F. E. Fortenberry & Sons, Inc. v. Malmberg

102 S.E.2d 667, 97 Ga. App. 162, 1958 Ga. App. LEXIS 730
CourtCourt of Appeals of Georgia
DecidedJanuary 23, 1958
Docket36868
StatusPublished
Cited by31 cases

This text of 102 S.E.2d 667 (F. E. Fortenberry & Sons, Inc. v. Malmberg) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Georgia primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
F. E. Fortenberry & Sons, Inc. v. Malmberg, 102 S.E.2d 667, 97 Ga. App. 162, 1958 Ga. App. LEXIS 730 (Ga. Ct. App. 1958).

Opinions

[165]*165Quillian, Judge.

Special ground 1 of the amended motion for a new trial assigns as error the following charge: “The defendants contend that the plaintiff violated those sections that I have just read to you. The plaintiff denies this and says that she did not violate any of them. You look to the evidence and see whether or not she did violate any one or all of them. If you believe she did, then go further and inquire and say whether or not it was the proximate cause of the injuries and if you believe it was the proximate cause of the injuries to the plaintiff, then I charge you that that would be negligence per se because it is in violation of these laws.” The omission of a specific act of diligence prescribed by a valid municipal ordinance or statute constitutes negligence per se, and this is true whether or not it is the proximate cause of a collision. Atlanta, K. & N. Ry. Co. v. Bryant, 110 Ga. 247 (2) (34 S. E. 350); Central R. & Bkg. Co. v. Smith, 78 Ga. 694 (3 S. E. 397). While the above quoted charge was error, it was harmless because, unless the acts of negligence were either a proximate or contributing cause of the collision, they would have no effect upon the plaintiff’s right of recovery. Code § 105-603. Special ground 1 is without merit.

The defendant insists that there was no evidence that the driver of the truck was acting within the scope of his authority when the collision occurred. It was admitted by the defendant that Charlie Bufford, the driver of the truck, was employed by it as a driver and that the collision occurred during his normal working hours. Where an employee, who is employed for the special purpose of operating a truck for his master, is found driving the truck in the usual manner a presumption arises that he is acting within the scope of his authority. Fielder v. Davison, 139 Ga. 509 (77 S. E. 618); Hix-Green Co. v. Dowis, 79 Ga. App. 412 (53 S. E. 2d 601); Jump v. Anderson, 58 Ga. App. 126 (197 S. E. 644). This is true because if the employee is not within the scope of his employment, this fact is usually peculiarly within the knowledge of the employer. It would be hard for the plaintiff to prove that the driver was acting within the scope of his authority while driving the truck.

The presumption that the servant is serving his master within the scope of his employment may, unless supported and corroborated by other evidence, be overcome by uncontradicted evidence.

[166]*166Where there are circumstances developed by the evidence other than those which gave rise to the presumption from which the jury might legitimately infer that the servant was acting within the scope of his employment the presumption is not overcome as a matter of law even though the master and servant positively testify that what he was doing was without the scope of his employment. The issue is generally one for the jury.

Where as here facts are proved that give rise to the presumption, the burden of evidence on that issue shifts to the master. Dawson Motor Co. v. Petty, 53 Ga. App. 746, 749 (186 S. E. 877). And the evidence adduced by him to overcome the presumption must be clear and positive. Ableman v. Ormond, 53 Ga. App. 753 (6) (187 S. E. 393). The rule is clearly stated in Minter v. Kent, 62 Ga. App. 265, 273 (8 S. E. 2d 109): “Whether the facts and circumstances above enumerated on the question of ownership of the truck and identity of its driver, and as to whether or not he was acting in the prosecution of the defendant’s business and in the scope of his employment at the time of the injury, were sufficient to overcome the testimony of the defendants in those respects, were matters for the determination of the jury.” On page 272 of the same report is found the pronouncement: “It is well settled that circumstantial evidence may sometimes outweigh positive testimony.” In Ableman v. Ormond, 53 Ga. App. 753, 761, supra, it is held: “The basis for the presumption is that it is in general an easy matter to prove the ownership of a car that inflicts an injury, but that whether the car -was at the time of the injury being operated in the prosecution of the defendant’s business is a matter peculiarly within the knowledge of the defendant, and one on which it is at times exceedingly difficult for the plaintiff to obtain proof. Therefore, if this presumption is to' serve its purpose, in order to' overcome it as a matter of law the evidence of the defendant should be clear, positive, and uncontradicted that the servant was not at the time in the prosecution of his master’s business or acting within the scope of his employment. Thus, testimony of a defendant which tends to show that the driver of the truck was not in the prosecution of the master’s business or within the scope of his employment, but is not altogether inconsistent with or antagonistic to the prima facie case made, and does not within itself affirmatively [167]*167establish facts to show that the servant was not in the prosecution of his master’s business or acting within the scope of his employment, is not sufficient, as a matter of law to overcome the presumption.” We also cite Frazier v. Southern Ry. Co., 200 Ga. 590 (37 S. E. 2d 774). One of the main elements of proof in showing that a servant is acting within the scope of his employment is that what he does is at his master’s direction and under his master’s control. 35 Am. Jur. 985, § 552.

The defendant, to disprove the presumption, offered the testimony of its manger, Elmo Fortenberry, and the employee, Charlie Bufford, who was operating the truck when it collided with the plaintiff’s automobile. The manager, Fortenberry, testified: “Q. Your name is Elmo Fortenberry.? A. That’s right. Q. What is your relationship with, the corporation, F. E. Fortenberry and Sons, Incorporated? A. Member of the board of directors and vice-president. Q. What part of the business do you actively participate in? A. Building, supply and hardware. Q. Was Charlie Bufford formerly one of your drivers there in the building, supply end of the business? A. That’s right. Q. How long had he been working for you at the time this collision happened that we are talking about? A. Approximately three years. Q. Do you recall a collision on August 29, 1955, between Mrs. Ami Malmberg’s car and one of your trucks being driven by Charlie Bufford? A. Yes, sir. Q. Do you know what or where Charlie was going with the truck at that time? A. Going down to his house. Q. Did he ask you permission to use the truck or did you extend it to him or how did that come about? A. I let him have the truck. Q. For what purpose? A. Cany some lumber down to his house. Q. Where did the lumber come from? A. Out of the yard. Q. Out of the lumber yard? A. Yes. Q. Was it part of the building that was being wrecked? A. It was some material that I had in the yard there. Q. Had you given Charlie some scrap lumber or other materials before that and allowed him to take it home in the company truck? A. At times, yes, sir. Q. This occurred during working hours; I believe that is stipulated? A. That’s right. Q. Did you or not make a practice of giving surplus materials or materials that you didn’t particulary want to your employees? A. At times; it wasn’t a habit though; he just particularly asked for that particular pile of [168]*168material I had there. Q. You had given things like that to other employees other than Charlie, had you not? A.

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Bluebook (online)
102 S.E.2d 667, 97 Ga. App. 162, 1958 Ga. App. LEXIS 730, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/f-e-fortenberry-sons-inc-v-malmberg-gactapp-1958.