Floyd v. Colonial Stores, Inc.

176 S.E.2d 111, 121 Ga. App. 852, 1970 Ga. App. LEXIS 1378

• Court: Court of Appeals of Georgia
• Decided: May 13, 1970
• Docket: 44918
• Status: Published

Opinions

Eberhardt, Judge.

The main question presented by this appeal is whether the negligence of Hodges, the driver of plaintiff’s vehicle, if any, was imputable to the plaintiff-passenger as a matter of law, as contended by the defendants or was not, as contended by the plaintiff, or, if neither, whether there was a question for the jury. Defendants cite Pollard v. Roberson, 61 Ga. App. 465 (6 SE2d 203), Rogers v. Johnson, 94 Ga. App. 666 (96 SE2d 285), and Morris v. Cochran, 98 Ga. App. 786 (106 SE2d 836) for the proposition that if the owner of a vehicle is present in it at the time of the collision, the negligence of the driver will be imputed to him as a matter of law. It is urged that the only exception to this rule, and one which is not applicable to the instant case, is where the owner occupies a “subordinate role” to the driver and surrenders all control to him—e.g., stepsister/owner to stepbrother/driver (Blount v. Sutton, 114 Ga. App. 767 (152 SE2d 777)); deputy sheriff/ joint owner to sheriff joint/owner-driver (Archer v. Aristocrat Ice Cream Co., 87 Ga. App. 567 (74 SE2d 470)).

This is not an accurate statement of the rule. So far as we know it is nowhere held that the negligence of a driver is ipso facto imputable to the owner simply because he may be a passenger at the time of the collision. At most there is only a presumption, or inference, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, that the owner has the right to control the driver as his agent or servant and is therefore liable for the driver’s negligence under the doctrine of respondeat superior, or is therefore chargeable with his negligence in the owner’s action against a third party. See Hightower v. Landrum, 109 Ga. App. 510, 516 (136 SE2d 425); Shapiro Packing Co. v. Landrum, 109 Ga. App. 519 (5) (136 SE2d 446); Annot., 50 ALR2d 1281; 8 AmJur2d 123, 225, Automobiles and Highway Traffic, §§ 572, 674. Thus we held in Trawick v. Chambliss, 42 Ga. App. 333 (3) (156 SE 268): “Evidence that the defendant owned the automobile which caused the injury and was riding in it but not driving it at the time of the occurrence was sufficient to authorize the inference that the driver was the defendant’s agent or servant, and that the defendant was thus in control of the operation of the vehicle.” And in Blount v. Sutton, 114 Ga. App. 767, supra, a full court case with two judges dissenting and one judge not participating, we held that this inference applies only “where nothing else appears. When uncontradicted and unimpeached evidence is produced as to the real facts, the inference disappears, and does not create a conflict in the evidence so as to require its submission to a jury.” To the same effect is Brennan v. National NuGrape Co., 106 Ga. App. 709 (128 SE2d 81), a summary judgment case, as here.

