Acme Builders, Inc. v. Facilities Development Corp.

69 A.D.2d 937, 415 N.Y.S.2d 291, 1979 N.Y. App. Div. LEXIS 11703

• Court: Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York
• Decided: April 12, 1979
• Status: Published

Opinions

Appeal from a judgment of the Supreme Court in favor of defendant, entered October 18, 1977 in Albany County, upon a decision of the court at a Trial Term, without a jury, which dismissed plaintiffs complaint. Plaintiff, as the successful bidder, was awarded a contract by defendant for construction work on a new boiler plant and alteration of an existing boiler room at a rehabilitation center in Woodbourne, New York. The instant controversy concerns plaintiffs obligation under the contract to paint the existing boiler room. In this regard, the contract specifications provide in section 9E, in pertinent part, as follows: "a. The work under this heading consists of all labor, materials, equipment and appliances required for all painting and finishing work as shown on the drawings, specified herein, and as required by conditions at the site, in general as follows: (1) Paint and finish: c. Existing masonry and concrete surfaces which have been disturbed due to the alteration work.” The bid proposal contained a proposed alternate, which was not awarded. Listed in this alternate proposal were certain alterations to the existing boiler room which were specified as being included in the base bid. The painting of the existing boiler room was not listed as being so included. When requested to paint the existing boiler room, plaintiff objected but, under protest, employed a firm to do the painting. This action was then commenced to recover $11,495, the amount paid by plaintiff to said firm, together with profit and overhead. Following a trial without a jury, plaintiff’s complaint was dismissed and this appeal ensued. The drawings in question illustrate painting to be done to the floor, base, wall and ceiling of the existing boiler room and the specifications refer, in general, to the painting of surfaces which have been disturbed due to alteration work. It is plaintiff’s contention that such language creates an ambiguity in the contract and thus the usual rules permitting consideration of surrounding circumstances related to the execution of the contract may be applied to determine the intent of the parties (Mister Filters v Weber Environmental Systems, 44 AD2d 639). Concomitantly, it seeks to avoid responsibility for the painting under the main contract by reference to language in the unawarded alternate which could be construed as implying that all matters related to the construction of new facilities were handled exclusively in the alternate proposal. Thus, plaintiff argues that the alternate proposal should be considered an integral part of the agreement reached by the parties, relying upon Mars Assoc. v Health & Mental Hygiene Facilities Improvement Corp. (47 AD2d 5, affd 38 NY2d 878). We find this reliance misplaced. In Mars Assoc, this court found an alternate contract to be self executing if not rejected, and thus part of the contract agreement even though the alternate itself was not awarded. Moreover, in Mars Assoc, the alternate contained language much different in nature than the matter before us and we cannot view the alternate here as part of the agreement between the parties. However, of controlling importance are the drawings which clearly mandate the obligation to provide the painting in dispute. If there were any ambiguity present in plaintiff’s mind as to its performance under the contract, it was bound under the terms of the contract to submit questions as to the intent of the" drawings to the architect in writing before the submission of a proposal. Upon a review of the record we conclude that Trial Term was correct in its findings and conclusions. Judgment affirmed, with costs. Mahoney, P. J., Greenblott and Kane, JJ., concur.