B. & V. Construction Co. v. Shaw-Van Realty Co.
B. & V. Construction Co. v. Shaw-Van Realty Co.
Opinion of the Court
Action for balance due on building contract, dated May 16, 1960, and additions
Plaintiff raises the issue of our jurisdiction. However, the total amount of defendant’s proof on its counterclaim was $10,800.00 and the value of the relief it sought of cancellation of its note certainly was $5000.00 not considering accrued interest. Thus the total claims of defendant amounted to more than our jurisdictional amount. Sec. 3, Art. V, Const., V.A.M.S.; Sec. 477.040, RSMo, V.A.M.S.
No issue is raised as to plaintiff’s judgment for $6328.26 being the correct balance due on the contract, supplemental contract and extra items for the construction of a bowling alley building by plaintiff for defendant. Defendant contends that the judgment against it on its counterclaim is erroneous. Defendant’s proof on this counterclaim concerned three items, (1) failure to properly perform certain construction work, on walls at the roof, including defective work and materials claimed not to have been furnished, which would cost $1800.00; (2) failure to install Armco guard rail on its parking lot, which would cost $1000.00; (3) and failure to install drain footing tile around the building which would cost $8000.00.
Defendant says there was insufficient evidence to support the trial court’s findings against it on these claims in its counterclaim, a contention obviously without merit since defendant had the burden of proof on these issues. Defendant’s further contention as to the first and third of these claims is that the court’s findings against these claims are clearly erroneous and contrary to the evidence. As to the second claim, defendant says an agreement signed by’ its vice president, Robert J. Schoen, was invalid. Considering this second claim first, it appears that Schoen was out there all the time while the work on the building was going on and that defendant’s president, George Blankmann, would come out periodically during the day, almost every day. Blankmann said Schoen “acted on behalf of Shaw-Van in supervision and construction of this building;” and “was representing Shaw-Van Realty Company when he was there.” The agreement was signed August 25, 1960, and stated: “It is understood that to compensate B. & V. Construction Co., Inc., for the extra work involved in installing the manhole and the extra drain tile the guard rail will be omitted.” Another document in evidence signed in May 1960 by Schoen for defendant was a “complete resume of various changes made to the plans and specifications” which authorized six deletions and it is not claimed he did not have authority to sign that agreement. On this and other evidence hereinafter set out, we consider this claim to be without merit.
As to the first claim, defendant’s evidence was that the plans called for ¼-inch as
As to the third claim, defendant’s evidence was that only about 20% of the required drain tile was placed around the footings of the building, an estimate based partly on holes defendant had dug along the walls the day before the trial and partly on defendant’s computation from an invoice of drain tile purchased by plaintiff. Defendant also complained the downspout's were not connected to the drain tile as required in the specifications. Plaintiff’s evidence was that the plans showed no particular place for the drain tile to be installed but that they were installed on three sides of the building. Tile was not installed on the front because the front of the building was on a solid rock ledge. Plaintiff’s evidence also was that “it doesn’t show on the plans that they (downspouts) were to be hooked to the drain tile.” Plaintiff’s foreman testified the water from the downspouts went into a concrete splash box and on to the asphalt paving around the building. He said: “The asphalt was graded away from the building so the water would run away.” He also stated: “With a roof as big as that is and as much area when water comes off there if you would hook your downspouts directly into those drain tile you would not only defeat your purpose, you would wash them out because of the volume of water that went through there that would put the water in there and you’d wash your gravel out and — under your footings. You’re putting water in instead of taking it out.”
As to all three claims, it was shown that there was a guarantee in the specifications “that they were to take care of any defective work within a year;” but that during that period defendant never did call any of these claims to the attention.of plaintiff. It further appears that although the building was completed in December 1960, defendant did not make any of these claims to plaintiff until it filed its counterclaim in 1964. Moreover, defendant’s officers Blankmann and Schoen were there constantly observing the work while it was being done. Upon consideration of these facts and all the evidence in the case, we cannot hold the court’s findings against defendant’s claims clearly erroneous and contrary to the evidence. Although the evidence was conflicting, as to some matters, the court’s findings on these claims seem to us to be reasonable and fully warranted on the whole record.
As to defendant’s claim that its $5000.00 note should be cancelled, this issue was brought into the case when it was reopened on defendant’s motion. (Apparently plaintiff got the note after the original judgment was entered.) The origin of this note as appears from the testimony of plaintiff’s president: “Shaw-Van Realty Company advised me that they didn’t have enough money to complete the project and asked me if I could raise $20,000 for them. I did in the process get $5,000 from Mack Electric Company for which they signed a note.” It also appears that the note was not a part of plaintiff’s claim on the building contracts and that this note was on de
Original contract. . $153,959.00
Supplemental Agreement. . 3,152.00
Extras less $1000 Credit. . 3,751.50
Payments . ... $154,534.24
Balance due — Amount of
Judgment . . 6,328.26
$160,862.50 $160,862.50
The calculation of the amount due on extras appears from an agreement of March 29, 1961, in evidence, which was signed by defendant’s president and was as follows:
“With reference to our discussion of March 28, 1961 following is the settlement agreed to:
Balance of extras due 6,174.94
Less payment Rockhill Lumber Co. 172.08 Herford Concrete
Products Co. 301.31
B. & V. Construction Co. 600.05
B. & V. Construction Co. 350.00 1,423.44
Balance due after payments 4,751.50
Original note (which will be returned) 5,000.00
Interest on note 7/1/60 to 3/15/60 (61) 248.50
10,000.00
Less check 3/29/61 1,000.00
Balance due $ 9,000.00
Of the above balance due a note for $9,000.00 will be executed. This note to run for two years with a payment every six months. This note to be dated March 31, 1961 with equal payments of principal plus interest on the unpaid balance to be made. Note # 1 due 9/30/61; Note # 2 due 3/31/62; Note # 3 due 9/30/62; Note # 4 due 3/31/63.”
No new note for $9,000.00 was given and therefore the balance due of $3751.50 for extra’s was included in the claim sued on. Plaintiff did not have the $5000.00 note and it was not included. Defendant says: “[Tjhere was no evidence to support the trial Court’s finding that the Five Thousand ($5,000.00) Dollar note represented another debt (of Defendant’s) outside and apart from the cause of action presented in this case.” Our view is that this finding is supported by this agreement of March 29, 1961, which clearly indicates that both parties then considered the $5000.00 note an
The judgment is affirmed.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- B. & V. CONSTRUCTION COMPANY, a Corporation, (Plaintiff) v. SHAW-VAN REALTY COMPANY, a Corporation, (Defendant)
- Cited By
- 1 case
- Status
- Published