From Casetext: Smarter Legal Research

Frazier v. Willis

Court of Appeals of Georgia
Apr 11, 1973
197 S.E.2d 831 (Ga. Ct. App. 1973)

Opinion

47848.

SUBMITTED JANUARY 3, 1973.

DECIDED APRIL 11, 1973.

Claim. Houston Superior Court. Before Judge Hunt.

Nixon Nixon, John P. Nixon, for appellant.

A. O. B. Sparks, Jr., for appellee.


This case concerns a dispute over the ownership of an automobile. The lower court granted the defendant-executor's motion for summary judgment. The Georgia certificate of title reflects plaintiff's stepmother, now deceased, as the owner. The certificate of title is only prima facie evidence of ownership and this can be contradicted by other evidence. Watson v. Brown, 126 Ga. App. 69 ( 189 S.E.2d 903). By affidavit in opposition to defendant's motion for summary judgment plaintiff stated that he purchased the car from a dealer. He made a down payment by trading in an older automobile of which he was the owner plus a cash down payment of $150; that the balance was financed by the Universal CIT in the name of the deceased due to his minority; that he made the monthly payments of $119.16 per month by check or cash; that defendant has in his possession a "paper" showing that the deceased received more than $800 in cash to make the monthly payments; and that defendant-executor furnished him a document entitled "Release of Claims" for his signature which contained a statement that plaintiff was the purchaser of this automobile. Three checks payable to Universal CIT in the amount of the monthly payment drawn by plaintiff and a copy of the above release were attached to the affidavit. Affidavits from the car dealer and his sales manager corroborated the plaintiff's affidavit concerning the sale, the trade-in, etc. This evidence in opposition to the defendant's motion appears to be admissible and would not violate Code § 38-1603 (1), as the evidence would not be categorized as transactions or communications with a deceased person. Simmons v. Larry, 109 Ga. App. 424 ( 136 S.E.2d 502). There is a genuine issue of material fact as to ownership of the vehicle. The trial court erred in granting the defendant's motion for summary judgment.

Judgment reversed. Deen and Quillian, JJ., concur.


SUBMITTED JANUARY 3, 1973 — DECIDED APRIL 11, 1973.


Summaries of

Frazier v. Willis

Court of Appeals of Georgia
Apr 11, 1973
197 S.E.2d 831 (Ga. Ct. App. 1973)
Case details for

Frazier v. Willis

Case Details

Full title:FRAZIER v. WILLIS

Court:Court of Appeals of Georgia

Date published: Apr 11, 1973

Citations

197 S.E.2d 831 (Ga. Ct. App. 1973)
197 S.E.2d 831

Citing Cases

Weekes v. Gay

Thus, it has been held that the introduction of certain documentary evidence does not violate Code § 38-1603…

McMath v. Columbus Bank

Plaintiff was the lienholder on the vehicle, even though the certificate of title is only prima facie…