Translate
Text Highlighter

Bookmark

PDF

Share

Report a problem
AMICUS AI
Citation Codes
Equivalent Citations
citation codes
Docket Number
Attorney(S)
Judges
Are you a practicing lawyer?
Enhance your digital presence and reach by creating a Casemine profile.
Upload pleading to use the new AI search
Cites
Cited by
Citation Codes
Equivalent Citations
citation codes
Docket Number
Attorney(S)
Judges

CITY OF ATLANTA et al. v. STATE FARM FIRE CASUALTY COMPANY et al.

QUILLIAN, Presiding Judge.

The defendant City of Atlanta appeals from an order granting the plaintiff partial summary judgment as to liability. Held:

1. The defendant contends that the trial judge erroneously denied its motion to allow a late response to plaintiff's request for admissions. It is argued that the plaintiff as the party opposing the motion failed to satisfy the court that withdrawal of the admission will prejudice it in maintaining an action on the merits.

In Cielock v. Munn, 244 Ga. 810 ( 262 S.E.2d 114) the Supreme Court held that, under the provisions of CPA § 36 (Code Ann. § 81A-136; Ga. L. 1966, pp. 609, 648, as amended through Ga. L. 1972, pp. 510, 528) the allowance of a motion to withdraw the admissions resulting from the failure to answer the requests should be decided by a determination of whether the preservation of the merits of the action would be subserved thereby "and whether the respondent can `satisfy the court that withdrawal or amendment will prejudice him to maintaining his action on the merits.'" Accord, Moore c. Partnership v. Stack, 153 Ga. App. 215, 219 ( 264 S.E.2d 725); Young v. Brown, 154 Ga. App. 452 ( 268 S.E.2d 729); Alexander v. H. S. I. Management, Inc., 155 Ga. App. 116 ( 270 S.E.2d 325).

This is therefore essentially a 2-prong test both of which must be met although the burden is on the respondent as to the second prong. In the case sub judice the trial judge's order did not make a specific finding as to either segment but cited "after consideration of all the pleadings and the record," that the request was denied.

The record reveals that the defendant filed its proposed answers to the requested admissions. Of the 11 requests the defendant expressly denied only one. Eight were admitted and two were admitted with qualifying language. The single denial was not as to a material issue. Thus, from the record it does not appear that the answers must be allowed in order that a presentation of the merits of the action will be served thereby. Since the burden is on the defendant, as appellant here, to show error by the record and no discernible error appearing, the trial judge's denial of the defendant's motion is affirmed.

2. The remaining enumeration of error is without merit.

Judgment affirmed. Shulman and Carley, JJ., concur.

ARGUED SEPTEMBER 17, 1980 — DECIDED NOVEMBER 6, 1980.
Use AI to get other relevant cases.

Comments

CITY OF ATLANTA v. STATE FARM FIRE CASUALTY CO
(Nov 6, 1980)