Where a motion for judgment non obstante veredicto is denied, an appellate court must affirm the trial court if there is any issue to be submitted to the jury and any evidence to sustain the verdict.
Bins Equipment Company, Inc., originally filed this suit in the Civil Court of Fulton County on the bond of Massachusetts Bonding Insurance Company as surety for J. T. Bryan, Jr., d/b/a Bryan Construction Company. The action was to recover a contract price for goods furnished Bryan Construction Company where the latter was constructing certain facilities for the Jekyll Island Park Authority. Bins Equipment Company, Inc., alleged that it submitted a bid to Bryan Construction Company and said bid was accepted; that all obligations were performed by Bins Equipment Company, Inc.; that there remains unpaid to Bins Equipment Company, Inc., $4,800, and judgment is prayed for in that amount.
The defendant answered with a general denial and further answered that Bins Equipment Company, Inc., had not complied with the performance of the contract in that Bins Equipment Company, Inc., was to furnish certain lockers and benches for two bathhouses instead of one.
The case came on for trial in regular order before a jury, and a verdict was rendered in the plaintiff's favor for $3,600 principal and $231 interest.
The evidence showed that Bins Equipment Company, Inc., furnished lockers for one bathhouse while Bryan Construction Company insisted the contract was to furnish lockers for two bathhouses. Shortly before Bins Equipment Company, Inc., submitted their bid to furnish 1,074 lockers, the architect added an "addenda" to the drawings and specifications showing that two bathhouses were to be constructed. A custom was shown among the building trade that all changes to architect's drawings or specifications would be posted in the architect's office, and that potential bidders would check these documents to correct their bids. There was no evidence that Larry Newberger, the vice-president of Bins Equipment Company, Inc., ever saw the "addenda" changing the architect's drawings to show that two bathhouses were to be built. A bid was prepared by the vice-president and submitted to Bryan Construction Company on behalf of the plaintiff as follows:
"Bryan Construction Company. P. O. Box 533. 9-11-57 Saint Simons Island, Georgia. New Bathhouses Attention: Mr. Bryan. at Jekyll Island. We propose to furnish the equipment specified below: Quantity. Description. Price. Total. We wish to quote as follows on interior Steel Equipment Company lockers required for the above job: 954 Box lockers, 12 x 15 x 12, single row, 6 high, having sloping tops and no legs. 120 Same as above, double row. ______ 1074 Each of the above to include corner filler panels, false fronts (at pilaster) necessary filler panel between rear of locker and walls, also front edges where lockers abut walls and continuous strip between the sloping top and walls. Grooved key special locks having key stop and keys stamped with corresponding numbers from one up in each room; 6 master keys. Color: Interior #28 gray. All of the above for the sum of . . . . . $4,952.00 Deducted from our quotation by agreement with contractor prior to receiving order. 152.00 __________ $4,800.00 O-V-E-R plus any applicable sales tax." Bins Equipment Company, Inc., received a telegram as follows: "Enter our order for lockers for bathhouses at Jekyll Island according to plans and specifications purchase order follows. Bryan Construction Co." The purchase order received was as follows: "To Bins Equipment Co., Inc. Address 1918 Buford Highway, N.E. City Atlanta State Ga. Ship to Bryan Construction Co. Two bathhouses Jekyll Island Ga. Date 11-14-57 Ship
Via. f.o.b. Brunswick trucks
Furnish and deliver all necessary lockers (metal) in strict accordance with all plans, specifications and all addenda thereto. Also furnish and deliver all wood seats with necessary standards and anchoring clips. All for the lump sum of . . . $5,067.23 vendor to submit all samples, cuts, etc., for approval."
Bins Equipment Company, Inc., delivered the lockers to Bryan Construction Company who stored them until the buildings were finished and then installed the lockers in one bathhouse and then made demand on Bins Equipment Company, Inc., to furnish lockers for the second bathhouse. This demand was refused as Bins Equipment Company, Inc., asserted they had furnished lockers in compliance with their bid.
QUILLIAN, Judge.
The sole question to be determined is whether there is any evidence to sustain the verdict. While the evidence was in sharp conflict, the jury was authorized to find that Bins Equipment Company, Inc., submitted a bid for a certain number of lockers, which was accepted by Bryan Construction Company. Construing the material instruments together (bid, telegram, and purchase order), the plaintiff clearly showed what it was offering for sale. The president later modified the bid to offer the 1,074 lockers for $4,800. There was evidence that other suppliers bid $3,871.77 for the same number of lockers; however, their lockers did not meet the technical specifications. The jury may well have believed that it is improbable that one would supply twice the number of lockers for the same price. The plaintiff's bid shows "bathhouses" which might be indicia that the plaintiff was only bidding for a portion of the lockers.
There was testimony introduced by Mr. Widener, an agent of Bryan Construction Company, that he telephoned Mr. Larry Newberger, vice-president of Bins Equipment Company, Inc., advising him that two bathhouses were to be built. This testimony was to show a modification of the original bill to call for 2,148 lockers instead of 1,074. There was no objection to this testimony and the evidence disclosed Widener's negotiations were with Larry Newberger, vice-president of Bins Equipment Company, Inc., who was deceased at the time of the trial. This testimony by an agent of the defendant concerning words of a deceased officer of the plaintiff corporation was not admissible. Code § 38-1603. This was a conversation with a deceased officer of the corporation and was without probative force. It was held in Dye v. Richards, 210 Ga. 601, 604 ( 81 S.E.2d 820): "The Code sections cited [38-1603 (1), 38-1603 (5)] specifically prohibit the opposite party from testifying in his own favor as to transactions or communications with a deceased party, or the deceased agent of a party. The defendant's conversation with the deceased agent of the bank — being incompetent and inadmissible — would have no more probative value than hearsay evidence. Hearsay evidence, although admitted without objection, is `without probative value and insufficient to prove anything.' Pool v. Duncan, 202 Ga. 255, 258 ( 42 S.E.2d 731). See also Minor v. Fincher, 206 Ga. 721, 729 ( 58 S.E.2d 389). The alleged conversation of the defendant with the deceased agent of the bank, being inadmissible and incompetent, had no probative value." Disregarding the testimony concerning the telephone call, the jury could have believed that the plaintiff's bid was for only a certain number of lockers and not a bid to furnish lockers for two bathhouses. They would be authorized to believe this was the entire contract between the parties.
As there was an issue to submit to the jury, the trial court did not err in denying the motion for judgment non obstante veredicto. In McClelland v. Carmichael Tile Co., 94 Ga. App. 645, 647 ( 96 S.E.2d 202) it is held: "The function of the motion for judgment non obstante veredicto is not the same as that of a motion for a new trial, but is a summary method of disposing of the entire litigation where it is obvious that the party against whom the motion is directed cannot under any circumstances win his case." See also Gordy v. Powell, 95 Ga. App. 822 (2) ( 99 S.E.2d 313).
Judgment affirmed. Gardner, P. J., Townsend, Carlisle and Nichols, JJ., concur. Felton, C. J., dissents.