Crawford v. Johnson

• Decision Date: 11 July 1997
• Docket Number: No. A97A0785,A97A0785
• Citation: 227 Ga.App. 548,489 S.E.2d 552
• Parties: , 97 FCDR 2737 CRAWFORD, v. JOHNSON.
• Court: Georgia Court of Appeals

Page 552

489 S.E.2d 552

227 Ga.App. 548, 97 FCDR 2737

CRAWFORD, v. JOHNSON.

No. A97A0785.

Court of Appeals of Georgia.

July 11, 1997.

Reconsideration Denied July 24, 1997.

Certiorari Denied Jan. 23, 1998.

Van C. Wilks, Carrollton, for appellant.

Hawkins & Parnell, H. Lane Young II, Thomas F. Wamsley, Jr., Thomas G. Tidwell, Atlanta, for appellee.

RUFFIN, Judge.

Donald Crawford appeals from the trial court's grant of summary judgment to William Johnson on Crawford's cross-claim for contribution and indemnity. For reasons which follow, we affirm in part and reverse in part.

"To prevail at summary judgment under OCGA § 9-11-56, the moving party must demonstrate that there is no genuine issue of material fact and that the undisputed facts, viewed in the light most favorable to the nonmoving party, warrant judgment as a matter of law. OCGA § 9-11-56(c)." Lau's Corp. v. Haskins, 261 Ga. 491, 405 S.E.2d 474 (1991). The record shows that Presbyterian Home, Inc. ("Presbyterian") sued Crawford and Johnson to recover funds allegedly owed Presbyterian as a residuary legatee of Roberta Jane Gibson's estate. Presbyterian alleged that Crawford, as executor of Gibson's estate, and Johnson, as Crawford's attorney, depleted the estate through negligence, fraud, conversion, and improper conduct. Crawford answered and cross-claimed against Johnson for contribution and indemnity.

Prior to trial, Presbyterian settled its claims against Johnson, who was dismissed from the suit. In addition, the trial court severed Crawford's cross-claim from the main action. The jury found against Crawford and awarded Presbyterian $80,000 in direct and consequential damages and $10,000 in punitive damages. We subsequently affirmed the judgment against Crawford. Crawford v. Presbyterian Home, 216 Ga.App. 54, 453 S.E.2d 480 (1994). Crawford's cross-claim against Johnson, however, remained pending.

Following the trial in the main action, Crawford amended and restated his cross-claim to allege that Johnson engaged in "fraud, simple negligence, and improper conduct." Crawford further alleged that "[a]t all times relevant herein, Johnson acted as attorney and advisor for Crawford, individually and in Crawford's capacity as [executor]." Seeking costs of the main action plus interest, Crawford claimed that "Johnson's acts of fraud, and/or simple negligence, and/or conversion, and/or improper conduct in connection with the handling of [Gibson's estate] have resulted in damage, harm and loss to Crawford in these amounts."

Johnson moved for summary judgment, arguing that Crawford's cross-claim must fail because (1) his own intentional and fraudulent acts cannot support recovery for contribution and indemnity, and (2) he neglected to attach an expert affidavit to his cross-claim pursuant to OCGA § 9-11-9.1. The trial court agreed and granted Johnson's motion for summary judgment. Crawford now appeals from the trial court's order.

1. Crawford argues that the trial court erred in finding, as a matter of law, that he has no right of contribution or indemnity because his liability to Presbyterian stemmed from his own intentional conduct. We agree.

Generally, a tortfeasor who pays a judgment enjoys a right of contribution against other joint tortfeasors. OCGA § 51-12-32(a). Even if Crawford and Johnson are found to be joint tortfeasors, however, Crawford may not seek contribution for liability arising from his own acts of moral turpitude. Id. Both actual fraud and wilful conversion involve moral turpitude, which has been defined as " 'everything done contrary to justice, honesty, modesty, or good morals.' " (Citation omitted.) Huff v. Anderson, 212 Ga. 32, 34(2), 90 S.E.2d 329 (1955). See also Ramey v. Leisure, Ltd., 205 Ga.App. 128, 129(1), 421 S.E.2d 555 (1992) (" 'Actual fraud involves moral turpitude[.]' "); Privitera v. Addison, 190 Ga.App. 102, 105-106(2), 378 S.E.2d 312 (1989) (describing conversion and wilful diversion of funds as acts of moral turpitude).

Similarly, Crawford's intentional acts cannot support his indemnification claim. Indemnification contemplates imputed liability arising from the torts of another. "A person who is compelled to pay damages because of liability imputed to him as the result of a tort committed by another may maintain an action for indemnity against the person whose wrong has thus been imputed to him. [Cits.]" North Ga. Elec. Membership Corp. v. Thomason, etc., Constr. Co., 157 Ga.App. 719, 720(1), 278 S.E.2d 433 (1981).

