Battle v. Pennington , 14 Ga. App. 56 ( 1913 )

Roan, J.

G-. B. & J. J. Battle, a firm composed of G-. B. Battle and J. J. Battle, brought suit against E. A. Pennington, J. A. Johnson, and H. W. Johnson, alleging that the defendants, through the said Pennington, were in charge of and operating a certain engine and boiler and well-digging machine on the premises of J. J. Battle, and that by reason of the negligent operation of the engine and boiler live sparks were emitted therefrom, which fell upon and ignited a barn of the plaintiffs, thereby endamaging them in a manner alleged. In the first count of the petition it is alleged that the three defendants were joint tort-feasors, because all participated in the acts of negligence set out which resulted in the alleged damage. In the second count it is alleged that the three defendants were joint tort-feasors, because the two Johnsons were the owners of the machinery, and had been employed by J. J. Battle to dig the well that they were then digging, and that they had placed the machine in the custody of Pennington for the purpose of boring the well, and that this machine was actually operated by Pennington. It is manifest that they intended by this count to charge that the relation between the two Johnsons and Pennington was that of master and servant. In the third count the relationship between the defendants is alleged as follows: that the Johnsons were the owners of the machinery, and that they had delivered it into the custody of Pennington for him to operate on a contract, for which Pennington was to have as his compensation a certain per cent, of the net profits only, he not to share in the losses. This, in effect, alleges the same relationship between the Johnsons and Pennington as that alleged in the second count, — that of master and servant. In the fourth count it is alleged that the defendants were partners, and that the machinery by which the sparks were emitted, and from which it was claimed the fire started, was being operated by Pennington. The undisputed evidence on the trial of the case shows that the two Johnsons and Pennington were partners in this business. The court on motion struck the fourth count, on the idea, no doubt, that a partnership was not bound for the torts of one of its members, and then granted a nonsuit in favor of the two Johnsons, after the evidence had shown that they did not participate in the alleged tort resulting in the damage sued for; whereupon a nonsuit was granted as to the remaining defendant, Pennington.

The controlling question in this case is, did the court err in striking the fourth count, and in granting a nonsuit in favor of the two Johnsons? . It seems to us that this question is governed by a plain and unambiguous section of the code. Section 3187 of the Civil Code is in this language: “Partners are not responsible for torts committed by a copartner: For the negligence or torts of their agents or servant they are responsible under the like rules with individuals.” This section was interpreted in the case of Corbett v. Connor, 11 Ga. App. 385, wherein the court says: “The second paragraph of the section has no direct application to the question now under consideration, as this part of the section manifestly refers to ‘agents or servants’ who are not members of the partnership, and not to the partners themselves. Ozborn v. Woolworth, 106 Ga. 460 (32 S. E. 581). The first part of the section, which applies to torts of the partners themselves, explicitly declares that ‘partners are not responsible for torts committed by a copartner.’ The words used are exclusive; they neither express nor imply an exception. The language is a statutory declaration that any tort committed by one partner is beyond the scope of the partnership business and does not bind the partnership. In some other jurisdictions partnerships are held liable for the acts of a partner in the commission of a tort, but the statute of this State does not even make the exception that the partnership would be liable if the tort of the partner was committed within the scope of the partnership business. ‘Some courts have held that the partnership is not liable for the wilful torts of one of the partners, and others that the partnership is liable when such a tort is within the scope of the partnership business. After a careful investigation of the text-books and decisions, we find that the great trend of modern authority is to make the partnership liable for all torts of its members which are within the scope of the partnership business. But whatever may be the. law in other jurisdictions, the question has been settled in this State by the Civil Code’ [§ 3187]. There are several decisions to the effect that the partnership would be liable ‘when all the members joined in the commission': of the tort.’ . . In Ozborn v. Woolworth, supra, referring to the section of the code now considered, it is said: ‘Since the code expressty declares that a partnership is not liable for the torts of its members, the mere fact that all the partners approved of a tort committed by one of their number can not make the partnership liable for that tort upon the idea of ratification.’”

Counsel for the plaintiffs insists in bis argument that the word "tort,” as used in this section, does not include negligence, that the word "negligence” is used in contrast to the word "tort,” and that the latter word refers to invasions of another’s rights, such as trespass, including batteries and the forcible possession of chattels, injuries to reputation, etc.; but this court, in Corbett v. Connor, supra, held contrary to this insistence. In that case Mrs. Connor attempted to hold the partnership liable for an alleged negligent act of Dr. Taylor, one of the partners, committed by him while running one of the locomotives operated' by the partnership in the regular course of the partnership business; that is to say, Dr. Taylor was in charge of one of the company’s engines, he having charge of it to relieve the plaintiff’s husband, who had been scalded; and the homicide of her husband occurred by reason of the negligent manner in which Dr. Taylor operated the engine. So it seems that the identical point which counsel for defendant in error stresses before this court was decided adversely to him in the case cited, which also controls the other points raised by the plaintiff.

We therefore find no error in the striking of the fourth count of the amended declaration, which set up a partnership. Even if it had been sustained by evidence, it would not have authorized a recovery against the partnership; and as the undisputed evidence on the controlling question showed it to be ‘a partnership between the Johnsons and Pennington, the granting of a nonsuit in favor of the two Johnsons was not error. Judgment affirmed.