Ball v. Moore

Atkinson, Justice. On May 19, 1925, Madie T. Moore executed a voluntary deed to her husband, II. J. Moore. Subsequently the grantee conveyed the land, by deed containing a power of sale, to W. L. Ball, to secure a debt. On May 11, 1933, Madie T. Moore executed a second voluntary deed to her husband for a part of the land mentioned in the first deed to him, and in turn the grantee executed another security deed conveying that land to W. L. Ball. On July 3, 1933, Madie T. Moore instituted an action against her husband and Ball, seeking to cancel all the deeds, and to enjoin Ball from exercising the power of sale contained in the security deeds. As grounds of relief it was alleged that the execution of the deeds was the result of a scheme consummated by Ball and his attorney for the purpose of inducing the plaintiff to pledge her separate estate for her husband’s pre-existing debt. The petition was so amended as to seek recovery of certain amounts paid by the petitioner to Ball on the debt of her husband. H. J. Moore did not demur, but filed an answer which admitted all the paragraphs of the petition, and merely prayed “the judgment of the court.’’ Ball alone interposed a demurrer to the original petition before amendment, on general and special grounds, and an individual answer. The demurrer was overruled, and the demurrant excepted pendente lite. A verdict was returned as follows: “We, the jury, find the verdict in favor of plaintiff to cancel all deeds in controversy as prayed, and judgment against W; L. Ball for the sum of $1555.64 principal and $392.64 interest.” A decree was duly entered. Ball filed a motion for new trial on general and special grounds, which was overruled, and he excepted. In the bill of exceptions, error was assigned on the judgment overruling the motion for new trial, and on the exceptions pendente lite. Madie T. Moore and H. J. Moore were named as defendants in error. The only entry on the bill of exceptions relating to service is as follows: “Due and legal service of the within bill of exceptions acknowledged. Copy and all other and further notice and service waived. This 6th day of August, 1934. Hay & Gainey.” Madie T. Moore and H. J. Moore as defendants in error made separate motions to dismiss the writ of error, on the ground that H. J. Moore, defendant in error, was not served with the bill of exceptions and did not waive service. Should the motions to dismiss the writ of error,, in view of [149] the nature of the ease as sufficiently indicated in the first headnote, be sustained ? It is declared by statute: “When the record shows clearly who were the parties to the litigation in the-court below, and the bill of exceptions shows that all who were interested in sustaining the judgment of the court below have been served, the writ of error shall not be dismissed because the bill of exceptions sets forth the parties differently from the record,- or discloses that some party not interested in sustaining the judgment of the court below has not been served.” Code of 1910, § 6176; Code of 1933, § 6-1202. The interest mentioned in the statute has reference to a substantial interest as distinguished from favor, or mere emotion, or desire that another party shall prevail. In accordance with this statute it has been held: “Where in a suit against two or more persons the verdict and judgment are adverse to the defendants, and only one. of them makes a motion for a new trial, the movant can except to the judgment overruling the motion and bring' the case to the Supreme Court without making the other defendants parties to the bill of exceptions.” Durrence v. Cowart, 160 Ga. 671 (2) (129 S. E. 26). See also Averett v. Boutwell, 151 Ga. 90 (106 S. E. 3); Whitehurst v. Holly, 162 Ga. 323 (133 S. E. 861); Western Union Telegraph Co. v. Griffith, 111 Ga. 551, 556, 558 (36 S. E. 859); Mechanics & Traders Bank of Rome v. Harrison, 68 Ga. 463; Jones v. Hurst, 91 Ga. 338 (17 S. E. 635). By the language used in Edwards v. Wall, 153 Ga. 776, 780 (113 S. E. 190), “'or reversing the judgment of the court below,” it was not held or intended to hold that a party not interested in reversing the judgment was a necessary party defendant in error. Any such ruling would have been broader than the facts involved, the case being one in which the party in question was interested in sustaining the judgment, as brought out in the opinion, where' it was said: “This member [of the-firm] was vitally interested in sustaining the grant of the nonsuit in the court below, and was a necessary and indispensable party as a defendant in error in the bill of exceptions brought to the Court of Appeals.” Similar language was used in Greeson v. Taylor, 160 Ga. 392 (128 S. E. 177), decided by five Justices; but that is not binding as a -precedent, and will not be followed if it states or implies that a party interested only in reversing the judgment is a necessary party defendant in error. From the substance of his answer admitting all the allegations of the [150] petition in the instant case, the defendant H. J. Moore no donbt desired that his wife should prevail as plaintiff in her suit to cancel the deeds and for further relief, but did not show that such result would be to his substantial or pecuniary interest. On the contrary it appears that, the judgment being against him, he is not, within the meaning of the- statute, interested in sustaining it. His legal interest is with his codefendant Ball in reversing the judgment. The motions to dismiss the writ of error are denied. The rulings announced in headnotes 2 to 6, inclusive, do not require elaboration. Judgment affirmed in part and reversed in part. All the Justices concur, except Bell, J., who dissents.