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explaining that all three prongs of the borrowed-servant rule relate “only to the specific task for which the servants are loaned”
Summary of this case from City v. HerreraOpinion
39354.
DECIDED MAY 16, 1962.
Action for damages. Columbia Superior Court. Before Judge Anderson.
Abbot Abbot, Fulcher, Fulcher, Hagler Harper, E. D. Fulcher, Wm. C. Reed, for plaintiff in error.
Randall Evans, Jr., contra.
1. Assignments of error not orally argued or insisted on in briefs are considered abandoned.
2. There was sufficient evidence to authorize the jury findings: (a) That one of the codefendants was not, on the occasion involved, the servant of the plaintiff; (b) That the codefendant was negligent; (c) That there was a causal connection between the negligence and the fire.
3. Where a portion of the record necessary to a consideration of an assignment of error is not specified in the bill of exceptions, the defect should be cured by appropriate amendment, but the Court of Appeals may order the omitted parts certified and sent up on its own motion.
4. (a) It is not necessary that the word "error" appear in an assignment of error if the decision complained of and alleged error are specified plainly enough to present a question for review. Further, the special grounds of the motion for new trial here are considered sufficiently complete to reach the merits of the issues involved.
(b) Where a suit is brought against two defendants as joint tortfeasors, it is error to give an instruction that in the event a verdict is returned for the plaintiff it should be against both defendants, and this is true even though as to one of the defendants the action is in default and is undefended.
DECIDED MAY 16, 1962.
Pollard Lumber Co., Inc. (plaintiff hereinafter) brought suit against Fulghum Industries, Inc. (defendant hereinafter) and L. M. Tankersley (Tankersley hereinafter) seeking damages for the destruction by fire of a large portion of plaintiff's sawmill. Both plaintiff and Tankersley were residents of Columbia County where the suit was filed, and defendant is a resident of Jefferson County.
The factual situation may be briefly outlined as follows: Plaintiff purchased a debarking machine from defendant in December, 1959. After a complaint by plaintiff that the machine was not debarking logs properly, the defendant sent its repairman, one Thigpen, to repair the malfunction. The repair work involved some metal cutting with an electric torch and various welding and was done on Saturday, April 9. Tankersley, a colored employee of plaintiff who was not working on Saturday, assisted Thigpen as will be more fully discussed in the opinion. Thigpen finished his repairs around noon on Saturday and the sawmill burned down at approximately 8 p. m., Sunday, April 10.
With its answer, defendant filed a general demurrer and several special demurrers. All but one of the demurrers were overruled after plaintiff amended its petition. The case came on for a trial which resulted in a $30,000 verdict for plaintiff. Defendant, having previously moved for a directed verdict, moved for a judgment notwithstanding the verdict. Defendant also filed a general motion for new trial and added special grounds by amendment. Both its motion for judgment non obstante veredicto and new trial were denied.
1. Although error was assigned on the overruling of the defendant's demurrers, there was no oral argument on this point and no insistence thereon in the brief. Therefore, these assignments of error will be considered abandoned. Code § 6-1308.
2. Defendant's most forceful contention relates to the grounds of its motion for judgment notwithstanding the verdict. Three grounds are generally urged: (a) That Tankersley was not the servant of the defendant but was a servant of the plaintiff; (b) that there is no evidence of any negligence on the part of Tankersley; and (c) that, due to the length of time between the repair work and the fire, there could be no causal connection between that work and the fire.
(a) The testimony on the trial developed that Tankersley was a regular employee of the plaintiff and had worked for it all his adult life. On the Saturday in question, however, he was not working. An agent of the defendant had called one of plaintiff's officers, Robert Pollard, during the week to tell him that the requested repairs would be made on Saturday and to ask that plaintiff "have a man there to help" the repairman. Pollard testified that he had forgotten about the helper until another of plaintiff's officers reminded him of it on Saturday morning. He met the repairman at a store where "This boy, L. M. Tankersley, was in front of the store and I told him to go with [defendant's repairman] to help them fix the debarker." To the question, "You just picked out the first man you saw?", Pollard responded, "That is correct." Pollard went to the debarking machine with the defendant's repairman, Tankersley, and at least one other helper. Pollard sent the other helper to feed his cows and left Tankersley and the repairman working on the debarker. Both Tankersley and the repairman considered Tankersley as subject to the repairman's orders and both also testified that Tankersley did what he was told.
