Laver

Plaintiffs are copartners in the practice of their profession as architects. They sued in this action to recover the alleged reasonable value of services performed, it is claimed, at defendant’s request, in the preparation of drawings, plans, and specifications for a building defendant had in mind to erect. After verdict and judgment in plaintiff’s favor, the court granted a new trial on the sole ground specified in its order, that it erred at the trial “ in permitting the introduction of evidence of a rule of compensation of architects, established by architects’ institutes or associations.” The plaintiffs appeal from the order granting a new trial, and contend that, if any evidence of a rule of compensation established by architects’ institutes or associations was admitted, it was not introduced or offered by *616 them. A careful examination of the record convinces us that this contention is well founded. In order to prove the value of their services, the plaintiffs introduced evidence of the customary charges of architects for similar services. This evidence was, of course, entirely competent; just as the current market price is evidence of the value of goods sold.

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