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State Farm Fire Casualty Company v. Gosdin

Court of Appeals of Georgia
Sep 11, 1978
248 S.E.2d 216 (Ga. Ct. App. 1978)

Opinion

56123.

ARGUED JULY 10, 1978.

DECIDED SEPTEMBER 11, 1978.

Declaratory judgment; insurance, etc. DeKalb Superior Court. Before Judge Hendon.

Greer, Klosik Daugherty, Richard G. Greer, M. Scott Barksdale, for appellant.

Kemper, Baker Boswell, Joseph R. Baker, Michael S. Reeves, Donald M. Fain, for appellees.


Appeal was taken from a judgment denying the plaintiff's motion for a temporary restraining order pending a declaratory judgment action. Held:

1. The appeal is considered by this court under decisions exemplified by Jahncke Serv. v. Dept. of Transp., 137 Ga. App. 179 ( 223 S.E.2d 228); Pichulik v. Simpson, 227 Ga. 55 ( 178 S.E.2d 860).

2. The plaintiff insurer sought a declaration that it was not liable for a fire loss under a policy of insurance. It was contended that declaratory judgment was necessary to prevent the plaintiff from having imposed upon it bad faith penalty and attorney fees under Code Ann. § 56-1206 (Ga. L. 1960, pp. 289, 502; 1962, p. 712). The trial judge denied the motion for a restraining order on the basis that plaintiff's rights had already accrued.

Unless, as a matter of law, irreparable injury will result to the complainant, we will not reverse the trial judge's exercise of discretion in denying interlocutory relief. Mitchell v. DeKalb County Bank, 139 Ga. App. 562 (3) ( 228 S.E.2d 746). From the present record no abuse was shown.

The plaintiff would not be absolved of the bad faith penalty provided in Code Ann. § 56-1206 merely by the fact that this declaratory judgment action was brought. Cf. Bituminous Cas. Corp. v. Mowery, 145 Ga. App. 45, 50 ( 244 S.E.2d 573) and cits. This suit does no more than ask the court to determine whether the plaintiff is liable upon an insurance policy which it issued. Provident Life c. Ins. Co. v. United Family Life Ins. Co., 233 Ga. 540 ( 212 S.E.2d 326).

Judgment affirmed. Webb and Shulman, JJ., concur.

ARGUED JULY 10, 1978 — DECIDED SEPTEMBER 11, 1978.


Summaries of

State Farm Fire Casualty Company v. Gosdin

Court of Appeals of Georgia
Sep 11, 1978
248 S.E.2d 216 (Ga. Ct. App. 1978)
Case details for

State Farm Fire Casualty Company v. Gosdin

Case Details

Full title:STATE FARM FIRE CASUALTY COMPANY v. GOSDIN et al

Court:Court of Appeals of Georgia

Date published: Sep 11, 1978

Citations

248 S.E.2d 216 (Ga. Ct. App. 1978)
248 S.E.2d 216

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