West Covina Enterprises, Inc. v. Chalmers

322 P.2d 13, 49 Cal. 2d 754
CourtCalifornia Supreme Court
DecidedFebruary 25, 1958
DocketL. A. 24586
StatusPublished
Cited by12 cases

This text of 322 P.2d 13 (West Covina Enterprises, Inc. v. Chalmers) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering California Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
West Covina Enterprises, Inc. v. Chalmers, 322 P.2d 13, 49 Cal. 2d 754 (Cal. 1958).

Opinions

SHENK, J.

This is an appeal on the judgment roll from a judgment for the plaintiff in an action to recover damages for the breach of a contract to render architectural services in connection with the construction of an addition to a hospital.

The defendant is an architect licensed to practice in the State of Nebraska. He is not licensed in the State of California, nor does he hold a temporary certificate to act as an architect in this state. In April 1954 the plaintiff and the defendant signed a contract dated January 2, 1954. The contract provides in part as follows:

. . Chalmers is not an architect [licensed to practice in California] . . . Chalmers, because of his education, training and experience, can prepare for Owner plans, drawings and specifications for said hospital addition and is willing to assist Owner in the construction and finishing of said building and . . . Owner desires to employ Chalmers for the period of time necessary to complete such work . . . the parties hereto agree as follows:
“1. That Chalmers shall be employed by Owner and shall:
“A. Prepare for Owner plans, drawings and specifications for said building including preliminary plans, final and working drawings and specifications complying with the requirements and regulations of the California State Department of Public Health, the California State Fire Marshal, the United States Department of Public Health and United States Civil Defense Administration including such large scale and full sized detailed drawings for architectural, structural, plumb[757]*757ing, heating, electrical, other mechanical work and engineering reports as are necessary for purposes of construction.
“B. Obtain the approval of said final and working drawings and specifications of any of the aforesaid agencies whenever the same may be necessary to obtain financing of the construction of said building.
“C. Assist ... in obtaining the services of a general contractor. . . .
“D. Inspect the building during construction. . . .
“E. Approve bills for costs of construction. . . .
“2. That Owner shall pay to Chalmers as salary the sum of Seven Hundred Fifty Dollars ... a month for each month from February through December, 1954. . . .
“4. That preliminary plans for the erection of said building shall be completed on or before May 1, 1954, and final working drawings and specifications shall be completed and twelve . . . copies of the same submitted to Owner on or before September 1,1954.
“5. That Chalmers may obtain the assistance of other individuals to assist him in his work hereunder but they shall not be employees of Owner and Owner shall be under no obligation to compensate such individuals or to reimburse Chalmers for such expenses as may be incurred by him in connection therewith. . . .
“9. That this agreement shall constitute the entire contract with respect to this matter.”

The defendant began work in February 1954. He prepared some preliminary drawings which were found by the trial court to be incomplete, not in accordance with the agreement, and of no value to the plaintiff. The defendant did not complete any of the final or working drawings, plans, or specifications as required by the contract.

In October 1954 the defendant repudiated the contract on the ground that performance by him was illegal because he was not licensed to practice architecture in California.

The trial court found against the defendant, denied him relief on his cross-complaint, and rendered judgment for the plaintiff for $13,075 of which $6,375 was for salary theretofore paid by the plaintiff to the defendant and $6,700 of which was for the difference between the salary to which Chalmers was entitled under the contract and the fee paid to the architect who undertook to design and construct the building after Chalmers ’ repudiation.

[758]*758An unlicensed person may render architectural services in this state if, prior to performing any service, he informs his client in writing that he is not a licensed architect. (Bus. & Prof. Code, § 5537.) The preparation of hospital plans and specifications, however, is regulated by the Department of Public Health pursuant to rules and regulations adopted under section 1411 of the Health and Safety Code. Title 17, section 406 of the California Administrative Code provides:

“(a) Architectural plans and specifications for new construction, additions, alterations or repair of any buildings to be licensed and operated as hospitals as defined in Title 17, Group 2 of the Administrative Code shall be submitted to the State Department of Public Health for review and approval prior to commencement of construction. . . .
“(b) Plans and specifications shall be prepared by a duly licensed architect or registered civil engineer.
“(c) Plans shall be submitted in two stages:

(1) Preliminary drawings and

(2) Working drawings and specifications.”

The trial court made the following conclusion of law: ‘ ‘ Said written agreement was not illegal or unlawful in any particular, either at the time it was executed or thereafter, nor was the performance thereof by either party thereto illegal, unlawful, or impossible. Said written agreement was not void or voidable by either party thereto.”

It is the defendant’s contention that the findings of fact which paraphrase the foregoing provisions of the contract and recite the above quoted sections of the Administrative Code do not support that conclusion.

It should be noted that the appeal is presented on the clerk’s transcript and certain exhibits. The error is claimed to appear on the face of the record. Thus, in the absence of proceedings to augment the record, it will be presumed that it contains all matters material to a determination of the points on appeal. (Rule 52, Rules on Appeal; see also 3 Wit-kin, California Procedure, pp. 2239-2243.)

If section 406 is a valid administrative regulation, it is clear that Chalmers could not have rendered a lawful performance without first obtaining a license (Bus. & Prof. Code, §§ 5550, 5551), or a temporary certificate (Bus. & Prof. Code, § 5540.) The plaintiff contends that an obligation to obtain a license was enjoined upon the defendant by the contract. The contract eontaiñs two recitals relevant to [759]*759the determination of that issue. First, it states that Chalmers “is not an architect.” Second, it provides that . Chal-mers, because of his education, training and experience, can prepare for Owner plans, drawings and specifications for said hospital addition. . . .” It is apparent from the terms of the contract that the respondent entered into the agreement with full knowledge of the extent of Chalmers’ qualifications; that it knew that Chalmers was not licensed to practice architecture in California and that he had no temporary certificate to practice architecture in this state. If the contract is the sole measure of the defendant’s obligations, it is clear that he cannot be required to obtain an architect ⅛ license or a temporary certificate.

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West Covina Enterprises, Inc. v. Chalmers
322 P.2d 13 (California Supreme Court, 1958)

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322 P.2d 13, 49 Cal. 2d 754, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/west-covina-enterprises-inc-v-chalmers-cal-1958.