Title: Ex parte Betty Jane Winstead, as personal representative of the estate of Robert Earl Winstead, Jr. PETITION FOR WRIT OF CERTIORARI TO THE COURT OF CIVIL APPEALS (In re: Noble Winstead Yeager v. Betty Jane Winstead, as personal representative of the estate of Robert Earl Winstead, Jr.)
Citation: N/A
Docket Number: 1071601
State: Alabama
Issuer: Alabama Supreme Court
Date: December 4, 2009

REL: 12/04/2009 
Notice: T h i s o p i n i o n i s s u b j e c t t o f o r m a l 
r e v i s i o n b e f o r e 
p u b l i c a t i o n i n 
t h e advance 
s h e e t s o f 
Southern Reporter. 
R e a d e r s a r e 
r e q u e s t e d t o n o t i f y t h e 
Reporter of Decisions, 
Alabama A p p e l l a t e C o u r t s , 300 D e x t e r Avenue, Montgomery, Alabama 36104-3741 
((334) 229¬
0 6 4 9 ) , o f 
any 
t y p o g r a p h i c a l o r o t h e r e r r o r s , i n 
o r d e r t h a t c o r r e c t i o n s 
may 
be 
made b e f o r e 
t h e o p i n i o n i s 
p r i n t e d i n 
Southern Reporter. 
SUPREME COURT OF ALABAMA 
OCTOBER TERM, 2009-2010 
1071601 
Ex p a r t e B e t t y Jane Winstead, as p e r s o n a l r e p r e s e n t a t i v e o f 
the e s t a t e o f Robert E a r l Winstead, 
J r . 
PETITION FOR WRIT OF CERTIORARI 
TO THE COURT OF CIVIL APPEALS 
( I n r e : 
Noble Winstead Yeager 
v. 
B e t t y Jane Winstead, as p e r s o n a l r e p r e s e n t a t i v e o f 
the 
e s t a t e o f Robert E a r l Winstead, 
J r . ) 
(Tuscaloosa C i r c u i t Court, CV-05-1372; 
Court o f C i v i l Appeals, 2060583) 
STUART, 
J u s t i c e . 
1071601 
We 
g r a n t e d 
c e r t i o r a r i 
r e v i e w 
t o 
d e t e r m i n e w h e t h e r 
t h e 
d e c i s i o n 
o f 
t h e 
C o u r t 
o f 
C i v i l 
A p p e a l s 
h o l d i n g 
t h a t 
N o b l e 
W i n s t e a d Y e a g e r , t h e f o r m e r w i f e o f R o b e r t E a r l W i n s t e a d , J r . , 
who 
i s now 
d e c e a s e d , was 
e n t i t l e d t o p o s t j u d g m e n t i n t e r e s t 
on 
t h e 
o r d e r e d 
a l i m o n y i n g r o s s 
and 
t h e 
a t t o r n e y 
f e e s 
a w a r d e d 
h e r 
i n 
t h e i r 
f i n a l j u d g m e n t 
o f 
d i v o r c e 
c o n f l i c t s 
w i t h 
t h a t 
c o u r t ' s d e c i s i o n i n 
B i r m i n g h a m P a i n C e n t e r v. C o s g r o v e , 
896 
So. 
2d 538 
( A l a . C i v . App. 
2 0 0 4 ) . 
We 
r e v e r s e 
and 
remand. 
F a c t s 
and 
P r o c e d u r a l 
H i s t o r y 
On 
A p r i l 
24, 
2001, 
t h e 
T u s c a l o o s a 
C i r c u i t C o u r t 
e n t e r e d 
a f i n a l j u d g m e n t o f d i v o r c e d i s s o l v i n g t h e b o n d s o f m a t r i m o n y 
b e t w e e n Y e a g e r and 
W i n s t e a d . 
The 
o r d e r 
d i v i d e d t h e 
a s s e t s 
b e t w e e n them and a w a r d e d Y e a g e r t h e sum 
o f $31,000 as 
a l i m o n y 
i n g r o s s . 
The j u d g m e n t s t a t e s , i n p e r t i n e n t 
p a r t : 
" ( 1 5 ) 
As 
a d d i t i o n a l 
p r o p e r t y 
s e t t l e m e n t 
( a l i m o n y 
i n g r o s s ) , 
t h e 
H u s b a n d 
s h a l l 
pay 
t o 
t h e 
W i f e 
t h e 
sum 
o f 
T h i r t y 
One 
T h o u s a n d 
D o l l a r s 
( $ 3 1 , 0 0 0 . 0 0 ) , 
p a y a b l e , 
t o g e t h e r 
w i t h 
a c c r u e d 
i n t e r e s t 
a t t h e 
s t a t u t o r y r a t e o f 
12%, 
as 
f o l l o w s : 
(a) $ 6 , 0 0 0 . 0 0 w i t h i n s i x t y 
(60) d a y s f r o m t h e 
e n t r y 
o f t h i s j u d g m e n t ; (b) $ 1 2 , 5 0 0 . 0 0 on o r b e f o r e May 
1, 
2 0 0 2 ; and 
(c) 
t h e 
b a l a n c e 
o f $ 1 2 , 5 0 0 . 0 0 
p l u s a l l 
i n t e r e s t 
a c c r u e d 
s i n c e 
t h e 
e n t r y 
o f 
t h i s 
j u d g m e n t 
s h a l l be p a i d on o r b e f o r e May 
1, 2003. 
The 
H u s b a n d  
s h a l l h a v e t h e 
r i g h t 
t o p r e p a y 
s a i d amount a t 
any 
 
t i m e w i t h o u t 
p e n a l t y . " 
( E m p h a s i s added.) 
2 
1071601 
Y e a g e r moved t o 
a l t e r , amend, o r v a c a t e 
t h e j u d g m e n t . 
The 
c i r c u i t 
c o u r t amended t h e j u d g m e n t on J u l y 3, 2001, 
a w a r d i n g 
Y e a g e r 
a d d i t i o n a l sums o f $4,500 
f o r a l i m o n y 
i n g r o s s 
and 
$2,500 
f o r r e a s o n a b l e 
a t t o r n e y 
f e e s . 
T h a t 
o r d e r 
s t a t e s 
i n 
p e r t i n e n t 
p a r t : 
" ( 3 ) 
I t 
i s h e r e b y 
o r d e r e d 
t h a t 
t h e 
f i n a l d e c r e e o f d i v o r c e p r e v i o u s l y e n t e r e d 
by t h e C o u r t 
be m o d i f i e d as f o l l o w s : 
"(A) 
P a r a g r a p h 
15 
( A l i m o n y 
i n G r o s s ) 
i s m o d i f i e d t o add t h e f o l l o w i n g p r o v i s i o n : 
' A d d i t i o n a l l y , 
as 
c o m p e n s a t i o n 
f o r 
t h e 
r e a s o n a b l e 
r e n t a l 
v a l u e 
o f 
t h e 
r i v e r 
p r o p e r t y 
o c c u p i e d 
by 
H u s b a n d 
d u r i n g 
t h e 
p e n d e n c y o f t h e s e p r o c e e d i n g s , 
t h e H u s b a n d  
s h a l l p a y t o t h e W i f e t h e sum 
o f $ 4 , 5 0 0 . 0 0 ,  
w h i c h amount 
s h a l l be 
p a i d i n 
f u l l 
w i t h i n  
n i n e t y 
(90) 
d a y s 
f r o m 
t h e 
e n t r y 
o f 
t h i s 
 
