Court Opinion

ID: 5614816
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-01-11 04:13:47.288296+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:37:13.001618
License: Public Domain

ON MOTION FOR REHEARING.
Bell, J.
In the motion.for rehearing the court is reminded that at the time of our decision in this case we held, in another case (Atlanta Gas Light Co. v. Sams, post, 446), that “The mere voluntary writing off of a part of the verdict by the plaintiff is not in itself a ground for reversal, where it does not appear that this was done on the suggestion of the presiding judge, or that. *440his refusal of a new trial was influenced by the reduction of the verdict.” It is suggested that the rulings are inconsistent; but this is not true. The actions are entirely different in their nature. The Sams case was a suit for damages for a homicide. Therein lies the distinction. “ Where general damages have been recovered for a personal tort, if they are so excessive as to lead the court to suspect bias or prejudice, he may grant a new trial; but the judge has no power to say that the verdict in such a case should not. exceed a specified sum, and to require the plaintiff to write off a portion of the damages, and thereupon refuse a new trial. Aliter, in actions on contracts or for torts to property, the value of which may be ascertained, and in relation to which fixed rules for measuring damages are recognized.” Savannah &c. Ry. Co. v. Harper, 70 Ga. 119 (2). See also Seaboard Air-Line Railway v. Randolph, 129 Ga. 796 (59 S. E. 1110); Seaboard Air-Line Railway v. Bishop, 132 Ga. 71 (63 S. E. 1103); Thomason v. Moore, 139 Ga. 341 (4) (77 S. E. 155).
In the instant case (a suit for the foreclosure of a material-man’s lien) a distinct and illegal part of the verdict was written off by the plaintiff at the court’s suggestion. In this kind of case this action of the court was entirely proper, and the ruling upon the motion for a new trial was in no way invalidated thereby.

Motion for rehearing denied.

Jenlcins, P. J., and Stephens, J., concur.