This rule is similar to that provided in Code § 94-1108 (Ga. L. 1929, p. 315) that “proof of injury inflicted by the running of locomotives or cars of [railroads] shall be prima facie evidence of the want of reasonable skill and care on the part of the servants of the companies in reference to such injury,” which the Supreme Court has held “casts upon the railway company the burden of the duty of producing some evidence to the contrary; and when that is done the inference is at an end. . .” Seaboard A.-L. R. Co. v. Fountain, 173 Ga. 593 (2b) (160 SE 789). To the same effect, see Atlantic C. L. R. Co. v. Martin, 79 Ga. App. 194 (53 SE2d 176), and citations. “If material to the issue between the parties, the uncontradicted testimony of an unimpeached witness can not in any case be arbitrarily disregarded by any tribunal, whether judge or jury, whose duty it is to consider the evidence and decide the issue in accordance therewith. Where, therefore, as a result of proved facts, only a prima facie presumption arises that certain additional facts exist in favor of one party, and positive, unequivocal, and uncontradicted testimony is introduced in behalf of the other party, emphatically denying the facts thus presumed, such presumption is legally rebutted and can not prevail against such testimony.” Atlantic C. L. R. Co. v. Drake, 21 Ga. App. 81 (4) (94 SE 65). “A presumption is an inference as to the existence of a fact not actually known, arising from its necessary or usual connection with others which are known.” Ivey v. State, 23 Ga. 576, 582.¹ “When a plaintiff’s right to recover depended upon the establishment of a particular fact, and the only proof offered for this purpose was circumstantial evidence from which the existence of such fact might be inferred, but which did not demand a finding to that effect, a recovery by the plaintiff was not lawful when, by the positive and uncontradicted testimony of unimpreached witnesses, which was perfectly consistent with the circumstantial evidence relied on by the plaintiff, it was affirmatively shown that no such fact existed.” Frazier v. Ga. R. & Bkg. Co., 108 Ga. 807 (1) (33 SE 996). And see Life Ins. Co. of Ga. v. Lawler, 211 Ga. 246 (1) (85 SE2d 1); Emory University v. Bliss, 35 Ga. App. 752 (134 SE 637).

In the instant case unimpeached and uncontradicted evidence was produced as to the relationship between plaintiff and Hodges, and the inference of agency disappeared, leaving the facts to control. Since plaintiff reserved no right under the bailment of his truck to Hodges to direct the time, manner, methods and means of Hodges’ use of it in the performance of his obligation to deliver the horse, as contradistinguished from Floyd’s (plaintiff) right to require results in conformity to the contract under which delivery was being made, Hodges occupied the position of a bailee, or of an independent contractor whose conduct was not imputable to plaintiff (Young v. Kickliter, 213 Ga. 42 (96 SE2d 605); Johnson v. Brant, 93 Ga. App. 44 (90 SE2d 587); Weiss v. Kling, 96 Ga. App. 618 (101 SE2d 178) and cases cited); and the fact that the plaintiff-owner was, on the invitation of Hodges, riding in the truck at the time of the collision does not alter the rule. Pressley v. Wilson, 116 Ga. App. 206 (156 SE2d 399). The fact that plaintiff unloaded the horse after the collision without Hodges’ assistance does not •show that plaintiff had interfered and assumed control of Hodges prior to that time so as to create the relationship of master and servant subsisting at the time of the collison. Code Ann. § 105-502 (5). The uncontradicted and unimpeached evidence is that plaintiff took no part in the borrowing and coupling of the trailer and the loading of the horse, nor did he make any comments about the operation of the truck or the route to be followed. The mere fact that he had an interest in seeing that Hodges abide by his contract is not in itself sufficient to show a joint venture. Fuller v. Mills, 36 Ga. App. 357 (1) (136 SE 807); Holland v. Boyett, 212 Ga. 458 (93 SE2d 662); Jones Mercantile Co. v. Copeland, 54 Ga. App. 647 (3) (188 SE 586). Furthermore, even if the finding of one were authorized “[a] joint interest with another in the object and purpose of an automobile trip is not enough to render one liable for the negligent acts of the other in the operation of the automobile.” Duncan v. Crisp, 68 Ga. App. 498, 502 (23 SE2d 515).

Hence the court erred in overruling plaintiff’s motion for directed verdict on the counterclaim; in giving charges which were applicable only if Hodges’ conduct were imputable to plaintiff as a matter of law; and in failing to give plaintiff’s requests that any negligence of Hodges would not be imputed to him.

Enumerations of error 4—7 and 9—11 are meritorious. Since the evidence demanded a verdict for plaintiff on Colonial’s counterclaim, the judgment below must be reversed with direction to the trial court to enter judgment in accordance with plaintiff’s motion for directed verdict. Code Ann. § 81A-150 (e); Peara v. Atlanta Newspapers, Inc., 120 Ga. App. 163 (169 SE2d 670).

