Court Opinion

ID: 9654602
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-23 18:43:45.237273+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:13:11.606932
License: Public Domain

OPINION ON MOTION FOR REHEARING
SHARPE, Justice.
As a part of its motion for rehearing appellant moves for findings of fact relating to its points numbers five, eleven and eighteen. These points involve a contention that because each of the jury answers to special issues 1, 2 and 3 was against the overwhelming weight and preponderance of the evidence that the trial court erred in refusing to grant a new trial. In view of appellant’s request, further consideration will be given to these points. Under the contentions made, the Court of Civil Appeals considers and weighs all evidence in the case, even though there is some evidence of probative force to support the verdict. In re King’s Estate, 150 Tex. 662, 244 S.W.2d 660 (1951).
The jury found in answer to special issue 1 in substance that on October 17, 1963 ap-pellee Lewis was proceeding with due diligence on the contracts with appellant. Although much evidence pro and con was introduced by both sides on the issue, it is apparent that the jury accepted the testimony of Lewis’ witnesses, and it could have concluded that some of the evidence offered by Delhi was favorable to Lewis’ position of due diligence. The testimony tended to show that Lewis started work on the hardest part of the job, which was the slowest part of the work, and that this was good pipeline practice; that Lewis used the best equipment and best men available for the work; that the work progressed constantly during the time Lewis was allowed to stay on the job; that Lewis never abandoned the contract and even worked on Sunday; that inspectors for Delhi constantly interfered with and obstructed the work, requiring excessive jeeping or testing of the pipe for wrapping defects; that delays were caused by the furnishing of defective pipe by Delhi; that Delhi failed to furnish profiles for bends in the pipe under creek crossings, failed to supply pipe in proper time and to legally clear the right of way; that Delhi required wider ditch than specified and compelled repairs of pipe not called for by the specifications; that, despite harassment, Lewis corrected all things demanded of him. Delhi’s basic position is that the testimony shows that much of the work done by Lewis was not to the satisfaction of Mr. C. P. Butler, its representative; that many objections were made by him, that Butler was not satisfied with the way the work was progressing.
We have held that special issue 1 was correctly submitted as a controlling issue and that Butler’s dissatisfaction with Lewis’ work was not conclusive. We adhere to our holding that the jury answer to that issue was supported by factually sufficient evidence that Lewis was proceeding with due diligence on the contracts. The answer to special issue 1 was not against the overwhelming weight and preponderance of the evidence so as to be manifestly wrong and unjust.
By the answers to special issues 2 and 3 the jury found that Lewis had incurred expenses in performance of the contracts amounting to $17,451.50 and would have derived a profit of $7,500.00 if allowed to complete the same. Evidence was introduced in detail concerning the expenses incurred by Lewis, and there was testimony that the amount found by the jury was necessary and reasonable. These costs were itemized on an exhibit and testified to by Lewis’ bookkeeper. One of Delhi’s repre*307sentatives testified that 20% of the work had been completed which was of the value of $5,000.00, and another testified that 50% of the 8⅝" pipe was complete and 15% of the over-all job was complete; that the reasonable value of work done by Lewis was $8,000.00; that labor was the largest expense; and that most of the work on a large segment of the pipeline had been done. Lewis testified as to his estimated costs and profit and outlined the basis for same. He estimated his profit at between $9,500.00 and $10,000.00. One of Delhi’s representatives agreed that a reasonable profit on the job, which involved $58,375.00, would have been 20%. On that basis the profit would have been $11,774.00. The jury finding of $7,500.00 for reasonably expected profit is well within the testimony offered. The answers to special issues 2 and 3 are, in each instance, not against the overwhelming weight and preponderance of the evidence so as to be manifestly wrong and unjust.
The findings contained in this opinion on rehearing and in our original opinion, along with the jury findings will constitute the findings in response to the motion of appellant in connection with its points five, eleven and eighteen.
Appellant’s motion for rehearing is without merit and is overruled.