Myers v. Phillips, 29 S.E.2d 700 (Ga. 1944). · Go Syfert
Myers v. Phillips, 29 S.E.2d 700 (Ga. 1944). Cases Citing This Book View Copy Cite
“the formal execution of the deed and the language of the attestation clause raised a prima facie presumption that the deed was delivered.”
132 citation events (4 in the last 25 years) across 6 distinct courts.
Strongest positive: Leslie Renee Smith v. Russell Tibbits (gactapp, 2021-04-30)
Treatment trajectory · 1949 → 2026 · click a year to view as-of
1949 1987 2026
Top citers, strongest first. 28 distinct citers.
discussed Cited as authority (quoted) Leslie Renee Smith v. Russell Tibbits (2×) also: Cited as authority (rule)
Ga. Ct. App. · 2021 · quote attribution · 1 verbatim quote · confidence low
the formal execution of the deed and the language of the attestation clause raised a prima facie presumption that the deed was delivered.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Douglas v. Gilbert
Ga. Ct. App. · 1990 · confidence medium
However, the rule where the circumstantial evidence is consistent with the direct, positive testimony is different. ‘Circumstantial evidence from which the existence of a fact might be inferred, but which did not demand a finding for the plaintiff to that effect, will not support a verdict, when by positive and uncontradicted testimony of unimpeached witnesses, which was perfectly consistent with the circumstantial evidence relied on by the plaintiff, it was affirmatively shown that no such fact existed.’ Myers v. Phillips, 197 Ga. 536, 542 ( 29 SE2d 700 ) (1944).” Allen Kane’s Major D…
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Newell v. Brown
Ga. Ct. App. · 1988 · confidence medium
However, it is a well known principle of law that “[circumstantial evidence from which the existence of a fact might be inferred, but which did not demand a finding ... to that effect, will not support a verdict [judgment or ruling of the court], when by positive and uncontradicted testimony of unimpeached witnesses, which was perfectly consistent with the circumstantial evidence relied on by the [party], it was affirmatively shown that no such fact existed.” Myers v. Phillips, 197 Ga. 536, 542 ( 29 SE2d 700 ); Dozier v. Wallace, 169 Ga. App. 126 (4) (b) ( 311 SE2d 839 ).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Cohen v. Hartlage
Ga. Ct. App. · 1986 · confidence medium
Deen, P. J., and Benham, J., concur. 1 Compare Myers v. Phillips, 197 Ga. 536, 542 ( 29 SE2d 700 ) (1944).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Dozier v. Wallace
Ga. Ct. App. · 1983 · confidence medium
“This ... is a variant of the rule of Myers v. Phillips, 197 Ga. 536, 542 ( 29 SE2d 700 ), which held: ‘Circumstantial evidence from which the existence of a fact might be inferred, but which did not demand a finding for the [party] to that effect, will not support a verdict, when by positive and uncontradicted testimony of unimpeached witnesses, which was perfectly consistent with the circumstantial evidence relied on by the plaintiff, it was affirmatively shown that no such fact existed.’ ” Fletcher Emerson Mgt.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Lush v. State (2×)
Ga. Ct. App. · 1983 · confidence medium
Myers v. Phillips, 197 Ga. 536, 542 ( 29 SE2d 700 ).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Westinghouse Electric Corp. v. Rider
Ga. Ct. App. · 1983 · confidence medium
“Cir *137 cumstantial evidence from which the existence of a fact might be inferred, but which did not demand a finding for the plaintiff to that effect, will not support a verdict, when by positive and uncontradicted testimony of unimpeached witnesses, which was perfectly consistent with the circumstantial evidence relied on by the plaintiff, it was affirmatively shown that no such fact existed.” Myers v. Phillips, 197 Ga. 536, 542 ( 29 SE2d 700 ) (1944).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Splish Splash Waterslides, Inc. v. Cherokee Insurance
Ga. Ct. App. · 1983 · confidence medium
