Court Opinion

ID: 9776427
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-29 19:35:07.774701+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:32:38.711499
License: Public Domain

J. Free Jones, Justice. This appeal is from a judgment of the Pulaski County Circuit Court and arises from litigation growing out of the construction of the Little Rock Public Library building because of defect in tbe construction of concrete floors. H. C. Enterprise, Inc. was the general contractor for the construction of the building; J. N. Heiskell et al, constituted the Library Board of Trustees, and Guy Swaim and James C. Well-boim, d/b/a Swaim, Allen, Wellborn '& Associates, were the architects for the building. In order to permit work on the various levels of the building to proceed without damage to finished floors, the plans and specifications prepared by the Architects called for the concrete floors to be poured in two separate slabs or layers. The base slab, containing coarse aggregate, was to be poured in forms and was to be from four to five inches thick. The base slab was designed to have poured on top of it the second layer, containing fine aggregate, and to be one and one-half inches thick. These two slabs or layers will hereafter be referred to as “base slab” and “fill slab.” The fill slab is designated “fill or mortar setting bed” in the specifications, and was to receive a vinyl tile finish floor covering. The defect giving rise to this litigation occurred between the two slabs of concrete. The base slab was first poured by the Contractor and about 18 months later the fill slab was poured. After both slabs were poured, the fill slab started cracking and separating from the base slab and it was found that the fill slab had not bonded with, or adhered to, the base slab, and it became necessary to remove and replace the fill slab. An intensive investigation was conducted to determine the cause of the difficulty, which included reports by several testing laboratories employed by various parties. Finally, in August of 1962, the Architects gave specific written instructions to the Contractor describing the manner of removal and replacement of the fill slab in the affected area. The Contractor replied in October of 1962, that a record of all labor, material and equipment costs was being kept on a time and material basis and as the original base slab and fill slab were installed in a workmanlike manner, this constituted a change in the work and requested a written change order under the contract. The Architects responded in November 1962, that in light of the laboratory testing reports, they felt the obligation of replacing the fill was on the Contractor and refused to issue a change order, requesting that the Contractor proceed under Article 19 of the contract whereby the Contractor must replace all work condemned as not in conformance with the contract, and that if this was not proceeded with immediately, an appeal would be made to the Contractor’s bonding company. The Contractor proceeded with replacement of the fill without further correspondence until August 1965, at which time he requested and was refused payment for the work by the Architects. Since the litigation involved the pouring and finishing of the two slabs, the specifications pertaining to them are fully set out as follows: “Interior Slabs to Heceive Fill or Mortar Setting Bed shall be finished by tamping the concrete with special tools to force the coarse aggregate away from the surface, and screeding with straight edges to bring the surface to the required finish plane. “Interior Slabs — that are to receive a finish floor covering (this -does not include ceramic tile covering) shall be finished by tamping the concrete with special tools to force the coarse aggregate away from the surface, then screeding and floating with straight edges to bring the surface to the required finish level. While the concrete is still green but sufficiently hardened to bear a man’s weight without deep imprint, it shall be wood floated to a true and even plane with no coarse aggregate visible. Sufficient pressure shall be used on the wood floats to bring moisture to the surface. After the surface moisture has disappeared, surfaces shall he steel-trowelled to a smooth, even impervious finish, free from trowel marks. After the cement has set enough to ring the trowel the surface of all slabs shall he given a second steel trowelling to a burnished finish. Where fill is applied and will receive a floor covering (not ceramic tile) fill shall be finished smooth in like manner.” On January 14, 1966, the Contractor requested arbitration of its right to compensation under the contract, and the Library Board denied the request. The Contractor then brought suit against the directors for the additional cost of labor and materials in taking up and replacing the fill slab and the Architects were made third parties defendant. Appellants argue that the plans and specifications called for a bonding of the two slabs by implication, and that the failure to secure a bond was the result of improper workmanship and failure of the Contractor to follow the plans and specifications. Appellee contends that the plans and specifications do not call for a bond and that the plans and specifications were followed explicitly in a good workmanship manner. All the parties seem to recognize that the trouble arose from the failure of the two slabs of concrete to bond with each other; that this resulted in the cracking of the fill slab and that it was necessary to remove and replace the fill slab. The Architects contended that the Contractor was negligent in pouring, curing, and finishing the concrete, and the Contractor contended that he poured, cured, and