Case Name: EVANS v. BREDOW
Court: Court of Appeals of Georgia
Jurisdiction: Georgia
Decision Date: 1957-04-10
Citations: 95 Ga. App. 488
Docket Number: 36557
Parties: EVANS v. BREDOW.
Judges: Carlisle, J., concurs. Townsend, J., concurs specially.
Reporter: Georgia Appeals Reports
Volume: 95
Pages: 488–493

Head Matter:
36557.
EVANS v. BREDOW.
Decided April 10, 1957.
Dunaway & Embry, for plaintiff in error.
Harold Karp, Ferrin Y. Matthews, T. C. Little, contra.

Opinion:
Gardner, P. J.
There is an abundance of evidence to support the verdict as to the general grounds.
Special ground 1 assigns error because it is alleged that the court erred in submitting the question of damage to the real property to the jury for the reason that the plaintiff's petition did not allege ownership of the property by the plaintiff. As to this ground, the petition alleges 1146 Lanier Boulevard, N. E., to be the plaintiff's home. Also, the answer of the defendant admits this to be true and neither is there a specific denial in the answer or elsewhere. This point is settled conclusively in Jester v. Bain bridge State Bank, 4 Ga. App. 469 (5) (61 S. E. 926) wherein, this court said: "All proper unequivocal allegations in a petition which are not denied in the defendant's answer are held to be admitted, and proof of such allegations need not be submitted." See also Bankers Trust & Audit Co. v. Hanover National Bank, 35 Ga. App. 619 (1) (134 S. E. 195) wherein this court said: "An admission in the pleadings is to be taken as true, and the record should not be burdened with proof of the fact admitted. . . . So an admission of a material fact in the defendant's answer is not ousted by an agreed statement of facts, made for the purpose of trial, and silent as to the fact so admitted in the answer." In Harmon v. Givens, 88 Ga. App. 629, 642 (77 S. E. 2d 223) it is held: "However, in the answer, it is alleged that 'defendants admit paragraph 4 of the petition,' and hence it was unnecessary for the plaintiff to prove that the school bus was struck 'while making a left-hand turn across said intersection.' " See also Petkas v. Wright Co., 87 Ga. App. 189, 192 (73 S. E. 2d 224). This special ground is not meritorious.
Special ground 2 assigns error because the court withdrew from the jury the question of ownership of the car at the termination of the evidence in the following language: "There has been some mention made in this case about the fact that Mr. Bredow originally bought this car and that the car was put in his wife's name. I instruct you that that has nothing whatever to do with the case. Mrs. Bredow herself has taken the stand and has, under oath, in this court testified that she had had no interest, and had no interest, in the car. So whatever damages you find were done to the automobile under the instructions given you would be a proper part of your verdict and you could find the $1,670 he has claimed for that or you can find any amount less than that; you could not exceed it." Special ground 3 assigns error on the ground that the excerpt quoted hereinabove expressed an opinion on the part of the trial court and had the effect of directing a verdict. It is alleged in special ground 2 that the issue of ownership was raised during the trial when the plaintiff testified that he bought the car and gave it to his wife. The plaintiff testified positively that he bought and paid for the car. The wife testified that the car belonged to her husband. There is no evidence to the contrary, only conclusions as to title, of no probative value. There was no bill of sale or other documents of ownership put into evidence. In view of the uncontradicted evidence the question of title became one of law for the court to determine. There was nothing regarding title for the jury to decide, in the absence of evidence of title being in anyone other than the plaintiff. The court did not express an opinion, or in effect direct a verdict, in view of the evidence, but correctly passed on the law as to the title of the car. Dobbs v. Bell Laundry, 25 Ga. App. 734 (2) (105 S. E. 53) does not apply, under the facts of that case as compared to the facts of the instant case, and for the same reason the following cases are not applicable: Wright v. Continental Ins. Co., 117 Ga. 499 (1) (43 S. E. 700); City of Rome v. Shropshire, 112 Ga. 93 (3) (37 S. E. 168); Bank of Brooklet v. Motor Liens Inc., 164 Ga. 314 (1) (138 S. E. 582); McDonald v. Beall, 55 Ga. 288 (8); Delgado Mills v. Ga. R. & Bkg. Co., 144 Ga. 175 (1) (86 S. E. 550); State of Georgia v. Bank of Quitman, 117 Ga. 849 (45 S. E. 236); Terrell v. Stevenson, 97 Ga. 570 (25 S. E. 352). Nor does this case fall within the principle of law regarding expression of opinion by a trial judge, as covered in Ratteree v. Nelson, 10 Ga. 439 (2), Smallwood v. Warfield, 49 Ga. App. 93 (1) (174 S. E. 185), and Code § 81-1104. We find no conflict in the allegata and probata which would take this case out of the principle of law enunciated in Code § 110-104. The holding here is not in conflict with, but is in conformity with the holding in Florida Yellow Pine Co. v. Flint River Naval Stores Co., 140 Ga. 321 (78 S. E. 900). It was not necessary for the plaintiff to prove title. See Colonial Finance Co. v. Anthony, 79 Ga. App. 763, 767 (54 S. E. 2d 326). A bill of sale of the car to the plaintiff's wife properly executed and recorded would have been prima facie evidence only and would have been rebuttable. Presumption of ownership does not prevail over direct and uncontradicted evidence. See Colonial Finance Co. v. Anthony, supra; Royal Undertaking Co. v. Duffin, 57 Ga. App. 760 (2) (196 S. E. 208); Barwick v. Walden, 71 Ga. App. 824, 825 (32 S. E. 2d 401).
It would not have been erroneous for the court to have directed a verdict in the instant case. See Code § 110-104. Special grounds 2 and 3 show no cause for reversal for any of the reasons assigned.
The court did not err in denying the motion for new trial for any of the reasons assigned.
Judgment affirmed.
Carlisle, J., concurs. Townsend, J., concurs specially.