Jenkins v. Dean

This action was brought to recover pay for services rendered as defendant’s superintendent.

It appears that on or about the 19th day of October, 1886, the defendant entered into a contract with the city of Hew York to construct sewers in Eighth and Eleventh avenues of said city. This contract contained a provision authorizing the city to retain for the period of six months after the work was performed a certain percentage of the contract price for the purpose of making repairs upon the streets through which the sewers were to be constructed. On the same day the defendant entered into a contract with the plaintiffs assignor, W. L. Holmes, to superintend the construction of the sewers, the defendant agreeing to furnish all moneys, tools and machinery necessary for the performance of the work, and for the use of the tools and machinery he was to receive a fair compensation and two-thirds of the net profits of the work. Holmes was to furnish his labor as superintendent, and work under instructions of the defendant, and in lieu of salary was to receive the other third of the net profits of the work for his services. The work of constructing the sewers commenecd on the 27th of October, 1886, and continued about one year. Payments

This action was commenced on the 31st of January, 1888, and the claim is that it was prematurely brought.

Holmes, in his testimony, admitted that he knew of the provisions of defendant’s contract with the city under which the work was to be performed, and that it authorized the city to retain a percentage of the contract price for the purpose of making such repairs as should thereafter be found necessary.

It will be observed that nothing was said in the agreement between Holmes and the defendant as to when his compensation should become due and payable. Under such contracts it would ordinarily become due when the work was completed, but in this case Holmes’ compensation was to be one-third of the net profits of the work, and it appears that in.making this agreement they had reference to the contract between the defendant and the city, and both should be construed together.

Under the agreement with the city the defendant was to be paid for the work as it progressed from time to time, the city reserving the stipulated percentage for repairs. It was doubtless within the contemplation of the parties that Holmes should at such times and in like manner be paid for his services.

It is claimed, however, that the compensation for Ms services could not become due and payable until such time as the net profits could be ascertained and determined; that such profits could not be ascertained until after the expiration of six months from the completion of the work, and until the amount that had been expended for repairs out of the percentage retained by the city could be determined. We must admit the force of this argument and concede that it could not have been within the contemplation of the parties that the money should become due and payable until the amount thereof could

At the conclusion of the plaintiff’s evidence the defendant moved for a dismissal of the complaint on the ground that the evidence showed that the action had been begun before the contract had been completed and before Holmes’ one-tliird interest in the profits had become due. Exception was taken to the denial of this motion, and it now remains to be determined whether there was anything due upon the contract as we have construed it at the time the action was brought.

There appears to have been some discrepancy in the figures, but as taken by the trial court in his charge to the jury and then acquiesced in by the parties, neither taking exception.

thereto, they are as follows:

Plaintiff concedes he had been paid............. $234 00'

Verdict.................................... 1,021 15

Plaintiff’s one-third of profits.................. $1,255 15'

Defendant’s two-thirds....................... 2,510 30

Total net profits............................. $3,765 45'

Total profits................................ $4,008 46-

Deduct total net profits....................... 3,765 45

Allowed by jury for use of tools............ $243 01

Amount of profits due and to become due when

the action was brought..................... $4,008 46

Value of the use of tools............ $243 01

Paid after action begun............. 1,773 12

--2,016 13

Amount of net profits on hand when the action

was begun................................. $1,992 33

One-third of which is............... $664 11

Less previously paid........................ 234 00

Balance due................................. $430 11

This result would be changed in case the jury disallowed the two items amounting to $407, but with those items disallowed there would still be a balance due.

It would consequently follow that a motion for a nonsuit was properly denied.

The jury, however, were permitted to find under the charge of the court the amount of the plaintiff’s interest in the $1,773.12 that had been retained by the city. The plaintiff could not properly have been allowed for this amount, but there appears to bo no exception to the charge raising the question, and the parties must be deemed, therefore, to have acquiesced in the charge in this regard.

The case of Everson v. Powers ( 89 N. Y. 527 ), has no application to the one under consideration. In that case the action was for damages suffered in consequence of a breach of contract. In this case it is to recover pay for services rendered, and the question is as to whether the amount earned had become due and payable at the time the action was brought.

We have examined the other exceptions appearing in the case, but find none that point to error.

The judgment should, consequently, be affirmed, with costs.

All concur.

Judgment affirmed.