Monroe Garment Co. v. United States

488 F.2d 989, 203 Ct. Cl. 324, 1973 U.S. Ct. Cl. LEXIS 164
CourtUnited States Court of Claims
DecidedDecember 19, 1973
DocketNo. 380-69
StatusPublished
Cited by13 cases

This text of 488 F.2d 989 (Monroe Garment 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
Monroe Garment Co. v. United States, 488 F.2d 989, 203 Ct. Cl. 324, 1973 U.S. Ct. Cl. LEXIS 164 (cc 1973).

Opinion

Per Curiam :

This case comes before the court on plaintiff’s request for review by the court of the recommended decision, filed February 26,1973, by Trial Judge Kenneth R. Harkins pursuant to Rule 166 (c). The court has considered the case on the briefs and oral argument of counsel. Since the court agrees with the recommended decision of the trial judge, as hereinafter set forth, it hereby affirms and adopts the same as the basis for its judgment in this case. Therefore, defendant’s motion for summary judgment is granted, and plaintiff’s cross-motion under Rule 163(b) and plaintiff’s motion for summary judgment under Rule 101 are denied. Pursuant to Pub. L. No. 92-415 and General Order No. 3 of 1972, this case is remanded to the Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals for further proceedings to determine the amount of any equitable adjustment due to the United States pursuant to the provisions of option 1 of the Supply Warranty clause and for determination of the actual quantities returned to plaintiff in good condition for reworking pursuant to option 4 of the Supply Warranty clause. Counsel for defendant is designated as the responsible reporting attorney under paragraph 9 (a) of General Order No. 3.

OPINION OE TRIAL JUDGE

Harkins, Trial Judge:

This is a contract case in which one of the main issues is whether trial of the contractor’s claims shall be held administratively or in court. Plaintiff’s first amended petition, filed December 8,1971, subsequent to a hearing by the Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals, asserts that the Wunderlich Act has no application “since the contract provides no remedy to plaintiff for defendant’s breach * *

The case is before the court on defendant’s motion for summary judgment, filed March 7, 1972, and plaintiff’s cross-motion and motion for summary judgment, filed May 1,1972. Both plaintiff and defendant have moved for summary judgment pursuant to Rules 101 and 163 (b).

The Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals considered plaintiff’s contract claims and rendered its decision on Oc[328]*328tober 28,1971.1 Defendant's motion contends that the board’s decision disposes of all factual and legal issues involved in plaintiffs claims and requests tbe court to uphold the finality of the board’s decision. Plaintiff, in addition to its claim for breach of contract, asserts that the board’s decision is defective within the purview of both sections 1 and 2 of the Wunderlich Act.2

Before the board and in this court, the case has been limited to issues of liability. Issues of the quantum of damages that may be owed to plaintiff, if any, and the equitable adjustments due to the Government under the contract remain to be resolved.3

Plaintiff does not qualify for a separate judicial trial for breach of contract; all of plaintiff’s claims are encompassed in the Disputes clause. The board’s findings on factual issues are supported by substantial evidence, and its conclusions on issues of law are correct. Defendant’s motion for summary judgment should be allowed, plaintiff’s cross-motion and motion should be denied, and the case should be remanded to the board with instructions to determine the equitable adjustments due to the Government in accordance with the terms of the Supply Warranty clause.

This case has had an exceptionally active procedural history, both at the board and in this court. Plaintiff filed its first appeal to the ASBCA on September 8,1969, and immediately thereafter, on September 15, 1969, filed its petition in this court. Since that time this court on two occasions has ruled on aspects of plaintiff’s claims,4 plaintiff has filed five additional appeals to the ASBCA,5 and the board has denied plaintiff’s [329]*329motion for a Summary Order (October 30,1970), conducted a 5-day evidentiary bearing (March 8-11, April 21, 1971), and rendered a decision in detail (October 28,1971).

Plaintiff’s contract, No. DSA 100-68-C-1387, awarded January 16,1968, provided for the manufacture and delivery of 251,280 men’s cotton and polyester tan shirts. The total contract price was $530,200.80, made up of cut, make, and trim (CMT) work valued at $236,203.20 and Government-furnished material valued at $293,997.60. Deliveries were to commence in April 1968 and be completed by September 15, 1968.6

The contract incorporated Standard Form 32, General Provisions (June 1964 ed.); Additional General Provisions, DSA Form 222 (Nov. 1964 ed.); and Supplemental General Provisions, DPSC Form 502 (May 1966 ed.); accordingly, the then standard articles on Changes, Inspection, and Disputes apply. The contract did not contain a Suspension of Work or comparable article. In addition, the contract included the special Supply Warranty clause on DPSC Form 505 (Oct. 1965). (ASPE 1-324, ASPE 7-105.7(a) (i) and (Ü).)

Defense Personnel Support Center’s (DPSC) Supply Warranty clause requires the contractor to warrant that the supplies will be free from defects in material or workmanship, will conform with the specification, will be packaged and prepared for shipment, and in other particulars will satisfy all contractual requirements. The contracting officer may give written notice and invoke its provisions within 1 year of the last delivery. Conformance of supplies subject to warranty action “shall be determined in accordance with the applicable sampling procedures contained in the contract.” Certain allowances are permitted for grouping of supplies subject to sampling, and sampling results may be projected over supplies not present at the point of reinspection.

Within a reasonable time after invocation of the warranty, the contracting officer may exercise one or more of four op[330]*330tions: (1) require an equitable adjustment in the contract price; (2) screen and return all nonconforming supplies for correction or replacement; (3) require the contractor to screen at designated depots and to correct or replace all nonconforming supplies; and (4) return the supplies to the contractor for screening and correction or replacement.

The Supply Warranty clause specifically provides that failure to agree upon any determination to be made under the clause “shall be a dispute concerning a question of fact within the meaning of the ‘Disputes’ clause.”

Plaintiff’s performance of this contract was marred by difficulties that resulted in late deliveries and in inferior products. On September 12,1968, plaintiff was notified that laboratory tests on shirts already delivered indicated that the buckram interlining failed for shrinkage. As a result, in October 1968, after 169,920 shirts had been delivered, plaintiff ceased further production. A new buckram sample passed on December 18, 1968, and the contracting officer on December 30, 1968, notified plaintiff that satisfactory buckram was on hand and could be used.7

While the buckram matter was being resolved, the Air Force Services Office in Philadelphia received complaints from Eandolph Air Force Base that shirts supplied iby plaintiff and by others were defective. On December 5,1968, DPSC was advised that the Air Force was directing its clothing stores to discontinue issuance or sale of this type shirt, and DPSC was requested to undertake an inspection.

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Bluebook (online)
488 F.2d 989, 203 Ct. Cl. 324, 1973 U.S. Ct. Cl. LEXIS 164, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/monroe-garment-co-v-united-states-cc-1973.