“This ... is a variant of the rule of Myers v. Phillips, 197 Ga. 536, 542 ( 29 SE2d 700 ), which held: ‘Circumstantial evidence from which the existence of a fact might be inferred, but which did not demand a finding for the plaintiff to that effect, will not support a verdict, when by positive and uncontradicted testimony of unimpeached witnesses, which was perfectly consistent with the circumstantial evidence relied on by the plaintiff, it was affirmatively shown that no such fact existed.’ ” Fletcher Emerson Mgt.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Allen Kane's Major Dodge, Inc. v. Barnes
Ga. · 1979 · confidence medium
"Circumstantial evidence from which the existence of a fact might be inferred, but which did not demand a finding for the plaintiff to that effect, will not support a verdict, when by positive and uncontradicted testimony of unimpeached witnesses, which was perfectly consistent with the circumstantial evidence relied on by the plaintiff, it was affirmatively shown that no such fact existed.”Myers v. Phillips, 197 Ga. 536, 542 ( 29 SE2d 700 ) (1944).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Georgia Power Co. v. Hubbard
Ga. Ct. App. · 1977 · confidence medium
While circumstantial evidence is sufficient to authorize an inference of actual knowledge of a driver’s incompetence (Harris v. Smith, 119 Ga. App. 306, 308 ( 167 SE2d 198 )), it will not support a verdict ". . .when by positive and uncontradicted testimony of unimpeached witnesses, which was perfectly consistent with the circumstantial evidence relied on by plaintiff, it was affirmatively shown that no such fact existed.” Myers v. Phillips, 197 Ga. 536, 542 ( 29 SE2d 700 ).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Fletcher Emerson Management Co. v. Davis
Ga. Ct. App. · 1975 · confidence medium
This contention is a variant of the rule of Myers v. Phillips, 197 Ga. 536, 542 ( 29 SE2d 700 ), which held: "Circumstantial evidence from which the existence of a fact might be inferred, but which did not demand a finding for the plaintiff to that effect, will not support a verdict, when by positive and uncontradicted testimony of unimpeached witnesses, which was perfectly consistent with the circumstantial evidence relied on by the plaintiff, it was affirmatively shown that no such fact existed.” However, as explained in McCurry v. Bailey, 224 Ga. 318, 319 ( 162 SE2d 9 ), "[t]his is an ins…
cited Cited as authority (rule) RED TOP CAB COMPANY, INC. v. Hyder
Ga. Ct. App. · 1974 · confidence medium
Co., 108 Ga. 807 ( 33 SE 996 ); Myers v. Phillips, 197 Ga. 536, 542 ( 29 SE2d 700 ).” Blount v. Sutton, 114 Ga. App. 767, 769, 770 ( 152 SE2d 777 ).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Process Poster, Inc. v. Multi-Color Process Co.
Ga. Ct. App. · 1973 · confidence medium
Lankford v. Holton, 187 Ga. 94 ( 200 SE 243 ); Myers v. Phillips, 197 Ga. 536, 542 ( 29 SE2d 700 ).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Libano v. DeWald
S.D. Ga. · 1969 · confidence medium
Where a finding of fact may be inferred but is not demanded by circumstantial evidence it will not support a verdict “when by positive and uncontradicted testimony of unimpeached witnesses which was perfectly consistent with the circumstantial evidence relied on by the plaintiff, it was affirmatively shown that no such fact existed.” Myers v. Phillips, 197 Ga. 536 at 542 , 29 S.E.2d 700 at 703 (italics supplied).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Bailey v. McCurry
Ga. Ct. App. · 1968 · confidence medium
This case involves an application of the rule that, “Circumstantial evidence from which the existence of a fact might be inferred, but which did not demand a finding for the plaintiff to that effect, will not support a verdict, when by positive and uncontradicted testimony of unimpeached witnesses, which was perfectly consistent with the circumstantial evidence relied upon by the plaintiff, it was affirmatively shown that no such fact existed.” Myers v. Phillips, 197 Ga. 536, 542 ( 29 SE2d 700 ).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Evans Implement Co. v. Thomas Industries, Inc.