finished the concrete according to the plans and specifications prepared by the Architects and under the visual observation of the Architects. It was the Contractor’s contention that the fault lay in the plans and specifications prepared by the Architects and in the direct instructions of the Architects during the course of construction. A jury trial resulted in a judgment in favor of the 'Contractor against the Trustees for $50,201.50 with judgment over in favor of the Trustees against the architects for the same amount. The Architects and the Trustees are joint appellants here and they rely on the following points for reversal: “Under the terms of the contract, the contractor cannot recover against the owner. There is no competent evidence that the plans and specifications were deficient in any manner. The undisputed evidence shows that the original work was not performed by the contractor in accordance with the plans and specifications. The contractor is estopped to claim compensation and has waived any claim. The Court erred in refusing to declare a mistrial when insurance was improperly brought to the attention of the jury. The Court erred in admitting certain exhibits and testimony concerning change orders.” As to point one, it is not disputed that the contract provides for changes in the work to be approved in writing prior to their execution. Appellee admits that this provision was not complied with, but argues that strict compliance with this provision was waived by appellants through course of conduct. As to this course of conduct, appellee produced exhibits and testimony tending to prove that on many occasions the Architects gave oral directions to the appellee to do certain work and after the work had been completed, the Architects would have the Library Board to pay for it. Appellants disputed this evidence as not being relevant to remedial work and that in this instance, the Architects specifically stated, prior to the execution of the work, that a change order would not be issued and thereby did not waive, but refused to waive, the written order. In addition to the exhibits and testimony pertaining to waiver, the appellee contends that it proceeded with the work in good faith, relying on the provision in the contract for arbitration of any of the Architects’ decisions. Thus, a fact question was properly submitted to the jury on this issue and there was substantial evidence from which the jury could have found in favor of the Contractor, especially in light of the desire for completion of this public building as speedily as possible and within the time limit of the contract, and the threat by the Architects of proceeding against appellee’s bonding "company for delay. This court has upheld waiver in similar circumstances in Rivercliff Co., Inc. v. Linebarger, 223 Ark. 105, 264 S. W. 2d 842, when it was stated: “For a second ground, appellant contends that the Master and the trial court should not have made any allowance to the Contractor because the extra work was not authorized in accordance with the terms of the contract. This contention appears to be supported by the terms of the contract, which provides that extras must be approved in writing prior to execution. This provision was not complied with but it does not constitute a defense available to appellant, because, as we hold, a strict compliance with this provision of the contract was waived by appellant in this instance. It is not disputed that the extra excavation was done with the knowledge and at the direction of Smith who was not only the architect supervising the work for Rivercliff but was also a part owner of the appellant corporation. From his testimony we gather that he refused to approve an allowance for extras mainly because he did not think the Contractor was entitled to anything as a result of the changed method of constructing the foundation. It appears that other changes in construction had been made and paid for where no written change order had been previously issued. Although it was shown that several such changes had been made and paid for during the construction of the four buildings, yet Mr. Smith testified that only one written change order had been made.” Appellants’ second and third points involve the same problems and will be discussed together. In total effect, their contention is that there is no evidence that the plans and specifications were deficient, but that the evidence shows that they were not followed by the appellee. The opinion reports from laboratory testing experts were offered in evidence by stipulation. Master Builders reported: “* * * Any excess water in the concrete exhibited itself as bleeding water since relatively little of it was absorbed by the forms or, lost through it. This caused segregation to occur which in turn resulted in the accumulation of a highly carbonated cement paste layer on the top surface. Insufficient curing also helped in detrimental carbonation of the top layer in the base concrete. Secondly, the surface of the base concrete was not scarified enough to expose good concrete cmd individual grains of aggregate and cement. * * * The placement of a lightweight topping over a hardened base concrete is difficult at best since shrinkage stresses in the topping may cause trouble. In replacing the topping, the base slab will have to be physically scarified to sound concrete.” (Emphasis supplied.) Masters Builders concluded: “* * * Disruption of the bond between the base slab and the topping resulted from differential shrinkage of the two concretes, the topping being subject to the greater shrinkage subsequent to completion of the floor. * * * [T]he concrete of the base slab was not adequately cured or protected from drying