12 Mont. 316 | Mont. | 1892
Lead Opinion
The complaint, among other things, alleges that: “And plaintiff avers that, in addition to the sum specified and mentioned in said contract, the said plaintiff, for and at the special instance and request of said defendant, Reinhold H. Kleinschmidt, performed extra work and furnished extra materials, over and above those specified in said contract, the price of which was and is the sum of ... . $763.40, making the total price of the work done and materials furnished by said plaintiff on said buildings the sum of ... . $57,473.40,” The account which was filed by the respondent for the purpose of securing a- mechanic’s lien upon the property contains this statement: “ That in addition thereto certain extra work and materials furnished, over and above those specified in said contract, were furnished and done by said Daniel P. Wortman on said buildings and structures, at the request of said Reinhold H. Kleinschmidt, the value of which was and is the sum .... $763.40.” The account consists of these items, which are not set forth in the pleadings: —
To contract for building granite block............... $56,710 00
To extra work and sundries on same, as follows:
Sept. 12th.
To freight and transfer on glass........................ 19 69
To extra work on floor.............. 72 00
To rubblestone and carpenter work..................... 7 00
To extra work per special contract on first-story
ceiling..................................................... 235 00
To setting and moving vault doors:
640 brick....................................... $ 5 44
Labor............................................ 12 00
Brick mason.................................. 21 00
-- 38 44
To freight and transfer on 4 boxes of glass........... 13 70
To 55 feet cherry dado, at $3.75...................... 206 25
To one door and frame, with trimmings in basement 16 00
To plastering in basement............................... 6 12
To 16 feet of base......................................... 2 60
To door in elevator shaft................................ 3 00
To 29 hours’ work ordered by Scott, at 40c......... 11 60
To electric work on elevator............................. 120 00
Por’d..................................................... $57,473 40
The answer denies that, “in addition to the sum mentioned and specified in said contract, plaintiff, for or at the special' instance and request of defendant, K. H. Kleinschmidt, performed extra work, or furnished extra materials, over and aboveJ those specified in said contract, the price of which was or is the sum of $763.40, or any other sum whatever; or that the total price for the work done or materials furnished by said plaintiff on said buildings is the sum of $57,473.40, or any other sum than the sum of $56,710. And defendants aver that, if the plaintiff performed any extra work, or furnished any extra materials, as set forth in plaintiff’s said complaint, he did not perform the same in accordance with the terms of his said contract set forth, and should not now be allowed to make any; additional claim for work done, for the reason, as defendants are informed and believe, none of said extra work was done in pursuance of a written order from the architects, and no notice •of any claim for extra work was made at any time by plaintiff to the architects in writing, within three days from the beginning of said work, as required by the contract, a copy of which is set forth in plaintiff’s complaint.”
The replication is as follows: Plaintiff “avers that the additional work, labor, and materials, over and above that specified in the contract, which is set out in the complaint herein, were done and furnished by plaintiff on the buildings, in said complaint mentioned, at the instance and request of defendant Kleinschmidt, as set forth in paragraph 2 of the complaint herein, and were done and furnished, and the contract therefor ■ made, long subsequent to the execution and delivery of said first-mentioned contract, and were all ordered and accepted, used and enjoyed, by said defendant Kleinschmidt, and were for his use and benefit; and were done and furnished on his promise to pay for the same; and were all done and furnished with the full knowledge of his architects and agents; and that no demand
The contract is made a part of the complaint, and provides expressly for the payment of work of this character: “The contractor shall make no claim for additional work unless the same shall be done in pursuance of a written order from the architects, and notice of all claims shall be made to the architects in writing within three (3) days of the beginning of such work.”
The case was tried upon these issues. The appellants objected to the introduction of any testimony in support of the claim for additional work or materials, upon the ground that the contractor had not complied with the plain terms of the agreement. The objection wras overruled, and the jury were instructed in this language: “Upon the question of extra work you are instructed that if you believe from the evidence that Wortman did or performed any work, or furnished any materials, upon the said buildings of Kleinschmidt, extra and in addition to the work or material specified in his contract, and that said work was done and material was furnished at the request, or with the knowledge and consent, express or implied, of said Kleinschmidt or his agents, then the jury are instructed that the plaintiff is entitled to recover the reasonable value of such extra work and material from the defendant, and you should so find by your verdict.”
Wortman, the respondent, testified: “By the order of Kleinsehmidt and his superintendent, the architects, and from drawings made by the architects — all but one instance — the flooring in the middle room of the granite block I laid through Kleiuschmidt’s order, Paulsen being present, and he agreeing to pay me the sum of $72; and the cherry dado in the center room of the granite block — Kleinschmidt and Paulsen being present — Kleinschmidt agreed to pay me $3.75 a lineal foot for the cherry dado, it being five feet high. I had to send to St. Paul for that. If my memory serves me right, I had a com
This communication was then read: —
“Helena, Mont., July 25, 1890.
“JR. H. Kleinschmidt — Dear Sir: I propose to lay Oregon floor in center room, first story of granite block, for the sum of $72; also to put cherry dado five feet high in the entrance to same for $3.75 per foot; you allowing five days’ extention of time on account of dado. Respectfully submitted,
“Daniel Wortman.”
