Segars v. Cornwell

Full title: SEGARS et al. v. CORNWELL

Court: Court of Appeals of Georgia

Date published: Feb 19, 1973

196 S.E.2d 341 (Ga. Ct. App. 1973)

196 S.E.2d 341

Opinion

47861.

ARGUED FEBRUARY 5, 1973.

DECIDED FEBRUARY 19, 1973.

Action for damages. Henry Superior Court. Before Judge Sosebee.

Ray M. Tucker, for appellants.

James M. McDaniel, for appellee.

1. One who purchased land in a proposed subdivision on assurances that a lake would be available to property owners in the tract, although his land was not contiguous to the water line, and who received two deeds, the first specifically stating he was entitled to "lake privileges" and the second, made to correct certain boundary lines, containing a specific reference to a recorded deed showing streets, lake and recreational areas, may not be barred from the use of the lake by refusal to pay an upkeep assessment levied by the successor corporation to the original developer.

2. Where the plaintiff, in an action for malicious prosecution after an arrest on a warrant sworn out by the president of the management corporation with the approval of its board of directors, was bound over to the grand jury on a charge of criminal trespass, and the grand jury returned a no-bill, the fact that the affiant on the arrest warrant was not personally sworn by the justice of the peace does not render the entire proceeding void, where he testified that he signed an oath to the facts stated and that he was under oath. The jury could find under the facts here that the affiant consciously took upon himself the obligation of an oath when he caused the warrant to be issued. 3. The plaintiff proved both general and special damages.

4. One who approves and ratifies a tort is equally guilty with the actor. The evidence authorized an instruction that the corporation and its president, who actually caused the arrest warrant to be served, were joint tortfeasors if the jury should find that a tort had been committed.

ARGUED FEBRUARY 5, 1973 — DECIDED FEBRUARY 19, 1973.

This is an action for malicious prosecution in which the plaintiff Cornwell won a $5,000 verdict against Swan Lake Estates, Inc. and its president, Segars. The plaintiff's case was briefly as follows: In May, 1958, he purchased some fifteen acres of land in Henry County from Swan Lake Development Company, a partnership, the deed reciting: "In addition to the property above described this conveyance includes lake privileges," referring to a manmade lake apparently constructed in 1957. A second warranty deed dated the following month, reciting it was made for the purpose of correcting the description in the first deed, changed certain lines, not here in dispute, by a few feet, omitted the sentence specifically including lake privileges, but recited that the property was described by reference to a specified plat recorded between the issuance of the two deeds in the Henry County records. This plat specifically showed Swan Lake, a street system, and waterfront land reserved for recreational purposes in connection with the subdivision. The corporate defendant here is the former Swan Lake Cooperative Membership Corporation, itself the successor to Swan Lake Development Company. The subdivision seems to have been beset by difficulties from its inception. Minutes dated August, 1964, reflect receipt by the corporation of legal advice as to what could and could not be accomplished, including the following: "Q. Can we prohibit people in the subdivision from using the lake? A. The lake was established as a part of the recorded plat of the subdivision; it is a part of the subdivision like any area for a playground .... Legal position of each person who buys a lot is that the purchaser has the right to use it regardless of any circumstances. No one can deny the purchaser use, regardless of whether he pays dues or upkeep .... The Co-op cannot deny any lot owner in the subdivision the use of that lake or any recreation area which was shown in the subdivision plat. The purchaser relied on that plat in buying the lot, consequently, that is within his right."

The corporate defendant continued to assess dues for the upkeep of recreational facilities and other expenses. The plaintiff for a time paid a sum equivalent to this assessment, marking his checks as a "contribution," and taking the position from the beginning that he was not subject to assessment. He then discontinued the payments. Segars, as president of the corporation, and with the concurrence of the board of directors, thereupon forbade him the use of the lake, and eventually had a warrant taken out placing him under arrest for criminal trespass on the lake property set aside for recreational use. Cornwell hired a lawyer; and indictment was presented to the Henry County grand jury and the latter returned a no-bill. Cornwell then sued for damages, and the defendants appeal from the adverse verdict.

DEEN, Judge.

