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American Liberty Ins. Co. v. Sanders

Court of Appeals of Georgia
May 16, 1969
120 Ga. App. 202 (Ga. Ct. App. 1969)

Opinion

44466.

ARGUED MAY 6, 1969.

DECIDED MAY 16, 1969. REHEARING DENIED JULY 31, 1969.

Action on uninsured motorist policy. Atkinson Superior Court. Before Judge Lott.

Zorn Royal, William A. Zorn, for appellant.

Jack J. Helms, for appellee.


1. The motion to dismiss the appeal is without merit.

2. (a) Where a motion to open a default alleges that "movant shows that it has a good and meritorious defense to said action which is filed herewith," and the defense, contained in the answer, is tendered and filed along with the motion, the defense is effectively incorporated as a part of the motion.

(b) Alleged defects in the verification of a motion to open a default must be objected to in the trial court and a ruling invoked thereon before appellant can invoke a ruling in the appellate court as to the alleged defect.

3. A statute which confers upon the trial judge discretion to decide a particular question before him also imposes upon him a correlative duty to exercise such discretion when the occasion arises; and where the judge has a legal discretion to exercise but passes judgment on the question, affirmatively showing from the language of the ruling that he failed to exercise any discretion whatever, the judgment not being demanded as a matter of law, a reversal will result with direction to rehear the matter and pass upon it in the exercise of a sound legal discretion.

ARGUED MAY 6, 1969 — DECIDED MAY 16, 1969 — REHEARING DENIED JULY 31, 1969 — CERT. APPLIED FOR.


This is a companion case to American Liberty Ins. Co. v. Sanders, 120 Ga. App. 1 ( 169 S.E.2d 342). Mrs. Sanders seeks recovery for personal injuries allegedly received as a result of being struck by an automobile operated by an uninsured motorist. In the companion case of her husband we held that there was no uninsured motorist coverage and Mr. Sanders could therefore not recover in his suit against the insurance company.

The instant case went into default, and 52 days after the complaint was filed defendant paid the costs and presented a motion to the trial court, prior to final judgment in the action, seeking to open the default. The motion alleged that on December 7, 1968, the two complaints were filed against movant, one being the husband's case above referred to, and the other being the instant case; that on the same date copies of the complaints were served upon 5/8 Smith, an insurance broker through whom a policy of insurance had been issued to Z. B. Sanders; that 5/8 Smith was under the misapprehension that there was one suit only and that one copy was for use of his office and one copy for the use of the defendant; that accordingly 5/8 Smith forwarded only one of the complaints, being the husband's suit, to movant; that upon receipt of the complaint movant referred it to its attorney and defensive pleadings were duly filed within the time required by law; that on January 23, 1969, more than 45 days after service, movant, through its attorney, learned for the first time that the instant case had been filed; that the case was in default through no fault of movant's but solely through the fault of 5/8 Smith who failed to forward notice of the complaint; that movant has a good and meritorious defense to said action "which is filed herewith," stands ready to plead instanter, is ready to proceed with trial, and has paid the accrued costs. The prayer was for an order opening the default and allowing movant's answer to be filed upon such terms as the court may direct. The motion was verified by movant's counsel, and along with the motion its defensive pleadings were filed in which it absolutely denied liability because of lack of coverage, a defense found meritorious in the companion case. Also in the answer movant admitted that it was a nonresident corporation duly authorized to do business in Georgia but denied that it had in the county an agency and place of business operated by 5/8 Smith upon whom service could be perfected. Plaintiff moved to dismiss the motion to open the default.

At the hearing on the motion to open the default 5/8 Smith testified substantially to the facts as alleged in the motion, and he further testified that he was not a duly authorized agent for movant but was only a broker; that he only filed out applications for insurance and forwarded them to the company's agent in Atlanta for handling; that he was not authorized to handle the company's business in connection with claims; and that suits had never been served upon him in the twenty years he had been in business.