The respondent testified further: “Kleinschmidt instructed me to go ahead and do the work, and- instructed me to go to Paulsen for a detail as to the dado. Another of the extra items was, I put a wooden formation on the first-story ceiling of the annex building. The ceiling was first plastered as per the plans and specifications, and then there was a formation put across it. . . o . The price of that ceiling was submitted to Kleinschmidt, if my memory serves me right, in the same manner that these other two were, and he accepted it,.and referred me to Paulsen as to a detail.....Paulsen furnished the detail, and I furnished the material, and I executed the work.”
Respondent also testified that Kleinschmidt had at one time a superintendent, one Milligan, who bought some rubblestone. “In laying the center floor this Milligan and Kleinschmidt agreed that he should strip the floor, it being very crooked, and I was to lay the floor on the strips; but Milligan requested me as Kleinschmidt’s superintendent, to lay those strips, and allowed me three or four or six dollars, I forget the exact amount, for that work; I think the whole thing is some eighty odd dollars.” The plans were changed so that two money vaults in the annex building were constructed, “as desired by Kleinschmidt and his architects,” upon the opposite side of the room from what was originally designed. The position of the closets in the basement of the annex building was changed from the northwest corner to the southwest corner, in accordance with the request of “ Kleinschmidt and his superintendent.” Respondent further testified: “I moved them, and in addition set a partition about six feet long and ten feet high, plastered on either side, and an additional partition of one wall, about eight feet long and eight
Upon the part of Kleinschmidt, a letter was read, which was addressed to the respondent by the architects, and we quote a part which relates to the proposition concerning certain work:—
“Mr. D, P. Wortman, Contractor — Dear Sir: Mr. E. H. Kleinschmidt rendered us this morning three notifications received from you, and in regard to them will state as follows: .... Your proposition to lay Oregon floor in center room, first story of grauite block, including leveling up same, for the sum of $72, without any extension of time or other consideration, is accepted by Mr. Kleinschmidt. The putting in of cherry dado five feet high, in middle entrance of center store of granite block, at $3.75 per running foot, straight measurement, and five days’ extension of time for placing the same, is not
“ Respectfully yours, Paulsen and McConnell.”
Kleinschmidt testified: “Question. You put all your agreements in this contract and specifications, and you have never done anything else? Answer. If I did it is in writing. I never made any other arrangements of any kind that I remember of.” Mr. Paulsen testified: “ With slight alterations, the building known as the ‘Granite and Annex’ building was put up strictly according to the contract and specifications as originally drawn. There were some alterations; those alterations were mostly agreed between the contractor and the owner. I ordered some myself. On the south part of the annex building the joists were changed — instead of 2-16 they are 4 by 8. The origiual plans required the joist to be sunk in the north wall of the granite building. Q. Then it was changed in that respect? A. Wortman asked me about that. The intention was to cut the joist in the stone wall, and, when we got at it, it was pretty hard to cut in the stone wall, and at the same time it is not an improvement for the wall; and so Wortman asked me if I had any objection if he would put studding on the outside of the granite block, and I consented to that, provided it would not take any extra money.” The witness did not testify about any other alterations which were not within the contract.
When this testimony is compared, it will be observed that the respondent complied with the contract respecting one item, “extra work on floor,” and is entitled to recover the sum of j $72 therefor. The claim of $206.25 for the dado should be rejected, in the light of the letter which was sent to the respondent, stating that his proposition concerning the same was not accepted. The following items are not supported by the proof: Electric work on the elevator, $120; freight and transfer on glass, $19.69 and $13.70; steps to annex, second story, $12; and work ordered by Scott, $11.60. The other items are summarized as follows: Rubblestone and carpenter work, $7; changing location of money vaults, $38.44; changing location of closets, $24.72; work on ceiling, first story, $235; and door in elevator shaft, $3. The entire account for extra work and materials must be adjusted by the same legal rule.
A leading English case is that of Russell v. Da Bandeira, 13 Com. B. N. S. 149, and Lord Chief Justice Erie said: “It almost invariably happens that, in the course of the construction of a house, or ship, or other extensive work, the party for whom the work is done from time to time desires to have additions and alterations; and it is by no means an unusual thing to insert a clause providing that the employer shall not be liable for extras or additions unless there be an order in writing fixing the price, or the certificate of an architect for the work so done. In many cases the court, though satisfied that the builder, acting upon the faith of an oral request, has fairly done the work for which he seeks to be paid, has felt itself to be fettered by the express terms of the bargain the parties have entered into. We cannot yield to suggestions of hardship on the one side or the other, though I must confess that, according to my experience, the hardship has most commonly been upon •the side of the employer. By the terms of this contract the £10,400 is inclusive of all charges for the ship, finished and fitted perfectly in every respect, and no charges are to be demanded for extras. But any addition or additions which •may be made by an order in writing of Sir George Sartorius, as an extra or extras, are to be paid for at a price to be previously agreed upon in writing. No additions were ordered by the admiral in writing; but, during the progress of the work, orders were from time to time given, by persons who represented the Portuguese government, for additions and alterations for which, under ordinary circumstances, Mr. Scott Russell might well suppose he was to be at liberty to charge. He might have declined to comply with these requests unless they were made in writing. I feel bound to give effect to the terms of the contract, and to hold that the extras and additions supplied, not under written orders during the performance of the contract,
