Mutual Mistake.

“Mutual mistake may furnish the basis for the reformation of a written agreement where the signed writing does not express the actual agreement of the parties…. Parol evidence is admissible to establish the actual agreement.  There is a heavy presumption that the executed agreement reflects the true intention of the parties, and a correspondingly high order of evidence is required to overturn the presumption …”  The First Department found that a question of fact had been raised concerning whether the doctrine of mutual mistake should be applied to reform the contract in this case.  West Vernon Petroleum Corp. vs. Singer Holding Corp., 2010-10522, Second Dept. 2-6-13