Strickland v. Levy's of Savannah, Inc.

Citation145 S.E.2d 831,112 Ga.App. 665
Decision Date18 November 1965
Docket NumberNo. 41607,No. 3,41607,3
PartiesMary A. STRICKLAND v. LEVY'S OF SAVANNAH, INC., et al
CourtUnited States Court of Appeals (Georgia)

Silverman & Silverman, Ramon Silverman, Savannah, for appellant.

Corish, Smith & Remler, Malberry Smith, Jr., Savannah, for appellees.

Syllabus Opinion by the Court

HALL, Judge.

The plaintiff appeals from a judgment of the trial court sustaining the defendant's general demurrer to her petition against Levy's of Savannah, Inc., a department store, its liability insurer, and the insurer's claims adjuster, alleging the following facts: The plaintiff was injured because of the negligence of the defendant Levy's when she fell on the stairway in its store. The defendant insurer sent its adjuster to adjust and settle the plaintiff's claim for personal injuries. The adjuster told the plaintiff that all of her medical bills would be paid, presented her a check for $10.00 and told her it was for her, clear of all expenses, and obtained a release from her discharging Levy's of liability for all claims of any kind growing out of the occurrence. Representatives of Levy's also told the plaintiff that all of her bills would be paid. The defendants' representatives made the statements knowing that they were false, made wilfully and in bad faith, with the intent to deceive and defraud the plaintiff, and thereby obtained her signature on the release and deprived her of the opportunity to pursue her claims for medical expenses and pain and suffering. The plaintiff can read and write but is uneducated and limited in her understanding of language such as that used in the release, and trusted and believed the statements made to her by the defendants. The plaintiff returned the $10 check without endorsement or negotiation. The plaintiff prayed for recovery of damages for her medical expenses and pain and suffering, punitive damages and attorney's fees.

'The representation that plaintiff would receive compensation in the future is not as to an existing or past fact, and does not give rise to an action for fraud.' Clinton v. State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co., 110 Ga.App. 417, 419, 138 S.E.2d 687, 689. The statements to the plaintiff that all of her bills would be paid were representations as to matters to take place at a future time. The holding in the State Farm case, supra, that the allegations there did not show actionable fraud, is controlling in the present case, and the comments in that opinion are...

To continue reading

Request your trial
8 cases
  • ET Barwick Industries v. Walter E. Heller & Co.
    • United States
    • U.S. District Court — Northern District of Georgia
    • December 22, 1987
    ...Georgia law, the plaintiff must show that the defendant made a false representation of material fact. Strickland v. Levy's of Savannah, Inc., 112 Ga.App. 665, 145 S.E.2d 831 (1965). To prevail in an action brought pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1964(c), the civil RICO plaintiff must prove that the......
  • Hertz Corporation v. Cox, 26251.
    • United States
    • U.S. Court of Appeals — Fifth Circuit
    • September 2, 1970
    ...613 (1966); Kennesaw Life & Accident Insurance Co. v. Flanigan, 114 Ga.App. 510, 151 S.E.2d 881 (1966); Strickland v. Levy's of Savannah, Inc., 112 Ga.App. 665, 145 S.E.2d 831 (1965); Ambrose v. Brooks, 109 Ga.App. 881, 137 S.E.2d 573 (1964); Monroe v. Goldberg, 80 Ga.App. 770, 57 S.E.2d 44......
  • Ely v. Stratoflex, Inc.
    • United States
    • Georgia Court of Appeals
    • September 6, 1974
    ...cannot be based on statements and promises as to future events. Beach v. Fleming, 214 Ga. 303, 104 S.E.2d 427; Strickland v. Levy's of Savannah, 112 Ga.App. 665, 145 S.E.2d 831; Clinton v. State Farm Ins. Co., 110 Ga.App. 417, 138 S.E.2d 687; Crozier v. Provident Life, etc., Co., 53 Ga.App.......
  • Motors Ins. Corp. v. Morgan
    • United States
    • Georgia Court of Appeals
    • April 19, 1968
    ...Automobile Ins. Co., 110 Ga.App. 417, 138 S.E.2d 687; Adamson v. Maddox, 111 Ga.App. 533, 142 S.E.2d 313; Strickland v. Levy's of Savannah, Inc., 112 Ga.App. 665, 145 S.E.2d 831; Kennesaw Life & Accident Ins. Co. v. Flanigan, 114 Ga.App. 510, 151 S.E.2d This is not a case involving what is ......
  • Request a trial to view additional results

VLEX uses login cookies to provide you with a better browsing experience. If you click on 'Accept' or continue browsing this site we consider that you accept our cookie policy. ACCEPT