Union Electric Co. v. Siteman Organization, Inc.

616 S.W.2d 851, 1981 Mo. App. LEXIS 2754
CourtMissouri Court of Appeals
DecidedApril 14, 1981
DocketNo. 41748
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 616 S.W.2d 851 (Union Electric Co. v. Siteman Organization, Inc.) 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
Union Electric Co. v. Siteman Organization, Inc., 616 S.W.2d 851, 1981 Mo. App. LEXIS 2754 (Mo. Ct. App. 1981).

Opinion

GUNN, Judge.

This appeal arises from a multicount civil action with certain counterclaims in connection with the construction of a bank building in Clayton, Missouri. The central issues concern liability for damages to underground electrical distribution facilities and the interpretation of contract provisions pertaining to the responsibility for such damages. The damages to the' facilities occurred during the construction of the Clayton Bank Building in 1966 and 1967. After a non-juiy trial, the trial court found the issues which are the subject of this appeal in favor of the defendants-respondents, the Siteman Organization, Inc. and Pacific Indemnity Company, and against plaintiff-appellant Union Electric Company. We reverse the judgment in certain aspects.

Siteman was the developer of the building project on a site bounded on the west by Central Avenue in Clayton. Bordering on the south property line of the site was an electric power distribution substation owned and operated by Union Electric. Union Electric also had certain underground distribution facilities, a concrete duct (“duct run” or “duct bank”) containing electrical cables serving the central business district of Clayton, beneath Central Avenue running along the western property line of the building site.

Substantial excavation for the building foundation was to be undertaken, and Union Electric was concerned about the potential for damage to its substation and duct that might be caused by the removal of the lateral support of the adjacent land. A dispute arose between Union Electric and Siteman about their respective responsibilities for the protection of electrical facilities during the building construction. As a compromise of their differences, Union Electric and Siteman entered into a written agreement (the Contract) dated August 8, 1966, relevant portions of which are:

1. Siteman agrees to construct protective devices for the above-named facilities in accordance with plans prepared by Harold W. Tepper, Professional Engineer ... entitled “Shoring and Bracing Plan and Details for Excavated Banks at Southern and Western Property Lines”....
2. Union Electric shall pay to Siteman the total sum of Forty-five Thousand Five Hundred and No/100ths ($45,500.00) Dollars, in installments, upon receipt of statements rendered by Siteman in accordance with the construction progress.
4. Siteman agrees and covenants that it will indemnify and hold harmless Union Electric, its successors and assigns from any loss or damage to the property of Union Electric and from and against any and all claims and demands, suits or actions, including court costs and attorneys’ fees directly or indirectly resulting from the loss of or damage to property of any other person, firm, or corporation and injury to or death of persons whomsoever, in any manner arising or growing out of the design, construction, maintenance, use, repair, relocation, or removal of said above-described protective devices for the west side or the construction of the before-mentioned building (specifically excluding protective devices for the south side) whether or not said protective devices for the west side are constructed according to all plans and specifications, except such loss, damage, injury or death as may be shown to have been caused by the negligence of Union Electric excluding their participation in the development of the design of the protective devices.
5. Union Electric requires that Site-man shall provide and maintain throughout the entire construction period of this building public liability insurance coverage written by a carrier acceptable to Union Electric. Such coverage shall be written with limits not less than $100,000 per person, $300,000 per accident bodily injury and $500,000 property damage and shall apply to the premises and operations [854]*854covered by this Agreement and specifically including contractual liability coverage on the aforestated indemnity obligation of Siteman. A certificate of insurance shall be filed with Union Electric as evidence that the required coverages are in force and such certificate shall contain a clause stating that in the event of a material change or cancellation of the coverage, at least thirty (30) days prior written notice shall be given Union Electric.
Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, Siteman’s liability to Union Electric by reason of the aforesaid indemnification and hold harmless is restricted and limited to the risks and liability covered by the aforesaid insurance policy to be issued, it being the understanding that Siteman shall have no liability hereunder unless said liability is covered by said policy.

Siteman was already insured with regard to the construction project under policies issued by Pacific Indemnity. In accord with the Contract between them, Siteman presented to Union Electric a certificate of insurance issued by Pacific Indemnity which purported to evidence existence of insurance coverage as required by the Contract. The certificate listed the insured as “The Siteman Organization, Inc.”; the location of risk was described as “Union Electric Company Distribution Substation and proposed Clayton Bank Building, Central Avenue, Clayton, Missouri”; the description of risk was “Contractual agreement entered into August _, 1966, between Union Electric and The Siteman Organization, Inc.” The certificate described a “Comprehensive Liability” policy, as well as an “Umbrella Liability” policy providing $1,000,000 excess over the stated limits of the comprehensive policy. In addition, the certificate stated: “Blanket Contractual Liability included in policy conditions.” Mr. Oliver Hucker, Union Electric’s employee in charge of insurance matters, reviewed the certificate, approved it as evidencing the requisite insurance, and the Contract was signed.

Excavation on the building site commenced in September 1966. The evidence demonstrated that the engineer’s plans required by paragraph one of the Contract, for lateral support to the west side of the excavation, were not followed in numerous respects. Beginning in October 1966 loose dirt commenced a glissade down the west edge of the excavation. Subsequently Union Electric’s concrete duct became exposed and the supporting earth underneath it began to slough out. The sidewalk along Central Avenue above the duct subsided six to twelve inches and cracks developed and widened in the duct. Union Electric’s engineers concluded that the duct was in danger of collapse, and decided to reroute the cables above ground temporarily. Despite preventative measures, the duct ultimately collapsed into the excavation. When construction on the building was completed, Union Electric installed a new concrete duct in Central Avenue. The total net cost of installing the temporary cables and building a replacement duct was $37,637.65.

Between October 1966 and May 1967 Union Electric had paid $6,350.00 to Siteman under the terms of their Contract. Thereafter, it withheld payment of $39,150.00, the remainder of the $45,500.00 it was obligated to pay under the Contract. No money was ever received by Union Electric from either Siteman or Pacific Indemnity to cover the damage to the concrete duct.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

United States v. Conservation Chemical Co.
653 F. Supp. 152 (W.D. Missouri, 1986)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
616 S.W.2d 851, 1981 Mo. App. LEXIS 2754, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/union-electric-co-v-siteman-organization-inc-moctapp-1981.