Title: Ex Parte Mathers
Citation: 541 So. 2d 1110
Docket Number: N/A
State: Alabama
Issuer: Alabama Supreme Court
Date: January 13, 1989

541 So. 2d 1110 (1989)
Ex parte Mary B. MATHERS.
(Re L.J. FREEMAN, as chairman of the Policemen and Firefighters Pension and Relief Fund Board, et al. v. Mary B. MATHERS).
87-911.

Supreme Court of Alabama.
January 13, 1989.
Mary Beth Mantiply, Mobile, for petitioner.
John L. Lawler of Finkbohner, Lawler &amp; Olen, Mobile, for respondents.
BEATTY, Justice.
The facts of this case are succinctly stated in the order of the trial court, which this Court adopts as follows:
The trial court, after considering the affidavits submitted by the parties, granted summary judgment in favor of plaintiff. On appeal to the Court of Civil Appeals, 541 So. 2d 1109, that court reversed and rendered a judgment for the Board, holding that neither of the principals who purported to act for the Board were shown to have authority to act for the Board, and that the law of estoppel would not apply so as to make the Board liable. We reverse and remand.
In Mobile County Gas District v. Mobile Gas Service Corp., 284 Ala. 664, 227 So. 2d 565 (1969), this Court commented upon the necessity for consistency in the rulings of administrative bodies and upon the results of their inconsistency:
Since the evidence before the trial court establishes that the Board itself had on several other occasions acted contrary to its position here, the decision complained about was both arbitrary and unreasonable. United States Const., Amend. XIV.
Moreover, the Board is estopped to deny that it has the authority to grant the credit sued for, or to deny that its Board secretary, Richard L. Smith, and acting chairman, Police Chief Robinson, who assured Major Botta that Mathers's benefit would indeed transfer, had the authority to bind the Board. Ex parte Four Seasons, Ltd., 450 So. 2d 110 (Ala.1984); Alford v. City of Gadsden, 349 So. 2d 1132 (Ala. 1977). Rushing v. City of Georgiana, 374 So. 2d 253 (Ala.1979), is distinguishable on its facts.
The judgment of the Court of Civil Appeals is reversed, and this case is remanded to that court for an order consistent with this opinion.
REVERSED AND REMANDED.
MADDOX, JONES, ALMON, SHORES, ADAMS, HOUSTON and STEAGALL, JJ.
TORBERT, C.J., not sitting.