Smith v. Independent School District , 112 Iowa 35 ( 1900 )

Given, J.

1 I. At the close of the evidence for the plaintiff the defendant moved for a verdict on the grounds that the evidence fails to sustain the petition, that plaintiff had no cause of action when this case was begun, and that he had failed to show that the apparatus complied with his guaranties in the contract. The motion was overruled, and of this the defendant first complains. By the contract it was agreed that the plaintiff should attach his appliance in a certain manner, and that it should produce certain results, as already stated. Dor the purpose of testing its efficiency, it was agreed that when the apparatus had been attached it should be subject to an immediate test, to be conducted in a certain manner. The heating plant without the; appliance was to be tested, and its capacity determined; a specified amount of coal being used. The day following, the plant was to be tested with the apparatus attached, using the same amount of coal; the results in each test to be noted. Those tests were made, but it is claimed by the plaintiff that they were not as required by the contract, in that the defendant used part of his appliance in the first day’s test, did not use the amount of coal agreed upon, and failed to put the grate bars in position as agreed. He also claims that the defendant thereafter refused to make a further test as provided in the contract. The contract provides “that the final test and determination of the acceptance of said apparatus shall bo made by one representative appointed by the first party and one appointed by the second party, and the third to be selected by the two thus appointed. Said final test and final, determination as to the acceptance and of liability on the bond given to be made not later than Deb. 1, 1898.” It also provides that if the apparatus fails to perform as guarantied when final test is made, and is rejected, plaintiff should remove the same, “and adjust all pipes and flues as before, leaving the furnace in good condition,”andrelievethcdefendant from the payment of the contract price. It also provides that if the apparatus fails, “and that in case a bond is given 1 o secure the faithful performance of this contract, the first party [the defendant] may sue and recover upon the same from the guarantor and sureties any amount that may have been paid.” There is evidence tending to support'the plaintiff's claim that the tests made were not made upon the part of the defendant as required by the contract, and that the defendant. failed and refused to have any further test. These issues were properly submitted to the jury, and upon them they found for the plaintiff. We cannot say, under the evidence, that they were not warranted in so finding; and, as 1his evidence was before the court at the time the motion for verdictwasmade,weconcludp that there was no error in overriding the motion. These issues being with the plaintiff, lie did have a cause of action when this case was begun, and had not failed to comply with the guaranties in the contract.

2 3 II. Defendant moved for a new trial on a number of grounds, only a part of which are urged in argument. It is insisted that the verdict is contrary to the evidence, and to the tenth instruction, wherein the court instructed that if the apparatus was put in with improper material, so as to increase the hazard to the building from fire, the defendant would not be required to accept it, and that the burden rested upon' the defendant to establish this defense. The jury was warranted in finding from the evidence that this defense was not sustained. The defendant's officers ,.-y?ere present, and.knew the material that was being used, and,- so far as appears, made no protest, or demand that different material should..be used. In the sixth instruction the court' told the jury; “If it appears from the greater weight of tlie evidence that the plaintiff constructed the apparatus in question in a good, workmanlike manner, and that, by the tests made of said apparatus by plaintiff and defendant, the same complied with all the terms of plaintiff’s guaranty, to-wit [enumerating the guaranties in the contract], then and in that event the plaintiff will be entitled to recover the contract price.” It is argued that this “excludes. from the j ury the consideration of the practical working of said apparatus.” The parties had agreed upon tests to be made in a certain manner, by which its practical workings were to he determined. Therefore there was no error in the instruction. While upon the issues of fact we might arrive at a different conclusion from that reached by the jury, if it were our province so to do, yet those issues having-been properly submitted, we find no reason for disturbing the verdict, and the judgment is therefore aeetrmed.

Granger, C. J., not sitting.