Thomas Earle & Sons, Inc. v. United States

The plaintiff made a bid on a contract to perform certain work for the defendant. Its bid was accepted and under the specifications, after the contract had been duly approved, it was to commence work on receiving notice to proceed. Thereafter, the plaintiff inquired of defendant if there would be any objection to commencing the work prior to the approval of the contract and prior to the receipt of the *310notice to proceed. The defendant advised the plaintiff that there would probably be no objection to such procedure on the understanding that the plaintiff would proceed at its own risk.

Thereupon…