105 S.E. 270 | N.C. | 1920
From these facts it appeared that defendant, C. L. Price, contracted and agreed to build a house for Carson Horne, furnishing labor, materials, etc., therefor at a stipulated price, and gave bond for faithful performance of the contract, with defendant lumber company, etc., as surety, said bond containing, among other things, the following stipulation: "Now, therefore, the condition of this obligation is such that if the principal shall faithfully perform the contract on his part, and satisfy all claims and demands incurred for same, and fully indemnify and save harmless the owner from all costs and damages which she may suffer by reason of failure so to do, etc., . . . then this obligation shall be void." That plaintiffs, under the contract, supplied a quantity of material used in said building, and did a considerable amount of work, stone work and other, the balance due plaintiffs being $705.40. That the pro rata amount in the hands of the owner applicable to plaintiff's claim, after notice given, etc., is $249.82, for which judgment is tendered, leaving ultimate balance due plaintiff $455.58. Upon these, the facts chiefly pertinent, there was judgment against the owner for the $249.82, and against the contractor and surety for the remainder. Defendant, the surety company, excepted and appealed.
It has been repeatedly held in the State that the beneficiaries of an indemnity contract ordinarily can recover though not named therein, "when it appears by express stipulation or by fair and reasonable intendment that their rights and interests were being provided for." Supply Co. v. LumberCo.,
The instant case is well nigh exactly similar to that of Supply Co. v.Lumber Co., supra, and considering the present contract and bond in view of these authorities, and the principles they approve and illustrate, we are of opinion that they clearly extend to the claim of plaintiff, and that liability therefor has been properly adjudged against the surety.
In McCausland's case the surety was relieved, but that was because the bond in that case, as affected by the contract and other circumstances pertinent to its true construction, appeared to be one in strictness of indemnity toward the owner, and in which the interests of third persons, materialmen, or others, were in no way contemplated or provided for.
We find no error in the record, and the judgment for plaintiff is affirmed.
No error. *588