an engineer is “responsible if he does or omits to do his professional undertakings with an ordinary and reasonable degree of care and skill,” (Marston, pg.29)

an engineer “ought not to undertake the work if it cannot succeed, and he should know whether it will or not.” (Marston, pg.29)

liability is “not limited to the amount of remuneration which under the agreement the architect or engineer was to receive, but are measured by the actual loss occasioned...” (Marston, pg.30)

In the ruling the judge ruled that the fault for the damages were 25% the engineer and 75% the contractor (not liable). But, because the engineer was the only one left in the suit that he would be responsible for 100% of the damages.

A court of appeal released the contractor because they were not joint tort-feasors. But, the court of appeal did state they could be liable in tort and contract.

The supreme court also relieved the contractor of responsibility, based on contractual obligations alone.

7.24 Donoghue v. Stevenson

Location: England

Court:

Year: 1932

Importance: makes a manufacturer responsible to the eventual consumer of the product

Details:

a bottle of ginger beer containing a decomposed snail was consumed, leading to an illness. This bottle of ginger beer was not purchased by the consumer, but was given to him by a friend. He Sued.

The court rules that even though there was not privity of contract between the plaintiff and the defendant, a duty of care was owed to the plaintiff.

7.25 Dutton v. Bognor United Building Co. Ltd.

Location: England

Court:

Year: 1972

Importance: established the responsibility of employers for employee actions: vicarious liability

Details:

A contractor built a foundation for a house. The foundation was on top of a rubbish deposit, and should have been deeper.

As required by local by-laws, a building inspector was to approve the construction after appropriate inspection. The inspector did not object to the improper foundation.

After the house was in use, and had been resold, the foundation settled and the house was severely damaged.

The local building authority was sued (not the inspector) and found liable for the damages.

7.26 Englewood Plumbing & Gas Fitting Ltd. v. Northgate Development Ltd. et. al.

Location: Alberta

Court:

Year: 1965

Importance: allowed a lien for design work

Details:

An architect was allowed to file a lien although he had not done any work on the property.

7.27 Fairbanks Soap Co. Ltd. Sheppard

Location: Ontario

Court:

Year: 1951

Importance: an example of substantial compliance

Details:

A contractor supplied and installed equipment, but there were a few small defects (fixed at a small cost).

The resulting lawsuit lead to a decision that the contractor had substantially complied and should be paid for work and materials supplied.

7.28 Fern Brand Waxes Ltd. v. Pearl

Location: Ontario

Court:

Year: 1972

Importance: the distinct nature of a corporation disappears when being used fraudulently

Details:

the defendant, a director, officer and accountant of the corporation had made an authorized transfer of funds.

these funds were used as a loan by the corporation as a loan to two other companies controlled by the director.

some of the loaned money was used to buy shares in the corporation. (The court ruled this inappropriate).

The court rules that the 2 other corporations had been used as instruments of the director, that the director had breached his trust, and that the companies could not shield his personal conduct.

7.29 Ford Homes Ltd. v. Draft Masonry (York) Co. Ltd.

Location: Ontario

Court:

Year: 1983

Importance: an example of an implied term

Details:

a construction contract included the supply and installation of two staircases, but neglected to include a requirement that they meet the Building Code.

A representative of the company visited the site, but turned down an offer to review architectural plans, which specified a minimum clearance.

Based on measurements, a variety of staircases were suggested by the representative.

The final staircase did not meet the minimum clearance in the building code, and was ordered replaced.

The resulting lawsuit found that if the Building Code was not mentioned in the contract and the staircase was improperly designed thus being illegal, it would make the contract for an illegal action, therefore by implication the staircase would have to conform to the building code.

7.30 General Electric Company, Limited v. Fada Radio, Limited

Location: ?

Court:

Year: 1929

Importance: indicates patents must be novel and have use

Details:

Basically stated that there must be some creative content, no matter how small. This includes alterations. They also focus on the concept of an improvement.

7.31 GeorgeHo Lem v. Barotto Sports Ltd. and Ponsness-Warren Inc.

Location: Alberta

Court:

Year: 1976

Importance: a manufacturer can be held liable if the consumer is not adequately warned about dangerous uses of a product

Details:

Lem bought a machine for reloading used shotgun shells. The machine had clear instructions on how to load the shells. He also received personal instructions on the machine.

