Courtenay v. Randolph
Courtenay v. Randolph
Concurring in Part
concurring in part and dissenting in part. I concur in Division 1 but I dissent from Division 2 of the majority opinion. The trial court, which had jurisdiction over the offenses, placed the cases on the court’s dead docket. Code §24-2714 (7). The time factors involved are of significance. Both warrants were issued on June 20, 1968. The orders placing the cases on the dead docket were dated July 16, 1968, and both state: "It appearing that the within defendant being in the common jail of DeKalb County and due to her proverty [sic] she is unable to make an appearance bond, and further in view of the fact that she has been in jail some twenty-seven (27) days it is of the opinion of the court that the ends of justice would best be met by placing said case upon the dead docket until further order
I am authorized to state that Judges Deen and Evans concur in this dissent.
Opinion of the Court
In these companion cases plaintiff filed
two-count complaints against the respective defendants. Count 1 alleged malicious prosecution and Count 2 false imprisonment. The trial court denied defendants’ motions for summary judgment as to Count 1 and granted their motions as to Count 2. We are treating these rulings in the reverse order.
1. (Count 2). If the plaintiff was arrested under a void warrant the action is for false imprisonment and if the warrant is valid malicious prosecution is the remedy. Smith v. Embry, 103 Ga. App. 375 (3) (119 SE2d 45); Lowe v. Turner, 115 Ga. App. 503 (154 SE2d 792). Two warrants for the arrest of plaintiff were issued for defrauding an innkeeper. The affidavits both fail to state the time when the crime was committed. Plaintiff contends that this defect voids both warrants. She relies upon the cases of
2. (Count 1). The only issue presented as to the malicious prosecution count is whether the prior criminal cases terminated in plaintiff’s favor. That is an essential element of malicious prosecution. Clark v. Douglas, 6 Ga. App. 489 (65 SE 304). The trial court which had jurisdiction over the offenses placed the cases on the court’s dead docket. Code § 24-2714 (7). Placing a criminal case on the dead docket postpones the prosecution indefinitely "but [it] may be reinstated any time at the pleasure of the court.” Newman v. State, 121 Ga. App. 692, 694 (175 SE2d 144). The provisions of our law in reference to the dead docket (since the Code of 1895, §797 PC) reads as follows: "A docket of criminal cases, to be known as the dead docket, to which cases shall be transferred at the discretion of the presiding judge, and which shall only be called at his pleasure. When a case is thus transferred, all witnesses who may have been subpoenaed therein shall be released from further attendance until resub
Judgment affirmed in part; reversed in part.
Concurring Opinion
concurring. We think the majority view is correct, particularly since this type of action is not favored by the courts. "This action is strictly guarded, and the circumstances under which it may be maintained are accurately stated; it is never encouraged, except in plain cases; were it otherwise, ill consequences would ensue to the public, for no one would willingly undertake to vindicate a breach of the public law and to discharge his duty to society, with the prospect of an annoying suit staring him in the face.” Ventress v. Rosser, 73 Ga. 534, 541. Accord: Henderson v. Francis, 75 Ga. 178, 181; Joiner v. Ocean Steamship Co., 86 Ga. 238, 245 (12 SE 361). "The action is not favored by the law, and especially is this true where the suit is based upon a criminal proceeding against the plaintiff; for public policy favors the exposure of crime, which a recovery against a prosecutor obviously tends to discourage.” South Ga. Grocery Co. v. Banks, 52 Ga. App. 1, 8 (182 SE 61).
With this policy firmly settled in the law there should be no construction of the law or the facts to give rise to an
It should be noted that this conclusion does not deprive the plaintiff of a remedy. He may obtain a termination of the case by filing a demand for trial, after which he must be tried or the prosecution discharged. Code § 27-1901. If he had objected to placing the case on the dead docket it would have been an abuse of discretion and a deprivation of his constitutional rights to do so (Newman v. State, 121 Ga. App. 692, supra), for he could not he denied a speedy trial.
Our judgment, being but a determination of prematurity, will not become res judicata as to the merits.
I am authorized to state that Presiding Judge Hall and Judge Clark join in this concurrence.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- COURTENAY Et Al. v. RANDOLPH; And Vice Versa; GOLFLAND MOTEL, INC. Et Al. v. RANDOLPH; And Vice Versa
- Cited By
- 15 cases
- Status
- Published