The trial court sustained an objection to a question asked plaintiff on direct examination. However, the record was not perfected by counsel’s disclosing to the court the expected answer, and hence enumeration 1 is without merit. Mulcay v. Mulcay, 223 Ga. 309 (2) (154 SE2d 607); State Hwy. Dept. v. Willis, 106 Ga. App. 821 (1) (128 SE2d 351); Paulk v. Thomas, 115 Ga. App. 436 (4) (154 SE2d 872); Borochoff Properties, Inc. v. Howard Lumber Co., 115 Ga. App. 691, 696 (155 SE2d 651); Peacock Constr. Co. v. Turner Concrete, Inc., 116 Ga. App. 822, 830 (159 SE2d 114).

Objection was made to a question asked of plaintiff by defendants’ counsel as to whether Hodges and plaintiff had owned the horse together. Since in answering subsequent questions plaintiff testified that joint ownership of the horses had terminated and he alone owned the horse being transported, so that no joint venture existed in regard to the transportation of the horse by virtue of joint ownership, the answer to the question was rendered irrelevant. See West Lumber Co. v. Candler, 46 Ga. App. 408 (167 SE 766); Fleshman & Co. v. Collier, 47 Ga. 263. Further, the objection was not renewed in light of the subsequent testimony, and no reversible error appears.

There was some confusion among counsel and the court as to whether Code Ann. § 68-1635 (a), setting forth the duties of the overtaking vehicle, had been charged in conjunction with § 68-1635 (b), the duties of the overtaken vehicle. The court and defense counsel were of the impression that the charge had been given, whereas it had not. Since this situation is not likely to occur on another trial, no ruling is made on enumeration of error No. 8.

The trial court omitted to give all of plaintiff’s request No. 9 whi,ch explained to the jury the method of using the mortality tables and the annuity tables which were in evidence. The court charged on the use of the mortality tables but not on the use of the annuity tables. While it may be, as the court observed, that the jury doesn’t pay attention to such long charges, or that they would not understand it if given, or that it is a lot of “mumbo jumbo” or “rigamarole,” still the charge must be given if on another trial it is requested and authorized by the evidence.

In his closing argument counsel for defendants stated that plaintiff could have had Hodges present to testify as to what occurred, and that plaintiff could have taken his deposition and brought it to court. Plaintiff objected to the first statement on the grounds that the record showed that Hodges was a nonresident of the State and not amenable to subpoena (enumeration of error 13), and to the second on the ground that defendants’ counsel could have taken the deposition as well as he (enumeration 14).

“Where in the trial of an action for damages against a railroad company for personal injuries the evidence as to the company’s alleged negligence was conflicting, it was legitimate for the plaintiff’s counsel to argue to the jury that the failure of the defendant to introduce and examine as á witness one of its employees who was present at the time when the injuries in question were sustained was a circumstance from which an inference could be drawn that, if this employee had been introduced and examined, he would have testified to facts prejudicial to the defendant. This is so whether the counsel’s contention as to this matter was, under all the circumstances in proof, well founded or not. . .” Western & A. R. Co. v. Morrison, 102 Ga. 319 (1) (29 SE 104, 40 LRA 84, 66 ASR 173). “The absence of a witness who is competent and cognizant of material and relevant facts is a proper subject of comment in the argument of counsel before the jury.” Morgan v. State, 124 Ga. 442 (1) (52 SE 748); City of Atlanta v. Feeney, 42 Ga. App. 135 (2) (155 SE 370). “The failure to produce witnesses who are accessible to a party will authorize counsel of the opposite party to argue before the jury that, if they be in doubt as to the truth of the transaction, they would be authorized to infer that if the absent witness had testified, the testimony would have been prejudicial to the party who might most easily have produced them.” Southern R. Co. v. Acree, 9 Ga. App. 104 (2) (70 SE 352). Accord: Adkins v. Flagg, 147 Ga. 136 (2) (93 SE 92); Gulf Life Ins. Co. v. LeCroy, 181 Ga. 243, 253 (182 SE 378); Miller v. Coleman, 213 Ga. 125 (6) (97 SE2d 313). However, where it does not appear that the witnesses were known to the non-producing party, or that he had the power to produce them, or that the witnesses were competent, their failure to testify is not a proper subject matter of argument by counsel. Daughtry v. Ga. Power Co., 61 Ga. App. 505, 514 (6 SE2d 454); Knox v. State, 112 Ga. 373 (2) (37 SE 416) (witness was a “little girl”); James v. State, 223 Ga. 677 (5) (157 SE2d 471) (witness was wife of defendant in criminal case and hence not compellable to give testimony).

