Court Opinion

ID: 9846205
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-09-24 03:36:52.913755+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:16:35.196424
License: Public Domain

Evans, Judge,
dissenting. I dissent from the majority opinion and the judgment of affirmance. This is a suit for the breach of a replevy bond where the conditions of the bond were that "should said property be forthcoming when called for by the levying officer, then this bond to be void; otherwise of full force and effect.” The claim is for the reduced value of the property due to deterioration during the time the property was in the hands of the principal, that is, after the bond was given and until it was finally turned over to the levying officer. The principal is now deceased. The case proceeded against the defendant-security, who denied a breach of the bond, but claims the property was turned over to the levying officer for sale. He submitted expert testimony as to the value of the auto as being the same as when the bond was given and that it was in as good a condition, if not better, when turned over to the levying officer for forced sale. The only evidence submitted by the plaintiff as to the value of the automobile at the sheriff’s sale was its sale price. This evidence is insufficient to prove its market value. The general rule is that the selling price of an article, though relevant upon the question, is not, when standing alone, sufficient to establish its market value. See Watson v. Loughran, 112 Ga. 837 (3) (38 SE 82); Lott v. Banks, 21 Ga. App. 246 (4) (94 SE 322); Allen v. Harris, 113 Ga. 107 (4) (38 SE 322); Southern R. Co. v. Williams, 113 Ga. 335 (1) (38 SE 744); Collins & Glennville R. Co. v. Beasley, 36 Ga. App. 241, 243 (136 SE 167). Certainly, the sale price of the property at the forced sale here could hot establish its value so as tó show a reduction in the value of the property turned over to the levying officer. "The Georgia courts recognize sales to purchasers with the power of eminent domain as forced sales and exclude evidence of the prices for such sales in condemnation proceedings. Georgia Power Co. v. Brooks, 207 Ga. 406, 410 (62 SE2d 183); Garden Parks, Inc. v. Fulton County, 88 Ga. App. 97 (76 SE2d 31); State Hwy. Dept. v. Irvin, 100 Ga. App. 624 (122 SE2d 216).” Sumner v. State Hwy. Dept., 110 Ga. App. 646 (2) (139 SE2d 493). In Ga. Power Co. v. Brooks, 207 Ga. 406, 410, supra, the Supreme Court held that *183the general rule must apply to valuations in condemnation cases since "in such transactions neither party is necessarily free from compulsion — the necessity to acquire as to the one party and the positive necessity to give up on the part of the other.” The case of May v. Leverette, 164 Ga. 552 (11) (139 SE 31), cited in the majority opinion, holds the sale price at a sheriff’s sale is admissible on the question of its value. But without more, it fails to prove value. Not only was the case sub judice an involuntary forced sale, but the only evidence in the case, other than defendant’s, is the actual forced sale price. It fails to prove the diminished value of the property for which the forthcoming bond was given, there being no evidence of deterioration of value. The deputy sheriff testified as a witness for plaintiff but it was clearly shown on cross examination that he had no knowledge as to the value of the car at time of the sale. He testified: "Q. So actually, in your estimation you don’t know what the car was actually valued, I mean what it was actually worth the day of the sale do you? A. No, ma’m.” The verdict and judgment, is without evidence to support it. See Code § 39-304; Dickens v. Maxey, 42 Ga. App. 783 (3) (157 SE 368). I would reverse the judgment.