Court Opinion

ID: 9852076
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-09-24 05:24:00.173745+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:22:21.694648
License: Public Domain

Stolz, Judge,
dissenting. It is difficult to argue with the principles of law expressed in the majority opinion. However, I do not believe that they are applicable to the facts in this case. I shall not restate the evidence previously set out in the majority opinion, but do point out that an independent eyewitness traveling in the same direction behind the plaintiff testified that the defendant did not stop at the stop sign prior to entering the intersection. The record conclusively shows that the defendant’s vehicle collided with the plaintiffs motorcycle, with the front of the defendant’s car striking the motorcycle on its right. At the time of the collision both vehicles were on their proper right side of the road, *39thus the plaintiffs motorcycle was more than halfway through the intersection (and the defendant’s automobile was less than halfway into the intersection) when the collision occurred. The plaintiff was operating his motorcycle on a through street, on his proper side of the road, within the speed limit. The plaintiff had the right to assume that the defendant would stop his automobile in obedience to the "stop” sign facing him at the intersection and not enter the intersection until the same could be done safely. Code Ann. § 68-1652 (a) (b) (Ga. L. 1953, Nov. Sess., pp. 556, 590). Indeed, the crux of this case is not whether the defendant stopped at the stop sign, but whether he entered the intersection at a time when the plaintiff, on his motorcycle, was so close thereto as to constitute an immediate hazard. The uncontroverted evidence showed that such a situation existed.
It is not our intent to put ourselves in the jury box. However, the law clearly authorizes the grant of a new trial "when the verdict of a jury is found contrary to evidence and the principles of justice and equity” (Code § 70-202; Ga. L. 1799, Cobb 503) and "where the verdict may be decidedly and strongly against the weight of evidence, although there may appear to be some slight evidence in favor of the finding.” (Code § 70-206; Ga. L. 1853-4, p. 47). These rules recognize that juries are composed of human beings and, as such, occasionally make mistakes. The new trial does not impose a different result, it only allows another jury to have the opportunity of hearing the case and rendering a decision.
It is my opinion, after a careful review of the evidence in this case, that the aforesaid rules of law relating to the grant of new trials are applicable and that the case should be reversed.
I am authorized to state that Chief Judge Bell and Presiding Judge Hall concur in this dissent.