The law as to lent employees is well settled, the test being (1) that the special master must have complete control and direction of the servant for the occasion; (2) that the general master must have no such control; (3) that the special master must have the exclusive right to discharge the servant, to put another in his place or to put him to other work. Brown v. Smith, 86 Ga. 274 ( 12 S.E. 411, 22 ASR 456); Adams v. Johnson, 88 Ga. App. 94 (1) ( 76 S.E.2d 135) and citations. In Bibb Mfg. Co. v. Souther, 52 Ga. App. 722 ( 184 S.E. 421), a factual situation strikingly similar in its "lent servant" phases to that presented here was involved. Plaintiff repairman's employer had contracted with the defendant to make certain repairs. In the course of making the repairs, the plaintiff required some assistance and the defendant sent two negro helpers. One of the helpers negligently dropped a heavy piece of iron on the plaintiff's hand. This court held that the helper was the special servant of plaintiff's employer and, consequently, that the defendant was not liable for his negligence. The court applied the rule set out above stating that all of its requirements related only to the specific task for which the servants are loaned. For example, the "right to discharge" that the special master must have means the right to discharge the servant from that particular work. A similar situation was presented and a similar result reached in Reaves v. Columbus Electric c. Co., 32 Ga. App. 140 (1) ( 122 S.E. 824). And see Carstarphen v. Ivey, 66 Ga. App. 865 ( 19 S.E.2d 341); Delcher Bros. Storage Co. v. Reynolds c. Lumber Co., 80 Ga. App. 288 ( 55 S.E.2d 864).
Here we probably have a stronger case for holding Tankersley to be the servant of the defendant at the time in question in that the undisputed testimony is that he was not actually working for the plaintiff on Saturday. Control is the determinative factor in these cases, and the defendant had such control here. In addition, it is quite probable that Tankersley could be considered a subservant here in that there was at least implied authority for the repairman to get some help in his work. See Cooper v. Lowery, 4 Ga. App. 120 ( 60 S.E. 1015); Cowart v. Jordan, 75 Ga. App. 855 (1) ( 44 S.E.2d 804); Carter v. Bishop, 209 Ga. 919 (2) ( 76 S.E.2d 784).
Furthermore, in order for the defendant to be liable it was not even necessary that Tankersley be its servant. All that was needed was to show that he was not, on that occasion, the servant of plaintiff, the reason being that plaintiff could not recover for the negligence of its own servant. There was ample evidence here for the jury to find that Tankersley was not the plaintiff's servant.
(b) Was there any evidence of negligence on Tankersley's part? This inquiry becomes important here because, absent negligence on the part of the resident defendant (Tankersley), the nonresident defendant would be entitled to have a judgment against it set aside, no matter how gross its negligence. See Southeastern Truck Lines v. Rann, 214 Ga. 813, 816 ( 108 S.E.2d 561) and cases there cited. It is undisputed that Tankersley did not at any time use either the electric torch or the welder. He was directed by Fulghum's repairman to sprinkle water in the area where the sparks had fallen from the repair work. (While there was some testimony by the repairman that one of plaintiff's officers had directed some of the water sprinkling, the jury resolved this against the defendants.)
Even conceding that the defendant can raise the issue of the lack of negligence on the part of Tankersley (see Nix v. Luke, 96 Ga. App. 123 (1), 99 S.E.2d 446), we feel that the jury was authorized to find that there was some negligence on Tankersley's part in the manner in which he did the sprinkling. It was not necessary that his negligence be as great as that of the defendant in order to hold him jointly liable. Eidson v. Maddox, 195 Ga. 641 ( 24 S.E.2d 895).
(c) Defendant raises also the issue of proximate causation, depending primarily on the lapse of time (some 30 hours) between the last of the repair work and the fire. The plaintiff had only circumstantial evidence on which to travel but this quite frequently happens in fire cases. As was said in Gainesville c. R. Co. v. Edmondson, 101 Ga. 747, 751 ( 29 S.E. 213), "But few cases will occur, however, where the fact that the fire was communicated is susceptible of direct proof. Consequently such proof must be more or less circumstantial." Accord: Southern R. Co. v. Williams, 113 Ga. 335 (5), 337 ( 38 S.E. 744). See Central of Ga. R. Co. v. Trammell, 114 Ga. 312 (1) ( 40 S.E. 259); Southern R. Co. v. Herrington, 128 Ga. 438 (3), 440 ( 57 S.E. 694); Morrow v. Johnston, 85 Ga. App. 261 ( 68 S.E.2d 906). As to the sufficiency of circumstantial evidence, see Christian Construction Co. v. Wood, 104 Ga. App. 751, at 757 ( 123 S.E.2d 151).
