Ware v. Fidelity Acceptance Corp.

482 S.E.2d 536, 225 Ga. App. 41, 97 Fulton County D. Rep. 1077, 1997 Ga. App. LEXIS 293
CourtCourt of Appeals of Georgia
DecidedMarch 3, 1997
DocketA96A1842
StatusPublished
Cited by19 cases

This text of 482 S.E.2d 536 (Ware v. Fidelity Acceptance Corp.) 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
Ware v. Fidelity Acceptance Corp., 482 S.E.2d 536, 225 Ga. App. 41, 97 Fulton County D. Rep. 1077, 1997 Ga. App. LEXIS 293 (Ga. Ct. App. 1997).

Opinion

Ruffin, Judge.

Tony Ware sued Fidelity Acceptance Corporation, Fidelity Financial Services, Inc., Admiral Life Insurance Company and Mar *42 tin L. Lane (“the defendants”) for damages stemming from the defendants’ alleged illegal repossession of Ware’s automobile. Following the close of Ware’s evidence at trial, the trial court granted a directed verdict to Fidelity Acceptance Corporation, Fidelity Financial Services, Inc. and Admiral Life Insurance Company. The trial court also dismissed Martin L. Lane from the suit for insufficient service of process. Ware appeals, and we affirm.

1. In his first, third,: and fourth enumerations of error, Ware argues that the trial court erred in not granting his “Motion for Proof of Authority of the [Defendants’] Attorney(s),” “Motion to Strike and Dismiss all the Defendants [’] Answers for Failure to Respond to Plaintiffl’s] Interrogatories and Production of Documents,” and his March 28, 1995 “Motion to Set Aside Orders.”

The record reveals no ruling by the trial court on these motions. We further find no indication that Ware objected to proceeding to trial without a ruling or made any other effort to elicit a ruling. “Accordingly, [these] enumeration[s] of error presentí ] nothing for review.” Green v. State, 194 Ga. App. 343, 345 (4) (390 SE2d 285) (1990); see also Peterson v. State, 212 Ga. App. 31, 33 (3) (441 SE2d 267) (1994) (physical precedent only) (“ Tt is the duty of counsel to obtain a ruling on his motions or objections, and the failure to do so will ordinarily result in a waiver.’ [Cit.]”); Rush v. Food Giant, 183 Ga. App. 388 (2) (358 SE2d 919) (1987).

Furthermore, even if the trial court’s failure to rule could be construed as a denial of these motions, no error occurred.

(a) “Motion for Proof of Authority.” The record reveals that attorney Charles Day represented all the defendants in this action. Claiming that Day was only authorized to act for defendant Fidelity Financial Services, Inc., Ware filed this motion requesting proof of Day’s authority to represent the other defendants.

Pursuant to OCGA § 15-19-7, “[t]he presiding judge or justice, on motion of either party and on showing reasonable grounds therefor, may require any attorney who assumes the right to appear in a case to produce or prove the authority under which he appears[.] . . . However, prima facie, attorneys shall be held authorized to represent properly any case in which they may appear.” To support his motion, Ware submitted only an affidavit stating that “[t]o the best of [his] knowledge, information and belief” attorney Day did not have authority to represent each defendant in this case. We find that such a conclusory statement from an opposing party does not provide reasonable grounds to require proof of counsel’s authority.

(b) “Motion to Strike and Dismiss all the Defendants[’] Answers for Failure to Respond to Plaintiff[’s] Interrogatories and Production of Documents.” The record reveals that the defendants filed and served verified responses to Ware’s interrogatories and requests for *43 production. Ware now claims that those responses were “false,” thus constituting a total failure to respond. On appeal, however, Ware has pointed to no evidence supporting this allegation. 1 Consequently, we find no merit in his arguments relating to this motion.

(c) The March 28, 1995 “Motion to Set Aside Orders.” Through this motion, Ware requested that the trial court set aside its orders denying his motion to strike the defendants’ answer for failure to provide a verification and motion for judgment on the pleadings. He argues that these orders should have been set aside because they are defective on their face and a “mere nullity.” He also complains that he was not afforded a hearing before the rulings.

Other than making conclusory statements, however, Ware has pointed to absolutely no evidence of a defect in the trial court’s orders. Furthermore, Ware’s arguments relating to the lack of a hearing are misplaced. Pursuant to Uniform Superior Court Rule (“USCR”) 6.3, “[u]nless otherwise ordered by the court, all motions in civil actions, including those for summary judgment, shall be decided by the court without oral hearing, except motions for new trial and motions for judgment notwithstanding the verdict.” (Emphasis supplied.) The trial court was not required to hold a hearing on the motion to strike and motion for judgment on the pleadings. USCR 6.3; see also Howard v. Burch, 210 Ga. App. 515 (436 SE2d 573) (1993). Accordingly, Ware’s claims involving the motion to set aside have no merit.

2. In his second enumeration of error, Ware argues that the trial court erred in denying his “Motion to Strike and Dismiss All Defendants!’] Answers” based upon the defendants’ failure to verify their answer. We find no error in the trial court’s conclusion that the defendants were not required to provide a verification. “In all cases where the plaintiff files a pleading with an affidavit attached to the effect that the facts stated in the pleading are true to the best of his knowledge and belief, the defendant shall in like manner verify any answer.” OCGA § 9-10-111. Ware, proceeding pro se, signed his original complaint and had it notarized, but included no affidavit or other statement regarding its truth. Under these circumstances, the defendants were not required to verify their answer. OCGA § 9-10-111.

The authority relied upon by Ware, Landrum v. Landrum, 159 Ga. 324 (1) (125 SE 832) (1924), overruled, Camp v. Camp, 213 Ga. 65 (97 SE2d 125) (1957), and Phoenix Air Conditioning Co. v. Al-Carol, Inc., 129 Ga. App. 386 (199 SE2d 556) (1973), is inapplicable. *44 The Landrum decision has been overruled in pertinent part and addressed whether an affidavit attesting to the truth of the allegations in a habeas corpus petition could be received as evidence by the trial court. In Phoenix Air Conditioning, the court considered whether the form of a contested affidavit was fatally defective. In contrast, Ware presented no affidavit with his complaint. Accordingly, the trial court correctly denied his motion to strike.

Decided March 3, 1997.

3. Ware also argues that the trial court improperly denied his motion for judgment on the pleadings because the defendants “did not present any genuine issues as to the material facts in dispute.” We disagree.

“The granting of a motion for judgment on the pleadings under OCGA § 9-11-12 (c) is proper only where there is a complete failure to state a cause of action or defense.

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Bluebook (online)
482 S.E.2d 536, 225 Ga. App. 41, 97 Fulton County D. Rep. 1077, 1997 Ga. App. LEXIS 293, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/ware-v-fidelity-acceptance-corp-gactapp-1997.