Public-domain · open source
OpenJurist

63 Cal. 246

McVerry v. Kidwell

California Supreme Court

Decided March 12, 1883

California Supreme Court · decided 1883-03-12

<p>Evidence—Stbeet Assessment—Fbaud. — Where a contract to construct a sewer provides that the work shall be done in a good and workmanlike manner, setting out in detail the character of the materials to be used, and further provides that the work shall be done to the satisfaction of the superintendent of streets, or his deputy, in an action to recover an assessment for the work, the satisfaction of the superintendent or his deputy—where fraud is alleged—is not controlling as to whether the work was properly done and suitable materials furnished respecting the matters specially required by the contract.</p>

Cited by 2 later decisions — most recently October 1903

2 state decisions

Good law ✅— No negative treatment on recordhow we know

Decided 1883-03-12

View the full empirical analysis of this case →

Per Curiam.

¶1This is an action to recover an assessment for constructing a sewer in the city and county of San Francisco. The defense was that the sewer was not constructed in accordance with the contract and specifications. The court found that the contract required the work to be done in a good and workmanlike manner, the bricks to be sound and hard-burned, one barrel of cement to be used to each barrel of sand, and no lime to be used; that at least seven per centum of the bricks used were not sound hard-burned bricks, but were of quality inferior thereto, and were used with intent to cheat and defraud the defendants; *247that the plaintiff used from ten to fifteen per centum more sand than the specifications called for.

¶2Although the evidence is conflicting, yet there is sufficient to sustain the findings.

¶3The contract also provided that the work should be done to the satisfaction of the superintendent of streets or his deputy. The plaintiff claims that the satisfaction of the superintendent or his deputy must be controlling as to whether the work was properly done and suitable materials furnished. That may be so as to details not specially set forth in the contract and specifications; but as to matters thus specially set forth, the contract and its requirements must be held to prevail.

¶4It may also be true that the satisfaction of the superintendent or his deputy would be prima fade evidence of the proper performance of the contract, nothing to the contrary appearing; but fraud on the part of the plaintiff was set up as a defense, and on that issue the court found very clearly against him. Looking at the evidence before us, we will not disturb the action of the court below.

¶5We see no error; the order is therefore affirmed.

/63/cal/246 · .json · Public domain