so that a layer of weak, porous mortar exists in the upper 1/8 to 1/4 inch of the base slab. ’ ’ Oklahoma Testing Laboratory found and concluded: u* * * wbite material was noted on the bottom of the two separate sections of lightweight concrete but none was noted on the interfaces of the sections of the cores. * * * An analysis was made of the white material. From this analysis it was apparently cement. * * * According to our understanding a period of eighteen months elapsed between these pours. According to our examination of the samples it would be our opinion that the lack of bond was due to one or a combination of the following: 1. Lack of proper surface preparation. An examination of the interfaces of the cores, and of the slabs submitted, shows the concrete to have been fairly smooth. On concrete of this age, to insure good bond, we believe the floor should have been, roughened by some method.” St. Louis Testing Laboratories reported: “* * * The unsound material at the top of the base concrete is, in our opinion, a major factor for the lack of bond between the base concrete and tbe lightweight concrete on the 1st and 2nd floors. The canse for the nnsonnd material at the top of the base concrete may be attributed to three factors or a combination of these three factors — excessive water at top surface, excessive vibration, and improper curing.” After a study of these reports, the appellant Architects advised appellee as follows: “It is this office’s understanding, after a careful reading of these reports, that the major factor involved in the failure of the topping to bond with the base slab was the presence of a layer of unsound material in the top of the base slab. The laboratories recommended that this unsound material be removed by scarifying the base slab with a Ten-nant machine; cleaning the base slab carefully; saturating the base slab; brooming in a grout coat immediately ahead of placement of topping. * * * You are hereby instructed to proceed with the installation of the lightweight concrete topping throughout the building in accordance with the following procedure : 1. Remove all remaining original topping from the base slab in all areas and rooms. (Test panel on 1st floor to remain.) 2. Remove all laitance and the weak, unsou/ud surface portion of the base slab by scarifying with Tennant machine so as to expose sound mortar and coarse aggregate. Areas of slab adjacent to walls and columns not scarified by machine shall • be scarified by hand.” (Emphasis supplied). Appellants presented evidence that the appellee did not follow the plans and specifications as designed, and that, according to custom and practice, a bond is called for between sections of concrete in situations such as this, unless it is provided in the contract that a bond is. not desired and positive action to prevent a bond is provided in the contract. On the other hand, appellee pre--sented evidence that the. work was done in accordance with the plans and specifications and in a good workmanlike manner; that the Architects’ representatives were present and inspected the work without complaint; and that the contract specifically called for a bond at construction joints (not a part of the concrete slab or topping in question), but did not call for a bond between the base slab and the fill, or provide for a bonding agent between the two. Appellee presented evidence pointing out that the Architects’ plans and specifications specifically called for the coarse aggregate in the base slab to be tamped away from the surface, leaving a layer of laitance in the surface of the base slab, which together with the slurry coat of cement ordered by the Architects ’ representative, constituted the weak white substance found by the testing laboratories and that this was the cause of the trouble. Suffice it to say, there was ample evidence presented on both sides to present a jury question on the points here involved, and there was substantial evidence from which the jury could have decided in favor of appellee on these points as they did. Appellants’ point four contends that when the Contractor was directed to proceed with the work at its own expense and the work was done without protest, then the Contractor is estopped from later claiming compensation, but it is noted that appellants did not plead es-toppel in its answer. This court has held that estoppel must generally be pleaded to be available as a defense to a claim. In the case of Jewell v. General Air Conditioning Corp., 226 Ark. 304, 289 S. W. 2d 881, it was stated: “Since neither laches nor estoppel was pleaded as a defense below, the court was not afforded an opportunity to pass on such issues and the attempt to raise them for the first time on appeal comes too late. Gerard B. Lambert Co. v. Rogers, 161 Ark. 307, 255 S. W. 1089; Bell v. Lackie, 210 Ark. 1003, 198 S. W. 2d 725; Steele v. Steele, 214 Ark. 500, 216 S. W. 2d 875.” Notwithstanding appellants’ failure to plead estop-pel, when the appellee advised that a record would be kept of the additional costs and requested the change order, the appellants were put on notice that appellee expected pay. When the Architects refused to issue the change order, stating that the obligation to replace the fill was on the Contractor, a standoff was presented as to who was responsible, and we are of the opinion that the appellee-was justified in proceeding with the work, not as a waiver of his rights to dispute the Architects’ decision, but in reliance on the contract provisions calling for arbitration of any decision by the Architects, as testified to by Mr. Carty. Appellants contend, however, that the appellee did not make his request for arbitration until three years after the Architects’ decision not to issue a change order, and thus not within a reasonable time as required by the contract. The contract provisions as to notice of arbitration states: “The demand for arbitration shall be made within a reasonable time after the dispute has arisen; in no case, however, shall the demand be made later than the time of final payment. . .” It is not disputed here that the demand for arbitration came prior to the final payment. Appellee testified that the delay was due to ascertaining the cost of doing the work, but in any event, the reasonableness of the delay was a question for the jury. It is noted, however, that arbitration was rejected by appellants without prejudice to appellee’s rights to litigate his claims for additional compensation. We are of the opinion that the evidence does not support appellants’ contention that appellee waived its rights to compensation. Under point five, appellants contend that the trial court erred in refusing to declare a mistrial after the attorney for appellee asked the jurors, on voir dire examination, whether they held stock- in, or had any interest in, a liability insurance company. We have held that it is reversible error to unnecessarily bring to the attention of a jury that insurance is involved and that the issue in questioning, on voir dire, as to interests in insurance companies is one of good faith by the attorney questioning the prospective juror. See DeLong v. Green, 229 Ark. 100, 313 S. W. 2d 370; Dedmon v. Thalheimer, 226 Ark. 402, 290 S. W. 2d 16. In the case at bar, the question was a general one and was not pursued after a negative reply. There were insurance clauses in the contract that would have supported good faith in believing that insurance was involved, and the jury was affirmatively advised that no insurance was involved. Under these circumstances, we agree with the trial court that there was no prejudice involved, and we find no prejudicial error on the part of the trial court in refusing to declare a mistrial. Under appellants’ sixth point, they contend that the trial court erred in allowing exhibits and testimony to be admitted to show a course of conduct whereby appellants had waived strict compliance with contract provisions calling for a written change order prior to execution of the work, and on several occasions had verbally authorized changes without written order and later had paid for the work. Appellants contend that this evidence was not relevant to remedial work and did not involve situations where the Architects had specifically refused to issue a change order prior to the work being done. The Architects demanded that the appellee scarify the base slab and replace the fill slab. The appellee requested a change order which was refused. The Architects threatened appellee on its bond and we think that the appellee made it plain that it would demand pay when it proceeded with the work. We are of the opinion that the change order requirement of the contract did not go to liability for the costs of the remedial work in this case. There was no dispute as to the amount, necessity, or nature of the work to he done in this case. The question was whether the appellee was liable for redoing work it should have done right in the first place, or whether the Architects had made the error and were liable for the additional costs. The Architects refused to indicate an acceptance of liability by making the change order, and although appellee did the work without the change order, it did so with the appellants under no misapprehensions that demand would be made for the cost of the work and without prejudice to ap-pellee’s right to sue for that amount. We conclude that if error was committed by the admission of the evidence pertaining to prior waiver of written change orders, such error was harmless to the appellants in this case. To summarize — This entire case simply boils down to pouring a heavy aggregate concrete slab base for a floor in metal forms designed by the Architects under specifications requiring that this base be finished by tamping the concrete with special tools to force the coarse aggregate away from the surface, and screeding with straight edges to bring the surface to the required finish plane. When the coarse aggregate was forced away from the surface, a layer of laitance, referred to by some of the witnesses as “soup,” but actually water, cement and fine sand, was drawn to the surface and after screeding, either with a bull float or some other straight edge, this base slab, laitance and all, was seasoned in use (;as apparently planned) for an approximate period of 18 months. When all the parties were ready to install the fill slab, the hardened laitance was not removed and the surface of the base slab was not scarified to the aggregate or sound concrete. The base slab was swept and mopped, wetted down and applied with a slurry coat of cement and water, under orders and directions of a representative of the Architects, and then a 1% inch slab of light aggregate concrete was poured on top of the base slab and it failed to bond with the base slab. The evidence is undisputed that it was necessary to remove the hardened laitance from the surface of the base slab and to expose the sound concrete, by scarifying the surface of the slab, in order to pour the fill slab in such manner as to obtain a satisfactory floor in compliance with the contract. It is obvious to us that a jury question was presented by all the evidence in this case and the jury apparently found that the fault lay in the Architects’ plans and specifications. We conclude that there was substantial evidence to support the jury’s verdict and that the judgment must be affirmed. Affirmed. Fogleman and BbowN, JJ., dissent.