Court Opinion

ID: 9624728
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-22 07:15:13.830214+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:05:53.673739
License: Public Domain

Deen, Judge,
concurring specially. My objection is directed to the statement in the majority opinion that "there *136is no prima facie showing that plaintiff is a holder in due course” of the check in question. My reason for voicing the objection is that I feel the Court of Appeals is occasionally tempted to ignore statements in pleadings or affidavits used as a basis for decision in summary judgments with the result that genuine issues of fact may be disregarded. The "vehicle” by means of which this is done is to label the statement a conclusion. Frequently the statement is general, but it is not for that reason alone a conclusion, and to term it such results in turning a blind eye to genuine issues of fact.
I think there is in this case a jury question as to whether the plaintiff is a holder in due course. In the first place it is alleged that it was, and the statement was neither admitted nor denied in the answer for want of information. At this point plaintiff is prima facie a due course holder. Code Ann. § 109A-3 — 307(2). The defendant then pleaded a special defense, and the burden was back on the plaintiff. Code Ann. § 109A-3 — 307(3). The affidavit of Asa G. Candler, V, partner of the plaintiff Candler & Griffith and president of the plaintiff F. P. Plaza, Inc. swore that on a stated date the check was negotiated to F. P. Plaza, for value, in good faith, without notice that it was overdue or that it had been dishonored or that there was any defense or claim against it on the part of any person. Is this such a statement as can be absolutely ignored when not controverted or even denied by the other side? "Good faith is presumed until questioned by appropriate pleadings.” Pazol v. Citizens Nat. Bank, 110 Ga. App. 319, 323 (138 SE2d 442). Defendant does not challenge plaintiffs’ good faith, and the statement that the negotiation was in good faith is in my opinion not a conclusion. I feel the same about the sworn statement that the check was "negotiated for value,” especially in the absence of any denial that this is so, since the affidavit is made by the person best able to speak for the corporation and the partnership, and especially since this affidavit is supported by the affidavit of another person, the leasing agent. Granting that the statement is general, *137this does not limit it to being a conclusion if the person making it is in a position of knowledge. Cf. Salters v. Pugmire, 124 Ga. App. 414 (184 SE2d 56), where it is stated that a statement that one is the agent of another is a statement of fact if made by one a party to the contract, but a conclusion if made by a third party. This leaves the third statement, that at the time of the negotiation the indorsee had no notice that it was overdue, that it had been dishonored, or that any person had any defense or claim against it. I know of no less conclusory method of saying I did not know a certain fact than to say that at the time in question I had no notice or knowledge of that fact. I do not think the statement should be taken as conclusory.
Therefore, I think that in the present state of the pleadings the plaintiff F. P. Plaza has raised a jury issue as to whether it is a holder in due course. There was at least a prima facie showing to this effect.