SECOND DI VI SI ON

A NDREWS, P. J.

, M C F A D DEN and RA

Y, JJ.

N O T IC E : M otions for r e c ons i de r a tion m us t be

ph y sic a l ly r e ce iv ed i n our c le r k ’s offic e w ithin te n

da y s of the da te of de c is ion to be de e m ed tim e ly file d.

http://w w w .ga a ppe a ls .us /r ule s /

Nov em ber 3, 2014



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 4 A1 04 7 . GRESHAM v . HARRIS et al

.

A N D R E W S , Pres i d in g J u d g e.

No rri s Gres h am a p p e al s fro m t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s g ran t o f s u m m ary ju d g m en t to

Cl i ffo rd H arri s

, J r. a/ k / a “ T I,” Ech o St ud i o s, LLC, Gran d Hu s tl e, LLC, G ran d Hu st l e

M an ag em en t, L LC, an d Ki ng o f d a So u t h

, In c. (t h e “ Harri s Defen d an t s ”) b as ed o n

t h e ex p i rat i o n o f t h e ap p l i cab l e s t at u t e o f l i m i t at i o n

. Gres h am arg u es t h at t h e t ri al

co u rt erred i n g ran t i ng t h e m o t i o n b ecau s e h i s ren ewal act i on was t i m el y fi l ed

. W e

ag ree an d rev ers e.

Th e i s s ue o n ap peal i n v ol v es t h e p r o p e r co n st ru ct i o n o f t h e ren ewal s t at u t e,

OCGA § 9 -2 -6 1

, an d we ap p l y a d e n o v o s tan d ard o f rev i ew. Ha nkl a v. Po s t el l

, 2 9 3

Ga. 6 9 2 , 6 9 3 (7 4 9 SE2 d 7 2 6 ) (2 0 1 3 ).Gres h am i n i t i al ly fi l ed s u i t ag ai n s t t h e H arri s D efen dan t s an d o t h ers o n

No v em b er 8

, 2 0 1 0

. He fi l ed a v o l u nt ary d i s m i s s al wi t h o u t p reju d i ce o f th at s u i t as to

al l b u t o ne d efen d an t o n J u l y 1 1

, 2 0 1 2

. Aft er t h e d efen dan t s m o ved t o t reat t h e

v o l u n t ary d i s m i s s a l as a m o t i o n, t h e t ri al co u rt g ran t ed t h e d is m i ss al wi t h o ut

p reju d i ce as t o al l d efen d an t s ex cep t o n e. Th at o rd er w as en t ered o n Au g u s t 1 2

, 2 0 1 2.

A fi n al o rd er an d j u d gm en t as t o t h e rem ai n i n g d efen d an t was en t ered o n Oct o b er 2 3,

2 0 1 2

.

On Feb ru ary 1 1

, 20 1 3

, Gres ham fi l ed h is ren ewal act i o n , al l eg i n g t h at i t was

s u b s t an t i al l y t h e s am e cau se o f act i o n t h at h ad p rev i o u sl y b een v o lu n t ari l y d i s m i s s ed

.

Gres h am as s ert ed cau s e s o f act i o n fo r as s au l t an d bat t ery

, co ns p i racy t o h arm

,

n eg li g en t fai l u re t o i n terv en e, an d p u ni t i v e d am ag es b as ed o n ev en t s t h at o ccu rred o n

Sep tem b er 8

, 20 1 0

. Th e H arri s Defen dan t s an s wered an d as s ert ed t h e s t at u t e o f

l i m i tat i on as an affi rm at iv e defen s e. Th ey t h en fi l ed a m o t i o n fo r s u m m ary ju d g m en t

b as ed on t h e ex p i rat i o n of t he ap p l i cab l e s t at ut e o f li m i tat i o n

. Th e t ri al co u rt g ran t ed

t h e m o t i o n , d i s m is s in g al l cl ai m s ag ai n s t t h e Harri s Defen d an t s

. 1

OCGA § 9 -2 -6 1 (a) p ro v i d es t h at

1 Aft er g ran t i n g s u m

m ary ju d g m en t t o t he Harri s Defen d an ts

, t h e t r i a l co u rt

d i s m i s s ed t h e act io n ag ai n s t t he rem a i n i n g d efen d an t s wi t h o ut p reju d i ce b ecau s e

t h o s e d efen d an t s h ad n o t b een s erv ed wi t h p ro ces s

.