The case of Abbott v. Gatch, 13 Md. 314; 71 Am. Dec. 635,. is in point, and Mr. Justice Tuck, for the court, said: “In the contract there is this clause: ‘No extra charges to be made unless a written agreement be made and attached to the contract/ In the progress of the work alterations were made, and portions of the mill put in, as the plaintiff contends, not embraced by the terms of the contract, without the parties availing themselves of the above provision; and one of the questions in the cause is, Can the plaintiff demand additional compensation beyond the sum stipulated for the entire work? .... We take the true-construction to be that there was to be no charge for extra work, that is, for any work beyond that stated in the contract, no-matter what it might be, whether alterations in the plan or mode-of doing the work, or additions or improvements in and about the completion of the mill, unless reduced to writing and attached. It makes no difference if the extra work was-ordered by the owner, provided it was on the mill. As we have said, the builder need not accede to the owner’s views; he may refuse, or he may assent, under the protection afforded by this clause. If extra work be done without [it, the right to-additional compensation is waived. Any other interpretation of such words would make them valueless to the parties. The appellee’s view, if adopted, would deny to the owner the privilege of suggesting any, the most trivial, alteration of the work, without incurring the risk of opening the whole contract. Then the written agreement would be substituted by a mere quantum meruit claim for the work and labor, and to be afterwards adjusted upon uncertain oral testimony. And, in many cases,, his mere presence on the premises might subject him to extra charges, on the ground of acquiescence in alterations made by the builder, when it might well be supposed there was to be no additional charge, because not previously attached to the contract.....We cannot distinguish this agreement from that
We approve the doctrines which have been laid down in the foregoing authorities. The contrary rule is a dangerous standard, and impairs the value, and renders uncertain every written contract for the construction of an edifice. There is no ambiguity in this agreement, which was made for the “entire completion” of the building by Wortman, for Kleinschmidt, at a certain price. The contractor was not required to make any alterations, or perform any extra work, without an order in writing from the architects. The articles of the contract are just and equitable to both parties, and cover every contingency which may arise during the period of its fulfillment. The court erred in its instruction to the jury upon this branch of the case, and did not give proper weight to the express provisions of the contract. They were not informed concerning the effect of a
The sixteenth legislative assembly, by an act approved March 14, 1889, added to section 1394, fifth division of the Compiled Laws, the following: “ Whenever, in any action or suit hereafter brought for the purpose of foreclosing a lien or liens under the provisions of this act, and judgment is therein rendered for the plaintiff or any person claiming or holding a lien upon any property, the court may order, and it is hereby made the duty of the judge thereof to order, that the defendant against whose property the lien is filed shall pay as costs a reasonable attorney fee, to be fixed and allowed by the court, and to be collected as are other costs in the action.” It is maintained by Kleinschmidt that this amendment does not apply to the mechanic’s lien law as a whole, but is restricted to the ranchmen, herders, and other persons who are enumerated in that section. We think its provisions embrace the chapter which is entitled “Liens.”
It is insisted that the act is unconstitutional; that it impairs the obligations of contracts; that it deprives one of his property without due process of law; and that it discriminates unfairly against the owner of property upon which the lien is sought to be enforced. The Constitution of the State
In Durkee v. Janesville, supra, the court held that an act of the legislature providing that no costs shall be recovered against the city of Janesville, in certain classes of actions, was void. In Wilder v. Railroad Co. supra, the court adjudged that the law allowing the plaintiff, in a suit against a railroad company to recover damages for injuries to his cow, to tax an attorney’s fee of $25 as a part of his costs, was unconstitutional. To the same effect are Schut v. Railway Co. supra, and Rinear v. Railroad Co. supra. There are general observations in these cases which uphold, in some respects, the contention of appellants, but the facts make them inapplicable to this controversy. Chief Justice Sherwood, in Schut v. Railway Co. supra, said: “This section provides that until the company has fenced its right of way, as required by law, it 'shall be liable for all damages done to cattle or other animals thereon,’ to be recovered by the owner thereof, 'together with an attorney’s fee of $25, to be taxed as costs against the defendant,’ in case of a recovery.” The ground upon which the Supreme Court of Michigan annulled this statute is clearly expressed by Mr. Justice Morse in Wilder v. Railway Co. supra: “The legislature cannot make unjust distiuctious between classes of suitors without violating the spirit of the Constitution. Corporations have equal rights with natural persons, as far as their privileges in the courts are concerned.” These decisions were followed in Lafferty v. Chicago etc. Ry. Co. 71 Mich. 35; and Grand Rapids Chair Co. v. Runnels, 77 Mich. 104. The “Log Lien Law” was involved in-the last ease. Statutes embodying provisions of like character have been pronounced constitutional by the courts of Kansas, Illinois, Mia
The law of this State which has been complained of operates, equally upon corporations and persons, and is not obnoxious to the criticism of the courts of Michigan and Wisconsin. The case of Grand Rapids Chair Co. v. Runnels, supra, is founded upon the same deductions which had been announced in prior decisions of that court. In Rapp v. Spring Valley Gold Co. 74 Cal. 532, the court, in an action to foreclose a mechanic’s lien, said: “The attorney’s fee in this kind of caséis not, strictly speaking, part of the costs. If allowed by the court, it need not be placed in the memorandum of costs. But it was properly allowed for the same reason that costs were allowed, viz., that it was a necessary incident of the judgment.....” In McIntyre v. Trautner, 78 Cal. 449, the court affirmed Rapp v. Spring Valley Gold Co. supra, and said: “There can be no recovery for attorney’s fees unless the plaintiff succeeds in his foreclosure proceeding. The court below having found against him on the merits, the lien, which is the basis upon which the right to recover the attorney’s fees must rest, is gone, and the right to such attorneys’ fees must go with it.” The appellants do not attack the reasonableness of the sum of $1,000 which was taxed in favor of respondent as an attorney’s fee, but insist that this act is within the prohibition of the Constitution, because it punishes the owner of property who resists in good faith the payment of an unjust or illegal claim. It is shown in the case at bar that the respondent brought this action to recover the sum of $14,198.50; that the verdict was for the sum of $9,ll3.50; and that judgment was entered accordingly. The jury arrived at this result by deducting from the demand of respondent the sum of $5,085, which was paid by Kleinschmidt after the commencement of the action.
