McDonald v. Migliore and Migliore, (1985) 64 N.B.R.(2d) 431 (CA)

• Court: Court of Appeal (New Brunswick)
• Case Date: May 21, 1985
• Jurisdiction: New Brunswick
• Citations: (1985), 64 N.B.R.(2d) 431 (CA)

McDonald v. Migliore (1985), 64 N.B.R.(2d) 431 (CA);

    64 R.N.-B.(2e) 431; 165 A.P.R. 431

MLB headnote and full text

Sommaire et texte intégral

[French language version follows English language version]

[La version française vient à la suite de la version anglaise]

.........................

McDonald v. Migliore and Migliore

(119/84/CA)

Indexed As: McDonald v. Migliore and Migliore

Répertorié: McDonald v. Migliore and Migliore

New Brunswick Court of Appeal

Angers, Rice, JJ.A., and Jean, J.C.Q.B.

September 17, 1985.

Summary:

Résumé:

A contractor agreed to construct a foundation on a landowner's property. The landowner refused to pay on the agreement, alleging a fundamental breach of contract when the contractor failed to use concrete of the desired strength. The contractor brought proceedings under the Mechanics' Lien Act.

The New Brunswick Court of Queen's Bench, Trial Division, in a decision unreported in this series of reports, held there was no fundamental breach of contract and awarded the contractor damages plus interest. The landowners appealed.

The New Brunswick Court of Appeal allowed the appeal in part. The Court held that the landowner received a benefit and could no longer invoke the principle of fundamental breach and that the contractor was not entitled to interest on the judgment.

Contracts - Topic 3730

Performance or breach - Fundamental breach - What constitutes - A contractor poured a foundation using concrete of a weaker strength than requested - The landowners refused to pay on the agreement, alleging a fundamental breach of contract - The New Brunswick Court of Appeal held that the landowner could not invoke the principle of fundamental breach, because he received a benefit under the contract - See paragraphs 11 to 20.

Mechanics' Liens - Topic 2303

Lienable claims - General principles - Claim for interest on lien claims - In proceedings under the Mechanics' Lien Act a trial judge awarded interest on a judgment - The New Brunswick Court of Appeal held that interest may not be awarded on an amount claimed pursuant to a mechanics' lien in the absence of an agreement between the parties including interest in the contract price - See paragraphs 22 to 24.

Cases Noticed:

Alkok v. Grymek et al., [1968] S.C.R. 452, refd to. [para. 12].

Graves v. Legg (1854), 9 Exch. 709; 23 L.J. Ex. 228; 156 E.R. 304, consd. [para. 17].

Pust v. Dowie (1865), 5 B. & S. 33; 34 L.J.Q.B. 127; 122 E.R. 745, refd to. [para. 18].

Zien v. Field (1963), 43 W.W.R.(N.S.) 577 (B.C.C.A.), refd to. [para. 18].

S.S. Hontestroom (Owners) v. S.S. Sagaporack (Owners), [1927] A.C. 37, refd to. [para. 21].

Stein v. Ship "Kathy K", [1976] 2 S.C.R. 802; 6 N.R. 359; 62 D.L.R.(3d) 1, refd to. [para. 21].

Brunswick Construction v. Villa Des Jardins Inc. (1977), 17 N.B.R.(2d) 107; 23 A.P.R. 107, refd to. [para. 23].

Fundy Ventilation Limited v. Brunswick Construction Ltd., Fraser Companies Limited and Minister of National Revenue (1982), 40 N.B.R.(2d) 484; 105 A.P.R. 484, consd. [para. 23].

Statutes Noticed:

Mechanics' Lien Act, R.S.N.B. 1973, c. M-6, sect. 4(1)(b) [para. 23].

Authors and Works Noticed:

Anson's Law of Contract (21st Ed.), p. 424 [para. 12].

Goldsmith, Canadian Building Contracts (2nd Ed.), p. 75 [para. 13].

Cheshire and Fifoot, Law of Contract (9th Ed., 1976), pp. 571-572 [para. 14].

Anson's Law of Contract (20th Ed. 1952), pp. 328-329 [para. 16].

Counsel:

G. Robert Basque, for the appellants;

Yvon G. LeBlanc, for the respondent.

This appeal was heard on May 21, 1985, before Angers, Rice, JJ.A., and Jean, J.C.Q.B., of the New Brunswick Court of Appeal. The following decision of the Court of Appeal was delivered on September 17, 1985: