Southwestern Surety Ins. Co. v. Com'rs Coal Co.

1920 OK 48, 187 P. 467, 77 Okla. 137, 1920 Okla. LEXIS 207
CourtSupreme Court of Oklahoma
DecidedFebruary 3, 1920
Docket9064
StatusPublished
Cited by6 cases

This text of 1920 OK 48 (Southwestern Surety Ins. Co. v. Com'rs Coal Co.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of Oklahoma primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Southwestern Surety Ins. Co. v. Com'rs Coal Co., 1920 OK 48, 187 P. 467, 77 Okla. 137, 1920 Okla. LEXIS 207 (Okla. 1920).

Opinion

BAILEY, J.

On the 3rd day of December, 1914, the defendant in error, plaintiff below, filed a petition against the plaintiff in -error, defendant below, in the district court of Coal county, for the recovery of $2,500, alleged to be due by reason of the breach of the -terms and conditions of a certain bond, executed by plaintiff in error and conditioned for the maintenance and repair of the court house, situated in Coalgate, Oklahoma.

Plaintiff’s petition alleges that on the 14th day of August, 1911, the Holmboe Company entered into a certain written contract with the board of county commissioners of Coal county, wherein it was agreed that said Holmboe Company would build and construct a court house in the city of Coalgate, according to certain plans and specifications described in such contract; that among the terms and provisions of such contract was the provision that: “The contract shall furnish guarantee, this guarantee shall cover a period of five years. This guarantee shall be an agreement to repair or replace within 60 days after receiving notice of same, any leaks in roofs, serious defect in foundation, or wall constructions, the clock, plumbing, *138 and heating” — and that thereafter, on the 30th day of April, 1912, after the building had been constructed and completed, the plaintiff in error executed the bond here sued upon.

Plaintiff further alleges that such work and construction was defective and faulty, specifically describing such defects, and that damages in the sum and amount of $2,500 had accrued by reason of such defective and faulty construction, and prayed judgment for such sum. The defendant answered, generally and specifically denying the material allegations in plaintiff’s petition, and as a further defense it was alleged that the board of county commissioners had changed the contract entered into between the parties, and as a result thereof the building was not constructed as provided for by the terms and conditions of the written contract, and by reason thereof defendant was not liable for any defects occurring in the building. The cause was tried to a jury, resulting in a verdict in favor of plaintiff, and from the judgment rendered thereon, the cause is appealed here.

At the time the ease was called for trial, motion supported by affidavit was filed by plaintiff in error for a change of venue from Coal county, alleging that the trial of the cause was to be held in the building in dispute; and, second, that the jury would be prejudiced against the defendant, and that it was impossible for the defendant to secure a fair and impartial trial. This motion was overruled, excepted to by plaintiff in error, and such action of the court overruling such motion is assigned as error.

tinder the rule announced in numerous decisions of this court, considering section 4680, Rev. Laws 1910, the granting or refusal of an application for a change of venue is addressed to the sound discretion of the trial judge, and, while it is true that such discretion cannot be measured and governed by fixed rules, the rulings on such motions must be made according to the rules of equity and the nature of the circumstances presented for the consideration of the court, the true consideration at all times being to advance the ends of justice. We have examined the affidavit filed by the defendant in support of this motion for a change of venue, and after an examination of the entire record in the case, and a consideration of the verdict rendered. we fail to note any evidence of passion, prejudice, or bias on the part of the jurors who heard this ease. The statutes specifically remove any disqualification by reason of being residents of the county. Insofar as it was contended that the trial would be held in the very building the construction of which had given occasion to the controversy, it is sufficient to say that it is not infrequent that jurors are permitted to observe objects and places that are the subject of controversy, as a matter óf securing and obtaining real and actual facts and conditions. In Crutchfield v. Martin, 27 Okla. 764, 117 Pac. 194, it is held:

“The court is vested with the sound discretion upon showing made therefor by an applicant, to grant or refuse a change of venue; and on appeal, unless it appears there has been an abuse of this discretion, the 'action of the trial court will not be disturbed.” Horton v. Haines, 23 Okla. 878, 102 Pac. 121.

The court did not err in overruling motion for change of venue.

It is next contended that the court erred in admitting incompetent, irrelevant, and immaterial testimony relating to certain elements of damages growing out of the alleged defective construction of the roof and of the inadequacy of the heating system placed in the building. This contention appears to be I predicated upon the misapprehension that such elements of damage were not properly pleaded. It is sufficient to call attention, however, to paragraphs four and seven of plaintiff’s amended petition, wherein it is alleged :

“That the work and material of the root were faulty and defective, and that the roof leaks and that it will take $250 to repair . same.”
“That the heating apparatus is in bad re- I pair, and has not sufficient capacity to heat I the building properly during even moderately E cold weather, and that, by reason of such bad repair and of the inadequate capacity of the plant to furnish heat for the building, the said county of Coal has suffered damages in the sum of nine hundred dollars ($900).”

While it is true that the rule has often been announced that it is error to admit tes- H timony in support of facts not put in issue | by the pleadings, the allegations above set | forth are clearly sufficient to admit the evidence offered relative to the defective condition of the roof and the inadequate and impaired condition of the heating plant.

It is next contended that the court erred in giving instruction No. 7. That part of the instruction necessary to be considered in connection with this assignment is as follows:

“You are further instructed that it would be immaterial as to any changes made in the original contract if you should find that the bond sued on herein was executed after said changes were made and after the construction of the building.”

*139 It is the contention of plaintiff in error that this instruction is. erroneous for the reason that the bond executed by plaintiff in error was to be controlled and governed by the terms and provisions of the contract of August 14, 1911, and that subsequent alterations in the plans and specifications of the court house relieved and discharged the surety. It has been noted, however, that the bond herein sued on was executed and delivered after the completion of the building in question, the material part of said bond being as follows:

“Whereas, the said building is now complete and ready for delivery and acceptance to the board of county commissioners of Coal county, Oklahoma.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
1920 OK 48, 187 P. 467, 77 Okla. 137, 1920 Okla. LEXIS 207, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/southwestern-surety-ins-co-v-comrs-coal-co-okla-1920.