Kleinschmidt, by his pleadings and testimony, asserted that Wortman was not entitled to recover any amount, and that if judgment were entered against him the law would not authorize
The court below was correct in its rulings upon the other questions which have been discussed. The respondent performed the conditions of the contract which devolved upon him; the certificate of the architects was unreasonably withheld • and the delay in the construction of the building and the annex was not caused through the fault of the builder. The respondent is entitled to a lien upon this property under the statutes to secure the payment of the sum which is due from Kleinschmidt.
It is therefore ordered and adjudged that the judgment be reduced from the sum of $9,113.50 to the sum of $8,422.10, and that, when so modified, the same be affirmed.
Affirmed.
Dissenting Opinion
(treating the vjhole case and dissenting from the conclusions of the majority of the court upon two points only). — The views that I entertain of this case are as follows: This action arose over a building contract, by the terms of which plaintiff was to erect for defendant Kleinschmidt a building called the “Granite Block and Annex,” except some items of plumbing, elevator, etc.; but, as these exceptions are not under consideration, I may speak of the contract as one for the erection of the building. Plaintiff was the original contractor with defendant Kleinschmidt. The sum which he was to receive for erectiug the building was $56,710. He claims $763.40 for extra work. He says that $43,274 has been paid, and that the
There are many facts in this case which can be more conveniently taken up and stated as we arrive at the various points made by appellants.
I find in the record one hundred and twenty specifications of errors and insufficiencies. Appellants have argued only those which we discuss below. In this connection, the remarks of Mr. Justice Miller in Phillips etc. Construction Co. v. Seymour, 91 U. S. 646, are pertinent.
The action was upon a written contract, a copy of which is attached to the complaint. Appellants insist that the action is upon a special contract, and not upon quantum meruit, and that plaintiff must be held to prove his compliance with the contract. Appellants contend that compliance with the contract has not been shown in several respects. I will examine these alleged noncompliances, and will take up appellants’ points in the order in which they present them, as follows: —
1. The contract provides for the services of a supervising architect. On the first of each month the contractor is to be paid eighty per cent of the value of the material provided and labor done, based on the contract price to be given on an estimate of the architect. “It being understood that the final payment shall be within thirty days after this contract is completely finished; provided, that in each of the said cases the architects shall certify in writing that all the work, upon the performance of which tlie payment is to become due, has been done to their satisfaction.”
Plaintiff does not pretend that he obtained the architects’ certificate as to the final balance due for which he now sues. He pleads that he had completed the building under his contract on February 1, 1891. He excuses the nonproduction of the architects’ certificate by the following pleading, which was added to his complaint as an amendment: —
“That on, to wit, the first day of February, 1891, and at
It was competent that the parties should contract that payment should be made only upon the certificate of the architects. If the architects’ certificate is not obtained, plaintiff cannot recover, unless he show that the certificate was withheld by the architects wrongfully. The respondent objects that plaintiff’s pleading does not say that there was fraud by the architects in withholding the certificate.
It is interesting to note the language of some of the decided cases in speaking of the conduct of the architects in refusing the certificate. In Kihlberg v. United States, 97 U. S. 398, the words are “ fraud and bad faith; ” in Tetz v. ButterField, 54 Wis. 247; 41 Am. Rep. 29, they are, “grossly and palpably perverse, oppressive, and unjust, so much so that the inference of bad faith and dishonesty would at once arise;’' in Hudson v. McCartney, 33 Wis. 341, the language is, “fraudulently and corruptly;” in Bently v. Davidson, 74 Wis. 420, “dishonestly and arbitrarily;” in Doll v. Noble, 116 N. Y. 230; 15 Am. St. Rep. 398, “unreasonably and in bad
Such language as that which we have just quoted from the cases is a description of the sort of conduct by the architect which has been considered sufficient to constitute his refusal to give his certificate an excuse for the plaintiff for not producing it. In the case at bar it is observed that it is alleged that the plaintiff demanded the certificate; that the architects knew of the full performance of the work under the contract; and that the architects intended to delay plaintiff in the collection of the money due him, and, in collusion with the defendant Kleinschmidt, causelessly and perversely refused the certificate. I am of opinion that this allegation of the reason why plaintiff did not produce the certificate is sufficient, in view of the cases above cited. (See, also, Martinsburg etc. R. R. Co. v. March, 114 U. S. 549; Bryne v. Sisters of Charity, 45 N. J. L. 213; Michaelis v. Wolf, 136 Ill. 68; Whelen v. Boyd, 114 Pa. St. 228.)
It is not complained by appellants that this question was not fairly submitted to the jury by the instructions of the court. Then the only ground left to appellant is that the evidence does not support the verdict in this respect.
If the building were substantially completed under the contract, the architects had no right to withhold the certificate. Direct evidence of fraud, bad faith, and collusion, is not always obtainable or required. From the great mass of testimony, circumstances, and facts, the jury must have found, under the instruction of the court, that the architects wrongfully, as pleaded, refused the certificate. I am of opinion that in this respect the evidence is not insufficient to justify the verdict.
