Rush v. School District No. 5

Me. Justice Benson delivered the opinion of the court. The principal contention of defendant is that the legal voters had authorized the issue and sale of bonds to the extent of $50,000, the proceeds of which were to be expended in the erection of a school building, that any greater indebtedness incurred thereon is ultra vires, and that therefore plaintiff cannot recover in any event. Counsel for defendant concede that a contract which is valid at the time of its execution cannot be invalidated by subsequent events over which plaintiff has no control, but insists that this doctrine has no application to the facts of this case; that the sum of $47,412.21 was not available at the time plaintiff’s contract was executed, because the contract for plumbing, heating and ventilating to the extent of $10,650 should have been deducted therefrom, and in support of this position relies upon the authority of Turney v. Bridgeport, 55 Conn. 412 (12 Atl. 520). We have examined this case very carefully, but do not find that it supports that contention. The court, speaking by Mr. Justice Stoddard, says: “The plaintiff contracted with a committee named by a written contract, wherein the resolution of the town was recited in full; and he contracted to build and finish the schoolhouse according to certain plans and specifications, except the heating, ventilation, and plumbing, for the sum of $42,250. The plaintiff either knew, as matter of fact, the amount of the contract price for the part of the work excepted in his bid, or at least was put upon inquiry, and could easily have ascertained the amount, and must be treated as contracting with reference to the actual contract expense [438] of such excepted parts of the work. * * He places his right to recover a sum above the sum appropriated upon two general theories: First, that the committee in question, or the board of education, or both bodies acting in reference to the matter, have made another and different contract with him, by which they prom-* ised, and bound the town, to. pay a sum above the $55,000 for the construction of the schoolhouse, and that, acting under that new and different contract, he has expended about $26,500 above his original contract price.” It will be seen at once that in that case the plaintiff’s' own contracts far exceeded the total appropriation, and, further, it must be inferred that the contract for plumbing, etc., was already in existence at the time when plaintiff’s agreements were entered into. The respondent could not be expected to contract with reference to facts and conditions which were not then in existence. Since at the time when he executed his agreement with the board, including the extra work referred to therein, there were still several thousand dollars in the fund, in excess of his compensation, he had a right to expect the board of directors to keep their further expenditures within the appropriations. We conclude, therefore, that plaintiff’s contract was valid at the time it was executed, and that the subsequent action of the board of directors in exceeding the appropriation in other details cannot prevent plaintiff’s recovery. The views expressed herein render it unnecessary to discuss the other questions submitted. The judgment of the lower court is affirmed. Affirmed. Rehearing Denied. Mr. Justice Eakin did not sit.