When using the machine Lem did not follow instructions, and as a result produced some dangerous shells.

One of the shells caused Lem’s gun to burst, causing personal injury, and as a result he brought a lawsuit against the manufacturer and distributor.

The court found that a high standard of care to prevent misuse was present, and found Lem fully responsible for his own injuries.

7.32 Grant Smith & Co. v. The King

Location: ?

Court:

Year: ?

Importance: fraudulent engineers certificates are set aside

Details:

An engineer presented a certificate that had been prepared in collusion with a drilling contractor.

In a lawsuit the certificates were ruled invalid because of the fraud.

7.33 Hadley v. Baxendale

Location: England

Court:

Year: 1854

Importance: established principle of remedies for damages

Details:

A part in a mill was broken, and needed to be repaired.

It was given to couriers for transport to the manufacturer.

Not knowing of the urgency of the delivery the couriers delayed.

The resulting delay meant that the mill was inoperative for a prolonged period and business was lost. As a result the courier was sued.

The court said that the lack of notice about the urgency meant that the term for urgency had never been part of the “contract”, and therefore could not have been breached.

The court also said that if there had been a breach of the contract, then the mill owner would have been due any losses that might have reasonably been expected at the start of the contract.

7.34 Halverson Inc. v. Robert McLellan & Co. et. al.

Location: Canada

Court:

Year: 1973

Importance: ruling that a contract overrides a tort

Details:

An engineer was to modify a winch system.

As a result of problems, the engineer was sued for negligence.

The court ruled that the contract in the suit replaced the tort.

7.35 Harbutt’s Plasticine Ltd. v. Wayne Tank and Pump Co. Ltd.

Location: England

Court:

Year: 1970?

Importance: an example of fundamental breach

Details:

A contract was prepared for the design and construction of storage tanks for stearine wax. Liabilities were limited to 2,300 pounds (approx $5,000).

A plastic pipeline to carry the wax was wrapped with a heating element to allow the wax to flow in a liquid state.

When put into use the pipe warped, cracked and ruptured. Wax spilled on the floor and ignited. The resulting fire destroyed the factory.

The judge ruled that the design was so unsuitable that the contract was breached, and the liability limit did not apply. The damages awarded were 170,000 pounds.

7.36 Hedley Byrne & Co. Ltd. v. Heller & Partners Ltd.

Location: England

Court:

Year: 1963

Importance: this allows professionals to be sued for negligently given advice

Details:

Byrne asked a bank to look into the credit status of another company that they were doing business with.

The bank then contacted another bank (Heller) that did business with the company.

Heller reported that their financial position was favorable, but also stated that their advice was “without responsibility”.

Based on their advice, Byrne did business with the company and lost 17,000 pounds.

The court rules that the bank would have been liable, if not for the disclaimer.

7.37 Imperial Glass Ltd. vs. Consolidated Supplies Ltd.

Location: British Columbia

Court:

Year: 1960

Importance: an unsuccessful attempt to argue for a unilateral mistake

Details:

During bid preparation an incorrect figure had been used for certain material suppliers, entirely because of mistakes by the bidder.

It was obvious to the offeree that the bidder had misestimated.

The mistake was not overturned.

7.38 Jackson et. al. v. Drury Construction Co. Ltd.

Location: Ontario

Court:

Year: 1974

Importance: an example of a tort of nuisance

Details:

A contractor was blasting.

The blast opened fissures in the bedrock allowing barnyard materials to seep into a well.

The court awarded damages to the farmer.

7.39 John Burrows Ltd. v. Subsurface Surveys Ltd. et. al.

Location: Canada

Court:

Year: 1968

Importance: an example where equitable estoppel was disallowed

Details:

A promissory note (a contract) was,

“FOR VALUE RECEIVED Subsurface Surveys Ltd. promises to pay John Burrows Ltd. or order at the Royal Bank of Canada the sum of forty-two Thousand Dollars ($42,000.00) in nine (9) years and ten (10) months from April 1st, 1963, payable monthly on the first day of May, 1963, and on the first day of each and every month thereafter until payment, provided that the maker may pay on account of principal from time to time the whole or any portion thereof upon giving thirty (30) days’ notice of intention prior to such payment.