A colloquy took place between the court and counsel as follows:

"The Court: (After argument of counsel). I sustain your motion, Mr. Helms, to dismiss his motion, on the ground that, according to these cases, the appellate courts hold that I have no discretion. If I did have discretion I would open it. Mr. Zorn: Therefor, when they pass on it, if they say that you do have discretion, then, the matter will be reopened? The Court: Yes. Mr. Zorn: Well, I can't ask any better than that. Mr. Helms: Judge, you just sustain my motion to dismiss his motion on the ground that it didn't state a legal ground for opening the default? The Court: Put in there that I sustain your motion to dismiss his motion to open default for the reason that, under the decision of the appellate courts, I do not have the discretion to open it."

In its order the court did not pass upon the motion to dismiss the motion to open default, but provided as follows: "The motion of defendant to open a default coming on to be heard and plaintiff having moved to dismiss said motion and after argument of counsel and hearing evidence it is the judgment of the court that the facts alleged and testified to fail to present an issue authorizing this court to exercise a discretion, the court having determined that although the defendant did not know of the pending suit against it until after the time had expired to file an answer, that according to the decisions of the appellate courts this court does not have the discretion to open the default. Therefore, the defendant's motion to open the default is denied."

Movant procured a certificate from the trial judge providing that "I hereby certify that the order of this court dated February 17, 1969, denying the defendant's motion to open the default on the grounds that this court does not have the right to exercise a discretion, . Is of such importance to the case that immediate review should be had." The order denying the motion to open the default is thus before us for review.


1. The motion to dismiss the appeal on the ground that the notice of appeal did not designate the final judgment subsequently entered is without merit. The issues involved in the order appealed from are not moot, nor is the final judgment the law of the case, inasmuch as the motion to open the default was made prior to final judgment, and a certificate of immediate review was obtained for this order. If there was error in denying the motion, all further proceedings were nugatory, for in that event the defendant may have been wrongfully denied the opportunity of presenting what appears to have been a meritorious defense.

2. (a) Plaintiff contends that although the trial court proceeded to hear the motion to open the default on its merits, the motion was insufficient as a matter of law to meet the requirements of CPA § 55 (b) ( Code Ann. § 81A-155 (b)). It is urged that the motion contained no facts to sustain the conclusion that movant had a "meritorious defense which is filed herewith" and that the answer filed in connection with the motion was not verified or made a part of the motion.

CPA § 55 (b) ( Code Ann. § 81A-155 (b)) (same as old Code § 110-404) provides that "In order to allow the default to be thus opened, the showing shall be made under oath, shall set up a meritorious defense, shall offer to plead instanter, and announce ready to proceed with the trial." This Code section, "providing for the opening of defaults, should be given a liberal construction, in the promotion of justice and the establishment of truth..." Tedcastle Co. v. Brewer Co., 19 Ga. App. 650 (1) ( 91 S.E. 1051), and citations. See also Strickland v. Galloway, 111 Ga. App. 683, 685 ( 143 S.E.2d 3), and citations.

Under the italicized portion, it has been held that facts, and not merely conclusions, must be stated. Ga. Highway Express Co. v. Do-All Chemical Co., 118 Ga. App. 736 ( 165 S.E.2d 429). This is so that the court can determine whether, if the default were opened and movant were allowed to plead and try the case, the result might be in his favor, or that it was at least doubtful that plaintiff should recover (cf. Phillips v. Taber, 83 Ga. 565, 572 ( 10 S.E. 270); Blanch v. King, 202 Ga. 779, 782 ( 44 S.E.2d 779)); and the rule applies where the matter setting for the defense "was [not] attached to or in any way made a part of the motion ... or was [not] even by words remotely referred to, and an effort thus made to incorporate it in the motion to vacate, as an exhibit or component part thereof." Pryor v. American Trust c. Co., 15 Ga. App. 822, 825 ( 84 S.E. 312).

But in the instant case it was alleged in the motion that "movant shows that it has a good and meritorious defense to said action which is filed herewith," and the defense, contained in the answer, was tendered and filed along with the motion as an exhibit or part thereof. "Statements in a pleading may be adopted by reference in a different part of the same pleading or in another pleading or in any motion. A copy of any written instrument which is an exhibit to a pleading is a part thereof for all purposes." CPA § 10 (c) ( Code Ann. § 81A-110 (c)).