2. Again, it was claimed by plaintiff that the defendants accepted the building, and so released the plaintiff from the •obligation of the contract to produce the architect’s certificate.
But the conclusion reached upon the last point renders a discussion of this one unnecessary.
3; The plaintiff included in his complaint a claim for some extras, amounting to $763.40. The appellants cite the follow
Appellants’ position is that respondent has not complied with this provision of the contract, and therefore can make no claim for payment of these extras. But the plaintiff pleads in his complaint that, at the special instance aud request of defendant Kleinschmidt, he performed extra work, aud furnished extra materials of the value of $763.40. The account for these extras, and the pleadings in reference to them, are set out fully in the opinion of the majority of the court. The answer does not deny that such materials were furnished and work done, or that the value was as alleged. It denies only that this was at the request of Kleinschmidt, and it sets up, as a defense against this claim for extras, that if such extras were supplied, as alleged in the complaint, it was not in accordance with the contract, in that it was not done in pursuance of a written order from the architects, and that- no notice of any claim for extra work was made at any time by plaintiff to the architects, in writing. Such is the condition of the pleadings. Now as to the evidence upon this issue. The plaintiff testified that the changes and deviations that were made were sometimes at Paul-sen’s [the architect’s] request, and sometimes at Kleinschmidt’s.” Kleinschmidt aud Paulsen nowhere deny this statement, unless such denial be found in certain testimony of Kleinschmidt and Paulsen, which is referred to in the opinion of the majority of the court, and which testimony, if I understand correotly, is interpreted by that opinion to be a denial by Kleinschmidt and Paulsen that extra work was done and materials furnished on Kleinschmidt’s request, or on his promise to pay therefor. This particular portion of the testimony of Kleinschmidt and Paulsen I shall specifically treat later on in this paragraph, and until I arrive thereat, let it be understood, to avoid repetition, that when I remark, as I shall have frequent occasion to do, that certain evidence of plaintiff is not denied by Kleinschmidt or Paulsen, I mean that it is not denied except as it may be so construed to be, in the particular language of Kleinschmidt
We find the witness Paulsen says: “There were some alterations. Those alterations were mostly agreed between the contractor and the owner. I ordered some myself.” Again, plaintiff testified as to the extras, that it was “by the order of Eleinschmidt and his superintendent, the architects, and from drawings made by the architects — all but one instance.” Of that one instance I shall speak below. In the forty-three printed pages of Eleinschmidt’s testimony he does not deny this, and in the twenty-nine pages of Paulsen’s testimony he finds no occasion to deny it.
The plaintiff says that the architect was present when he furnished the extra work and material, and that the architect made the details for the work. The architect Paulsen does not deny this. Such is the evidence as to the extras generally. It is admitted that they were furnished. The value is not denied by the answer. There is testimony that they were done at the request of Eleinschmidt, and the architects furnished the details, and this testimony is uncontroverted. In one portion of his testimony plaintiff says that Eleinschmidt said that he “desired these extras to go until the building was completed, and then he would pay them.” But it is fair to observe that it does not specifically appear, in this connection, to how many of the extras Eleinschmidt referred.
But as to most of the items of the extras, there is specific evidence.
As to the extra work on the floor, $72, plaintiff testifies that the floor was laid in pursuance to a contract between Eleinschmidt and himself, and that Eleinschmidt agreed to pay him $72 therefor. Eleinschmidt does not deny this.
As to the rubblestone and carpenter work, $7, plaintiff says that this was at the request of Eleinschmidt’s superintendent. No one denies this testimony.
As to the special contract on the first story ceiling, $235, plaintiff says that the price was submitted to Eleinschmidt, and that he accepted it, and referred plaintiff to Paulsen, and that Paulsen furnished the detail, and that plaintiff furnished the material and work. Eleinschmidt nor Paulsen do not deny this.
As to the 55 feet of dado, at $3.75 per foot, $206.25, plaintiff says that this was “put up by his [Kleinschmidt’s] request, and allowed as extra work by him.” Plaintiff wrote a letter July 25,1890, to Kleinschmidt, offering to do this dado. That letter is quoted in the majority opinion. Plaintiff testifies that “ Kleinschmidt instructed me to go ahead and do the work, and to go to Paulsen for a detail as to the dado.” All this Kleinschmidt admits to be true by virtue of his not denying it in his testimony. At the close of Paulsen’s testimony, he identified a letter as one he had written to plaintiff. It was introduced in evidence, but for what purpose was not stated by any one. The letter treats of several topics, not here of interest, and then concludes with these words: “The putting in of cherry dado 5 feet high, in middle entrance of center store of granite block, at $3.75 per running foot, straight measurement, and five days’ extention of time for placing the same, is not accepted, as Mr. Kleinschmidt does not want to make any other improvements which will delay the completion of the building.” There is no date to this letter. It does not appear when it was written. Now, plaintiff testifies, and Kleinschmidt admits, that the dado was put in at Kleinschmidt’s order, and neither Kleinschmidt nor Paulsen offer a word of testimony as to the Paulsen letter. They do not show, nor does it appear, that the letter was written after Kleinschmidt ordered the dado, so that it could be construed as countermanding Kleinschmidt’s order. The most that can be gotten out of the letter is that there was a conflict between
What has been said of the items specifically reviewed is also true as to the basement, $16; plastering, $6.12; base, $2.60; door in shaft, $3, and electric work on elevator, $120. There is specific evidence as to the ordering of these items by Kleinschmidt — evidence that is not controverted by testimony on the part of defendant.
