Court Opinion

ID: 9566476
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-21 19:39:49.07812+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:37:42.938526
License: Public Domain

Felton, Chief Judge,
dissenting. The majority opinion clearly recognizes the contradictory nature of the pleadings in the petition, but then proceeds to harmonize the conflicting allegations by adopting a construction favorable to the pleader, thus violating a well-established principle of law. In construing contradictory pleadings, the. version most unfavorable to the pleader must be taken, as a pleading must be construed most strongly against the pleader. Independent Life cfee. Ins. Co. v. Pantone, 80 Ga. App. 426 (1) (56 S. E. 2d 153).
The petition alleges the occurrence of a collision between two automobiles and also alleges that these automobiles were traveling at such speeds and distances in relation to each other as-to render a collision impossible. The imperfection in this petition is not a mere duplicity or inconsistency in form, but its allegations are repugnant in matter of substance, and so repugnant as to neutralize and destroy each other. Adams v. *359Johnson, 182 Ga. 478, 480 (185 S. E. 805); Byrd v. Riggs, 213 Ga. 593, 595 (100 S. E. 2d 453); Owen v. S. P. Richards Paper Co., 188 Ga. 258, 261 (3 S. E. 2d 660); Allison v. Allman, 82 Ga. App. 574, 580 (61 S. E. 2d 672); Zachos v. Citizens & Southern Nat. Bank, 213 Ga. 619, 626 (100 S. E. 2d 418).
Contradictory allegations in the petition have been construed most strongly against the pleader so as to negative a general allegation of negligence in Wright v. Shirley, 46 Ga. App. 655 (168 S. E. 915). Construing the allegations in the instant case most strongly against the pleader, the petition shows that a collision between the oncoming vehicles could not have occurred.
I think the court erred in overruling the general demurrers to plaintiff’s petition.