Ga. Ct. App. · 1968 · confidence medium
Myers v. Phillips, 197 Ga. 536, 542 ( 29 SE2d 700 ).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Bailey v. McCurry (2×)
Ga. Ct. App. · 1968 · confidence medium
Myers v. Phillips, 197 Ga. 536, 542 ( 29 SE2d 700 ).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Blount v. Sutton (2×)
Ga. Ct. App. · 1966 · confidence medium
Co., 108 Ga. 807 ( 33 SE 996 ); Myers v. Phillips, 197 Ga. 536, 542 ( 29 SE2d 700 ).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Moses v. Chapman
Ga. Ct. App. · 1966 · confidence medium
Myers v. Phillips, 197 Ga. 536, 542 ( 29 SE2d 700 ). 3.
cited Cited as authority (rule) Thornton v. Shivers
Ga. Ct. App. · 1966 · confidence medium
See also: Myers v. Phillips, 197 Ga. 536, 542 ( 29 SE2d 700 ); Emory University v. Bliss, 35 Ga. App. 752, 754 ( 134 SE 637 ).
examined Cited as authority (rule) Travelers Insurance Co. v. Miller (4×)
Ga. Ct. App. · 1961 · confidence medium
Co., 108 Ga. 807 ( 33 SE 996 ); Myers v. Phillips, 197 Ga. 536, 542 ( 29 SE2d 700 ). (a) William Vaught rented a room at the same house as did the deceased Miller.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Fuller v. Fuller (2×)
Ga. · 1957 · confidence medium
Mays v. Fletcher, 137 Ga. 27 ( 72 S. E. 408 ); Chattahoochee Fertilizer Co. v. Quinn, 169 Ga. 801 ( 151 S. E. 496 ); Bracewell v. Morton, 192 Ga. 396 ( 15 S. E. 2d 496 ); Myers v. Phillips, 197 Ga. 536, 541 ( 29 S. E. 2d 700 ); Patterson v. Patterson, 210 Ga. 359, 360 ( 80 S. E. 2d 310 ); Fuller v. Fuller, 212 Ga. 202 , supra, and cases cited.
discussed Cited "see" Becks v. Pierce (2×)
Ga. Ct. App. · 2006 · signal: accord · confidence high
Accord Myers v. Phillips, 197 Ga. 536, 542 ( 29 SE2d 700 ) (1944); Taggart v. Savannah Gas Co., 179 Ga. 181 ( 175 SE 491 ) (1934); Frazier v. Ga. R. & Banking Co., 108 Ga. 807 ( 33 SE 996 ) (1899).
discussed Cited "see" Camp v. Eichelkraut (2×)
Ga. Ct. App. · 2000 · signal: accord · confidence high
Accord Lively v. McDaniel, 240 Ga. App. 132, 135 (3) ( 522 SE2d 711 ) (1999) (where the undisputed evidence showed that defendant’s conduct did not induce anyone to refuse or discontinue a business relationship with plaintiff, trial court erred in denying summary judgment). 17 (Citations omitted.) Myers v. Phillips, 197 Ga. 536, 542 (4) ( 29 SE2d 700 ) (1944). 18 See, e.g., Allen Kane’s Major Dodge v. Barnes, 243 Ga. 776, 781 ( 257 SE2d 186 ) (1979). 19 We express no opinion whether Eichelkraut could be considered a stranger to the underlying relationships, as is required in tortious inter…
discussed Cited "see" Empire Forest Products, Inc. v. Gillis (2×)
Ga. Ct. App. · 1987 · signal: see · confidence high
See Myers v. Phillips, 197 Ga. 536, 542 ( 29 SE2d 700 ); Stepp v. Stepp, 195 Ga. 595 (2) ( 25 SE2d 6 ).
