Court Opinion

ID: 8063037
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-09-09 04:41:15.07384+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:38:07.262787
License: Public Domain

*107The opinion of the court was delivered by
Hendrickson, J.
The plaintiff obtained a verdict in the above cause at the Hudson Circuit for $1,713.39. Of this amount, $1,405.59 was admitted to be due the plaintiff for the balance due him, with interest, under a contract with the city for plumbing, gas fitting and heating in the police station-house lately erected in said city. The balance of the verdict, $307.80, represents a charge for certain extras incurred by variations and additions to the work provided by the specifications, the payment of which is resisted by the city on the ground that no legal liability for such payment exists, and that none was shown at the trial. The plaintiff claims that the items for extra work were incurred in accordance with the provision of the contract. It is therein provided that such alterations or additions may be made should the city, through its committee, during the progress of the work, so desire, the contract price to be added to or subtracted from according to changes made, with the proviso added “that no extra work shall be had or done without a resolution of said city and an express agreement in writing between the parties hereto as to the cost, to be. added to the price of this contract because of such extra work.” There was a further clause in the contract under the heading “Sub-contractor — Notice,” which reads as follows:
“Should the owner at any time desire any variation of the work as planned and specified, or should the owners desire any additional work executed, the same shall be proceeded with, after the architect or owners shall order it in writing and stating, when possible, the price to be paid thereto.”
The case shows, and it is admitted, that the extra work was not authorized by a resolution of the mayor and council of the city, but that it was ordered by the architect in writing.
When the learned trial judge came to deal with the case in his charge he instructed the jury that, as to the legal question raised whether any recovery can be had without such a resolution, or whether under a later clause in the contract the plaintiff is entitled to rely upon the mere writing of the architect, he had resolved that question for the present in favor of *108the plaintiff, and directed the jury that if they found the orders were given by the architect in wilting, and that the work was done properly, and the charges for those items were either fixed by the writings, or were reasonable charges, they should find those amounts in favor of the plaintiff, in addition to the balance of the contract price. We think there was error in this construction of the contract in question. Our view is that the provision first named applies to this contract, and that the other provision applies to sub-contractors only, declaring their obligation to the contractor and to the owner. And by fair intendment, we think the phrase in the sub-contractor notice, “should the owners desire any additional work executed,” imports that the desire of the owners in this .case should be evidenced by a resolution of council, as provided in the main portion of the contract.
But the plaintiff contends also that the verdict should bo sustained on the ground of ratification; that as the evidence shows that the city council, by paying the bill of the architect for his five per cent, commission on the cost of the work, which included the item of extras, this amounts to a ratification of the extra work, or at least was evidence from which a jury could infer ratification. Without expressing any opinion upon the merits of this question, it is proper to say that it is not now before us, for the reason that the trial judge expressly charged the jury to the contrary of this contention, and we cannot sustain the verdict on a legal theory directly opposed to the judge’s instructions, for that would deprive the city of its right of review. The result is that the rule to show cause must be made absolute, unless the plaintiff will consent to remit $307.80 from the amount of the verdict. If the plaintiff will so remit, the rule will be discharged. In any event, the city is entitled to costs upon this rule.