In the instant case the witness was a resident of Pennsylvania and not amenable to subpoena. See Code Ann. § 38-801 (e). Hence his failure to testify in person was not a proper subject matter of argument by counsel. Cf. James v. State, 223 Ga. 677 (5), supra. See also Brothers v. Horne, 140 Ga. 617 (3) (79 SE 468). However, no reason appears why the argument as to depositions was improper, especially since. Pennsylvania has adopted the Uniform Foreign Depositions Act (9B ULA; 28 Penn. Stats. §§ 31-33) .² Counsel’s recourse in this situation was not in objecting to the argument, but in counterargument. Richmond & Danville R. Co. v. Garner, 91 Ga. 27 (1) (16 SE 110); Macon R. &c. Co. v. Mason, 123 Ga. 773 (3) (51 SE 569); Morgan County v. Glass, 139 Ga. 415 (5) (77 SE 583); Green v. State, 65 Ga. App. 754, 756 (16 SE2d 438). For example he might argue that the fact that he called only one of two witnesses who had an equal opportunity to know the facts in issue does not authorize an inference that the other witness would have testified differently; that his testimony would have been expensive to obtain and merely cumulative; that the claim was satisfactorily proved without his testimony; that he was equally accessible to the opposite party; and that it was as reasonable to expect the opposite party to take his testimony.

Enumeration of error 13 is meritorious; enumeration 14 is without merit.

Judgment reversed with direction to enter judgment for plaintiff on defendant’s counterclaim; new trial granted on main claim.

Bell, C. J., Jordan, P. J., Hall, P. J., and Quillian, J., concur. Whitman, J., concurs in the judgment. Pannell, Deen and Evans, JJ., dissent.

1 “There has been much erroneous thinking and more loose language in regard to presumptions. We read of presumptions of law and presumptions of fact, of conclusive presumptions and of disputable presumptions. In truth there is but one type of presumption in the strict legal meaning of the word, and that is merely a general rule of law that under some circumstances, in the absence of any evidence to the contrary, a jury is compelled to reach a certain conclusion of fact. But a presumption so declared by the law is only raised by the absence of any real evidence as to the existence of the ultimate fact in question. It is not in and of itself evidence, but merely an arbitrary rule imposed by law, to be applied in the absence of evidence, and whenever evidence contradicting the presumption is offered the latter disappears entirely, and the triers of fact are bound to follow the usual rules of evidence in reaching their ultimate conclusions of fact. As was once said, ‘Presumptions may be looked on as the bats of the law, flitting in the twilight, but disappearing in the sunshine of actual facts.’ Mockowik v. Kansas City, etc. R. Co., 196 Mo. 550 (94 SW 256, 262). The Supreme Court of South Dakota, in Peters v. Lohr, 24 S. D. 605 (124 NW 853), in discussing this question, used the following language [page 855]: '. . . A presumption is not evidence of anything, and only relates to a rule of law as to which party shall first go forward and produce evidence sustaining a matter in issue. A presumption will serve as and in the place of evidence in favor of one party or the other until prima facie evidence has been adduced by the opposite party; but the presumption should never be placed in the scale to be weighed as evidence. The presumption, when the opposite party has produced prima facie evidence, has spent its force and served its purpose, and the party then, in whose favor the presumption operated, must meet his opponent’s prima facie evidence with evidence, and not presumptions. A presumption is not evidence of a fact, but purely a conclusion. Elliott, Ev. §§ 91, 92, 93; Wigmore, Ev. §§ 2490, 2491.” Seiler v. Whiting, 52 Ariz. 542, 548 (84 P2d 452).

