Raysism wrote:
Flagpole wrote:Not a possible situation...we sat with an attorney, went over everything together with a fine-toothed comb and agreed on the spot and signed everything. Besides, all of these examples about paying for something (even though I also did one) are a bit different than getting prize money. When you pay for something, you agree to pay for that item based on the price, and then if the price changes or is changed, you can then decide NOT to buy (and you must give the item back). With a race and prize money, it is different...but again, for clarity, the situation you present could not happen.
Also, let's not confuse giving the money back with saying that the other party didn't make a HUGE mistake and then they really have no leg to stand on in asking for it back. BUT, when they DO ask for it back and the reason for the mistake is clear, the right thing to do (albeit painful) is to give the money back. Greed should not define us.
Well, you're definitely wrong on your first point. I'm a real estate attorney, and I've seen this exact situation happen -- twice! A lawyer isn't going to know what the client really wanted to pay, necessarily; he or she is just going to write in whatever number gets emailed to him or her. If the client makes an honest mistake in the price, an attorney isn't usually the one to know. And besides, most states close home sales without attorneys.
But in any event, I share your skepticism with respect to my example, which is why I used it: I'm not sure there isn't any less evidence in this race prize scenario that these dollar amounts were well thought out. The $1,500 number was (1) put on a website, then (2) put on a big ceremonial check and then (3) put on an actual check, and then (4) not immediately identified as a mistake. I'm trying to figure out where the "honest mistake" occurred.
So in the end, I think I agree with you morally, but I disagree that the "reason for the mistake is clear" in this situation. Just as with the home situation, if there had been a clear mistake, it wouldn't have gotten to where it did.
I still say it could not happen TO ME. We didn't e-mail or mail things to an attorney. We sat with the attorney and the agent and the other party and went over everything to make absolutely clear that everything crystal. In the case of a big blunder like that, we would have to fall back on what the law says...again not that the law dictates morality, but when we are talking $100,000, that's a lot for most people to stomach and there should be (and I suspect is) a way to back out if there was an error of that magnitude.
Also, this thread is about a specific situation though not fictional ones. There are always unforeseen circumstances that could make me give a different answer...they would have to be extreme though.