Anthony v. Gator Cochran Construction, Inc.
288 Ga. 79
Ga.2010Background
- Cochran sued Anthony Entities for unpaid invoices totaling $685,135.86.
- Jury returned special verdict for Cochran in the amount of $606,747.96.
- Anthony Entities challenged the verdict as inconsistent/void; Court of Appeals addressed waiver.
- Georgia Court of Appeals relied on Brannan Auto Parts v. Raymark and Frostgate to hold waiver.
- Georgia Supreme Court granted certiorari to determine proper handling of inconsistent verdicts in civil cases.
- Supreme Court vacated Court of Appeals, overruled Brannan and Ford Motor Co. v. Tippins, and remanded for proceedings consistent with this opinion.
Issues
| Issue | Plaintiff's Argument | Defendant's Argument | Held |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whether an inconsistent verdict is void and cannot support a judgment | Anthony Entities argued waiver could fix issues from form. | Cochran argued the verdict was not void if not truly inconsistent. | An inconsistent verdict is void; judgment cannot stand. |
| Whether failure to object to a verdict form can preserve an inconsistent verdict | Anthony Entities relied on waiver due to no objection. | Cochran contended voidness overrides waiver rule. | Waiver cannot validate a void, inconsistent verdict. |
| Whether Brannan and Ford Motor Co. v. Tippins correctly controlled the outcome | Court of Appeals properly applied precedent to waive review. | Precedents supported by Brannan/Ford Motor should govern. | Brannan and Ford Motor overruled; they do not control voidness here. |
Key Cases Cited
- Thompson v. Ingram, 226 Ga. 668 (1970) (verdicts that are contradictory or repugnant are void)
- Brannan Auto Parts v. Raymark Industries, 183 Ga.App. 82 (1987) (verdict form objections and waiver on appeal)
- Frostgate Warehouses, Inc. v. Cole, 244 Ga. 782 (1979) (statutory jury question procedures; preservation of error)
- Ford Motor Co. v. Tippins, 225 Ga.App. 128 (1997) (waiver of objection to verdict; similar implications)
- Lynas v. Williams, 216 Ga.App. 434 (1995) (recognition of void verdicts and review implications)
- Surles v. Cornell Corrections, etc., 290 Ga. App. 260 (2008) (jury verdict interpretation and avoiding ambiguity)