204 F. 859 | 4th Cir. | 1913
Lead Opinion
(after stating the facts as above). Having outlined the general facts in this case, we do not deem it necessary to go into details in this statement, because we shall take the liberty, in the course of our discussion of the points involved, of referring further to facts, found in the record, and which may have a bearing upon the several propositions to be considered. . There are many exceptions and assignments of error presented in the record, but the several points to be passed upon may be included under five separate heads.
First, it is alleged that in the course of the work a substance called “gumbo” or “bull-wax” was encountered by the contractors, and which had to be excavated and handled by them in carrying out the terms of the contract. This substance, it is insisted, was not specifically included in the contract, but was unusual and of a character which rendered it very difficult and expensive to excavate and remove, and compensation is demanded for this work. The second question pertains to alleged additional work which it became necessary for the contractors to perform by reason of a change of some part of the line of the railway after the bid of the contractors was accepted and the agreement entered into. The third question concerns what is known as overhauls; that is, overhauls for the removal of the substances excavated beyond the limit of distance set out in the contract. Fourth, the question of retained percentages and forfeitures; and, lastly, the question of jurisdiction of the court, it being insisted by the defendant that this receiver appointed in a foreign jurisdiction had no right to bring his suit in the United States Court for the Northern District of West Virginia, and further that Samuel Walton, a member of the firm of Walton, Purcell, Moorman & Co. was at the
“The court further instructs the jury that by the terms of the contract in evidence the parties agreed upon a definition and a price for the several classes of material named in the contract and classified, among other tilings, as follows: ‘Earth is covered by clay, sand, gravel, loam, and all earthy materials, containing loose stones and boulders of not over three cubic feet.’ And the contract further provided that all earth should be excavated at twenty cents per cubic yard.
“And if the jury find from the evidence that there was a material excavated by the contractors, which was tough, plastic, sticky substance and earthy material, which contained no stones or boulders or rock of any kind, then tlie same was earth, unless the engineers classified it as a higher material and at a higher price; but the fact that the defendant’s engineers classified it at such higher price or higher classification would not permit or authorize the jury to deprive the defendant of the benefit of its contract, or to increase the allowance over and above what the engineers fixed in their classification and estimates of such material.”
The court declined to give this instruction, but made a ruling in the following language :
“That the question of whether gumbo or bull-wax comes under either of three classifications of earth, loose rock, or solid rock, as defined by the contract, or was wholly otfiside of cither, and without the contemplation of the parties, was a question of fact, and evidence was admissible tending to show what gumbo was, and whether or not embraced in either of the three classifications, or whether or not wholly without contemplation of the parties.”
It may be stated that the second paragraph of defendant’s request for instructions is based upon the fact that during the progress of the work the contractors sought compensation beyond that specifically set forth in the contract for the work in connection with the excavation and removal of the ‘‘gumbo” or “bull-wax,” and thereupon the engineers classified in their estimates the said substance, much of it as loose rock and solid rock, and the work in connection with it was paid for by the defendant upon this classification.
Returning to the requested instruction of the defendant, and the ruling made by the court, we think there was error in the action of the court, and that any allowances in respect to the substance under consideration beyond that made by the classification and estimates of the engineers was unwarranted. In the contract the substances to be dealt with in the work to be performed by the contractors are described under three heads, namely, earth, loose rock, and solid rock. and then the contract goes on and provides that earth shall cover all clay, sand, gravel, loam, and all earthy materials containing loose stones and boulders of not over three cubic feet. koose rock covered:
“All stones in adjoining, but del ached, masses of over three cubic feet, but not over one cubic yard, in size; also all slate and other rock which*872 can be quarried without blasting, although blasting may be resorted to; also cemented gravel, which must be blasted.”
Solid rock was stipulated to cover:
“All rock in masses of over one cubic yard which cannot be removed without blasting.”
