Court Opinion

ID: 5619483
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-01-11 04:30:26.453643+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:37:21.388835
License: Public Domain

ON MOTION EOR REHEARING.
Bell, J.
In view of the motion for rehearing, we have concluded that certain statements in our original opinion were irrelevant, and we have accordingly amended the opinion by striking these statements. The above is the opinion in its original form with the exception of such changes as have been made merely by omission.
In the motion for rehearing it is contended that this court, in reaching its conclusion that the judgment should be reversed, has overlooked a certain agreement or stipulation which was made between the attorneys in open court, at the close of the evidence upon the trial in the court below, and which is shown in the brief of evidence. We did not overlook this agreement as it thus appears in *469the record, but we confess to having misapprehended its true effect and import. It seems that the parties, through their attorneys, agreed that the aggregate amount of the indebtedness of the two garnishees was $995.95, and that the sole question for determination was whether this amount was due to the defendant in attachment, “ Commercial Credit Company,” or to claimant, “ Commercial Credit Company of Georgia.” The following form of verdict was prepared for the convenience of the jury: “We, the jury, find the issues in favor of--, and that the amount due by garnishee at time of service of garnishment be applied to this debt, to wit: $995.95;” the intention being that the jury should determine from the evidence whether the blank should be filled in by writing the word “plaintiff” or the word “claimant”.
We call attention to the fact that the names of the defendant and the claimant are similar and yet not identical, the name of the latter being the same as the former plus the words “of Georgia”.
As we now view the case, we think the only issue for determination was whether these parties were identical or their relation was such that for the purposes of this case an indebtedness to the one was an indebtedness to the other, the contention of counsel for the defendant in error being that the claimant “was merely a branch office or agent of the defendant”. Upon this question we are still of the opinion that there was no evidence to authorize an inference of the identity of these parties or of such a relationship between them as would make an indebtedness to one the same as an indebtedness to the other.
In the motion for rehearing is the assertion “that the sole and only issue submitted to the jury was whether all of the funds in the hands of both garnishees belonged to the claimant, or whether all the funds in the hands of both garnishees belonged to the defendant.” If a determination of this issue should pass from the question of the relationship or identity of the parties as just referred to, it would necessarily involve an examination of the evidence for the purpose of ascertaining to whom the garnishees were indebted. The evidence fails to show that “all the funds in the hands of both garnishees belonged to the defendant,” but shows without dispute that the indebtedness of Clark was to Commercial Credit Company of Georgia, the claimant, and not to the defendant in attachment.
*470Counsel for tlie defendant in error lias suggested that we might dispose of the case without a reversal, by affirming the judgment on condition that the defendant in error write off or strike from the recovery all in excess of $483, the amount of the indebtedness of Mrs. McCarthy. In order to give this direction to the case, it would be necessary to hold that the evidence authorized a finding that this indebtedness was due to the defendant in attachment; that is, that Mrs. McCarthy’s creditor, “Commercial Credit Company, Baltimore, Maryland,” was the same person as “Commercial Credit Company,” the nonresident defendant in attachment. With out determining whether the evidence would authorize this conclusion, we are constrained to decline the suggestion as to such conditional affirmance, — this because it'appears from the record that other cases in the court below are' dependent upon the final result of the present case, and a “dog fall” in this court might tend to confusion in the construction and enforcement of such agreements. We think it best that the case be disposed of by an unconditional reversal in order that the trial court may take such further proceedings as may be proper in the light of the rulings herein made, and without embarrassment from any split judgment by this court.
It is stated in the motion for rehearing that this court by its judgment of reversal “separated that which the parties to this case made inseparable by an agreed form of verdict.” In view of this statement we think the defendant in error can not complain because we let the judgment of the court below stand or fall as a whole, although, in proper cases; judgments may be affirmed by permitting the plaintiff to write off an unauthorized portion of his recovery.

Rehearing denied.

Jenkins, P. <7., and Stephens, J., concur.