Griffin Hosiery Mills v. United Hosiery Mills

Jenkins, P. J. 1. “Where suit is brought against defendants who are only jointly liable, the plaintiff cannot dismiss as to one and proceed against the other, except in eases provided for by statute. But where suit is brought against two or more defendants alleged to be jointly liable, and the proof or' the pleadings show that there is no joint liability, the plaintiff may dismiss as to those who are not proper parties to the action.” Lippincott v. Behre, 122 Ga. 543 (1, 2) (50 S. E. 467); (Civil Code (1910), § 5688. Thus, it is not required^ as a prerequisite to a recovery, that both defendants shall be shown to be liable, since, except in cases where the liability is solely joint, it is the plaintiff’s privilege to voluntarily dismiss his action as to one and proceed to trial against the other (City of Atlanta v. Anderson, 90 Ga. 481, 16 S. E. 209), or at any time before verdict he may disclaim a right to recover against one and insist upon a verdict against the other. Baker v. Thompson, 89 Ga. 486 (4) (15 S. E. 644); Western Union Telegraph Co. v. Griffith, 111 Ga. 551, 558, 559 (36 S. E. 859). There can, however, be but one satisfaction of the same damage or injury; and if, instead of merely dismissing his suit against one of two defendants sued jointly, the plaintiff proceeds, for a consideration, to fully settle and satisfy his claim against one, he cannot by the terms of such accord and satisfaction, where the injury or damage complained of is the same, limit the release to the defendant thus dealt with, but in such a case the claim itself becomes extinguished. Donaldson v. Carmichael, 102 Ga. 40 (2), 42, 43 (29 S. E. 135); 1 C. J. 536 (§30). The record fails to disclose that the petition was demurred to on the ground of a misjoinder of actions or of parties; but assuming, as contended by the defendant, against whom the suit continued and judgment was rendered, that it was defective in this respect (in this connection see Albany Ry. Co. v. Merchants Bank, 137 Ga. 391, 395, 73 S. E. 637; Southern Express Co. v. Pope, 5 Ga. App. 689, 690, 63 S. E. 809; Wright v. Southern Ry. [451] Co., 7 Ga. App. 542, 545, 67 S. E. 272; but see also Civil Code of 1910, §5515), the entry on the petition does not indicate a mere dismissal of the action against one of the two joint defendants; but here it is disclosed that in a joint action, seeking compensation for the same injury or damage, consisting of the value of certain described goods, the dismissal entered upon the petition shows that the plaintiff had for a stated consideration settled his claim in full against one of the defendants, and the evidence shows that the amount thus accepted represented the proceeds of a sale of the goods by that defendant. In some jurisdictions it has been held that a settlement with a joint defendant who was in no way liable, either in fact or in law, does not operate to discharge the defendant actually responsible (see case note, 14 L. R. A. (N. S.) 321). But where the injury or damage complained of is the same, the mere fact that the defendants could not be joined in the same action does not authorize more than one satisfaction of the same claim (Friedlander v. Weinberg, 27 Ga. App. 808 (2), 110 S. E. 26); and consequently the plaintiff in this case, having settled in full as to one of the joint defendants relative to the same injury or damage, could no longer proceed against the other. Decided December 10, 1923. Judgment reversed. Stephens and Bell, JJ., concur. Beclc & Beclc, for plaintiff in error. 8. B. Wallace, contra.