Case Name: BAZEMORE v. STEPHENSON
Court: Court of Appeals of Georgia
Jurisdiction: Georgia
Decision Date: 1919-09-18
Citations: 24 Ga. App. 180
Docket Number: 10531
Parties: BAZEMORE v. STEPHENSON.
Judges: Bloodworth, J., concurs. Stephens, J., dissents.
Reporter: Georgia Appeals Reports
Volume: 24
Pages: 180–182

Head Matter:
10531.
BAZEMORE v. STEPHENSON.
Such a “wilful and malicious injury” as would constitute an exception to the liabilities discharged in bankruptcy under section 17a (2) of the bankruptcy act of July 1, 1898, is not shown by the evidence in this case as to the collision between the automobile driven by the defendant and the automobile in which the plaintiff was riding; and it was proper to direct a verdict sustaining the defendant’s plea of discharge in bankruptcy.
Decided September 18, 1919.
Action for damages; from city court of Atlanta—Judge Reid. March 22,1919.
Stephenson and another were sued for damages on account of a collision between an automobile which he was driving and an automobile in which the plaintiff was riding. The petition as amended alleged that the acts complained of were done wrongfully and intentionally. Stephenson pleaded, among other things, that after the filing of this suit he filed a petition in voluntary bankruptcy, in which the plaintiff in this case was duly scheduled as a creditor, and that a discharge in bankruptcy was granted to him as to the alleged liability to the plaintiff. At the trial the court, on the conclusion of the evidence, directed a verdict in favor of Stephenson, on the ground that his discharge in bankruptcy was a discharge from all liability that might have arisen in this ease. The plaintiff, in his motion for a new trial, the refusal of which is assigned as error, contended that the discharge in bankruptcy was not a discharge from the liability charged in this case, for the reason that section it of the 'bankruptcy act excludes from the benefits of a discharge liabilities for “wilful and malicious injuries to the person or property of another;” and that the evidence in this case showed a wilful and malicious injury.
Mayson &■ Johnson, for plaintiff.
Little, Poioell, Smith & Goldstein, for defendant.

Opinion:
Broyles, P. J.
The sole question in this case is whether the evidence authorized a finding by the jury that the defendant wilfully and intentionally drove his automobile against the automobile in which the plaintiff was riding, so as to constitute such a malicious tort as would come within subdivision sec. 17 a (2) of the bankruptcy act of July 1, 1898 (30 Stat. 550, U.. S. Comp. St. § 9601). The records fails to disclose any evidence which would have authorized such a finding. The plaintiff himself testified in effect that he did not know and could not say that the defendant deliberately or intentionally did so. The court, therefore, did not err in directing a verdict for the defendant. See, in this connection, Collier on Bankruptcy (11th ed.), 402, 441; Tinker v. Coldwell, 193 U. S. 473, 481 (24 Sup. Ct. 505, 48 L. ed. 758); 11 Am. B. R. 568).
Judgment affirmed.
Bloodworth, J., concurs. Stephens, J., dissents.