Builders Lumber & Supply Co. v. Chicago Bonding & Surety Co.

167 Wis. 167 | Wis. | 1918

The following opinion was filed February 5, 1918:

Owen, J.

It is the main contention of appellant that by signing the bond in question it assumed no liability in behalf of laborers or materialmen, and the questions now presented are practically the same as those raised by the demurrer to the complaint, the principal one being whether Appellant in signing the bond became obligated to laborers and materialmen for work and material performed and furnished by them.

It is well settled in this jurisdiction that where a contractor’s bond expressly obligates the signers thereof to pay for the material and labor entering into the construction called for by the principal contract, those furnishing material for, or bestowing labor upon, such construction may maintain an action therefor against the sureties on the bond. United States C. Co. v. Gleason, 135 Wis. 539, 544, 116 N. W. 238; R. Connor Co. v. Ætna I. Co. 136 Wis. 13, 18, 115 N. W. 811; Warren Webster & Co. v. Beaumont H. Co. 151 Wis. 1, 10, 138 N. W. 102; Concrete S. Co. v. Ill. S. Co. 163 Wis. 41, 44, 157 N. W. 543.

Appellant insists that, in determining the question whether or not the bond contains a covenant for the benefit of parties other than the city of Wausau, all reasonable doubts which may arise on a reading of the bond must be resolved in favor of the surety and against the claim of increased liability; that sureties are favorites in the law, and a contract of suretyship must be strictly construed to impose upon the . surety only those burdens clearly within its terms and must not be extended by implication or presumption. We recognize this rule as applied to ordinary sureties, but even as to this rule so applied it has been said:

“While it is true that a surety cannot be held beyond the express terms of his contract, yet, in interpreting the terms of a contract of suretyship, the same rules are to be observed as in the case of other contracts. Such construction does not mean that words are to be distorted out of their natural meaning, or that, by implication, something can be read into the contract that it will not reasonably bear; but it means that the contract shall be fairly construed, with a view to effect the object for which it was given, and to accomplish the purpose for which it was designed. The old rule of strictissimi juris applies only to the extent that no implication shall be indulged in to impose a burden not clearly in-ferable from the language of the contract, but does not apply so as to hold that the contract shall not be reasonably interpreted as other contracts are.” Sather B. Co. v. Arthur B. Briggs Co. 138 Cal. 724, 72 Pac. 352.

It has also been held by this and other courts that a bond' of the kind involved in this case, given for a money consideration, has all the essential features of an insurance contract, and that it is not to be construed according to the rules of law applicable to the ordinary accommodation surety. First Nat. Bank v. United States F. & G. Co. 150 Wis. 601, 137 N. W. 742, and cases there cited.

By tbe terms of tbe bond in question appellant acknowledges itself bound to tbe city of Wausau in tbe sum of $20,000, tbe condition thereof being stated as 'follows:

“Whereas, tbe above bounden Conducive Paving Company has made to tbe city of Wausau a proposal in writing to furnish all tbe material and do all the work necessary to paving Grand and Forest avenues in said city, in accordance with tbe plan, profile, details, and specifications on file in tbe office of tbe city clerk of said city:

“Now, therefore, the condition of this obligation is such, that if tbe above bounden Conducive Paving Company, tbe said contract being awarded to them, shall fully and faithfully perform all tbe conditions and covenants contained in tbe contract as well as tbe provisions contained therein or other guaranty of such work, and shall refund to said city of Wausau all sums which it may be obliged or adjudged to pay on any claim or demand for damages as provided in said contract, then this bond to be void, otherwise in full force and effect.”

Note tbe provision “that if the above bounden Conducive Paving Company . . . shall fully and faithfully perform all the conditions and covenants contained in the contract ” etc., “then'this bond to be void, otherwise in full force and effect.” Tbe bond is to be void if, and only if, tbe Conducive Paving Company “shall fully and faithfully perform all tbe conditions and covenants contained in tbe contract.” What are those conditions and covenants? They are not recited in tbe bond. We cannot ascertain tbe scope, extent, or nature thereof by confining ourselves to an inspection of that document. Obviously we must turn to tbe contract to find tbe extent and nature of appellant’s obligations. In other words, tbe contract and bond must be construed together.

Turning now to tbe contract between tbe city and tbe Conducive Paving Company, we find not only tbe usual provision that “tbe contractor hereby agrees to and with said city to furnish all the material and do all tbe work necessary to complete said pavement,” but in a remote part of tbe contract, as a distinct and special agreement, occurs tbe following:

“And tbe said contractor hereby guarantees, covenants, and agrees to and witb tbe said city of Wausau, tbat be will well and truly execute and perform tbis contract on bis part, under tbe superintendence and to tbe satisfaction of tbe said board of public works, and will pay in full for all labor employed and material used in the performance of this contract, and tbat said contractor further covenants and agrees to protect and bold said city harmless against all actions and claims or demands for damages of any kind or character whatsoever, which may arise from carelessness, neglect, or otherwise, or which may accrue under tbe Workingman’s Compensation Act of tbe state of Wisconsin, in tbe prosecution of said work.”

