The main issue in this case, involving an agreement to build and sell a house, is whether there was a warranty to build the house in a workmanlike manner and whether the evidence supports a finding of a breach of that warranty.
Essentially the facts as found by the master are these. On September 7, 1971, the seller, a builder, agreed to “complete construction of a dwelling and upon completion sell and convey the dwelling and lot” to the buyers for a price of $32,000. Although the agreement was never reduced to writing there was ample evidence in the record to support this basic finding. On December 30, 1971, the seller conveyed the newly built house and property to the buyers.
Upon moving into the house, the buyers experienced trouble with water seepage into their cellar, surface water flowing in from the outside during storms and a defective septic tank waste disposal system which caused sewage to back up into their home. All these defects were found to be caused by defective construction and the record is replete with expert testimony detailing the basis for each particular problem. Due to these problems the buyers were forced to vacate the premises in March of 1974 and moved into an apartment while they had the problems corrected.
While the master did not find that there was an express warranty as to workmanship he did find that there was an implied warranty upon which the buyers could recover. The implied warranty was that the house including the drainage and septic tank systems would be constructed in a workmanlike manner and in accordance with accepted standards.
Henggeler v. Jindra,
There was substantial evidence to support the finding that the difficulties encountered by the buyers were due to defective construction and that the amount of the verdict represented the damages to which they were entitled.
The seller’s reliance
on Bonin v. Howard,
Judgment on the verdicts.
