GA Code § 10-6-21 (2021)
2021 Georgia Code|Title 10 - Commerce and Trade|Chapter 6 - Agency|Article 2 - Relations Between Principal and Agent|§ 10-6-21. Extent of Agent's Authority; Liability for Exceeding, Violating, or Disregarding Instructions

 The agent shall act within the authority granted to him, reasonably interpreted; if he shall exceed or violate his instructions, he does it at his own risk, the principal having the privilege of affirming or dissenting, as his interest may dictate. In cases where the power is coupled with an interest in the agent, unreasonable instructions, detrimental to the agent's interest, may be disregarded.   (Orig. Code 1863, § 2162; Code 1868, § 2158; Code 1873, § 2184; Code 1882, § 2184; Civil Code 1895, § 3004; Civil Code 1910, § 3576; Code 1933, § 4-202.)   Cross references.   - Authority of attorney to act on behalf of client, § 15-19-5 et seq.   Law reviews.   - For article, "Theories of Stockbroker and Brokerage Firm Liability," see 9 Ga. St. B. J. 12 (2004). For annual survey of real property law, see 57 Mercer L. Rev. 331 (2005).   JUDICIAL DECISIONS   ANALYSIS    General Consideration   Power Coupled with Interest   When Principal Bound by Agent's Act    RESEARCH REFERENCES   Am. Jur. 2d.   - 3 Am. Jur. 2d, Agency, § 64 et seq.   C.J.S.   - 2A C.J.S., Agency, §§ 297, 302.   ALR.    - Liability on the contract of one who without authority assumes to contract for another, 60 A.L.R. 1348.    Contract for development and sale of land as creating a power coupled with interest or supporting an equitable lien, 65 A.L.R. 1080.    Implied or ostensible authority of officer, agent, or employee to engage medical services, 71 A.L.R. 638.    Power to mortgage as authorizing insertion of power of sale in mortgage, 72 A.L.R. 158.    Authority of claim agent as regards terms or condition of settlement, 87 A.L.R. 1277.    Power of sale as including power to mortgage, 92 A.L.R. 882.    Agent's authority to collect or receive payment as including implied, apparent, or ostensible authority to do so before maturity of obligations, 100 A.L.R. 389.    Authority, or apparent authority, of agent to receive payment for commodities which he has authority, or apparent authority, to sell, or for which he is authorized, or apparently authorized, to find a market, 105 A.L.R. 718.    Sole actor doctrine where officer or agent of corporation acting adversely to it is its sole representative in the transaction, 111 A.L.R. 665.    Profession at time of act or contract to be acting for another as a necessary condition of its ratification by latter, 124 A.L.R. 893.    Gross or net profits as the measure of liability of agent or employee who has engaged in transactions on his own account in violation of his duty to his principal, 126 A.L.R. 1357.    What amounts to ratification by principal or master of libel or slander by agent or servant, 139 A.L.R. 1066.    Variance between allegation and proof as regards identity of servant or agent for whose acts defendant is sought to be held responsible, 139 A.L.R. 1152.    Agent's disregard of principal's instructions where power coupled with an interest, 162 A.L.R. 1182.   Competence, as against principal, of statements by agent to prove scope, as distinguished from fact, of agency, 3 A.L.R.2d 598.   Rights and remedies where broker or agent, employed to purchase personal property, buys it for himself, 20 A.L.R.2d 1140.   Agent's authority to agree contemporaneously with sale to repurchase or resell or for return of personal property, 34 A.L.R.2d 510.   Authority of agent to endorse and transfer commercial paper, 37 A.L.R.2d 453.   Salesman's power to pledge employer's or principal's personal property, 49 A.L.R.2d 1271.   Advertising agency as agent of advertising medium or of advertiser, 53 A.L.R.2d 1139.   Implied or apparent authority of agent to purchase or order goods or merchandise, 55 A.L.R.2d 6.   Truant or attendance officer's liability for assault and battery or false imprisonment, 62 A.L.R.2d 1328.   Liability of auctioneer or clerk to buyer as to title, condition, or quality of property sold, 80 A.L.R.2d 1237.   Agent's authority to execute warrant of attorney to confess judgment against principal, 92 A.L.R.2d 952.   Liability of insurance agent, for exposure of insurer to liability, because of failure to cancel or reduce risk, 35 A.L.R.3d 792.   Liability of insurance agent, for exposure of insurer to liability, because of failure to fully disclose or assess risk or to report issuance of policy, 35 A.L.R.3d 821.   Liability of insurance agent, for exposure of insurer to liability, because of issuance of policy beyond authority or contrary to instructions, 35 A.L.R.3d 907.   Discharge of debtor who makes payment by delivering checks payable to creditor to latter's agent, where agent forges creditor's signature and absconds with proceeds, 49 A.L.R.3d 843.   Principal's liability for punitive damages because of false arrest or imprisonment, or malicious prosecution, by agent or employee, 93 A.L.R.3d 826.