O'Connor v. Henderson Bridge Co.

95 Ky. 633 | Ky. Ct. App. | 1894

JUDGE LEWIS

DELIVERED THE OPINION OP THE COURT.

This action was instituted in August, 1884, by O’Connor & McCulloch to recover of Henderson Bridge Company damages for an illegal attempt to annul a contract made in December, 1881, between the parties for building foundations and piers of a railroad bridge across Ohio river at Henderson, and forcibly driving plaintiffs from the work while engaged at it.

Hpon trial of the case in December, 1886, the jury found a verdict in favor of plaintiffs for $86,805.73 and interest thereon from April 9, 1884, when they were forced to quit the undertaking. But upon appeal this court, for errors of law alone, and without determining issues of fact involved, reversed the judgment rendered in pursuance of that verdict and remanded the case for new trial. (Sec. 88, Ky., 303.) January 24, 1890, another jury found a verdict in favor of plaintiffs for $148,633.61, being principal sum and interest thereon to that date. But upon motion and grounds filed the lower court, September 29, 1890, set aside that verdict and ordered a new trial. On this same day, however, an order was made transferring the case to equity; and subsequently the chancellor referred it to a special commissioner to inquire and report as to matter’s specifically mentioned in the order of reference, being governed by stenographic record of evidence heard and instructions given on the preceding jury trial.

November 30, 1891, the commissioner reported as his conclusion from evidence and instructions that plaintiffs were entitled to recover the principal sum of $104,427.88 and interest to that date, making an aggregate of $153,-168.51. But exceptions to the report were sustained to the extent of reducing the principal sum to $61,536.55, for which, with interest from April 7, 1892, judgment was, July 7, 1892, rendered.

Both plaintiffs and defendants have appealed from that judgment — the latter superseding it. It is contended, in behalf of the former, that not only the judgment but also the order setting-aside the verdict of January 24, 1890, should be reversed, effect of which would be revival of the verdict and entry of judgment for amount of it. But, it seems to us, the lower court did.not err in setting. aside the verdict and granting a new trial. For, without referring to other grounds filed, the order of proceeding in the trial was directly contrary to subsection 3, sec. 317, Civil Code, which provides that “ the party on whom rests the burthen of proof in the whole action must first-produce'his evidence; the adverse party will then produce his evidence.” For the court first ruled that defendant had the burthen of proof and should first produce its evidence, which was done, but at conclusion of the whole evidence changed its ruling so as to give plaintiffs benefit of concluding the argument to the jury.

■ We think the burthen of proof in this whole case was on plaintifl's, and there could be no question of their right-to conclude the argument, nor any ground of complaint by defendant it was awarded to them, if the court had, as required by the Civil Code, ruled them to first produce their evidence. But., in view of the very large amount of complicated and contradictory testimony produced by the respective parties, and unusual length of the trial, diverse rulings mentioned must be regarded as in meaning of section 340, such “irregularity in the proceedings of the court” as prevented defendant having a fair trial. For it appears that after defendant had produced its evidence, which required the time from December 12th, when the trial began, to 19th, and two days had been used by plaintiffs, the court took a recess for about twenty-four days — -the jury being in the meantime dispersed. So that on January 17, 1890, when plaintiffs’ evidence, that had consumed the three preceding days, was concluded, it had been more than three weeks, and when the verdict was rendered, January 24th, it had been more than,a month since any of defendant’s evidence in chief was heard by the jury. To force a party, under such circumstances, to first produce his evidence, and yet deprive him of benefit of concluding argument to 'the jury, which is of great advantage in such a ease as this, is not giving him a fair trial. -

Though counsel for plaintiffs below contend it was ■error to sustain exceptions to report of the special commissioner, the principal reason urged in argument for reversal of the judgment is that the chancellor has no jurisdiction, the order transferring the action to equity being in violation of section 8, article 13 of the old (which is the same as section 7 of the present) Constitution, as follows: “ The ancient mode of trial by jury shall be held sacred, and the right thereof remain inviolate, subject to such modifications as may be authorized by this Constitution.”

