Watson v. McAuliffe , 163 N.Y.S. 914 ( 1917 )

Per Curiam:

Under terms of these contracts the final payment was to be on the certificate of the architect. Here, because of non-completion of the work, the architect withheld his certificate. If the conference and agreement of October 29, 1915, be deemed a waiver of the certificate, then plaintiff should have performed and completed what was there detailed and estimated. Defendant is, therefore, entitled to a credit for $115.18 for details then arranged, plus replacing the columns. On the conflicting testimony, as to the columns, the quoin and other, damage, we think this credit should be $500. Contracts on the basis of cost plus a percentage of profit ordinarily do not extend the percentage to outside contracts, taken out of the builder’s agreement by mutual consent, unless at the time such a profit is stipulated. Here all the circumstances showed plaintiff’s acquiescence in defendant’s obtaining these minor items outside upon defendant’s direct contracts. In every statement rendered and all demands before suit, plaintiff correctly calculated his percentage on what he had himself obtained and performed through his subcontractors. Hence his percentage should now be based on $36,801.66 as stated in his account rendered. As thus modified, his recovery will be:

Balance unpaid...................... $2,766 78

Percentage (8% on $36,801.66).......... 2,944 12 - $5,710 90

Less minor items agreed October twenty-ninth ............................... $116 18

Replacing columns, and other damage... 500 00 -:- 616 18

Net recovery................................... $5,094 72

Lessening the verdict by......................... $792 45

The judgment and orders are, therefore, reversed and a new trial is granted, costs to abide the event, unless within twenty days from the entry of this order plaintiff stipulate- to reduce the amount of the verdict to $5,094.72, with interest, in which event the judgment as so modified, with the several orders appealed from, are affirmed, without costs of this appeal to either party.

Jenks, P. J., Thomas, Mills, Rich and Putnam, JJ., concurred.

Judgment and orders reversed and new trial granted, costs to abide the event, unless within twenty days from the entry of the order herein plaintiff stipulate to reduce the amount of the verdict to $5,094.72, with interest, in which event the judgment as so modified, and the orders, are affirmed, without costs of this appeal to either party.