In view of the several witnesses plaintiff produced who testified to the effect that sawdust fires have a tendency to smolder for long periods before they burst into flame and the uncontradicted evidence that there were no electrical storms during the thirty-hour period and discounting the electric wiring as a cause (it had recently been rewired), we cannot say that the jury was unauthorized to find that the combined negligence of the defendant and Tankersley was the proximate cause of the fire.
Therefore, it was not error to overrule the defendant's motion for a judgment notwithstanding the verdict. The same reasoning applies to the general grounds of the motion for new trial, which were also properly overruled.
3. In its bill of exceptions, the defendant failed to specify as material the defendant's amendment to its motion for new trial setting out the various special grounds and the charge of the court. The plaintiff (defendant in error) has not insisted that this court cannot consider the assignments of error on these points and the defendant (plaintiff in error) has neither moved to amend its bill of exceptions under Code § 6-1309 nor suggested diminution of the record as provided in Code § 6-812.
"One who assigns error must show error by the record." Branch v. Branch, 194 Ga. 575 ( 22 S.E.2d 124). "Questions not made in the record can not be considered by this court, although presented in the brief and urged in the argument of counsel for plaintiff in error." Hood v. Mayor c. of Griffin, 113 Ga. 190 (1) ( 38 S.E. 409). "[T]he burden is on the party alleging error to show it affirmatively by the record." Campbell v. Powell, 206 Ga. 768 (3) ( 58 S.E.2d 829). "Indeed, it may be said as the basic axiom of appellate practice that it is absolutely necessary that the record show all matters necessary to a proper consideration of the cause on appeal, and the appellate court will not consider matters not in the record." 2 E.G.L. 122, Appeals, § 105.
An attorney owes the duty to the reviewing court as well as to his client to present a complete record on appeal for, as Justice Lumpkin so aptly stated over one hundred years ago: "To expect infallibility or exemption from error, however, under the circumstances, and especially without sharing the labor with us, by supplying the necessary facilities for adjudicating causes, is as unreasonable as the edict of Pharaoh, which exacted the usual tile of brick from the Israelites, without furnishing the proper allowance of straw and mortar for their manufacture." Chapman v. Gray, 8 Ga. 337, 340.
The duty of one who brings a case to this court for review would seem clearly to dictate that he should so prepare his bill of exceptions as to enable the court to know what his complaint is, and to supply us with all of the record in the case that is material to a clear understanding thereof. Where it is contended that a portion of the charge is erroneous and the whole charge is not specified and sent up as a part of the record, we have no way of knowing whether the court may have, in other portions of the charge, effected correction of what is claimed to be error. When an amendment to a motion for new trial is not specified or sent up, we have no way of knowing what the grounds of error claimed therein may be, or whether the assignments therein are sufficient to comply with the law. When it appears that portions of the record essential to a determination of the errors complained of have not been specified or sent up, an appropriate remedy for the plaintiff in error is outlined in Atlanta Coca-Cola Bottling Co. v. Hathcox, 45 Ga. App. 822 (1) ( 165 S.E. 902), and for the defendant in error in Code § 6-812.
But notwithstanding the failure of plaintiff in error here to specify as material and have sent up those portions of the record mentioned above, or to avail itself of the remedy indicated in Hathcox, the court has, sua sponte, ordered the omitted matter sent up due to the apparent closeness of questions involved. In so doing we feel that we are heeding the admonition of Code § 6-1307 relating to technical defects. As Judge Bell recently observed, "Appellate courts should strive to eliminate, not encourage, unnecessary technicalities serving no useful purpose, but which tend to divert or nullify justice." General Acc. c. Corp. v. Titus, 104 Ga. App. 85, 87 ( 121 S.E.2d 196). And see, Code §§ 6-810 (4, 5), 6-1403; Northeast Atlanta Bank v. Zec, 196 Ga. 114 (1, 2), 116 ( 26 S.E.2d 183) and citations; Leverett, Hall Christopher, Georgia Practice Procedure, 549, § 23-11; 2 E.G.L. 123, Appeals, § 109.
4.(a) Defendant's amendment to its motion for new trial is attacked as having technical imperfections. That portion of the bill of exceptions relating to the overruling of the amended motion reads, "[S]aid defendant then and there excepted, now excepts, and assigns said ruling and judgment as being contrary to law . . ." Nowhere does the specific word "error" appear in this assignment. However, this failure is not enough to prevent our consideration of the assignment as it does sufficiently "specify plainly the decision complained of and the alleged error." Code § 6-901, as amended; State Highway Dept. v. Haynie, 99 Ga. App. 172 ( 108 S.E.2d 107) (and see the concurring opinion there). There is no magic in the mere use of the word "error." See generally 2 E.G.L. 112, Appeals, § 89.