If the judgment should be x’eversed on that ground, the whole proceeding in equity would have to be disregarded and mandate go for another and third trial by jury. It is, therefore, necessary to'now consider and determine the question of jurisdiction. To sustain the order transferring the action to equity, counsel for defendant below refer to the following statute, passed April 29, 1890 : “ That section 10 of the Civil Code of Practice be, and the same is here, amended as follows : The court may, in its discretion, on motion of either party, or without motion, order the transfer of an action from the ordinary to the equity docket, or from a court of purely common law to a court of purely equity jurisdiction, whenever the court before which the action is pending shall be of the opinion that such transfer is necessary because of the peculiar questions involved, or because the case involves accounts so complicated or of such great detail of facts as render it impracticable for a jury to intelligently try the ease.”

If the court was, at date of that statute, without authority to transfer an action from the ordinary to equity docket under circumstances and for causes therein recited, it is still powei’less in that respect, for the right of trial by jury can not be impaired or modified by legislative enactment. Therefore, whether this action was properly transferred depends not upon that statute, but proper interpretation and application of the language of the clause of the Constitution quoted.

That clause never was intended to be so strictly construed or rigidly adhered to as to prevent, in any case, due and proper administration of justice. Accordingly, as said in Story’s Equity, vol. 1, sec. 442, “ courts of equity have, for a long time, exercised a general jurisdiction in all cases of mutual accounts upon the ground of the inadequacy of the remedy at law.” And in section 451 is this language: “Lord Redesdale has justly said that in a complicated account a court of law would be incompetent to examine it at nisi prius with all the necessary accuracy. This is the principle on which courts of equity constantly act by taking cognizance of matters which, though cognizable at law, are yet so involved with complex accounts that it can not be properly taken at law; and until the result of the account is known the justice of the case can not appear.”

This court has uniformly held that a court of equity has concurrent jurisdiction in matters of account and “ should be exercised when otherwise there may be serious doubt as to the true state of the accounts, or difficulty in satisfactorily adjusting them, and safely striking a balance.” (Breckinridge v. Brooks, 2 A. K. M., 335; Bruce v. Burdet, 1 J. J. M., 80; Power v. Reeder, 9 Dana, 6.)

But in every ease of interposition of a court of equity in such actions there must exist a necessity arising from failure of remedy at law to afford justice. And extent of equitable jurisdiction in actions for an accounting and when to be exercised is thus stated in Pomeroy’s Equity Jurisprudence, sec. 1421: “ The instances in which the legal remedies are held to be inadequate and, therefore, a suit in equity for an accounting proper, are: 1. "Where there are mutual accounts between the plaintiff aud the defendant — that is, where each of the parties has received and paid on account of the other. 2. Where the accounts are all on one side but there are circumstances of great complication or difficulties in the way of adequate relief at law. 3. Where a fiduciary relation exists between the parties, and a duty rests on the defendant to render an account.”

.Though this action was brought to recover damages, the criterio'n of recovery by the contractors was held in former opinion to have been fixed in the contract as follows : “ First, the value of such of their derrick-tools and other plant as were in use at the time, not already paid for; second, the value of the materials then on hand or delivered or ready for delivery subsequent to November 30, 1883 ; third, the reasonable value of unestimated work done after that date; fourth, the amount- of 15 per cent earnings retained, the last two items to be paid for in any eveut; fifth, interest on whole amount from April 9,1884; sixth, whatever profits it maybe shown could have been made, if appellees had been permitted to complete the work.”

There is controversy between the parties as to each of these subjects, except amount of earnings retained. A great deal of evidence wras produced, much of it contradictory, and prolix mathematical calculations made in estimating values and amounts, about which there was great difference betweeu witnesses. The special commissioner appears to have been engaged under the order of reference for better part of nine months, and how tedious and difficult it was for him to reach a conclusion, the following sworn statement he made shows : “I have been practicing as an attorney-at-law since 1866, and had considerable experience in settlement suits, but have never been engaged as attorney or commissioner in one with more complications, or which required greater labor to understand and report on intelligently than this.”

Although, as it turned out there was not, considering amount involved, a great difference between the principal sum found due the contractors by the special commissioner and what was found by the second jury, still transfer of the action to equity should not be regarded a reversible error.

The action being then properly in equity the next inquiry is whether the chancellor rendered judgment for the correct amount?

