Williams v. Appliances, Inc.

91 Ga. App. 608 (1955)

86 S.E.2d 632

WILLIAMS et al. v. APPLIANCES, INC.

35567.

Court of Appeals of Georgia.

Decided March 8, 1955.

J. N. Rainey, for plaintiffs in error.

Charles L. Henry, contra.

FELTON, C. J.

1. A general assignment in a bill of exceptions which assigns error on the overruling of an oral motion to dismiss, in the nature of a general demurrer, on the ground that the ruling was contrary to law is a sufficient assignment of error. Johnson v. Porter, 115 Ga. 401, 403 (1) (41 S. E. 644); Bennett v. Benton, 162 Ga. 139 (133 S. E. 855); Greenwood v. Greenblatt, 173 Ga. 551 (161 S. E. 135); O'Neal v. Miller, 9 Ga. App. 180 (2) (70 S. E. 971). The motion to dismiss the writ of error is denied.

2. A motion to dismiss in the nature of a general demurrer may be made in a case marked "in default" at any time before verdict without opening the default, and a failure of the court to sustain the motion may be made the subject of a direct bill of exceptions. O'Connor v. Brucker, 117 Ga. 451 (3) (43 S. E. 731); Thigpen v. Bituminous Cas. Corp., 67 Ga. App. 367 (20 S. E. 2d 213).

3. The designation "J. D. Robinson, Inc." connotes a corporate entity. Minchew v. Nahunta Lumber Co., 5 Ga. App. 154 (62 S. E. 716).

4. The petition named J. D. Robinson, Inc. (which connotes a corporation), John B. Williams, and Doyle Healan as defendants. The bill of particulars showed that the materials sued for were sold to J. D. Robinson, Inc. Nothing in the bill of particulars refers to the defendants Williams and Healan. Since the plaintiff chose to amplify his petition by annexing a bill of particulars, it is bound by the allegations contained therein. Exhibits attached to a petition control over its general allegations. Hurt & Quinn, Inc. v. Keen, 89 Ga. App. 4, 6 (2) (78 S. E. 2d 345). Strickland v. Lowry National Bank, 140 Ga. 653 (2) (79 S. E. 539). Since the exhibits showed that the items sued for were sold to the defendant J. D. Robinson, Inc., and there is nothing contained in the petition to show why the defendants Williams and Healan are liable for such items (see Code § 20-401 (2)), the petition failed to state a cause of action against the defendants Williams and Healan.

The court erred in denying the motions to dismiss the action.

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

*609 Appliances, Inc. sued J.D. Robinson, Inc., John B. Williams, and Doyle Healan on an open account. The petition was a short, or "Jack Jones," form of pleading. Attached to the petition and incorporated therein by reference was a sworn itemized statement of the account. The itemized statement consisted of copies of invoices showing the materials purchased and their prices. The invoices were in the account of "J. D. Robinson, Inc., Winder, Ga." The case was marked in default as to the defendants Williams and Healan. After the case had been marked in default, but before verdict, the defendants Williams and Healan moved orally to dismiss the action. The motions were denied, and the defendants Williams and Healan except.