Williams v. Harris, 63 S.E.2d 386 (Ga. 1951). · Go Syfert
Williams v. Harris, 63 S.E.2d 386 (Ga. 1951). Cases Citing This Book View Copy Cite
“the law infers some damage from the invasion of a property right; and if no evidence is given of any particular amount of loss, it declares the right by awarding what it terms 'nominal damages.”
111 citation events (30 in the last 25 years) across 5 distinct courts.
Strongest positive: The Cotto Law Group, LLC v. Vanessa Benevidez (gactapp, 2022-03-02)
Treatment trajectory · 1953 → 2026 · click a year to view as-of
1953 1989 2026
Top citers, strongest first. 25 distinct citers.
discussed Cited as authority (quoted) The Cotto Law Group, LLC v. Vanessa Benevidez (2×) also: Cited "see, e.g."
Ga. Ct. App. · 2022 · signal: see also · quote attribution · 1 verbatim quote · confidence low
nominal damages are always allowed for any tortious invasion of a property right, though no actual damage results therefrom
discussed Cited as authority (quoted) Fei Zhong v. Pnc Bank, N.A.
Ga. Ct. App. · 2018 · quote attribution · 1 verbatim quote · confidence low
the law infers some damage from the invasion of a property right; and if no evidence is given of any particular amount of loss, it declares the right by awarding what it terms 'nominal damages.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Thiede v. Sharper Impressions Painting Co.
N.D. Ga. · 2025 · confidence medium
Grp., LLC v. Benevidez, 362 Ga. App. 850 , 857 (2022) (citing Ga. Power Co. v. Womble, 150 Ga. App. 28, 32 (1979); Williams v. Harris, 207 Ga. 576, 579 (1951)) (“Because the law infers some damage from the invasion of a property right, the right may be vindicated through an award of nominal damages even if the damage cannot be quantified or established by proof.”) (cleaned up).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Love v. McKnight (2×)
Ga. · 2025 · confidence medium
See White v. State, 305 Ga. 111, 122 n.10 (823 SE2d 794) (2019) (“When a high court finds discordant opinions among its own horizontal precedents, the court generally follows its decision in the most recent case, which must have tacitly overruled any truly inconsistent holding.” (cleaned up)). 9 tort remained for the jury, “the claim for attorney fees rooted in bad faith concerning those actions should have also been left for the jury”); Baker v. Miller, 265 Ga. 486, 486 (458 SE2d 621) (1995) (describing defendant’s “series of misrepresentations” as evidence of bad faith sufficie…
examined Cited as authority (rule) Alston & Bird, LLP v. Hatcher Management Holdings, LLC (5×) also: Cited "see"
Ga. · 2021 · confidence medium
The Court of Appeals concluded that an award of expenses of litigation under OCGA § 13-6-11 is not part of an 23 overall damages award because it “stands alone,” quoting Williams, 207 Ga. at 579 (3), but the quoted portion of Williams simply states that the trier of fact must conduct a separate analysis under the applicable statute to determine whether the defendant acted in bad faith before awarding expenses of litigation, not that “damages” awarded under OCGA § 13-6-11 somehow are not a part of the “total amount of damages” awarded in a given case.