discussed Cited "see" Plywood Supply Co. v. Allrid (2×)
Ga. Ct. App. · 1969 · signal: see · confidence high
See Myers v. Phillips, 197 Ga. 536, 542 ( 29 SE2d 700 ); Crutcher v. Crawford Land Co., 220 Ga. 298 ( 138 SE2d 580 ) ; Ussery v. Koch, 115 Ga. App. 463 ( 154 SE2d 879 ).
discussed Cited "see" Wiebe v. Seely
Or. · 1959 · signal: see · confidence high
See Myers v. Phillips, 197 Ga 536, 29 SE2d 700 ; Foster v. Jones, 64 GaApp 66, 12 SE2d 141 ; Pennsylvania Ice & Coal Co. v. Elischer, 106 IndApp 613, 21 NE2d 436 ; Bixby v. Ayers, 139 Neb 652, 298 NW 533 .
examined Cited "see, e.g." Fletcher v. Ford (4×)
Ga. Ct. App. · 1988 · signal: see also · confidence low
See also Myers v. Phillips, 197 Ga. 536 (4) ( 29 SE2d 700 ) (1944).
Myers
v.
Phillips.
14819..
Supreme Court of Georgia.
Apr 6, 1944.
29 S.E.2d 700
Woodruff, Ward Etheridge and Brandon, Matthews, Long Nall , for plaintiff in error. W. E. Harclerode and H. A. Allen , contra.
Grice.
Cited by 65 opinions  |  Published
1 passage pin-cited by 1 case
Pinpoint authority: bottom 58%
Citer courts: Court of Appeals of Georgia (1)
Grice, Justice.

The rule in this State is that a party to a suit is not rendered incompetent to give testimony therein unless such party falls within some exception in the Code, § 38-1603. It is claimed by the defendant in error that the proffered testimony of Mrs. Myers, the plaintiff in error, was properly excluded under subsection 1 of the cited section, which reads as follows: “Where any suit shall be instituted or defended by a person insane at the time of trial, or by an indorsee, assignee, or transferee, or the personal representative of a deceased person, the opposite party shall not be admitted to testify in his own favor against the insane or[*540] deceased person as to transactions or communications with such insane or deceased person whether such transactions or communications were had by such insane or deceased person with the party testifying or with any other person.”' The insistence is that Mrs. Phillips, the plaintiff in the trial court, who was the widow of Park and his sole heir at law, all of his debts being paid, is his personal representative, so as to make this a suit instituted by the personal representative of a deceased person. Code, § 113-903; Johnson v. Champion, 88 Ga. 527 (15 S. E. 15); Killian v. Banks, 103 Ga. 245 (29 S. E. 971); Willis v. Bonner, 136 Ga. 720 (71 S. E. 1048). On the other hand, it is contended that Mrs. Phillips can not be treated as the personal representative of her deceased husband since her petition shows that another person was appointed administrator of his estate, and was discharged without attempting to administer the land here involved, and therefore that this suit must be treated as one filed by Mrs. Phillips 'in her individual capacity as an heir at law. As to this, see the list of authorities collected in Helton v. Shellnut, 186 Ga. 185 (3) (197 S. E. 287). We can, however, by-pass these positions, since no matter how the issue thus raised be determined, the witness was not incompetent to give the testimony sought, even though she be the opposite party in a suit instituted by the personal representative of a deceased party. She was not seeking to give testimony in her own favor as to transactions or communications with the deceased person. She was handed the deed, dated March 11, 1939, and asked when was the first time she ever saw it;'and she answered, “on March 12, 1939.” The next question was, “I wish to ask you, who had it when you saw it?” The answer was, “Mrs. Riedell, grantee.” In Chamblee v. Pirkle, 101 Ga. 790 (29 S. E. 20), it was said: “A transaction or communication with a deceased person, as used in the section cited, means, we think, some transaction or communication had directly with the deceased, something personal between the surviving and the deceased parties, a transaction or communication of such character that the deceased, if alive, could deny, rebut, or explain the statement of the other party.” See also the following-cases and the authorities referred to therein: Cato v. Hunt, 112 Ga. 139 (37 S. E. 183); Nugent v. Watkins, 129 Ga. 382 (58 S. E. 888); Arnold v. Freeman, 181 Ga. 654 (183 S. E. 811) ; Bleckley v. Bleckley, 189 Ga. 47, 57 (5 S. E. 2d, 206). The rejected testimony should have been admitted.