o r d e r . ' 
"(B) 
P a r a g r a p h 
17 
( A t t o r n e y F e e s ) 
i s 
m o d i f i e d 
t o r e a d 
as 
f o l l o w s : 'The 
H u s b a n d 
 
s h a l l 
p a y 
t o 
t h e 
W i f e 
t h e 
sum 
o f 
Two 
 
T h o u s a n d F i v e H u n d r e d D o l l a r s 
($2,500.00)  
as 
a 
r e a s o n a b l e 
p o r t i o n 
o f 
h e r 
a t t o r n e y 
 
f e e s i n c u r r e d i n t h i s m a t t e r . 
S a i d amount  
s h a l l 
be 
p a i d 
i n 
f u l l 
w i t h i n n i n e t y 
(90) 
 
d a y s f r o m t h e e n t r y o f t h i s 
o r d e r . ' " 
( E m p h a s i s added.) 
Y e a g e r 
a p p e a l e d 
t h e 
j u d g m e n t ; W i n s t e a d 
d i d 
n o t 
c r o s s -
a p p e a l , 
i . e . , W i n s t e a d d i d n o t c h a l l e n g e t h e f a c t t h a t he 
was 
o b l i g a t e d t o p a y Y e a g e r a t l e a s t t h e amount s p e c i f i e d i n t h e 
3 
1071601 
j u d g m e n t . 
On A u g u s t 29, 2 0 0 1 , W i n s t e a d t e n d e r e d t h r e e c h e c k s 
t o Y e a g e r and h e r a t t o r n e y , L a u r i e B r a n t l e y , i n t h e amounts o f 
$ 3 1 , 0 0 0 , $4,500, and $2,500. 
I n a 
l e t t e r 
a c c o m p a n y i n g 
t h e 
c h e c k s , W i n s t e a d ' s 
c o u n s e l s t a t e d : 
"These 
c h e c k s 
a r e b e i n g 
t e n d e r e d 
as payment 
i n 
f u l l 
o f 
t h e 
p r e s e n t l y 
o u t s t a n d i n g 
o b l i g a t i o n s 
u n d e r 
t h e 
d i v o r c e 
d e c r e e 
as 
l a s t 
m o d i f i e d . " 
Y e a g e r ' s c o u n s e l a s k e d W i n s t e a d ' s c o u n s e l t o " c o n f i r m ... i n 
w r i t i n g t h a t 
[ t h e n e g o t i a t i o n o f t h e c h e c k s ] w o u l d i n no 
way 
c o m p r o m i s e o r p r e j u d i c e 
any 
r i g h t s 
[ Y e a g e r ] has 
on a p p e a l , 
s p e c i f i c a l l y 
an 
a p p e a l o f any 
o f t h o s e 
s p e c i f i e d 
a w a r d s . " 
W i n s t e a d ' s 
c o u n s e l r e s p o n d e d 
i n a 
l e t t e r 
d a t e d A u g u s t 
31, 
2 0 0 1 , as 
f o l l o w s : 
"As you know, we t e n d e r e d t h e p a y m e n t s 
r e q u i r e d 
by 
J u d g e 
L i s e n b y ' s o r d e r . 
You 
may 
n e g o t i a t e 
t h e 
c h e c k s o r n o t as you 
p l e a s e . 
The 
l e g a l 
e f f e c t 
o f 
t h e 
n e g o t i a t i o n i s an i s s u e w h i c h you and 
[ Y e a g e r ] 
w i l l 
h a v e t o d e c i d e f o r y o u r s e l v e s . 
However, 
t h e  
c h e c k s a r e b e i n g t e n d e r e d as payment i n f u l l 
o f t h e  
o b l i g a t i o n s owed and as r e q u i r e d u n d e r t h e 
c o u r t ' s  
o r d e r . " 
( E m p h a s i s added.) B e c a u s e W i n s t e a d ' s c o u n s e l w o u l d n o t c o n f i r m 
i n 
w r i t i n g 
t h a t 
t h e 
n e g o t i a t i o n 
o f 
t h e 
c h e c k s 
w o u l d 
n o t 
p r e j u d i c e Y e a g e r ' s r i g h t s on a p p e a l , Y e a g e r ' s c o u n s e l r e t u r n e d 
t h e 
c h e c k s t o W i n s t e a d ' s c o u n s e l . 
I n t h e l e t t e r 
a c c o m p a n y i n g 
t h e 
r e t u r n e d c h e c k s , Y e a g e r ' s c o u n s e l s t a t e d : 
4 
1071601 
" E n c l o s e d p l e a s e f i n d [ W i n s t e a d ' s ] 
t h r e e c h e c k s 
w h i c h w e r e p r e v i o u s l y s e n t t o me. 
I am r e t u r n i n g 
them 
i n 
l i g h t 
o f 
y o u r 
A u g u s t 
3 1 , 2001 
l e t t e r , 
w h e r e i n you d e c l i n e t o c o n f i r m t o me i n w r i t i n g 
t h a t 
t h e 
a c c e p t a n c e 
o f 
t h e s e 
c h e c k s 
w o u l d 
i n no way 
c o m p r o m i s e 
[ Y e a g e r ' s ] 
a p p e a l . 
I t g o e s 
w i t h o u t 
s a y i n g t h a t i t 
i s i m p o s s i b i l i t y 
[ s i c ] f o r 
me a n d / o r 
my 
c l i e n t t o n e g o t i a t e 
t h e s e 
c h e c k s 
w i t h o u t 
t h a t 
a s s u r a n c e . 
" P l e a s e 
a d v i s e 
[ W i n s t e a d ] 
t h a t 
p o s t j u d g m e n t 
i n t e r e s t a t a r a t e o f t w e l v e 
p e r c e n t 
(12%) w i l l be 
e x p e c t e d 
a t t h e c o n c l u s i o n o f 
t h i s 
a p p e a l . 
I f 
[ W i n s t e a d ] 
w o u l d 
l i k e 
t o a v o i d t h e same, he c a n 
s i m p l y 
w a i v e any c h a l l e n g e o f t h e p e n d i n g 
a p p e a l 
b a s e d on an 
' a c c e p t a n c e 
o f b e n e f i t s ' 
a r g u m e n t , o r 
t h e 
l i k e . " 
W i n s t e a d ' s c o u n s e l 
r e s e n t t h e c h e c k s t o Y e a g e r and h e r 
c o u n s e l w i t h a l e t t e r s t a t i n g i n p e r t i n e n t p a r t t h a t 
" t h e 
t e n d e r o f t h i s money i s s u f f i c i e n t t o b a r any 
c l a i m f o r i n t e r e s t 
p o s t j u d g m e n t a t t h e e x o r b i t a n t 
t w e l v e 
p e r c e n t 
r a t e . 
T h e r e f o r e , 
I am 
t e n d e r i n g 
t h e s e 
c h e c k s t o you a g a i n . 
W h e t h e r you a c c e p t t h e 
money 
o r d o n ' t 
a c c e p t 
t h e money 
i s up t o y o u ; 
h o w e v e r , 
t h e t e n d e r 
i s t h e a c t w h i c h 
t o l l s 
t h e 
i n t e r e s t a c c r u a l . The o r i g i n a l t e n d e r was made w i t h 
o u r 
l e t t e r o f [ 2 9 ] , A u g u s t 2 0 0 1 . " 
Y e a g e r and h e r c o u n s e l n e v e r n e g o t i a t e d t h e c h e c k s , and t h e 
moneys were n o t i n t e r p l e a d e d . 
I n 2002, t h e C o u r t o f 
C i v i l 
A p p e a l s 
a f f i r m e d t h e c i r c u i t c o u r t ' s f i n a l j u d g m e n t o f d i v o r c e 
w i t h o u t an o p i n i o n . 
W i n s t e a d v. W i n s t e a d , 
863 So. 2d 1164 
( A l a . C i v . 
App. 2 0 0 2 ) ( t a b l e ) . 
5 
1071601 
W i n s t e a d 
d i e d 
i n 
J u l y 
2004. 
Y e a g e r , 
who 
had 
n o t 
n e g o t i a t e d 
t h e c h e c k s , 
f i l e d 
a v e r i f i e d 
c l a i m i n t h e 
p r o b a t e 
c o u r t 
a g a i n s t W i n s t e a d ' s e s t a t e 
f o r t h e amounts o f 
$ 3 1 , 0 0 0 , 
$4,500, 
and 
$2,500, p l u s 
a c c r u e d 
i n t e r e s t 
a t 
t h e 
s t a t u t o r y 
r a t e 
o f 
12 
p e r c e n t . 
She 
a l s o 
f i l e d 
a 
d e c l a r a t o r y - j u d g m e n t 
a c t i o n i n t h e 
c i r c u i t c o u r t s e e k i n g t h e same r e l i e f she 
s o u g h t 
a g a i n s t W i n s t e a d ' s e s t a t e u n d e r h e r 
v e r i f i e d c l a i m f i l e d 
w i t h 
t h e p r o b a t e 
c o u r t . 
The 
c l a i m a g a i n s t W i n s t e a d ' s e s t a t e 
i n 
t h e 
p r o b a t e 
c o u r t 
was 
c o n s o l i d a t e d 
w i t h 
t h e 
d e c l a r a t o r y -
j u d g m e n t a c t i o n i n t h e 
c i r c u i t 
c o u r t . 
I n F e b r u a r y 2007, 
t h e 
c i r c u i t 