The prices contracted to be paid per cubic yard were, for earth 2014 cents per cubic yard, loose rock 35 cents per cubic yard, solid rock 68 cents per cubic yard, with the stipulation that the average haul should not be over 800 feet.
Webster’s definition of “earth”:
“The solid materials which make up the globe, in distinction from the air or water; the dry land.”
It is very clear to us why the contract stipulated different prices per cubic yard for the substances severally described, for if nothing further had been said, the term “earth” included everything which goes to constitute the globe, except water; and the reason that loose rock and solid rock were separately described under this head was, as is seen by the contract, that for work in respect to these two a greater price should be paid, leaving all other substances to be encountered to be included in the term “earth.”
As stated before, however, it is shown by the record that the engineers did take into consideration the character of this substance, and went beyond, the price limit in the contract, and classified “gumbo” or “bull-wax,” much of it as loose rock, and some of it as solid rock, and the railway company acquiesced in this classification and paid the contractors upon that basis, and for this cause the plaintiff insists that this concession was an admission by the defendant that the substance under consideration was not included in the contract; but we cannot see that the' action of the engineers, and of the defendant, in this respect ought to result in detriment to the defendant, for although the engineers may have concluded that the bargain made by the contractors was in some respects a hard one, and the defendant, realizing such .to be the case, dealt generously with the contractors, this does not, in our opinion, abrogate the specific terms of the contract itself. In our view of the case the defendant was entitled to the first paragraph of the instructions as hereinbefore set out, and that it was error in the court to refuse it.
“This contract shall not be affected by any verbal agreement or inferences drawn from conversations had upon the subject.”
Under the express terms of the contract the defendant could not be bound by any such promise or agreement, if the same was made.' The defendant, therefore, was entitled to the second request above, and the action of the court in refusing it we think was error. Bearing on the question raised by the last position of the plaintiff, that
“The court instructs the jury that by the terms of the contract in evidence the contract shall not be affected by any verbal agreement or inference drawn from conversations had upon the subject; and if the jury find from the evidence that the consulting engineer, or any other engineer of the defendant, stated or promised orally to J. T. Adams, one of the subcontractors engaged on this work, that he should have an extra allowance over and above what was allowed by the engineers upon the classification or estimates made by them, on account of any work or excavation done by him, the defendant cannot be charged or made liable in this action by reason of any such promise or agreement, if any was made to said Adams.”
This request was also refused by the court, and an assignment of error is based upon such refusal. Plaintiff’s counsel insist that the case of Henderson Bridge Co. v. McGrath, 134 U. S. 260, 10 Sup. Ct. 730, 33 L. Ed. 934, is authority sustaining the court in this action. We do not see that the case is in point. In that case there was no formal written contract executed between the parties; but the original agreement was based on specifications and profile of the work to be done on the part of the company, and proposals on the part of the contractor, which were accepted by the company. There was after-wards a modification of the original specifications and profile, and the question presented for decision was whether the modified specifications and profile came within the original contract, or created a feature in the work done so differently from that originally contracted for as to constitute a new contract. The court decided that this question was properly referred to the jury to determine, and the further question was whether under the circumstances of this case the local engineers of the company, who made the change in the specifications and profile, and agreed with the contractors that they should be paid for the work under the new arrangement, had the power to bind the company. The court held that they did, and held, further, that as there was no agreement to pay a fixed price that the contractors were entitled to recover what the work was reasonably worth.
