Court Opinion

ID: 9582553
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-21 22:28:37.75495+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:37:57.444078
License: Public Domain

Eberhardt, Judge,
concurring specially. I am in full accord with the conclusion that there was no actionable wrong in the inquiry made by the store manager of the plaintiff as to whether plaintiff had signed the check, nor, when she denied it, in his statement that he would have the signature checked at the bank.
*161However, I can see no basis for any rule that places one standard upon the operator of a public utility corporation and another upon a private corporation with reference to this situation. I think the customer of each is entitled to the same civil and respectful treatment and that each is under the same duty to accord it. As to an invitee I think the standard is ordinary care on the part of anyone who is in the position of having extended the invitation.
Nor do I think the cases holding that, as to the person doing the cursing, insulting, etc., there is no cause of action for mental anguish suffered by the -party to whom it is addressed can be said to bar an action against an employer for the kind of conduct by an employee dealt with in Sims v. Millers, Inc., 50 Ga. App. 640 (179 SE 423); Southern Grocery Stores, Inc. v. Keys, 70 Ga. App. 473 (28 SE2d 581) or Colonial Stores, Inc. v. Coker, 74 Ga. App. 264 (39 SE2d 429), and similar cases. As I view it, the conduct of the store manager here falls far short of coming within the ambit of those cases; it was neither insulting, harrowing nor abusive.
I may add that I find it difficult, if not impossible, to reconcile the results in cases like Sims, Keys and Coker with Behre v. National Cash Register Co., 100 Ga. 213 (26 SE 986). They stem from Cole v. Atlanta &c. R. Co., 102 Ga. 474 (31 SE 107), which I think also conflicts with Behre.
I am authorized to say that Presiding Judge Bell and Judge Hall concur in this view.