In the former opinion of this court it was expressly held that the contractors were, in any event, entitled to recover 15 per cent of amount of their earnings prior to November 30, 1883, retained by the company, amount ■of which the record shows is $33,760.24. And the lower court erred in overruling the motion made upon return of the case from this court to have judgment rendered therefor. Eor as the amount was not disputed, and right to it had been determined, section 380, Civil Code, applied, being as follows :

“ If only a part of a claim be controverted, judgment may, at any time, be rendered for the part not controverted.” As, therefore, the contractors were entitled to judgment for that sum, and interest from November 3, 1883, to December 1, 1889, when the motion was made, judgment for the aggregate of principal and interest must, 'upon return of the case, be entered as of the latter date therefor, and bearing interest therefrom. According to the former opinion recovery for value of derrick-tools and other plant, of materials on hand, and for whatever profit the contractors could have made, if permitted to complete the work, depends upon whether the annulment of the contract, attempted by the company in February, 1884, and éonsummated by force April 9, 1884, was lawful. We will, therefore, first determine that question.

By terms of the contract the company had the right to annul by giving the contractors one month’s notice; but in that case the latter would have had the unconditional right to payment in full for all materials delivered, work done, and derrick-tools or other working plant. But the company undertook to annul under that clause of the contract which authorized it arbitrarily done when it appeared to its engineer the work did not progress loith sufficient speed or in a proper manner, to be followed by forfeiture of the unpaid part of the value of the work done by the contractors. In the former opinion, however, it was held the forfeiture had been waived and lost. The precise question now is, whether the right to annul without notice existed under another clause which authorized it in case ■ the contractors did not well and truly from time to time comply with and perform all the terms stipulated. As a question of fact, under instructions as to the law applicable, both jui’ies and the special commissioner have found the right to annul at the time and in the manner 'attempted did not exist. Besides, upon reconsideration, we think that as the company was in default by reason of failure to estimate and pay for work done and materials delivered, without which the contractors could not further comply with and perform all the terms of the contract, it had no right to annul. Certainly a chancellor would, under the circumstances, hold it liable for value of work done and materials and working plant. The special commissioner reported the value of material delivered and work done subsequent to November 30,1883, that had not, as* required by the contract, been estimated or paid for, including the plant at a stone-quarry, to be $36,909.15. The chancellor valued the same at only $6,886.00. The commissioner reported amount of profit the contractors would have made, if permitted to complete the work, at $33,758.00. The chancellor was of opinion no profit would have been made. The commissioner reported the whole amount due to the contractors, including $33,760.24, amount of earnings retained by the company, to be $104,437.39, bearing interest from April 9, 1884. The chancellor fixed the principal sum, including percentage of earnings retained, at $61,536.55, not bearing interest, however, until April 9, 1892. ■

In our opinion the evidence does not satisfactorily show the contractors would have made any profit, which at best is conjectural. The contract price of the whole work was $562,632.00. The entire outlay by the company that undertook to complete the bridge.after annulling the contract, was about $145,000:00 iij excess of that sum, without including estimates for work done and materials furnished subsequent to November 30, 1883, which are subjects of the present litigation. It seems to us incredible, in view of the actual and ascertained cost to the company, that the contractors could or would •have made any profit if permitted to complete the work.

But, leaving out of view the matter of profit, the principal sum found by the commissioners is less by about $15,000.00 than that found by the first jury, that does not •appear to have estimated any profit, and about $8,000.00 less than what was found by the second jury, that does appear to have estimated the profit. But considering the time fixed by the chancellor for interest to begin .running, his judgment is for less than half what the verdict of •either jury would now amount to, and about $45,000.00 less than the commissioner reported.

It is apparent only approximate value and amount of work and materials for which the company is required to pay the contractors can be ascertained, because witnesses ■differ not only in their estimates and calculations, but as to facts of which they profess to have personal knowledge. But, without going into detail, we are satisfied the chancellor underestimates the amount to which the contractors are entitled, and his conclusion can not be ■adopted unless, without good reason, we disregard not only the finding of each jury, but also l’eport of the special commissioner, who has shown marked capacity as both accountant and lawyer, and devoted very much more time and attention to the investigation than can be-expected or required of the judge of a court.

