188 Ga. 42 | Ga. | 1939
Mary Carolyn Allen, by next friend, brought suit in the superior court of Peach County, against Martin & Thompson Inc., to recover damages for personal injuries. The petition alleges that .while the defendant is a corporation having its office and chief place of business in Pulaski County, it has an agent and place of business in Peach County, in that it leases a certain building in said county and through its agents operates therein a motion-picture theater; that “as such lessee the defendant has entire management, supervision, and control of suid building . . and otherwise the complete control, management, and operation of the business therein conducted;” that on a named date the plaintiff purchased a ticket and became a patron of the theater, and while attending a performance therein sustained severe personal injuries which were "the result of alleged acts of negligence of
It is declared in the Code, § 22-1102 (Acts 1884-5, p. 99), that “Any corporation chartered by authority of this State may be sued on contracts in that county in which the contract sought to be enforced was made or is to be performed, if it has an office and transacts business there. Suits for damages, because of torts, wrong or injury done, may be brought in the county where the cause of action originated. Service of such suits may be effected by leaving a copy of the writ with the agent of the defendant, or, if there be no agent in the county, then at the agency or place of business.” Under this section, an action against a corporation for damages arising ex delicto may be brought in the county where the cause of action originates, provided such corporation has an agent and place of business in such county. Tuggle v. Enterprise Lumber Co., 123 Ga. 480 (51 S. E. 433); Central Georgia Power Co. v. Parnell, 11 Ga. App. 779 (76 S. E. 157); Jones v. District Grand Lodge, 12 Ga. App. 273 (76 S. E. 279); Ellis v. Southern Express Co., 27 Ga. App. 738 (110 S. E. 43); Padrick v. M. C. Kiser Co., 33 Ga. App. 15 (124 S. E. 901); Gillis v. Hilton & Dodge Lumber Co., 113 Ga. 622 (38 S. E. 940). The allegations of the petition sufficiently show that the defendant had an agent and place of business in Peach County. Service appears to have been made on an “agent and manager of the defendant . . in charge of its office and business in . . Peach County.” The “plea in abatement” does not deny the allegations of the petition, or set up a contrary state of facts. There was no traverse of the return of the sheriff. It follows that the action was maintainable against the defendant in Peach County, under the Code. The plea in abatement sets up, however, that the section cited is unconstitutional, in that it is in conflict wih art. 1, sec. 1, and art. 6, sec. 16, par. 6, of the constitution of this State. Art. 1, sec. 1, is quoted as providing
Since that decision this court has consistently upheld the right of the General Assembly to legislate as to the residence of corporations, for the purpose of suits brought against them. Ga. R. &c. Co. v. Oaks, 52 Ga. 410 (2); Merritt v. Cotton States Life Insurance Co., 55 Ga. 103; Gilbert v. Georgia R. &c. Co., 104 Ga. 412 (30 S. E. 673); Jefferson Fire Ins. Co. v. Brackin, 140 Ga. 637 (79 S. E. 467); Central Georgia Power Co. v. Stubbs, 141 Ga. 172 (80 S. E. 636). See also Bracewell v. Southern Ry. Co., 134 Ga. 537 (68 S. E. 98); Citizens & Southern Bank v. Taggart, 164 Ga. 351 (138 S. E. 898); Tennessee Coach Co. v. Snelling, 51 Ga. App. 432 (180 S. E. 741); Nalley v. Moore, 51 Ga. App. 718 (181 S. E. 429). At the present term this court in Speed Oil Co. v. Aycock, 188 Ga. 46 (2 S. E. 2d, 666), upheld the right of the legislature, under the constitution, to fix the residence of a corporation. While in Youmans v. Hickman, 179 Ga. 684 (177 S. E. 238), this
Judgment affirmed.