United States v. United States Fidelity & Guaranty Co.

236 U.S. 512 (1915)

UNITED STATES
v.
UNITED STATES FIDELITY & GUARANTY COMPANY.

No. 125.

Supreme Court of United States.

Argued January 15, 1915. Decided February 23, 1915. ERROR TO THE CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT.

The Solicitor General, with whom Mr. W.C. Herron was on the brief, for the United States.

Mr. J. Kemp Bartlett for defendants in error.

MR. JUSTICE PITNEY, after making the foregoing statement, delivered the opinion of the court.

The Circuit Court of Appeals held, in substance, that because after the default of Boggs in the performance of his contract the Government waited more than a year before entering into a new contract, during which time there was a material change in the cost of labor and building supplies, and because the new contract then made between the Government and Owen was different in substantial particulars from that upon which the Guaranty Company became surety, the second contract furnished no proper basis for estimating the damages sustained by plaintiff by reason of the breach of the first, and therefore the Guaranty Company was wholly released from liability.

For present purposes we assume the entire correctness of the court's view that because of the substantial differences between the work that was the subject of the Boggs contract and the work that was afterwards let to Owen, the latter contract furnished no proper basis for ascertaining the damages accruing to the Government by reason of the default of Boggs. The court rested its decision to this effect upon the language of Article 4 of the Boggs agreement and its own previous decision in American Bonding Co. v. United States, 167 Fed. Rep. 910, since affirmed by this court in United States v. Axman, 234 U.S. 36.

But the question whether, by the letting of the Owen contract, or by whatever else was done or omitted by the Government about rebuilding after the default of Boggs, the responsibility of his surety was wholly discharged, is a very different question, not concluded by the decision in the case cited. There the Government, upon Axman's default, "annulled" his contract pursuant to its fourth paragraph; that is, undertook to complete it in his stead and charge him with the excess cost. As appears from the reports of the case (167 Fed. Rep. 915; 234 U.S. 42, 43), it was "not a suit to recover generally whatever damages the United States would have sustained had Axman abandoned his contract, but a suit for damages under the express stipulations of the contract;" that is to say, under its fourth paragraph. No other question was considered or decided.

In the present case, Boggs wholly failed to construct the building called for by his contract, either within the time prescribed or at any time. His work and materials, and the building as he offered it for acceptance, were rejected by the Government, and thereafter, while remaining in his possession, the structure was completely destroyed by fire. He then took no steps to construct or reconstruct the building in accordance with the contract, but continued to wilfully disregard its obligations, so that after waiting for an additional month and more the Government took possession of the site and required him and his representatives to vacate the premises, which they immediately did. His default was complete, and upon the findings it cannot be deemed to have resulted from anything done or omitted by the Government. Nor did the Government receive anything of value from him or as a result of his work, except the building materials, tools, and implements that were confiscated and for which allowance was made in the judgment. Upon this state of facts, the Guaranty Company's liability clearly became fixed upon the occurrence of the default; and it was not released by the failure of the Government to have the same work completed in accordance with Article 4, unless by the fair meaning of the agreement the Government was obliged to rebuild or at least was excluded from recovering damages upon any other basis than a completion of the building, as permitted by that Article. For it is plain, we think, that the making of the new contract cannot be regarded as an alteration of the Boggs contract to the exoneration of his surety. The very fact that the differences were so material as to exclude the Owen contract from consideration as a thing done by the Government under the Boggs contract, leaves it without any relation to the rights of the present parties. Their rights and liabilities between themselves, being already fixed by the complete breach of the Boggs agreement, were not to be affected by any subsequent and independent transaction between the Government and third parties.

Is the Government, then, remediless against the Guaranty Company for the default of its principal? The contract was entire and indivisible; a completed building was the thing bargained for; the partial payments were not to be considered as an acceptance of any work or material; they were to be "eighty per centum of the value of the work executed, . . . the amount of each payment to be computed upon the actual amount of labor and materials expended"; the balance was to be "retained until the completion of the entire work," and forfeited in the event of non-fulfillment of the contract, but such forfeiture was not to relieve the contractor from liability for any and all damages by reason of any breach of the contract. Aside from the particular effect of Article 4, which will be considered presently, the true intent and meaning are plain: the "progress payments" were not to be treated as payments for parts of a building, but as partial payments advanced on account of a building to be completed thereafter as agreed. The contractor's right to retain them was conditioned upon his subsequent fulfillment of the contract. And when he wholly defaulted, and in effect abandoned the contract, the most direct and immediate loss sustained by the Government was the moneys it had paid him on account, and for which he had given nothing in return. Conceding that there was not, technically, a failure of consideration, because his promise and not its performance was in strictness the consideration (United & Globe Rubber Mfg. Co. v. Conard, 80 N.J.L. 286, 293), still the substance of the matter is the same, so far as concerns the measure of the detriment to the promisee.

