City of Aberdeen v. Equitable Surety Co.

159 P. 683, 92 Wash. 440, 1916 Wash. LEXIS 777
CourtWashington Supreme Court
DecidedAugust 14, 1916
DocketNo. 13467
StatusPublished

This text of 159 P. 683 (City of Aberdeen v. Equitable Surety Co.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Washington Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
City of Aberdeen v. Equitable Surety Co., 159 P. 683, 92 Wash. 440, 1916 Wash. LEXIS 777 (Wash. 1916).

Opinion

Morris, C. J.

Prior to October, 1912, there was in the city of Aberdeen a large district of low, wet, boggy land which the city desired to raise by suitable fill. To this end an ordinance was passed, contemplating dividing the work into four parts, (1) clearing and removing unsuitable material, (2) filling and diking, (3) raising of sidewalks, and (4) raising catch basins and inlets. Plans and specifications were drawn providing that separate contracts would be let for each of the subdivisions of the work, and that separate bids must be made. The Spokane Paving & Construction Company submitted two bids, one for the clearing and re[441]*441moval of unsuitable material, as provided for in the first subdivision, and the second for filling and diking. These bids were accepted by the city, and the work bid upon awarded to the construction company. A contract was then drawn up between the city and the construction company covering the two bids and requiring the construction company to give a bond for the faithful performance of the work and for the payment of labor and material. It was provided in the contract that monthly payments should be made upon monthly estimates, and that a sum not exceeding twenty-five per cent should be retained by the city until the final completion and acceptance of the work. The construction company procured the appellant, Equitable Surety Company, to furnish the required bond, and commenced the work called for under its contract. The work called for under the first bid was substantially completed, and the construction company thereupon undertook the completion of the second of its undertakings, namely, the necessary filling and diking, but was compelled to abandon this portion of the work without having made any of the fill, except a very small part, having, however, completed a large portion of the diking.

After the construction company had abandoned this work, the surety company, upon demand of the city, completed the work at an actual loss to it of approximately $30,000. After the abandonment of the work by the construction company, a number of claims for labor and material were filed, as provided by law, which the surety company was compelled to pay, amounting to approximately $3,000. Of this amount $316.13 was on account of labor and materials going into that portion of the work calling for clearing and the removal of unsuitable materials, and the surety company was required to do additional work under this portion of the contract of the value of $76.50, making an aggregate sum of $392.63 paid by the surety company on that portion of the work calling for clearing and removal of unsuitable materials, the balance of the amount paid by the surety com[442]*442pany representing labor and material performed and fur.nished in the filling and diking of the district. From month to month as the work progressed, the city made payments upon monthly estimates, retaining the percentage provided for in the contract. When the work was abandoned by the construction company, the city had in its hands bonds and cash which had been earned by the construction company in the clearing and removal of unsuitable material in the sum ■of $1,343.28. While performing its contract, the construction company borrowed various sums from the respondent bank, securing the payment thereof by assigning to the bank the moneys earned under, the contract. Under this assignment, the bonds earned by the construction company were surrendered to the bank from time to time, but at the time of the commencement of this action there was still due the bank on this account a sum in excess of $1,400.

After the construction company had abandoned the work, the surety company demanded of the city the sum of $1,-343.28 remaining in its possession, which demand was refused. The respondent bank made a like demand, which was also refused. Thereafter the city commenced this action, bringing the $1,343.28 into court and asking a determination as to who was entitled to this sum as between the bank and the surety company. The lower court found that the bank was entitled to all of the money except $392.63, which the surety company had paid on account of claims filed with the city for labor and material entering into the clearing and removal of unsuitable material, and entered judgment accordingly.

The judgment is based upon a conclusion of the lower court that the contract between the construction company and the city was in fact and law two contracts, one for the work of clearing and removal of unsuitable material, and the other for the filling and diking. This conclusion of law presents the only question raised on this appeal, for if it should be held that the contract while one in form was in [443]*443fact two, then the decision of the lower court as to the awarding of the money to the bank is correct. If, however, the contract is single, then the appellant is entitled to the money. We here set forth the contract:

“This indenture made and entered into this the 18th day of October, 1912, by and between the Spokane Paving and Construction Company, a corporation, duly organized and existing under and by virtue of the laws of the state of Washington, hereinafter called the contractor, as party of the first part, and the City of Aberdeen, a municipal corporation of the second class, duly organized and existing under and by virtue of the laws of the state of Washington, hereinafter called the city, as party of the second part, Witnesseth :
“That the said contractor for and in consideration of the stipulations and agreements herein contained agrees with the said city as follows:
“(1) That the said contractor shall and will, at its own proper cost and expense, provide all the materials and perform all the work and labor necessary for the clearing of all the lands, including streets, alleys, public places and private property within the area known and described as ‘Filling District No. 2,’ and for filling with earth, sand, gravel or other suitable material and for grading said area, including streets, alleys, public places and private property, to the grades of such streets, and to the grades provided in the plans, specifications and details of the city engineer of the city of Aberdeen and Ordinance No. 1239 of the city of Aberdeen, and for the construction of all necessary bulkheads, dikes, gates and drains for the purpose of making such fill, not, however, to include the placing of drain pipe or the construction or building up of manholes or flush tanks, or any of the work known as draining, for which a contract has been let to other parties, said work to be done all in accordance with the plans, specifications and details prepared by the city engineer of said city, and which are hereby referred to and attached hereto, and made a part of this contract as fully and effectually as though written out herein, all under the provisions of Ordinance No. 1239 of the city of Aberdeen, creating local improvement district known as ‘Filling District No. 2,’ the boundaries of the district so to be improved being described and designated fully in said Ordinance No. [444]*4441239 and the official map of said Filling District No. 2, -which' are hereby referred to and made a part of this contract.

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Bluebook (online)
159 P. 683, 92 Wash. 440, 1916 Wash. LEXIS 777, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/city-of-aberdeen-v-equitable-surety-co-wash-1916.