The other case relied upon by plaintiff as a ground for the refusal of the court to give the instruction is Salt Lake City v. Smith, 104 Fed. 457, 43 C. C. A. 637. This case is also, in our opinion, based upon entirely different conditions from those existing in that under consideration. The case was a contract entered into by contractors with Salt Lake City to furnish materials and perform the necessary work, except that required to make the excavations, to construct a covered conduit for the purpose of leading the waters of Parley’s creek to Salt Lake City, a distance of about six miles. There was an approximate estimate of the quantities made in the instructions to the bidders, which included tunneling in earth, tunneling in solid rock, concrete masonry, brick masonry, cut stone masonry, etc. There was nothing in the specifications to indicate that the bidders were required to build a dam across Parley’s creek, or to construct any wells or cisterns. After the contractors commenced to construct the conduit beginning at Salt Lake City and advanced towards Parley’s Canon, the line of conduit for the last mile was materially changed by the city engineer from comparatively level ground to a course over deep ra
“The great desideratum and the real end to be attained by the construction of a contract is to ascertain the terms upon which the minds of the parties met, and the sense in which they were used when the parties made the agreement.”
It is our view that the minds of the parties to the contract involved in this case met upon the terms set forth in the written instrument, which are sufficiently explicit and unambiguous to fully warrant the conclusion that all classes of material to be encountered by the contractors in the construction of the work were included, and at the specific prices named.
Whilst we think we have disposed of this question, yet we may say that, even if it had been an issue of fact as to whether or not this substance called “gumbo” or “bull-wax” was included within the terms of the contract, the testimony which we gather from the record is overwhelmingly to the effect that it was a species of clay. William A. Hall, who was examined as a witness for the defendant, and who was shown to have been a graduate of the United States Military Academy, and who had been engaged in the work of civil engineering for 25 years, testified that he had examined this substance, and that it was earth and clay, and at some places there was earth and small stones intermixed with clay; that it had a soapy and sticky feeling to it; was undoubtedly tough; that it was hard to pull apart, and would not fracture easily; that he had discovered similar materials in excavations on the Clinch Valley Division of the Norfolk & Western Railway. I. C. White, official state geologist of West Virginia, was examined. This witness, who was the author of a book on clays, cements, and limestones, testified that he had examined the substance in controversy. He said it was a kind of clay, and, like all clays, more or less sticky and tough; but, as we have before stated, we do not think it was a question for the jury, but that the court should have construed the contract and declared what it meant, for as we see it there was nothing indefinite or uncertain about the terms, especially as respects the several kinds of matter and substances to be dealt with by the contractors, and the prices severally to be paid therefor.
“Any one bidding on tilts work is expected to visit the line and examine it thoroughly, and a statement to that effect must be made in. the proposal. It is also understood that any estimate of quantities submitted to bidders by the railway company is only approximate.”
We have, therefore, the right to assume that the contractors, at the time they entered into the agreement with the defendant, fully understood the nature and character of the work they were to perform. They no doubt had knowledge of the country which was to be traversed by the line of railway contemplated, and they made the bid which -was accepted by the defendant at the price named, intending to include all such work as was necessary to carry out the contact. As we have said, the contractas plain and unambiguous in its terms, and should be permitted to speak for itself. We think it was error, therefore, for the court at the instance of one of the parties, in the absence of allegations of fraud or mutual mistake of facts, to admit parol testimony which tended to alter or contradict the terms of the contract itself, or to submit to the jury an issue to determine what the contract meant.
“Tlie alignment, grades, and disposition of material may be changed from the plans at present existing, without prejudice to this agreement. If it can be shown to the satisfaction of the engineer in charge and the consulting engineer that such changes will add to the cost per cubic yard of excavation handled, then such extra allowance may be made by the consulting engineer as will reimburse the contractor; but should the said change decrease the cost of the work to the contractor, he shall be charged with the difference. Any such changes shall be embodied in a supplementary agreement.”
There was no supplementary agreement made between the parties to the contract, and so far as the record shows no claim for extra work was ever filed by the contractors. Of course, technically speaking, the contractors should bring themselves within the terms of the contract before they are entitled to recover under it; but we do not deem it necessary under the circumstances of this case to rely upon that principle, for the undisputed facts show that the alleged extra work done by the contractors upon the changed line, which was made by the engineers, was carried on, conducted, estimated, classified, and paid for by the defendant precisely as was work done upon other parts of the line, and such payment was accepted at the time by the contractors.
