Hazen v. Rich's, Inc.

• Decision Date: 14 January 1976
• Docket Number: No. 51368,No. 2,51368,2
• Citation: 223 S.E.2d 290,137 Ga.App. 258
• Parties: B. D. HAZEN v. RICH'S, INC
• Court: Georgia Court of Appeals

Page 290

223 S.E.2d 290

137 Ga.App. 258

B. D. HAZEN v. RICH'S, INC.

No. 51368.

Court of Appeals of Georgia, Division No. 2.

Jan. 14, 1976.

Shulman & Shulman, Robert E. Sigal, Atlanta, for appellant.

Carter, Ansley, Smith & McLendon, Ben Kingree, A. Terry Sorrells, Atlanta, for appellee.

CLARK, Judge.

Among the defenses to a suit brought by a customer against Rich's Department Store for an allegedly wrongful detention and arrest was a special plea that plaintiff had 'while represented by counsel, executed a general release in favor of defendant in consideration of One Dollar ($1.00) and other good and valuable consideration' by reason of which the claim was barred. After completion of discovery procedures, defendant moved for and obtained a summary judgment on the basis of this release. Upon this appeal by the plaintiff, our review results in a reversal because of the existence of genuine questions of material fact as to the validity of this release.

While returning an item purchased at defendant's department store, plaintiff was accused of stealing a coat in his possession. He was detained despite his protestations that he had purchased the coat from Rich's two weeks earlier and had overlooked removing a 'half tag.' Following the brouhaha in the store an off-duty policeman employed as a security guard for Rich's swore out criminal accusations against plaintiff charging him with simple assault, creating a turmoil, and using profane and abusive language in a public place. A few days after plaintiff's arrest and release on bail, an attorney then representing plaintiff reached an agreement with store counsel which resulted in the dismissal of the pending criminal charges and the execution by plaintiff of a general release of all claims which plaintiff might have against Rich's or its agents. Plaintiff subsequently brought this suit against Rich's, pleading his version of the tort action. He further alleged the release was 'signed as a result of coercion and duress and without consideration.' Held:

1. 'On motion for summary judgment by a defendant on the ground that plaintiff has no valid claim, the defendant, as the moving party, has the burden of producing evidence, of the necessary certitude, which negatives the opposing party's (plaintiff's) claim. This is true because the burden to show that there is no genuine issue of material fact rests on the party moving for summary judgment whether he or his opponent would at trial have the burden on the issue concerned.' Southern Bell Telephone and Telegraph Company v. Beaver, 120 Ga.App. 420, 422, 170 S.E.2d 737, 739. Accordingly, the burden is upon defendant to show that there exists no question of fact as to the validity of the executed release. (We limit our consideration to the release, the litigants having recognized the facts are in dispute as to the incident on which the complaint is based.)

2. During the discovery cross-examination of plaintiff as an adverse party he testified that Rich's attorney (not counsel in this case) threatened to have him put back in jail if he did not sign the release and that his fear of incarceration was the motivation for his consent to the release. Plaintiff also testified that defendant's counsel promised that the criminal charges, which plaintiff contended were without foundation, would be dismissed if he signed the release form. Were plaintiff's allegations sufficient to form a proper factual basis for a finding of duress?

' The free assent of the parties being essential to a valid contract, duress, either of imprisonment or by threats, or other acts, by which the free will of the party is restrained and his consent induced, will render the contract voidable at the instance of the injured party. Legal imprisonment, if not used for illegal purposes, is not duress.' Code Ann. § 20-503. 'Duress consists in any illegal imprisonment, or legal imprisonment used for an illegal purpose, or threats of bodily or other harm, or other means amounting to coercion or tending to coerce the will of another, and actually inducing him to do an act contrary to his free will.' King v. Lewis, 188 Ga. 594, 597, 4 S.E.2d 464, 467; Causey v. Matson, 215 Ga. 306, 310, 110 S.E.2d 356; Williams v. Rentz Banking Co., 112 Ga.App. 384, 145 S.E.2d 256. Thus, plaintiff could prove duress by showing that his signing of the release form was contrary to his free will and was induced by (1) an illegal imprisonment, (2) a legal imprisonment effectuated by defendant for an illegal purpose, ¹ or (3) wrongful threats by agents of the defendant. An examination of the record reveals facts sufficient to take each of these three conditions beyond the summary judgment stage. Defendant's assertion of the lawfulness of the arrest and its denial of wrongful threats do not rebut plaintiff's claim, but merely create factual issues.

Defendant additionally contends that plaintiff necessarily acted voluntarily, since he had his counsel present at the time of the signing of the release. In his cross-examination deposition and in answers to the defendant's interrogatories, however, plaintiff...