c o u r t 
e n t e r e d 
a j u d g m e n t 
s t a t i n g : 
" A f t e r 
t h o r o u g h l y 
c o n s i d e r i n g 
t h e 
f a c t s 
and 
b r i e f s 
f i l e d , 
t h e 
amount 
o f 
t h e 
c l a i m 
i s 
h e r e b y 
f i x e d 
and 
e s t a b l i s h e d 
a t 
$38,000 
w i t h o u t 
a c c r u e d 
i n t e r e s t . 
A l t h o u g h 
t h e 
u n c e r t a i n t y 
a b o u t 
t h e 
a c c e p t a n c e o f t h e 
t e n d e r 
o f t h e f u n d s on A u g u s t 
29, 
2001 
i s u n d e r s t a n d a b l e and 
[ Y e a g e r ' s ] a r g u m e n t s 
a r e 
made i n g o o d f a i t h , 
i t was 
[ Y e a g e r ] who 
a p p e a l e d 
t h e 
j u d g m e n t o f t h e 
[ c i r c u i t ] c o u r t c a s t i n g d o u b t on 
t h e 
c e r t a i n t y 
o r 
f i n a l i t y 
o f 
t h e 
j u d g m e n t . 
The 
f u n d s 
were n o t 
t e n d e r e d on 
t h e 
c o n d i t i o n t h a t 
t h e 
a p p e a l 
be 
d i s m i s s e d 
o r w i t h d r a w n . A l t h o u g h 
t h e 
a p p e a l 
was 
a v a l i d e x e r c i s e o f 
[ Y e a g e r ] ' s 
r i g h t t o c h a l l e n g e 
a 
p o r t i o n o f t h e j u d g m e n t , t h e 
t e n d e r 
o f t h e f u n d s 
on 
t h e 
p o r t i o n 
n o t 
u n d e r 
r e v i e w 
was 
s u f f i c i e n t 
t o 
p r e c l u d e 
t h e 
i m p o s i t i o n 
o f 
i n t e r e s t 
t h a t 
o t h e r w i s e 
w o u l d 
a t t a c h 
i f 
t h e 
j u d g m e n t 
had 
n o t 
b e e n 
c h a l l e n g e d . " 
6 
1071601 
Y e a g e r 
a p p e a l e d 
t o 
t h i s 
C o u r t ; 
h o w e v e r , 
a f t e r 
i n i t i a l 
r e v i e w we d e t e r m i n e d t h a t 
j u r i s d i c t i o n r e s t e d i n t h e C o u r t 
o f 
C i v i l A p p e a l s and 
t r a n s f e r r e d t h e c a s e t o t h a t 
c o u r t . 
The 
C o u r t o f 
C i v i l A p p e a l s r e v e r s e d 
t h e j u d g m e n t o f 
t h e 
c i r c u i t 
c o u r t , 
s t a t i n g : 
"On 
a p p e a l , 
Y e a g e r 
a r g u e s 
t h a t 
t h e 
c i r c u i t 
c o u r t 
e r r e d by 
f a i l i n g 
t o a w a r d h e r p o s t j u d g m e n t i n t e r e s t 
f o r 
t h e amounts due 
h e r 
f r o m W i n s t e a d . 
I n 
W i l h i t e  
v. 
R y a n , 
66 
A l a . 
10 6 
(1 
88 0 
) , 
t h e 
A l a b a m a 
Supreme 
C o u r t 
s t a t e d 
t h a t 
' e v e r y 
t e n d e r 
o f 
money, 
by 
a 
d e b t o r 
t o 
a 
c r e d i t o r , must 
be 
a b s o l u t e , 
and 
n o t 
c o u p l e d w i t h 
c o n d i t i o n s . ' 
66 A l a . 
a t 
109. 
Y e a g e r 
a r g u e s 
t h a t 
W i n s t e a d ' s 
s t a t e m e n t 
i n 
t h e 
l e t t e r 
a c c o m p a n y i n g t h e 
t h r e e 
c h e c k s t h a t 
t h e 
c h e c k s were 
b e i n g 
t e n d e r e d 
'as payment 
i n 
f u l l ' 
c o n s t i t u t e d 
a 
c o n d i t i o n . 
We 
a g r e e . 
The 
c h e c k s 
were 
s e n t 
t o 
Y e a g e r p u r s u a n t t o a j u d g m e n t as t o w h i c h an 
a p p e a l 
was 
p e n d i n g ; had 
t h i s 
c o u r t 
d e t e r m i n e d t h a t 
a p p e a l 
i n 
Y e a g e r ' s 
f a v o r , 
i t m i g h t 
have 
r e s u l t e d 
i n 
an 
a l t e r a t i o n o f t h e amount due 
h e r f r o m W i n s t e a d u n d e r 
t h e 
d i v o r c e 
j u d g m e n t . 
Thus, 
t h a t j u d g m e n t was 
i n 
d i s p u t e 
a t 
t h e 
t i m e 
t h e 
c h e c k s 
were 
i s s u e d 
t o 
Y e a g e r . 
"'As 
a 
g e n e r a l 
r u l e when a c h e c k 
i s 
t e n d e r e d 
upon 
t h e 
c o n d i t i o n 
t h a t 
t h e 
c r e d i t o r 
a c c e p t 
i t i n 
f u l l 
payment 
o f 
a 
d i s p u t e d 
c l a i m , 
t h e r e 
a r e 
two 
o p t i o n s 
a v a i l a b l e 
t o t h e 
c r e d i t o r . 
He 
may 
r e j e c t 
t h e 
t e n d e r 
o r 
a c c e p t 
t h e 
t e n d e r 
w i t h 
t h e 
c o n d i t i o n 
a t t a c h e d . 
E n d o r s i n g 
and 
d e p o s i t i n g 
t h e 
c h e c k 
i s 
t a n t a m o u n t 
t o 
a c c e p t i n g 
t h e 
t e n d e r 
w i t h 
t h e 
c o n d i t i o n 
a t t a c h e d . 
Such 
a c t s 
f u l f i l l 
t h e 
r e q u i r e m e n t s 
f o r 
an 
a c c o r d 
and 
s a t i s f a c t i o n . ' 
7 
1071601 
" B i v i n s v. W h i t e D a i r y , 378 So. 2d 1122, 1124 ( A l a . 
C i v . 
App. 
1 
97 9 ) . 
See 
a l s o 
P u b l i c 
N a t ' l 
L i f e 
I n s .  
Co. v. H i g h s m i t h , 47 A l a . App. 
488, 256 So. 2d 
912 
( 1 9 7 1 ) ; and W a l l a c e v. W a l l a c e , 909 So. 2d 827 ( A l a . 
C i v . 
App. 
2 0 0 5 ) ( w i f e ' s a c c e p t a n c e 
o f 
c h e c k 
t h a t 
s p e c i f i e d 
'payment i n 
f u l l ' 
and was 
a c c o m p a n i e d 
by 
a l e t t e r 
s t a t i n g t h a t t h e c h e c k was f o r t h e ' b a l a n c e 
of 
t h e p r o p e r t y s e t t l e m e n t ' i n t h e p a r t i e s ' 
d i v o r c e 
j u d g m e n t 
a m o u n t e d t o an a c c o r d and 
s a t i s f a c t i o n 
o f 
t h e 
p r o p e r t y 
s e t t l e m e n t ) . 
" B e c a u s e 
t h e l a n g u a g e u s e d by W i n s t e a d i n h i s 
l e t t e r , 
t h a t t h e c h e c k s were b e i n g s e n t as 'payment 
i n 
f u l l , ' 
c o u l d 
h a v e 
a f f e c t e d 
Y e a g e r ' s 
r i g h t s 
t o 
r e c o v e r 
f r o m W i n s t e a d i f h e r a p p e a l r e s u l t e d 
i n a 
r e v e r s a l 
and 
a 
p o t e n t i a l 
i n c r e a s e 
o f 
t h e 
a l i m o n y 
p r o v i s i o n i n t h e d i v o r c e j u d g m e n t , we c o n c l u d e t h a t 
t h a t l a n g u a g e a m o u n t e d t o a c o n d i t i o n 
a c c o m p a n y i n g 
t h e 
t e n d e r o f t h e c h e c k s . 
As a r e s u l t , Y e a g e r , 
by 
p r o t e c t i n g 
h e r own 
i n t e r e s t s 
and 
o p t i n g 
t o 
r e j e c t 
W i n s t e a d ' s 
t e n d e r , 
l o s t 
h e r 
o p p o r t u n i t y 
t o 
i n v e s t 
t h e 
money a w a r d e d 
t o h e r 
i n t h e 
d i v o r c e 
j u d g m e n t 
and, t h e r e f o r e , i s e n t i t l e d t o p o s t j u d g m e n t 
i n t e r e s t 
on t h e same." 
Y e a g e r v. W i n s t e a d , 
[Ms. 2 0 6 0 5 8 3 , A u g u s t 8, 2008] 
So. 
3d 
, 
( A l a . C i v . App. 
2 0 0 8 ) . 
Judge 
B r y a n , 
j o i n e d by Judge M o o r e , d i s s e n t e d 
f r o m t h e 
m a i n 
o p i n i o n , 
s t a t i n g : 
" I 
r e s p e c t f u l l y 
d i s s e n t . 
On 
A u g u s t 
29, 
2 0 0 1 , 
R o b e r t E a r l W i n s t e a d , J r . , t e n d e r e d t h r e e c h e c k s t o 
N o b l e W i n s t e a d Y e a g e r . The 
c h e c k s were 
a c c o m p a n i e d 
by 
a 
l e t t e r 
s t a t i n g 
t h a t 
t h e 
c h e c k s were 
' b e i n g 
t e n d e r e d 
as 
payment 
i n 
f u l l 
o f 
t h e 
p r e s e n t l y 
 
