Youngblood v. Youngblood

54 Ala. 486 | Ala. | 1875

BItICELLL, C. J.

Incorporated in the answer is a demurrer to the bill, assigning as causes a want of equity, and that the complainant had a plain and adequate remedy át law. The cause was submitted for final decree, as the record recites, “on bill and answer, pleadings and proofs.” The decree, as originally rendered, fails to notice the demurrer, though adjudging the complainant the relief prayed. At a subsequent term, on motion of respondent, the record was amended, so as to show the cause was submitted for hearing on the demurrer, as well as on bill, answers and proofs, and that the demurrer was overruled. The amendment was' made, as the record recites, “because such was really the truth.” On what evidence the court ordered the amendment is not disclosed. The submission was on bill, answer and pleadings. The only pleading, other than the bill and answer, was the demurrer, and this was, of consequence, embraced in the submission. The decree adjudging full relief to the complainant, the demurrer must have been overruled. We incline to the opinion, sufficient matter was thus shown by the record to authorize' the amendment. However this 'may be, the amendment having been made, to make the record speak the truth, as is declared, and the presumption not being repelled by a disclosure of the evidence, we must presume the action of the chancellor was based on proper and sufficient evidence. We do not concede that on this appeal we could inquire whether the amendment was correctly made or not. That inquiry could only arise when the order of amendment was brought here for revision by a party ■ prejudiced by it.

' The general rule is, that a court of equity will not take jurisdiction, if there is a clear, adequate and complete remedy at law. Such remedy existing, there is no necessity for the peculiar remedial process or functions of a court of equity; and if the court entertained the suit, it would act as a court of law, administering no other relief than could be obtained in a suit at law — the legal and constitutional distinction between the jurisdictions of a court of law and a court of equity,-would be subverted, and the defendant, deprived of his right to a trial by jury, — Hipp v. Babin, 19 How. 278; Parker v. W. L. & W. Co., 2 Black. 551; Ins. Co. v. Bailey, 13 Wall. 616.

The allegations of the bill, from which a right to relief is deduced, are that the complainant was indebted to respondent, the debt being a pure legal demand — that he paid it, and in making the payments usurious interest was computed against him, and by the fraud and misrepresentation of respondent he was induced to pay a much larger sum than was really due. The fraud and misrepresentation consists in the respondent’s denial that he had by compromise with third persons to whom he was liable for the payment of money, shown by decrees of the court of probate of Pike county, obtained a reduction of such liability, such liability forming the consideration of the debt due respondent. By agreement with respondent, when the debt to him was contracted by complainant, a deduction was to be made from such debt if such compromise was made. The relief prayed is an ascertainment of the real amount due the respondent, and of the payments made by complainant, including the credits to which he was entitled, and a decree for the payment to him of the sum it may be ascertained he had overpaid.

It was settled in this State, at an early day, in cases which are historical, that a court of equity has not jurisdiction to decree restitution of usurious interest voluntarily paid.— Jones v. Watkins, 1 Stew. 81. The bill makes no allegation which relieves the payment of usurious interest of the character of voluntary, and of consequence there is no right to relief on that ground.

Money paid voluntarily, under a mistake of facts, whether the mistake is the result of mere ignorance, or is superinduced by the fraud of the party receiving it, is recoverable at law in an action for money had and received. — Rutherford v. McIver, 21 Ala. 750; Kelly v. Solari, 9 M. & W. 53; Townsend v. Crowdy, 8 Com. Bench, N. S. 477; (S. C. 98 Eng. Com. Law, 476); Sellers v. Smith, 11 Ala. 264; Wilson v. Sargent, 12 Ala. 778; Walker v. Mock, 39 Ala. 568; Town Council v. Burnett, 34 Ala. 400. To support the action for money had and received, it is generally necessary to show the receipt of money. Tet if the parties have treated the consideration upon which the plaintiff seeks to rest the liability as money, the action will lie. — 1 Brick. Dig. 140, § 74. According to the allegations of the bill, though the payments by complainant were principally in the sale and conveyance of land, a definite price was fixed on the land for which he received credit, and it was by both parties treated as a payment in money. ’

It is urged, howeyer, that although the law furnishes an adequate remedy to the complainant for the overpayment lie may have made through mistake and ignorance, because of the fraud of the respondent, which superinduced it, a court of equity has concurrent jurisdiction — that it has, as it is sometimes said, “ an original, independent and inherent jurisdiction to relieve against every species of fraud, not being-fraud of a penal nature.” Such expressions are often found in the text books, and in judicial decisions, but it is difficult to support them by express adjudications; and certainly they are irreconcileable with the line of decisions which has been observed in this State. “Fraud is,” says Walker, 0. J., “ of itself, a ground of equity jurisdiction. But this rule is not universal in the jurisdiction of England, or in any of the United States. The doctrine of this court is, that notwithstanding the fraud, if the party can have full, complete and adequate redress at law, he can not go into chancery. By that doctrine, as expounding a just and convenient rule, too long recognized in this State to be lightly departed from, we will abide, without inquiring whether it harmonizes with all the decisions upon this subject.” — Dickinson v. Lewis, Garthwaite & Co., 34 Ala. 643. In Sadler v. Robinson, 2 Stew. 520, it was decided, that where money had been paid, under a contract, which was fraudulent, or which had been rescinded, that an action at law would lie to recover it back; and in the absence of some special ground, a court of equity had no jurisdiction to decree its recovery. The court say: “No reason is suggested by the bill, why the appellees can not have justice administered to them at law; no discovery is asked for, as essential to enable them to prosecute their rights; no deficiency of strict legal proof is complained of. On what ground, then, the appellees ask the intervention of a court of equity, we can not comprehend. It can not be because they charge their vendor with fraud; for every circumstance alleged as fraudulent, could it avail them, is fully examinable at law.”11 This decision was followed in Knotts v. Tarver, 8 Ala. 743, and it was declared that a court of equity would not take jurisdiction, though fraud had been practiced, if there was an adequate remedy at law, unless a discovery was necessary, or some other ground for interference was shown. The very point involved in the demurrer to this bill, was decided against the complainant in Russell v. Little, 28 Ala. 160, in which it was held, that a court of equity will not entertain jurisdiction of a bill, the sole object of which is to recover money alleged to have been paid through ignorance or mistake of fact on the part of the complainant, and through fraudulent practices on the part of the defendant, if the remedy at law is adequate and complete.

No discovery is sought by the complainant, no embarrassment of legal remedies is disclosed. The relief sought can be fully obtained in a suit at law. The rights of the parties are strictly legal, and without overstepping the line of its jurisdiction and depriving the defendant of his right to a trial by jury, a court of equity can not maintain the bill. The demurrer should have been sustained, and the decree of the chancellor overruling it must be reversed, a decree here rendered sustaining it and dismissing the bill. The appellee must pay the costs in this court, and in the court of chancery.