Court Opinion

ID: 6277598
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-02-18 16:05:43.300435+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:00:06.613856
License: Public Domain

Opinion by
Rice, P. J.,
In his amended statement of claim, upon which the case went to trial, the plaintiff demanded the contract price ($960) of remodeling defendant’s house, and the value ($297) of extra work and materials done and furnished at defendant’s request, less payments ($650) admitted to have been made. The statement averred that on May 25 the plaintiff gave the defendant a written proposition agreeing to remodel defendant’s house “ according to specifications for the sum of $960,” and that on or about May 31 defendant accepted the proposition verbally and directed the plaintiff to proceed with the work according to the specifications, which the latter did to completion. There were *519attached to the statement a copy of the proposition and of the specifications alleged to have been submitted at the same time. On the trial the plaintiff testified to the making and acceptance of the proposition and the doing of the work in accordance with the specifications, and put in evidence both papers. On cross-examination of the plaintiff, defendant produced and exhibited to him a written contract purporting to be signed by him and the defendant, dated May 31, whereby the plaintiff undertook to remodel the house, agreeably to the drawings and specifications, for $960. This contract contained much other matter, but as to the general scope of the work to be done, namely, the remodeling of the house and the price, it did not differ from the contract averred in the statement of claim. The plaintiff admitted, on cross-examination, that he signed the paper, but asserted that it had been altered, after he signed it, by crossing out the word “architect” wherever it appeared, and inserting in its place the word “owner.” These alterations were apparent on inspection. After the plaintiff had rested, and motion for compulsory nonsuit had been overruled, the defendant offered in evidence the paper of May 31 and also certain typewritten specifications pinned thereto, which he testified were so attached at the time the contract was executed. He made no explanation of the alterations, except to say that he had made no changes in the contract and did not know that anyone else had. The papers were admitted over the plaintiff’s objection. In his redirect examination, when called in chief, as well as in his direct examination, when called in rebuttal, the plaintiff testified that the specifications attached to the paper of May 31 were not so attached at the time of its execution, that he never saw them until three or four years after-wards, that they were not the specifications agreed upon, and that the specifications agreed upon were those which were submitted with his proposition of May 25.
This outline of the pleadings and proof is not intended to exhibit the merits of the case as disclosed on the trial. *520These have been disposed of by the jury upon consideration of all the evidence the parties saw fit to produce, and under a charge to which no exception was taken. The verdict is fully sustained by the evidence. The sole question for our determination is, whether binding direction should have been given for the defendant on the ground of variance. The case differs in essential features from any of the cases upon that subject cited by appellant’s counsel. It is not a case where a plaintiff seeks to recover, according to his statement of claim, upon one contract, while relying, before the court and jury, upon another. It is rather a case where there was a dispute as to what the contract was — a dispute depending for its decision upon conflicting oral testimony, which, therefore, it was not the province of the court to decide. If the contract and specifications set up by the defendant admittedly comprehended the whole agreement under which all the work and material sued for were done and furnished, it might be argued with much plausibility that the plaintiff could not recover without amending his statement of claim so as to declare upon them. But, as has been shown, they did not admittedly comprehend the whole agreement. There were two serious disputes regarding them. In the first place, the body of the contract upon which the defendant relied showed on its face material alterations, which, as the contract was in his custody and was produced by him, it was incumbent on him to explain, in order to entitle him to its admission in evidence. And even if it be conceded that what he testified in that regard was sufficient to warrant admitting the paper in evidence, it could not be declared by the court as rendering nugatory and of no importance the plaintiff’s testimony that the body of the instrument had been altered after he had signed it. Secondly, there was a most serious conflict of evidence as to the specifications attached to the paper offered by the defendant as part of the contract. Much of the controversy as to the extras depended upon the determination of this dispute. Upon both of these matters an issue of fact was raised, *521which, if decided in the plaintiff’s favor, certainly excused him from amending his statement so as to declare upon the instrument in its altered form, and the disputed specifications attached thereto. It is not incumbent on us to decide, as the ease is presented, whether the jury’s determination of both issues of fact above referred to in the defendant’s favor would entitle the latter to a verdict. It is sufficient to say that it was not a case calling for binding instructions.
In conclusion, we remark that the irregularity in the pleadings, if any, did not result in any surprise to the defendant or hamper him in the presentation of his defense to give an undue advantage to the plaintiff. Both parties had a fair trial on the merits, and we see no sufficient technical ground for disturbing the verdict and judgment.
The assignments of error are overruled and the judgment is affirmed.