Beasley v. Beasley
Beasley v. Beasley
Opinion of the Court
“To disentitle a party, on such ground, to recover [money paid without consideration], it must appear that he had actual knowledge of the attendant facts which were calculated to influence the making or withholding of the payment.”
See Hinds v. Wiles, 12 Ala. App. 596, 68 South. 556; Rutherford v. McIvor, supra; Youngblood v. Youngblood, 54 Ala. 486; Young v. Lehman, Durr & Co., 63 Ala. 519.
The general text of 30 Cyc. 1319, 1320, supports the proposition that an overpayment of interest by mistake can be recovered. The fact that a person, when making a payment, had the means of knowing the facts, does not of itself ordinarily preclude him from recovering the money, if he did not have actual knowledge that the sum paid was an overpayment. Merrill v. Brantley, supra; Rutherford v. McIvor, supra: Russell v. Richard, 6 Ala. App. 73; 1 Hinds v. Wiles, supra; Wilson v. Sergeant, 12 Ala. 778; 30 Cyc. 1320. where the authorities of American and English courts are collected. The recovery is rested on the fact that one has money which ex requo et bono belongs to another. Jasper Co. v. K. C., M. & B. R. R. Co., 90 Ala. 416, 14 South. 546, 42 Am. St. Rep. 75: Christie v. Dyer, 205 Ala. 572, 88 South. 668; Christie v. Durden, 205 Ala. 571, 88 South. 667. If defendant knew that the paper was written as it was, for 81,000 due January 1, 1919, but supposed that its proper construction imposed upon him the payment of interest from date of execution, and by reason of this construction made the overpayment, he would not be permitted to recover the overpayment, since it was paid under a mistake of law, and' not by reason of a mistake of fact. Young v. Lehman, Durr & Co., supra; Town Council of Cahaba v. Burnett, 34 Ala. 400. A mistake of fact may he said to exist when some existing fact is unknown or a supposed fact does not exist; and this would apply as to the terms of the instrument or calculations of interest made thereon.
The judgment of the circuit court is affirmed.
Affirmed.
175 Ala. xxi.
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