Thus, to the extent Crawford's liability to Presbyterian was grounded in actual fraud, conversion, or other acts of moral turpitude, he has no claim for contribution or indemnity. The record shows, however, that the jury was not charged solely on such intentional acts. For example, the trial court also instructed on constructive fraud and ordinary care. The trial court further told the jury that Presbyterian's contentions against Crawford included claims of negligence.

The jury returned a general verdict of liability, along with a punitive damages award. Johnson argues that the punitive damages award "demonstrates unequivocally that Crawford's conduct involved moral turpitude." Pretermitting whether the punitive award establishes that at least some portion of Crawford's liability arose from intentional acts not supporting contribution or indemnity, however, we cannot agree that his claim fails as a matter of law. The jury's general verdict does not specify the basis for its compensatory award. Thus, it is impossible to determine from the verdict itself whether any part of that award relates to claims, such as negligence, that may give rise to contribution and indemnity.

"A general verdict must be construed in light of the pleadings, the issues made by the evidence and the charge of the court." Hickman Datsun v. Foster, 181 Ga.App. 229, 230(2), 351 S.E.2d 678 (1986). The jury was charged on intentional torts involving moral turpitude, as well as negligence and constructive fraud, which involve no moral guilt. See Farmers State Bank v. Huguenin, 220 Ga.App. 657, 660(1), 469 S.E.2d 34 (1996); Conner v. Branch, 185 Ga.App. 565, 566, 364 S.E.2d 890 (1988); Alford v. Oliver, 169 Ga.App. 865, 866(2), 315 S.E.2d 299 (1984). We cannot determine from the general verdict the underlying basis for the jury's award in this case.

Questions of fact remain as to (1) whether Crawford may seek contribution or indemnity for any portion of Presbyterian's award, and (2) if so, what portion of that award is subject to a claim for contribution or indemnity. Accordingly, the trial court erred in granting Johnson summary judgment on Crawford's overall claim for contribution and indemnity.

2. Even if Crawford can seek contribution and indemnity from Johnson, however, not all of the allegations in his cross-claim present viable bases for recovery. Thus, we next consider which grounds alleged by Crawford survive summary judgment.

(a) To the extent Crawford's contribution and indemnity claim alleges negligence by Johnson, the trial court properly dismissed the claim for failure to comply with OCGA § 9-11-9.1.

OCGA § 9-11-9.1(a) provides that "[i]n any action for damages alleging professional malpractice ..., the plaintiff shall be required to file with the complaint an affidavit of an expert competent to testify, which affidavit shall set forth specifically at least one negligent act or omission claimed to exist and the factual basis for each such claim." Failure to attach the required affidavit subjects a malpractice claim to dismissal on the merits. Hodo v. Gen. Hosps. of Humana, 211 Ga.App. 6, 8(2), 438 S.E.2d 378 (1993). Crawford did not attach an expert affidavit to his cross-claim against Johnson. He contends, however, that his cross-claim alleges simple negligence by Johnson, rather than professional malpractice, and thus is not subject to OCGA § 9-11-9.1. We disagree.

As an initial matter, Crawford argues that non-compliance with OCGA § 9-11-9.1 should be raised in a motion to dismiss, not in a motion for summary judgment, as Johnson did here. He is correct " 'that a failure to comply with the pleading requirements of OCGA § 9-11-9.1 would not authorize the grant of summary judgment. [Cit.] However, we will address the merits of this [portion of the] appeal as if the trial court had dismissed [Crawford's cross-claim] rather than granted summary judgment in [Johnson's] favor.' [Cit.]" (Emphasis in original.) Hodo, supra.

In his amended cross-claim, Crawford alleged that he "relied on Johnson and Johnson's [employee] to guide and direct him in his duties, responsibilities, and obligations as [executor].... At all times relevant herein, Johnson acted as attorney and advisor for Crawford in this regard." Crawford further alleged that Johnson negligently advised him on legal and other fees paid by the estate; negligently failed to inform Presbyterian regarding its beneficiary interest in the estate; negligently depleted the estate's assets; and negligently handled fees incurred by the estate.

"The determinative factor as to whether a suit in negligence is or is not a malpractice action within the ambit of OCGA § 9-11-9.1 is the existence or absence of allegations that the defendant-professional has rendered negligent professional services." Jordan, Jones & Goulding, Inc. v. Wilson, 197 Ga.App. 354, 355-356(1), 398 S.E.2d 385 (1990). "Where the failure to do a thing, or the negligent doing of it, is proved by reliance upon a general standard of care or by rules of procedure used by others competently performing the same service, it is a 'professional' act or practice. [Cit.] Wherever it is 'necessary to establish the parameters of acceptable professional conduct' ( [cit.] ) in order to prove negligence or breach for failure to perform in a workmanlike manner, the case must be deemed a professional malpractice case." (Emphasis in original.) Razete v. Preferred Research, 197 Ga.App. 69, 70, 397 S.E.2d 489 (1...