The work on the first division was completed and certified by the consulting engineer and the engineer in charge on the 8th of August, 1901, the work upon the second division was completed and accepted February 2, 1903, and the work upon the third division on November
In support of the position that the plaintiff is entitled to go behind the estimates and classification made by the engineers, and' to recover from the defendant additional compensation for the work, the two cases of Jefferson Hotel Co. v. Brumbaugh et al., 168 Fed. 867, 94 C. C. A. 279, and City of Greensboro v. Southern Paving Construction Co., 168 Fed. 880, 94 C. C. A. 292, are relied upon. Both of these cases were decided by this court. In the first-named case it was held that:
“Where a building contract constituted the architects the owner’s supervising agents, but did not in terms authorize the architects to issue a conclusive final certificate, an architect’s final certificate was only prima facie evidence that the work had been performed according to the contract, and placed the burden of proof on the owner to impeach the same for error, mistake, omission, or concealment.”
And in the second case that:
“A contract for street paving required the work to be done as a whole, and not in sections, according to specifications under the direction of the city’s engineer. The notice to bidders and specifications alone provided for payment on semimonthly estimates as the work progressed, with a retention of 10 per cent, on each ‘approximate estimate.’ The contract also provided that the contractor should be responsible for any work until its completion and final acceptance, and that the acceptance should not relieve the contractor of any obligations to do reliable work previously described. Held, that the word ‘approximate’ was tautologically used to accentuate the word ‘estimate,’ which was not to be construed as a final mathematical ascertainment of what was set forth; and hence the 'acceptance of sections of the work by the city engineer and issuance of approximate estimates thereon to the contractor did not bar the city’s right to defend, when sued for the balance due under the contract, on the ground that the work in the section estimated did not constitute a compliance with the specifications.”
But the contract in the case here contains provisions which are much more emphatic with respect to the effect of the estimates ahd classifications made by the engineers than are to be found in the cases re
"On the last day of each month during the progress of the work an estimate shall he made of the value of all work done, by the engineer in charge, to date.”
"All claims for extra work must be filed before the end of the mouth during which the work was done, and shall at once be adjusted.
‘‘And it is mutually agreed that the decision of the consulting engineer shall be final and conclusive in any dispute which may arise between the parties to this agreement, and each and every one of the said parties do .hereby waive any right of action, suit or suits, or other remedy in law or otherwise, by virtue of said covenants, so that the decision of the said consulting engineer shall, in the nature of an award, be final and conclusive on the right and claim of said parties.”
And we find also in the contract the following provision:
■‘The contractor agrees to do all the work described to the satisfaction of the engineer in charge and consulting engineer, and Yo accept their decision as to quantities, classification, ‘etc.,’ as final, and from which no appeal shall be taken.”
We think the case of Martinsburg & Potomac Railroad Co. v. March, 114 U. S. 549, 5 Sup. Ct. 1035, 29 L. Ed. 255, has clearly drawn the distinction between the class of contracts involved in the Greensboro Case, and the Jefferson Case, and the contract now under consideration. In that case the Supreme Court of the United States holds that:
“A contract for the construction of a railroad provided that the company’s engineer should in all cases determine questions relating to its execution, including the quantity of the several kinds of work to be done, and the compensation earned by the contractor at the rates specified; that his estimate should be final and conclusive; and that ‘whenever the contract shall be completely performed on the part of the contractor, and the said engineer shall certify the same in writing under his hand, together with his estimate aforesaid, the company shall, within thirty days after the receipt of said certificate, pay to the said contractor, in current notes, the sum which according to his contract shall be due.’ Held, that in the absence of fraud, or such gross mistake as would necessarily imply bad faith, or a failure to exercise an honest judgment, tile action of the engineer in the premises was conclusive upon the parties.”
