Bradley v. Bradley, 29126
Decision Date | 01 October 1974 |
Docket Number | No. 29126,29126 |
Citation | 210 S.E.2d 1,233 Ga. 83 |
Parties | Louie DeKalb BRADLEY v. Gloria Johnson BRADLEY. |
Court | Georgia Supreme Court |
Louie D. Bradley, pro se.
Mildred L. Kingloff, Ernest D. Brookins, Atlanta, for appellee.
Syllabus Opinion by the Court.
This is a divorce and alimony suit. The husband-defendant appeals the trial court's judgment awarding attorney fees and the household furnishings to the wife. Held:
1. The husband contends that the trial court had no authority to award attorney fees after a verdict for divorce by the jury. We find no error in the award. Although neither an application for attorney fees nor a hearing thereon may be filed or heard after a divorce verdict (Phillips v. Phillips, 146 Ga. 61, 90 S.E. 379; Wise v. Wise, 157 Ga. 814, 122 S.E. 210; Luke v. Luke, 159 Ga. 551, 126 S.E. 374; Harrison v. Harrison, 208 Ga. 70, 65 S.E.2d 173; Clark v. Clark, 213 Ga. 342, 99 S.E.2d 127), the judge may reserve judgment on such an application until after verdict when such application is filed prior to verdict.
The trial court did not determine after the verdict that further evidence as to the amount of attorney fees was necessary. He made the award based upon the evidence presented during the divorce proceeding. This court stated in Sweat v. Sweat, 123 Ga. 801, 803, 51 S.E. 716:
The trial court properly reserved judgment on attorney fees and awarded attorney fees in this case based on the evidence presented at the divorce hearing. Shepherd v. Shepherd, 231 Ga. 257, 260, 200 S.E.2d 893; Ogletree v. Ogletree, 169 Ga. 366, 150 S.E. 167; Hobbs v. Hobbs, 158 Ga. 571(2), 123 S.E. 891; Proctor v. Proctor, 224 Ga. 450(2), 162 S.E.2d 398.
2. In her complaint for divorce the wife prayed that she be awarded the home of the parties and the household furniture. The evidence showed that the wife lived in the home with their two minor children and her sister. The evidence shows that there was an indebtedness of $1,000 due on the household furniture. The jury in making its award stated that the wife was to assume the remaining liability due on the loan but did not specially award the wife the furniture and furnishings. In its judgment the trial court awarded the furniture and furnishings located in the home to the wife. The appellant contends that the trial court had no authority to award the furniture and furnishings to the wife since the jury had not specifically done so. We do not agree.
'Verdicts shall have a reasonable intendment, and shall receive a reasonable construction . . .' Code § 110-105. 'The superior court may, in a proper case, mould the verdict so as to do full justice to the parties . . .' Code § 110-106. 'A verdict may be amended in mere matter of form after the jury have dispersed; but . . . it may not be amended in matter of substance . . .' Code § 110-111. 'A superior court shall have full power to mould its decrees so as to meet the exigencies of each case . . .' Code § 37-1203.
Under the facts of this case, the final judgment did not amend the verdict of the jury in a matter of substance and the superior court was authorized to enter the judgment. Moon v. Moon, 222 Ga. 650, 151 S.E.2d 714.
Judgment affirmed.
All the Justices concur.
ON MOTION FOR REHEARING.
One of the issues presented for determination by this court was whether an application for attorney fees was made...
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