Thomson Wholesale Grocery Co. v. Merritt

Decision Date16 November 1967
Docket NumberNo. 3,No. 43126,43126,3
Citation159 S.E.2d 107,116 Ga.App. 764
PartiesTHOMSON WHOLESALE GROCERY COMPANY, Inc. v. L. M. MERRITT
CourtGeorgia Court of Appeals

Robert E. Knox, Warren D. Evans, Thomson, for appellant.

M. Welborn Dukes, Sandersville, Kenneth Goolsby, Randall Evans, Jr., Thomson, for appellee.

Syllabus Opinion by the Court

DEEN, Judge.

1. Objection is made to an instruction of the court in the language of Code Ann. § 68-1626(2) to the effect that speed shall be so controlled as to avoid colliding with another vehicle. Skirting the question of whether the objection to the charge in the trial court was sufficient, where the plaintiff testified without objection that the speed of the defendant's truck was 'somewhat around 60, 65 or 70 miles an hour' and another witness, also without objection testified from having almost been hit by the defendant's driver who was passing him just a few moments before the collision that 'the speed is what caused it,' the instruction was amply authorized by the evidence. Ford v. Harden, 94 Ga.App. 902(1), 96 S.E.2d 617.

2. Failure to charge the provisions of Code Ann. § 68-1708 relating to the necessity for mechanical turn signals on motor vehicles later than 1954 models is not error where no allegation of negligence is based thereon and it does not appear that the vehicle is such that a hand signal, which admittedly was given, could not be seen. Williams v. Herr, 112 Ga.App. 529, 145 S.E.2d 639. Recognizing that there is a conflict in evidence as to whether or not the plaintiff gave a proper signal, this is an entirely different matter from that involved in the ability to give a mechanical signal where a hand signal is given, instead, and where, even though the truck had been equipped with mechanical signaling devices, it would still have been entirely in the discretion of the operator to give a hand signal.

3. Where the evidence is undisputed that the defendant, thinking the plaintiff was going to make a left turn, attempted to pass him on the right, and after realizing that the plaintiff intended to turn right into his driveway, was going at a speed which made it impossible for him to stop, and where the collision occurred entirely off the right side of the road, Code Ann. § 68-1637 relative to overtaking and passing on the left was pertinent to the fact situation and was properly given in charge.

4. In general, the excessiveness or inadequacy of a...

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1 cases
  • Rutland v. Fuels, Inc.
    • United States
    • Georgia Court of Appeals
    • May 23, 1975
    ...v. Davis, 112 Ga.App. 419, 145 S.E.2d 633; Karlan v. Enloe, 129 Ga.App. 1, 4(3), 198 S.E.2d 331. See also Thomson Wholesale Gro. v. Merritt, 116 Ga.App. 764, 765(4), 159 S.E.2d 107. Bias or prejudice has not been shown to exist in this case requiring the grant of a new trial. 3. The declara......

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