Edward H. Meyer Construction Co. v. United States

124 Ct. Cl. 274, 1953 U.S. Ct. Cl. LEXIS 75, 1953 WL 6133
CourtUnited States Court of Claims
DecidedJanuary 13, 1953
DocketNo. 46884
StatusPublished

This text of 124 Ct. Cl. 274 (Edward H. Meyer Construction Co. v. United States) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Court of Claims primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Edward H. Meyer Construction Co. v. United States, 124 Ct. Cl. 274, 1953 U.S. Ct. Cl. LEXIS 75, 1953 WL 6133 (cc 1953).

Opinion

Per Curiam :

In the case of George J. Grant Construction Company, et al., v. United States, No. 46890, decided this day, the court had under consideration a contract substantially identical with the contract in the instant case, and a number of delays in the completion of the contract, allegedly caused by the Government, which were similar to those involved in the instant case. The two cases were tried on the same theory, and the plaintiffs’ evidence in the two cases had the same inadequacies. We therefore refer to our opinion in the [275]*275Grant case and, without repetition of the discussion therein contained, dismiss the plaintiff’s petition.

It is so ordered.

FINDINGS OF FACT

The court makes findings of fact, based upon the evidence, the report of Commissioner William E. Day, and the briefs and argument of counsel, as follows:

1. The plaintiff is a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Wisconsin, engaged in construction work, with its principal office at Oshkosh, Wisconsin.

2. On May 6, 1943, plaintiff entered into a contract with defendant for the construction of three hemp mills out of a total of 40 hemp mills constructed for defendant by various contractors in the Middlewestern States: No. 24, near Eipon; No. 5, near Hartford; and No. 7, near DeForest, all in Wisconsin. The contract was entered into on behalf of defendant by the Commodity Credit Corporation, an agent and instrumentality of the Government of the United States, acting for and on behalf of Defense Plant Corporation, a corporation created by the Eeconstruction Finance Corporation, pursuant to Section 5d of the Eeconstruction Finance Corporation Act, as amended, to aid the United States in the National Defense Program. The contract is hereby made a part hereof by reference.

The Commodity Credit Corporation was organized October 17, 1933, pursuant to Executive Order 6340 dated October 16, 1933, under the laws of the State of Delaware, as an agency of the United States. From October 17, 1933, to July 1, 1939, the Commodity Credit Corporation was managed and operated in close affiliation with the Eeconstruction Finance Corporation. On July 1, 1939, the Commodity Credit Corporation was transferred to the United States Department of Agriculture by the President’s Eeorganization Plan 1. Approval of the Commodity Credit Corporation Charter Act on June 29,1948, established the Commodity Credit Corporation, effective July 1, 1948, as an agency and instrumentality of the United States under a permanent Federal charter.

[276]*2763. For each, mill the contract and specifications provided for furnishing:

* * * all labor and transportation, and, except as stated under “Equipment Furnished by Owner,” all materials and equipment required for the construction, finishing and completion of a hemp mill, including the following buildings: Mill complete with steam engine, hemp machines and power transmissions; two-unit hemp drier; boiler house, complete with boilers, accessories, breeching and foundation for stack; shop; locker and washrooms; straw storage building; bale storage building, including grading room and women’s washroom; office building, and platform scale; also all steam power, heating, ventilating, plumbing, and outside and inside service connections, and all electrical distributing systems ; well and water distribution system, outside drainage, sanitary sewer and sewage disposal system; roads, walks, and paths; and all other work and equipment called for in these specifications and shown on drawings, or necessary to complete the plant in satisfactory manner, ready for operation. * * *

The contract price for the three mills was $299,500. This amount was to be adjusted pursuant to a schedule of unit prices not included in the basic contract price. The following unit prices apply to work not included in the basic price:

^
2. Price per cubic yard of excavation for grading the mill site_____________________________$0. 65
3. Price per ton in place of surface course material for roads--------------------------- 1.10
* * * * *
10. Price per 100 lineal feet for constructing sewage-disposal field___________________$60.00
* * * # *

Article I of the contract, in part, reads as follows:

The work shall be commenced 7 days after date of the contract and shall be completed within 150 calendar days after date of contract. The work is to be carried to completion with the utmost speed. Before commencing work a definite time schedule shall be prepared by the Contractor and the approval of the Agent obtained thereto. The Contractor shall comply with this schedule in carrying out the work. * * *

[277]*277The above provided that the work should start May 13,1943, and be completed by October 4,1943, since the 150th day was on Sunday.

4. The specifications provide in part as follows:

No surveys of sites are as yet available, but plot plan and grades will be furnished when contracts are let. * * * Typical layout is given in Drawing _No. 1. Bids are asked on the basis of this typical drawing, assuming all buildings at the same elevation. In some cases buildings may be reversed to fit site. Bids on road grading, hauling, well construction and sewerage disposal field construction will be on a unit price basis, as provided in Bidder’s Proposal Form.
The following tabulation indicates approximate amounts of work for which unit prices are requested, but contractor will be paid for work actually performed:
Grading of mill site------------------ 2,500 cu. yds.
Surface course material for roads, etc__ 1,000 tons.
Sewage disposal field----------------- 1,200 lin. ft.
ifc # ifc ❖ *

Article 12 of the General Conditions of the contract specifications provides as follows:

Article 12. Materials furnished by owner or agent
No materials, supplies, equipment, labor, services or any other things required for the performance of the work hereunder are to be furnished by the Owner or Agent, unless the specifications otherwise expressly provide. In case the specifications expressly provide that any materials, supplies, equipment, labor, services or any other things shall be furnished by the Owner or Agent, the Owner or Agent, as the case may be, shall use reasonable efforts to furnish the same when required by the Contractor, but neither the Owner nor the Agent shall be responsible for any delay in the furnishing thereof.

5. The contract specifications further provide:

2. Equipment furnished by owner. — The equipment listed below shall be furnished by the owner, but, with the exception of roof trusses for use in Iowa and Minnesota, shall be hauled to site by contractor. Roof trusses for mills in Iowa and Minnesota shall be delivered at mill site by owner.
[278]*278 Equipment Furnished ty Owner For Typical Mill

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Bluebook (online)
124 Ct. Cl. 274, 1953 U.S. Ct. Cl. LEXIS 75, 1953 WL 6133, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/edward-h-meyer-construction-co-v-united-states-cc-1953.