W. R. PICKERING LBR. CO. v. FULLER

W. R. PICKERING LBR. CO. v. FULLER
1926 OK 259
244 P. 760
117 Okla. 53
Case Number: 16489
Decided: 03/16/1926
Supreme Court of Oklahoma

W. R. PICKERING LBR. CO.
v.
FULLER et al.

Syllabus

¶0 1. Highways--Highway Contractor's Bond--Liability for Material.
The builder's bond provided for by section 7486, C.
O. S. 1921, is liable for all material furnished to the contractor, or subcontractor, which is used in, or consumed in, the course of the construction of the project.
2. Same--Nonliability for Material Used in Equipment.
If the consumption of the material, or its value, in a public improvement depends upon the period of time and extent of use, it falls within the classification of equipment. Recovery cannot be had on the builder's bond for such material, or equipment.
3. Same--Judgment Sustained.
Record examined; held, to be sufficient to support judgment in favor of the defendants.

Commissioners' Opinion, Division No. 4.

Error from District Court, Oklahoma County; T. G. Chambers, Judge.

Action by W. R. Pickering Lumber Company against James G. Fuller et al. Judgment for defendants, and plaintiff brings error. Affirmed.

Keaton, Wells & Johnston, for plaintiff in error.
G. A. Paul and A. Gray Gilmer, for defendant in error Globe Indemnity Company.

STEPHENSON, C.

¶1 The W. R. Pickering Lumber Company commenced its action on a statutory builder's bond for material sold and delivered to James G. Fuller et al. The Globe Indemnity Company, surety on the builder's bond, was joined as a defendant. The builder's bond was executed as provided by section 7486, C. O. S. 1921, in connection with a state highway project. James G. Fuller et al. were subcontractors, and purchased lumber from the plaintiff for use in connection with the construction of the state highway. The trial of the cause resulted in judgment for the defendants. The plaintiff has appealed the cause, and assigns as error for reversal, that the judgment is contrary to law and the evidence.

¶2 The court found that the lumber furnished to the subcontractor was used for the following purposes: (1) For forms to receive cement and for bracing the forms. The material was used from section to section until it became worthless for the purpose. (2) For erecting a temporary building for the storage of the cement to be used in the construction of the highway. (3) For the construction of a bin in which to mix the cement for use in the construction of the road.

¶3 The contractor did not move either the shed or the bin after the work was completed. One of the witnesses testified that it would be less expensive, perhaps, to leave the shed and bin on the ground, and buy new material for like purposes for future use.