2[w] h en an y cas e h as bee n co m m en ced i n ei t h er a s t at e o r fed eral co u rt

wi t h in t h e ap p l i cab l e s tat u t e o f l i m i t at i o n s an d t he p l ai n t iff d i s co n t i n u es

o r d i s m i s s es th e s am e, i t m ay b e reco m m en ced i n a co u rt o f th i s s t at e o r

i n a f ed eral co u rt ei t h er wi t h i n t h e o ri g in al ap p li cab le p eri o d o f

l i m i t at i on s o r w i t hi n s i x m o n t h s aft er t h e d i sco n t in u an ce o r d i s m i s s a l

,

wh i ch ev er i s l at er.

Th e ren ewal s t at ut e t h u s p erm i t s t he ren ewal o f an act i o n o u ts i de t h e s t at u t e o f

l i m i tat i on i f t h e ren ewal act i o n i s fi l ed w i t hi n s i x m o nt h s aft er t h e d i s co n t i n u an ce o r

d i s m is s al

. 2 Gres h am co n t en d s t h at Au g u st 1 2

, 2 01 2

, i s t h e d at e t h at b eg i n s t h e s i x

m o nt h p eri o d b ecau s e t h at i s wh en t h e t ri al co u rt g ran t ed t h e v o l u n t ary d is m i ss al

. Th e

Harri s Defen d an t s co n t en d t h at t h e p ro p er s tart i n g d a t e i s J ul y 11

, 2 0 1 2

, wh en

Gres h am fi l ed h i s v o lu n t ary d i s m i s s al o f l es s t h an al l o f t h e p art i es

. If t h e l at t er d at e

i s u s ed , t h en Gres h am ’ s ren ewal act i on i s u n t i m el y

.

OCGA § 9 -1 1 -4 1 (a) p ro v i d es t h at an act i o n m ay b e d i s m i s sed wi t h o ut

p reju d i ce b y t h e p l ai nt i ff, wi t h o u t o rd er o r perm i ss i o n o f co u rt

, b y fi l i ng a wri t t en

n o t i ce o f d i s m i ss al at an y t i m e b efo re t h e fi rs t wi t n es s i s swo rn

. A v ol u n t ary d i s m i s s al

o f l es s t h an al l o f t h e p art i es

, h o wev er, is g o vern ed b y O CGA § 9 -1 1 -2 1

, wh i ch

2 Th e part i es d o n o t d i sp u t e t h at t h e ren ewal act i o n was fi l ed o u t s i d e t h e two

y ear s t at u t e o f l i m i t at i o n ap p l i cab l e t o i n ju ri es t o t h e p e r s o n

. See OCGA § 9 -3 -3 3;

Va l a des v. Us l u , 3 0 1 Ga. Ap p . 8 8 5 , 8 8 7 -8 8 8 (1 ) (6 8 9 SE2 d 3 3 8) (2 00 9 ).

3p ro v id es t h at “ [p ] art i es m ay b e d ro p p ed o r ad d ed b y o rd er o f t h e co u rt o n m o t i o n o f

an y p art y o r o f i t s o wn i n i t i at i v e at an y s t ag e o f t h e act i o n an d o n s u ch t erm s as are

ju s t

. ” Th u s

, “ [i ] f a p l ai n t i ff at t em p t s t o v o l un t ari l y d i s m i s s l es s t h an al l t h e d efen d an t s

wi t h o u t o b t ai n i n g l eav e o f co u rt

, t h e d is m i ss al is i n effect iv e.” (Ci t at i o n s o m i t t ed .)

Ki l g o r e v. S t e wa r t

, 3 0 7 Ga. Ap p

. 3 74

, 3 75 (7 0 5 SE2 d 2 09 ) (2 0 1 0 ); Fl emi s t er v.

Ho p ko

, 2 3 0 Ga. Ap p

. 9 3 (1 ) (4 9 5 SE2 d 3 4 2 ) (1 9 98 ). Bas ed o n t h is au th o ri t y

, i t i s

cl ear th at Gres h am ’ s fi l i n g o f a v o l u n t ary d i s m is sal wo u l d hav e b een s u ffi ci en t to

d i s m i s s t h e fi rs t a c t i o n i f h e h ad d i s m i s s ed al l o f t h e d efen d an t s

. Becau s e h e

d i s m i s s ed l es s t h an al l o f th e defen d an t s

, a co urt o rd er was req u i red

. T h e co u rt o rd er

was n o t en t ered u nt i l Au gu s t 1 2, 2 0 1 2

, wh i ch was t h e effect i v e d at e o f t h e d i s m i s s al

o f t h e fi rs t act i o n

.

