William Cramp & Sons Ship Engine Building Company v. United States/Opinion of the Court

The contract in this case and the release above set forth are in the form shown in United States v. William Cramp & Sons Ship & Engine Bldg. Co. 206 U.S. 118, 51 L. ed. 983, 27 Sup. Ct. Rep. 676, and, except for the considerations to be later dealt with, the present case is ruled by that unless relief in equity can be had, for it was there held that a release executed in the matter of the contract for the battleship Indiana included all claims which grew out of the performance of the contract, although not arising from the actual construction of the vessel. In the subsequent case of William Cramp & Sons Ship & Engine Bldg. Co. v. United States, 216 U.S. 494, 54 L.Ed. 587, 30 Sup.Ct. Rep. 392, the case in 206 U.S. was distinguished because of the different form of release executed in that case, which contained a proviso that it should not include claims arising under the contract other than those which the Secretary of the Navy had jurisdiction to entertain.

As the recital of facts definitely shows, the court of claims found, after consideration of the evidence adduced upon behalf of the claimant and the defendant, that there was no mutual mistake between the parties in the execution of the contract and release, and that the contract and release expressed the intention and purpose of the United States, as previously agreed upon, though the contracting party on behalf of the claimant company had mistaken its legal rights. As ultimate facts, the court found, so far as the same were questions of fact, that there was no mutual mistake between the parties in the execution of the contract or the final release; that the same expressed the true intent and purpose of the United States, and that the failure of the officers of the claimant company to apprehend the legal effect thereof was not the fault of the United States or its officers, and was not the subject of reformation. If we are governed by the findings of fact in this, as in other cases coming from the court of claims, these findings conclude the question of fact as to whether the testimony warranted a reformation of the contract upon equitable principles.

The record contains a stipulation, signed by the Assistant Attorney General and counsel for the claimant, in which it is recited that whereas one of the questions raised and decided by the judgment of the court of claims is the right of the claimant to equitable relief through the reformation of the contract in suit, and the reformation of certain releases, and that evidence was introduced in behalf of both parties, touching the facts upon which the claimant founded its claim for equitable relief, subject to the defendant's objection, and because the record was very voluminous and contained the report of many proceedings not relevant to the right to equitable relief, certain evidence bearing upon that point was stipulated into the record. The stipulation concluded: 'Providing, however, that on appeal recourse shall be had to the record of the proceedings and evidence next hereinbefore mentioned, for no purpose whatsoever, except for the consideration and determination of the question with respect to the claimant's right to the equitable relief aforesaid; it being understood and agreed that the findings of fact filed by the court May 29, 1911, shall not be affected in any other manner or for any other purpose by the said proceedings and evidence.'

In view of this state of the record, we are met with the question whether, in cases coming from the court of claims, of the character of the one now under consideration, the findings of fact are conclusive, as in other cases, or whether it is the duty of this court to determine for itself from the evidence sent up whether the claimant is entitled to equitable relief necessary to the establishment of his claim. The cases relied upon which it is contended make it the duty of this court to independently consider the evidence are Harvey v. United States, 105 U.S. 671, 26 L. ed. 1206, and United States v. Old Settlers, 148 U.S. 427, 37 L. ed. 509, 13 Sup. Ct. Rep. 650, which we shall notice later on.

In this case the Secretary of the Navy, as it appears from the recital of the facts, recommended that action be brought in the court of claims, and it was accordingly instituted in that court. The court of claims was given jurisdiction under the act of March 3, 1887 (chap. 359, § 1, 24 Stat. at L. 505, Comp. Stat. 1913, § 1136), of all claims 'founded. . . upon any contract, expressed or implied, with the government of the United States, or for damages liquidated or unliquidated, in cases not sounding in tort, in respect of which claims the party would be entitled to redress against the United States either in a court of law, equity, or admiralty if the United States were suable.' By the rules of this court, the record from the court of claims is required to contain a transcript of the pleadings in the case, of the final judgment or decree of the court, and of such interlocutory orders, rulings, judgments, and decrees as may be necessary to a proper review of the case, and a finding by the court of claims of the facts in the case established by the evidence in the nature of a special verdict, but not the evidence establishing them. These facts are to be the ultimate facts established by the evidence, and not the evidence upon which the ultimate facts are based. Burr v. Des Moines R. & Nav. Co. 1 Wall. 99, 102, 17 L. ed. 561, 562.

In the case of District of Columbia v. Barnes, 197 U.S. 146, 49 L. ed. 699, 25 Sup. Ct. Rep. 401, it was held, under an act of Congress permitting parties to submit the justice of their claims against the United States for work done in the District of Columbia to the adjudication of a competent court, that equitable jurisdiction was thereby conferred upon the court of claims; sufficiently, at least, to order the reformation of a written contract between the claimant and the District, and to award a money judgment on the contract so reformed. In that case it was said that the findings of fact would not be reviewed in this court, but were regarded as conclusive here, and that this court would determine the questions of law properly brought to its attention upon such findings.

