreement of guaranty in writing which was thereafter executed and reads as follows: “ Rock Island, Ill. January 1, 1904. Duggleby Bros.: We hereby guaranty the workmanship and material placed by us on *434building located at Davenport, described as natatorium, for the term of seven years, and agree to maintain the same in water tight condition, and will repair all leakages which are the result of defective workmanship and materials upon receipt of due notice. Lewis Roofing Co., by E. W. Lewis.” Defendant proceeded to construct the roof under its contract, and plaintiff avers that defendant did not comply with its contract, in that it did not use the material which it agreed to furnish, in that it used no asphalt, used two-ply paper instead of five-ply, used in place of asphalt a soft and sticky tar which melted at low temperature, and did not do the work as agreed; that on account of said faulty construction the roof leaked water, tar, and other substances, which injured and destroyed everything with which it came in contact, and damaged plaintiff to the extent of $500; that defendant was notified of the defects, and that it promised to repair them, but that it failed and neglected to do so; that the roof was of little or no value, and that plaintiff’s building, the furniture, and fixtures thereof were damaged by reason of the defect to the extent of $80. Damages are asked in the sum of $1,030. The nature of defendant’s answer has already been stated. The verdict was for $308.85. Appellant has assigned something like twenty-seven errors; but, as he argues but fourteen, and these very briefly, it is not necessary for us to consider them all. The alleged errors relate to rulings on the admission and rejection of testimony, to the instructions and.to the sufficiency of the testimony to support the verdict. We shall consider such of these as seem to be material or controlling, dealing therewith in the order stated.
1. Building contract: breach: question of fact. I. One of the questions in the case was whether or not defendant used a five-ply paper in constructing the roof. It is shown without dispute it used but two sheets, but it contends that these sheets were two and one-half ply each, and that this made the five-ply specified in the contract. This is denied by *435plaintiff, and the matter thus became an issue to be determined by experts. The trial court so ruled; but' it is contended that some of the testimony offered by defendant upon this proposition was improperly rejected. We have examined the record regarding this matter, and find no error. The testimony was either received, or where rejected the witness did not show his competency.
2. Same: change evidencé. Defendant offered to show that the plans and specifications were changed, but this was denied it. In this there was no error. If there was a change, defendant consented to it without asking any modification of its guaranty, and hence it cannot complain. Evidence as to the value of the roof at the time of trial was rejected. There was no error here, for that was not the proper measure of damages.
3. Breach os con-o? damágesfure The roof had then been on for over two years, and the question was not of its value then, but when constructed. The trial court in its instructions took from the jury all evidence as to the then value of the roof.
i same-damages-A witness was asked as to the reasonable cost of repairing spots made by the dripping upon the floors. This testimony was properly received for the purpose of showing plaintiff’s damages. Defendant claimed that the damages were due to the improper ventilation of the roof of the building, and to the presence of water used therein for baths of various kinds: It-is contended on its behalf that it was not allowed to show that fact by the testimony. An examination of the record shows that this is a mistake, and that it was allowed to make such a showing.
II. Complaint is made of the instructions, because it is said they do not fairly state the issues, gave an incorrect measure of damages, and authorized recovery upon an implied warranty. There is nothing in any of these contentions. The issues were fairly stated, the rule of damagés *436correct, and no authority was given to tbe jury to return a verdict as upon an implied contract.
6. Same: settle-damages. It is further argued that the court was in error in directing the jury that there was no settlement between the parties. This proposition is also without merit. All that is shown in this connection is that defendant attempted to repair the roof in the year 1905, and, though it had done so, this was not accepted by plaintiff as a full performance of the warranty, but as an attempt on defendant’s part to make the warranty good. There was no acceptance on plaintiff’s part of defendant’s effort as a complete performance. Hence there was no settlement. Jones v. Fennimore, 1 G. Greene, 134.
6. Damages: instructions. The instructions as to the measure of plaintiff’s damage were, if anything, prejudicial to plaintiff. Defendant was liable, not only for direct, but for proximate, consequential damages as well. The trial court eliminated all damages from water from the case, and instructed that the only consequential damages which could be allowed were those arising from leakage of tar or roof composition. Of this defendant has no cause for complaint.
„ „ ages ;Tquestions of fact. III. Lastly it is insisted that the verdict is without support, in that the testimony shows that all. damages were due to plaintiff’s own fault in not affording proper ventilation in cutting holes in the roof, to defective construction of the skylight, failure to build proper coping and to cement the walls, or to improper gutters. Upon all these matters there was a conflict in the testimony, and the questions were properly submitted to the jury.
8 Same-nature of recovery. It is also argued that plaintiff was not entitled to damages, and that all it could claim under the warranty was the repair of the roof. In a measure this is so. And it is shown that plaintiff did call upon defendant to repair it, and that they attempted to do so *437on some occasions. But it is also shown that they did not and could not comply with the conditions of the warranty, in that they used faulty material, and did not do the work as promised, and that they could not maintain the roof in a water-tight condition. ^Recovery for damages is the only relief in such a case. The record is very much confused. There are two abstracts for appellant and two for appellee and a transcript of the testimony. We have gone over these matters as best we may, and have discovered no prejudicial, error.
The judgment must be, and it is, affirmed.