cited Cited as authority (rule) Hatcher Management Holdings, LLC v. Alston & Bird, LLP
Ga. Ct. App. · 2020 · confidence medium
Williams v. Harris, 207 Ga. 576, 578 (3) ( 63 SE2d 386 ) (1951) (affirming a jury’s award of attorney fees when it found that a defendant had acted in bad faith).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Davis v. Overall
Ga. Ct. App. · 2009 · confidence medium
“The law infers some damage from the invasion of a property right; and if no evidence is given of any particular amount of loss, it declares the right by awarding what it terms ‘nominal damages.’ ” Williams v. Harris, 207 Ga. 576, 579 (2) ( 63 SE2d 386 ) (1951).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Norton v. Holcomb (2×)
Ga. Ct. App. · 2007 · confidence medium
Adams, Georgia Law of Torts, § 2-5 (Trespass to Realty) (2007); Pindar's Georgia Real Estate Law and Procedure with Forms, § 1-10 (Right to Exclude) (2007). [26] Williams v. Harris, 207 Ga. 576, 579 (2), 63 S.E.2d 386 (1951).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Page v. Braddy
Ga. Ct. App. · 2002 · confidence medium
Warranty Corp. Ins. &c. v. Cameron-Hogan, Inc., 182 Ga. App. 434, 437 (4) ( 356 SE2d 83 ) (1987). 14 219 Ga. App. 301, 303 (1) ( 464 SE2d 897 ) (1995). 15 Id. 16 (Emphasis supplied.) Id. 17 An apportionment based on acreage would have no logical relationship to damages, especially because some areas were clear-cut and others were not. 18 See Williams v. Harris, 207 Ga. 576, 579 (2) ( 63 SE2d 386 ) (1951). 19 See Solon Automated Svcs. v. Pines Assoc., 156 Ga. App. 893 ( 328 SE2d 736 ) (1980). 20 (Footnote omitted.) Smith v. Direct Media Corp., 247 Ga. App. 771, 772 ( 544 SE2d 762 ) (2001).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Bauer v. North Fulton Medical Center, Inc. (2×)
Ga. Ct. App. · 1999 · confidence medium
Weimer v. Cauble, 214 Ga. 634, 636-637 , 106 S.E.2d 781 (1959); Williams v. Harris, 207 Ga. 576, 579 (2), 63 S.E.2d 386 (1951); Flanders v. Hill Aircraft &c.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Little v. Fleet Finance
Ga. Ct. App. · 1997 · confidence medium
We find that the speculative nature of damages alleged in a complaint may not afford a basis for the granting of a motion to dismiss wherein the allegations of a complaint are taken as true, as opposed to a motion for summary judgment wherein the merits of a complaint are addressed. 3 Moreover, the trial court’s granting of the motion to dismiss as to appellant’s fraud claim, based on damages, ignored the issue of nominal damages which a jury might find upon the commission of an unlawful act. “[N]ominal damages are always allowed for any tortious invasion of a property right, though no a…
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Citizens & Southern Trust Co. v. Phillips Petroleum Co.
Ga. Ct. App. · 1989 · confidence medium
“The law infers some damage from the invasion of a property right; and if no evidence is given of any particular amount of loss, it declares the right by awarding what it terms ‘nominal damages.’ [Cits.]” Williams v. Harris, 207 Ga. 576, 579 (2) ( 63 SE2d 386 ) (1951). 6.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Bayliner Marine Corp. v. Prance
Ga. Ct. App. · 1981 · confidence medium
See Story v. Howell, 85 Ga. App. 661, 664 ( 70 SE2d 29 ); Willis v. Kemp, 130 Ga. App. 758, 761 (7), supra. Compare Bowman v. Poole, 212 Ga. 261, 262 (3) ( 91 SE2d 770 ); Williams v. Harris, 207 Ga. 576, 579 (3) ( 63 SE2d 386 ); Twin City Lumber Co. v. Daniels, 22 Ga. App. 578 (1), 581 ( 96 SE 437 ).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Ford Motor Credit Co. v. Spicer
Ga. Ct. App. · 1977 · confidence medium
Mosely v. Sanders, 76 Ga. 293 ; Traders Insurance Co. v. Mann, 118 Ga. 381 ( 45 SE 426 ); O’Neal v. Spivey, 167 Ga. 176 ( 145 SE 71 ); Grant v. Hart, 197 Ga. 662, 671 ( 30 SE2d 271 ), and the cases there cited.” Williams v. Harris, 207 Ga. 576, 579 (3) ( 63 SE2d 386 ).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Albert Properties, Inc. v. Watkins
Ga. Ct. App. · 1977 · confidence medium
"The law infers some damage from the invasion of a property right; and if no evidence is given of any particular amount of loss, it declares the right by awarding what it terms 'nominal damages.’ ” Williams v. Harris, 207 Ga. 576, 579 (2) ( 63 SE2d 386 ) (1951).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Sudderth v. Bailey
Ga. · 1977 · confidence medium
Because of this recital in the deed, appellant is estopped to deny the validity of the year’s support judgment. "[T]he parties to a deed, and those claiming under it, are estopped by its recitals.” Williams v. Harris, 207 Ga. 576, 578 ( 63 SE2d 386 ) (1951).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Cleary v. Southern Motors of Savannah, Inc.
