R. P. Farnsworth & Co. v. Electrical Supply Co.

It is urged that our language: “Not until the wall was rebuilt and the order passed to pay the $82.80 was there a final settlement of the contract,” means that payment or an order to pay is requisite to a final settlement. We do not so hold, but we say that there must be an unconditional and final ascertainment of the amount due. So long as the United States contend that the contractor must do something more and is holding back an amount, large or small, to secure full performance, there is no final settlement of the contract. It does not matter in this case whether rebuilding the wall was…