Mayor of Savannah v. Kops
Mayor of Savannah v. Kops
Opinion of the Court
1. Hops sued the Mayor and Aldermen of the City of Savannah. His right to recover as an architect is based upon the following resolution passed by the mayor and aldermen: “ That the market committee be and it is hereby authorized and empowered to contract with an architect to draw up and prepare a preliminary statement and estimate of probable cost of making the contemplated improvements to the city market, as outlined to him by said committee, and to pay him therefor the sum of one hundred dollars. Such contract with the architect is to contain the condition, that should council determine to proceed with the work at any time, then and in that event he must draw up the preliminary plans, working drawings, specifications, large sized details, and also superintend the erection of the work to completion, under the terms and conditions a.s given in the circular of the American Institute of Architects, giving the professional practice of architects and schedule of proper minimum charges, as revised at the Washington Convention, December 15-17, 1908, and amplified in the Standard Form of Agreements between owner and architect, second edition, copyright 1917, by the American Institute of Architects, Washington, D. C.; and said sum of one hundred dollars is he'reby appropriated out of the city treasury for the purpose above set out, and the city comptroller is hereby directed to draw voucher for said sum when requested so to do by said market committee.” The petition alleges that he, Kops, was selected as the architect, by reason of said- resolution. The petition alleges, that, as provided in the resolution, he prepared the preliminary statement and estimate of probable cost of making the contemplated improvements to the city market, and that he had been paid his fee of $100 therefor. The petition further alleges, that the council passed a resolution approximately one year thereafter as follows: “ That the director of public works of said city be and he is hereby directed to advertise for sealed bids from contractors for the following work upon and in the city market of Savannah, according to plans and specifications on file in the office of the director of public works, to wit: Flooring
It appears that no bids were received under the resolution adopted and passed by council at its meeting on May 19, 1920, authorizing advertisement for bid for said work and material. It is alleged that the plans and specifications referred to in said resolution were the plans and specifications prepared by petitioner in accordance with the directions of the chairman of said committee. It is further alleged that bids were advertised for furnishing material for doing the work on the city market as was
It was error to overrule the demurrer. It is not alleged that upon authority of the mayor and aldermen of the city of Savannah the market committee contracted with the plaintiff for any additional plans or estimates other than the estimate for which he was paid. It is not alleged that the plaintiff prepared any specifications, other than those for which he was paid, prior to the resolution which directed an advertisement for bids. It is not shown by the petition that any proper resolution “to proceed with the work” was ever passed by the city. Under our view of the resolution authorizing the employment of an architect, it would hav.e'been necessary for the city to express by proper resolution its intention to proceed with the work, and for a contract to be duly entered into by the proper authority with the plaintiff, in accordance with the resolution.
Judgment reversed.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.