Case Name: WALKER v. KINGSTON SUPPLY COMPANY
Court: Court of Appeals of Georgia
Jurisdiction: Georgia
Decision Date: 1916-07-19
Citations: 18 Ga. App. 447
Docket Number: 7120
Parties: WALKER v. KINGSTON SUPPLY COMPANY.
Judges: 
Reporter: Georgia Appeals Reports
Volume: 18
Pages: 447–448

Head Matter:
7120.
WALKER v. KINGSTON SUPPLY COMPANY.
A defense in the nature of a set-off can not be proved where not pleaded; and on the trial of an action upon an open account, to which only a general denial of indebtedness had been pleaded, it was error to allow the defendant to introduce, over objection, evidence that the plaintiff agreed that a half of the amount of a certain account should be credited on the account in suit.
Decided July 19, 1916.
Complaint; from city court of Cartersville — Judge Moon. October 27, 1915.
W. T. Townsend, for plaintiff.
Finley & Henson, for defendant.

Opinion:
Hodges, J.
A defendant filing a general denial to a suit on an open account can not prove an affirmative defense in the nature of a set-off. The law requires the defendant to answer distinctly each paragraph of the petition, and does not permit' the filing of a general denial. Under the Civil Code, § 5634, "General Issue" has lost his commission. If an affirmative defense is relied on it must he specially pleaded. If a defense in the nature of a set-off .is relied on it must he distinctly set out in the pleadings. The plea in this case was a general denial of the account, with the admission of a small amount due. The court, over objection, admitted evidence that the plaintiff agreed that one-half of a cer tain fertilizer account should he paid by him and that this amount should he credited on the account in suit. This evidence was in the nature of a set-off, and the court, under the' pleadings, erred in admitting it. Civil Code, § 5668; Kahrs v. Kahrs, 115 Ga. 288 (41 S. E. 649); rule 10 of the superior courts, Civil Code, § 6269.
Judgment reversed.