In Default of payment of any interest payment or installment for a period of ten (10) days after the same became due the whole amount payable under this note is to become immediately due.

Subsurface Surveys Ltd. [signed by president]”

Some payments were made more than 10 days late, but the contract was not strictly enforced.

One interest payment was 36 days late (the parties had fallen out of favor with each other) and it was decided to call in the notice using the default clause, and Subsurface Surveys Ltd. was notified.

In a resulting lawsuit it was claimed that the previous late payments were an implied modification of the contract and that an equitable estoppel was warranted.

The court ruled that the indulgences taken by the plaintiff in making late payments were not evidence that the defendant intended to negotiate new contractual terms.

7.40 Junior Books Ltd. v. Veitchi Co. Ltd.

Location: England

Court:

Year: 1982

Importance: claims for economic loss may be extended to those with no contracts

Details:

A floor was laid improperly, but was of no danger.

Although the installer was a subcontractor (note no contract existed between them) the court found that he had a duty of care to provide skillful work. As a result the court found him liable for economic losses, and any repair costs.

7.41 Kamlee Construction Ltd. v. Town of Oakville

Location: Canada

Court:

Year: 1960

Importance: an example of an engineers power of certification

Details:

An engineer was contracted for a construction project. The construction contract stated that the engineer had the final decision on the interpretation of the specifications and the quality of work.

During the work the contractor disagreed with one of the engineers decisions, and the relationship between the partys was reduced to petty bickering.

In the resulting lawsuit the court ruled that the engineers decisions would stand, provided he acted in a judicial manner and without influence from the owner.

7.42 Kidd v. Mississauga Hydro-Electric Commission et. al.

Location: Ontario

Court:

Year: 1979

Importance: an example of an engineers duty of care when preparing estimates

Details:

A consulting engineer estimated the cost to do a study.

When done, the engineer realized that the $14,447 for support staff was much higher than the $5,000 allowed in the estimate.

In a lawsuit to recover the difference the court ruled against the engineer stating that the work was entered into based on the estimate (there were also no disclaimers given). And, the result was so far out of line that it implied the engineer had not properly estimated.

7.43 Kocotis v. D’Angelo

Location: Ontario

Court:

Year: 1958

Importance: improper licences can set aside a contract because of legality

Details:

An electrician had done work and supplied materials. But, against local bylaws did not hold the required electrical contractors licence.

Seeking payment a lawsuit arose.

The judge stated that the purpose of the license was supposed to maintain quality on larger projects, and that by not having a license the electrician was clearly not legally capable of entering into the contract.

7.44 Lambert v. Lastoplex Chemicals Co. Limited et. al.

Location: Canada

Court: Supreme

Year: 1971

Importance: the high standard of care requires that all users are assumed to be idiots

Details:

Lambert, a mechanical consulting engineer, purchased two cans of sealant for his basement floor.

He read the labels before starting. These 3 labels indicated repeatedly that, among other horrible things, the product should be kept away from flames, fire, heat or cigarettes. Ventilation was also listed as essential.

Lambert was using the sealant in his basement when a pilot light in an adjoining room started an explosion and a fire in an open can of sealant.

In the resulting lawsuit another can of sealer made by a competitor had a warning label that also mentioned pilot lamps and more.

The court ruled that the chemical company did not provide sufficient warning and that they were liable. It was also noted that even though the engineer ought to have known of the danger, the chemical company could not count on this.

7.45 MacMillan Bloedel Ltd. v. Foundation Co.

Location: British Columbia

Court:

Year: 1977

Importance: limits of recoverable economic loss

Details:

Foundation’s employees negligently cut a cable supplying MacMillan’s office building.

As a result of lost power, the employees were sent home.

The estimated loss in wages was $48,841.

The court indicated that the negligence was evident, but the “economic loss” would have been paid anyway. With no other evidence of loss, the case was dismissed.

7.46 Markland Associates Ltd. v. Lohnes

Location: Nova Scotia

Court:

Year: 1973

Importance: an example of implied contract terms

Details:

The court ruled that a building contract did not clearly state, but implied,

that the work and materials would be of reasonable quality and meet standards.

the work was to be conducted in a normal manner.

the final product would be usable and meet needs.

the work would be done in reasonable time.

