Boteler v. Roy

Ellison, J. This action is by the owner against the contractor for breach of contract for building a house. Defendant Roy was the contractor, and the [238] other defendants were Ms sureties for his faithful performance of the contract. There was a judgment for defendant and plaintiff appeals. I. Defendant Doughtery was a member of the county court which selected the regular panel from which the jury in-this cause was drawn in the trial court. Such fact was unknown to plaintiff until after the trial, when he set it up in his motion for a new trial supported by affidavits. This objection to the jury ought to have been presented by challenge to the array before trial. After verdict it is too late to object to the manner in which the jury has been returned, or to the officer who returned it. Samuels v. State, 3 Mo. 68; Vierling v. Stifel, 15 Mo. App. 125; Thompson and Merriam on Juries. And this is true notwithstanding the complaining party had no knowledge of the fact till after verdict, unless it is shown that substantial injustice has been done. Ib. II. The court instructed the jury that if defendant had substantially performed his contract according to the plans and specifications that plaintiff could not recover even though there were trivial defects. This instruction should not have been given. The contractor in a building contract need not literally and precisely perform the contract in order- to recover thereon. Slight or trivial defects, imperfections or variations will not bar him of his .action on the contract, if he has made an honest endeavor to comply and has substantially done so. But a just allowance for such defects, though they be trivial, must be made to the owner. Monocacy B. Co. v. Iron Co., 83 Pa. St. 517, 524; Heckman v. Pickering, 81 N. Y. 213; Nolan v. Whitney, 88 N. Y. 648; Glacius v. Black, 50 N. Y. 153. A party is entitled to compensation for small or slight inj uries as well as those of larger extent. So, while if this was a suit on the contract by defendant against plaintiff, seeking to recover the contract price of the [239] work on the building, he would not be required to show a literal and exact performance in order to recover, yet he would, if such defense was made, be compelled to allow for whatever deviation there was from the contract, though it was slight. It follows, therefore, that in a suit by the owner against the contractor for damages in failing to perform his contract, substantial performance will not bar the owner’s recovery, if there be trivial defects which may be measured by compensation. In Nolan v. Whitney, supra, notwithstanding there was a good-faith substantial compliance with the contract, there were trivial defects in the plastering for which an allowance of two hundred dollars was made. This was held to be proper. In Johnson v. DePeyster, 50 N. Y. 666, substantial performance was found, and yet one hundred and fifty dollars was allowed for trivial defects. It may be said of the instruction complained of, as was said by Hough, J., in Haysler v. Owen, 61 Mo. 274, that it announces the correct rule in a suit by the contractor against the owner when he, the owner, does not seek to recover any special consequential damages by way of recoupment. But here the owner is seeking by direct action to recover such damages and the fact that they arise from trivial defects will not prevent his recovery. III. Plaintiff’s instruction number 8 was modified by the court so as to read, that, “ The fact that plaintiff went into possession of the premises described in the petition cannot be taken by the jury as an acceptance of the work done by defendant, as having been done in compliance with the contract, but may be considered in connection with all the facts and circumstances shown in the case,” etc. Tbe portion in italics is the modification made by the court, and we think it was properly done. Use and occupation of a building is not an acceptance. Mohney v. Reed, ante, p. 99, but we [240] think it may be considered with other evidence in determining that question. Occupancy and use may be one of the many circumstances in evidence going to show acceptance. Smith v. Brady 17 N. Y. 173; Mitchell v. Land Co., 3 Iowa, 209. It is a circumstance not alone sufficient, but which may be connected with other evidence. IY. In our opinion, the contract, when properly considered, did not require the work to be finished by defendant within three months; but required it to be done “without unnecessary delay as soon as ordered.” This latter phrase, which is in the contract proper, under the circumstances of this case, will control the specifications (though they were made a part of the contract) reciting that, “ The building will be completed, with all outside work herein specified, within three months from date of contract.” Defendant’s work as carpenter only had reference to a part of the building; he having no control or concern in the other parts. He could by no act of his control the time of finishing the building. A great part of his work necessarily waited upon other parts of the building and he should only be held to perform his contract without unnecessary delay. V. The contract in this case makes the architect’s certificate conclusive on the parties, but in this case the proper certificate was not given by the architect (see Roy v. Boteler, ante, p. 213), and in its absence his testimony as a witness • will not be conclusive, but will be received on the ; same terms with that of any other witness with equal knowledge and opportunity. Dinsmore v. Livingston Co., 60 Mo. 241; Yeats v. Ballentine, 56 Mo. 530. The judgment will be reversed and the cause remanded. All concur.