Ill view of the provisions of the contract it seems to us that unless it was shown that there was fraud, or such gross mistake on the part of the engineers as would necessarily imply bad faith, or a failure on their part to exercise an honest judgment, their action was conclusive and binding upon the parties. Upon examination of the entire record we are unable to find any evidence that the action of the engineers in connection with the work under the contract between the contractors and the defendant was other than that prompted by fairness, good faith, and a desire to deal justly with both parties. There is no allegation made by the plaintiff of fraud or bad faith on the part of the engineers in estimating and classifying any part of the work, either that performed by the contractors themselves, or by those to whom portions of the work were sublet. In Cook v. Foley, 152 Fed. 41, 81 C. C. A. 237, it is held that final measurements and classification of work made by engineers under a contract providing that they shall
“Contracts for railroads usually contain provisions with regard to monthly and final estimates to be made by the engineer having charge of the work, They are dictated by convenience, if not by necessity. It is the duty, and to the interest of the proprietors to employ honest and competent engineers. An honest engineer in charge is certainly a most suitable person to estimate. * * * He can do it with almost perfect accuracy. _ He superintends the entire progress. He cannot classify and accurately' measure the varied material after the work is done and the excavated material or most of it covered up. It is impossible for any other person, even the most competent engineer, to estimate the quantity, character, and value with anything like accuracy.”
From our line of discussion it will be readily observed that we are of the opinion that under the facts and circumstances of this case it was error to go behind the action of the engineers with reference to the classification and estimates of the work done by the contractors on the defendant’s railway, and thereby open the way for a jury, by its verdict, to practically annul the contract between the contractors and the defendant.
“The court instructs the jury, in determining the amount, if any, to be allowed the plaintiff for overhaul, they may consider the evidence offered in aid of the interpretation of the contract between the parties; and if they •believe from a preponderance of all the evidence that under the contract the, defendant agreed to pay the plaintiff for overhaul, they may allow therefor such amount as they believe the plaintiff entitled to as shown by the evidence.”
“After an estimate by the engineer, no recovery could be had beyond that sum, unless upon the most irrefragable proof of mistake of fact or positive fraud in opposite parties in procuring an underestimate or corruption in the engineer.”
And in Choctaw Railroad Co. v. Newton, 71 C. C. A. 655, 140 Fed. 225, it is held that:
“A railroad contractor cannot impeach the decision of such engineer and recover an amount in excess of that shown in his decision, except on a clear showing of fraud, * * s: and that a direction to a master that, to warrant a finding of fraud in such decision, the evidence must be reasonably convincing, does not come up to the measure of proof required.”
“On the last day of each month during the progress of the work an estimate shall be made of the value of all work done, by the engineer in charge, to date. Of this amount ninety per cent shall be paid to the party of the second part, less any previous monthly estimates which might have been paid on the same work; said payments shall be made on or about the 15th of the following month. And when all the work embraced under this agreement shall be completed, according to Oils specification and to the satisfaction of the engineer in charge and the consulting engineer, a final estimate shall be made, and any balance appearing to be due to the party of the second part shall be paid within thirty days thereafter,” etc.
It is admitted that the sum retained by the defendant under this part of the contract amounted at the close of the work to $17,-079.89. The defendant contests plaintiff’s right to recover this sum, and sets up a right of recoupment for a much larger amount under this paragraph of the contract:
“And it is further understood that for each day and every day required in excess of the date named for the completion of this contract the sum of fifty dollars shall be paid by the party of the second part to the party of the first part, which shall be considered as liquidated damages. Or should the party of the second part anticipate the date of the completion, then the party of the first part shall pay to the party of the second part fifty dollars for every day so saved.”
The contract required that the work on the first division should be performed in a thorough and workmanlike manner on or before the 15th of December, 1900, and on divisions 2 and 3 on or before the 1st of March, 1901. As has been stated before in the course of this opinion, the work on the first division was completed on the 8th of August, 1901, on the third division on the 30th of November, 1902, and on the second division not until February 2, 1903. To hold the con
“A provision, in a contract to build a railroad bridge that, in case of non-completion of the bridge or providing a crossing for trains by a given date, the sum óf $1,000 per week should be deducted from the contract price of the bridge for the time its completion or provision for crossing trains is delayed beyond that date, is a stipulation for liquidated damages.”