7.47 Metropolitan Water Board v. Dick, Kerr and Company, Limited

Location: England

Court:

Year: 1917

Importance: a discharge by frustration

Details:

A contract was signed to build a reservoir from 1914 to 1920.

In 1916 the work was ordered stopped because of the needs for WW-I.

In light of the delay, the contractor did not want to continue the work.

The water board wanted the contract resumed (as indicated in a force majeure clause) with the delay included.

The case was taken to court, and the ruling was that the contract was different than the one entered into and as a result gave a discharge by frustration.

7.48 Monticchio v. Torcema Construction Ltd. et. al.

Location: Ontario

Court:

Year: 1979

Importance: departed from previous decisions that voided contracts because of lack of licenses made contract illegal

Details:

A contractor (not properly licensed) entered into a contract to install drains.

After completion, the contractor was not paid and began a lawsuit

The judge ruled that while a license was required for the contracting work, it was not required for supply of materials. Therefore the supplier was reimbursed for the materials supplied.

7.49 The Moorcock

Location: ?

Court:

Year: ?

Importance: established implied terms in contracts

Details:

The plaintiff paid for docking space for his boat, the Moorcock.

As the tide went out the Moorcock settled on hard ground and was damaged.

The court decided in favor of the defense (dock owner) in the ruling that there was an implied term in the contract that the boat would have been safe at low tide.

7.50 Murray v. Sperry Rand Corporation et. al.

Location: Ontario

Court:

Year: 1979

Importance: an example of fundamental breach

Details:

A piece of farm machinery was purchased to harvest.

The machine performance had been much worse than should have been expected.

In the resulting lawsuit the defendant argued that there was an exemption clause in the contract.

The court ruled that the supplier has fundamentally not met the obligations of the contract, and because of the fundamental breach it could not be protected by the exemption clause.

7.51 Mutual Finance Co. Ltd. v. John Wetton & Sons Ltd.

Location: ?

Court:

Year: ?

Importance: a contract can be revoked because of duress

Details:

A family member had forged (criminal) a previous guarantee.

The forger’s father was ill and might be fatally effected by a disclosure of forgery.

At this point the forger was threatened with disclosure, unless another guarantee was contracted.

The court put the second guarantee aside, as it was made under duress.

7.52 Nedco Ltd. v. Clark et. al.

Location: Saskatchewan

Court:

Year: 1973

Importance: the corporate identity is not absolute and can be partially lifted

Details:

Nedco Ltd. was owned by Northern Electric Company Limited.

Northern Electric employees went on strike and picketed Nedco

The court was asked to restrict picketing at Nedco because the two companies were separate entities.

The court rules that Northern both owned and dominated Nedco, making it effectively part of Northern, and in these certain circumstances, the companies would be treated the same and picketing would be allowed.

7.53 Newman et. al. v. Conair Aviation Ltd. et. al.

Location: British Columbia

Court:

Year: 1972

Importance: an example of a tort of nuisance

Details:

An aviation company was spraying crops, and the spray drifted onto the plaintiffs land.

The court awarded damages.

7.54 Northwestern Mutual Insurance Co. v. J.T.O’Bryan & Co.

Location: British Columbia

Court:

Year: 1974

Importance: employees can be held liable in tort suits

Details:

The Northwestern Mutual Insurance Co. had routinely asked that one of its agents delete a risk from a policy.

The agent assured Northwestern that it had been deleted.

Later, it was discovered that the risk had not been deleted and Northern had to pay for the risk.

The court ruled that both the agent, and their employer were liable for the losses.

7.55 J. Nunes Diamonds Ltd. v. Dominion Electric Protection Co.

Location: Canada

Court:

Year: ?

Importance: draws a line between tort and contract liability

Details:

Ruled that a tort action could be brought if it was independent of contractual obligations.

There was special mention of non-performance not being mentioned in a clause.

7.56 Owen Sound Public Library Board v. Mial Developments Ltd. et. al.

Location: Ontario

Court:

Year: 1979

Importance: application of “equitable estoppel” for accepted late payments

Details:

A construction contract was made that required payments needed to be made by the owner within 5 days of an architects certificate specifying the value of payment.

The contract also stated that if not paid within 7 days, the contractor could terminate the contract.