[*541] The other special grounds of the motion, relating to the charge, have been examined. None of them show any reason for a reversal.

Complainant’s right to recover depends upon whether or not it was shown that the deed in question was never in fact delivered. The effect of the jury’s verdict was to find that there was no delivery. It was recorded subsequently to the death of the grantor, and after it was found in what is referred to in the evidence as his strongbox or safe in a room, in an apartment occupied by him and not by the grantee. In this box were insurance policies on the identical property, made out in the name of Park, and private papers and jewelry belonging to him and his wife. There was evidence that Park collected rents on this property after the date of the deed, giving rent receipts in his own name. There was testimony that the box or safe had a combination lock to it, and that no one except Park knew the combination. A locksmith was sent for, and in the afternoon after the burial of Park the box was opened and the deed was found therein by one who had formerly been an attorney for Park. This lawyer read it and handed it to the grantee. Both he and the grantee were dead when the suit was tried. The instrument contained a recital that it was “signed, sealed and delivered in the presence of” two witnesses, one of whom was a justice of the peace. The formal execution of the deed and the language of the attestation clause raised a prima facie presumption that the deed was delivered. Dinkins v. Moore, 17 Ga. 62; Highfield v. Phelps, 53 Ga. 59; Ross v. Campbell, 73 Ga. 309; Mays v. Fletcher, 137 Ga. 27, 28 (72 S. E. 408); Stinson v. Daniel, 193 Ga. 844, 849 (20 S. E. 2d, 257). Moreover, on that question, there was direct and positive evidence from a witness, J. B. Smith, who was unimpeached, that the grantor manually delivered the deed to the grantee therein and that she accepted it. The material portion of this testimony on the direct examination is set forth in the preceding statement of facts. On cross-examination he stated that he did not have with him the little book on which he recorded the incidents happening to his automobile because the same was stolen, together with some other things, from his car at some time before the trial. On redirect examination he testified: “I had occasion to examine the little book and refresh my memory from the contents of the little book after this suit was filed, at the reqrxest of Mrs. Myers; and it is from that refreshment of my recollection[*542] after this suit was filed that I have been testifying in this case today.” Mrs. Orr, the mother of the complainant, testified as shown in the statement of facts. Comparing the testimony of Smith with that of Mrs. Orr, it will be seen that the former swore that he first saw Park at about four o’clock, and the latter that she talked over the telephone with Park (“who told me he was in Griffin. That is the only way I know, of course”) at two o’clock that afternoon.

The fourth headnote is taken verbatim from the opinion of this court in the case of Lankford v. Holton, 187 Ga. 102 (supra). It states a well known principle of law. Circumstantial evidence from which the existence of a fact might be inferred, but which did not demand a finding for the plaintiff to that effect, will not support a verdict, when by positive and uncontradicted testimony of unimpeached witnesses, which was perfectly consistent with the circumstantial evidence relied on by the plaintiff, it was affirmatively shown that no such fact existed. Frazier v. Georgia Railroad & Banking Co., 108 Ga. 807 (33 S. E. 996); Taggart v. Savannah Gas Co., 179 Ga. 181 (175 S. E. 491). There is nothing in the record to impeach the witness who testified positively that Park delivered the deed to the grantee, his mother, that she accepted it, and handed it back to him with the request that he lock it in the tin box for safe keeping, giving a reason therefor. The circumstances relied on by the defendant are insufficient to make a jury question as to whether or not the witness Smith swore the truth. The verdict is unsupported by the evidence.. It was error to refuse a new trial.

Judgment reversed.

All the Justices concur.