Craven v. Allen
Craven v. Allen
Opinion of the Court
1. The verdict of the jury in this personal injury case read: “We the jury find in favor of the plaintiff the amount of $10,000, and against the defendant James Hershell Allen in the amount of $1,000, and against the defendant Robert C. Maulc in the amount of $9,000.” The trial court entered an order- declaring the verdict illegal. The appellant moved for judgment in accordance with the verdict, the denial of which is enumerated as error.
(a) The common law rule against apportionment of compensatory damages is in force except in those states which have by statute expressly authorized apportionment by the jury. See Norris v. Richards, 193 Tenn. 450 (246 SW2d 81); Stoewsand v. Checker Taxi Co., 331 Ill. App. 192 (73 NE2d 4); Ress v. Rediess, 130 Col. 572 (278 P2d 183); Aitken v. White, 93 Cal. App. 2d (208 P2d 788); Brewer v. Appalachian Constructors, 138 W. Va. 437 (76 SE2d 916); Fitzgerald v. Thompson, 167 Kan. 87 (204 P2d 756); Bakken v. Lewis, 223 Minn. 329 (26 NW2d 478); Southland Broadcasting Co. v. Tracy (Miss.), 50 S2d 572; Bell v. Riley Bus Lines (Ala.), 57 S2d 612.
(b) Georgia follows the common law rule against apportionment of damages among joint and several tortfeasors except where, under the provisions of Code § 105-2011, the statute law sanctions such apportionment in cases involving trespasses to property. McCarthy v. Combs, 78 Ga. App. 426 (50 SE2d 805); Hightower v. Landrum, 109 Ga. App. 510 (5a) (136 SE2d 425); Glore v. Akin, 131 Ga. 481 (1) (62 SE 580).
(c) Is the above stated rule changed by the provisions of Code Ann. § 81A-120 which provides in part: “Judgment may be given for one or more of the plaintiffs according to their respective rights to relief, and against one or more defendants according to their respective liabilities”? This section adopted verbatim the provisions of Rule 20, Fed. R. Civ. P., which contains the general provisions for the permissive joinder of plaintiffs and defendants in civil actions, and insofar as possible it should be construed in the context in which it was applied in Federal courts. These courts have uniformly held that whether or not the jury may apportion a verdict as between joint and several tortfeasors depends entirely on the
Judgment affirmed.
Concurring Opinion
concurring specially. After the verdict was
published both defendants moved for a mistrial and the trial judge entered an order declaring a mistrial. The plaintiff appellant later filed a motion to set aside this order and for judgment in/ accordance with the verdict of the jury. The trial judge entered an order overruling and denying appellant’s motion to set aside the order granting the mistrial and to enter judgment in accordance with the verdict of the jury. The appellant entered an appeal from this judgment.
I concur in the interpretation placed upon Section 20 of the Civil Practice Act (Ga. L. 1966, pp. 609, 631; Code Ann. § 81A-120) but not on the basis of the interpretation by the
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- CRAVEN v. ALLEN Et Al.
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- Published