Bob Lairsey Insurance Agency v. Allen , 180 Ga. App. 11 ( 1986 )

Beasley, Judge.

On February 7, 1983, Lewis H. Allen went to the Bob Lairsey Insurance Agency to purchase liability and PIP coverage from Pennsylvania National Mutual Casualty Insurance Company. The application bore the signature L. H. Allen and the space for the spouse’s signature was left blank. The supplemental application form for the acceptance or rejection of excess “no-fault” coverage was marked to indicate that this coverage was rejected. It contained the signatures “L. H. Allen” and “Evelyn 0. Allen.”

Lewis Allen was involved in an automobile collision on July 26 and later reached a settlement with the other party. Penn paid Allen $5,000 in basic PIP benefits. The following January, Allen requested additional PIP coverage of $45,000, retroactive to the date of his application, through the Lairsey agency. Penn refused the request and sent Allen a copy of the supplemental application purportedly signed by Allen and his wife. The Allens claimed however, that they had never seen the application before it was sent to them, that PIP benefits had not been explained to Lewis Allen, and that the signatures on the application were not theirs. They had a handwriting expert examine the copy of the document and compare it with copies of their known signatures. The expert agreed that the signatures were not those of the Allens. The insurance company was notified by letter that a named expert had determined that the signatures were forgeries. The premium for the additional PIP coverage was tendered and rejected. The Allens filed suit against Penn and the Lairsey agency, alleging their signatures were forged on the application for supplemental PIP coverage and seeking additional optional PIP benefits in the amount of $45,000, plus the statutory penalty and attorney fees under OCGA § 33-34-6 (b), and $100,000 in “punitive damages.” The jury verdict awarded the Allens $45,000 PIP benefits, $11,250 statutory penalty and $4,400 attorney fees against Penn and $19,350 “tort” damages against both defendants.

Case No. 71848

1. Because we find that enumeration of error 14 requires reversal, we do not reach the question regarding the validity of the verdict, although we believe the verdict would be correct as a matter of law and was misinterpreted so that the judgment is not reflective of it. The verdict of the jury should be upheld if it can be done in accordance with the law. OCGA §§ 9-12-4; 51-12-12. Maloy v. Dixon, 127 Ga. App. 151, 163 (6) (193 SE2d 19) (1972); Pepsi Cola v. First Nat. Bank of Columbus, 248 Ga. 114, 115 (1) (281 SE2d 579) (1981).

2. The error which requires a new trial relates to the presentation of evidence relevant to the issue of whether plaintiff signed the supplemental application rejecting optional coverage. That was at the heart of this case. It is not a case regarding whether the rejection form complies with the law insofar as its content is concerned, as was Douglas v. Jefferson-Pilot Fire &c. Co., 175 Ga. App. 457 (333 SE2d 634) (1985); Associated Indem. Corp. v. Sermons, 175 Ga. App. 513 (333 SE2d 902) (1985). It is not a case turning on whether the agent explained the optionals to the insured. As appellant properly recognizes, oral conversations cannot supply the ingredient of a valid rejection as the law has taken the very practical approach and simply requires a signed document which establishes easily and clearly that there was a rejection. Voyager Cas. Ins. Co. v. Cowell, 166 Ga. App. 17, 18 (2) (303 SE2d 152) (1983). That forecloses the multitudinous problems of credibility and recollection which are inherent in any situation where an oral conversation is allowed to fill in the gaps, as to what was offered and what was rejected.

This, however, is a case wherein the issue was whether the insured signed the rejection form. He said he did not, and the agent and the employee said he did, for both himself and his wife. Thus we do come back to the problems of credibility and recollection, because the law does not require that the insured’s signature be witnessed or notarized. And even that could in some instances not be conclusive, although it would be firmer proof of actual signature.

Since recollection and credibility were crucial aspects of the question “Did he sign?” all the circumstances of the occasion when insured went to the agent’s office became important and relevant. The evidence was that he was without insurance because he had chosen not to continue his previous policy and the agency had called him several times to come in to process a new application with another insurer so that he would not be riding around without coverage. He had to come in, the agency explained to him, because it could not submit the application without his signing.

The trial was in May 1985. The event had occurred on February 7, 1983, over two years previously. It involved an ordinary transaction of purchasing auto insurance from the insured’s agent of long standing, so it was not a particularly memorable event. Understandably, the insured was somewhat equivocal about what precisely transpired on that occasion, but he testified that he was certain that he did not sign the supplemental application rejecting optional PIP, for himself or for his wife who was not with him. The agent and his employee, who was his daughter and the wife of the brother of insured’s daughter’s husband, positively testified that he signed the form. Thus, recollection and credibility were pre-eminent.

Plaintiff had asserted in his complaint that no one had ever explained the optional coverage to him, and when he testified, he stated in an unresponsive answer to cross-examination the same thing. On examination of the agent, his counsel questioned him about the circumstances of the occasion when plaintiff came to the office in connection with obtaining the policy. When in the course of the direct examination he asked, “Did you explain the different kinds of coverage to him?”, objection was raised and the court refused to allow the question or the subject matter because of the Voyager ruling that oral conversations cannot be substituted for a signed and proper rejection form. Counsel wished to establish that the matter was explained, for the purpose of impeaching the insured’s testimony that it was not explained and attacking his memory.

Obviously, if the jury believed that it was explained, there would be a serious undermining of the insured’s testimony that he had not signed the document. “When a witness shall be successfully contradicted as to a material matter, his credit as to other matters shall be for the jury.” OCGA § 24-9-85 (a). If the agent explained the options, it would lend credence to the agent’s and his employee’s testimony that insured thereafter signed rejecting them. It would also explain the insured’s testimony that he never saw the document before, inasmuch as it would give rise to the inference that he just did not read it or pay attention to it after the agent upon whom he relied explained his options. He was, after all, in a hurry since he had taken time out of his work to come by for the insurance. It would weaken the insured’s testimony because it would mean not only that he remembered wrong or was not to be believed with respect to whether explanation was given but also with respect to whether he actually signed.

If the agent could persuade the jury that insured could not really remember correctly on one point with respect to the particulars of that occasion, he might be able to do so on another as well. It is true that what he explained was irrelevant regarding the issue of rejection, but it was relevant here on the issue of signing. The jury was called upon to decide issues of recollection and credibility, and the agent, who was being sued for fraud, was entitled to produce evidence of the context which would tend to impeach the insured’s testimony that he did not sign the document. This is crucial for the very reason that the signature is conclusive proof in law that the insured knows of the options and rejects them. St. Paul Fire &c. Ins. Co. v. Nixon, 252 Ga. 469 (314 SE2d 215) (1984); Grange Mut. Cas. Co. v. Hall, 173 Ga. App. 382 (326 SE2d 497) (1985).

3. It is unnecessary to address the remaining enumerations of error.

Case No. 71849

1. For the foregoing reasons, we reverse in Case Number 71849 also.

2. The claim that the complaint must allege fraud with particularity is without merit. Failure to assert a fraud claim with particularity as required by OCGA § 9-11-9 (b) does not warrant automatic dismissal of the complaint. The opposing party’s remedy is to move for a more particular statement. Irvin v. Lowe’s of Gainesville, 165 Ga. App. 828, 830 (302 SE2d 734) (1983); Cochran v. McCollum, 233 Ga. 104 (210 SE2d 13) (1974).

Judgments reversed in case nos. 71848 and 71849.

Banke, C. J., McMurray, P. J., Birdsong, P. J., Sognier and Pope, JJ., concur. Deen, P. J., Carley and Benham, JJ., concur in part and dissent in part.