Th e Harri s Defen d an ts arg u ed an d t h e t ri al co u rt ag reed t h at ev en i f t h e fi l i n g

o f t h e v o l u n t ary d i s m i s sal b y Gres h am d i d n o t effect i v el y d i s m i s s t he cas e, i t d id

co n st i t u t e a “ d i s co n t in u a n ce” wi t h i n t h e m ean i n g o f OCGA § 9 -2 -6 1 (a), t h ereb y

b eg in n i n g th e ru n ni n g o f th e s ix -m o n t h peri od

. To s u pp o rt i t s ru l i n g , t h e tri al co u rt

rel i ed o n Mo r r i s v. H

ar en

, 5 2 F3 d 9 4 7 (1 1 t h Ci r. 1 9 9 5). In Mo r r i s

, aft er t h e t ri al h ad

b eg un

, t h e p l ai n t iff an n o u n ced t h at h e i n t en ded to d i s m i s s h is cas e an d

, s ev en day s

l at er, fi l ed a wri t t en d i s m i s s al wi t h t h e co u rt

. Id

. at 9 4 8. T he p l ai n t i ff t h en refi l ed h i s

4co m

p l ai n t u nd er Geo rg i a’ s ren ewal st at u t e, tak i n g t h e p os i t i o n t h at t h e s i x

- m o n th

p eri o d b eg an t o ru n wh en t h e wri t t en di s m i s s al w as fi l ed

. Id

. Co ns t ru i n g OCGA § 9

-

2 -6 1 (a), t h e 1 1 t h Ci rcu i t d et erm i n ed t h at “ d i s co nt i n u an ce” an d “ d i s m i ss al ” refer to

t wo d i fferen t o ccu rren ces an d t h at t h e p l ai n t iff h ad d is co n t i n u ed h i s cas e w i t h i n t h e

m ean i n g o f Geo rg i a’ s ren ewal st at u t e w h en h e an no u n ced h i s i n t en t i o n t o d i s m i s s t h e

cas e. Id

. at 9 49

. Th e t ri al co u rt ag reed wi t h t h e 1 1 t h C i r c u i t ’s i n t erp ret at i o n o f t h e

s t at u te an d fo u n d t h at Gres h am ’ s fi l i n g o f t he p u rp o rt ed wri tt en d i s m i s s al was ak in

t o t h e v erb al an n o un cem en t i n Mo r r i s an d co ns t i t u ted a d i s co n t i n u an ce th at t ri g g ered

t h e ru n n i n g o f t h e ren ewal peri o d

.

As an ap p el l at e co u rt

, we are no t bo u n d by d eci s i on s o f o t h er s t at es o r fed eral

co u rt s ex cep t t h e Un i t ed St at es Su p rem e Co u rt

. Da vi t a, In c. v. Ot h ma n

, 2 7 0 Ga. Ap p.

9 3

, 9 5 (1 ) (6 0 6 SE2 d 11 2 ) (2 0 0 4 ). Fed eral au t h o ri t y i s p ers u a s i v e

, b u t as a g en eral

ru l e, “ t h i s Co u rt ad o p t s fed eral co u rt au t ho ri t y o nl y wh en i t i s n o t i n co n fl i ct wi t h o u r

o wn l eg al p reced en t an d i s co n s i s t en t w i t h o u r p u b l ic p o l i cy go al s

. ” Ru s s el l v.

Pa r kf o rd Mg mt

. Co

. , 2 35 Ga. Ap p

. 8 1

, 8 2 (2 ) (5 0 8 SE2 d 4 5 4) (1 9 98 ). Al th o u g h t h ere

are n o Geo rg i a cas es t h at h av e d eci ded t hi s ex act i s s u e, we d ecl i n e to fo ll o w t h e 1 1 th

Ci rcu i t ’ s reas o n i n g i n Mo r r is an d co n cl u d e t hat an ev en t s h o rt o f t h e t erm i nat i o n o f

5t h e p l ai n t i ff’ s act i o n ag ai ns t t h e rel ev an t d efen d an t o r defen d an t s can n o t co n s t i t u t e

a d i s co n t i n u an ce u n d er t h e ren ewal s t at u t e.