The general rule, that a contract for the complete construction of a building for an entire price, payable in instalments as the work progresses, is an entire contract, and that a wilful refusal by the contractor to complete the building entitles the owner to a return of the instalments paid, has been declared by the state courts in a number of cases. School Trustees v. Bennett, 27 N.J.L. 513, 517; 72 Am. Dec. 373, 374; Tompkins v. Dudley, 25 N.Y. 272; 82 Am. Dec. 349; Bartlett v. Bisbey, 27 Tex. Civ. App. 405, 408; 66 S.W. Rep. 70; and cases cited. This court, in a case that has been often cited and followed, where a government contractor, without fault of his own, was prevented from performing his contract owing to the abandonment of the project, held that he was entitled to recover from the United States what he had expended towards performance (less the value of his materials on hand), although he failed to establish that there would have been any profits. United States v. Behan, 110 U.S. 338, 344. And see Holt v. United Security Life Ins. Co., 76 N.J.L. 585, 597.

We do not think Article 4 can properly be so construed as to restrict the Government to the remedy there indicated in the event of default by the contractor, or to exclude recovery of the actual damages directly attributable to such default if, in the reasonable exercise of its rights, the Government determines not to complete the building. In the language of the Article, the Government is "authorized and empowered" — not "obliged" — to complete the work at the expense of the contractor; "in which event" the contractor and his sureties shall be "further liable for any damages incurred through such default and any and all other breaches of this contract." The phraseology indicates a purpose to give to the Government a right additional to those it would otherwise have; the stipulation is made for its benefit, and, being optional in form, cannot be construed into a covenant in favor of the defaulting contractor or his surety. Even in case the option is exercised, the language quoted leaves contractor and surety liable for other damages; a fortiori, the intent is to preserve their liability in case the option is not exercised.

We have not overlooked the familiar rule that a party suffering loss from breach of contract ought to do what a reasonable man would to mitigate his loss. Wicker v. Hoppock, 6 Wall. 94, 99; Warren v. Stoddart, 105 U.S. 224, 229. But there is nothing in the facts as found to call for the application of this rule; for there is nothing to show that the Government acted unreasonably in not exercising its option to rebuild under Article 4. Nor does it appear that the loss would probably have been lessened by rebuilding; the "progress payments" would of course have remained as a part of the loss, in addition to the cost of new construction.

In our opinion, therefore, the Court of Appeals erred in holding that, because of the failure of the Government to complete Boggs' agreement in accordance with Article 4, the surety was released.

The Guaranty Company insists, however, that there are other grounds upon which the decision in its favor may be sustained: that the representatives of the Government were grossly negligent in making advance payments to Boggs, in view of the supposed fact that the building contract was then being openly and flagrantly violated, and the defects in the work were conspicuously evident; that the Government is concluded by the fact of making these payments, or, if not, then by its alleged disregard of the provisions of the contract relating to the time of making them; and that in these and other respects the Government departed from the contract, waived breaches by the contractor, extended his time for performance, surrendered valuable security, and enlarged the surety's risk, thereby releasing it from liability. Assuming these defences were properly pleaded, we still need spend no time upon them, since the argument made here to support them is based, not upon the findings, but upon a general review of the evidence and a series of inferences drawn from it that are inconsistent with the facts as found by the trial court. The findings have the same effect as the verdict of a jury, and this court does not revise them, but merely determines whether they support the judgment. Rev. Stat., §§ 649, 700, 1011 (amended by Act of February 18, 1875, c. 80, § 1, 18 Stat. 318); Norris v. Jackson, 9 Wall. 125, 128; St. Louis v. Ferry Co., 11 Wall. 423, 428; Dickinson v. Planters' Bank, 16 Wall. 250, 257; Insurance Co. v. Folsom, 18 Wall. 237, 248; British Queen Mining Co. v. Baker Silver Mining Co., 139 U.S. 222.

It results, from what has been said, that the judgment of the Circuit Court of Appeals discharging the Guaranty Company from liability must be reversed. And we next consider what judgment ought to have been rendered by that court upon the record and bill of exceptions brought up from the trial court, in view of the assignments and cross-assignments of error. Baker v. Warner, 231 U.S. 588, 593; Baer Bros. v. Denver & R.G.R.R., 233 U.S. 479, 490; Fort Scott v. Hickman, 112 U.S. 150, 164, 165; Allen v. St. Louis Bank, 120 U.S. 20, 30, 40; Cleveland Rolling Mill v. Rhodes, 121 U.S. 255, 264.

