Court Opinion

ID: 9832591
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-09-01 22:01:34.601488+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:43:48.648261
License: Public Domain

On Motion for a Rehearing.
The appellee insists that appellants’ petition alleged strictly “a contract with ap-pellee and its breach” and is not subject to the construction that it is “an action in the nature of one for money had and received.” The petition sets out the facts from which the cause of action arises, and specially states:
“That by reason of the facts above alleged the plaintiff has been damaged in the sum of $395, with legal interest thereon from April 7, 1914, for all of which the defendant became legally bound to pay him. Wherefore plaintiff prays for process, and on final hearing that he recover of defendant his damages, interest, and costs of suit, and all other relief, general and special, as the law and facts may warrant.”
*512The entire allegations are to the effect that defendant had expressly contracted to ship the goods through to Charlotte, N. C., for a freight rate of 65 cents per 100 pounds, and that plaintiff had been “compelled over his protest to pay to the delivering carrier the rate of $1.10 per 100 pounds in order to secure possession of the same (the goods), which was an excess of 45 cents per 100 pounds over and above the rate contracted for and provided for in the bill of lading.” The solé claim is for the item of excessive charges of $395.90 above the contract rate and which appellant was compelled to pay in order to get possession of his goods. The allegations amount to a declaration, in legal view, for money had and received, and not rightfully retained in furtherance of the contract of shipment.
It is a well-settled principle of law that if it appears from the facts set out, or from apt averments made in the petition, that money had been paid under duress or compulsion, or has been received by one without authority of law and in opposition to the right of the other contracting party, and which in equity ought to be refunded or paid back, that an action for money had and received can be sustained. And the agreed statement of facts, made under article 1949, R. S., supports the judgment in favor of appellant for the excessive sum of money paid to recover possession of his goods. The facts, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, show in legal effect that the terminal carrier was acting in behalf of appellee in collecting and demanding an excessive charge not authorized by law so far as the record appears. The terminal carrier demanded and received the excess charge above the contract, not as local charges for it, but as charges “from Greenville, Tex., to Charlotte, N. C.” The appellant’s assignment is to the effect that the court erred in concluding as a matter of law that appellant was not entitled, under the facts, to recover. Such general assignment authorizes and requires this court to review the agreed facts and declare the law attaching to the same.
The motion for rehearing is overruled.