Badger v. Kerber

Mr. Justice Thornton delivered the opinion of the Court: There are some minor questions to be disposed of before a discussion of the principal question. It is assumed that there was error in the computation of interest upon the amount due for the work performed, and that therefore the verdict is excessive. There was evidence to prove a fulfillment of the contract," according to its terms. Of its weight, and the credibility of witnesses, the jury were the proper judges. If the jury believed that appellee completed the contract at the time stipulated, then there was sufficient time for the interest computed to have accrued. The next objection is, that the verdict was uncertain. In the original record, as filed in this court, the verdict was coined as follows: “We, the jury, find the plaintiff in the amount,” etc. The omission was supplied by an additional transcript filed, in which the verdict is strictly formal. It is as "follows: “We, the jury, find for the plaintiff the amount of $1298.89.” •This disposes of that objection. Appellant next urges that there was no evidence to sustain the. verdict. The contract provided that the material used and the work done should be paid for upon the certificate of the superintendent, who was selected by the parties and was named in the written agreement. Stone was to be furnished and the work completed to the satisfaction of the superintendent. The kind of stone contracted for was used, and there is no-complaint of the character of the work. There was some discoloration of the stone after it was placed in the building, and for this reason only the superintendent refused to give a certificate for the amount sued for. There is evidence in the record that the contractor bid with reference to the identical stone used, and that it was recommended by the superintendent. He had a sample of it in his office at the time of the contract, and .had also given certificates for more than half of the contract price, as the work progressed. One of the witnesses testified that there were fine particles of iron in the stone, which caused it to rust, and that they could be discovered only by means of a microscope. The provision in the contract in regard to the stone is as follows : “The contractor- must furnish a first rate quality of stone, in every particular sound, and of uniform color for the light colored Cleveland sand stone, or the Columbia stone.” The Columbia stone was used. Its soundness and quality are not questioned. The contractor based his bid upon its use, and the superintendent not only recommended it, but had used it in another building during the previous year. The refusal to give the certificate, under the circumstances, was bad faith in the superintendent. The contractor had fully complied, and was entitled to the value of his materials and labor, according to the price agreed upon. The modifications of appellant's instructions were proper. They substantially informed the jury that the superintendent must act in good faith in his relations to the parties, and tha# if he refused to deliver a certificate, in bad faith and fraudulently, then the contractor must recover upon performance. Performance by him, as well as the fraudulent conduct.of the superintendent, were fairly submitted to the jury, accompanied with proper instructions. They have determined these matters from the evidence, and we shall not disturb the finding. The superintendent should have exercised his power with reasonable discretion, and not capriciously. » If he acted fraudulently, and ought to have been .satisfied with the work and material, and so the jury have found, and rightly, then the judgment should not be reversed. Baker v. Jones, 2 Car. & Kir. 742; Mills v. Weeks, 21 Ill. 561; McAuley v. Carter, 22 Ill. 53. The judgment is affirmed. Judgment affirmed.