Vitenas v. Centanni

381 So. 2d 531
CourtLouisiana Court of Appeal
DecidedFebruary 22, 1980
Docket10463
StatusPublished
Cited by22 cases

This text of 381 So. 2d 531 (Vitenas v. Centanni) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Louisiana Court of Appeal primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Vitenas v. Centanni, 381 So. 2d 531 (La. Ct. App. 1980).

Opinion

381 So.2d 531 (1980)

Josie Scavone, Wife of/and Dr. Povilas VITENAS,
v.
Vincent P. CENTANNI et al.

No. 10463.

Court of Appeal of Louisiana, Fourth Circuit.

February 22, 1980.

Peter J. Vernaci, Metairie, for Josie Scavone, w/o and Dr. Povilas Vitenas plaintiffs-appellees.

George H. Jones, of Frank J. D'Amico and George H. Jones, New Orleans, for Vincent P. Centanni, defendant-appellant.

*532 Carl L. Aspelund, Law Offices of James J. Morse, New Orleans, for The Travelers Ins. Co., third party defendant-appellant.

Eugene R. Preaus, Phelps, Dunbar, Marks, Claverie & Sims, New Orleans, for Fidelity and Deposit Company of Maryland, defendant third party plaintiff-appellee.

Before REDMANN, LEMMON and BOUTALL, JJ.

BOUTALL, Judge.

This is a suit for breach of warranty arising out of a building contract. Dr. and Mrs. Povilas Vitenas entered into a building contract with Vincent P. Centanni, a general contractor, and Fidelity & Deposit Company of Baltimore, Maryland provided the performance bond as surety. After the building was constructed and accepted by the owner, a number of serious defects began to appear in the premises, and Dr. and Mrs. Vitenas filed suit against the general contractor and the performance bond surety. Centanni subsequently filed a third-party demand against the Travelers Indemnity Company alleging coverage under an insurance policy which he placed with it, and praying for judgment against it. The trial court awarded partial judgment in favor of plaintiff against all three defendants in solido, and determined the third-party demands of the defendants amongst themselves. All four parties have appealed that judgment.

All of the issues flow out of the rights and obligations of the general contractor, Centanni, and we first direct our inquiry into the recovery of plaintiff against him.

Vitenas initially sued for over $15,000 in damages and then amended the petition to ask for in excess of $20,000. The complaint is that, after the building was accepted and occupancy begun, water leaks became apparent on all of the balconies of the structure, that the sliding aluminum doors as well as many windows leaked, and failed to operate properly, that the carport foundation sloped inward and allowed water to gather next to the wall of the main building, that the rear carport column is improperly supported, and a number of smaller items. His suit encompasses the cost of necessary repairs to correct the defects, fees paid to various architects and engineers in connection therewith, the fee and cost of a building lien, interest paid on a necessary loan, and attorney's fees. The trial court awarded only $2,395 in damages, $5,500 as attorney's fees, $100.00 for the cost of erasing the lien and $700 for expert witness' fees. Plaintiffs appeal the damage award as being incorrect and insufficient, and the defendants contest the other items awarded. The trial court found that the carport was improperly constructed in two instances: First, the roof rested on supporting columns, and the fascia board of the roof was placed on top of the column such that the weight rested on the board rather than the roof beams, causing a deterioration of the fascia boards and weakness to the roof; secondly, the concrete floor of the carport sloped towards the house and water puddled up near the house despite the contractor's attempt to repair this by placing a drain. He awarded $2,395 for these items, and the defendants do not contest them.

However, the contest is over the responsibility for the other defects which were enumerated above. It is adequately proven that water entered this house quite freely in periods of rain, and the issue is narrowed only as to who is responsible for the entry of the water. The trial judge cast this responsibility upon plaintiff who furnished the plans and specifications, pointing out that the defects were not caused by improper workmanship but because of deficiency in the plans and specifications. The major problem was in the area where the balconies joined the main house, and the sliding glass doors which were exposed to the elements without the protection of adequate overhang. Although there is some evidence that indicates that improper workmanship may have been the cause of some of the problem, the evidence overwhelmingly indicates that most of the problems arose because of the lack of sufficient pitch on the balconies to permit drainage away from the house, and the design of *533 the flashing installation, intended to make a waterproof seal between the balconies and the walls of the house. The trial judge gave a summarization of the evidence in reaching his conclusions, and we agree with them. Additionally, it was necessary that the judge assess and weigh the credibility of some of the witnesses, and the evidentiary value of their testimony. It is evidence that he gave considerably more weight to the testimony of the contractor and his witnesses and we find no manifest error in his conclusions. The defects in chief were defects occasioned because of the fault and insufficiency of the plans and specifications, including Dr. Vitenas' verbal instructions.[1]

L.S.A. R.S. 9:2771 states:

"§ 2771. Non-liability of contractor for destruction or deterioration of work.
"No contractor shall be liable for destruction or deterioration of or defects in any work constructed, or under construction, by him if he constructed, or is constructing, the work according to plans or specifications furnished to him which he did not make or cause to be made and if the destruction, deterioration or defect was due to any fault or insufficiency of the plans or specifications. This provision shall apply regardless of whether the destruction, deterioration or defect occurs or becomes evident prior to or after delivery of the work to the owner or prior to or after acceptance of the work by the owner. The provisions of this Section shall not be subject to waiver by the contractor."

The principles of this statute have been applied by us in the cases of Pittman Construction Company, Inc. v. City of New Orleans, 178 So.2d 312 (La.App. 4th Cir. 1965), writs refused; Katz v. Judice, 252 So.2d 532 (La.App. 4th Cir. 1971) writ refused; and LeBreton v. Brown, 260 So.2d 767 (La.App. 4th Cir. 1972), affirmed, 277 So.2d 645 (La.1973). Accordingly, we would affirm the amount of damages awarded by the trial judge, as well as the $100 payment for cancellation of the lien.

We do not agree with the award of attorney's fees under the terms of the building contract. The only obligation for attorney's fees to which we are referred is that provided during the progress of the work if the contractor should default as specified. We quote from the contract:

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381 So. 2d 531, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/vitenas-v-centanni-lactapp-1980.