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You are here: BAILII >> Databases >> United Kingdom House of Lords Decisions >> The Aberdeen Railway Company v. Blaikie Brothers [1852] UKHL 1_Paterson_119 (17 June 1852) URL: http://www.bailii.org/uk/cases/UKHL/1852/1_Paterson_119.html Cite as: [1852] UKHL 1_Paterson_119 |
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Page: 119↓
(1852) 1 Paterson 119
REPORTS OF SCOTCH APPEALS IN THE HOUSE OF LORDS.
No. 19
Subject_Arbitration — Submission — Contract — Agreement — Clause — Construction —
A railway company's engineer was made by contract deed the arbiter as to the furnishings supplied by a contractor, with power to decide disputes as to the meaning of the contract, and the quantities and state of materials supplied. The arbiter decided these points, and awarded damages for breach against the company.
Held (partly affirming judgment), 1. That there was a valid agreement to refer to arbitration; 2. That the arbiter named had power to construe the agreement of parties; but, 3. Not to assess the amount of damages for alleged non-implement of the agreement. 1
The pursuers appealed against the interlocutors of the Lord Ordinary (20th July 1849), and of the Court (28th Jan. 1851), in the process of declarator, for the following reasons: 1. Because the contract imposed no obligation on the appellants to take from the respondents all the materials, of the description specified in the schedule, which might be necessary for the construction of the railway and works. 2. Because the arbiter had no power or authority, under the contract or otherwise, to try the validity or assess the amount of the respondents' claim of damages for alleged non-implement of obligation, and any defence founded on the alleged clause of submission, as excluding the jurisdiction of the Court, was groundless. 3. Because there were no termini habiles for the finding in the interlocutor of the Lord Ordinary, that the contract was in full force, and obligatory on the parties; and because, even although it had been otherwise, the appellants were entitled to the declarations and reservations sought in the conclusions of the summons.
In the process of suspension, which in the Court of Session, it was conceded, should abide the fate of the declarator, they also appealed, maintaining in their printed case that the interlocutors in that process ought to be reversed for the following reasons:—1. Because the charge of horning was irregular and defective, in so far as the copy of the warrant prefixed to the charge had not been duly signed by the messenger. 2. Because, even if the contract and clause of submission empowered the arbiter to determine whether the appellants had or had not been guilty of any breach of obligation, and the extent, if any, of such breach, he was not empowered, and was not entitled, to assess and fix the amount of damage resulting from such breach, and to pronounce judgment for payment. 3. Because the claim and award, or decree- arbitral following thereon, dated in July 1850, were not warranted by, and were at variance with, the previous award or decree of 6th September 1849, which proceeded upon the claim of the respondents for alleged breach of contract; and any decree at variance with, or going beyond, the judgment of the arbiter of September 1849, must be regarded as ultra vires of him. 4. Because, in the circumstances, as connected with the unjustness of the claim and award, and the mode in which Mr. Gibb had proceeded and acted as arbiter—particularly as to this award, and his refusal to hear the appellants, to consult counsel, or to give any information as to the data on which his award proceeded, though he reserved farther claims as to the same matters—the decree and charge ought to be suspended simpliciter. 5. Because, even if the above reasons were not well founded, the note of suspension ought at all events to have been passed, in respect of the challenge of the contract and subsequent proceedings, including the decrees-arbitral, at present before the Court in the action of reduction, especially as the appellants had found sufficient caution.
The respondents, in support of the judgments of the Court of Session, (in the
declarator,) generally referred to the grounds of opinion of the Judges. In regard to the
suspension process, they maintained in their
printed case that the interlocutors were well founded, because—1. A dispute and difference having arisen between the appellants and respondents regarding the true intent and meaning of the contract of 22d and 28th September 1847, and, in particular, regarding
_________________ Footnote _________________
1 See previous report
14 D. 66;
23 Sc. Jur. 237.
S. C. 1 Macq. Ap. 461;
24 Sc. Jur. 537.
Page: 120↓
Bethell Q.C., and Anderson Q.C., for appellants.—1. The company are not bound to take all the materials they require, from the respondents. Before we can define the powers of the arbiter, we must define the limits of the contract, for the arbiter is merely to interpret what he finds within the four corners of the written agreement. The rule of construction is the same in Scotland as here—Ersk. 3, 4, 9. Now the contract is one thing, and the provisions inserted in it are another thing, and are to be distinguished from the substance or body of the contract, just as a conveyance differs from the various stipulations which are bound up in it. The respondents confound the substance with the provisions of the contract. The real substance of the agreement was, that the respondents were bound to supply the amount of the schedule more or less, but more only if we should give orders for it. The measure of our obligation was defined by the schedule. Though the engineer and arbiter happened to be the same person, yet the contract contemplated these offices as distinct, and it was absurd to say that the company after providing for that, if they wanted more materials than the schedule contains, were to give orders through their own servant the engineer, and that they should nevertheless constitute him, who was their servant, the sole controller of the amount they were to take. The clause of arbitration was introduced for the protection of the company, and must be read in subordination to their power of ordering what additional materials they required. Hence the arbiter could not dispense with the necessity of getting an order from the company to authorize him, as engineer, to call on the contractors to provide the additional quantity. 2. All disputes were not referred to the arbiter, and he has exceeded his powers in assessing damages. Gibb's authority was confined to superintending the execution of the works, and seeing that the quantities ordered were of good quality—he was to be the domestic judge of the company, exercising his skill and science upon these matters; but it would be absurd to say he was to be the judge of everything—that would be to make him sit in judgment on his own authority. A general submission is always to be construed with reference to some suit pending— Steel v. Steel, 22d June 1809. F.C.; and in Napier v. Wood, 7 D. 166, a decree-arbitral was reduced because the arbiter chose to exceed his authority, which was construed to be confined to a superintendence of the works. So here, to assess damages was clearly dehors the contract, and power to do so is not contained in any of the three members of the arbitration clause. Besides, clauses of this general kind are always to be construed in subordination to the essential object and intent of the contract, which may be gathered from the recital, which is a valuable guide in cases of ambiguous meaning. Hence the word “hereinbefore,” in the arbitration clause, ought to be read “herein,” for we cannot extend the meaning beyond the actual words contained in such clause. To hold, therefore, that the arbiter has power to determine everything, and supersede a court of law, is to make a subservient clause a dominant clause, and is like making a covenant in a deed supersede the deed itself. As to the second appeal, the suspension was to protect the company from paying the money found by the arbiter to be due by way of damage. If, therefore, the arbiter had exceeded his powers, the suspension was competent, and ought to have been allowed.
