DeHoff v. Scott

Opinion by

Orlady, P. J.,

The plaintiff brought suit to recover for services as an architect, based on the following writing, “March 25, 1916,. I propose to make plans and specifications for the addition to your hotel, S. E. Cor. Twelfth and Pine streets, for the sum of 2% per cent, of the cost; I also agree to supervise the construction of the building for the additional sum of 2y2 per cent, of the cost'; payment for the plans to be $50 cash, and the balance after bids are received,” signed by the plaintiff, and endorsed by the defendant as follows: “I accept the above agreement.” It is agreed, that in addition to the words of the contract there was the understanding between the parties that the cost of the prospective building would not exceed $12,000. Pursuant to this, the plaintiff furnished plans and specifications and bids were received thereunder, which were unsatisfactory for two reasons, first — in regard to the arrangement of the halls, rooms, ways, etc., and second — that the estimated cost of the building would be about $16,000. While the defendant retained the plans and specifications, and employed another architect to prepare new ones, there is nothing in the evidence to indicate that the plans submitted by the plaintiff were adopted by the second architect or that he saw them. The building was intended to occupy the whole of the lot, and necessarily the outside lines would be the same suggested by any architect. The internal design and of space arrangement with the furnishing, affected the cost and induced the dispute in question. So far as the record discloses, the first set of plans were rejected solely for the reason that the cost of applying them to the property would be $4,000 in excess of the intended contract price. On May 4, 1916, the plaintiff presented a bill as follows: “To balance due for plans and specifications as per bill rendered, $175. Please remit.” and his statement avers that, “the cost of the building was $12,000, and thereupon there became due and payable to the plaintiff the sum of $300, upon the basis of 2y2 per cent., and, concluded that there was due and payable the sum of $275.” There is no suggestion of a claim founded on a quantum meruit, but on the trial it was inadvertently indicated by the trial judge that if the plans of the plaintiff were used by another contractor or architect, the plaintiff would be entitled to recover for the value of the services, which could be ascertained by the jury, and fixed as the basis of the contract entered into, and that whether the plans Avere used or not the plaintiff Avas entitled to recover.' This was a different basis for compensation than that alleged in the pleadings or suggested in the evidence. Other parts of the charge fairly and adequately presented the respective contentions of the parties, but the defendant was entitled to have the plaintiff’s claim presented on the theory he declared on, and under the evidence supporting it. It further appears, and Avas admitted at bar by counsel for the plaintiff, that while the plans and specifications drawn by the building architect, and filed in the department of building inspection, were properly admitted in evidence, ■ — in the hurry of trial, the plans and specifications draAvn by the plaintiff, which Avere not on file, had not been used or offered in evidence, were marked by the stenographer as an exhibit, instead of the proper ones, and when the jury retired, counsel for plaintiff gave them to the jury in substitution for those which had been properly received, and these were the only ones considered by the jury. Whether this mistake was intended or accidental, it is sufficient of itself to require reversal of the judgment. The error was not noticed by counsel for defendant or the court at the time, else, for this reason a new trial should be granted.

As a general rule, where one directs an architect to make plans and specifications for a building and stipulates that its cost of construction shall not exceed a definite sum, the architect cannot recover compensation for his work unless the building can be erected for approximately the sum specified. The contract letter offered in evidence required oral proof to complete its terms, and the error into which the court inadvertently fell was induced by the method adopted by counsel in presenting their case, and when the trial judge stated, “If you find that the plans and specifications of the plaintiff were substantially used here, and that the contract was as stated in the letter, your verdict should be for the plaintiff,” it was overlooked that the plaintiff, with all the facts before him, submitted a bill for $175, for these same plans and specifications.

The defendant was not required to accept the services of the plaintiff in the construction of a building which would cost $16,000, when his contract specifically declared that it would cost but $12,000: Hewitt v. Webb, 253 Pa. 406. See also Williar v. Nagle, 109 Md. 75, in which the question is very fully considered.

The court erred in admitting in evidence a copy of an unsigned letter relating to a prospective bid, as it was not sufficiently identified, and further in rejecting two bona fide bids for the construction of this building from contractors and builders, for the purpose of showing the good faith of the defendant in rejecting the plans and specifications as offered by the plaintiff.

The judgment is reversed, and a venire facias de novo awarded.