Corcoran v. Chess

Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
Corcoran v. Chess, 131 Pa. 356 (Pa. 1890)
18 A. 876; 1890 Pa. LEXIS 1118
Clark, Collum, Mitchell, Paxson, Sterrett, Williams

Corcoran v. Chess

Opinion of the Court

Per Curiam :

The plaintiff contracted to do certain mason-work at 13.45 per cubic yard. There was no dispute on the trial below as to the quality of the work; the contention was about its proper *359measurement. The plaintiff claimed to be paid according to the rule known as “ masons’ measurement,” which, in building-stone piers, he alleged to be, measuring the girth of the pier, adding one half of the girth, and then multiplying by the height. This rule produces a very different result from that of the actual cubic contents of the mason-work, which is the rule contended for by the defendants. The plaintiff alleged, and called witnesses to show, a custom that mason-work was to be measured by the rule contended for by him. The evidence, however, failed to prove any such custom. It was at most a mere usage of the trade, neither ancient nor general enough to acquire the force of custom. Had there been such a custom, the parties must be presumed to have known of it, and to have contracted in view of it. In other words, the law would write such custom into their contract. It is not so with a mere usage of trade, recent in its date and not general in its application. The parties cannot be presumed to have contracted upon the faith, and with knowledge, actual or constructive, on the part of the defendants, of such usage; and their acquiescence therein must be shown before they can be affected by it. The contract is free from ambiguity. A cubic yard is a term well known to every one. It means twenty-seven cubic feet; and when the parties used this term in their contract, we must presume, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, they understood it in its ordinary and popular meaning. There being no disputed questions of fact in the case, the learned judge below was right in directing a verdict for the defendants.

Judgment affirmed.

Reference

Full Case Name
J. G. CORCORAN v. H. B. CHESS
Cited By
11 cases
Status
Published
Syllabus
1. Where a mason contracts in writing to do work at a certain price per cubic yard, the contract is not to be affected by evidence of a usage for “ masons’ measurement,” a mere usage of trade, recent in its date, and not general in its application. ' 2. A cubic yard means twenty-seven cubic feet; and when the parties have used this term in their contract, it must be presumed, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, that they understood it in its ordinary and popular meaning.