Court Opinion

ID: 9540876
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-07 16:20:26.191482+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:01:24.094168
License: Public Domain

Beasley, Judge,
concurring in part and dissenting in part.
I agree with the opinion except as to Division 10, which strikes the jury’s award of $100,000 exemplary damages. The court construes the second page of the two-page verdict form in such a way that the award is rendered illegal. It is just as rationally construed so to be valid and thus express the true intention of the jury, which was to award exemplary damages of $100,000 to plaintiff and against defendant. As stated by the majority, the verdict must be given its “reasonable intendment.” OCGA § 9-12-4 further requires: “They shall not be avoided except from necessity.”
The jury was authorized to find up to $100,000 actual damages for breach of contract, as to count one; $100,000 actual damages and $300,000 exemplary damages for tortious interference with rights of contract, as to count two; and $100,000 actual damages and $300,000 exemplary damages as to tortious interference with business relations, as to count three.
Page one of the verdict form shows the total nominal or compensatory damages to be $40,000 and the total exemplary damages to be $100,000; it is dated and signed by the foreman. Page two, which shows the breakdown another way, is really superfluous because the first page of the verdict form is complete. Nevertheless, the breakdown is $25,000 for count one, $15,000 for count two, and $100,000 for count 3.
As to count one, it must all be attributable to compensatory damages, as that is all that is allowed by law and it conforms to what was claimed and charged. As to count two, $5,000 can be attributed to compensation and $10,000 to exemplary damages. As to count three, $10,000 can be attributed to compensation and $90,000 to exemplary damages. This too, would conform to the claim, court’s charge, and the law. This would conform as well.1 Thus the sums would be $40,000 compensatory damages and $100,000 exemplary damages, and that is precisely what is shown as the totals on page one. The breakdown in the jury room may have actually been different, but this apportionment demonstrates that the jury’s verdict can be construed as valid just as easily as it can be construed as invalid. The law favors the former. As quoted and applied in West Ga. Pulpwood v. Stephens, 128 Ga. App. 864, 870 (198 SE2d 420) (1973): “ ‘The verdict *279may be construed in the light of the pleadings, the issues made by the evidence and the charge. [Cits.] . . . The presumptions are in favor of the validity of verdicts, and if possible a construction will be given which will uphold them. [Cit.].’ ”
Decided March 7, 1985
Rehearing denied March 29, 1985
Fred S. Clark, for appellant.
Brent J. Savage, George L. Lewis, for appellee.
Moreover, even if page two were regarded as ambiguous, it may be stricken for that reason without affecting the integrity and wholeness of the verdict as reduced to judgment. The court in West Ga. Pulpwood, supra, went on to say: “ ‘Even if the verdict is ambiguous . . . and susceptible of two constructions, one of which would uphold it and one of which would defeat it, that which would uphold it is to be applied. [Cit.]’ Haughton v. Judsen, 116 Ga. App. 308, 310 (157 SE2d 297).” See also Suber v. Fountain, 151 Ga. App. 283, 290-291 (259 SE2d 685) (1979).
Again referring to West Ga. Pulpwood, supra, if appellant thought the form irregular or ambiguous, it should have said so at the time of its rendition so that it could be corrected to its satisfaction before the jury retired. It is too late now. Suber v. Fountain, supra at 291.
I am authorized to state that Presiding Judge Deen joins in this concurrence in part and dissent in part.

 As shown in the majority opinion, there was evidence to support a finding of actual damages as to count three.