“ W e b eg i n ou r an al y si s o f t h e s t at ut e b y reco g n izi n g t h at fu nd am en t al ru l es o f

s t at u to ry co n s t ru ct i o n req u ire u s t o co n s tru e a s t at u t e acco rd i n g t o i ts t erm s , t o g i v e

wo rd s t h ei r p l ai n an d o rd i n ary m ean i n g

, an d t o l o o k d i l i g en tl y fo r t h e i n ten t i o n o f t h e

Gen eral As s em

b l y.” At l a nt a In d

ep en den t S

ch o o l Sys t em v. At l a n t a Nei g h b o r h o o d

Ch a r t er S ch o o l

, 2 9 3 Ga. 6 2 9, 63 1 (7 4 8 SE2 d 8 8 4 ) (2 0 1 3 ). By d efi n i t i o n

, a d i s m i s s al

en t a i l s t e rm i n at i o n o f an act i o n

. See Bry an A. G arn er, ed

., Bl ack ’ s Law Di ct i o n ary

at 5 3 7 (9 t h ed

. 2 00 9 ) (d efi n in g d i sm i s s al a s : “ Term i n at i o n o f an act i o n o r cl ai m

wi t h o u t fu rt h er h eari n g, e sp

. b efo re t h e t ri al o f t he is s u es i n v o l v ed .”). A

d i s co n t i n u an ce l i k ewi se m ay b e d efi n ed as a t y p e o f ev en t th at t erm i n at es an act i o n.

See i d

. at 5 3 2 (d efi n i ng di s co n t i nu an ce as : “ Th e t erm in at io n o f a l a w s u i t b y t h e

p l a i n t i ff; a v o l u nt ary d i s m i ss al o r no n s u i t

. ”); Th e Am eri can Heri t ag e Di ct i o n ary o f

t h e E n g l i s h Lan g uag e at 5 3 1 (3 d ed

. 19 9 2 ) (d efi n i n g “ di s co nt i n u a n c e” as :

“ Term i n at i o n o f an act i o n b y th e p l ai n ti ff.”). In an earl y cas e co n s t ru i n g a p red eces s o r

t o t h e ren ewal s t at u t e, h o wev er, t h e Geo rg i a Su prem e Co u rt

, referri n g t o Bl ack s t o n e

an d o t h er au t h o ri t i es

, st at ed t h a t “ i t w o u l d seem t h at a d i s co n t i n u an ce is wh ere t h e

p l ai n t i ff fai l s t o fo l l o w u p h i s cas e an d l eav es a ch as m i n t h e p ro ceed i ng s b y h i s

6l ach es .” R o u n t r ee v. Key

, 7 1 G a

. 2 1 4

, 2 1 4 -2 1 5 (1 8 8 3 ). Th e Su p rem e Co u rt fu rt h er

ex p lai n ed t h at

a [p l ai n ti ff’ s ] fai l u re t o a p p e a r a n d p ro s ecu t e, an d th u s fo l l o w u p h i s

cas e, o r co n t i nu e t o p ro s ecu te, wo u ld o p erat e as a d i s co n t i n u an ce b y th e

p l ai n t i ff’ s act i o n

, an d t h e co u rt m i g h t o rd er t h at i t b e d i sco n t in u ed at th e

m o t i o n of t he d efen d an t

, o r d o wh at i s t h e s am e t hi n g u n der o ur p ract i ce,

i n effect an d s u b s t an ce, di s m i s s th e p l ai n t i ff’ s s ui t fo r wan t o f

p ro s ecu t i on

.

Id

. at 2 15

. T h u s

, u n d er Ro u n t r ee

, a d i s co nt i n uan ce m ay res u l t f ro m a wan t o f

p ro s ecu ti o n su ffi ci en t t o en t i tl e t h e d efen d an t t o s eek an o rd er term i n at i n g th e act i o n.