There are three items of extras, freight, and transfer on glass, $19.69, do. $13.70,.and steps to annex second story, $12, and perhaps the item of twenty-nine hours’ work ordered by Scott, $11.60, in regard to which there is not such specific evidence as I note in respect to the other items. But, as observed, plaintiff testified, as to the extras generally, that they were at the order of Kleinschmidt and Paulsen; and as this statement went unchallenged, and the jury found, with this uncontroverted testimony, I see no reason to disturb the verdict.
As I have noted above, when I have observed that the testimony of plaintiff, which I have reviewed, was uncontroverted, I have spoken independently of certain evidence by Kleinschmidt and Paulsen, to which I will now give my attention, and which I do not understand is, in fact, a denial of plaintiff’s testimony in the matter that I have been considering; that is, his testimony as to Kleinschmidt’s ordering add promising to pay for the extras.
I cannot satisfy my mind that it appears that in his testi
To detach a few lines of Kleinsehmidt’s testimony from the subject-matter with which that testimony was dealing, and to attach those lines to a subject other than that which the evidence shows was within the contemplation of the witness at the time, does not seem to me to be a wholly reasonable construction of the witness’ evidence.
Regarding this matter as I feel compelled to do, I am of opinion that Kleinschmidt nowhere denied any of plaintiff’s testimony as to his (Kleinschmidt’s) ordering the extras and promising to pay for them.
Now, as to what may be construed as to any denial by Paulsen of plaintiff’s testimony. Paulsen says nothing in answer to plaintiff’s detailed and specific evidence as to the extras. During his whole direct testimony he does not touch the subject. In the opening of his cross-examination he made the remark quoted in the opinion of the majority. But he says: “There were some alterations. These alterations were mostly agreed between the contractors and the owner. I ordered some myself.” It is true that the witness then went on and referred to some changes in regard to which there was no controversy, but taking his whole testimony as it stands, I am of opinion that it can scarcely be construed as a denial of the particular testimony that plaintiff gave upon the subject under consideration. I cannot satisfy myself that either Kleinschmidt or Paulsen intended to, or did, deny the evidence of plaintiff on this point. But, if I am wrong in my inter
Holding these views, of which I cannot divest myself, I must take it as the facts of the case that the extras were furnished; that defendant received them; that he ordered them; that their value is conceded. If my view of the facts is correct, the application of the law does not seem to be difficult. It occurs to me that it is simply this: The parties first contracted that, if extras were furnished, it should be done with certain written formalities. Then they afterwards contracted that the extras should be furnished without the observation of these formalities. They agreed to one thing on one day, and to another different thing on another subsequent day. I understand that parties may do this. (See Delaney v. Linder, 22 Neb. 274; Badders v. Davis, 88 Ala. 367; McFadden v. O’Donnell, 18 Cal. 160.) Parties may do this even if their second agreement is a modification of the first. I apprehend that this view of the law is not questionable.
I do not understand that the authorities cited by the majority of the court conflict with this view. In the case of Russell v. Da Bandeira, 13 Com. B. N. S. 149, the contract was with the defendant Bandeira. The contract also was that if extras were furnished they should be upon the order of Sir George Sartorius. When the case came up for a decision, it appeared that the extras had been ordered, neither by the defendant, the party to the contract, nor by the person whom it was agreed
The ease of Abbott v. Catch, 13 Md. 314; 71 Am, Dec. 635, is also cited by the majority of the court, but the opinion in that case also uses the following language: “And if, in a case like this, one party omits to have the changes reduced to writing, they must, in view of the rights of the other, be deemed to have been made with reference to the contract price, unless there be proof of an express waiver of that clause of the contract, or a promise to pay for the extra work.” Now, it occurs to me that the Maryland' court would have distinguished the case at bar as being one in which there was “a promise to pay for the extra work.” In the opinion of the majority there is also a quotation from Cemetery Co. v. Coburn, but that opinion goes on to say, on page 207: “There is nothing to show the assent of defendants, or their acquiescence in the alteration; on the contrary, the first we hear of them in reference to it is their refusal to pay the extra charge.” It seems to me that this case is thus distinguished from the one at bar.
The same distinction may be found in Lloyd on Building Contracts, section 48. The ease of Sutherland v. Morris, 45 Hun, 259, is also distinguishable, for the opinion observes: “And they [the contractors] were never requested to do anything more than to complete what they und&'took, in conformity with their contract.” It is observed that in this New York case there was no request to do any extras.
I find the same distinction in Duncan v. Board, of Commrs. 19 Ind. 154, in which the opinion remarks: “But the contractor could not, without the consent of the board, put extra expense,” etc. I think that an inspection of Scammon v. Denio, 72 Cal. 393; Hot Springs Ry. Co. v. Maher, 48 Ark. 522; and Hanley v. Walker, 79 Mich. 607, will demonstrate that these cases are not in conflict with the view that I venture to hold.
I am of opinion that the judgment of the lower court should not be modified in the matter of extras.
4. Appellants contend that, by the statute of this State, a contractor, as such, has not a lien; that persons performing labor and furnishing material have a lien; and that, if a con
Merrigan v. English, 9 Mont. 113, decided that a subcontractor had a lien. Whether a contractor had a lien was not a point in that case. The opinion in that case took it for granted that a contractor had a lien, and spoke of such lien as a matter of course, and then went on to decide that a subcontractor also had a lien.
