Hill v. Johnson

Birdsong, Presiding Judge.

George Hill, Jr., and Creative Mortgage Brokers appeal from the entry of a default judgment in favor of Joseph Earl Johnson for $2,500 special damages, $136.51 interest, and $25,000 punitive damages. Appellants contend the trial court erred by denying a motion for new trial that asserted punitive damages were unauthorized because the court did not first make a specific finding that the award of punitive damages was proper on a verdict form as required by OCGA § 51-12-5.1. Held:

Johnson’s complaint against Hill and Creative Mortgage Brokers alleged that in response to…