EXCEPTIONS TO THE WRITTEN CHANGE ORDER REQUIREMENT
By: Randall Gilbert, Esq. ♦
♦ Randall
L. Gilbert, was born in
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UNDER WHAT CIRCUMSTANCES IS RECEIPT OF A
"WRITTEN" CHANGE ORDER NOT A CONDITION PRECEDENT TO A CONTRACTOR
RECEIVING COMPENSATIONS FOR ADDITIONAL OR EXTRA WORK PERFORMED BY THE
CONTRACTOR WHEN THE WRITTEN CONTRACT PROVIDES THAT THE CHANGE ORDER MUST BE IN
WRITING?
1. Waiver of liability for the extras,
2. Owner defaults compelling Contractor to perform additional work,
3. The work is mandated or necessitated by the Health Department,
4. The extra materials were necessitated through the act or omission of the owner or his agent in preparing erroneous plans and specifications.
5. Extras made out of necessity in order to conform to the contract and specifications
6. Extra work done in addition a construction contract when there is no condition that extras be in writing, e.g. an oral construction contract.
Where a written change order had not been executed by the parties, and although the contract provided that any changes or extras should be agreed to and in writing, the court held this requirement waived, when the owner did not dispute the liability for the extra but merely the price. E.g. Forest Construction Inc. V. Farell-Chjeek Steel Co., Fla. Diversified Properties Division, (Fla. 2nd DCA 1986) (Owner waived contract requirement that change order for extras be in writing where Owner accepted 130 tons of asphalt at $180 per ton and then a second installment of 381.15 tons, objecting only to the price of the second installment); Broderick v. Overhead Door Co. of Fort Lauderdale, Inc., 117 So. 2d 240 (Fla. 2d DCA 1959); Pan American Engineering Co., Inc. v. Poncho's Construction Co., 387 So. 2d 1052 (Fla. 5th DCA 1980) see also, Charlotte H. & N. R. o. v. Burwell, 56, Fla. 217, 48 So. 213 (1908) (waiver may be shown by subsequent course of dealings between the parties).
In a case involving a
subcontractor and supplier against the prime and owner of the construction project,
the Fourth District carved out Three exceptions to the
strict writing requirement that extra work be authorized in writing. See,
Acquisition Corp. of
First, despite the subs failure to conform to the strict
writing conditions of the contract, additional compensation and extra expenses
were awarded “where a default by the owner or its agent compels the contractor
to perform additional work in order to conform the
contract plans.”
Second, recovery for "extras," despite the written authorization, has also been fashioned by the courts where the other extra charges and extras were mandated or necessitated by the Health Department. See Acquisition Corp. of America, 543 at 881; Diana Stores Corp. v. M. & M. Electric Co., 108 So. 2d 486 (Fla. 3d DCA 1959); William Zeigler & Son v. Chicago Northwestern Development Co., 71 Ill.App.3d 276, 27 Ill.Dec. 383, 389 N.E. 2d 195 (1979); see also Annotation Effect of Stipulation, In private Building or Construction Contract, that Alterations or Extras Must be Ordered in Writing, 2 A.L.R.3d 620, at 643 (1965).
Third, although the contract limited the subcontractor to providing labor and materials only in accordance with the quantities and materials listed on the plans the court still allowed recovery for extra materials expended. See, Acquisition Corp. of America, 543 So. 2d at 879. After terminating the job, the sub realized that the “summary of quantities” in the contract underestimated the amount of materials by almost two tons of extra fittings. Because the sub bid the job and formed the contract based upon the plans and specifications, which were in error, and even though the contract was for a stipulated amount/quantity, “the subcontractor may still recover for these extra materials necessitated through the act or omission of the owner or his agent in preparing the erroneous summary of quantities.” Id. at 881; 13 Am.Jur.2d Building and Construction Contracts § 19 (1964); cf. City of Miami v. Nat Harrison Associates, Inc., 313 So. 2d 99 (Fla. 3d DCA 1975).
However, the court in Acquisition Corp. denied recovery for extras where prior to construction commencing, the sub failed to make claim for the extra work in writing, and the contract required the same be in writing, despite there being several increases in material and labor required under revised plans. Id. at 880. see also, Southern Roadbuilders, Inc. v. Lee County, 495 So. 2d 189 (Fla. 2d DCA 1986), rev. denied, 504 So. 2d 768 (Fla. 1987).
Finally, in an oral cost-plus
contract entered into between a contractor and owner for the repair and
remodeling of a residential house, and which the owners requested changes from
the original plans requiring extra costs, Florida's Supreme Court stated that,
“when parties enter into an agreement or contract for construction work and
during the progress thereof alterations or changes are requested in the form of
extras and otherwise, then the law implies an obligation to pay the reasonable
costs thereof in addition to the stipulated sum named by the parties in the
original agreement.” See De
Lotto v. Fennell et ux., 56 So. 2d 518, 520 (Fla. 1952). Therefore, the price of extras should be
computed at reasonable rates, and “[w]here not otherwise agreed upon, a
plaintiff should submit proof as to the reasonable value of labor and services,
including supervision, and materials actually furnished a defendant.” Broderick
v. Overhead Door Company of Fort Lauderdale, Inc., 117 So. 2d 240, 243
(Fla. 2nd DCA 1959) In summary, it thus seems that when there is no condition
that extras be in writing, then the courts will treat the extras as a
modification to the original contract and compute the price at a reasonable
value.
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