Ga. Ct. App. · 1977 · signal: cf. · confidence medium
Roberts Pest Control Co. v. McDonald, 132 Ga. App. 257, 260 (4) ( 208 SE2d 13 ); cf. Williams v. Harris, 207 Ga. 576, 579 (3) ( 63 SE2d 386 ).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Lee v. Morrison
Ga. Ct. App. · 1976 · confidence medium
Co., 88 Ga. App. 490 ( 77 SE2d 80 ); Myrtle Lodge No. 1663 v. Quattlebaum, 207 Ga. 576, 579 ( 63 SE2d 365 ).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Ford Motor Credit Co. v. Milline
Ga. Ct. App. · 1976 · confidence medium
Was plaintiff entitled to recover "attorneys fees of $4,415?” "Attorney’s fees as expenses of litigation are not punitive or vindictive damages, but stand alone, are *591 regulated by Code, § 20-1404, and the jury may allow them if the defendant has acted in bad faith in the transaction out of which the cause of action arose.” Williams v. Harris, 207 Ga. 576, 579 (3) ( 63 SE2d 386 ); Bowman v. Poole, 212 Ga. 261 ( 91 SE2d 770 ).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Marshall v. Georgia Power Company
Ga. Ct. App. · 1975 · confidence medium
Co., 132 Ga. 246 ( 64 SE 87 ); Williams v. Harris, 207 Ga. 576, 579 (2) ( 63 SE2d 386 ). 5.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) McQueen v. Wilson (2×)
Ga. Ct. App. · 1968 · confidence medium
Williams v. Harris, 207 Ga. 576, 579 ( 63 SE2d 386 ); Weimer v. Cauble, 214 Ga. 634, 636 ( 106 SE2d 781 ).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Studdard v. Evans
Ga. Ct. App. · 1964 · confidence medium
Code § 105-2006; Williams v. Harris, 207 Ga. 576, 579 ( 63 SE2d 386 ). 1 “The gist of the action [for conspiracy] is not the conspiracy alleged, but the tort committed against the plaintiff and the damage thereby done.” Davidson v. Collier, 104 Ga. App. 546, 550 ( 122 SE2d 465 ).
examined Cited "see" SONS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS v. HENRY COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS (Two Cases) (4×)
Ga. · 2022 · signal: see · confidence high
See Williams v. Harris, 207 Ga. 576, 579 (2) (63 SE2d 386) (1951) (“The law infers some damage from the invasion of a property right; and if no evidence is given of any particular amount of loss, it declares the right by awarding what it terms ‘nominal damages.’” (citations omitted)); Pavesich v. New England Life Ins.
discussed Cited "see" McRae v. SSI Development, LLC (2×)
Ga. · 2008 · signal: see · confidence high
See Williams v. Harris, 207 Ga. 576 (1) ( 63 SE2d 386 ) (1951).
discussed Cited "see, e.g." United States Fidelity & Guaranty Co. v. Paul Associates, Inc.
Ga. Ct. App. · 1998 · signal: see also · confidence medium
Williams v. Harris, 207 Ga. 576 (2) ( 63 SE2d 386 ) [(1951)]; Weimer v. Cauble, 214 Ga. 634, 636 ( 106 SE2d 781 ) [(1959)].” Ga. Power Co. v. Womble, 150 Ga. App. 28, 32 (3) ( 256 SE2d 640 ) (1979); see also Batson v. Higginbothem, 7 Ga. App. 835 ( 68 SE 455 ) (1910). “[N]ominal damages are always allowed for any tortious invasion of a property right, though no actual damage results therefrom. [Cit.]” Williams v. Harris, supra at 579.
Williams
v.
Harris Et Al., Trustees
17315.
Supreme Court of Georgia.
Feb 13, 1951.
63 S.E.2d 386
John H. Hudson and J. W. LeCraiu, for plaintiff in error., Grant, Wiggins, Grizzard & Smith, contra.
Candler.
Cited by 53 opinions  |  Published
2 passages pin-cited by 2 cases
Pinpoint authority: bottom 89%
Citer courts: Court of Appeals of Georgia (2)
Candler, Justice.

