Northern Alabama Railway Co. v. Wilson Mercantile Co.

PELHAM, J. — The evidence without conflict shows that the amount the appellant as a common carrier brought suit to recover of the appellee represented the difference between the amount paid by the appellee as the consignee, and accepted by the appellant, for freight on a certain shipment at the rate charged and collected at the time, and the sum due as a proper freight charge, based on the rates shown in the schedule of rates filed ■with the Interstate Commerce Commission in force at ■the time the shipment was made. It is not contended but that the applicable published legal rate, according to the tariff of rates filed with and approved by the Interstate Commerce Commission, will control, notwithstanding a different rate was made and collected by the carrier through mistake, or otherwise, and that the carrier can recover the difference where there has been an underpayment. — L. & N. R. R. Co. v. McMullen, 5 Ala. App. 662, 59 South. 683. It is shown by the evidence in this case that the legal rate was operative as applied, to the shipment in question. It appeared without contradiction that the schedules embodying this rate had been filed with the commission and published, and were in force at this time. It would not affect the rights of the parties that the schedules had not been posted, as required by section 6 of the act to regulate commerce (Act March 2, 1889, c. 382, 25 Stat. L. 855 [ü. S. Comp. St. Supp. 1911, p. 1289]), — Kansas City So. Ry. Co. v. Albers Com. Co. 223 U. S. 573, 32 Sup. Ct. 316, 56 L. Ed. 556; United States v. Miller, 223 U. S. 599, 32 Sup. [272] Ct. 323, 56 L. Ed. 568; Texas & Pac. Ry. v. Cisco Oil Mill, 204 U. S. 449, 27 Sup. Ct. 358, 51 L. Ed. 562. The case was tried before the court without a jury, and the defendant pleaded the statute of limitations of three years, among other pleas interposed, and it was shown, without conflict in the evidence, that the transaction in which the unauthorized rate was paid on the shipment in question occurred more than three years before the commencement of this suit. It is the defendant’s contention on this proposition that the claim sued upon is an open account, and is therefore barred by the statute <uf limitations of three years. — Code, § 4838. What is an open or unliquidated account, within the meaning of the statute, under the issues involved becomes a pertinent inquiry. It was shown by the evidence that the plaintiff railroad company had a custom of presenting all freight bills through its agent to the defendant for settlement about every two weeks, and in settling the item of freight on this particular shipment the agent calculated, upon his attention being directed to the matter by the defendant, that in applying the rates he understood to be in force a mistake had been made, and.an adjustment was made, and a part of the amount originally paid by the defendant was rebated or repaid to it. Thus the matter remained for something ■over three years, until it was discovered that the amount paid and collected on the shipment.(an interstate transaction) was less than the legally authorized rate, and this suit, as we have stated, was brought to recover the difference between the amount collected and the amount fixed as the legal rate in the tariff of rates filed with the Interstate Commerce Commission applicable to the shipment. Even if, under the custom shown, of presenting bills and making payment, the account should be considered [273] as an open or running account between the parties the limitation would not commence to run until the date of the last item (closing the account), and it is not shown when, if at all. the accounts for freight between these parties were closed, or that the last item of the account, under this custom of settling the freight bills was more than three years before suit Aims commenced. Before, the defendant Avould be entitled to a judgment under its plea of the statute of limitations of three years, the facts must be made to appear shoAving the bar. Considering the proposition of whether the freight charge was an open or unliquidated account within the meaning of the statute, it is to be taken into consideration that it was the duty of the agent of the railroad company to deliver the freight to the defendant as the consignee, and it then became the duty of the defendant to receive the shipment and pay the proper freight charges. These are duties imposed by the law. — Hill v. So. Ry. Co., 60 South. 450; L. & N. R. R. Co. v. McKenzie, 5 Ala. App. 605, 59 South. 345. A demand cannot be regarded as an open account Avhere there is a contract certain and fixed in all its terms, which is the foundation of the claim. — 1 Cyc. p. 363, D; Railroad Co. v. Lindsay, 4 Wall. 650, 18 L. Ed. 328. In this case the demand was based on a contract of shipment, and the amount payable as freight Avas 'a definite, certain, fixed sum — fixed by law. The qualifications Avhich the laAV imposed determined the respective liabilities of the parties, and, the demand being ascertained and fixed by law, it is not an open account against AAdiich the statute of limitation of three years Avill run as a bar.. — Carville v. Reynolds, 9 Ala. 969. An account is not'necessarily an open one because it. has not been stated or reduced to Avriting, if its terms are fixed and certain. — Maury’s Adm’r v. Mason’s Adm’r, 8 Port. 230. An open account [274] is one in which some term of the contract is not settled, and remains open for adjustment, whether the account consists of one item or many. “For example, if a number of articles be sold and delivered at the same time, and the-price, amount, and time of payment agreed on, this would not be an open account, because all the terms of the contract are agreed on and settled. On the other hand, if a single article be sold and delivered, and the price or time of payment be left in uncertainty ■ — this is an open account, because there is .a term of the contract to be ascertained — the account is therefore unliquidated; it is open.”- Shepperd v. Wilkins, 1 Ala. 62. The account in this case was for the freight charge at the legal rale on the shipment that had been received by the defendant. The law imposed a duty and implied a promise to pay this charge; the amount was not dependent on any future liquidation or settlement between the parlies, but followed as a legal consequence from accepting the shipment of freight. — Caruthers, etc., v. Mardis’ Adm'rs, 3 Ala. 599. The claim was based on a contract of shipment, no term of which was open for adjustment or settlement • between the parties, bnt all the terms of which were certainly and definitely fixed by law, and it was therefore not an open account within the meaning of the law. Our conclusion is that, under the evidence before the court, the plaintiff was entitled to recover, and that the court erred in finding for the defendant and in entering judgment in its favor. Reversed and remanded.