o u t s t a n d i n g o b l i g a t i o n s u n d e r t h e d i v o r c e d e c r e e as 
l a s t m o d i f i e d . ' 
( E m p h a s i s added.) 
The m a i n 
o p i n i o n 
s t a t e s 
t h a t 
t h e p a r t i e s ' 
d i v o r c e 
'judgment 
was 
i n 
d i s p u t e 
a t 
t h e 
t i m e 
t h e 
c h e c k s 
were 
i s s u e d 
t o 
8 
1071601 
Y e a g e r . ' 
So. 3d a t 
. However, Y e a g e r d i d n o t 
and does 
n o t d i s p u t e 
t h a t t h e 
t o t a l amount o f t h e 
t h r e e 
c h e c k s t e n d e r e d t o h e r r e p r e s e n t e d , a t 
t h a t 
t i m e , 
t h e 
f u l l amount t h a t she was 
owed u n d e r 
t h e 
d i v o r c e 
j u d g m e n t . 
By 
o f f e r i n g 
Y e a g e r 
t h e 
c h e c k s , 
W i n s t e a d 
s i m p l y 
s o u g h t 
t o 
f u l f i l l 
h i s 
o b l i g a t i o n 
p u r s u a n t t o t h e j u d g m e n t ; W i n s t e a d d i d n o t o f f e r t h e 
c h e c k s as a c o n d i t i o n a l payment o f any s o r t . When a 
j u d g m e n t d e b t o r makes moneys a v a i l a b l e t o a j u d g m e n t 
c r e d i t o r 
w i t h o u t any 
r e s t r i c t i o n 
o r 
c o n d i t i o n 
n o t 
f o u n d 
i n 
t h e 
j u d g m e n t 
i t s e l f , 
t h e 
j u d g m e n t 
i s 
s a t i s f i e d and p o s t j u d g m e n t 
i n t e r e s t u n d e r § 8-8-10, 
A l a . 
Code 
1975, 
s t o p s 
a c c r u i n g . 
B i r m i n g h a m 
P a i n 
 
