Hill v. Crowell

Full title: HILL et al. v. CROWELL et al

Court: Supreme Court of Georgia

Date published: Sep 6, 1979

260 S.E.2d 18 (Ga. 1979)

260 S.E.2d 18

Opinion

34942.

ARGUED JULY 9, 1979.

DECIDED SEPTEMBER 6, 1979. REHEARING DENIED SEPTEMBER 25, 1979.

Certiorari to the Court of Appeals of Georgia — 149 Ga. App. 461 ( 254 S.E.2d 519) (1979).

Douglas L. Breault, for appellants.

Jerry A. Buchanan, J. Barrington Vaught, for appellees.

PER CURIAM

This court granted the application for writ of certiorari to review the decision and judgment of the Court of Appeals in Hill v. Crowell, 149 Ga. App. 461 ( 254 S.E.2d 519) (1979).

1. Under Code Ann. § 59-705, either party in a civil suit has the right to an examination of jurors individually prior to the interposing of a challenge. Whaley v. Sim Grady Machinery Co., 218 Ga. 838, 839 (1) ( 131 S.E.2d 181) (1963).

2. Where a party in a civil case has been denied the right to an examination of jurors individually, the error is presumed to be harmful. Bradham v. State, 243 Ga. 638 ( 256 S.E.2d 331) (1979); Poultryland, Inc. v. Anderson, 200 Ga. 549, 561-562 ( 37 S.E.2d 785) (1946).

Judgment affirmed in part and reversed in part. All the Justices concur, except Hall, J., who concurs in the judgment only, and Bowles, J., who dissents to Division

PER CURIAM

ARGUED JULY 9, 1979 — DECIDED SEPTEMBER 6, 1979 — REHEARING DENIED SEPTEMBER 25, 1979.