Instead of making one payment promptly, the owner requested the corporate seal of a subcontractor affixed to a document that supports the architects certificate.

The contractor then indicated he would obtain the seal.

The contractor did not give the sealed document to the owner, and as a result was not paid within the allowed period.

The contractor used the strict wording the terminate the contract.

In the resulting suit the court maintained that the contractor had implicitly lead the owner to believe that the due date (including the termination clause) had been extended. Therefore an “equitable estoppel” of the clause was granted.

7.57 Permutit Co. v. Borrowman

Location: ?

Court:

Year: ?

Importance: a tangible (demonstrable) idea is required for a patent

Details:

The court said that an idea must be reduced to a definite and useful form before it can be patented.

7.58 Photo Production Ltd. v. Securicor Transport Ltd.

Location: England

Court:

Year: 1980

Importance: an example of a failed fundamental breach (rejected the concept of fundamental breach)

Details:

A security contract was set for watching a manufacturing company at night.

During one of the patrols an employee started a fire that destroyed the factory.

In the resulting lawsuit it was noticed that the security contract contained a clause that specifically exempted liability for (among other things) an employee that negligently starts a fire.

The court ruled that the exemption clause reasonably predicted the potential loss, and that there was no fundamental breach.

In effect this overturned the concept of fundamental breach.

7.59 Pigott Construction Co. Ltd. v. W.J. Crowe Ltd.

Location: Ontario

Court:

Year: 1961

Importance: refers to precedents of implied terms in contracts and a breach of a warranty (non-essential) term as grounds for damages, not termination.

Details:

A construction contract was made, including some minor terms requesting expeditious work, and to provide heat during winter.

The plaintiff argued that the two minor conditions had not been satisfied, and so the contract should be discharged.

The court said that the breaches had not prevented substantial performance, and therefore are not a reason to discharge the contract, but are grounds for payment of damages.

The court also stated that they would not imply terms into a contract unless it was obvious they should be there.

7.60 Pirelli General Cable Works Ltd. v. Oscar Faber and Partners

Location: England

Court:

Year: 1982

Importance: reverses the precedent set in [Sparham Souter]

Details:

A chimney 160 feet high was built using precast concrete.

An inner lining of a new material was used. The material was not suitable and cracks developed and the chimney had to be replaced.

They stated that the period of limitation started from the date the damage occurred. They said that legislation is required, and that the Sparham-Souter decision may lead to unfairly long limitation periods.

7.61 Pym v. Campbell

Location: ?

Court:

Year: ?

Importance: parol evidence rule exception

Details:

An agreement for sharing the ownership of a machine was made.

Two individuals had agreed that invention ownership rights would be purchased, but an unwritten condition was that it would be approved by two engineers first.

When consulted only one of the two engineers approved of the invention.

As a result the case went to trial.

The judge ruled that because of the condition, the contract had never been entered into, effectively sidestepping the parol evidence rule.

7.62 The Queen et. al. v. Commercial Credit Corp. Ltd.

Location: Nova Scotia

Court:

Year: 1983

Importance: example of mail/courier for a contract and governing law

Details:

An offer of conditional sale was prepared by Commercial Credit as an agent to the parties in the contract.

The offer was sent out of Nova Scotia to the offeree. And the acceptance returned by courier.

Commercial Credit attempted to apply the Installment Payments Contract Act of Nova Scotia, but this was disallowed because the contract was made outside the province.

7.63 Ramsay and Penno v. The King

Location: ?

Court: ?

Year: ?

Importance: recognizes mistakes as separate from negligence

Details:

the crown was sued alleging that poor dam design lead to flooding of lands

the statement said that engineers are “not infallible, nor is perfection expected, and the most that can be required of them is the exercise of reasonable care and prudence in light of scientific knowledge at the time, of which they should be aware...” (Marston, pg. 30)

7.64 Regina v. Margison and Associates, Limited

Location: Ontario

Court:

Year: 1955

Importance: recognizes the legal overlap of engineers and architects duties

Details:

An engineering firm was charged with acting as architects

In reviewing the acts the court found too much overlap to distinguish between the duties of the engineers and the architects.

The court ruled that clients should be free to contract who they wish.