C t r . , 
I n c . v. C o s g r o v e , 
8 
96 So. 
2d 538, 
545 ( A l a . 
C i v . 
App. 
2 0 0 4 ) . 
T h e r e f o r e , 
i n 
t h i s 
c a s e , 
W i n s t e a d ' s 
u n c o n d i t i o n a l 
t e n d e r 
o f 
t h e 
c h e c k s 
s t o p p e d t h e a c c r u a l o f p o s t j u d g m e n t 
i n t e r e s t . 
"The 
m a i n 
o p i n i o n 
c i t e s 
c a s e s 
c o n c e r n i n g t h e 
d o c t r i n e 
o f a c c o r d and 
s a t i s f a c t i o n . 
However, 
h a d 
Y e a g e r 
a c c e p t e d 
t h e 
c h e c k s , 
an 
a c c o r d 
and 
s a t i s f a c t i o n 
w o u l d 
n o t 
h a v e 
o c c u r r e d ; 
r a t h e r , 
Y e a g e r ' s 
a c c e p t a n c e 
o f 
t h e 
c h e c k s 
w o u l d 
have 
c o m p l e t e d a payment o f t h e j u d g m e n t amount owed h e r . 
'Payment i s a d i s c h a r g e o f a d e b t by a c o m p l i a n c e 
w i t h t h e t e r m s o f t h e o b l i g a t i o n , w h e r e a s a c c o r d and 
s a t i s f a c t i o n 
i s 
an 
a g r e e m e n t , 
f o l l o w e d 
by 
an 
e x e c u t i o n , t o d i s c h a r g e a demand by t h e g i v i n g 
and 
a c c e p t a n c e o f s o m e t h i n g d i f f e r e n t f r o m t h a t t o w h i c h 
t h e c r e d i t o r i s e n t i t l e d . ' 
1 Am. 
J u r . 2d A c c o r d and  
S a t i s f a c t i o n 
§ 
3 
(2005) 
( f o o t n o t e s 
o m i t t e d ) . 
M o r e o v e r , 
i n s o f a r 
as 
Y e a g e r ' s 
2001 
a p p e a l o f 
t h e 
d i v o r c e j u d g m e n t 
was 
b a s e d on an a r g u m e n t t h a t 
t h e 
d i v i s i o n 
o f t h e m a r i t a l 
e s t a t e was 
i n e q u i t a b l e , 
I 
n o t e 
t h a t 
' [ w ] h e r e 
a j u d g m e n t 
i s a p p e a l e d on 
t h e 
g r o u n d 
t h a t 
t h e 
damages 
a w a r d e d 
a r e 
i n a d e q u a t e , 
a c c e p t a n c e o f payment o f t h e amount o f t h e 
j u d g m e n t , 
s t a n d i n g 
a l o n e , does 
n o t amount 
t o an 
a c c o r d 
and 
s a t i s f a c t i o n 
o f t h e 
e n t i r e 
c l a i m . ' 
1 Am. 
J u r . 2d 
A c c o r d 
and 
S a t i s f a c t i o n 
§ 
32 
(2005) 
( f o o t n o t e 
o m i t t e d ) . 
9 
1071601 
"The 
c i r c u i t 
c o u r t 
c o r r e c t l y c o n c l u d e d 
t h a t 
W i n s t e a d ' s 
u n c o n d i t i o n a l 
t e n d e r 
o f 
t h e 
c h e c k s 
s t o p p e d 
t h e 
a c c r u a l 
o f p o s t j u d g m e n t 
i n t e r e s t . 
See 
C o s g r o v e , 
s u p r a . 
A c c o r d i n g l y , 
I w o u l d 
a f f i r m 
t h e 
c i r c u i t 
c o u r t ' s 
j u d g m e n t . " 
So. 
3d a t 
. 
W i n s t e a d ' s 
e s t a t e 
p e t i t i o n e d 
t h i s 
C o u r t 
f o r 
a w r i t 
o f 
c e r t i o r a r i 
t o 
a d d r e s s w h e t h e r 
t h e 
C o u r t 
o f 
C i v i l 
A p p e a l s ' 
d e c i s i o n 
t h a t Y e a g e r 
was 
e n t i t l e d 
t o p o s t j u d g m e n t 
i n t e r e s t 
c o n f l i c t s 
w i t h 
t h a t 
c o u r t ' s 
d e c i s i o n 
i n 
B i r m i n g h a m 
P a i n 
 
C e n t e r . 
S t a n d a r d o f R e v i e w 
"The 
s t a n d a r d 
o f r e v i e w 
on a p e t i t i o n f o r a w r i t 
o f 
c e r t i o r a r i 
i s 
s e t t l e d . 
" ' I n r e v i e w i n g a d e c i s i o n o f t h e 
C o u r t 
o f 
C i v i l A p p e a l s on 
a p e t i t i o n 
f o r a w r i t 
o f 
c e r t i o r a r i , 
t h i s 
C o u r t 
" a c c o r d s 
no 
p r e s u m p t i o n 
o f 
c o r r e c t n e s s 
t o 
t h e 
l e g a l 
c o n c l u s i o n s 
o f 
t h e 
i n t e r m e d i a t e 
a p p e l l a t e 
c o u r t . 
T h e r e f o r e , 
we 
must 
a p p l y 
de 
novo 
t h e 
s t a n d a r d 
o f r e v i e w 
t h a t was 
a p p l i c a b l e 
i n 
t h e C o u r t o f 
C i v i l 
A p p e a l s . " 
Ex 
p a r t e 
 