The Providence Baptist Church, an unincorporated religious society, by and through Oscar Harris, Robert Hicks, Bennie Porter, and A. H. Walker, its trustees, filed an equitable suit in the Superior Court of Fulton County against John W. Williams, alleging that he had entered upon and was continually committing wilful, wrongful, and malicious acts of trespass on its described land. An injunction, damages, attorney’s fees and general relief were prayed for. The petition was not demurred to. As shown by the record, the defendant John W. Williams, on May 10, 1948, sold and conveyed to the plaintiff by warranty deed “all that tract or parcel of land lying and being in the City of Atlanta, in land lot 109 of the 14th. district of Fulton County, Georgia, and more particularly described as follows: Beginning at the northeast comer of Larkin street and Maher street, as now located; thence north along the east side of Maher street 100 feet to a stake; thence east a distance of 63 feet to a stake; thence south a distance of 98 feet to a stake on the north side of Larkin street; thence west along the north side of Larkin street a distance of 63 feet to the corner of Larkin street and Maher street, the point of beginning; being a part of the property conveyed by W. L. Randall to Chris D. Matrangos on April 9, 1930 (Deed Book 1307, page 204) and conveyed by C. F. Morris to John W. Williams, April 28, 1937 (Deed Book 1660, page 437).” The[*577] plaintiff, immediately after its purchase from the defendant Williams, had a survey and plat of its tract made by a competent surveyor, and the four corners of its land were at that time marked by stakes set in the ground, and the stake at the southwest corner of its land — the corner at the intersection of Larkin and Maher Streets — was set at a point 163 feet east of the intersection of Larkin and Roach Streets. The defendant now owns the adjacent land north and east of the church’s property. The land involved in this litigation is a strip 6 feet wide and 98 feet long. The plaintiff contends that it is a part of its boundary, and was conveyed to it by the defendant. The defendant insists that it is a part of his land, and that the descriptive averments of his deed to the church do not embrace it. The controversy actually arises from a dispute between the parties concerning the true location of the beginning point of the church property at the intersection of Larkin and Maher Streets. The plaintiff contends that it is at a point six feet east from the street curbing, and that 63 feet east along the north side of Larkin Street, when measured from that point, will include the disputed area within its boundary. On the other hand, the defendant insists that it is at the street curbing, and that 63 feet east along the north side of Larkin Street, when measured from that point, will exclude the disputed area from the plaintiff’s boundary. The plaintiff contends that the defendant Williams is claiming the property in question in bad faith, has repeatedly removed the stakes which mark the established corners of its property, has taken actual possession of the disputed area, and has deprived it of the right to occupy, use, and enjoy its property by the erection and maintenance of a permanent barricade constructed of 2x4 timbers; and that the defendant’s wilful, wrongful, and malicious acts constitute a continuing trespass which can not be adequately compensated for by an award of damages. The plaintiff has incurred an expense of $25 in having a surveyor reset its corner stakes, and an additional expense of $250 as attorney’s fees for the preparation and filing of this action, and also an obligation to pay further reasonable attorney’s fees for subsequent legal services in prosecuting this suit. The defendant contends that the land in dispute belongs to him; that the plaintiff is undertaking wilfully, maliciously, unlawfully, and without just compensation to take a portion of his land; and that he has in good faith, and not otherwise, undertaken to protect his property against an unjust claim. On the trial, and after both sides had introduced their evidence, the trial judge directed the jury to find that the defendant was guilty of a trespass, and that the plaintiff was entitled to a permanent injunction, as prayed for; also to nominal damages. He submitted to the jury the amount of nominal damages to be assessed for the trespass. He also fully charged on § 20-1404 of the Code relating to the allowance of attorney’s fees as an expense of litigation. The jury found that the plaintiff was entitled to recover $300 as nominal damages and $500 as attorney’s fees. A motion for new trial, based on the usual general grounds, was filed and later amended by adding several special grounds. Before the motion for new trial was passed on, the plaintiff voluntarily wrote off of the verdict and judgment for nominal damages the sum of $285,[*578] leaving $15 therefor. The amended motion for new trial was then overruled and the exception is to that judgment. Held:

1. Recitals in deeds bind not only the parties thereto, but their privies in estate. Code, § 38-114; Wyley Loose Leaf Co. v. Bird, 159 Ga. 246 (3) (125 S. E. 496); Mitchell v. Hunt, 185 Ga. 835 (196 S. E. 711). In other words, the parties to a deed, and those claiming under it, are estopped by its recitals; and from an application of that rule it necessarily follows that one cannot claim under a deed and at the same time deny its terms. McClesky v. Leadbetter, 1 Kelly 557; Thrower v. Wood, 53 Ga. 458, 468; George v. Dortch, 149 Ga. 20 (98 S. E. 605). In the instant case, the defendant’s deed to the plaintiff refers to deeds from C. F. Morris to himself and from W. L. Randall to Chris D. Matrangos; and those deeds by reference to others show that the parties to this litigation hold their respective lands under a chain of title beginning with a recorded deed from James W. English Jr., to H. Wolfe and D. Saban, dated May 5, 1911. For the purpose of showing, by the recitals thereof, that Larkin Street and Maher Street, as now located, intersect, as the plaintiff contends, at a point 163 feet east of the intersection of Larkin and Roach Streets — a point about which there is no dispute — the plaintiff offered in evidence duly certified copies of certain deeds which are links in its and the defendant’s chain of'title; and, also, a plat of the Maher Subdivision, as made in 1882, and recorded in Fulton County on January 6, 1916, of which the parties’ lands are now a part. These several . instruments, when separately offered, were objected to by the defendant on the grounds: that thej' were irrelevant, immaterial, incompetent, and prejudicial; that it was not necessary for the plaintiff to prove title back of the defendant — its grantor; and that the recitals of the proffered instruments, locating the intersection of Larkin Street and Maher Street, as now located, at a point 163 feet east of the intersection of Larkin and Roach Streets, are hearsay evidence, of no probative value. Over the objections made thereto, we do not think the court erred in admitting the instruments in evidence. Their recitals as to the location of the intersecting point of Larkin Street and Maher Street, as now located, are unquestionably specific descriptive averments of the property conveyed thereby; and, hence, not merely hearsay evidence of that, as the defendant contends. The intersecting point of Larkin Street and Maher Street, as now located, was, as the record shows, the controlling question in this litigation, and for the purpose of proving that fact the instruments offered as evidence were undoubtedly material; and this is especially true in view of the fact that the defendant’s contention respecting the true location of the intersecting point of the two named streets is based entirely upon the descriptive averments recited in the deeds of his several predecessors in title, there being no claim by him that it has been changed to a different point by acquiescence or otherwise. And those instruments, together with others introduced in evidence without objection, show indisputably that the parties to this litigation claim and hold their respective land under a chain of title which places the intersecting point of Larkin and Maher Streets, as the latter is now located, at a point which is 163 feet east of the intersection of Larkin and Roach Streets; and by those recited descriptive averments they are bound.

[*579] No. 17315. February 13, 1951. John H. Hudson and J. W. LeCraiu, for plaintiff in error. Grant, Wiggins, Grizzard & Smith, contra.

2. The direction of a particular verdict is not error when, under the pleadings and the evidence, no other legal verdict could be reached. Code, § 110-104; Biederman v. Jones, 183 Ga. 351 (188 S. E. 519). In the present case, the evidence shows beyond any question that the plaintiff purchased the land here involved from the defendant, and now has title to it which the defendant is in law estopped to dispute. In like manner, it also shows that the defendant has repeatedly removed the stakes which mark the established corners of the plaintiff’s boundary on the east, has wrongfully taken actual possession of the property he conveyed to the plaintiff, by the erection and maintenance of permanent obstructions has excluded the plaintiff from it, and, by such wrongful acts, has deprived the plaintiff of its legal right, as the owner thereof, to occupy, use and enjoy it. In those circumstances, a verdict finding that the plaintiff was entitled to a permanent injunction to prevent a continuation of the trespass, and to nominal damages for the commission of a wrongful act, was demanded by the evidence, and the court did not err, as the defendant contends, in directing the jury to so find; and this is true because equity will, by injunction, repress a continuing trespass (Key v. Stringer, 204 Ga. 869, 52 S. E. 2d, 305), and because nominal damages are always allowed for any tortious invasion of a property right, though no actual damage results therefrom. Swift v. Broyles, 115 Ga. 885 (42 S. E. 277, 58 L.R.A. 390). The law infers some damage from the invasion of a property right; and if no evidence is given of any particular amount of loss, it declares the right by awarding what it terms “nominal damages.” 15 Am. Jur., 390, § 5; Price v. High Shoals Manufacturing Co., 132 Ga. 246 (64 S. E. 87, 22 L.R.A. (NS) 684).

3. Attorney’s fees as expenses of litigation are not punitive or vindictive damages, but stand alone, are regulated by Code, § 20A404, and the jury may allow them if the defendant has acted in bad faith in the transaction out of which the cause of action arose. Mosely v. Sanders, 76 Ga. 293; Traders Insurance Co. v. Mann, 118 Ga. 381 (45 S. E. 426) ; O’Neal v. Spivey, 167 Ga. 176 (145 S. E. 71); Grant v. Hart, 197 Ga. 662, 671 (30 S. E. 2d, 271), and the cases there cited. The jury, under the facts and circumstances of this case, was fully authorized to find, as it did, that the defendant’s wrongful invasion of the plaintiff’s property right was in bad faith; and the award of $500 for attorney’s fees is abundantly supported by evidence.

4. None of the remaining special grounds of the motion for new trial, as amended, show any cause for a reversal of the judgment complained of. Consequently, no error is shown by the record.

Judgment affirmed.

All the Justices concur.