Hoard v. Wiley

¶1This case affords the court an opportunity to bring into a somewhat better focus a phase of the law which has become confusing and hazy through too many ill-considered opinions originating in the appellate courts. The issue concerns the always elusive question of value which, it is safe to say, is present in some manner in a majority of the civil cases litigated.

¶2It is to be observed from the factual summation that the plaintiff, as owner of the goods, testified without any explanation that in his opinion the value of the beer “was $200.00 or better.” Viewing the quoted testimony in its most favorable light and without considering plaintiff’s other testimony on cross examination which gravely detracts from its efficacy, that testimony standing alone would not authorize a verdict in plaintiff’s favor for that or any other sum.

¶3When a witness is called to testify as to the value of something, in effect he is asked to estimate or to appraise the worth of the thing. Value means “1. To estimate the worth of; to rate at a certain price; to appraise. . . 2. to place a certain estimate of worth on in a scale of values. . .” Webster’s New Twentieth Century Dictionary (2d Ed., c. 1964). Applying the simple meaning of the word it is obvious that it is infrequent indeed when testimony as to value, whether relating to chattels, services, realty, or anything else, amounts to more than an expression of the witness’ opinion. Rarely is testimony as to value testimony as to a fact. “Value in its essence is exclusively a matter of opinion. . .” Gulf Refining Co. v. Smith, 164 Ga. 811 (4) (139 SE 716). “After all, every estimate of value is a mere matter of opinion, and this principle is recognized by the courts.” Reidsville Ac. R. Co. v. Baxter, 13 Ga. App. 357, 366 (79 SE 187). This court found no error in a trial judge’s charge which stated, “As to what any piece of property might be worth at a given time is necessarily a question of the witness’ opinion. . .” Ward v. Nance, 102 Ga. App. 201 (6) (115 SE2d 781).

¶4*332Thus when an opinion is sought from a witness as to the value of a thing, it is necessary that it be shown that the witness has some knowledge, experience or familiarity with the value of the thing or of similar things. This foundation is essential in order to show the bases or the reasons for the witness’ opinion as to the value of the thing. In absence of that showing, the testimony is inadmissible and is utterly insignificant since it represents nothing more than an unsupported conclusion or guess of the witness.1 For that reason, even though testimony of that type be admitted without objection and remain in the record, it cannot support a verdict as it has no probative value. “One need not be an expert or dealer in the article, but may testify as to value, if he has an opportunity for forming a correct opinion.” Code § 38-1709. “Where the question under examination . . . shall be one of opinion, any witness may swear to his opinion or belief, giving his reasons therefor.” Code § 38-1708. The plain language of our Code sections (supra) precludes an owner from testifying to the value of his goods in a single or gross amount without “giving his reasons therefor” or else showing that he has had “an opportunity for forming a correct opinion.” The Georgia courts have generally *333so construed the statutes. See Baker v. Goddard, 205 Ga. 477, 482 (53 SE2d 754); Central Railroad v. Wolff, 74 Ga. 664; Cohn v. Rigsby, 60 Ga. App. 728, 730 (5 SE2d 93); Firemen’s Ins. Co. v. Allmond, 105 Ga. App. 763, 766 (125 SE2d 545). “Conclusions of witnesses are of no probative value unless the facts on which the opinions are based sustain the opinions rendered.” Gordy Tire Co. v. Bulman, 98 Ga. App. 563, 564 (106 SE2d 332). But this court has sometimes gone astray. For example, Division 2 of the case of Warren v. State, 76 Ga. App. 243 (45 SE2d 726) is in conflict with the statutes and with decisions of the Supreme Court. Therefore Warrentogether with all other cases of this court so holding is expressly overruled. The decision in National-Ben Franklin Fire Ins. Co. v. Darby, 48 Ga. App. 394 (3) (172 SE 74) cited in Warren, is incomplete and not a fully accurate statement of the rule since it did not include either the necessity that the owner show “his reasons” for his opinion or show he had “an opportunity for forming a correct opinion.”

¶5For an excellent annotation in depth on the subject see 37 ALR2d 967-1041. However, it should be pointed out that § 9 of the annotation on pp. 987, 988 has misinterpreted the cited Georgia decisions. This is due, apparently, to the annotator’s preoccupation with the erroneous holding in Warrenwhich is here overruled.