In addition to the questions already disposed of, it is contended in behalf of the Guaranty Company that the Government's claim for interest is without merit and ought to have been overruled. Interest was allowed upon the advance payments, not from the respective dates upon which they were made but from the date when by the terms of the contract the building ought to have been completely finished. In view of the facts, we think there was here no error. The findings make it clear that Boggs not only wilfully and persistently but fraudulently departed from the requirements of his contract, and refused to perform its obligations. He therefore accepted the money well knowing that he had no just right to it; and certainly when the time fixed for complete performance expired, without any attempt on his part to perform it, then, if not sooner, his obligation to return the money to the Government was clear, and he was not under the circumstances entitled to await a demand from the Government before repaying it. The suggestion that the Government has waived interest by delay in pressing its claim is untenable. The cases cited under this head (Redfield v. Ystalyfera Iron Co., 110 U.S. 174; United States v. Sanborn, 135 U.S. 271, 281; Redfield v. Bartels, 139 U.S. 694, 702), are plainly distinguishable.

On the other hand, the Government insists that it is entitled to recover as against the Guaranty Company, in addition to the penal sum named in the bond, interest thereon from September 1, 1905, the date of Boggs' default, or at least from January 16, 1906, when it is said the surety was notified of the default. We are referred to nothing, and have observed nothing, in the findings to the effect that such notice was given to the surety at or about the date mentioned. The action was commenced more than two years thereafter. But, aside from this, the only exception taken in the trial court to furnish support for the present contention was: "To the failure of said court to . . . decide that plaintiff is entitled to interest on the sum of $6,500 from the first day of September, 1905, and to the failure of the court to enter judgment against defendant for such interest." We do not think this is sufficient to attribute error to the trial court as for overruling a claim for interest on the penalty of the bond from the time of demand made upon the surety, or notice to it of the principal's default. No such point was raised. The claim that was made and overruled was for interest from the time of the default, irrespective of notice to the surety; and that presents a very different question of law.

The primary and essential function of an exception is to direct the mind of the trial judge to a single and precise point in which it is supposed that he has erred in law, so that he may reconsider it and change his ruling if convinced of error, and that injustice and mistrials due to inadvertent errors may thus be obviated. An exception, therefore, furnishes no basis for reversal upon any ground other than the one specifically called to the attention of the trial court. Beaver v. Taylor, 93 U.S. 46, 55; Robinson & Co. v. Belt, 187 U.S. 41, 50; Addis v. Rushmore, 74 N.J.L. 649, 651; Holt v. United Security Life Ins. Co., 76 N.J.L. 585, 593. And the practice respecting exceptions in the Federal courts is unaffected by the Conformity Act, § 914, Rev. Stat. Chateaugay Iron Co., Petitioner, 128 U.S. 544, 553; St. Clair v. United States, 154 U.S. 134, 153.

We merely consider, therefore, whether (where the actual damages exceed the amount of the penalty), the United States is entitled, as against the surety, to interest upon the penal sum from the time of the principal's default, in the absence of notice of the default given to the surety, or any demand made upon it. There has been much contrariety of opinion upon the question whether, in any case, the obligee in a penal bond can recover interest in addition to the penalty. The weight of authority in England is adverse to the recovery. 1 Wms. Saunders, 58; note; White v. Sealy, 1 Doug. 49; Wilde v. Clarkson, 6 Term. Rep. 303 (disapproving Ld. Lonsdale v. Church, 2 Term Rep. 388); Tew v. Winterton, 3 Bro. C.C. 489; 29 Eng. Reprint, 660, 663, note. In this country the tendency of the decisions in the state courts seems to be in favor of the allowance of such interest. Perit v. Wallis (Pa. Sup. Ct.), 2 Dall. 252, 255; Williams v. Willson, 1 Vermont, 266, 273; Judge of Probate v. Heydock, 8 N.H. 491, 494; Wyman v. Robinson, 73 Maine, 384, 387; Carter v. Thorn, 18 B. Mon. (Ky.) 613, 619. The bond in suit appears to have been made in California, but the contract was to be performed upon a Government reservation within what was then the Territory of Arizona. (See Scotland County v. Hill, 132 U.S. 107, 117.) We are referred to nothing in the law of that State or Territory indicating a local rule. In this court, although the question seems not to have frequently arisen, the English rule has usually but not invariably been followed. McGill v. Bank of United States, 12 Wheat. 511, 515; Farrar v. United States, 5 Pet. 373, 385; Ives v. Merchants' Bank, 12 How. 159, 164, 165; United States v. Broadhead, 127 U.S. 212.

In the state of the decisions, we may safely apply the rule followed by Mr. Justice Clifford in a case at the circuit, and we need go no further in order to overrule the contention raised by the Government at the trial of the present case: "Sureties, if answerable at all for interest beyond the amount of the penalty of the bond given by their principal, can only be held for such an amount as accrued from their own default in unjustly withholding payment after being notified of the default of the principal." United States v. Hills, 4 Cliff. 618; Fed. Cas. No. 15,369. This is, in effect, the same rule followed by this court in Ives v. Merchants' Bank, supra. See also United States v. Quinn, 122 Fed. Rep. 65.

We find nothing else in the record requiring discussion. The result is that the judgment of the Circuit Court of Appeals should be reversed, and that of the Circuit Court affirmed.

Judgment reversed.

MR. JUSTICE McREYNOLDS took no part in the consideration or decision of this case.