Rolt Q.C., and Young, for respondents.—1. It is clear, that if the company are not bound to take more than the amount in the schedule, neither are they bound to take even that unless they choose; for if the company are only to take what the engineer orders, the engineer may refuse to order. The phrase, “as the engineer may require,” gives, as we contend, no arbitrary discretion to him, otherwise he would have it from beginning to end; but it merely means, “as the company may need,” implying that all the materials necessary were to be taken from us. 2. It was competent to the arbiter to assess damages. It is usual in Scotland to refer questions of law as well as fact to arbiters; and Lord Campbell, in Mackenzie v. Girvan, 2 Bell's App. Ca. 55, thinks it is a better practice than what prevails here. Accordingly, the Court has refused to reduce a decree-arbitral on the ground that it involves the decision of a question of law— Gray v. Brown, 11 S. 353. Here the company break the contract deliberately. Who, then, is to judge between us? Obviously, the arbiter, to whom have been referred “all disputes and differences arising out of the execution, or failure to execute the contract.”
[ Lord Chancellor.—Can the arbiter from time to time award damages for each breach in
Page: 121↓
We must admit he would have this power, and the contract seems to contemplate his giving out interim decrees.
[ Lord Chancellor.—Then, if a ton of iron is wrong, however petty the complaint, it is competent for you to go before him and claim damages?]
Yes; and there are many advantages in such an arrangement, for while in a Court of law you are not permitted to extend the conclusions of your action, here you can go before the arbiter at any time, and bring the matters before his notice as they occur. There is no averment that we have been harassing the company with petty claims.
[ Lord Chancellor.—Then, if one dispute arise, you can call on the arbiter to keep the matter open for the next ten years, to allow other disputes to be brought in afterwards?]
The dispute may be one, though the periods of the damage accruing may be different, as in the present case, and hence the propriety of interim decrees being pronounced. An arbiter's powers are extensive in this respect— Pitcairn v. Drummond, 1 S. 431; 1 W. S. 194; Gray v. Brown, supra. As to the suspension, most of the matter introduced here would belong more properly to an action of reduction. There was, in fact, no misconduct on the part of the arbiter. It is well known railway companies are in the habit of putting off and protracting proceedings, and it was to check this, that the arbiter acted as he did.
Now, my Lords, I am clearly of opinion that, by the true construction of the agreement, the parties were not bound to take all the materials which they required from the company. But the question of the construction of the arbiter's power, is quite a different question; for if, by that clause, power is given to the arbiter to decide upon the true meaning of all the obligations, it is then perfectly indifferent what my opinion may be in regard to the true construction, because, whether he has decided erroneously or correctly, if he had the power, that must be the construction adopted.
Now, my Lords, that is a mere question of construction, and not depending upon any rule of law. The words naturally import, no doubt, upon looking at them, that the arbiter had the power. Four Judges of the Court below were in favour of that construction. My noble and learned friend is of opinion with the majority. My opinion upon the true construction of the contract certainly would be, that the arbiter had not the power; but, as the matter stands, it is a question simply of construction; it is an ambiguous clause; and there being so much authority in favour of the construction of the Court below, that part of the judgment of the Court below will be affirmed. My noble and learned friend and myself have both agreed that the arbiter has exceeded his power as regards the assessing of the damages, and therefore that part of the interlocutor which affirms his proceeding in that respect, will be reversed; and the cause will be remitted to the Court below to do what may be just, and we will ask the learned counsel on both sides to draw up a minute of what they think should be the nature of that remit.
My Lords, with regard to the second appeal, we think there is no sufficient ground for that appeal; and, therefore, it will be dismissed with costs.
Mr. Anderson.—Will your Lordships allow me to mention, that that appeal will depend very much on the fate of the first appeal. That was a suspension.
Lord Chancellor.—We cannot hear any new argument upon it. The interdict depends upon the second proceeding. We are of opinion against it, and we think the interdict cannot be maintained, and that, consequently, that appeal must be dismissed with costs.
My Lords, on the other point, namely, with respect to the assessment of damages, we are
Page: 122↓
Interlocutors in process of declarator in part affirmed and in part reversed, with a remit.
Interlocutors in suspension affirmed with costs.
Solicitors: First Division.— Lord Ivory, Ordinary.— James Davidson, Appellants' Solicitor.— Dodds and Greig, Respondents' Solicitors.