In these circumstances there is no reason why the court cannot determine whether opening the default might result in defendant's favor as well as if the recitals of the defense were set out in the motion itself. To require these to be repeated in full in the motion is but a redundancy, encumbering the record — a useless thing, which the law does not require, and which CPA has recognized. Cf. Manor v. State, 223 Ga. 594 (3) ( 157 S.E.2d 431); Irvin v. Locke, 200 Ga. 675, 679 ( 38 S.E.2d 289). The reference to the defense, filed along with the motion, was sufficient to incorporate it as a part of the motion. As held in Maddox Coffee Co. v. McHan, 22 Ga. App. 198 (2) ( 95 S.E. 736): "The defendant duly filed a plea presenting a meritorious defense to the action, and setting forth fully the alleged facts constituting his defense, which was referred to in the motion to set aside the judgment against him and thus made a part of said motion, so that the motion itself disclosed the specific nature and character of the defense relied upon... It was not necessary for the court to go further, in this connection, than to determine that a legally good and meritorious defense was alleged by the movant." (Emphasis supplied.)

(b) Nor is there merit in the contention that the motion was defective because the defense was not verified. Since the defense was effectively incorporated into the motion, and the motion was verified in a form to which no objection was made, the contention is unfounded. In the trial court there was no objection to or motion to strike the defense or the motion on the ground of lack of verification or of defective verification, and the trial court did not pass upon this question, but specifically grounded its decision on another reason unconnected with this ground. If there was a defect in verification or lack thereof, it was an amendable one, waived by failure timely to object ( Ward v. Frick Co., 95 Ga. 804 ( 22 S.E. 899); Edwards v. Boys Co., 136 Ga. 733, 738 ( 72 S.E. 34)), and this court will not consider the alleged formal defect since the sole reason for failing to open the default was upon another ground. Early v. Hampton, 15 Ga. App. 95 (1) ( 82 S.E. 669); Edwards v. Boyd Co., 136 Ga. 733, 738, supra. "The appellant is limited on his appeal to the grounds of objection which he properly presents in the trial court." Lundy v. State, 119 Ga. App. 585 (1) ( 168 S.E.2d 199).

3. From the colloquy at the hearing, the order refusing to open the default, and the certificate of the trial judge, it affirmatively appears that the judge exercised no discretion in passing upon the motion to open the default but expressly put his judgment upon the basis that he had no discretion. It is beyond dispute that CPA § 55 (b) ( Code Ann. § 81A-155 (b)) and its predecessor does confer upon the trial judge discretion at any time before final judgment to open a default for (1) providential cause preventing the filing of a plea, (2) excusable neglect, or (3) where the judge, from all the facts, shall determine that a proper case has been made for the default to be opened, albeit the discretion is a legal one. The order entered on defendant's motion recites a finding that defendant did not know of the pending suit until after the time for filing an answer had expired. Under defendant's answer, in which it denied that 5/8 Smith was an agent upon whom service of process could be made, and under Smith's testimony to the same effect, the court was authorized to so find as a fact for consideration in the exercise of its discretion. We note in this connection that whereas prior to the CPA service of process could be attacked only by a traverse to the return of service, under CPA § 12 (b) the attack can now be made by simple denial in the answer or, at the option of the pleader, by motion in writing.

The defective service might have been attacked by motion, and since this is true it may be waived if the attack is omitted from other available motions which are filed. Code Ann. § 81A-112 (g). It was not included in defendant's motion to dismiss because of failure to state a claim upon which relief could be granted. Whether waiver results when there was an attack by way of denial in its answer of the agency of the party upon whom service was made, filed anterior to the motion to dismiss, need not be decided here. Even if that be the result, so that defendant cannot now rely upon the defective service as a ground for obtaining dismissal of the action, the judge was nevertheless entitled to consider the circumstances of whether there had been a defective service which kept the defendant from learning of the pendency of the action and which brought about its delay in making answer, along with whether defendant had a valid defense, in determining whether in the interest of justice the default should be opened to allow defendant to present the defense. "Punctuality is a virtue of high order, but truth and justice are even more exalted; hence the demand for punctuality in pleading should not be so strict as to prevent inquiry into truth and to deny justice where the delinquency is reasonably excusable. Therefore, while the law makes requirements of punctuality in pleading, it also usually makes provision for relieving against the penalties imposed for a lack of this virtue, when the interests of truth and justice require it. This may be said to be the general policy of the law. Our statutes for opening defaults well indicate this policy." Bass v. Doughty, 5 Ga. App. 458, 460 ( 63 S.E. 516).

