Wauson & Williams, Architects, Inc. v. Reeder Development Corp.

572 S.W.2d 24
CourtCourt of Appeals of Texas
DecidedAugust 17, 1978
DocketNo. 17131
StatusPublished
Cited by3 cases

This text of 572 S.W.2d 24 (Wauson & Williams, Architects, Inc. v. Reeder Development Corp.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Texas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Wauson & Williams, Architects, Inc. v. Reeder Development Corp., 572 S.W.2d 24 (Tex. Ct. App. 1978).

Opinion

COLEMAN, Chief Justice.

This is a suit on a sworn account brought by Wauson and Williams, Architects, against Reeder Development Corporation under Rule 185, Texas Rules of Civil Procedure. The plaintiff’s petition complied with the requirements of the rule. The defendant did not file a written denial, under oath, stating that each and every item is not just or true, or that some specific item or items are not just and true. The defendant admitted certain items of the account by referring to the invoice number, but with respect to other invoices listed by number the defendant denied having received or used the drawings or having obtained any benefit from the same and specifically denied the indebtedness. Four invoices forming a part of the plaintiff’s sworn account represented work done by the plaintiff under the terms of a written contract. The defendant contented that the work represented by these invoices was incorrect, incomplete and useless to the defendant. The defendant denied receiving any benefit from the plans and specifications produced by the plaintiff under the contract and specifically denied the indebtedness to plaintiff shown by the four invoices. The defendant also filed a cross-action against the plaintiff for damages.

The case was tried to the court without a jury. The court entered a judgment for the plaintiff in the amount of $1750.00 plus attorney’s fees and court costs, and rendered a take nothing judgment on the defendant’s cross-action. Findings of fact and conclusion of law were filed. The plaintiff appeals.

The defendant has failed to file a written denial under oath in the form provided by Rule 185, Texas Rules of Civil Procedure. It cannot dispute the receipt of the items or services listed in the account or the correctness of the stated charges. The defendant is entitled to assert defenses in the nature of confession and avoidance without filing a sworn denial if they are properly pleaded. Airborne Freight Corporation v. CRB Marketing, Inc., 566 S.W.2d 573 (Tex.1978); Glasco v. Frazer, 225 S.W.2d 633 (Tex.Civ.App.—Dallas 1949, writ dism’d).

With respect to the services rendered under the written contract the defendant does not deny that the services were rendered or that the charges stated are correct. It defends against these charges on the ground that a written contract between the parties required that the architects prepare drawings and specifications consistent with the restrictions and general architectural plan of the developer of a housing project and that the plans developed were incorrect, incomplete, and useless to the defendant.

This pleading properly invokes the defense of failure of consideration with respect to the plaintiff’s invoices number 9661, 9681, 9708, and 9741. New Trends, Inc. v. Stafford-Lowdon Company, 537 S.W.2d 778 (Tex.Civ.App.—Ft. Worth 1976, ref. n. r. e.).

The defendant has asserted failure of consideration with respect of invoices 9200, 9397, 9488, 9667, and 9668. With respect to these invoices the defendant denied receiving, using, or having obtained any benefit from certain drawings. While this pleading is verified, it is not an affidavit in the form required by Rule 185 or Rule 93(k), T.R.C.P. Airborne Freight Corporation v. CRB Marketing, Inc., supra; Goodman v. Art Reproductions Corp., 502 S.W.2d 592 (Tex.Civ.App.—Dallas 1973, ref. n. r. e.); Oliver Bass Lumber Co., Inc., v. Kay & Herring Butane Gas Co., Inc., 524 S.W.2d 600 (Tex.Civ.App.—Tyler 1975, n. w. h.).

The defendant’s pleading is insufficient to permit a contest to the plaintiff’s verified account insofar as they attempt to contest the charges relating to the residential services, plans and drawings in the amount of $2848.00. The testimony that these plans were not delivered to defendant cannot be considered because the defendant failed to file a proper sworn denial. The plaintiff was entitled to the recovery of this sum as a matter of law. Airborne Freight Corporation v. CRB Marketing, Inc., supra; DeWees v. Alsip, 546 S.W.2d 692 (Tex.Civ.App.—El Paso 1977, n. w. h.).

[27]*27The trial court found that the plaintiff failed to comply with certain contractual provisions relating to the apartment project. The court further found that the plaintiff failed to substantially perform the architectural services required of it under the contract between the parties, but found the defendant received benefit by reason of the plaintiff’s work on the apartment project of a value in the amount of $1400.00. The court also found that the defendant made an initial payment to plaintiff in the sum of $500.00 as an advance payment under the contract. All of these findings are sufficiently supported by competent evidence.

In July 1973 Tom Shipp, a representative of the defendant, met with Richard Williams, a representative of the architects, to discuss the preparation of plans for a large apartment complex. Mr. Shipp testified that he delivered to Williams on that date a plat of the property on which the apartments were to be built and a set of deed restrictions applicable to the property. Mr. Williams denied that the restrictions were furnished to him. Other employees of the architectural firm testified that no restrictions were found in the working file and that they had requested Mr. Shipp to furnish restrictions and that he failed to do so.

Mr. Gaudin and Mr. Ramero did the preliminary drawing on the project. Each testified that he worked from a plan which contained a ten (10) foot set-back line. Preliminary drawings showing the ten (10) foot set-back line were prepared and submitted to Shipp and the developer. There was testimony that these were approved and the architects were authorized to proceed with the next stage of the drawings. There was testimony that the architects completed all necessary drawings and specifications required by the contract.

In October after all the drawings were completed the architects were informed that they were using the wrong set-back line and the plans could not be approved. The evidence established that the 10 foot set-back line was shown on the survey furnished the architects and that the restrictions containing the 40 foot set-back line were filed subsequent to the date of the survey.

The contract between the parties provided for a maximum fee. At the time the architects learned of the 40 foot set-back line the bills submitted for their services had reached this maximum fee. The architects then informed the defendant that in order to complete the work they would have to do considerable additional work and then that “a more involved set of services— would cost a little more money.” Mr. Shipp later notified the plaintiff that its services would no longer be used. He testified that the plaintiff requested a fee double the amount originally agreed upon.

Mr. Wauson, the architect in charge of the project, testified that the 40 foot setback line necessitated starting over from scratch in developing the second phase drawings.

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

Related

Cooper v. Scott Irrigation Construction, Inc.
838 S.W.2d 743 (Court of Appeals of Texas, 1992)
Brightwell v. Barlow, Gardner, Tucker & Garsek
619 S.W.2d 249 (Court of Appeals of Texas, 1981)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
572 S.W.2d 24, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/wauson-williams-architects-inc-v-reeder-development-corp-texapp-1978.