Court Opinion

ID: 8906600
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-11-27 01:53:58.036909+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:08:15.390892
License: Public Domain

Judge EAGLES
dissenting.
I respectfully dissent. I would reverse the judgment notwithstanding the verdict allowed by the trial court and would permit the jury verdict to stand. I am cognizant of the recent decision of our Supreme Court in Brady v. Fulghum, 309 N.C. 580, 308 S.E. 2d 327 (1983), rejecting the doctrine of substantial compliance as a vehicle for salvaging claims of unlicensed contractors. Though relied upon by the majority, that case is not dispositive of the question here.
In the case sub judice, the general contractor was licensed at all times in dispute, without interruption. His license authorized him to enter and perform construction contracts having a value of up to $125,000. Before entering the contract with plaintiff, defendants altered their originally submitted plans and specifications by eliminating certain features from the original plans to reduce the estimated cost from the initial estimated cost of $130,000 to an *341estimated cost for the house of $115,000, a figure well within the authorized license limits of plaintiff. The contract entered into called for the work to be performed on a cost plus ten percent basis which was estimated to be $115,000. The evidence shows clearly and in detail that the increase in cost from the $115,000 estimated cost was not due to any action of the plaintiff, save his acquiescence to defendants’ subsequently requested additions, extras, add on, and changes in the items specified to be included in the house. The house is conceded by all to be a well built and beautiful home. The fact that plaintiff acquiesced in defendants’ choices to have installed finer plumbing fixtures than originally called for, marble counter tops in lieu of those originally called for, a finer and more expensive type of carpeting than the original carpet allowance would permit and other changes while construction was in progress does not violate the language or spirit of Chapter 87 and its strictures. I would hold that a licensed general contractor has complied with Chapter 87 when the contractor is licensed throughout the negotiation, contracting and construction process, the estimated construction cost under the original contract is within the dollar limits of his license, and any subsequent variations from the plans and specifications of the original contract are at the initiation of the other party and are merely acquiesced in by the contractor.