I do not deem .it necessary to review the cases cited by the appellants, or make any extended argument leading to the conclusion which I hold, for I am of opinion that the matter is settled by the statute.
It is provided in the Compiled Statutes, section 1370, as follows: “ Every mechanic, builder, lumberman, artisan, workman, laborer, or other person or persons,” etc., “that shall do or perform any work and labor upon, or furnish any material, machinery, or fixture for, any building, erection,” etc., “upon complying with the provisions of this chapter shall have for his work or labor done, or material, machinery, or fixtures furnished, a lien upon such building, erection,” etc., “to secure the payment of such work or labor done, or material, machinery, or fixtures furnished.”
A “contractor” is defined in Phillips on Mechanics’ Liens, section 40, as follows: “He who agrees to do anything for another is a contractor. The words ‘owner’and ‘contractor’ denote two persons. A ‘contractor’ is he who makes a contract with the owner. The latter is generally used in the mechanic’s lien law as a correlative of the ‘contractor,’ and means a person who employs a contractor, and for whom the work is done under the contract.”
Our statute gives the lien to, among other persons, a “builder.” A “builder” is defined in the Century Dictionary as follows: “One who builds, or whose occupation is that of building; specifically, one who controls or directs the work of construction in any capacity. In the practice of civil architecture, the builder comes between the architect who designs the work and
Again, I find section 1391 of the Compiled Statutes as follows: “All persons furnishing things, or doing work, as provided for by this chapter, shall be considered subcontractors, except such as have therefor contracts directly with the owner or proprietor, his agent or trustee.” This section distinguishes, by definition, a “subcontractor” from a “contractor.” If a contractor were not intended to be included among the persons whom the statute gives a lien, why should this distinction be drawn between the contractor and the subcontractor? The whole statute makes it apparent to my mind that the intention of the lien law is to give the lien to the contractor in his capacity as a contractor.
5. The lien law provides in section 1372 as follows: “It shall be the duty of every person, and all persons, except as has been provided for subcontractors, who wish to avail himself or themselves of the benefits of this chapter, to file with the recorder of the county in which the building, erection, bridge, canal, ditch, mining claim, quartz lode, ranch, city or town lots, or other improvements upon lands to be charged with lien, is situated, and within ninety days after the things aforesaid have been furnished, or the work or labor done or performed, a just and true account of the amount due or owing to him, after allowing all credits, and containing a correct description of the property to be charged with said lien, and verified by affidavit.”
The appellants object to the validity of the lien claimed by plaintiff, that the contractor did not file “a just and true account;” that the notice of lien should have set out the items of material furnished and labor done. The account as filed showed no reference to the contract, but one item, which was as follows: “To contract for building granite block, $56,710.” It then sets out the extras, but these I have discussed herein-before. It then gives credit for payments made, and claims the
6. The above views also dispose of the objection that the lien includes the services of the contractor in superintending his own workmen. There is in fact no claim for superintending workmen. To be sure, the contractor may have been obliged to superintend his workmen. But that is not an item of the lien, as we regard it. As above remarked, there was but one item, i. e., $56,710, for erecting the building, and if in fulfilling this contract it was necessary for the contractor to superintend his workmen that cannot vitiate the lien. In completing that one item, i. e., the building, the contractor had the right to do that which was necessary to so complete the building and his contract.
8. Again, it is contended that the filing of the lien was premature, appellants relying upon a clause of the contract as follows: “ It being understood that the final payment shall be made within thirty days after this contract is completely finished.” The lien was filed on March 6th. Appellants claim that on March 6th thirty days had not elapsed since the completion of the building, if it were completed at all. The jury found that the building was substantially completed before the lien was filed. This finding I have declined to disturb, so now it is a fact in the case.
The statute provides that a person wishing to avail himself of the lien law shall file his account within a given period after he has furnished the material and performed the labor. Thus a limitation of time is provided within which the lienor may file his lien. If the contract provides that payment shall be deferred for a certain period after the contract is completed, this would not extend the time in which to file the lien, for the statute specifically limits the time in which it must be filed, and that limitation commences to run from the time the material is
9. Appellants object that plaintiff had filed two liens. It would seem that, prior to filing the lien upon which the action was brought, plaintiff had filed a lien which he had considered defective, and then filed the lien under consideration. He never relied upon the old lien. It was abandoned. It was for the same subject-matter as the one at bar. A foreclosure of the present lien is a bar to an action on the former. No reason is advanced why the filing of the first lien vitiated the one upon which the action is brought. The authorities cited by appellants (Jones on Liens, § 1394, and Cox v. Western Pac. R. R. Co. 44 Cal. 18) are not in point. Phillips on Mechanics’ Liens, § 335, and Sarles v. Sharlow, 5 Dak. 100, are in point.
10. Appellants claim that the lien was void because it was filed for an amount in excess of that actually due. But the statute provides, in section 1371: “But any error or mistake in said account or description shall not affect the validity of said lien, provided the property may be identified by said description.” It does not appear that an excessive amount was claimed voluntarily or fraudulently, and the lien was therefore not disturbed. (2 Jones on Liens, §§ 1408, 1413-1415; Nolan v. Lovelock, 1 Mont. 224; Mason v. Germaine, 1 Mont. 263; Black v. Appolonio, 1 Mont. 342.)
