Floor Pro Packaging, Inc. v. Aicco, Inc.
308 Ga. App. 586
Ga. Ct. App.2011Background
- Floor Pro sued AICCO for breach of finance agreement related to a canceled liability insurance policy following a 2005 fire.
- AICCO argued Floor Pro’s caption change implied an AIG affiliation; AICCO moved in limine to bar voir dire on AIG affiliations.
- Trial court limited voir dire to exclude any questions about AIG affiliations.
- Floor Pro pursued a new-trial motion arguing that knowledge of AIG relationships could bias jurors; it attached SEC and WSJ materials.
- Jury returned a defense verdict; court denied new trial on the voir dire ground; judgment affirmed.
Issues
| Issue | Plaintiff's Argument | Defendant's Argument | Held |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whether trial court erred in voir dire limitation on AIG affiliations | Floor Pro sought to probe jurors for potential bias tied to AIG via AICCO | AICCO claimed affiliation with AIG was irrelevant and prejudicial | No error; voir dire broad enough; no direct financial stake shown by AIG; discretion to limit irrelevant questions. |
Key Cases Cited
- Williams v. State, 259 Ga. App. 742 (Ga. App. 2003) (voir dire for bias; trial court discretion respected)
- Gissendaner v. State, 272 Ga. 704 (Ga. 2000) (limits on voir dire; relevance and fairness constraints)
- Atlanta Coach Co. v. Cobb, 178 Ga. 544 (Ga. 1934) (presumption of harmful error for insurer relationships absent direct stake)
- Reynolds v. Satterfield, 86 Ga. App. 816 (Ga. App. 1952) (noninsurer affiliations; indirect financial stake insufficient without proof)
- Wallace v. Swift Spinning Mills, 236 Ga. App. 613 (Ga. App. 1999) (noninsurers; showing of direct, demonstrable financial stake required)