If tbat was not deliberately intended for tbe benefit of third parties — for tbe benefit of materialmen and laborers'— why was it inserted? It was already provided tbat tbe contractor should furnish tbe material and labor for tbe construction of tbe work. It was not necessary for tbe avoidance of mechanics’ liens, because tbe property of a municipality is not subject thereto. It was not necessary to make tbe contractor personally liable to laborers and materialmen, because tbat liability would arise from tbe contracts of employment of laborers and purchase of materials. We cannot assume that tbis provision was introduced into tbe contract for its resounding effect or for an idle purpose. It is highly commendable on tbe part of municipalities to secure protection for those who render services and furnish materials in and about tbe construction of their public works. Indeed it is good business policy for them to do so.

“Such agreements are declared to be promotive of a just protection to such third persons and as operating to protect municipalities by securing more responsible dealers and better materials and as tending to promote justice and equity between all tbe parties contributing to tbe erection of such buildings.” United States G. Co. v. Gleason, 135 Wis. 539, 515, 116 N. W. 238.

It bas been said that there is a moral obligation on tbe part of a municipality to see tbat tbe material and labor entering into tbe construction of tbe work wbicb is tbe subject of tbe contract is paid for, and tbat tbis moral obligation is a sufficient consideration to support a contract for tbe benefit of tbir.d parties. Knight & Jillson Co. v. Castle, 172 Ind. 97, 87 N. E. 976. We see no reason to doubt tbat tbe provision in question was inserted in tbe contract for tbe purpose and with tbe intent on tbe part of both parties of securing pro-, tection to laborers and materialmen dealing with tbe contractor. Tbis protection could be secured only through tbe bond required by tbe city to assure faithful performance of tbe contract. Tbe bond was signed by tbe surety with full knowledge of tbis intent and purpose — at least it cannot be beard to claim otherwise. By its terms it does assure tbe full and faithful performance of each and every agreement of tbe contract. If tbis is not tbe import of tbe language of tbe bond, we are at a loss to know what covenants are not included within its protection. If tbe covenant tbat tbe contractor will pay in full for all labor employed and material used in tbe performance of tbe contract is not within tbe protection of tbe bond, bow are we to determine tbe particular covenants of tbe contract tbat do fall within its protection ?

Counsel for appellant seem to be of tbe opinion tbat in order to constitute liability on tbe part of tbe surety for claims due third parties there must be a specific and express provision to tbat effect written into tbe bond itself, and in support of tbat position they cite us to cases wbicb bold tbat an agreement made between two persons for tbe benefit of a third, to be enforceable by such third person, must be express. Tbe word “express” in such connection is used, of course, in contradistinction to “implied.” As said in Arnold v. Randall, 121 Wis. 462, 465, 98 N. W. 239, such an agreement “could not arise from any mere implication or legal imputation.” It happens, also, tbat in tbe cases above cited, where the surety was held liable at tbe suit of laborers and materialmen there was a specific reference thereto in the bond itself. But neither the principle that such an agreement must be express, nor the circumstance that in the cases decided by this court holding the surety liable to third parties such a provision occurred in the bond itself, nor both together, can operate to exempt appellant from liability here. The contract and bond, construed together, expressly bind the appellant Surety Company to pay for the material and labor entering into the construction of the paving called for by the contract between the city and the paving company as efficiently and potently as though it were specifically stipulated in the bond. Resort to implication or inference is unnecessary. Such is the plain meaning of the language employed. Similar contracts and bonds frequently have received like construction. Knight & Jillson Co. v. Castle 172 Ind. 97, 87 N. E. 976; Jordan v. Kava-naugh, 63 Iowa, 152, 18 N. W. 851; Wells v. Kavanaugh, 70 Iowa, 519, 30 N. W. 871; Lyman v. Lincoln, 38 Neb. 794, 57 N. W. 531; Sample v. Hale, 34 Neb. 220, 51 N. W. 837; Fitzgerald v. McClay, 47 Neb. 816, 66 N. W. 828; W. P. Fuller & Co. v. Alturas School Dist. 28 Cal. App. 609, 153 Pac. 743; Sailling v. Morrell, 97 Neb. 454, 150 N. W. 195.

The conclusion reached brings the case squarely within the doctrine of those cases first cited, wherein the sureties were held bound to materialmen and laborers, and disposes of appellant’s principal contentions.

Appellant suggests that plaintiff was a subcontractor and not a materialman and, therefore, was not within the protection of the bond. The only thing plaintiff did was to furnish the contractor with certain materials entering into the construction of the paving. It is clearly one of those protected by the bond. The fact that the materials were furnished pursuant to written contract does not affect its status as a materialman nor convert it into wbat is generally understood by the term “subcontractor.” We do not mean to imply, however, that it would necessarily be withoüt the protection of the bond even though it were a subcontractor.

Appellant makes the further claim that plaintiff waived its rights under the bond by continuing to furnish material to the contractor after the latter had defaulted in making certain payments when due. Upon this point the trial court found:

“There has been no delay, modification of contract, extension of time, or other agreement or act, or omission, which has released the obligation of said bond or the right of the plaintiff to recover thereon for the unpaid balance due it for the goods so used in the performance of the contract mentioned, nor has there been any act which in any manner estops this plaintiff from bringing and maintaining this action.”

We fully approve of this finding of the trial court.

By the Court. — Judgment affirmed.

Eschweiler, J., dissents. RoseNbebey, J., took no part.

A motion "for a rehearing was denied, with $25 costs, on .April 3, 1918.