Court Opinion

ID: 5495572
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-01-10 02:51:45.388652+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:33:48.322100
License: Public Domain

Pratt, J.
The findings of fact upon which the judgment depends were ¡found upon conflicting evidence, and we are not able to say that they are not *304supported by the testimony. The referee can, in such cases, better than can: the appellate court, determine what weight to give to the testimony of the differing witnesses. We do not find any error of law requiring a new trial. The argument of appellant that defendant cannot be held to pay for extra, work because he did not request it to be done, and did not promise to pay for it, cannot be sustained. The contract required the water to be kept at a certain height for the facility of construction. Defendant failed to keep it there, thereby making it necessary to abandon the work, or to erect expensive scaffolds. When defendant failed to keep the water where he agreed, plaintiff might have refused to continue the work, and brought his action for the-breach of contract. But he was not obliged to take that course. He might elect to erect the scaffolds, and charge the expense thereof as extra work rendered necessary by the act of the other party to the contract. This he might, do even against the will of the other party. To hold otherwise would deprive-a party not in fault of his right to perform his contract, and reap the resulting profits. Judgment affirmed, with costs. All concur.