We therefore think his report ought to have been confirmed, except as respects amount allowed the contractors for possible profit; in that he is in error. And upon return of the case judgment must be entered in favor of the contractors as of July 7, 1892, for $36,909.15, with interest from April 9, 1884, to that date, value of work and matei’ials subsequent to November 30, 1883, as well as-judgment for percexxtage of earixings retaixxed as before and in the mode directed.

In our opinion, Henderson Bridge Company has no cause of action against O’Connor & McCulloch by reason of their alleged failure to progress with the work accordixig to axx agx’eed progx'amme, or failure to comply with the contract in aixy respect. The remedy provided for the company in case of non-compliance with the contract by the contractors, and manifestly the only x’emedy contemplated by the pax’ties, was the right to annul the-contract in either one of the three conditions stated therein, axxd in one of them to have xxnpaid part of the earnings forfeited.

Wherefore, oxx appeal by plaintiff below, the judgment is reversed and case remanded for proceedings consistent with this opinion. .And, on appeal by defendants below, the judgment is affirmed with damages.

To a petition for rehearing filed by counsel for Henderson Bridge Company, Judge Lewis delivered the following response of the court:

It having been found by two juries and the special commissioner acting under instructions of court, and not only adjudged by the lower court at each trial by jury and of exceptions to report of the commissioner, but finally determined by this court, that Henderson Bridge Company had no right to annul the contract without notice, as it did forcibly do, the only subject for inquiry from beginning of this litigation has been as to amount of recovery the contractors were entitled to.

In the first opinion of this court it was distinctly determined the contractors were entitled unconditionally to amount of earnings retained, being 15 per cent. In the opinion, which the company now seeks to have reconsidered or modified, it was determined the contractors were not entitled to recover any sum on account of possible and contemplated profits on the work; and to that extent judgment of the lower court was concurred in, and finding of the commissioner disallowed.

It thus follows that the main question before this court, one of fact, is whether value of tools and implements on hand April 9, 1884, not already paid for, of materials delivered or ready for delivery subsequent to November 80, 1883, and of unestimated work done after that date, as found and reported by the special commissioner to be $36,909.15, should be accepted or discarded to the extent it was done by the lower court.

For reasons stated in the opinion, that estimate was adopted instead of the one made by the lower court. No argument or suggestion is made in the petition for rehearing that was not contained in the voluminous brief on the same subject that was duly considered. There have been in this case two jury trials, the verdict in each being for more than the company will have to pay under mandate of this court, and not only upon its motion was each verdict set aside or new trial granted, but the action was transferred to equity. It should, therefore, now be required to stand by finding of the special commissioner, made upon a third trial of the same facts, at least to the extent determined in the opinion of this court, and thereby terminate litigation begun more than ten years ago.

As expressly decided by this court, the contractors, were, November 30, 1883, entitled to the 15 per cent of earnings retained by the company, and judgment ought to have been rendered for amount thereof, about which there was no dispute, including interest that had been running six years, when the motion was made December 4, 1889. There was no controversy on the subject at that time, nor room for any; for the question of the company’s right to maintain a counter-claim had been previously determined against it, and the motion to file the same pleading was not then made, nor ought it to have been sustained when it was made.

Section 757, Civil Code, as amended March 24, 1888, provides: “'When a party recovers judgment for only part of the demand or property he sues for, the enforcement of such judgment shall not prevent him fi’om prosecxxting axi appeal therefrom as to so much of the demand or property sued for that he did not recover.” So that the contractors were entitled to an execution upon the judgment of the lower court for $61,536.55, at the same time prosecuting axi appeal therefrom as to so much of the demand sued for that they did xxot recover. But the company prevented them obtaining an execution and thereby collectixig amount of the judgment by a separate appeal and execution of a supex’sedeas bond, whei’eby it covenanted to pay to the contractors, appellees, all costs .and damages adjudged against appellants on that appeal .and also satisfy the judgment appealed from, if affirmed. The decision of this court was that on the appeal of the ■contractors they did not recover all the demand sued for they were entitled to, and that the judgment pro tanto be reversed. But upon appeal of the company the judgment had to benecessarily-affirmed, because it was not erroneous to its prejudice. And, as a consequence, under section 764, 10 per cent damages on amount óf the judgment .superseded has to be awarded.

Petition for rehearing overruled.