Power Service Corp. v. Joslin

76 F. Supp. 604, 1948 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 2875
CourtDistrict Court, N.D. California
DecidedMarch 30, 1948
DocketNo. 26113
StatusPublished

This text of 76 F. Supp. 604 (Power Service Corp. v. Joslin) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, N.D. California primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Power Service Corp. v. Joslin, 76 F. Supp. 604, 1948 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 2875 (N.D. Cal. 1948).

Opinion

CLARK, District Judge.

This cause involved a claim for damages in the amount of $34,343.00 for delay in the performance of a construction contract. Plaintiff alleges damages for delay in construction by .failure’ of the defendants to deliver material at the site of the;project.

Plaintiff’s petition is in three counts.

Count one seeks a declaration of the rights under the contract as written and in the alternative, if the construction of the contract be adverse to plaintiff, count two seeks reformation of the contract to make it express the intention of the ‘parties;-' find count three seeks recovery.

[605]*605The particular provisions of the contract to be construed which affect the present controversy are as follows:

Article I.
“(a) The work shall be commenced within five (5) calendar days after the date of receipt of notice to proceed, and shall be completed in accordance with paragraph 1-05 of the ‘General Provisions and Specifications.’
“(b) The subconstructor shall be required to do the following work:
“The work shall include the furnishing of all plant equipment, labor and materials (excepting materials to be furnished and/or work to be performed by the Constructor and/or others as specifically provided for in the General Provisions and Specifications) and perform all work necessary for the complete erection of Boilers in Power House Number 1, at the Sunflower Ordnance Works, Johnson County Kansas, in strict accordance with plans and specifications and as directed in writing by the Constructor for and in consideration of the Lump Sum price of Four Hundred Forty Eight Thousand Dollars and no Cents ($448,000.00) ; in strict accordance with the specifications, schedules and drawings, all of which are made a part hereof and designated as follows: Specifications entitled ‘General Provisions And Specifications for Complete Erection of Boilers in Power House No. 1 At Sunflower Ordnance Works, Johnson County, Kansas’ * * Materials to be furnished — (specifications)
“5-04 a. Materials furnished by the Constructor. In general, all materials, equipment and machinery which will actually be incorporated into the permanent construction will be furnished by the Constructor and/or others. Materials and supplies incidental to the permanent construction, including but not limited to cutting oil, wire, fuel for construction equipment, welding bars, cement grout and concrete, scaffolding, forming temporary bracing and blocking, pipe dope and compound, all erection facilities and equipment, etc. will be supplied by the Subconstructor without cost to the Constructor over and above the subcontract price. Fuel for use in testing operating equipment and for putting the plant in operation will be supplied by the Constructor. Materials furnished by the Constructor will be delivered to the Sub-constructor at points and in the manner specified. Section VII hereof.
“b. Immediately after starting work under the subcontract the subconstructor shall prepare a ‘list of materials’ including accessories and equipment required, and shall check this list against the materials, accessories and equipment stored in or adjacent to the Power House in order that shortages may be immediately determined. Such shortages will then be reported to the Constructor for use in obtaining the balance of materials required for the completed work. Such an inventory will be kept current by the Subconstructor during the progress of the work and the Subcon-structor will be held responsible for advising the Constructor of his requirements sufficient in advance of the time such items-will be required to enable procurement without delaying progress.
“c. Nearly all of the materials required for the work has been stored in Power House No. 1 or in warehouses adjacent thereto. Materials, equipment and machinery which have been stored and which have been subjected to conditions necessitating reconditioning, refinishing, refacing, cleaning, painting packing (in valves and pumps), and similar work to properly prepare for installation and operation will be reconditioned, refinished etc., by the Subcontractor as a part of this subcontract, except however, that such reconditioning, refinishing etc., shall apply only to defects which have resulted from storage and does not include inherent defects in manufacture or material. Materials, equipment and machinery which have been broken or otherwise damaged beyond use or repair during storage, or which have inherent defects in manufacture or material caused through no fault or negligence of the subconstructor will be replaced by the Constructor without cost to the Subconstructor.”
“Disputes” provisions.
(a) Of the Contract:
Article VI
“All disputes concerning questions of fact arising tinder this subcontract shall be dé-[606]*606ci'ded by the Contracting officer, whose decision shall be in writing, subject to appeal by either party hereto within 30 days from the receipt of the Contracting Officer’s decision to the Chief of Engineers whose decision shall be final and conclusive -upon the parties hereto. Notwithstanding this provision, the subconstructor shall diligently proceed with the work as directed.”
(b) Of the Specifications.
“1-11. Claims, Protests and Appeals. If the Subconstructor considers any work demanded of him to be outside the requirements of the subcontract, or if he considers any action or ruling of the Constructor or of the inspectors to be unfair, the Sub-constructor shall without undue delay, upon such demand, action or ruling, submit his protest thereto in writing to the Contracting Officer stating clearly and in detail the basis of his objections. The Contracting Officer shall thereupon promptly investigate the complaint and furnish- the Subconstructor his decision thereon in writing. If the Subconstructor is not satisfied with the decision of the Contracting Officer, he may, within thirty (30) days, appeal in writing to the Chief of Engineers, whose decision, or that of his duly authorized representative, shall be final and binding upon the parties to the subcontract. Except for such protests or objections as are made of record in, the manner herein specified and within the time limit stated, the records, rulings, instructions or decisions of the Contracting Officer shall be final and conclusive. All appeals from the decisions of the Contracting Officer authorized under the subcontract shall be addressed to the War Department, Chief of Engineers, Washington D. C. The appeal shall contain ■all the facts or circumstances upon which the Subconstructor bases his claim for relief and should be presented to the Contracting Officer for transmittal within the time provided therefor in the subcontract.'
“Provided, howéver, in case of- dispute or disagreement within the meaning of this paragraph, the Subconstructor shall first submit his protest in writing to the Constructor, stating clearly and in detail the basis of his protest. The Constructor will thereupon investigate the complaint and furnish the Subconstructor its written decision thereon. If the Subconstructor is not satisfied with the decision of the Constructor he may then proceed as outlined herein.”
“Delay” provisions.

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Bluebook (online)
76 F. Supp. 604, 1948 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 2875, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/power-service-corp-v-joslin-cand-1948.