Chapman v. Anchor Lumber

The plaintiff, Andrew Chapman, filed a small claims complaint against the defendant, Anchor Lumber, seeking to recover real estate taxes paid on a parcel of real estate bought by the plaintiff. The plaintiff alleged that the parties miscalculated the real estate tax amount due to a mutual mistake of material fact. The circuit court entered judgment for the plaintiff. The defendant appealed, contending that (1) the contract merged into the deed, making the calculation of the real estate taxes final and barring the plaintiffs cause of action; and (2) the parties intended the real estate tax…