Court Opinion

ID: 9589630
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-21 23:46:56.266657+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:27:36.531469
License: Public Domain

Hall, Presiding Judge,
dissenting. In my opinion we cannot hold as a matter of law that a verdict was demanded for the insured. On the contrary, I think it was a question for the jury.
The majority opinion is in effect a rejection of State Farm Mut. Ins. Co. v. Wendler, 115 Ga. App. 452 (154 SE2d 772) and *843the adoption of the dissenting opinion in that case. Even if I thought the dissenting opinion in that case was correct (which I do not), I would still be bound by the majority opinion under the doctrine of the law of the case.
It is the law of the case that the insurer’s answer was a good defense on the ground of “failure to co-operate.” The answer alleged that the insured testified under oath one way before the previous trial and another way under oath at that trial. These allegations were proved at the trial sub judice although the insured attempted to give an explanation. The basis for the earlier opinion, which is the law of the case, was “If she testified truthfully, as we must assume she did, she suppressed the truth until that time, and the suppression of truth is as false and fraudulent as a wilful misrepresentation.” P. 456. The majority opinion seeks to rely upon National Union Fire Ins. Co. v. Carmical, 99 Ga. App. 98 (107 SE2d 700), yet it is the law of the case that National is distinguishable. Wendler, supra, p. 456.
The majority opinion then says that in any event it was further alleged by amendment that the sworn testimony given by its insured was wilfully, consciously and fraudulently given and that there is no evidence to support this allegation. This is wrong for two reasons. First, the allegation of wilfulness and fraudulence is just another defense in addition to the one (conflicting statements) which had already been held to be a good defense. By proving the first defense the second could be considered surplusage. Second, I think there was a jury question as to whether the insurer proved the defense that the insured’s testimony was wilful and fraudulent. It is the law of the case that “the suppression of truth is as false and fraudulent as a wilful misrepresentation.” Can a person swear under oath “unwilfully”? Can a person swear under oath “unconsciously”? The majority opinion says there is no proof of reliance by the insurer. I disagree. The testimony shows that the insurer did in fact rely thereon. The insured adhered to her written statement and to her sworn answers made to the interrogatories on the day of the trial and up to the time she testified. Immediately after she testified to a different version of the occurrence, she was personally served with a written notice from the in*844surer’s attorneys that the insurer would, continue to provide her with a defense to the suit under an express reservation of its rights to deny coverage under the policy. The reason given was. her lack of co-operation in making contradictory statements as to the true manner in which the accident occurred. The notice also stated the insurer would continue to rely upon the non-waiver agreement she had previously executed.
In my opinion this court errs in holding as a matter of law that the evidence demands a verdict for the insured and therefore it is unnecessary to pass upon the remaining enumeration of errors.
I am authorized to state that Judges Eberhardt and Deen concur in this dissent.