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Where am I now? Lawlink > Law Reform Commission > Publications > Report 53 (1987) - Community Law Reform Program: Eleventh Report - Restitution Of Benefits Conferred Under Mistake Of Law

Report 53 (1987) - Community Law Reform Program: Eleventh Report - Restitution Of Benefits Conferred Under Mistake Of Law


Table of Contents

Terms of Reference
Participants
Summary of Recommendations

CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION
I. The Problem
II. This Reference
Footnotes

CHAPTER 2. THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE RULE DENYING RECOVERY
I. The Law Prior to Bilbie v Lumley
II. Bilbie v Lumley
III. The Consolidation of the Rule
Footnotes

CHAPTER 3. THE OPERATION OF THE RULE
I. The Fact/Law Distinction
II. Examples of the General Rule's Application

    A. Mistake as to Statute Law or General Law
    B. Misconstruction of Private Agreements or Documents
    C. Money Paid in Reliance on Judicial Decisions Subsequently Reversed or Overruled
III. Specific Exceptions to the General Rule: When Money Paid Under Mistake of Law Can be Recovered
    A. Mistake of Foreign Law
    B. Public Moneys Mistakenly Disbursed Without Legal Authority
    C. Payments Mistakenly Made to an Officer of the Court
    D. Payments Mistakenly Made by the Court
    E. Payments by Personal Representatives and Trustees
    F. Wilful Misrepresentation of Law, Want of Bona Fides, Undue Influence and Breach of Fiduciary Obligation by the recipient
    G. Specific Statutory Exceptions
IV. A More General Qualification to the Rule in Bilbie v Lumley: "Involuntary" Payments
Footnotes

CHAPTER 4. CRITICISMS OF THE RULE AND OPTIONS FOR REFORM
I. Criticism

    A. The General Rule is not in Harmony with Restitutionary Principles
    B. The General Rule Cannot be Supported on Policy Grounds
    C. The Law is Uncertain and Complex
    D. The Law and its Exceptions Lack a Rational Basis
II. Options for Reform
    A. United States Models
    B. New Zealand and Western Australian Models
Footnotes

CHAPTER 5. RECOMMENDATIONS
I. The General Reform

    A. Criteria for Relief
    B. Defences, Cross Claims, Allowances in Accounts
    C. Benefits Other than Money
    D. Mistake in Contract
II. Defences
    A. Change in the Law
    B. Change of Position
III. Some Matters of Detail
    A. Repayment by Instalments
    B. Restitution from Public Authorities
    C. Retrospectivity
Footnotes

Appendix A: Draft Legislation

Appendix B: Select Bibliography

Appendix C: Statutory Reform in Other Jurisdictions

Appendix D: Table of Statutes

Appendix E: Table of Cases



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