Grand Trunk Western Railroad v. Lahiff

Plaintiff seeks to recover money paid under a mistake of fact. The mistake alleged is the mutual belief of the parties that one William Lahiff, husband and father, respectively, of defendants, lost his life at the time of the sinking of the car ferry “Milwaukee,” on October 22, 1929. At the time of the accident, W. Leahy was carried on the records as a fireman. The company had no record of the crew except a list of names. The car ferry was owned by the Grand Trunk Milwaukee Car Ferry Company, a subsidiary of plaintiff. A few days after the sinking of the car ferry, plaintiff received a letter…