J-Mart Jewelry Outlets, Inc. v. Standard Design, J-MART
Citation | 462 S.E.2d 406,218 Ga.App. 459 |
Decision Date | 06 September 1995 |
Docket Number | J-MART,No. A95A1271,A95A1271 |
Parties | JEWELRY OUTLETS, INC. et al. v. STANDARD DESIGN et al. |
Court | Georgia Court of Appeals |
William R. Folsom, Valdosta, for appellants.
James G. Tunison, Jr., Valdosta, for appellees.
Appellant Diamond Jim Halter, individually and d/b/a Diamond Jim's Emporium, appeals from the trial court's partial denial of his motion for directed verdict and the jury's verdict piercing the corporate veil thereby holding him responsible for the obligations of the corporation in which he was the major shareholder.
In identical complaints against J-Mart Jewelry Outlets, Inc. (J-Mart), the Tifton Diamond House, Inc., and Halter, four J-Mart suppliers, Standard Design, JGL, Inc., Roma Industries, Inc., and Interings, Inc., alleged joint and several liability on open accounts, fraud, and racketeering as evidenced by theft and mail fraud. By agreement of the parties, the complaints were consolidated for the jury trial. Upon the close of evidence, the trial court granted Halter's motion for directed verdict as to the racketeering count but denied the motion as to Halter's personal liability to the suppliers for alleged corporate debts determining that the evidence presented a jury question as to whether the corporate veil had been pierced. The jury returned a verdict against both corporate defendants and Halter personally, awarding $107,517 to Standard Design, $184,104.29 to JGL, $64,261.57 to Roma, and $136,819.93 to Interings.
1. Halter argues that the evidence was insufficient to support the jury's finding that he is individually liable to appellees. We disagree.
(Punctuation omitted.) Fuda v. Kroen, 204 Ga.App. 836, 837(1), 420 S.E.2d 767 (1992).
In deciding this enumeration of error, we are confronted with two maxims that sometimes conflict. On the one hand, we are mindful that (Punctuation omitted.) Williams Plaza v. Sedgefield Sportswear, etc., 164 Ga.App. 720, 721, 297 S.E.2d 342 (1982). On the other, it is axiomatic that "when litigated, the issue of 'piercing the corporate veil' is for the jury[,]" id. at 724, 297 S.E.2d 342, unless there is no evidence sufficient to justify disregarding the corporate form. Id. Our examination of the trial transcript convinces us that there is evidence in this case rising to such level.
Halter knew as early as late April but not later than June 1991 that J-Mart would have to cease operations as a result of its financial difficulties. There was direct evidence that the $6,902.87 balance on Halter's American Express personal account was paid by J-Mart on December 23, 1991, eight days before it...
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