CLARKE et al. v. COTTON., 263 Ga. 861, 440 S.E.2.d 165 (1994)
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Judgment affirmed. Clarke, C. J., Hunt, P. J., Benham, Fletcher, Sears-Collins, Hunstein, JJ., and Judge K. Dawson Jackson concur. Carley, J., disqualified.
Summary
Judgment affirmed. Clarke, C. J., Hunt, P. J., Benham, Fletcher, Sears-Collins, Hunstein, JJ., and Judge K. Dawson Jackson concur. Carley, J., disqualified.
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Jones, Cork & Miller, John T. Mitchell, Jr., Brandon A. Oren, Thomas W. Joyce, for appellee.Lokey & Bowden, Peter K. Kintz, Totsy Nichols, for appellants.
The issue presented in this appeal is whether the trial court was required, in its charge to the jury, to define "clear and convincing evidence" necessary to support an award of punitive damages under OCGA
Cotton brought this action against Clarke, Jr. and Clarke Communications for compensatory and punitive damages resulting from a collision between his vehicle and one driven by Clarke, Jr., who was intoxicated and driving a vehicle owned by Clarke Communications. Following the first stage of the bifurcated trial, the jury awarded Cotton compensatory damages and found punitive damages should be awarded in Cotton's favor against both defendants. Following additional argument on the issue of punitive damages, the jury awarded the maximum amount authorized under OCGA
The trial court properly charged that two standards of proof applied in this case: the preponderance of evidence standard with regard to liability for compensatory damages, and "clear and convincing evidence" with regard to liability for punitive damages. However, while the trial court provided the jury a definition of "preponderance of the evidence," he refused to give the defendants' requests to charge defining "clear and convincing evidence" and did not otherwise define that standard. The Court of Appeals correctly noted that "clear and convincing evidence" is an intermediate standard of proof, greater than "the preponderance of evidence," but less than the "beyond a reasonable doubt" standard applicable in criminal cases, and, in rare instances, certain civil cases. Nevertheless, the Court of Appeals held the trial court did not err in failing to charge a definition of clear and convincing evidence because the defendants' proposed charges were either incomplete or incorrect, and because the issue of punitive damages was collateral to the main issues in the case.
We disagree. While a trial court's failure to give a request to charge on a collateral issue, which request is incomplete or incorrect, is not reversible error, Clarke v. Cotton, supra, 207 Ga. App. at 885 (2), the issue of punitive damages in this case was by no means collateral. Rather, the defendants' liability for punitive damages was the focus of arguments on both sides, as the defendants essentially conceded liability for the accident itself, and Cotton's actual damages were minimal. We agree with the defendants that under circumstances such as those presented in this case, where two different standards of proof apply, and even in the absence of a request to charge, see Claxton v. Claxton,
Nevertheless, we affirm the Court of Appeals and the trial court because the defendants failed to make any objection which would preserve a claim that the trial court's error was harmful. There was no harm with regard to punitive damages against Clarke, Jr. because the overwhelming evidence showed a "conscious indifference to consequences" on his part, more than meeting the clear and convincing standard of OCGA
JACKSON, Judge, concurring.
I concur with the majority opinion herein. However, whereas the majority has determined that when two different standards of proof apply, the trial court is obligated to define both standards to avoid misleading or confusing the jury, while also acknowledging that there is presently no charge on the "clear and convincing evidence" standard in the Suggested Pattern Jury Instructions, I would propose the foregoing prospective definition of "clear and convincing evidence" be adopted for the benefit of the bench, bar, and trial jury:
CLEAR AND CONVINCING EVIDENCE: Evidence that, when weighed against evidence in opposition, will produce in the mind of the trier of fact a firm conviction as to each essential element of the claim and a high probability as to the correctness of the conclusion. Proof by clear and convincing evidence requires a level of proof greater than a preponderance of the evidence, but less than beyond a reasonable doubt.
See Ala. Code Sec.
This definition provides additional clarity and consistency of application, and should aid in eliminating requests for further instruction by the trial jury and counsel regarding the "clear and convincing evidence" standard. Whereas Georgia has recognized this quantum of proof in a number of instances in addition to the imposition of punItive damages pursuant to OCGA
In this regard, "clear and convincing evidence" has been defined as evidence having a "high capability of inducing belief," Horner v. Flynn, 334 A2d 194, 199-200 (Me. 1975), such that "the fact finder's mind is left with an abiding conviction that the evidence is true." In re Sedillo, 498 P2d 1353, 1355 (N.M. 1972). Black's Law Dictionary (5th ed. 1979) at 227 defines clear and convincing proof as
that measure or degree of proof which will produce in the mind of the trier of facts a firm belief or conviction as to the allegations sought to be established; it is intermediate, being more than [a] mere preponderance, but not to [the] extent of such certainty as is required beyond [a] reasonable doubt as in criminal cases.
Further, "clear and convincing evidence" has been defined as evidence making the truth of the facts asserted "highly probable," Coca Cola Bottling Co. v. Stripling, 622 S2d 882 (Ala. 1993); McCormick on Evidence (4th ed.), Vol. 2, p. 442, 340, and as producing in the minds of the fact finder a firm belief or conviction as to the truth of the facts sought to be established. Seemann v. Seemann,
1994
Notes:
1. The trial court's charge on preponderance of the evidence was substantially the same as that provided in the Suggested Pattern Jury Instructions (see Preliminary General Instructions D and E). We recognize there is no charge on "clear and convincing evidence" contained in the Suggested Pattern Jury Instructions. An appropriate charge would indicate that "clear and convincing evidence" is an intermediate standard of proof, requiring a higher minimum level of proof than the preponderance of the evidence standard, but less than that required for proof beyond a reasonable doubt. Santosky v. Kramer, 455 U. S. 745, 756 (II), 768 (IV) (102 SC 1388, 71 LE2d 599) (1982); Blackburn v. Blackburn,
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