"The wording of § 5072 [now Code Ann. § 81A-155] is such that it conveys very ample powers as to opening defaults; not only providential cause, which is broad, and excusable neglect, which is still broader, but finally, as if reaching out to take in every conceivable case where injustice might result if the default were not opened, the section goes on to say, `where the judge from all the facts shall determine that a proper case has been made,' etc... We apprehend the true rule for the exercise of the discretion conferred by § 5072 [now § 81A-155] to be laid down in Brucker v. O'Connor, 115 Ga. 95 [41 S.E. 245]: `While this section gives to the judge a broad discretion, it does not mean that he can act arbitrarily, but that he may exercise a sound and legal discretion. It does not give him authority to open a default capriciously or for fanciful or insufficient reasons. Excusable neglect does not mean gross negligence. It does not mean a wilful disregard of the process of the court, but refers to cases where there is a reasonable excuse for failing to answer.'" Brawner v. Maddox, 1 Ga. App. 332, 337 ( 58 S.E. 278). And see Butler Co. v. Strickland-Tillman Hdw. Co., 15 Ga. App. 193 ( 82 S.E. 815); First Nat. Ins. Co. v. Thain, 107 Ga. App. 100 ( 129 S.E.2d 381); Strickland v. Galloway, 111 Ga. App. 683, supra.

That the agency may have been admitted in another action pending in the same court does not alter the matter. Glaze v. Bogle, 105 Ga. 295 ( 31 S.E. 169); O'Connor v. United States of America, 11 Ga. App. 246 (4) ( 75 S.E. 110).

The court found as a fact that the defendant did not learn of the pendency of the action until it was in default, and stated that it would open the default if it could exercise discretion in the matter (presumably for reason 3, supra, or to afford due process), yet it not only failed to exercise a discretion in denying the motion to open, but proceeded upon the erroneous theory that it had no discretion in the matter. It is well settled that a statute which confers upon the trial judge discretion to decide a particular question before him also imposes upon him a correlative duty to exercise it when the occasion arises; and where the judge has a legal discretion to exercise and passes judgment on the question, resting his decision solely upon a point of law and affirmatively showing from the language of the ruling that he failed to exercise any discretion whatever, a reversal will result with direction to rehear the matter and pass upon it on its merits if the legal ground on which the judgment was rested was not demanded by the evidence before him. The evidence here did not demand a denial of the motion to open the default.

"`The fundamental requisite of due process of law is the opportunity to be heard.' Grannis v. Ordean, 234 U.S. 385, 394 [ 34 SC 779, 58 LE 1363]. This right to be heard has little reality or worth unless one is informed that the matter is pending and can choose for himself whether to appear or default, acquiesce or contest." Mullane v. Central Hanover Bank c. Co., 339 U.S. 306, 314 ( 70 SC 652, 94 LE 865).

"When invoked as a guide to judicial action it means a sound discretion, that is to say, a discretion exercised not arbitrarily or wilfully, but with regard to what is right and equitable under the circumstances and the law, and directed by the reason and conscience of the judge to a just result." Langnes v. Green, 282 U.S. 531, 541 ( 51 SC 243, 75 LE 520). And see Miller v. Wallace, 76 Ga. 479, 484 (2 ASR 48). "An appeal to a judge's discretion is an appeal to his judicial conscience." Griffin v. State, 12 Ga. App. 615 (5) ( 77 S.E. 1080); Butler Co. v. Strickland- Tillman Hdw. Co., 15 Ga. App. 193 (2) ( 82 S.E. 815). Cf. Forrester v. Culpepper, 194 Ga. 744, 750 ( 22 S.E.2d 595).

