Court Opinion

ID: 9597592
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-22 01:00:37.507062+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:01:38.700538
License: Public Domain

McMurray, Judge,
concurring specially.
I concur fully in the judgment, but not in all that is said in the opinion.
1. For instance, as discussed in Division 1, the trial *745court on objection refused to allow the plaintiff on cross examination to question the defendant Godfrey about an alleged bond forfeiture in a case made against him on an accusation of "driving under the influence of intoxicating liquors and drugs.” The majority hold that the question was relevant insofar as it may have indicated the defendant employer was negligent in allowing Godfrey to use the truck. However, the majority hold this was harmless since defendant Godfrey’s previous record of driving under the influence was known to the defendant employer who testified that he was aware of the defendant Godfrey’s driving record, yet he had nevertheless hired him and allowed him to drive. It is well settled in Georgia that a plea of guilty is an admission against interest and can be used in subsequent civil proceedings. Locklear v. Morgan, 129 Ga. App. 763 (3) (201 SE2d 163); Akin v. Randolph Motors, Inc., 95 Ga. App. 841 (99 SE2d 358); Roper v. Scott, 77 Ga. App. 120 (2) (48 SE2d 118); Henderson v. Henderson, 94 Ga. App. 64 (1) (93 SE2d 822). But a plea of nolo contendere cannot be used in another case as an admission of guilt. See Windsor Forest, Inc. v. Rocker, 121 Ga. App. 773 (2) (175 SE2d 65). I therefore do not think the evidence was relevant either to show this defendant’s propensity for driving and drinking (or drinking and driving) or in proof of the alleged negligent entrustment by the other defendant. Counsel failed to connect up the alleged bond forfeiture so as to show defendant’s employee had any knowledge of same so as to reflect upon his ability to drive. I do not agree that this line of inquiry is relevant insofar as it may have indicated the defendant employer was negligent in allowing the defendant Godfrey to use the truck.
2. I agree with the majority’s contention that the testimony concerning the decedent’s habit of drunkenly stepping in front of approaching vehicles on the highway outside her home was properly admitted as relevant testimony so as to show possible contributory negligence, but I do not agree with the second conclusion that such testimony was relevant for consideration by the jury as to the value of the decedent’s life. Apparently the majority is of the opinion that this testimony showed the decedent lived dangerously and had very little value for her life. *746However, the rule cited by the majority found in Pollard v. Boatwright, 57 Ga. App. 565 (196 SE 215), at p. 569 does not support them for this court therein states that a recovery for the value of the life of the deceased is not the value "to himself if he had lived,” but the law permits only the 'recovery of the gross sum that the deceased would have earned during the remainder of his life had he not been killed, reduced to its present cash value.
After making these two observations with reference to the majority opinion, I concur in the judgment only.