United States ex rel. Buckelew Hardware Co. v. Union Indemnity Co.

6 F. Supp. 360, 1934 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 1709
CourtDistrict Court, W.D. Louisiana
DecidedFebruary 16, 1934
DocketNo. 2394
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 6 F. Supp. 360 (United States ex rel. Buckelew Hardware Co. v. Union Indemnity Co.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, W.D. Louisiana primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
United States ex rel. Buckelew Hardware Co. v. Union Indemnity Co., 6 F. Supp. 360, 1934 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 1709 (W.D. La. 1934).

Opinion

DAWKINS, District Judge.

This is a suit under the provisions of section 270, title 40, of the U. S. C. (40 USCA § 270). Plaintiff alleges that on April 17, 1931, the government entered into a contract with Ashton-Glassell Company, Inc., a Louisiana corporation, to construct forty-two company officers’ quarters at Barksdale Plying Field, Bossier parish, La., for the priee of $462,457, and that the contractor furnished a performance bond in the sum of $231,228.-50, with the Union Indemnity Company, also created under the laws of Louisiana, as surety; that the said company, on or about the 11th day of May, 1931, “entered into a reinsurance agreement with the * * International Reinsurance Corporation,” a Colorado corporation, “in favor of the United States, reinsuring and counter-securing the said Umon Indemnity Company on said contract and bond to the extent of $27,823.23”; that between the dates of March 8, 1932, and June 14, 1932, petitioner had sold and delivered to the said contractor building materials to the value of $12.23, which had not been paid, and wMch materials were purchased for and used in the construction of said officers’ quarters; that the UMon Indemnity Company was in the hands of a receiver appointed by the state court for the parish of Orleans; that the Ashton-Glassell Company, Inc., the contractor, had been adjudged a bankrupt and a trustee appointed. These companies were cited through their receivers and trustee, respectively. The prayer was for a judgment in solido against all of said defendants, including the International Reinsurance Corporation.

On April 10, 1933, the Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company filed an intervention, reciting the same facts and circumstances, including the making of the contract and bond with the government; that it had, at the request of the said Ashton-Glassell Company, Inc., sold and delivered to it $53.54 worth of material, which had gone into the said job. It prayed for judgment against the same parties and in the same manner as the original petitioner.

On the same day Victoria Lumber Company, through its receivers, intervened, alleging upon the original contract and bond, as well as the reinsurance bond, and further, that it had entered into a contract -with the Ashton-Glassell Company, Inc., to furmsh the millwork for twenty-nine type A and thirteen type B quarters at Barksdale Field, for the consideration of $28,200, as per copy of contract attached; that, in addition, it had furnished extra materials to the extent of $3,156.72, as per itemized statement annexed, all of wMch materials so furnished were used in the construction of said buildings; and that there was a balance due of $8,092.53, for which it prayed judgment against the three defendants in solido.

Likewise on the 19th day of April, 1933, C. V. Brandt of San Antonio, Tex., “operating and doing business as Brandt Floor Company,” intervened, claiming the sum of $179.72 for finishing the floors “in the forty-two officers’ quarters” and repeating all of the allegations of the preceding claimants with regard to contracts, bonds, etc. and praying for judgment against the contractor, surety company, and the reinsurer. He alleged that Ms dealings were direet with- the contractor, Ashton-Glassell Company, Inc.

On the same day similar intervention was-filed by C. W. Milford, “operating and doing business as Acme Weather Strip & Caulking Company, of Dallas, Texas,” in. [362]*362which he alleged his agreement was also direct with the contractor, setting forth the contract, bond, etc., and praying for judgment against the same parties in solido for a balance of $121.80.

On May 3, 1933, the Robinson-Slagle Lumber Company, Inc., a Louisiana corporation, through its receivers, intervened, alleging it had furnished labor and materials “to the Ashton-Glassell Company, Inc.,” upon which a balance of $1,356.46 remained due. It adopted “the allegations of the plaintiff herein,” except as to the amount of its claim, •and prayed judgment against the same parties in solido.

May 20, 1933, Decatur Cornice & Roofing Company, an Alabama corporation, “operating, doing business and trading as Decatur Iron & Steel Company,” intervened, repeating substantially the allegations of the original plaintiff; that, by agreement with the contractor, it had “furnished at different times from and including June 13, 1931, to and including May 25, 1932, certain materials and supplies” for the construction of the said officers’ quarters, upon which there was a balance due of $5,256.79, for which it prayed judgment against the same defendants in solido.

May 23, 1933, Albert Karelius intervened, repeating in substanee the allegations of the original petition; that petitioner had “entered into a contract in writing, as sub-eon-tractor, with the defendant Ashton-Glassell Company, Inc.,” to do the “lathing, plastering and stucco work for twenty-nine Type A and thirteen Type B, company officers’ quarters, for the sum of $57,750.00,” payable as provided in said contract; that extra labor and material was performed and furnished, resulting in a total of $59,951, upon which there was a balance due of $714, and for which he prayed judgment in solido against all three of the original defendants. On the 27th of May he obtained an order to the defendants Ashton-Glassell Company, Inc., through its trustee, the Union Indemnity Company, through its receivers, and the International Reinsurance Corporation, to show cause why “the relief prayed for in his petition * * * should not be granted.”

May 27,1933, the Crane Company of Chicago, Ill., repeating substantially the allegations of the original petition, intervened, and in addition thereto alleged that the International Reinsurance Company had been placed in the hands of receivers, who were named; that on the 7th day of May, 1931, Ashton-

Glassell Company, Inc., entered into a subcontract with O’Pry Heating & Plumbing Corporation, now Smith-J-ones Company, for the furnishing and installing of the plumbing, heating, and gas fitting materials, and that petitioner sold and delivered to said Smith-Jones Company materials for said work which went into the construction of the buildings, amounting to $29,320.81, upon which there remains a balance due of $13,059.90, and for which petitioner prayed judgment in solido against the original three defendants, as well as the Smith-Jones Company, in solido.

June 6, 1933, Interstate Electric Company, a Louisiana corporation, of Shreveport, La., intervened. It adopted the general allegations of the original plaintiff, and alleged that between the dates of June 6 and 15, 1932, it sold and delivered to the contractor materials to the value of $57.77, as per itemized statement annexed, which were used on said job. It likewise prayed judgment against the contractor, its surety, and the Reinsurance Corporation, in solido.

June 9th Peden Iron & Steel Company intervened, making the same general allegations, and further that the general contractor, Ashton-Glassell Company, Inc., had “sub-let a part of the work to O’Pry Heating & Plumbing Corporation, * * * which later changed its name* to the Smith-Jones Company”; that the latter company gave a performance bond with the United States Fidelity & Guaranty Company as surety; that the “O’Pry Heating & Plumbing Corporation sub-let a portion of the work” to Marcus E.

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6 F. Supp. 360, 1934 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 1709, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/united-states-ex-rel-buckelew-hardware-co-v-union-indemnity-co-lawd-1934.