This principle has frequently been applied where the judge fails to exercise his discretion in injunction cases, and a clear pronouncement of it appears in Stribbling v. Georgia R. Power Co., 139 Ga. 676 (3) ( 78 S.E. 42): "The presiding judge, in refusing to grant the injunction prayed, having stated in his order that he had concluded that he had `no discretion in the premises,' and having based his ruling on an erroneous view of the law which he apparently though concluded him, and not upon a full consideration of the application for injunction on the issues of law and fact, his judgment is reversed, with direction to rehear the application and pass upon it on its merits." Accord: Hill v. Wadley Sou. R. Co., 128 Ga. 705 (7) ( 57 S.E. 795); Marion County v. McCorkle, 187 Ga. 312 (2) ( 200 S.E. 285); Ballard v. Waites, 194 Ga. 427, 429 ( 21 S.E.2d 848); Spires v. Wright, 147 Ga. 633 (2) ( 95 S.E. 232); Giles v. Rawlings, 148 Ga. 575 (2) ( 97 S.E. 521); High Shoals Mfg. Co. v. Penick, 127 Ga. 504 (3) ( 56 S.E. 648); Head v. Bridges, 72 Ga. 30 (2).

It has been applied where the judge failed to exercise his discretion on an application to validate revenue-anticipation certificates ( Carter v. State, 93 Ga. App. 12, 20 ( 90 S.E.2d 672)); in the regulation of an execution sale ( Fears v. State, 102 Ga. 274 (5) ( 29 S.E. 463)); in assuming the general superintendence and control of the litigation before him ( Loomis v. State, 78 Ga. App. 153, 160 ( 51 S.E.2d 13)); in overruling a motion for new trial ( Scribner v. Adams, 36 Ga. App. 754 ( 138 S.E. 264); Thompson v. Warren, 118 Ga. 644 ( 45 S.E. 912)); and in considering under Code Ann. § 110-1207 affidavits in opposition to motion for summary judgment not served prior to the date of the hearing ( Harrington v. Frye, 116 Ga. App. 755 ( 159 S.E.2d 84)). Thus, it was stated in Loomis v. State, 78 Ga. App. 153, 164, supra, citing Marion County, Hill, Ballard, Stribbling, Spires, and Fears, all supra, that "where, upon the question raised, the trial judge has a legal discretion to exercise and passes judgment on the question, resting his decision solely upon a point of law and affirmatively showing from the language of the ruling that he failed to exercise any discretion whatsoever in the premises, the rule of discretion does not apply; and if the legal ground on which the judgment was rested was erroneous, a reversal will result." And in Harrington v. Frye, 116 Ga. App. 755, 756, supra, it was stated that "[a] statute which confers upon a judge discretion to decide questions of procedure in cases tried before him imposes a correlative duty that he exercise such discretion when the occasion arises."

An arbitrary or capricious use, or an abuse of discretion is the equivalent of a failure to exercise it at all. South View Cemetery Assn. v. Hailey, 199 Ga. 478, 483 ( 34 S.E.2d 863).

This principle applies under the Federal Rules, hence under CPA. In United States v. A. H. Fischer Lumber Co., 162 F.2d 872, 874, it was held that where discretion is provided to the judge by law or by the rules and he acts, not in the exercise of that discretion, but on the erroneous premise that he has none, he errs in so doing, requiring reversal. See to same effect, General American Life Ins. Co. v. Central Nat. Bank of Cleveland, 136 F.2d 821, 823 (4); Marsh v. Illinois Cent. R. Co., 175 F.2d 498 (4); Commercial Credit Corp. v. Pepper, 187 F.2d 71 (3-5).

Since the judge was authorized to open the default for reason 3 stated in the statute, and thus was not concluded as a matter of law, it was error for him to fail to exercise a legal discretion in ruling upon the motion; and, in accordance with the above cited authority, the judgment is reversed with direction to rehear the motion and pass upon it on its merits.

It is urged that a different result is required by our decisions in Georgia Highway Express Co. v. Do-All Chemical Co., 118 Ga. App. 736 ( 165 S.E.2d 429) and Jordan v. Clark, 119 Ga. App. 18 ( 165 S.E.2d 922). We cannot agree.

