Eberhart v. Crisman Nesbitt

RAINEY, C. J. This suit was brought by Jacob Eberhart against Crisman & Nesbitt and the Cleburne Planing Mill Company to recover on a claim for $584.95 against Cris-man & Nesbitt for millwork furnished by the Cleburne Planing Mill Company, and which claim was transferred to said Eberhart by the said mill company. Crisman & Nesbitt answered by demurrers and general denial, and pleaded a cross-action against the said mill company for damages for breach of their contract. After hearing the evidence, the court instructed the jury to return a verdict in favor of Crisman & Nesbitt, and Eberhart appéals. The court instructed a verdict for Crisman & Nesbitt on the theory that the allegata and probata did not correspond, and this is the sole issue for determination. The petition alleged, in effect, that two contracts similar in character, but of different dates, were entered into between Crisman & Nesbitt and the Cleburne Planing Mill Company, by which the mill company was to furnish Crisman & Nesbitt, for certain amounts, the millwork for the erection of two buildings; that the mill company had delivered and Crisman & Nesbitt accepted certain millwork, for which they had not paid; that said Crisman & Nesbitt had breached the contracts, and said mill company had refused to furnish the balance of the material called for in said contracts; that the contracts had been canceled by mutual consent; that by receiving and using said material they promised and agreed to pay and became liable, therefor, etc. It wms also averred “that it was understood and agreed by all the parties to said two contracts that said Crisman & Nesbitt were to pay 80’ per cent, of the price of said material, when same was furnished to them f. o. b. building, from time to time, to said Cleburne Mill Company.” The testimony showed the execution of the two contracts as alleged, except on one is indorsed the following: “Payments to be made upon the basis of 80 per cent, of the price of material as estimated by architects.” Appellees insist that the uncontradicted evidence, showing that payments were to be made on the basis of 80 per cent, of the price of material as estimated by architects, wah a material variance between the allegations and proof that prevents a recovery by plaintiff in this case. There is no principle of law better settled than that, to entitle a plaintiff to recover, there must be no substantial variance between the allegations and proof. But was there *842 such a substantial variance in this case? We think not. There is no controversy but that the material was furnished to the extent claimed, and the price to the extent sued for had not been paid. There was no claim by Crisman & Nesbitt that they had not paid it, for the reason that no estimate had been made by the architect, and the definite amount due was not ascertained. We are therefore of the opinion that the rule of “al-legata and probata” does not apply in this case, as there was no substantial variance. The judgment is reversed, and cause remanded.