T o y o t a 
M o t o r 
C o r p . , 
684 
So. 
2d 
132, 
135 
( A l a . 
1 9 9 6 ) . ' " 
Ex p a r t e F o l s o m , 
[Ms. 1071705, M a r c h 20, 
200 9] 
So. 
3d 
, 
( A l a . 
2 0 0 9 ) ( q u o t i n g 
Ex p a r t e E x x o n M o b i l C o r p . , 926 
So. 
2d 
303, 
308 
( A l a . 2 0 0 5 ) ) . 
See 
a l s o R a l e y v. M a i n , 
987 
So. 
2d 
569, 
575 
( A l a . 
2 0 0 7 ) ( s t a t i n g 
t h a t 
when 
a 
t r i a l 
c o u r t ' s 
10 
1071601 
j u d g m e n t 
i s b a s e d 
on 
u n d i s p u t e d 
f a c t s 
and 
d o c u m e n t a r y 
e v i d e n c e , 
t h i s 
C o u r t 
w i l l 
a p p l y 
a de novo 
s t a n d a r d o f 
r e v i e w ) ; 
A l f a Mut. I n s . Co. v . S m a l l , 82 
9 So. 2d 743, 745 
( A l a . 
2 0 0 2 ) ( " O u r r e v i e w o f a d e c l a r a t o r y j u d g m e n t i s g e n e r a l l y 
g o v e r n e d b y t h e o r e t e n u s 
s t a n d a r d o f r e v i e w . However, i n 
c a s e s 
s u c h as 
t h i s , 
where 
t h e r e a r e no d i s p u t e d f a c t s and 
where 
t h e 
j u d g m e n t 
i s b a s e d 
e n t i r e l y 
upon 
d o c u m e n t a r y 
e v i d e n c e , 
no 
s u c h 
p r e s u m p t i o n 
o f c o r r e c t n e s s a p p l i e s ; o u r 
r e v i e w i s de n o v o . " ) . 
A n a l y s i s 
W i n s t e a d ' s 
e s t a t e 
c o n t e n d s 
t h a t 
t h e C o u r t 
o f 
C i v i l 
A p p e a l s e r r e d i n h o l d i n g t h a t W i n s t e a d ' s t e n d e r o f payment o f 
t h e 
amounts 
o r d e r e d i n t h e f i n a l 
j u d g m e n t o f d i v o r c e 
was 
c o n d i t i o n a l a n d , c o n s e q u e n t l y , d i d n o t s t o p t h e a c c r u a l o f 
p o s t j u d g m e n t 
i n t e r e s t . 
S e c t i o n 8-8-10, A l a . 
Code 1975, p r o v i d e s , i n p e r t i n e n t 
p a r t : 
" J u d g m e n t s f o r 
t h e payment o f money, o t h e r t h a n 
c o s t s , 
i f b a s e d 
upon 
a 
c o n t r a c t 
a c t i o n , 
b e a r 
i n t e r e s t ... a t t h e same r a t e o f i n t e r e s t as s t a t e d 
i n 
s a i d 
c o n t r a c t ; 
a l l o t h e r 
j u d g m e n t s 
s h a l l 
b e a r 
i n t e r e s t a t t h e r a t e o f 12 p e r c e n t p e r annum 
" 
11 
1071601 
T h e r e f o r e , 
f r o m t h e t i m e a j u d g m e n t i s e n t e r e d a g a i n s t a p a r t y 
f o r 
t h e 
payment 
o f money 
u n t i l 
t h e 
t i m e 
t h e 
j u d g m e n t 
i s 
s a t i s f i e d , 
t h e j u d g m e n t 
s h a l l b e a r 
i n t e r e s t . 
I n B i r m i n g h a m 
P a i n 
C e n t e r , 
t h e 
C o u r t 
o f 
C i v i l 
A p p e a l s 
c o n s i d e r e d 
how 
a p a r t y 
can 
s a t i s f y 
a j u d g m e n t 
t o 
s t o p 
t h e 
a c c r u a l 
o f 
i n t e r e s t . 
C o s g r o v e 
s u e d B i r m i n g h a m 
P a i n 
C e n t e r 
("BPC"), and 
a j u d g m e n t i n t h e amount o f $150,000 was 
e n t e r e d 
a g a i n s t BPC. 
BPC 
d e p o s i t e d 
i n t o t h e 
t r i a l c o u r t t h e amount o f 
t h e 
j u d g m e n t 
p l u s 
c o u r t 
c o s t s . 
I n 
r u l i n g 
t h a t 
BPC 
had 
s a t i s f i e d 
t h e j u d g m e n t so as t o s t o p t h e a c c r u a l o f 
i n t e r e s t , 
t h e C o u r t o f 
C i v i l A p p e a l s 
s t a t e d : 
"The 
d i s p o s i t i v e 
i s s u e 
as 
t o 
w h e t h e r 
BPC 
s a t i s f i e d 
o r 
p a r t i a l l y 
s a t i s f i e d 
t h e 
j u d g m e n t 
a g a i n s t i t a t any t i m e i s ... w h e t h e r moneys owed by  
BPC 
t o 
C o s g r o v e 
u n d e r 
t h e 
j u d g m e n t 
were 
made 
 
a v a i l a b l e 
t o 
C o s g r o v e 
w i t h o u t 
any 
r e s t r i c t i o n 
o r 
 
