Davis Sewing Machine Company of Delaware v. United States/Opinion of the Court

by George Sutherland

United States Supreme Court

273 U.S. 324

Davis Sewing Machine Company of Delaware  v.  United States

 Argued: Jan. 6, 1927. --- Decided: Feb 21, 1927

This suit was brought to recover upon a contract between appellant and the United States to manufacture a large number of Very pistols. It was stipulated in the contract that the government might terminate it in whole or in part at any time, and in that event certain enumerated payments were to be made, not including, however, prospective profits upon uncompleted articles. The contract provided that upon written notice the government might make changes in the specifications, increased cost, if any, to be paid, and, for any delay in consequence thereof, a corresponding extension of time for the performance of the contract to be allowed. After the Armistice appellant was requested to suspend work, with a view to the negotiation of a supplemental contract providing for the cancellation, settlement, and adjustment of the existing contract. Subsequently appellant filed a claim; and a partial payment supplemental contract was executed, by which the government agreed to make appellant an advance payment and speedily determine and pay certain specified items. Appellant agreed that it would not perform further work or services, or incur further expense in connection with the performance of the uncompleted part of its original contract, and expressly waived 'all claim to the prospective profits which he (it) might have made from the performance of that portion of said original contract which under the terms of this supplemental agreement will not be performed.' The advance payment was made, and the court below found that, after its deduction and the allowance of another credit, there was due appellant a balance of $14,192.25; and it refused to allow appellant anything for profits which appellant would have realized if the contract had been performed. Judgment was rendered accordingly. 60 Ct. Cl. 201. The appeal to this court was taken under the law as it stood prior to the Act of February 13, 1925, c. 229, 43 Stat. 936.

Appellant contends that changes made by the government in the specifications, etc., occasioned such delay as to preclude full operations under its contract prior to the termination thereof, and that it should have judgment for the profits which it would otherwise have made. The conclusive answer to this contention is twofold: (1) The contract itself specified the remedies, to which appellant would be entitled in the event of changes in or a complete or partial termination of the contract, among which prospective profits were not included; and (2) appellant by the terms of the supplemental contract expressly released all claims to such profits.

Judgment affirmed.

Notes