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Phillips v. National-Ben Franklin Ins. Co.

Court of Appeals of Georgia
Jan 22, 1973
195 S.E.2d 285 (Ga. Ct. App. 1973)

Opinion

47564.

SUBMITTED OCTOBER 3, 1972.

DECIDED JANUARY 22, 1973.

Declaratory judgment. DeKalb Superior Court. Before Judge Peeler.

Frank M. Eldridge, for appellant.

Swift, Currie, McGhee Hiers, George W. Hart, Orr Joyner, John C. Joyner, for appellees.


A petition seeking declaratory judgment as to coverage and obligation to defend on a policy of automobile liability insurance issued by it was brought by National-Ben Franklin Insurance Company against the named insured and driver of the insured vehicle, as well as the plaintiffs in separate actions brought against the insured and the driver arising from a collision involving the insured automobile. The petition alleged a justiciable controversy as well as that the insurer was uncertain as to whether it should defend the actions. Answers were filed alleging the insurer had denied liability and refused to defend and that the insured had employed her own counsel. A temporary restraining order was entered as to the pending litigation, which was subsequently amended upon amendment of the petition changing the prayers for injunctive relief. Subsequently a hearing was had on "December 9, 1970, for a determination of the single question of whether or not the temporary restraining order ... should be extended." After the hearing and before the order thereon was signed and entered on January 5, 1971, "extending the temporary restraining order," an amendment to one of the plaintiffs' pleadings in the tort actions was made attacking the constitutionality of the portion of the Declaratory Judgment Act permitting the grant of injunctions.

1. It not appearing that the trial judge has passed upon the alleged constitutional attack upon the statute, no question relating thereto is presented to this court for decision. Phillips v. National-Ben Franklin Ins. Co., 229 Ga. 258 ( 190 S.E.2d 916).

2. The petition for declaratory judgment meeting the requirements of pleading as required by the Declaratory Judgment Act even prior to the Civil Practice Act, ( St. Paul Fire Marine Ins. Co. v. Johnson, 216 Ga. 437 ( 117 S.E.2d 459); Hardeman v. Southern Home Ins. Co., 111 Ga. App. 638 (3) ( 142 S.E.2d 452)), a temporary restraining order was authorized under Section 2 of the Declaratory Judgment Act as amended. Ga. L. 1945, p. 137; Ga. L. 1959, pp. 236, 237 ( Code Ann. § 110-1102).

3. If the order appealed from be construed as the grant of an interlocutory injunction after hearing evidence, we must affirm, as there is no transcript of evidence before this court.

Judgment affirmed. Hall, P. J., and Quillian, J., concur.

SUBMITTED OCTOBER 3, 1972 — DECIDED JANUARY 22, 1973.


Summaries of

Phillips v. National-Ben Franklin Ins. Co.

Court of Appeals of Georgia
Jan 22, 1973
195 S.E.2d 285 (Ga. Ct. App. 1973)
Case details for

Phillips v. National-Ben Franklin Ins. Co.

Case Details

Full title:PHILLIPS v. NATIONAL-BEN FRANKLIN INSURANCE COMPANY et al

Court:Court of Appeals of Georgia

Date published: Jan 22, 1973

Citations

195 S.E.2d 285 (Ga. Ct. App. 1973)
195 S.E.2d 285

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