11. Again, it is objected by appellants that the complaint does not show that the county recorder indorsed upon the lien the date of filing, and made an abstract as provided in section 1373 of the Compiled Statutes. If this were true, it is an omission of duty by the county recorder, and not by the plaintiff. Appellants cite no authorities to the effect that such omission by the recorder worked the penalty upon the lienor of
12. The court allowed to plaintiff an attorney’s fee of $1,000. This was in pursuance to an act of the legislative assembly of March 14, 1889, as follows: “That there be added to section 1394 of the fifth division of the Compiled Laws of Montana, the following: Whenever any action or suit is hereafter brought for the purpose of foreclosing a lien or liens under the provisions of this act, and judgment is therein rendered for the plaintiff, or any person claiming or holding a lien upon any property, the court may order, and it is hereby made the duty of the judge thereof to order, that the defendant against whose property the lien is filed shall pay as costs a reasonable attorney’s fee, to be fixed and allowed by the court, and to be collected as are other costs in the action.” (§ 1394 a.) The appellants contend that this act of the legislature is void.
Some Stales have enacted laws for the allowance of a» attorney’s fee to the plaintiff in an action against a railroad company for the killing of domestic animals. Such law was declared to be unconstitutional in the State of Michigan. (See Wilder v. Chicago etc. Ry. Co. 70 Mich. 382; Schut v. Chicago etc. Ry. Co. 70 Mich. 433; Rinear v. Grand Rapids & I. R. R. Co. 70 Mich. 620.) But laws of this nature were held to be constitutional in Peoria etc. Ry. Co. v. Duggan, 109 Ill. 537; 50 Am. Rep. 619; Kansas Pac. Ry. Co. v. Mower, 16 Kan. 573; Perkins v. St. Louis etc. Ry. Co. 103 Mo. 52; Burlington etc. Ry. Co. v. Dey, Iowa, Feb. 9, 1891, 48 N. W. Rep. 98. But in these cases the law was sustained on the ground that the attorney’s fee so taxed was in the nature of a penalty against the railroad company for the disobedience of the provisions of the statute requiring them to maintain a fence on their right of way. But the allowance of an attorney’s fee in the action to foreclose a mechanic’s lien is not a penalty for the disregard of a statute, and the cases last cited are not in point. The argument of respondent that “ sufficient answer to the position of appellant Kleinschmidt is this: that if he desired to avoid the imposition of costs in tliis action he should have paid his honest debts,”seems-to me to be of the nature oí petitio principii, because the very question in litigation is whether the defendant owes the debt at all.
The Constitution of Wisconsin provides (§ 9, art. i.): “Every person shall have a certain remedy in the laws for all injuries or wrongs which he may receive in his person, property, or character; he ought to obtain justice freely, and without being obliged to purchase it, completely and without denial, promptly and without delay, conformable to the laws.” Chief Justice Dixon, of the Supreme Court of that State, said in Durkee v. City of Janesville, 28 Wis. 471; 9 Am. Rep. 500: “I had occasion to express my views of the proper construction and effect of this section in Phelps v. Rooney, 12 Wis. 705, 706. It is obvious there can be no certain remedy in the laws where the legislature may prescribe one rule for one suitor or class of suitors in the courts, and another for all others under like circumstances, or may discriminate between parties to the same suit, giving one a most unjust pecuniary advantage over the other. Parties thus discriminated against would not obtain justice freely and without being obliged to purchase it. To the extent of such discrimination they would be obliged to buy justice and pay for it, thus making it a matter of purchase to those who could afford to pay, contrary to the letter and spirit of this provision. Certainty of remedy implies uniformity of remedy and equality of rights and privileges in all things respecting it, which can only be obtained by general laws, equally binding upon every member of the community. The language denotes that there can be but one remedy for all similar cases, which must operate upon all persons or parties alike, and be equally free and favorable to all.” (See the review of authorities in this opinion.)
Leaving out of consideration in the Michigan cases, as there is out of consideration in the case at bar, the question of the attorney’s fee being a penalty for the „ disobedience of the requirements of a statute, I cite those cases for their reasoning upon the general principle.
Our statute (Act March 14, 1889) does just that which is criticised in such unsparing language in the Michigan and Wisconsin cases. It gives a weapon, and a powerful one, to the plaintiff, which it withholds from the defendant. If plaintiff is successful, he obtains his attorney’s fee. If defendant is victorious, he does not. The parties áre not equal before the law. Defendant must buy his right to defend by submitting to the laibility of paying plaintiff’s attorneys’ fees. The attorney’s fee is not like the costs of the case. If defendant prevailed, he could recover his costs of the action against plaintiff, but he could not recover the attorney’s. fee, as could plaintiff, under the statute. The statute absolutely takes from defendant, and gives to plaintiff, that which defendant could never recover from' plaintiff if the result of the action were favorable to defendant. When the Constitution says: “Courts of justice shall be open to every person, and a speedy remedy afforded for every injury of person, property, or character, and that right and justice shall be administered without sale, denial, or delay,” these words are not vain declamation. Courts of justice are not equally open to every person, if the defendant, in every lawsuit of a certain character, must come into court knowing that his adversary, if victorious, may throw a heavy burden upon him, and that he cannot, if successful, east a similar burden upon his opponent.
It is true that these attorney fees have been sustained by the Supreme Court of California in cases which respondent has cited and in many others. But, in the cases which I have examined, the constitutionality of the law has not been discussed or called to the attention of the court, and I am not aware that such constitutionality has been sustained by that court upon consideration. But under the provisions of our Constitution, and the matter being directly presented for determination, I
I am of opinion that the judgment should be modified by striking out the attorney’s fee, and, as so modified, should be affirmed.
Affirmed.