S e e O C G A § 9 -1 1 -4 1 (b ) (al l owi n g d efen d an t t o m o v e fo r di s m i s s al fo r wan t o f

p ro s ecu ti o n ). Bu t ev en i f a d i s co n t i n u an ce u nd er t h e ren ewal s t at u t e m ay refer to

s o m e act i o n t ak en b y

t he p lai n t i ff t h at do es n o t o f it s el f t erm i n at e t h e p en d i n g cas e,

s u ch as t he p l ai nt iff’ s fai l u re t o ap p ear o r p ro secu t e, we co n cl u de t h a t t h e ren ewal

p eri o d d o es no t beg i n t o ru n u n t i l th e cas e i s act u al ly t erm i n at ed as a res u l t o f s u ch

act i on

.

Ou r co n cl u s i o n h as ro o t s i n t h e st at u t e’ s o ri g i n

. As t he Geo rg i a Su p rem e Co u rt

reco u n ted i n Cl a r

k v. News o m e

, t h e r e n e wal st at ut e was fi rs t en act ed i n 1 8 4 7 an d

p ro v id ed :

7W h en ev er an y cas e n ow o r h ereaft er pen d i n g in an y o f t he co u rt s o f t h i s

St at e, ei t h er at l aw o r i n eq u i t y

, co m m en ced wi t h i n t h e t i m e l i m i t ed b y

l aw, s h al l b e di sco nt i n u ed

, d i s m i s s ed

, o r t h e p l ai n t i ff t h erei n b eco m e

n o n s u i ted

, an d t h e pl ai n t i ff’s c lai m m ay b e b arred du ri n g th e p en d i n g

t h ereo f b y an y l aw n o w i n fo rce i n t h i s St at e, t h e p l ai n ti ff m ay

, at an y

t i m e wi t h i n s i x m on t h s f

ro m s u ch t er mi n at i o n of t h e ca s e

, an d n o t aft er,

ren ew o r reco m

m en ce th e s am e, i n an y co u rt h av i n g ju ri s d i ct i on t h ereo f

i n t h i s St at e.

(Em p h as i s s u p p li ed .) 1 8 0 G a. 9 7

, 9 9 (1 7 8 SE 3 86 ) (1 93 5 ), ci t i n g G a. L. 1 8 4 7

, p

. 2 1 7.

Th e l eg i s l at u re p as s ed a s im i l arl y -wo rd ed act i n 1 8 5 6

, w h i ch referred to t h e ri g h t to

ren ew a s u it “ at an y

t i m e wi t hi n s i x m o n t h s aft er s u ch t erm i nat i o n o f t h e cas e.” Id

.,

ci t i n g Ga. L. 1 85 5 -5 6

, p

. 2 3 7

, § 3 3

. W h en Geo rg i a’ s l aws were co d i fi ed i n t h e Co d e

o f 1 8 6 3

, t h e l an g u ag e o f t h e r e n ewal s t at u t e was ch an g ed t o p ro v i d e: “ If a p l ai n t i ff

s h al l b e n o n su i ted

, o r s h al l d i s co n t i n u e o r d i s m i s s h i s cas e, an d sh al l r e c o m m e n c e

wi t h i n s i x m o n t h s

, su ch ren ewed cas e s hal l s t an d u p o n t h e s am e fo o t i n g

, as to

l i m i tat i on

, wi t h t h e ori gi nal cas e.” Id

. Th e Su p rem e Co u rt affi rm ed i n Cl a r k t h at

n o t wi t h s t an d i n g t h es e ch an g es

, t h e ri g h t o f ren ewal w as n o t res t ri ct ed t o c a s e s in

wh i ch an act io n was n o n s u i t ed o r t he p l ai n t i ff v ol u nt ari l y d i s m is sed o r d i s co n t i n u ed

i t b u t rat h er co n t i n u ed t o ap p l y

, as u n d er t h e p rev io u s l aw, t o an i n v ol u n t ary d i s m i s s al

o t h er t h an o n t h e m eri t s

. Id

. at 1 0 1 -1 0 2. Tak i n g i n to acco u nt t h e rem ed i al p u rp o s e o f

8t h e ren ewal s t at ut e an d t h e ru l e t h at th e co d i fi cat i o n o f Geo rg i a’ s l aws s h o ul d n o t b e

u n d ers t o o d t o wo rk a ch an g e i n t h e l aw “ un l es s t h e co n t rary m an ifes t l y ap pears fro m

t h e wo rd s em

p l o y ed ,” t h e Su p re m e Co u rt co n cl u d ed i n Cl a r k t h at “ t h e [ren ewal

s t at u t e co n t ai n ed ] i n t h e Co d e s h o ul d be co n si d ered as a m ere co nd en s at i o n o f t h e

s p eci fi c en act m en t s

. . . an d t h at t h e o ri g in al law i s t h e cri t eri on o f t he ri g h t o f

ren ewal .” Id . at 1 0 2

.

