Court Opinion

ID: 9852780
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-09-24 05:36:37.020898+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:22:34.393229
License: Public Domain

Stolz, Judge,
dissenting.
In ” Brawner v. Maddox, 1 Ga. App. 332, 337 (58 SE 278) ... this court, in reference to the old statute said: "The wording of § 5072 [now Code Ann. § 81A-155 (b)] is such that it conveys very ample powers as to opening defaults; not only providential cause, which is broad, and excusable neglect, which is still broader, but finally, as if reaching out to take in every conceivable case where injustice might result if the default were not opened, the section goes on to say, 'where the judge from all the facts shall determine that a proper case has been made,’ etc. We cannot say that the learned judge abused the discretion as insisted by plaintiff in error.” [Cits.]’ Foster Co. v. Livingston, 127 Ga. App. 317, 318 (193 SE2d 626). Accord, Axelroad v. Preston, 232 Ga. 836 (209 SE2d 178); Lanier v. Foster, 133 Ga. App. 149 (210 SE2d 326); Avant v. Patrick, 133 Ga. App. 708.” Florida East Coast Properties v. Davis, 133 Ga. App. 932 (1) (213 SE2d 79).
The foregoing principle is appropriate in the case at bar, in which the evidence supported the trial judge’s finding of fact that defendant Durrence’s failure to answer the complaint was caused by his good faith reliance upon the co-defendant City of Soperton’s representation to him that it, and not he, was liable and responsible for any claim for alleged damages and injuries to the plaintiff.
We are fully cognizant and appreciative of the rules of law quoted by the majority from Miller v. Wallace, 76 *444Ga. 479 (2a), 484 and Griffin v. State, 12 Ga. App. 615, 616 (5), 620-621 (77 SE 1080). Neither of these cases involved the issues presented in this case. It is interesting that in Griffin, supra, immediately following that portion quoted in the majority decision, the court stated, "We say the judge did not abuse his discretion in refusing an injunction. Why? Because, under the law as applied to some theory of the evidence which the judge in his discretion had the right to accept as true, the injunction was properly refused... In no case of conflicting evidence will the judge’s finding of facts be controlled by the reviewing court. But if, upon the facts as he found them, the law demands that a particular judgment be rendered, a contrary decision will always be reversed.
"The ruling so often made by the Supreme Court and this court that the discretion of a trial judge will not be controlled, unless manifestly abused, means simply that the reviewing court will not control his finding of facts upon conflicting evidence. If upon these facts an erroneous finding of law be rendered, it will be set aside, but if that judgment be sound as applied to his finding of facts, the reviewing court will not interfere.” (Emphasis supplied.) Griffin v. State, supra, p. 621.
In the case before us, the trial judge, after consideration of evidence, review of the pleadings and argument of counsel, found the following facts:
"1. Defendant City of Soperton had informed Defendant Durrence that the City would be liable and responsible for any claim for alleged damages and injuries claimed by Plaintiff.
"2. The Defendant City had informed Defendant Durrence that Defendant Durrence was not liable and responsible for alleged damages and injuries to Plaintiff.
"3. Defendant Durrence in good faith relying upon the representation of Defendant City did not file any answer to the complaint within the prescribed time.
"4. The Defendant Durrence has paid all accrued cost in this proceeding.
"5. The Defendant Durrence has set up a meritorious defense.
"6. The Defendant Durrence has announced ready *445to proceed with the trial of the issue.”
Based on these findings of fact, the trial judge concluded:
"1. A proper case has been made for the default of Defendant Durrence to be opened.
"2. The motion of Defendant Durrence to open default is hereby allowed and that said case is hereby opened under the discretionary power of the Court under the provision of Section 55 (b) of the Georgia Civil Practice Act (Florida East Coast Cooperative [sic], Inc. vs. Davis, 133 Ga. App. 932).
"3. The answer of Defendant Durrence attached to the motion as Exhibit 'A’ shall be deemed filed as, and constitute, the defensive pleadings of Defendant Durrence.”
The majority opinion appears to be founded on the theory that defendant Durrence waited almost three years before seeking to open the default and answer the complaint. True, but during this same three-year period, the plaintiff did not make any effort to take a judgment in the case. It is well settled that a trial judge has a wider discretion in opening a default prior to judgment than after. Brucker v. O’Connor, 115 Ga. 95, 96 (41 SE 245). It is equally well settled that the Code section (Code Ann. § 110-404) providing for the opening of defaults " 'should be given a liberal construction, in the promotion of justice and the establishment of the truth; and the discretion of the trial judge in opening a default and permitting the defendant to plead will not be interfered with by this court unless manifestly abused, to the injury of the plaintiff. Thompson v. Kelsey, 8 Ga. App. 23 (68 SE 518); Bass v. Doughty, 5 Ga. App. 458 (63 SE 516); Brawner v. Maddox, 1 Ga. App. 332 (58 SE 278); Polerack v. Gordon, 102 Ill. App. 356; Tucker v. Harris, 13 Ga. 1 (58 AD 488); Gray v. McNeal, 12 Ga. 424; Davis v. Bray, 119 Ga. 220 (46 SE 90); Burch v. Pope, 114 Ga. 334 (40 SE 227).’ Tedcastle & Co. v. Brewer & Co., 19 Ga. App. 650 (1) (91 SE 1051). See also Butler & Co. v. Strickland-Tillman Hdw. Co., 15 Ga. App. 193 (82 SE 815); Sherman v. Stephens, 30 Ga. App. 509, 518 (118 SE 567); Bryant v. Elherton &c. R. Co., 20 Ga. App. 586 (93 SE 219); Haynes v. Smith, 99 Ga. App. 433 (108 SE2d 772); Swain v. Harris, *446101 Ga. App. 263 (113 SE2d 467); First Nat. Ins. Co. of America v. Thain, 107 Ga. App. 100 (129 SE2d 381); Kellam v. Todd, 114 Ga. 981 (41 SE 39); Brucker v. O’Connor, 115 Ga. 95, 96, supra; Ingalls v. Lamar, 115 Ga. 296 (41 SE 573); Green v. Whitehead, 204 Ga. 274 (49 SE2d 527).
"Whether or not sufficient facts were alleged to authorize the exercise of discretion by the trial court on the grounds of providential cause or excusable neglect, the facts alleged in the motion for the opening of the default were sufficient to authorize the exercise of the trial judge’s discretion under the third ground 'where the judge, from all the facts, may determine that a proper case has been made for the default to be opened.’ Butler & Co. v. Strickland-Tillman Hdw. Co., 15 Ga. App. 193, supra; Sherman v. Stephens, 30 Ga. App. 509, 518, supra. No injury to plaintiff is shown where there was no delay in the trial of the case. . .” Strickland v. Galloway, 111 Ga. App. 683, 685 (143 SE2d 3). Here, the plaintiff has not been injured. There would be no delay in the trial of the case. The trial judge had the parties before him, received evidence, reviewed the pleadings, and found that "a proper case had been made” to open the default. The majority of this court is now substituting their judgment for that of the trial judge. I believe this to be an unwholesome precedent, and dissent.
I am authorized to state that Chief Judge Bell and Judge Clark concur in this dissent.