Sutherland v. Woodring, 21122

CourtSupreme Court of Georgia
Writing for the CourtGRICE
Citation118 S.E.2d 482,216 Ga. 621
PartiesJ. H. SUTHERLAND v. Barbara WOODRING, by next friend.
Docket NumberNo. 21122,21122
Decision Date09 February 1961

Syllabus by the Court

The defendant in a civil case is entitled to the opening and concluding arguments where the plaintiff's counsel calls him to the stand for the purpose of cross-examination, and where, after such cross-examination, the defendant's counsel then examines him on material issues in the case, the defendant having introduced no evidence.

Wm. A. Ingram, Cartersville, for plaintiff in error.

R. F. Chance, Calhoun, for defendant in error.

GRICE, Justice.

The Court of Appeals certified to this court the following question: 'Is the defendant in a civil case entitled to the opening and concluding arguments where the plaintiff's counsel calls him to the stand for the purpose of cross-examination, and where the defendant's counsel examines the defendant while on the stand in such circumstances on material issues in the case, after the completion of the cross-examination of the defendant by plaintiff's counsel, nothing further in the way of evidence of any other kind having been introduced by the defendant?'

In Martin v. Martin, 180 Ga. 782, 180 S.E. 851, this court ruled as follows: 'Defendants, having introduced no evidence, were entitled to the opening and conclusion of the argument, as ruled by the trial judge. This is true though one of the defendants called by the plaintiff for the purpose of examination was, while on the stand, interrogated by defendants' attorney.' See also Milligan v. Milligan, 209 Ga. 14, 70 S.E.2d 459.

Extended reference to the long series of cases on this subject, as dealt with in the excellent briefs submitted by both parties, is not necessary since the foregoing provides the proper answer, which is in the affirmative.

All the Justices concur.

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10 practice notes
  • TGM Ashley Lakes, Inc. v. Jennings, No. A03A1401.
    • United States
    • United States Court of Appeals (Georgia)
    • 1 d1 Dezembro d1 2003
    ...case for purposes of cross-examination pursuant to OCGA § 24-9-81. Martin, 180 Ga. at 783, 180 S.E. 851. In Sutherland v. Woodring, 216 Ga. 621, 118 S.E.2d 482 (1961), the Supreme Court addressed the following certified Is the defendant in a civil case entitled to the opening and concluding......
  • Gilson v. Mitchell, 48445
    • United States
    • United States Court of Appeals (Georgia)
    • 27 d3 Fevereiro d3 1974
    ...the conclusion that the usual rule that a defendant presenting no evidence is entitled to speak last, e.g., Sutherland v. Woodring, 216 Ga. 621, 118 S.E.2d 482; American Casualty Co. v. Seckinger, 108 Ga.App. 262, 132 S.E.2d 794, yields to the right of plaintiff to close as to all defendant......
  • Lissmore v. Kincade, 76628
    • United States
    • United States Court of Appeals (Georgia)
    • 23 d5 Setembro d5 1988
    ...253 Ga. 801, 825. However, the "rule that a defendant presenting no evidence is entitled to speak last, e.g., Sutherland v. Woodring, 216 Ga. 621 (118 SE2d 482); American Casualty Co. v. Seckinger, 108 Ga.App. 262 (132 SE2d 794) yields to the right of plaintiff to close as to all defendants......
  • Kia Motors America, Inc. v. Range, A05A1399.
    • United States
    • United States Court of Appeals (Georgia)
    • 3 d1 Outubro d1 2005
    ...v. Campbell, [supra,] 56 Ga.App. 400, 192 S.E. 640; Jones v. Chambers, 94 Ga.App. 433(2), 95 S.E.2d 335 [(1956)]; Sutherland v. Woodring, 216 Ga. 621, 118 S.E.2d 482 American Cas. Co. v. Seckinger, 108 Ga.App. 262, 263(2), 132 S.E.2d 794 (1963). "[T]he rule that the defendant in a civil cas......
  • Request a trial to view additional results
10 cases
  • TGM Ashley Lakes, Inc. v. Jennings, No. A03A1401.
    • United States
    • United States Court of Appeals (Georgia)
    • 1 d1 Dezembro d1 2003
    ...case for purposes of cross-examination pursuant to OCGA § 24-9-81. Martin, 180 Ga. at 783, 180 S.E. 851. In Sutherland v. Woodring, 216 Ga. 621, 118 S.E.2d 482 (1961), the Supreme Court addressed the following certified Is the defendant in a civil case entitled to the opening and concluding......
  • Gilson v. Mitchell, 48445
    • United States
    • United States Court of Appeals (Georgia)
    • 27 d3 Fevereiro d3 1974
    ...the conclusion that the usual rule that a defendant presenting no evidence is entitled to speak last, e.g., Sutherland v. Woodring, 216 Ga. 621, 118 S.E.2d 482; American Casualty Co. v. Seckinger, 108 Ga.App. 262, 132 S.E.2d 794, yields to the right of plaintiff to close as to all defendant......
  • Lissmore v. Kincade, 76628
    • United States
    • United States Court of Appeals (Georgia)
    • 23 d5 Setembro d5 1988
    ...253 Ga. 801, 825. However, the "rule that a defendant presenting no evidence is entitled to speak last, e.g., Sutherland v. Woodring, 216 Ga. 621 (118 SE2d 482); American Casualty Co. v. Seckinger, 108 Ga.App. 262 (132 SE2d 794) yields to the right of plaintiff to close as to all defendants......
  • Kia Motors America, Inc. v. Range, A05A1399.
    • United States
    • United States Court of Appeals (Georgia)
    • 3 d1 Outubro d1 2005
    ...v. Campbell, [supra,] 56 Ga.App. 400, 192 S.E. 640; Jones v. Chambers, 94 Ga.App. 433(2), 95 S.E.2d 335 [(1956)]; Sutherland v. Woodring, 216 Ga. 621, 118 S.E.2d 482 American Cas. Co. v. Seckinger, 108 Ga.App. 262, 263(2), 132 S.E.2d 794 (1963). "[T]he rule that the defendant in a civil cas......
  • Request a trial to view additional results

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