Sunset Coatings Co. v. Department of Transportation

The state appeals from a judgment entered on a jury verdict in favor of plaintiff in this action for breach of contract. The central issue is whether the contract was ambiguous and therefore was correctly submitted to the jury for interpretation. We reverse.

Plaintiff and the Highway Division (Division) entered into a contract in January, 1979, that provided that plaintiff would sandblast and paint the Harrisburg Williamette River bridge for a bid price of $124,756. The contract provided specifications for the sandblasting and the painting. It required inspection by the Division of each phase…