1. "Where a deed or grant refers to a plat as furnishing the description of the land conveyed, the plat itself and the words and marks on it are as much a part of the grant or deed, and control, so far as limits are concerned, as if such descriptive features were written out on the face of the deed or grant itself." Westbrook v. Comer, 197 Ga. 433 (2) ( 29 S.E.2d 574). While the first deed from the subdivision developer to Cornwell was superseded, it supports his testimony that he purchased lake privileges as appurtenant to his real property, and the plat shows the lake in question as the one involved in this litigation. While the legal opinion incorporated in the minutes did not of itself create an estoppel to assert that adjacent landowners might be charged dues, it constituted notice to the management corporation that the owners' contention they were entitled to use land platted for recreational purposes was supported by competent legal authority. In fact, the defendants did not even attempt to support a contrary legal position, contending only that the grant of "lake privileges" did not mean "free lake privileges." But the question of upkeep of recreational facilities is not here involved; the plaintiff was subjected to a charge of criminal trespass merely for walking upon the land. Under these circumstances the questions of malice, probable cause and lack of good faith were properly submitted to the jury. Where an entire subdivision is developed and sold by the original owners by the establishment of a general scheme in reliance upon which the lots are purchased, in reference to a recorded plat showing available land uses, an obligation rests upon such developers and their successors in title to make such land uses available to all purchasers equally. Cf. Jones v. Lanier Development Co., 188 Ga. 141, 147 ( 2 S.E.2d 923). This subdivision was planned, the lake constructed, and recreational areas set aside, for the purpose of selling lots, whether those lots were contiguous to the waterfront or not. Enumerations of error 2, 3, 5 and 6 are without merit.

2. It is true that a void warrant may not be the basis of a legal arrest and may not therefore serve as the basis of an action for malicious prosecution. Lowe v. Turner, 115 Ga. App. 503 ( 154 S.E.2d 792); J. C. Penney Co. v. Green, 108 Ga. App. 155, 157 ( 132 S.E.2d 83). An affidavit serving as the basis of a valid arrest warrant must be "on oath." Code Ann. § 27-105. This is interpreted in Jackson v. State, 34 Ga. App. 519 ( 130 S.E. 360) as a showing that something was done by the affiant "signifying that he consciously took upon himself the obligation of an oath." Segars, the affiant, testified that he was not "administered" an oath at the time the affidavit was made, but that he signed it, he stated on oath the facts contained in it, and "When I signed it, I guess I signed the oath ... I say if I signed an oath here, I signed one; yes, sir, but I didn't take an oath; signed an oath ... Q. You did sign an oath? A. Yes." The testimony of the witness was sufficient to authorize a finding that he consciously took the obligation upon himself.

3. Attorney fees, bail bonds, and loss of time are special damages which may be recovered in an action for malicious prosecution. Atlantic C. L. R. Co. v. Wegner, 90 Ga. App. 267 ( 83 S.E.2d 58). "The recovery shall not be confined to the actual damage sustained by the accused, but shall be regulated by the circumstances of each case." Code § 105-808. Actual monetary damages as well as injury by being refused the use of the lake area, were testified to by the appellee. The jury was authorized to find that general and special damages ensued from the arrest.

4. The appellants further contend that the trial court erred in instructing the jury that by ratification of a tort committed for one's benefit the ratifier becomes liable as if he had commanded it; also in charging them that if they found the plaintiff entitled to recover they should return a verdict against both defendants. The uncontradicted evidence was to the effect that Segars was president of Swan Lake Estates, Inc., that he personally signed the criminal warrant under oath and went with the constable, Mr. Cole to the shore of Swan Lake when the latter made the arrest, that Cole was also secretary-treasurer of the corporation and another person, a member of the board of directors, was also present; that he took out the warrant for the board of directors and with their approval, and that the complete board of directors attended the commitment hearing before the justice of the peace where Cornwell was bound over to the grand jury. A finding was thus demanded that Segars was acting as agent for the corporation and that his acts were both approved and ratified by its board of directors. The instructions were proper, and equivalent to informing them that the evidence demanded a finding that, if the tort was in fact committed, it was committed jointly. The court does not err in charging the jury that a certain fact has been proved, where it is established by undisputed evidence. Snellings v. Rickey, 57 Ga. App. 836 (2) ( 197 S.E. 44).

Judgment affirmed. Bell, C. J., and Quillian, J., concur.