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Tip Top Poultry, Inc. v. Smith House, Inc.

Court of Appeals of Georgia
Mar 7, 1985
327 S.E.2d 825 (Ga. Ct. App. 1985)

Opinion

69506.

DECIDED MARCH 7, 1985.

Action on account. Lumpkin Superior Court. Before Judge Kenyon.

Anthony Kirkland, for appellant.

David G. Crockett, for appellee.


Appellant filed suit against appellee, alleging a debt on an open account for poultry furnished to the Smith House of Marietta. In its answer, appellee asserted that it ran the Smith House in Dahlonega and was an entity separate and distinct from the Smith House of Marietta, Inc. The incorporating documents of the two corporations were made a part of the record and supported appellee's assertion. Appellee defended, stating that it was not responsible for the debt, because it was not a party to the verbal contract between appellant and the Smith House of Marietta. Summary judgment was awarded appellee, and appellant appealed.

1. Appellant maintains that summary judgment was inappropriate because a question of fact remained whether or not the actions of appellee's agents induced appellant to extend credit to appellee. However, there is no evidence that credit was ever extended to appellee. The record reflects that the poultry in question was delivered to the Smith House of Marietta; that invoices were sent to the Marietta address; and that payment was received in response to some of the invoices. Appellant contends that appellee is responsible for the Marietta debt because the general manager of appellee negotiated the sale of appellant's poultry to the Smith House of Marietta, and a credit application submitted in the name of the Smith House of Marietta, Inc., listed creditors of appellee as references. However, there is no averment stated generally or with particularity that the contract was induced by fraud. Instead, appellant maintains that appellee promised to pay the debt the Smith House of Marietta incurred, and likens the promise to an original undertaking. See B. J. Howard Corp. v. Skinner, Wilson Strickland, 172 Ga. App. 180 ( 322 S.E.2d 306) (1984); Lindsey v. Heard Oil Co., 170 Ga. App. 572 ( 317 S.E.2d 597) (1984); Trans-State v. Barber, 170 Ga. App. 372 ( 317 S.E.2d 242) (1984). However, unlike the creditors in the cited cases, appellant cannot point to words uttered by an agent of appellee that can be understood to be a promise to assume responsibility for the debt incurred by a third party, in this case, the Smith House of Marietta, Inc. Even if there were evidence of such a promise, as the trial court noted, "[t]he record is clear that during the course of dealing credit was given to a party other than [appellee]; the Ross [v. W. P. Stephens Lumber Co., 138 Ga. App. 748 ( 227 S.E.2d 486) (1976)] exclusivity [of credit extension] requirement has not been met, and [appellant] is not entitled to recover from [appellee] on the oral contract at issue here."

2. The record in the trial court was supplemented on appeal with depositions taken in another action between these parties. That which was not taken into account by the trial court in rendering its decision will not be reviewed on appeal. See Barnett Mtg. Trust Co. v. Woods Mill, Ltd., 151 Ga. App. 133 (4) ( 259 S.E.2d 140) (1979). Cf. Global Assoc. v. Pan American Communications, 163 Ga. App. 274 (1a) ( 293 S.E.2d 481) (1982).

Judgment affirmed. Banke, C. J., and Pope, J., concur.

DECIDED MARCH 7, 1985.


Summaries of

Tip Top Poultry, Inc. v. Smith House, Inc.

Court of Appeals of Georgia
Mar 7, 1985
327 S.E.2d 825 (Ga. Ct. App. 1985)
Case details for

Tip Top Poultry, Inc. v. Smith House, Inc.

Case Details

Full title:TIP TOP POULTRY, INC. v. SMITH HOUSE, INC

Court:Court of Appeals of Georgia

Date published: Mar 7, 1985

Citations

327 S.E.2d 825 (Ga. Ct. App. 1985)
327 S.E.2d 825