c o n d i t i o n n o t f o u n d i n t h e j u d g m e n t 
i t s e l f . 
To 
t h e 
e x t e n t 
s u c h moneys were made a v a i l a b l e 
t o 
C o s g r o v e 
w i t h o u t 
r e s t r i c t i o n , 
t h e 
' l o s s 
o f 
u s e ' 
o f 
t h o s e 
moneys by C o s g r o v e came t o an end, 
i n t e r e s t u n d e r § 
8-8-10 t h e r e f o r e s t o p p e d a c c r u i n g , and 
t h e j u d g m e n t 
was 
s a t i s f i e d . " 
896 
So. 
2d a t 545. 
The 
c o u r t h e l d t h a t BPC 
had 
s a t i s f i e d 
t h e 
j u d g m e n t and 
t h a t i n t e r e s t s t o p p e d a c c r u i n g when BPC 
p a i d 
t h e 
amount 
o f 
t h e 
j u d g m e n t 
i n t o 
t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t 
w i t h o u t 
any 
c o n d i t i o n s b e c a u s e s u c h a c t i o n by BPC 
p r o v i d e d C o s g r o v e 
w i t h 
12 
1071601 
t h e 
o p p o r t u n i t y t o u s e a n d / o r 
i n v e s t t h e moneys a w a r d e d a t 
t r i a l . 
W i n s t e a d ' s e s t a t e a r g u e s t h a t W i n s t e a d ' s t e n d e r i n g o f t h e 
moneys a w a r d e d Y e a g e r i n 
t h e d i v o r c e j u d g m e n t "as payment i n 
f u l l 
o f t h e p r e s e n t l y 
o u t s t a n d i n g 
o b l i g a t i o n s 
u n d e r t h e 
d i v o r c e 
d e c r e e as 
l a s t 
m o d i f i e d " 
p r o v i d e d 
Y e a g e r 
w i t h t h e 
o p p o r t u n i t y t o i n v e s t t h e moneys a w a r d e d t o h e r a n d s t o p p e d 
t h e 
a c c r u a l o f i n t e r e s t . 
Thus, i t 
m a i n t a i n s 
t h a t 
W i n s t e a d 
s a t i s f i e d 
t h e r e q u i r e m e n t s o f B i r m i n g h a m 
P a i n 
C e n t e r . 
We 
a g r e e . 
When 
W i n s t e a d 
t e n d e r e d 
t h e moneys t o Y e a g e r , he was 
v o l u n t a r i l y 
p a y i n g 
a j u d g m e n t he d i d n o t d i s p u t e . 
By n o t 
f i l i n g a c r o s s - a p p e a l a n d c h a l l e n g i n g t h e j u d g m e n t , W i n s t e a d 
i n d i c a t e d 
t h a t a t a minimum he was o b l i g a t e d t o p a y Y e a g e r 
$ 3 8 , 0 0 0 . The s t a t e m e n t i n 
t h e l e t t e r a c c o m p a n y i n g t h e c h e c k s 
t h a t 
" [ t ] h e s e c h e c k s a r e t e n d e r e d as payment i n f u l l o f 
t h e 
p r e s e n t l y o u t s t a n d i n g 
o b l i g a t i o n s u n d e r t h e d i v o r c e d e c r e e as 
l a s t m o d i f i e d " 
d i d n o t c o n s t i t u t e a c o n d i t i o n t h a t c o u l d h a v e 
a f f e c t e d 
Y e a g e r ' s 
r i g h t s 
t o r e c o v e r 
f r o m 
W i n s t e a d i f 
h e r 
a p p e a l r e s u l t e d i n 
a r e v e r s a l . When t h e 
p h r a s e "as 
payment i n 
f u l l " 
i s r e a d i n c o n t e x t , 
i t 
i s n o t a c o n d i t i o n 
w a r r a n t i n g 
13 
1071601 
a p p l i c a t i o n o f t h e p r i n c i p l e s o f " a c c o r d 
and 
s a t i s f a c t i o n " 
b u t 
a 
p h r a s e 
i n d i c a t i n g 
c o m p l i a n c e 
w i t h 
t h e 
t e r m s 
o f 
t h e 
" p r e s e n t l y o u t s t a n d i n g 
o b l i g a t i o n s u n d e r t h e d i v o r c e d e c r e e as 
l a s t m o d i f i e d . " 
See 
U n i t e d 
S t a t e s 
v. Hougham, 364 
U.S. 
310, 
312 
( 1 9 6 0 ) ( " I t 
i s a g e n e r a l l y a c c e p t e d r u l e o f l a w 
t h a t where 
a j u d g m e n t i s a p p e a l e d on t h e g r o u n d t h a t t h e damages a w a r d e d 
a r e 
i n a d e q u a t e , 
a c c e p t a n c e 
o f payment 
o f 
t h e amount 
o f 
t h e 
u n s a t i s f a c t o r y j u d g m e n t d o e s n o t , s t a n d i n g 
a l o n e , amount t o 
an 
a c c o r d 
and 
s a t i s f a c t i o n 
o f 
t h e 
e n t i r e 
c l a i m . ) . 
I n d e e d , 
by 
s t a t i n g 
t h a t 
t h e t e n d e r o f t h e c h e c k s was 
payment u n d e r 
t h e 
" p r e s e n t l y o u t s t a n d i n g 
o b l i g a t i o n s , " W i n s t e a d r e c o g n i z e d 
t h a t 
s a i d o b l i g a t i o n may 
c h a n g e . 
B e c a u s e we c o n c l u d e t h a t W i n s t e a d 
d i d 
n o t 
p l a c e 
a c o n d i t i o n 
on 
t h e moneys b u t 
m e r e l y 
t e n d e r e d 
payment as 
o r d e r e d 
i n t h e 
f i n a l j u d g m e n t , Y e a g e r had 
use 
o f 
t h e moneys, i . e . , any 
" l o s s o f u s e " 
o f 
t h e moneys by 
Y e a g e r 
was 
e l i m i n a t e d , and 
t h e d e c i s i o n o f t h e C o u r t o f C i v i l A p p e a l s 
t h a t Y e a g e r was 
e n t i t l e d 
t o p o s t j u d g m e n t 
i n t e r e s t 
c o n f l i c t s 
w i t h B i r m i n g h a m P a i n 
C e n t e r . 
Y e a g e r m a i n t a i n s 
t h a t 
t h e 
r e l i a n c e by W i n s t e a d ' s 
e s t a t e 
on B i r m i n g h a m P a i n C e n t e r i s m i s p l a c e d b e c a u s e , she 
s a y s , 
t h e 
f a c t s a r e d i s t i n g u i s h a b l e . Y e a g e r r e c o g n i z e s 
t h a t t h e p i v o t a l 
14 
1071601 
q u e s t i o n i n d e t e r m i n i n g w h e t h e r p o s t j u d g m e n t i n t e r e s t 
a c c r u e s 
i s w h e t h e r t h e j u d g m e n t c r e d i t o r h a s t h e o p p o r t u n i t y t o u s e 
t h e moneys w h i l e an a p p e a l 
i s p e n d i n g . 
She m a i n t a i n s 
t h a t , 
u n l i k e i n B i r m i n g h a m P a i n C e n t e r where BPC's a p p e l l a t e 
r i g h t s 
were p r o t e c t e d when t h e moneys were i n t e r p l e a d e d i n t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t a n d C o s g r o v e h a d t h e o p p o r t u n i t y f o r t h e moneys t o be 
p l a c e d i n an i n t e r e s t - b e a r i n g a c c o u n t , h e r a p p e l l a t e 
r i g h t s 
w e r e n o t p r o t e c t e d w i t h t h e t e n d e r o f t h e moneys t o h e r and 
h e r 
c o u n s e l . 
Y e a g e r 
s t a t e s 
t h a t b e c a u s e W i n s t e a d d i d n o t 
i n t e r p l e a d t h e moneys i n t h e c i r c u i t c o u r t and r e f u s e d t o s i g n 
a r e l e a s e s t a t i n g t h a t n e g o t i a t i o n o f t h e c h e c k s d i d 
n o t w a i v e 
any 
r e l i e f a w a r d e d Y e a g e r on t h e a p p e a l , she was d e n i e d "use 
o f t h e money," a n d , t h e r e f o r e , p o s t j u d g m e n t i n t e r e s t 
a c c r u e d . 
I n e s s e n c e , she a r g u e s t h a t i f 
she h a d " a c c e p t e d t h e b e n e f i t " 
o f 
t h e moneys, 
h e r 
a p p e a l 
w o u l d 
have 
b e e n 
j e o p a r d i z e d ; 
t h e r e f o r e , she d i d 
n o t have "use o f t h e money" u n t i l a f t e r h e r 
a p p e a l was 
f i n a l . 
The 
f a c t t h a t t h e moneys were t e n d e r e d t o Y e a g e r and h e r 
c o u n s e l 
and n o t i n t e r p l e a d e d i n t h e c i r c u i t 
c o u r t d i d n o t 
d e p r i v e 
Y e a g e r o f t h e "use o f t h e money" 
and w a r r a n t t h e 
a c c r u a l o f p o s t j u d g m e n t i n t e r e s t . 
I n B e n t l e y S y s t e m s , I n c . 
v . 
15 
1071601 
I n t e r g r a p h 
C o r p . , 
922 
So. 
2d 
61 
( A l a . 2 0 0 5 ) , 
t h i s 
C o u r t 
s t a t e d : 
" B e n t l e y 
has 
moved 
t o 
d i s m i s s 
I n t e r g r a p h ' s 
c r o s s - a p p e a l b e c a u s e I n t e r g r a p h d e p o s i t e d 
B e n t l e y ' s 
c h e c k 
i n payment 
o f 
t h e 
j u d g m e n t . 
B e n t l e y 
a r g u e s 
t h a t 
I n t e r g r a p h 
has 
a c c e p t e d 
t h e 
b e n e f i t 
o f 
t h e 
j u d g m e n t , 
and, 
t h e r e f o r e , 
t h a t 
i t s 
c r o s s - a p p e a l 
s h o u l d be d i s m i s s e d . 
See 
R i c e v. S t a t e Farm F i r e 
& 
 