7.65 Rex v. Bentall

Location: British Columbia

Court:

Year: 1939

Importance: an engineer can be convicted for doing architectural work

Details:

An engineer had prepared plans for a theatre and then supervised construction.

He was later convicted of practicing as an architect.

7.66 Rivtow Marine Ltd. v. Washington Iron Works et. al.

Location: Canada

Court:

Year: 1973

Importance: economic losses caused by a defective product can be recovered

Details:

Rivtow chartered a barge that had a crane manufactured by Washington (a U.S. company)

An identical crane manufactured by Washington had been used in a similar situation before, and it had collapsed. An investigation determined that there were structural defects in the crane Rivtow had chartered that were similar to those in the crane that had collapsed.

The defendants were previously aware that design problems left the cranes prone to cracking, but they did not warn the plaintiff or attempt repairs.

As a result of the failure to warn, the defendants were found liable for economic losses while the crane was being repaired.

7.67 Robert Simpson Co. Ltd. v. Foundation Co.

Location: Ontario

Court:

Year: 1981

Importance: upheld the time of action principle of [Sparham Souter]

Details:

Some ceiling anchors were negligently designed, manufactured and installed. These were also misrepresented as adequate.

More than 6 years after the work the problems were detected, therefore the court was asked to consider the limitation from the detection of damages.

A lower court rejected the Sparham Souter principle, but a higher court heard an appeal that accepted the limitation period started when the damage was detected.

7.68 Ron Engineering et. al. v. The Queen in right of Ontario et. al.

Location: Ontario, Canada

Court:

Year: 1979, 1981

Importance: an example of the unilateral mistake principle

Details:

A bid was submitted to The Water Resources Commission, along with a deposit cheque of $150,000.

It was discovered before the tenders were opened that a bid of $2,748,000 was low by $750,058.

An hour before the tenders were opened the contractor informed the commission, and also sent a telegram to the commission which arrived the following morning to tell them of the error.

The next higher bid was $3,380,464 making the mistake obvious, but the bid was accepted.

A lower court maintained the contract.

An appeal lead to a successful overturn allowing the contract to be dismissed because of a unilateral mistake.

The supreme court held the position that the construction contract could be overturned, but the tender contract meant that the deposit had to be forfeit, as described in a forfeit clause.

7.69 Royal British Bank v. Turquand

Location: England

Court:

Year: 1856

Importance: Only the appropriate officials in a company have the capacity to contract

Details:

A corporation must observe contracts if the contracts were entered into normally, by a normally authorized employee/official, and the corporations records are in order.

7.70 Salomon v. Salomon & Co. Ltd.

Location: England

Court:

Year: 1897

Importance: recognition of a corporation as a distinct entity

Details:

Salomon had been a leather merchant and boot manufacturer for a number of years.

he incorporated a company and sold his business to it.

the shareholders were Salomon and his family. Salomon was the majority shareholder, having received shares as part of his payment for the business, as well as debentures constituting security.

all of the requirements for incorporation were met and the business was solvent.

eventually the business became insolvent and was sued: Salomon claimed he should be satisfied ahead of the unsecured creditors by holding a secured debenture.

In the court of appeal the corporation was viewed as a scheme only for limiting liability, and putting Salomon ahead of the creditors.

But, the House of Lords upheld Salomon’s corporation as properly formed, and a distinct entity, with no evidence of deception or fraud.

7.71 Schewebel v. Telekes

Location: Ontario

Court:

Year: 1967

Importance: an example of the contract overriding tort

Details:

A notary public was to act for an individual in purchasing a home.

The notary public was sued for negligence.

The court ruled that the relationship between the two was contractual and thus the limitation is counted from the date of the breach or duty, and not discovery.

7.72 Sealand of the Pacific Ltd. v. R.C. McHaffie Ltd. et. al.

Location: British Columbia

Court:

Year: 1973

Importance: an example of a contract over a tort

Details:

An architect had failed to determine the properties of an experimental material.

The court ruled that the contract would overrule the tort and awarded damages.

7.73 Sparham Souter et. al. v. Town & Country Developments (Essex) Ltd. et. al.

Location: England

Court:

Year: 1976

Importance: sets the start of the limitation period to when damage occurred

Details:

A building was negligently constructed.

Some time later damage resulted and the law suit was allowed.

