14 Ga. App. 434 | Ga. Ct. App. | 1914
G. B. Boddie brought an action, as administrator of the estate of Thomas A. Boddie, against Troup County for $3,000, damages arising from an alteration in the grade of a public road through the lands of Thomas A. Boddie. After reciting various elements of damage, the plaintiff alleged that within twelve months from the time his claim accrued or became payable, he presented it to the proper authorities of the county, in three distinct ways: first, to some of the individual members of the board of commissioners ; second, by appearing before the board on two occasions while it was in session, and presenting and discussing his claim; and third, by filing with the board certain papers which he alleged amounted to a written presentation of his claim, and copies of which were attached and made a part of his petition. The exhibits attached to the petition, and relied upon as a compliance with the requirements of the code section referred to in the headnote, were:
Whatever doubt may have existed in earlier decisions of our Supreme Court as to the necessity for presenting claims against a county in writing, that doubt no longer exists, in view of the direct decision in Powell v. County of Muscogee, 71 Ga. 587, that a claim
In the case now being determined there is no contention that the suit was either filed or served within twelve months from the time the right of action accrued. The only real question, therefore, that presents itself for adjudication is whether the writings filed or presented to the board of commissioners of Troup County while in session amounted to a written claim or demand. It will be noted at the outset that the estimate accompanying the letter referred to in the statement of facts, dated 1912, is signed by “Geo. Boddie” individually, and refers to an estimate for grading and concrete work necessary to be done “in front of my house” on account of the excavation recently “cut in front of my premises.” And the letter of July 1, 1913, referring to “excavation,” “sidewalk,” “concrete steps,” etc., “in front of my gate,” signed “Geo. B. Boddie” individually, makes no reference whatever to any damages or claim for damages on account of the injuries to lands of the estate of Thomas A. Boddie, alleged in the petition brought by the plaintiff as administrator of the estate. No description is given in any of the written documents filed with the board of commissioners, from