Next plaintiff contends that the special grounds of the motion for new trial are incomplete in failing to meet the standard of Code § 6-901, as amended, and many cases holding that it is necessary "to set forth literally or in substance or to designate the pages of the record where it may be found, the pleadings and evidence, necessary to a clear understanding of the exception" (Emphasis added). Mutual Benefit Health c. Assn. v. Hickman, 100 Ga. App. 348, 364 ( 111 S.E.2d 380). In almost every volume of the reports of our appellate courts can be found similar pronouncements. Their effect, unless the plaintiff in error sets forth the evidence "literally" or by referring to pages of the record, is that the plaintiff in error runs the risk that the appellate court may deem his ground "incomplete" as "not setting forth the evidence in substance."
(b) But the dispensation of justice ought not to turn on such tenuous considerations and, bearing in mind the authorities cited in the last preceding section of this opinion, we now move to a consideration of the merits of the defendant's amended motion for new trial. All of the special grounds of defendant's motion deal with the charge of the court and the common thread of its complaint is that the court did not charge as to the possibility of separate liability on the part of the two defendants and that under the charge as given the jury was required, in returning a verdict for the plaintiff, to return it against both defendants. Defendant cites Central Truckaway System v. Harrigan, 79 Ga. App. 117 (2, 3) ( 53 S.E.2d 186); Royal Cab Co. v. Hendrix, 96 Ga. App. 44 ( 99 S.E.2d 355); Daniel v. Robinson, 96 Ga. App. 342 ( 100 S.E.2d 94); Kelly v. Locke, 186 Ga. 620 ( 198 S.E. 754); Vaughan v. Farmers c. Bank, 146 Ga. 51 ( 90 S.E. 478), and Minor v. Fincher, 206 Ga. 721 ( 58 S.E.2d 389).
We do not think that Central Truckaway is in point. The charge dealt with there was substantially different from that here. In Royal Cab, Daniel and Kelly the plaintiff was complaining of the charge. Quite obviously such a charge places on the plaintiff a greater burden than does the law, and as to him it is error.
That brings us down to a consideration of Vaughan and Minor where, as here, a defendant complains of the charge. In Vaughan suit was brought on a note against the maker and several indorsers. Under the facts of the case it appeared that plaintiff was entitled to a verdict against the maker as a matter of law, and hence the jury was required to find against him, but was not required to find against the indorsers and that they might have found against some of them and not against all. In giving instructions as to the form of the verdict the court directed that if they should find for the plaintiff it should be "We, the jury, find for the plaintiff," or if for the defendants, "We, the jury, find for the defendants." The Supreme Court held such instruction to be error, and pointed out that it was incumbent upon the court to instruct as to the various verdicts that might have been authorized by the evidence.
In Minor suit was brought against joint trespassers for the cutting of timber. One of them resided in the county where the action was brought while the other resided in another county — just as is the case here. The court charged: "I charge you, gentlemen, in this case, the plaintiff has brought her suit against L. L. Minor and A. C. Rogers, Jr., jointly, contending that both defendants are jointly liable because Minor directed Rogers to cut timber on Land Lot 263 and Rogers carried out these directions. I charge you, you can't bring in a verdict against Minor alone, but if you bring a verdict for plaintiff, it must be against both defendants, this is because Minor does not reside in this county and this (court has) jurisdiction over Minor only if he and Rogers were joint wrongdoers." P. 730. The Supreme Court held the charge to be error, saying: "Insofar as the charge complained of instructed the jury that they could not return a verdict against the nonresident defendant unless they found against the resident defendant, the charge was not error. It was error, however, to instruct the jury that, in the event they returned a verdict for the plaintiff, `it must be against both defendants.' Such charge was erroneous because the jury under proper evidence might return a verdict for a plaintiff against a resident defendant alone, without returning a verdict against the nonresident defendant joined in the action." P. 731.
In the case sub judice the court throughout the charge referred to the defendants in the plural, and at no time instructed the jury that there might be any separate liability on their part, or that a verdict other than against both might be returned in the event they should find for the plaintiff, and when he came to instructing as to the form of the verdict charged: "If you find for the plaintiff the form of your verdict would be: We, the jury, find for the plaintiff, so many dollars and so many cents as you so find against both of the defendants." (Emphasis added.)
Clearly, under Vaughan and Minor this charge was error, requiring the grant of a new trial.
Judgment reversed. Carlisle, P. J., and Russell, J., concur.