Opinion
March, 1905.
Judgment of the Municipal Court reversed and new trial ordered, costs to abide the event.
We think that a new trial should be ordered. The action is for architect's services. It is not clear that the defendant rejected the plans as finally submitted. If he did, it is not clear but that his reason for rejection was his final determination not to put up the house. Of course, the plans must be workable. As to that the experts clashed. The fact that after the summons was served the defendant submitted the plans with his application to the building department in order to test them, and that the plans were not approved, is not controlling in this case. For there is some question whether the plans thus submitted were defective within all of the objections, and if objectionable in some respects, whether the objections were based upon the plaintiff's errors or omissions, or could not have been easily obviated. Moreover, on cross-examination, the defendant was asked: "You didn't deny the fact that you owed the money until you were sued?" and he answered: "I don't deny it now." He did not attempt to retract or qualify the answer. Bartlett, Jenks, Rich and Miller, JJ., concurred; Hooker, J., not voting.