233 Ga. 822 | Ga. | 1975
This is an appeal from a judgment denying former husband’s petition to enjoin former wife’s garnishment proceeding against him. The parties divorced in 1947. In March 1973, wife obtained a writ of execution against husband for $10,130 in past due child support and alimony, in arrears for more than seven years. Wife instituted garnishment proceedings and the garnishee paid $1,650 into court, which sum was condemned by wife in August 1973. Another garnishment was brought in December 1973 and $1,182 was paid into the State Court of DeKalb County. Husband filed defensive pleadings to the suit and by agreement of counsel the matter was continued pending negotiations between the parties. During this period, and with knowledge that the case of Bryant v. Bryant, 232 Ga. 160 (205 SE2d 223), was then pending in this court, presenting the question whether
Husband contends that the agreement never became binding because (1) no control was relinquished over the instrument by him, (2) delivery was contemplated and never made, (3) the parties intended approval by state court and this was not done, (4) there was no communication of acceptance and (5) the consideration was founded on a mistake of law and the contract is therefore unenforceable. We disagree. Parties to a pending lawsuit may by an oral agreement through their respective counsel compromise and settle the matter; the settlement of a doubtful issue — here, the impact of the pending Bryant decision upon husband’s potential liability — is sufficient consideration. Herndon v. Herndon, 227 Ga. 781 (183 SE2d 386);Fulford v. Fulford, 225 Ga. 9 (3) (165 SE2d 848);Kapiloff v. Askin Stores, 202 Ga. 292 (42 SE2d 724); Boswell v. Gillen, 131 Ga. 310 (62
Judgment affirmed.