Court Opinion

ID: 9848399
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-09-24 04:18:44.850793+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:18:16.625401
License: Public Domain

Sognier, Judge,
concurring specially.
I concur fully in Division 1. However, I cannot concur fully because I do not agree with that portion of Division 2 which states that the admissions of fact support the reversal. Although recognizing that *104the admission of a legal conclusion “is ... of no consequence,” the majority nevertheless finds that the admissions here properly, if only partly, support a finding that Texas had jurisdiction over Smith. The majority further at least implies that the admissions here established jurisdiction, thereby precluding the trial court from rejecting that “fact.” I recognize that OCGA § 9-11-36 (2) requires that requests for admission be answered within 30 days or they are deemed admitted, and that as such they constitute judicial admissions, which are conclusive unless withdrawn. Albitus v. Farmers &c. Bank, 159 Ga. App. 406, 407 (1) (283 SE2d 632) (1981). However, the permissible scope of requests for admission is not boundless. OCGA § 9-11-36 is patterned after rule 36 of the FRCP. While federal rule 36 has been liberalized, still it has been held that rule 36 does not authorize a request for admission of matters solely relating to propositions of law. Williams v. Krieger, 61 FRD 142 (SDNY 1973). Similarly, Georgia courts have held, even after the liberalization of our own rule, that requests for admission “must deal with matters essentially factual, not opinionative or conclusions of law ...” A & D Barrel &c. Co. v. Fuqua, 132 Ga. App. 827, 831 (209 SE2d 272) (1974). See also Taylor v. Hunnicutt, 129 Ga. App. 314 (199 SE2d 596) (1973). I conclude, therefore, that appellee could not properly have admitted that Texas had personal jurisdiction over him, since such a request to admit would relate solely to a legal conclusion.
Decided February 26, 1988.
Sherwin P. Robin, for appellant.
Lloyd D. Murray, for appellee.
However, I agree with that portion of Division 2 which predicates a reversal of the judgment below upon the trial court’s error in finding that the Texas court did not have jurisdiction over appellee because the record shows proper service and personal jurisdiction under Texas law. Accordingly, I concur in the judgment.