Murphy v. United States

The claimant excavated a large portion of the pit for a dry-dock at the navy-yard at Mare Island, California, under a written contract, and was paid for all the work done, at the contract prices, the sum of $46,551.18.

During the progress of the work the bank fell in more than once, and lodged large masses of clay in the pit. These, also, the claimant removed; and, although the contract obliged him to keep the banks protected, he was paid for the removal, as for material excavated under the contract, the sum of $7,024.32.

He then claimed remuneration for certain injuries which he said he had…