C a s . 
Co., 
578 
So. 
2d 
10 64 
( A l a . 1 9 9 1 ) ; 
and 
M o b i l e 
 
I n s . , 
I n c . v. S m i t h , 
441 
So. 2d 894 
( A l a . 1 9 8 3 ) , f o r 
t h e g e n e r a l r u l e t h a t when an a p p e l l a n t a c c e p t s 
t h e 
b e n e f i t o f a j u d g m e n t , t h e a p p e a l 
( o r 
c r o s s - a p p e a l ) 
f r o m t h e j u d g m e n t 
w i l l be 
d i s m i s s e d . 
" T h e r e a r e , h o w e v e r , e x c e p t i o n s t o t h i s 
g e n e r a l 
r u l e , 
as 
I n t e r g r a p h 
C o r p o r a t i o n 
p o i n t s o u t 
i n i t s 
o p p o s i t i o n 
t o B e n t l e y ' s m o t i o n t o d i s m i s s . 
F i r s t , 
t h e 
a c c e p t a n c e - o f - b e n e f i t s d o c t r i n e d o e s n o t 
a p p l y 
when t h e p a r t y v o l u n t a r i l y p a y s t h e j u d g m e n t . 
See, 
e.g., 
G a r n e r v. P r e w i t t , 32 A l a . 13 
( 1 8 5 8 ) . 
S e c o n d , 
a 
p a r t y 
c a n 
m a i n t a i n 
an 
a p p e a l 
o r 
a 
c r o s s - a p p e a l 
w i t h o u t r e f u n d i n g j u d g m e n t p r o c e e d s i f t h e 
o p p o s i n g 
p a r t y w i l l 
s u f f e r no 
i n j u r y , e s p e c i a l l y i n a c a s e i n 
w h i c h 
t h e 
p a r t y m a k i n g 
t h e payment c a n n o t 
r e c o v e r 
l e s s 
t h a n 
t h e amount 
o f 
t h e 
j u d g m e n t 
p a i d 
i n 
t h e 
e v e n t 
a 
new 
t r i a l 
i s 
o r d e r e d . 
See 
A l c o 
L a n d 
& 
 
T i m b e r 
Co. 
v. 
B a e r , 
28 9 A l a . 
567 , 
269 
So. 
2d 
99 
(19 7 
2 ) . " 
922 
So. 
2d a t 69-70. 
Y e a g e r ' s 
n e g o t i a t i o n 
o f 
t h e 
moneys 
w o u l d 
n o t 
h a v e 
i m p a c t e d 
h e r r i g h t s on a p p e a l . 
W i n s t e a d v o l u n t a r i l y p a i d t h e 
j u d g m e n t o r d e r e d by t h e c o u r t . 
A d d i t i o n a l l y , Y e a g e r w o u l d n o t 
h a v e s u f f e r e d any 
i n j u r y on a p p e a l by a c c e p t i n g t h e b e n e f i t o f 
t h e moneys. 
W i n s t e a d d i d n o t 
f i l e a c r o s s - a p p e a l c h a l l e n g i n g 
16 
1071601 
t h e amount o f t h e j u d g m e n t a w a r d e d Y e a g e r ; c o n s e q u e n t l y , 
t h e 
minimum amount o f t h e a w a r d ($38,000) was 
n o t 
i n d i s p u t e , 
and 
Y e a g e r c o u l d 
n o t 
r e c o v e r 
l e s s t h a n t h a t amount. 
T h e r e f o r e , 
t h e 
a c c e p t a n c e - o f - b e n e f i t s 
d o c t r i n e 
i s 
i n a p p l i c a b l e 
and 
p r o v i d e s 
no 
r e a s o n a b l e 
b a s i s 
t o 
s u p p o r t 
an 
a r g u m e n t 
t h a t 
Y e a g e r was 
d e n i e d 
t h e use 
o f t h e moneys b e c a u s e t h e f u n d s were 
n o t 
i n t e r p l e a d e d . 
Y e a g e r ' s 
d i s t i n c t i o n 
b e t w e e n 
B i r m i n g h a m  
P a i n C e n t e r and 
t h i s c a s e i s n o t 
p e r s u a s i v e . 
C o n c l u s i o n 
B e c a u s e W i n s t e a d ' s t e n d e r 
o f t h e moneys was 
i n a c c o r d a n c e 
w i t h t h e 
c i r c u i t 
c o u r t ' s j u d g m e n t and W i n s t e a d d i d n o t 
p l a c e 
any 
c o n d i t i o n on t h e moneys t h a t was 
n o t f o u n d i n t h e 
c i r c u i t 
c o u r t ' s j u d g m e n t , t h e r e was 
no "nonpayment" o f t h e moneys t h a t 
w o u l d a l l o w i n t e r e s t t o a c c r u e . 
The j u d g m e n t o f t h e C o u r t 
o f 
C i v i l 
A p p e a l s 
i s r e v e r s e d , 
and 
t h i s 
c a u s e 
i s remanded 
f o r 
p r o c e e d i n g s c o n s i s t e n t w i t h 
t h i s 
o p i n i o n . 
REVERSED AND 
REMANDED. 
Cobb, 
C . J . , 
and 
L y o n s , 
W o o d a l l , 
S m i t h , 
B o l i n , 
P a r k e r , 
M u r d o c k , and Shaw, J J . , c o n c u r . 
17