Presumptions give way to reality when facts opposing presumptions are presented, as the term “presumption” signifies that which may be assumed without proof or taken for granted and is defined as something asserted as the self-evident result of human reason and experience. Gray v. Gray, 199 Ark. 152 (133 SW2d 874).

“The office of presumptions is not to overthrow admitted facts, but rather to supply the absence of facts. There can be no presumption against ascertained and established facts.” Conway v. Supreme Council, Catholic Knights of America, 137 Cal. 384, 389 (70 P 223).

“A presumption is merely an inference of fact of more or less potency, which is sometimes indulged in the absence of evidence. Matter of Callahan’s Estate, 142 Mise. 28, 36 (254 NYS 46), affirmed 236 App. Div. 814 (259 NYS 987), affirmed 262 N. Y. 524 (188 NE 48). Such an inference fades into nullity when confronted by uncontroverted proof to the contrary. . . In re Findlay, 253 N. Y. 1, 8 (170 NE 471).” In Re Goldman’s Estate, 156 Mise. 817 (282 NYS 787, 791).

“In the case of Hanna v. McClave, 271 Mich. 133, 141 (260 NW 138, 140) the court said: ‘The presumption, however, exists only in the absence of evidence, and does not serve at all when the issue ... is tried out upon evidence.’ (Emphasis added). See also, Patt v. Dilley, 273 Mich. 601 (263 NW 749).

“That the statement above quoted is the general rule may be seen by reference to 20 AmJur 163, Evidence, § 158, in which it is stated as follows: 'But a presumption will never be construed or defined in such a manner as to extend its application beyond the realm of reasonable probability or certitude. Accordingly, courts will not define presumptions in such manner as to imply superiority over established facts. Where facts appear, presumptions recede. Thus, the necessity for resorting to presumptions disappears lohen there is direct and positive evidence upon the matter in issue. (Emphasis added).’ ” In Re Guardianship of Breece, 173 Ohio St. 542, 554 (184 NE2d 386).

2 Caveat: “It is one thing for an attorney to contend that ‘such and such’ a proposition is true, or that ‘such and such’ an inference is deducible from a given state of facts or circumstances, and quite a different thing for the judge to inform the jury that the positions taken by the attorney are correct.” Western & A. R. Co. v. Morrison, 102 Ga. 319, 322, supra. Thus while counsel may argue to the jury that a presumption adverse to the opposite party arises from his failure to introduce an available witness, it may be error for the court to so charge the jury. See, e.g., Weinkle v. Brunswick & W. R. Co., 107 Ga. 367, 372 (33 SE 471); Central of Ga. R. Co. v. Bernstein, 113 Ga. 175, 179 (38 SE 394); Southern Express Co. v. B. R. Electric Co., 126 Ga. 472, 477 (55 SE 254); Howard v. Obie, 190 Ga. 394 (9 SE2d 666); Citizens Nat. Life Ins. Co. v. Ragan, 13 Ga. App. 29 (6) (78 SE 683); Bank of Emanuel v. Smith, 32 Ga. App. 606 (124 SE 114); Atlanta Baggage &c. Co. v. Atlanta Taxicabs, Inc., 104 Ga. App. 89, 91 (121 SE2d 175); Bynes v. Stafford, 106 Ga. App. 406 (4) (127 SE2d 159); Green, Georgia Law of Evidence, 107, § 32 (1957).