Evans v. Bredow
Evans v. Bredow
Opinion of the Court
There is an abundance of evidence to support the verdict as to the general grounds.
Special ground 1 assigns error because it is alleged that the court erred in submitting the question of damage to the real property to the jury for the reason that the plaintiff’s petition did not allege ownership of the property by the plaintiff. As to this ground, the petition alleges 1146 Lanier Boulevard, N. E., to be the plaintiff’s home. Also, the answer of the defendant admits this to be true and neither is there a specific denial in the answer or elsewhere. This point is settled conclusively in Jester v. Bain
Special ground 2 assigns error because the court withdrew from the jury the question of ownership of the car at the termination of the evidence in the following language: “There has been some mention made in this case about the fact that Mr. Bredow originally bought this car and that the car was put in his wife’s name. I instruct you that that has nothing whatever to do with the case. Mrs. Bredow herself has taken the stand and has, under oath, in this court testified that she had had no interest, and had no interest, in the car. So whatever damages you find were done to the automobile under the instructions given you would be a proper part of your verdict and you could find the $1,670 he has claimed for that or you can find any amount less than that; you could not exceed it.” Special ground 3 assigns error on the ground that the excerpt quoted hereinabove expressed an opinion on the part of the trial court and had the effect of directing a verdict. It is alleged in special ground 2 that the issue of ownership was raised during the trial when the plaintiff testified that he bought the car and gave it to his wife. The plaintiff testified positively that he bought and paid for the car. The wife testified that the car belonged to her husband.
It would not have been erroneous for the court to have directed a verdict in the instant case. See Code § 110-104. Special
The court did not err in denying the motion for new trial for any of the reasons assigned.
Judgment affirmed.
Concurring Opinion
concurring specially. Although I concur in the judgment of affirmance I do not agree to all that is said in the opinion.
1. As to a sufficient interest appearing in the plaintiff to the real estate alleged to have been damaged to authorize recovery, attention is called to special ground 4 of the amended motion for new trial which contends that the recovery for damage to the shrubbery, yard, water pipe and other fixtures attached to the realty is without evidence to support it in that the plaintiff neither pleaded nor proved ownership of the realty. Applying the rule that the evidence must be construed in favor of the verdict, where, as here, the petition alleges that the property is the home of plaintiff and that “his shrubbery”, “his water pipe”, and “his driveway” have been damaged, and where in his testimony he also applies the first person singular to these objects, in the absence of anything in the record raising a question as to the quality or quantity of ownership involved, it may be inferred that the plaintiff has such interest in the realty as will permit maintenance of the suit.
2. Facts positively alleged are constructive admissions, and the pleader is precluded from disputing their truth, whether they be true or false. Armour v. Lunsford, 192 Ga. 598 (15 S. E. 2d 886). A defendant is bound by the admissions contained in his answer. Cook v. Cochran, 42 Ga. App. 478 (156 S. E. 465); Wofford Oil Co. of Ga. v. Story, 52 Ga. App. 496 (183 S. E. 840).
As to the question of title to the automobile, although evidence introduced without objection shows quite a conflict as to whether the plaintiff owned the automobile or his wife owned it, paragraph 4 of the petition as follows: “Petitioner’s 1953 Buick Riviera automobile was parked in the driveway immediately adj acent to the right side of his home” was admitted by the answer. Accordingly, grounds 5 and 6 of the amended motion for a new trial,
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.