¶6On cross examination the plaintiff testified that the value of five cases of Carlings Black Label Beer, King size, had a value of $29.50 as he had paid that much for it. Without any explanation, even as to the cost price, he valued three cases of Pabst Blue Ribbon Beer at $18. When asked questions regarding the quantities of various kinds of wines for which he sued, the plaintiff testified he did not know the quantities of any kind. He expressed no opinion as to the value of the wines, nor could he have since he admitted he did not know how much he had.

¶7According to the evidence in the record, there is absolutely no showing of value of any of the items for which plaintiff sued.

¶8Testimony as to the cost price of an item of property standing alone is insufficient data upon which to base an opinion as to the value of the thing. Mills v. Mangum, 111 Ga. App. 396, *334397 (141 SE2d 773). As we construe the holding in Mangum, it is twofold. (1) The cost price of an item, if coupled properly with other evidence such as a showing of the condition of the item both at the time of purchase and at the time its value is in issue, may be admitted as an element upon which an opinion may be formed as to the item’s value. (2) An opinion as to value based solely on cost price is inadmissible as it has no probative value.

¶9It follows that the testimony of the value of the five cases of Carlings Black Label Beer, $29.50, based solely as it was on its cost price has no probative value and even though admitted without objection, is insufficient to support a verdict for that amount.

¶10The testimony as to the value of the Pabst Blue Ribbon Beer, $18, where cost price does not appear to have been the basis for the opinion, would not support a verdict for $18 for the reasons stated in Division 1 of this opinion.

¶11The trial judge directed a verdict for the plaintiff although the sole issue was the value of property which, by the nature of the property, could only be determined by testimony stating the opinions of witnesses as to its value. Although it has been pointed out in the preceding divisions of this opinion that the evidence was totally insufficient to support a verdict, it is nevertheless essential for a further holding to be entered in the case that the trial judge erred in directing a verdict for the plaintiff.

¶12The question of the value of property is peculiarly one for the jury. Jurors are not required to accept as correct opinion evidence of value even where there is no other evidence of facts and data upon which the jury might base an independent conclusion. Baker v. Richmond City Mill Works, 105 Ga. 225 (1) (31 SE 426); Jennings v. Stripling, 127 Ga. 778 (3) (56 SE 1026); Martin v. Martin, 135 Ga. 162 (1) (68 SE 1095); McCarthy v. Lazarus, 137 Ga. 282 (2) (73 SE 493); Finleyson v. International Harvester Co., 138 Ga. 247 (2) (75 SE 103); Hammock v. Kemp, 146 Ga. 681 (2) (92 SE 57); Daniell & Beutell v. McRee, 31 Ga. App. 210 (1) (120 SE 448); Jefferson v. Kennedy, 41 Ga. App. 672 (3) (154 SE 378); Radcliffe v. *335Jones, 46 Ga. App. 33 (7) (166 SE 450); Watson v. Tompkins Chevrolet Co., 83 Ga. App. 440 (3) (63 SE2d 681); Atlantic C. L. R. Co. v. Clements, 92 Ga. App. 451, 455 (88 SE2d 809). “The evidence relied on to show the reasonable value of the rent of the land was mere opinion evidence, and such questions are always to be determined by the jury, and a verdict ought not to be directed where such evidence is involved.” Bonds v. Brown, 133 Ga. 451, 455 (66 SE 156).

¶13We are not unaware of statements of this court to the contrary. Thus the first complete paragraph on p. 257 of the case of Elder v. Woodruff Hardware Ac. Co., 16 Ga. App. 255 (85 SE 268), contains erroneous statements in part and obiter in part and is specifically disapproved.

¶14Defendants filed their answer in this suit in trover after its appearance date, which is thirty days after service of the petition and process. Code § 81-201.

¶15The right to open an automatic default within the fifteen-day period provided by Code § 110-401 is expressly conditioned upon the payment of costs. The defendants having failed to comply with this condition, the trial court did not err in granting plaintiff’s motion to strike defendants’ answer. See Tuten v. Zetterower, 218 Ga. 230, 233 (126 SE2d 752); Thompson v. Nichols, 208 Ga. 147 (2) (65 SE2d 603).

¶16The judgment of the trial court is reversed on the general grounds and on special ground 3 for the reasons stated in Divisions 1, 2 and 3 of this opinion. Special grounds 1 and 2 have no merit.

¶17Judgment reversed.