“In such cases, if the contractors act in good faith, and the delay results from causes beyond their control, they will not be liable for damages in excess of the stipulated amount.”
“The fact that the contractors were retarded in the work by high water, sickness of hands, and sunken logs encountered in sinking piers, does not excuse them from performance of their contract. They assumed their risks when they executed the contract, without a provision exempting them from the consequences of such casualties.”
In the course of the opinion the court expresses itself in this language, which is in accord with our views upon the subject:
“If the plaintiffs directed the defendants to make additions or changes, or do work on the bridge not covered by the contract, and which ' would require longer time to complete the bridge, and this fact was known to both parties, then it must be implied that both parties consented to such an extension of time as was necessary or reasonable for making such additions or changes,. but no more. Manufg. Co. v. U. S., 17 Wall. 592 [21 L. Ed. 715]. If such orders for additions or changes in the bridge were given by the plaintiff, and the defendants with good faith and with reasonable diligence and adequate force and appliances, performed such extra work, then the time required to do the same must be added to the contract time allowed for completion of the bridge.”
The case of Manufacturing Co. v. United States, 17 Wall, 592, 21 L. Ed. 715, noted in the foregoing involves also the sanie principle. The case of American Bridge Co. v. Camden Interstate Railway Co., 135 Fed. 323, 68 C. C. A. 131, decided by this court, treats more particularly of the rule of damages in cases where a contract has not been completed by the contractors within the time limited, or where the contractors unnecessarily delayed in finishing the work they had ■agreed to perform. The principle; however, that such damages are recoverable where the default of the contractor causes the delay,- is fully recognized in that case. • Upon this. subject the learned trial
"And the court further instructs the jury if they believe the preponderance of the evidence shows that the delay, if any, was caused by the defendant company materially changing the line, after the time of the execution of the contract, and that such change in the line, either by materially increasing the amount and quantity of material to be excavated and removed, or by materially increasing the difficulty of removing said material encountered on said changed line, increased the length of time necessarily required for the contractors to complete' said work, then the defendant is not. entitled (o recover under its said nolice of recoupment.”
We think it was due the defendant after this delivery that the court should have proceeded and instructed the jury on the line we have above indicated; otherwise, the jury was left to conclude from the language of this last instruction that the fact that the defendant had enlarged the scope of the work absolved the contractors from further obligation to be diligent in its performance. The proposition as we state it is the law as we understand it, and it was error prejudicial to the rights of the defendant for the jury to take the case without being advised that although the defendant by realignment or otherwise had increased the work which would necessarily require more time, yet when a reasonable time had elapsed for the contractors to complete the increased work, and they had, by want of diligence. proper preparation, the use of a competent force, or by other default, failed to do so, then they would be liable for the forfeiture for delays beyond the reasonable limit of time. The right of the defendant in case forfeiture was found against the contractors to avail of it by wav of recoupment for the reduction or extinguishment of the retained percentages is undisputed.
As to the questions we have so far considered we think the theories adopted by the trial court as portrayed by the rulings made and the instructions given to the jury were at variance with the specific agreements of the parties as set out in the written contract and were to this extent, as we have expressed onrselves, erroneous as propositions of law. Defendant’s requested instructions, which were refused, and exceptions to the instructions given are numerous, and cover every point which arises in the case. We do not think it necessary, however, to deal with these matters further in detail. We deem it sufficient to say that aside from the claim for retained percentages the plaintiff was not entitled to recover, and as to these the issue should be submitted and tried upon the principles we have above announced.