The record in Georgia Highway Express discloses that the motion to open the default was filed March 12, 1968, reciting only that "defendant has a good meritorious defense." There was no other reference to any defense in it. An order was entered opening the default April 13, 1968. A defense was filed April 15, 1968. Consequently, as was stated in the opinion, "a condition precedent to opening the default [as required under Code Ann. § 81A-155 (b)] was not met." Movant had not done that which was necessary to invoke the court's discretion. He presented nothing in the way of a defense until after the opening of the default. It should have been done prior to the opening so that the court might examine and see whether there was a defense of apparent merit, upon a determination of which the court could exercise its discretion, granting the motion if the defense appeared to have merit and denying it if it did not. Obviously, the judge needs the defense for consideration along with the motion, and it is the intent of the law that he should have it. Facts appearing in the record, which need not be recited here, indicate that there was a lack of excusable neglect, upon which movant relied.

In Jordan it was asserted in the motion that there had been confusion when the defendant was served with copies of the petition and process in two cases involving the same subject matter and one was allowed to go in default, but it was pointed out in our opinion that "Even a casual reading of the petition in the present case discloses that it is a separate action... There is nothing in the record before this court to disclose any sound basis for any legal excuse in failing to comply with the mandate of the summons... His neglect is inexcusable and gross, and ... the trial court has no authority to open a default for reasons which fall short of a reasonable excuse for the negligent failure to answer." Both cases are easily distinguishable.

Judgment reversed with direction. Bell, P. J., Jordan, P. J., Hall and Whitman, JJ., concur. Felton, C. J., Pannell, Deen and Quillian, JJ., dissent.


I cannot conceive how this case can be reversed without overruling Ga. Highway Express v. Do-All Chem. Co., 118 Ga. App. 736 ( 165 S.E.2d 429) and Jordan v. Clark, 119 Ga. App. 18 ( 165 S.E.2d 922).

The facts of this case are: Smith was the authorized agent for service of the defendant insurance company. He was served with two companion actions. Thinking they were the same he negligently forwarded only one to his principal. Thirty days after filing (which was on December 7, 1968) the case was in default. The motion to open the default was filed on January 28, 52 days after the suit was filed. The motion did not set out a meritorious defense.

It was not by reference incorporated into the motion.

1. This situation is identical with the one in Ga. Highway Express, where the defendant, in a motion to vacate, also stated that it had a meritorious defense. The court, including Judge Eberhardt, held: "The defendant's motion to vacate states only that defendant has a good and meritorious defense to the declaration. No facts regarding the defense are set forth, only this conclusion. All the facts set forth relate to certain events which transpired and which form the ground upon which the motion to vacate is based, i. e., excusable neglect. Thus a condition precedent to opening the default was not met and the trial judge had no discretion in the matter." Here the defendant also made a motion to open the default. The mere fact that he stated in the motion that he was filing defensive pleadings does not make the defensive pleadings a part of the motion. I therefore conclude that, under this case, the court had no discretion and was correct in so holding.

2. If Ga. Highway Express is overruled, however, we are met with another identical situation. In Jordan v. Clark, supra, the ground of the motion to open the default was that movant "had confused the service of the petition with service of pleadings in a companion case having a similar caption" and accordingly did not contact his attorney in time. The court in holding that the default could not be opened for this reason stated: "In Brucker v. O'Connor, 115 Ga. 95, 96 ( 41 S.E. 245) the Supreme Court made it clear that if a party on reading a writ, reaches the wrong conclusion and therefore pays no attention to the process and fails to answer, his neglect is inexcusable and gross, and that the trial court has no authority to open a default for reasons which fall short of a reasonable excuse for the negligent failure to answer."

In this case the authorized agent of the defendant, being properly served, confused the case with a companion case, reached the wrong conclusion and paid no attention to the process. In such event both this court and the Supreme Court have ruled that the trial court has no discretion to open the default.

The motion to rehear should be granted.

I am authorized to state that Chief Judge Felton and Judges Pannell and Quillian concur in this dissent.


Summaries of

American Liberty Ins. Co. v. Sanders

Court of Appeals of Georgia
May 16, 1969
120 Ga. App. 202 (Ga. Ct. App. 1969)
Case details for

American Liberty Ins. Co. v. Sanders

Case Details

Full title:AMERICAN LIBERTY INSURANCE COMPANY v. SANDERS

Court:Court of Appeals of Georgia

Date published: May 16, 1969

Citations

120 Ga. App. 202 (Ga. Ct. App. 1969)
170 S.E.2d 249

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