American-Pacific Const. Co. v. Modern Steel Structural Co.

211 F. 849, 128 C.C.A. 375, 1914 U.S. App. LEXIS 1784
CourtCourt of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
DecidedMarch 9, 1914
DocketNo. 2272
StatusPublished

This text of 211 F. 849 (American-Pacific Const. Co. v. Modern Steel Structural Co.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
American-Pacific Const. Co. v. Modern Steel Structural Co., 211 F. 849, 128 C.C.A. 375, 1914 U.S. App. LEXIS 1784 (9th Cir. 1914).

Opinion

WOLVERTON, District Judge

(after stating the facts as above). [1] Prior to the making of the proposal and its acceptance, the parties had been in negotiation touching the subject-matter thereof in anticipation of defendant entering into a contract with the Richelieu Realty Syndicate for furnishing the iron and steel for its building and setting the same in place; and about the same time the proposal was accepted the contract for such work was entered into between these parties. The fact that such a contract was entered into has its bearing upon the question whether the alleged contract in controversy was ever legally consummated. Indeed, the specifications made part of the alleged contract are the specifications which were a part of the contract between the defendant and the realty syndicate. It is in fact conceded by • the plaintiff, through its president, that the architect’s ■ original plans were incomplete at the time the alleged contract was consummated, and consequently at the time plaintiff began work fabri[853]*853eating the steel and iron for the structure. Nor were the architectural designs for the general plan of the theater portion of the building made. The theater constituted perhaps one-half of the proposed combined office and theater structure.

Now, the strong contention of the defendant, or plaintiff in error, is that the proposal and its acceptance do not constitute a valid contract between the parties, because the drawings alluded to in the proposal were never made, nor were the specifications ever completed, and therefore there was no means of knowing or determining the character and quantity of steel to be furnished. This question is adequately raised by objections to the admission of the proposal and specifications in evidence.

The questions to be determined are whether the alleged contract is sufficiently definite and certain in its description of the materials to be manufactured and furnished, and, as it relates to quantity, whether it was susceptible of being executed in accordance with the intention of the parties. If it was, any breach in either direction would afford cause for damages.

By reference to the proposal, it will be seen that the material to be furnished is specifically described as the structural steel and iron and reinforcing steel (excepting certain items) for the Richelieu Syndicate Theater and Office Building, known as the Columbia Theater, designating its location. The specifications are even more specific in this respect. The steel construction described in these specifications is that for a new office building and theater, southeast corner Van Ness avenue and Geary street, San Francisco, Cal. The building is in plan 149x120 feet, and is 8 stories high above the sidewalk, with basement extending 20 feet 3 inches below ground. The general plan of construction is then delineated, and the kind of material required, and the character and finish thereof are specified in minute detail. So that there can be no mistake, in construing these two instruments together, touching the material to be manufactured by the plaintiff and furnished to the defendant for the construction of the theater building.

If it were not for the fact that the proposal recites that the structural material shall be in accordance with drawings furnished by Jos. D. Smedberg, and specifications also furnished by Jos. D. Smedberg, identified with certain marks, there could be no question that the general descriptions contained in these two instruments would sufficiently identify the materials to be manufactured’ to make the contract valid in all respects. Do these recitals render the contract -indefinite ?

The specifications were identified and introduced in evidence. There can be no doubt that they are the specifications alluded to in the proposal. The entire drawings for the completed building were never furnished by Smedberg. It seems to have been contemplated that Smedberg should work up the drawings for the iron and steel frame from the general plans drafted by Shea, the architect. This is apparent from the preamble of the specifications. From these general drawings the evidence shows that detail drawings for the work [854]*854were to be made in the shop and by the plaintiff, but to be approved by Smedberg. %

• From a construction of the proposal and the specifications as a whole, we are satisfied that it was never contemplated that the drawings to be furnished by Smedberg should have been made and completed prior to the making and acceptance of the proposal, but that such drawings should be made by Smedberg and the detail working drawings approved by him in the way of furthering the work of fabrication of the steel and iron to be furnished under the proposal. This is borne out by the stipulations contained in the proposal touching the time in which the fabricated steel and iron is required to be shipped; that is to say, from 30 to 90 days from receipt of “approved working detail drawings, signed by Mr, Smedberg.”

We are of the opinion, therefore, that the drawings referred to, which were work to be furnished by Smedberg, were to state additional details touching the material to be furnished which was otherwise more comprehensively described in the contract, and we think sufficiently described so that its identification was easily and unmistakably ascertainable. It must be remembered that the proposal was to furnish steel and iron by its weight, and not to furnish any specific and predetermined pieces of given sizes and dimensions, and we believe, as previously indicated, by contemplation of the parties it was designed that the detail drawings should be taken care of in the future, and the plaintiff was to furnish the steel and iron in quantity in accordance with those details.

We are aware that the minds of contracting parties must draw together and become as one touching the subject-matter and "the terms and conditions before a contract can be consummated. But in the present case that is what was done, and the purpose of the parties was defined with sufficient definiteness that there can be no mistake as to their intention touching the steel and iron to be fabricated and delivered.

[2] It is next insisted that the contract was not legally consummated because the drawings and specifications were not attached to the proposal. What we have said heretofore disposes of the proposition as it relates to the drawings. It was never intended that they should be attached to the proposal. As it respects the specifications, they were definitely and sufficiently identified by their initialing by the president of the plaintiff company. This is tantamount to attaching them to the contract, and renders the contract equally definite and certain.

[3, 4] Another objection urged is that no damage is shown under the - evidence. This presents a question hardly reviewable, in view of the certificate of the-trial judge settling the bill of exceptions, because it does not appear that all the testimony submitted at the trial is contained therein. Copper River & Northwestern Ry. Co. et al. v. Reeder, 211 Fed. 280, 127 C. C. A. -, decided at this term of court. Beyond this, however, counsel presents the view that the action should have been for material sold and delivered, having reference to the 39% tons of steel fabricated, shipped, and delivered to the plaintiff at San Francisco, as shown by the evidence. This over[855]

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Bluebook (online)
211 F. 849, 128 C.C.A. 375, 1914 U.S. App. LEXIS 1784, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/american-pacific-const-co-v-modern-steel-structural-co-ca9-1914.