Louisville & Nashville Railroad v. Ramsay , 137 Ga. 573 ( 1912 )

Lumpkin, J.

(Alter stating the foregoing facts.)

1. Eamsay and others brought suit against the Louisville & Nashville Eailroad Company to recover damages to land, arising from the construction of a bridge across a stream. On the trial plaintiffs obtained a verdict. The defendant excepted to the overruling of a demurrer, to the refusal to grant a nonsuit, and to the overruling of a motion for a new trial. In this court the judgment of the court below was reversed. 134 Ga. 107. The decision dealt with the different rulings. While doubtless this court might have given direction that the case be entered nonsuited, had it seen proper to do so, such was not the judgment rendered. The 'admission of evidence and charges complained of in the motion for a new trial were dealt with in connection with the question whether the plaintiffs made out a prima facie case; and, upon the whole case, the judgment entered, as shown by the remittitur, was that the judgment of the court below be reversed because the court erred in refusing to grant a new trial.. The making of such judgment the judgment of the court below did not operate to nonsuit the case or finally dispose of it, but to grant a new trial. It was accordingly not error for the presiding judge to refuse to enter a judgment of nonsuit or-dismissal, upon motion. The remittitur from this court should have been made the judgment of the trial court, and the order for that purpose should not have been revoked. But so doing did not have the effect claimed for it by counsel for the plaintiff in error.

2. The action was originally brought in the name of Eamsay and others. It appeared that they relied on a parol gift, and also on a deed from one Harlan, but that such deed was made after the suit was brought. This court held that it was improperly admitted in evidence, as was also certain evidence tending to attach to a deed absolute on its face an express trust in land. When the case was returned to the superior court, a motion was made to amend the petition by inserting the name of Harlan as plaintiff, suing for the use of the original plaintiffs. To this objection was made, on the ground that it added a new party and a new and distinct cause of action. The objection was overruled, and the amendment allowed.

It' was urged in this court, that section 5689 of the Civil Code of 1910, which declares that “When it becomes necessary for the purpose of enforcing the rights of such plaintiff, he may amend by substituting the name of another person in his stead, suing for his use,” applied to cases in which persons having equitable rights might enforce them in the name of the holder of the legal title; that, in general, there is no equity in damages arising from a tort; and that this section is not applicable to the case in hand. As an original proposition, there might appear to be some force in the argument. “An action for a tort must, in general, be brought in the name of the person whose legal right has been affected, and who was legally interested in the property at the time the 'injury thereto was committed.” Civil Code (1910), § 5517. “A right of action is not assignable if it does not involve, directly or indirectly, a right of property; hence a right of action for personal torts, or for injuries arising from fraud to the assignor, can not be assigned.” This section was codified from a statement in the opinion in Central Railroad & Banking Co. v. Brunswick & Western Railroad Co., 87 Ga. 386 (13 S. E. 520), where one railroad company sued another for damages arising from a collision, and not only sought to recover damages done to it but also to sue for the use of its engineer, who had been hurt. It is unnecessary to discuss the exact meaning of the words, “if it does not involve, directly or indirectly, a right of property.” But the code section first above quoted, allowing the petition to be amended by substituting the name of another person instead of the original plaintiff, suing for his use, when it becomes necessary for the purpose of enforcing his rights, has been directly considered in Holcombe v. Richmond & Danville R. Co., 78 Ga. 776 (3 S. E. 755). In that case an insurance company brought suit against a railroad company, alleging that certain wood belonging to Holcombe had been destroyed through the negligence of the defendant; that the plaintiff had insured Holcombe against loss, and had paid the insurance; and it thereupon sought to recover from the railroad company the amount so paid. It was held that the petition, as originally brought, was demurrable, but that the presiding judge properly allowed an amendment adding the name of Holcombe as plaintiff, suing for the use of the insurance company. We are not now discussing the question of the right of an insurer who is liable for the loss of property, under certain circumstances, to recover in the name of the insured, for his use, against one negligently destroying the property. The point under consideration is as to amending a petition by adding the name of the person having the legal title to the property, suing for the use of the original plaintiffs. As to this point we think the ruling in the case cited is controlling on that now before us. It has not been reviewed and reversed or modified. In connection with the general subject, see Mitchell v. Georgia, & Alabama Railway, 111 Ga. 760, 771 (36 S. E. 971, 51 L. R. A. 622); Willis v. Burch, 116 Ga. 374 (42 S. E. 718); McElmurray v. Harris, 117 Ga. 919 (43 S. E. 987); McEachern & Co. v. Edmondson, 122 Ga. 80 (49 S. E. 798); 38 Cyc. 463; 15 Enc. Pl. & Pr. 487 et seq.

Direction is given that the remittitur be entered.

Judgment affirmed, with direction.

All the Justices concur, except Hill, J., not presiding. .