West v. McDonald

Mr. Justice Burnett delivered the opinion of the court. Among others, the defendant requested the court to give this instruction to the jury: “If you find from the evidence in this case that the understanding and agreement between the plaintiff and the defendant was that the plaintiff should cease drilling and complete the well whenever he struck a good flow of water, and that he did strike a good flow of water at 70 or 80 feet, but that he cut off this water and continued drilling to 350 feet, and never completed the well or secured a flow of water, then I instruct you that the plaintiff cannot recover, and it will be your duty to return a verdict for the defendant.” 1. It is competent for Jones to employ Brown to bore a hole in the earth or to do any other lawful thing, although the work may prove futile for any useful purpose, or, for that matter, even if it was known in advance that the performance would be vain. In that case Brown could recover by an action on the quantum meruit what would reasonably and fairly compensate him for his labor. 2. On the other hand, if Brown contracts with Jones to bore a well for the latter for a specified sum of money [207] per foot to such a depth as will afford a supply of water and to make no charge for the excess of boring deeper than 100 feet necessary to obtain water, there is an entire contract which Brown must perform according to its terms before he is entitled to recover any compensation from Jones, if nothing else is shown. An exception relieving the stringency of the latter supposed case is thus stated in the words of Mr. Justice Boise in Tribou v. Strowbridge, 7 Or. 156: “We think the rule in this State is that where one performs service for another on a special contract, and for any reason, except a voluntary abandonment, fails- to fully comply with his contract, and such compliance becomes impracticable, and the service has been of value to him for whom it was rendered, he may recover for such services its reasonable value.” Although this statement was declared by the same judge, in the case of Steeples v. Newton, 7 Or. 110 (33 Am. Rep. 705), to be obiter and unnecessary to the decision of the case in which he used the language quoted, yet the court adopted it in the case in which the criticism was made, and the principle has governed all similar cases in this court since then. Todd v. Huntington, 1Or. 9 (4 Pac. 295); Gove v. Island City M. & M. Co., 19 Or. 363 (24 Pac. 521); Murray’s Estate, 56 Or. 123 (107 Pac. 19). One essential element of the rule, without the presence of which the person doing the service under an express and entire contract cannot recover, is that the labor must have been of some value or benefit to the one for whom it was performed. 3. The contractor for the accomplishment of an entire and indivisible undertaking impliedly agrees to stand the loss if his task is not accomplished and his part performance is useless to the other party. The only reason why the contractor is allowed to recover for any partial performance is that the work is of some material advantage to the one with whom he contracts and whom the [208] law will not allow to retain the benefits of another’s labor without paying for it. 4. The pleading in this case presents the two theories which we have attempted to illustrate. The plaintiff contends for compensation on the quantum meruit irrespective of whether his services in question were in the end beneficial or not. The defendant maintains that the work was done under an entire and indivisible but not completed contract, and that what was done was utterly useless to any one, so that the plaintiff must stand the loss. 5. There is testimony in the records in support of the contention of each party. The defendant as well as the plaintiff had the right to have his theory of the case presented to the jury, but, in effect, the cause was submitted on the mere affirmative and negative of the plaintiff’s theory. The defendant contends that he contracted for a well of living water, but received, on account of plaintiff’s fault, a dry hole in the ground of no use to him or to any one else, and he was entitled to go to the jury on that question. The quoted instruction requested by the defendant, or one of like import, should have been given illustrating the futility of trying to recover for useless labor performed under an express and entire contract but voluntarily left by the contractor uncompleted. Other questions were suggested at the argument; but, deeming them unnecessary to a decision of the case, they will not be discussed here. The judgment of the court below is reversed, and the cause remanded for further proceedings not inconsistent with this opinion. Reversed. [209] (128 Pac. 818.) Decided December 31, 1912, rehearing denied February 18, 1913. On Motion to Retax Costs. Opinion Per Curiam. Plaintiff had judgment in the lower court. Defendant appealed, and the judgment was reversed in this court. Defendant filed a cost bill here, which includes an item of $60 paid to the court reporter for a transcript of the evidence taken at the trial in the circuit court, and an item of $1.05, express charges paid for transmitting the record to the Supreme Court. 6. It has been held many times by this court that the expenses incurred by the appellant in procuring a transcript of the evidence in the circuit court must be taxed there, and will not be included in the cost bill in this court. McGee v. Beckley, 54 Or. 250 (102 Pac. 303: 103 Pac. 61); Ayre v. Hixson, 53 Or. 19 (98 Pac. 515: 133 Am. St. Rep. 819); Sommer v. Compton, 53 Or. 341 (100 Pac. 289). And the situation is not changed by the fact that now the transcript of testimony in law cases may be transmitted to this court on appeal. The appellant, having no opportunity to present his costs to the circuit court, after a reversal of the case and the return of the mandate to that court has an opportunity to file his cost bill for the costs incurred in that court; and there is'no reason to change the rule announced in the cases above cited. 7. As to the item of express charges, no provision is made by law for taxing such expense. The only costs taxable in this court, as contemplated by statute or by the rules of this court, are attorney’s fee, filing and trial fees, cost of transcript and of printing abstract and briefs. Motion to retax is denied. Reversed: Rehearing Denied. Motion to Retax Costs Denied.