Opinion ID: 1394384
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Midwest's other defenses are unavailing

Text: Midwest's argument regarding its personal interest defense is unpersuasive. Midwest asserts that because it maintained a personal interest in its transaction with the Eisels, it did not engage in the unauthorized business of law. Midwest misreads the statute. Possessing a financial stake in the outcome of a contract or loan does not defeat the fact that a non-lawyer charging a fee for document preparation constitutes the unauthorized business of law. Midwest also contends that the trial court erred in granting judgment for the Eisels because the Eisels voluntarily paid the document preparation fees and, therefore, were not entitled to recover under the voluntary payment doctrine. This Court disagrees. The voluntary payment doctrine indicates that a person who voluntarily pays money with full knowledge of all the facts in the case, and in the absence of fraud and duress, cannot recover it back. American Motorists Ins. Co. v. Shrock, 447 S.W.2d 809, 812 (Mo.App. 1969). However, the voluntary payment doctrine is not applicable in all situations. Namely, the activities prohibited by section 484.020 are not subject to waiver, consent or lack of objection by the victim. Bray v. Brooks, 41 S.W.3d 7, 13 (Mo.App. 2001). The voluntary payment doctrine is a principle based on waiver and consent. Consequently, Midwest cannot benefit from this defense. To hold otherwise  that a customer, not a mortgage lender, would be burdened with the responsibility to recognize the unauthorized business of law and be barred from recovery due to having made a voluntary payment  would be illogical and inequitable.