The guideline is that the damage is said to have occurred when it should be obvious or detected by a reasonable level of skill or diligence.

This decision was later overturned by a higher court, but it was used as the basis for other decisions. [XXXX]

7.74 Sutcliffe v. Thackrah et. al.

Location: England

Court:

Year: 1974

Importance: negligently prepared certificates make the certifier liable

Details:

An architect was to prepare payment certificates.

The court ruled that the architect had a duty of care when preparing certificates. And, if an overpayment was made without just cause, the architect was liable. The only just reason for overpayment would be the architect acting as arbiter.

7.75 Swanson Construction Company Ltd. v. Government of Manitoba; Dominion Structural Steel Ltd., Third Party

Location: Manitoba

Court:

Year: 1963

Importance: an example of a failed bid for discharge by frustration

Details:

A bid was prepared for work, assuming the work was to be done in the warm summer months.

The contract was accepted, but the work was delayed to the winter months.

In court the contractor argued that the delay should constitute grounds for a discharge by frustration.

The court did not discharge the contract saying that the delay was an event that might be reasonably expected during construction, and should have been considered in the bid.

7.76 Re Thomas Hackett

Location: Nova Scotia

Court:

Year: ?

Importance: the decision of an arbitrator can be overturned when improper

Details:

A contract had stated that arbitration would be used without using the court system.

The court overruled this point saying that a dispute can always be taken to court.

7.77 Township ofMcKillop v. Pidgeon and Foley

Location: ?

Court:

Year: ?

Importance: a contract was rescinded for innocent misrepresentation

Details:

An engineer prepared plans and specifications for bidding.

A contractor prepared a bid on the job based on the engineers plans and specifications.

The specifications were found to underestimate to work significantly.

As a result the contractor terminated the contract, and a lawsuit was initiated.

The court concluded that the estimate was grossly in error (more than allowable by a disclaimer clause) and that because of the error, the contractor had entered into the contract.

The court allowed the contractor the right to rescind the contract.

7.78 Trident Construction Ltd. v. W.L. Wardrop and Assoc. et. al.

Location: Manitoba

Court:

Year: 1979

Importance: Hedley Byrne decision applied to engineering, improperly prepared drawings and specifications leave an engineer liable

Details:

An engineer designed a sewage disposal plant

A contractor (no contract existed between the engineer and contractor) was to build the plant based on the engineers design.

The contractor found the design unsuitable as a result the contractor brought a lawsuit against the engineer for his losses.

The engineer was found liable for the design because he owed a duty of care to the contractor that would eventually build the plant.

The judge specifically noted that contractors are so pressed for time preparing tenders that they could not be expected to check the engineers designs.

7.79 Unit Farm Concrete Products Ltd. v. Eckerlea Acres Ltd. et. al.; Canama Contracting Ltd. vs. Huffman et. al.

Location: Ontario

Court:

Year: 1983

Importance: an engineer can be liable for advice given without a fee

Details:

A contractor was hired to construct a barn over a manure pit.

In the past the contractor had used advice given by an engineer working for the government to assist farmers with plans.

The contractor discussed the plans for the barn on the phone, and dropped the set on the engineers desk. The two did not meet, but he superficially reviewed the set and wrote a note “Good set of plans. I like the detail. Wish I could spend that amount of time on each project. Keep up the good work.” The engineer and the contractor never met to review the plans for the barn.

The contractor assumed that the plans were adequate and built the barn.

As a result of design deficiencies the manure pit walls failed.

The court rules against the engineer (and Crown) noting that “good plans” was an implied approval and that the plans had been properly reviewed. There was also recognition that the contractor had been asking for advice.

An appeal court then found liability 75% for the engineer and 25% for the contractor.

7.80 Viscount Machine and Tool Ltd. v. Clarke

Location: Ontario

Court:

Year: 1981

Importance: example of a limitation from the date of discovery

Details:

A negligent land survey was done, but not discovered until a few years later.

The judge allowed the limitation period to be from the date the damage was discovered.

7.81 Willard’s Chocolates Ltd. v. Bardsley

Location: ?

Court:

Year: ?

Importance: an employee may use an employers time and equipment to create an invention, but the employee owns the patent unless stated otherwise in the contract

Details: