Tinsley v. Kemery

84 S.W. 993, 111 Mo. App. 87
CourtMissouri Court of Appeals
DecidedJanuary 24, 1905
StatusPublished

This text of 84 S.W. 993 (Tinsley v. Kemery) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Missouri Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Tinsley v. Kemery, 84 S.W. 993, 111 Mo. App. 87 (Mo. Ct. App. 1905).

Opinion

GOODE, J.

This is an. action on a bond given by the defendant Kemery to- secure the performance of a contract he had entered into with Tinsley, the plaintiff, to construct a dwelling house in the city of Louisiana. The agreed price for the house was $2,218, Kemery undertaking to furnish all material and labor and a bond for the faithful performance of his contract. This bond was executed by him as principal and J. D. Bowman and C. N. Rupert as sureties, in the sum of $2,500, conditioned as follows:

“Whereas, J. W. Kemery has contracted with Walter G. Tinsley, of Louisiana, Missouri, to execute, con[88]*88struct and complete a frame building for tbe sum of $2,218 by a contract dated August 18, 1896, hereto- annexed, and the condition of this obligation is that if the said J. W. Kemery shall duly perform said contract and fulfill all the several stipulations therein provided, and hold the owner W. G. Tinsley harmless against all persons furnishing labor and materials or other articles pertaining to- the building, directly or indirectly, then this obligation is to be void and o-f no effect; otherwise the same shall remain in full force and effect.”

The present action is on that bond and the breach alleged is that Kemery failed to comply with his contract to furnish and- pay for all labor and materials needed in the construction of the building and that Tinsley, in consequence, was compelled to pay out $343.71 for labor and materials above the contract price. The petition avers a final settlement with Kemery whereby it was agreed between him and Tinsley the said sum of $343.71 was owed to the latter; the plaintiff demanded the sum of defendant and his bondsmen, but they refused to pay. O. N. Rupert, one of the sureties on the bond, having died, his executrix, Mary E.° Rupert, was made a defendant. A separate answer was filed in behalf of the sureties in which, besides a general denial, they set up six other defenses, to-wit: First, that the bond was executed by them without any consideration, long after the contract was signed and delivered; second, that the work done for the plaintiff was not done in accordance with the contract between the plaintiff and Kemery, but materials, work and labor were furnished under different contracts, plans and specifications from those referred to in the bond; third, that Tinsley did not make payments for the work according to the terms of the contract; fourth that he did not insure the' building as required by the contract; fifth, that it was part of the contract for the building, as stated in the specifications, that the owner of the building and the superintendent of the work should [89]*89have the right to make any alterations, additions or changes in the work and materials specified, and shown on the drawings, during the progress of the building, that they should find necessary, and the same should be consented to by the contractor or contractors and carried into effect without vitiating the contract; that the values of all such alterations, additions or omissions should be agreed upon in writing between the said parties before going into execution; that this provision was violated by making various alterations in the plans and specifications and work and material to be done and furnished without agreement between the plaintiff, as owner of the building, and the superintendent, settling the value of the changes before they were made; sixth, that when the bond was signed it was agreed between the plaintiff and sureties that P. H. Baird should have nothing to say concerning the performance of the contract ; but notwithstanding said agreement plaintiff permitted Baird to act as superintendent. The issues thus tendered were denied in plaintiff’s reply and the trial court found all except the third one, relating to payments for the house, against the defendants.

The answer of Kemery pleaded, firstly, a general denial, secondly, that prior to the execution of the bond he and plaintiff entered into a contract before the construction of the house was begun and that, therefore, the bond was without consideration; thirdly, the defense of lack of consideration stated in a different form; fourthly, that the plaintiff failed to comply with his contract to pay defendant in person the amount of $2,218 as agreed hy the contract and at the times agreed therein; fifthly, that the house was not constructed according to the contract, but various changes in the plans and specifications were made with the knowledge and consent and by the direction of the plaintiff; sixthly, that the plaintiff owed the .defendant $366.70 for an enumerated list of extra items of work and expense incurred in building the house, not called for in the orig[90]*90Inal contract. The contract contains this proviso in regard to payments:

“Second: The said party of the second part do Lereby' promise and agree to and with the said party of the first part, that he the said party of the second part will in consideration of the covenants and agreements being strictly executed, kept and performed by the said party of the first part as specified, pay or cause to be paid unto the party of the first part the sum of twenty* two hundred and eighteen dollars lawful money of the United States in manner as follows:

“First payment,-dollars when all the frame lumber on the ground and first floor joists are put in proper place.
“Second payment,-dollars when roof is put on, not including porches.
“Third payment,-dollars when building is ■enclosed and plastering completed..
“Fourth payment, - dollars when all the wood work is completed ready for painting,
“Fifth payment, all the amount remaining unpaid at the entire completion of the building and when receipts in full are furnished for all labor and materials put in or on said building from beginning to finish of ■said building and when all drawings and specifications shall have been returned to P. H. Baird, superintendente

Shortly after the action was instituted the court made an order appointing W. H. Morrow referee and directing said referee to find and state an account between the plaintiff and the defendant Kemery and, if any of the items of the account between them were not contracted under the original contract, ‘ to show the facts. Pursuant to that order the referee 'took testimony and made a report that the price called for by the original contract and specifications was $2,218, but the plaintiff had paid the contractor $2,759.50, and the contractor had done work and furnished material not con[91]*91tracted for under the original contract to the amount of •'$>197.79, the various items of extra work and materials being specifically stated. Afterwards the circuit court ¡submitted to a jury the issue of whether the bond had been signed at the time of the signing of the contract •and denied a jury trial of the other issues of the case, to which ruling the defendant excepted. On appeal to the Supreme Court the judgment was reversed on this ruling and, on the return of the case, both parties having waived a jury trial, the circuit court tried all the •issues except the one which had been referred and on which the referee had reported. That issue was taken as concluded by the reference, according to the ruling -of the Supreme Court.

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Bluebook (online)
84 S.W. 993, 111 Mo. App. 87, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/tinsley-v-kemery-moctapp-1905.