Ingram v. Summerlin, s. 71813

• Decision Date: 24 June 1986
• Docket Number: 71814,Nos. 71813,s. 71813
• Citation: 348 S.E.2d 68,179 Ga.App. 832
• Parties: INGRAM v. SUMMERLIN et al. SOUTHEAST GRADING, INC. v. SUMMERLIN.
• Court: Georgia Court of Appeals

Page 68

348 S.E.2d 68

179 Ga.App. 832

INGRAM v. SUMMERLIN et al.

SOUTHEAST GRADING, INC. v. SUMMERLIN.

Nos. 71813, 71814.

Court of Appeals of Georgia.

June 24, 1986.

Rehearing Denied July 23, 1986.

Certiorari Dismissed Oct. 8, 1986.

Alfred H. Ingram, pro se in No. 71813.

Angela R. Sowder, for appellant in No. 71814.

Daniel C.B. Levy, Richard F. Shepherd, Wayne B. Kendall, Atlanta, for appellees.

McMURRAY, Presiding Judge.

Plaintiff's complaint alleges the unauthorized destruction of trees, flowers and other ground cover on her property. The damage was allegedly accomplished by defendant Southeast Grading, Inc., here ("Southeast") acting at the request of defendant Ingram. Plaintiff sought to recover from defendants, jointly and severally, both compensatory and punitive damages.

Defendant Southeast answered denying the allegations of plaintiff's complaint, stating its defenses and by amendment stating a cross-claim against defendant Ingram. The cross-claim alleges that any tort by defendant Southeast against plaintiff results from reliance upon fraudulent representations, made by defendant Ingram.

Upon the trial of the case, the jury returned a verdict on the principal action in favor of plaintiff and against both defendants jointly for compensatory damages of $6,000 and for punitive damages of $4,000. On the cross-claim the jury returned a verdict in favor of defendant Southeast and against defendant Ingram in the sum of $2,000. In these companion cases, each of the defendants appeals the judgment of the trial court. Held:

1. Defendant Ingram's brief contains neither argument nor citation of authority to support any of his enumerations of error. Accordingly, his enumerations are deemed abandoned. Rule 15(c)(2) of the Rules of the Court of Appeals of Georgia. Rich v. Ga. Farm, etc., Ins. Co., 176 Ga.App. 663, 665(6), 337 S.E.2d 370. Also, defendant Ingram's motion to dismiss is denied.

2. Defendant Southeast contends plaintiff has failed to introduce evidence upon which the jury could properly arrive at an amount of damages. "Where a party sues for damages he has the burden of showing the amount of the loss in a manner in which the jury or the trial judge in a non-jury case can calculate the amount of the loss with a reasonable degree of certainty. Hayes v. Flaum, 138 Ga.App. 787 (227 SE2d 512); Studebaker Corp. v. Nail, 82 Ga.App. 779, 785 (62 SE2d 198). The question of damages cannot be left to speculation, conjecture and guesswork. Development Corp. of Ga. v. Berndt, 131 Ga.App. 277, 278 (205 SE2d 868)." Smith v. Barfield, 157 Ga.App. 231, 233, 276 S.E.2d 899.

The proper measure of damages in the case sub judice is any diminution in the value of the property caused by the trespass. Millholland v. Stewart, 166 Ga.App. 431, 433(2), 304 S.E.2d 533 and Hale v. Glenn, 108 Ga.App. 579, 580, 134 S.E.2d 60. "Opinion evidence as to the value of an item, in order to have probative value, must be based upon a foundation that the witness has some knowledge, experience or familiarity with the value of the property ... or similar property and he must give reasons for the value assessed and also must have had an opportunity for forming a correct opinion." Sisk v. Carney, 121 Ga.App. 560, 563, 174 S.E.2d 456. See also Varnedoe v. Singleton, 154 Ga.App. 332, 268 S.E.2d 387.

In Millholland v. Stewart, 166 Ga.App. 431, 304 S.E.2d 533, supra, eleven trees were cut and removed from that plaintiff's property improperly by trespass. The plaintiff in that action testified that he bought and sold property in the county; was familiar with property values; and stated his opinion as to the value of the property prior to the cutting and as to the amount of diminution in value resulting from the cutting. This court held this evidence as to value sufficient to present the issue of damages to the jury.

In the case sub judice, plaintiff testified that prior to the unauthorized grading of her property by defendant Southeast it was worth $35,000 and that this value was diminished to $20,000 by the destruction of the trees and other vegetation. Plaintiff described the appearance of the property prior to the damage and introduced photographs taken after the damage was inflicted. Plaintiff testified that she had done research in order to develop her opinion as to the diminution in value, and that she was "familiar with the property in the area, and [she kept] up with what any property owner would keep up with regarding the value of the property." Plaintiff also testified as to an erosion problem resulting from the grading and the irreplaceable esthetic loss of several...