In United States v. Milliken Imprinting Co. 202 U.S. 168, 50 L. ed. 980, 26 Sup. Ct. Rep. 572, which was a suit in the court of claims praying for the reformation of a contract, and for damages for breach of the same as reformed, this court held that the court of claims, under the act of March 3, 1887, had jurisdiction to reform the contract as a basis of a judgment for money damages. In United States v. Sisseton Indians, 208 U.S. 561, 52 L. ed. 621, 28 Sup. Ct. Rep. 352, where a suit was brought under a special act of Congress, giving the court of claims jurisdiction to hear testimony and render final judgment, this court held that it would not go behind findings of fact made by the court of claims, citing McClure v. United States, 116 U.S. 145, 29 L. ed. 572, 6 Sup. Ct. Rep. 321, and District of Columbia v. Barnes, supra. In the first of these cases, McClure v. United States, a motion was made in this court to order the court of claims to transmit to this court all the evidence upon which the case was heard and determined, and, in default of sending up such evidence, to make certain findings. The suit was brought under a special act of Congress, referring the claims of one Daniel McClure to the court of claims, with jurisdiction to hear and determine the same, and, if the court should be satisfied that moneys charged against said McClure as Assistant Paymaster General were not in fact received by him, or that other just and equitable grounds existed for credits claimed by him, to make a decree, setting forth the amount to which McClure was entitled, and that an appeal should be allowed to either party as in other cases. This court, after setting forth the statutory authority of this court to make rules and regulations, and the rules of this court requiring findings of fact, declined to make the order, and held that when Congress passes a special statute allowing a suit to be brought in the court of claims, with the right of appeal to this court, the appeal will be governed by the rules applicable to cases arising under the general jurisdiction of the court, unless provision is made to the contrary in the special act. The court reviewed the case of Harvey v. United States, supra, and stated that it was under a special statute authorizing the court of claims to proceed in the adjustment of questions between the claimants and the United States as a court of equity jurisdiction, and, according to the principles of equity jurisprudence, reform such contract and render such judgment as justice and right between the claimants and the government might require. This court said that the appeal given to this court in the Harvey Case, under that particular statute, was an appeal in equity, which would bring up for review the facts as well as the law, according to equity practice. In the Old Settlers Case, supra, the action was brought under a special act of Congress. In that case it was held that it was the intention of Congress by such special act to confer upon the court of a claims the unrestricted latitude of a court of equity, stating an account, distributing a fund, and framing a decree, and that to that statute the doctrine of the Harvey Case applied, and this court proceeded to examine the evidence, after stating that it also had the advantage of the findings of the court of claims.

The present case was brought under the jurisdiction conferred upon the court of claims as in other cases. It is true that the same was brought upon suggestion of the Secretary under the act of 1896, requiring the Secretary to report whether, in his judgment, Congress should act or the case should be referred to the court of claims. In cases within the general jurisdiction of the court of claims, it has jurisdiction to reform a contract for the purpose of determining whether the claim if established is a valid one against the United States. United States v. Milliken Imprinting Co. supra. There is no good reason which authorizes this court in such cases to undertake a consideration of voluminous records and conflicting testimony to determine a matter which is committed to the jurisdiction of the court of claims in exercising the authority conferred by Congress upon that court, and which is specifically within the rules of this court, made under authority of Congress, requiring the court of claims to certify findings of fact and conclusions of law. The court of claims was established for the purpose of considering the right of claimants to recover against the United States; and when it finds facts upon matters within its authority, that should be conclusive under the rules unless Congress otherwise provides. It follows that upon the facts found the claimant was not entitled to recover.

Nor do we find any room for the application in this case of the doctrine laid down in United States v. Clark, 96 U.S. 37, 24 L. ed. 696, in which it is held that where the court certifies the evidence, and it appears that there is none to warrant its legal conclusion, a question of law is presented which may be determined here. In this case we are of opinion that there was ample testimony to warrant the conclusion of the court of claims, as stated in its findings. It certainly cannot be said that there was no supporting testimony, so as to make the question one of law, and not of fact. It does not appear that either of the parties understood that the contract or release should be reduced to writing in any other form than as it was actually written. There was no mistake in the form of the instrument. United States v. Milliken Imprinting Co. 202 U.S. supra, page 177, 50 L. ed. 984, 26 Sup. Ct. Rep. 984. The testimony of the former Secretary of the Navy and of the Secretary in office at the time the release was signed, to the effect that it was not believed that it would cover claims for damages for delay, if competent for any purpose whatsoever, certainly did not show that mutual mistake of the parties which, upon well-established principles of equity jurisprudence, requires the reformation of the contract, and certainly no such special circumstances were developed of fraud, duress, or oppression, as would necessarily require relief against a mistake of law.

We find no error in the judgment of the Court of Claims, and the same is affirmed.

Mr. Justice McKenna dissents from the opinion and judgment in this case.

In his opinion, the court of claims, in view of the statute of June 10th, 1896 [29 Stat. at L. 361, chap. 399], authorizing and directing the Secretary of the Navy to examine the claims here involved, and to report to Congress the result of his investigation, and whether such claim was, in his opinion, subject to the jurisdiction of the court of claims or for the action of Congress, implied the intent of Congress that claims of this character should be considered upon broad equitable grounds. Thus considered, Mr. Justice McKenna thinks the claimant entitled to recover for the delay resulting from the fault of the government, notwithstanding the form in which the final receipt was drawn and executed.

Mr. Justice McReynolds took no part in the consideration or decision of this case.