Fergestad v. Gjertsen
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Fergestad v. Gjertsen
Opinion of the Court
Action ‘to foreclose a mechanic’s lien. Plaintiff claims to have been a subcontractor under defendant Shakleton, with whom defendants Gjertsen, husband and wife, had contracted for the erection of a dwelling-house upon a lot belonging to them. In his complaint the plaintiff alleged that he furnished all of the materials, and performed the greater part of the labor, under a written contract with Shakleton, in which the price therefor was agreed upon and fixed; and also that he performed extra labor, reasonably worth a certain sum. There was also an allegation as to the reasonable worth and value of the entire labor and materials. The defendants Gjertsen, by their answer, admitted that plaintiff had furnished ma
The findings of fact included one to the effect that the work was done and the materials furnished at a stipulated price, under a contract made with Shakleton. There was another finding, based upon testimony introduced without objection, that the work and materials were reasonably worth and of the value of a specified sum, the same in amount as the contract price. Both findings were justified by the testimony, and upon either, with the other findings, the plaintiff was entitled to judgment as ordered. But the defendants attempted to obtain an additional finding of fact as to what transpired when Mr. Gjertsen called upon plaintiff, and, after some conversation of the character before stated, authorized him to proceed with the work. The defendants insist that they were entitled to this finding, and that, had it been made, it would, by way of estoppel, have precluded the plaintiff from recovering judgment for more than the amount offered by them upon the trial. The trial court refused to make the additional finding, and such refusal is made prominent in the assignments of error. There was no error in this refusal, for the finding demanded was not within the issues made by the pleadings, and, had it been made in the exact form demanded, an estoppel in pais would not have been created. An examination of the authorities as to what representations will constitute such an estoppel will prove conclusive upon this point. See Stevens v. Ludlum, supra, p. 160, and cases cited. The defendants contend that the finding in question would have been justified from the testimony before referred to as to what transpired when Mr. Gjertsen informed the plaintiff of the condition in the Shakleton contract, and at the same time waived it in his ease. Mr. Gjertsen testified that he was informed by the plaintiff that the work was to be done and the materials to be furnished for a sum not exceeding $500, according to plaintiff’s contract with Shakleton, and that he then informed the plaintiff that he might proceed with the work if the cost thereof would not exceed the sum mentioned; otherwise he could not go on with the work. This testimony was controverted by the plaintiff, but, giving it full credence,
The remainder of appellants’ assignments of error are without merit.
Order affirmed.
Note. A motion for a reargument of this case was denied June 30, 1891.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Holway Fergestad v. Inger M. Gjertsen and Husband, impleaded, etc.
- Cited By
- 1 case
- Status
- Published