Court Opinion

ID: 9586261
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-21 23:08:50.558568+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:27:30.880536
License: Public Domain

Evans, Judge,
concurring specially.
Donald Goss as plaintiff, sued Bill Sullivan as defendant, because Sullivan negligently allowed his dog to leave his yard and to go upon Goss’ premises, where he killed thirty valuable game birds known as "Slasher” birds. The jury could not reach a verdict and a mistrial was declared. Defendant made a motion for judgment notwithstanding the mistrial, which motion was overruled, and he appeals to this court.
The majority affirms and places its decision solely on a comparatively new statute (Ga. L. 1969, pp. 831, 832; Code Ann. § 62-2004).
*2191. I contend the decison of this court, in affirming the trial court, could and should also be placed on another theory, to wit, the fact that the dog in question was wrongfully in the place where the mischief was done. In such case the owner is liable, irrespective of scienter or prior knowledge by him of the dangerous propensities of the dog. This court so held in Caldwell v. Gregory, 120 Ga. App. 536, 541 (171 SE2d 571).
If a dog is wrongfully in the place where he does the mischief, the owner is liable, irrespective of prior knowledge by the owner of the dog’s dangerous proclivities. This was a clear and precise pronouncement of the law of this state, and can not be shunted aside or disregarded as being obiter. See Chandler v. Gately, 119 Ga. App. 513, 519 (3) (167 SE2d 697); Dooly v. Gates, 194 Ga. 787, 793 (22 SE2d 730); Rivers v. Brown, 200 Ga. 49, 52 (36 SE2d 429); Vann v. American Credit Co., 115 Ga. App. 559 (2) (155 SE2d 459).
2. Next, this case, being older than Connell and Carter, supra, must be followed rather than any later case in conflict therewith. This is on the principle of stare decisis. See Frazier v. Southern R. Co., 200 Ga. 590, 596 (37 SE2d 774); Boston Ins. Co. v. Barnes, 120 Ga. App. 585, 590 (171 SE2d 626); Gray v. Gray, 34 Ga. 499, 501; Peppers v. Travelers Ins. Co., 48 Ga. 595 (173 SE 177); McKibben v. State, 88 Ga. App. 466, 474 (77 SE2d 86).
3. As the case resulted in a mistrial, none of the rulings made by the trial judge in the first trial have become the "law of this case” or res judicata. See Colevins v. Nat. Union Fire Ins. Co., 110 Ga. App. 533, 536 (139 SE2d 145).
4. The trial judge correctly overruled defendant’s motion for judgment notwithstanding the mistrial, and I would affirm that judgment.