Legal Term: DEVIATION

Definition: contracts. When a plan has been adopted for a building, and in the progress of the work a change has been made from the original plan, the change is called a deviation. 2. When the contract is to build a house according to the original plan, and a deviation takes place, the contract shall be traced as far as possible, and the additions, if any have been made, shall be paid for according to the usual rate of charging. 3 Barn. & Ald. 47, and see 1 Ves. jr. 60, 10 Ves. jr. 306, 14 Ves. 413, 13 Ves. 73, Id. 81 6 Johns. Ch. R. 38, 3 Cranch, 270, 5 Cranch, 262, 3 Ves. 693, 7 Ves. 274, Chit. Contr. 168, 9 Pick. 298. 3. The Civil Code of Louisiana, art. 2734, provides, that when an architect or other workman has undertaken the building of a house by the job, according to a plot agreed on between him and the owner of the ground, he cannot claim an increase of the price agreed on, on the plea of the original plot having been changed and extended, unless he can prove that such changes have been made in compliance with the wishes of the proprietor.

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