“Upon the question of the territorial extent of a receiver’s jurisdiction and powers, for the purpose of instituting actions connected with his receivership, the prevailing doctrine, established by the Supreme Court of the United States and sustained by the weight of authority in various states, is that the receiver has no extraterritorial jurisdiction or power of official action, and cannot, as a matter of right, go into a foreign state or jurisdiction and there institute a suit for the recovery of demands due to the person or estate subject to his receivership. His functions and powers, for the purpose of litigation,- are held .to be limited to the courts of the state within which he was appointed, and the principles of comity between nations and states, which recognize the judicial decisions of one tribunal as conclusive in another, do not apply to such a ease, and will not warrant a receiver in bringing an action in a foreign court or jurisdiction.”
Among the authorities cited by the author to sustain the above principle we note the following: Booth v. Clark, 17 How. 322, 15 L. Ed. 164; Hale v. Allinson, 188 U. S. 56, 23 Sup. Ct. 244, 47 L. Ed. 380; Great Western Mining & M. Co. v. Harris, 198 U. S. 561, 25 Sup. Ct. 770, 49 L. Ed. 1163.
“ * * * And with authority to him to intervene and prosecute as party plaintiff, and as receiver, as hereinbefore described, in the action of assump-sit pending in the Circuit Court of the United States for the Northern District of West Virginia, entitled Peter W. Reherd, Receiver, v. Coal & Iron Railroad; and he shall have full authority as receiver, appointed by this court, to intervene as party plaintiff in said action, according to the rules of pleading in the Circuit Court of the United States for the Northern District of West Virginia.”
The question then presented is as to whether this proceeding, taken after the suit had been actually instituted, would have the effect for which it was intended. It occurs to us that in this situation the position of the defendant becomes one of extreme technicality. Undoubtedly, if the plaintiff had filed his ancillary bill in the state court of Randolph county, W. Va., and his appointment as receiver had been ratified, and authority given to bring the suit, the proceeding herein would have been regular and the question of jurisdiction eliminated.
Our conclusion is that although the proceeding was irregular, yet when the plaintiff came into the United States court, under the order of the West Virginia state court, and constituted himself a party, and the pleadings and subsequent proceedings made to conform, that in effect was a commencement of this suit de novo.
Under the circumstances of this case, after all the facts have been fully considered by a court and a jury, consuming no doubt much
In the case of Coal Co. v. Blatchford, 11 Wall. 172, 20 L. Ed. 179, Mr. Justice Field, in delivering the opinion of the court treats of this subject, and in speaking of executors and trustees says:
“If they are personally qualified by their citizenship to bring suit in the federal courts, the jurisdiction is not defeated by the fact that the parties whom they represent may be disqualified.”
We think this rule applies also to receivers, and therefore there is no force in this last position of defendant’s counsel.
The judgment of the District Court will therefore be reversed, and the case remanded, to the end that a new trial may be had, to be proceeded with in accordance with this opinion.
Reversed.
Dissenting Opinion
(dissenting). A careful consideration of the facts and circumstances surrounding this case impels me to dissent from the conclusion reached by the majority of the court in this instance.
It is fundamental that, in all cases where contracts are entered into, there must be a meeting of the minds of the parties thereto. It is evident that, at the time these contracts were made the material known as “gumbo” or “bull-wax” was not supposed to exist in the state of West Virginia; hence it could not have been anticipated by the parties that such material would be encountered in the performance of this work. Therefore it cannot be reasonably insisted that that portion of the contract which refers to sand, clay, and gravel was intended by the parties to include an extraordinary material of this character, the removal of which, as shown by the evidence, cost far in excess of the removal of even solid rock, to say nothing of the
In view of the facts, I am of the opinion that the rulings of the lower court were correct, and that the questions of fact which I think are pertinent to.the correct determination of the matters involved in this controversy were fairly and impartially submitted to and passed upon by the jury. Under the circumstances, I feel that substantial justice has been done, and that the judgment of the lower court should not be disturbed.
