Ross Heater & Mfg. Co. v. Biggs Boiler Co.

WASHBURN, J.

Epitomized Opinion

Published Only in Ohio Law Abstract

This was an action brought by The Biggs Boiler Works Company to recover for labor and materials furnished under a contract. The written agreement in question was made in December, 1919, but before the order was given there was considerable correspondence between the parties. Under the agreement the Biggs Company was to furnish all the labor and materials except certain tubes to be furnished by the Heater Company. The agreement was that the heaters were “to be tight and free from leaks and were to be subjected to certain hydraulic tests.” The heaters when constructed were not tight and free from .leaks under the. tests specified, but had been constructed in accordance with the plans and specifications furnished by the Heater Company.

During the trial the court excluded letters written prior to the formation of this agreement. The trial resulted in a judgment in favor of the Biggs Company. The Heater Company prosecuted error, claiming that these letters should have been admitted in evidence and also claiming that as the heatersl failed to stand the specified tests the plaintiff had not fulfilled its contract. In sustaining the judgment of the lower court, the Court of Appeals held:

1. While the correspondence which took place prior to the agreement was admissible, enabling the court to construe the terms of the agreement, yet its exclusion was not prejudicial error for the reason that the obligation of the Biggs Co. was to do the work in accordance with the plans and specificatons of the Heater Company, of which said Heater Company had full control throughout the transaction, and the latter company impliedly warranted that if the plans and specifications were followed, the Biggs' Company furnishing proper material and workmanship, the desired result would be obtained. As the. defective condition of the -heaters was due to faulty plans and specifications, the Heater Company is responsible therefore.

2. As there was conflicting evidence on the question whether the failure of the heaters to stand the tests specified was due to faulty design, plans and specifications, or to faulty materials .and workmanship, the court properly submitted this question to the jury and it cannot be said that the finding of the jury on this question was- manifeetly against the weight of the evidence.