Case ID: ga-app_18/html/0145-02.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Russell, C. J. Broyles, J.,", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

6731.
    CURTIS v. MACON RAILWAY & LIGHT COMPANY.
    Decided May 24, 1916.
    Action for damages; from municipal court of Macon — Judge Chambers. June 12, 1915.
    
      Napier, Maynard ■& Plunlcett, for plaintiff.
    
      Filis & Glawson, contra.
   Russell, C. J.

It being sharply in issue as to whether the plaintiff’s damages were caused by the defendant’s negligence, or by his own contributory negligence growing out of his alleged (but denied) drunkenness and recklessness, it was error for the court to admit, over objection, evidence that the plaintiff was tried and convicted in the police court for being drunk and for reckless driving at the time of the injury.

Judgment reversed.

Broyles, J., dissents.

Broyles, J.,

dissenting. I think that the plaintiff’s testimony on cross-examination, that on the morning after the injury he Was convicted in the police court for drunkenness and reckless driving, was admissible, especially since he had just stated in his testimony that he was not drunk when the accident occurred. The fact that he had been so convicted was, in my opinion, a fact that should have been considered by the jury along with all of the other evidence, there being no objection that there was higher or better evidence of the fact of his conviction.