As t h e d i s cu s s i o n i n Cl a r k refl ect s

, t h e ren ewal s tat u t e, at i t s in cep t i o n

, m ad e

i t cl ear th at t h e s i x -m on t h ren ewal p eri o d was t o b e cal cu l at ed fro m t erm in at i o n o f t h e

p l ai n t i ff’ s p ri o r act i o n

. Al s o

, as s et fo rt h i n Cl a r k

, t h e co d i f

i c a t i o n o f th e o ri g i n al

ren ewal s t at u t es was n o t i n t e n d e d t o c h an g e t he l aw. As s u ch

, t h e s am e ru l e as to

m eas u ri n g t h e ren ewal p eri od co n t i n u ed t o ap p ly fo l lo wi n g co d ifi cat i o n ev en i f i t was

n o lo n g er ex p res s l y s t at ed

. An d al t h o u gh t h e r e n e w a l s tat u te h as b een am en d ed a

n u m b er o f t i m es

, we d i scern n o b as i s fo r co n cl u d i n g t h a t t h e Gen eral As s em b l y

i n t en d ed t o ch an g e t h e l aw i n t h i s reg ard

.

Ou r co n cl u si o n t h at a d i sco n t i n u an ce u n d er t h e ren ewal st at ut e i s n o t an ev en t

p ri o r t o a n d d i s t i n ct fro m t h e term i n at i o n o f an act i o n fi n d s fu rt h er s u pp o rt i n t h e

wel l -reco g ni zed p ri n ci p le t h at a rem ed i al act l i ke t h e ren ewal s tat u t e m u s t be l i b eral l y

co n st ru ed . See Pa r

s o n s v. Ca

p i t a l Al l i a nce Fi n a n ci a l

, LLC , 3 2 5 Ga. Ap p . 8 8 4 , 8 8 7

9(3 ) (7 5 6 SE2 d 1 4 ) (2 0 1 4 ). A v al i d ren ewal act io n m ay n o t b e fi l ed i f th e p ri or act i o n

t h at t h e p l ai n t i ff wi sh es t o ren ew i s s t i l l p en d i n g

, Ki l g or e

, 3 0 7 Ga. Ap p

. at 3 7 5

, an d

t h e r i g h t o f ren ewal wo u ld b e res t ri ct ed an d co m p ro m i s ed i f an ev en t s h o rt o f

t erm i n at i o n of t he p ri o r cas e co u l d cau s e t h e s i x -m on t h ren ewa l p eri o d t o b eg in

ru n n in g

. Fi n al l y

, o u r co ns t ru ct i o n o f t he ren ewal s t at u t e i s co n s i s t en t wi t h o u r p ri o r

d eci s i o n s t h at

, w h il e n o t ad d res s i n g t h e preci s e qu es t io n rai s ed h ere (i .e., t he m ean i n g

o f “ d i s co n t i n u an ce”), h av e h el d t h at wh en a cas e i s v o l un t ari l y d is m i ss ed ag ai n s t al l

d efen d an t s , t he ren ewal p eri o d b eg i n s t o ru n wh en th e d i s m i s s al i s fi l ed rat h er t h an

an earl i er d at e wh en t h e i n t en t i o n t o d i s m is s i s v erb al l y an no u n ced b ecau se OCGA

§ 9

- 1 1 -4 1 (a) req u i res s u ch fi l i n g t o effect u at e a v ol u n t ary d i s m i s s al

. See Ca r t e r v

.

Di g by

, 2 4 4 Ga. Ap p

. 2 1 7, 2 1 8 (5 3 5 SE2 d 27 3 ) (2 0 0 0 ); S wa rt z el v. Ga r ner

, 1 9 3 Ga.

Ap p . 2 6 7 (3 8 7 SE2 d 3 59 ) (1 9 8 9 ).

Bas ed o n th e fo reg o i n g

, t h e rel ev a n t ev en t in t h i s cas e fo r d et erm i n i n g wh en

t h e s i x -m o n t h p eri o d b eg an is t h e en t r y o f t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s o rd er g ran t i n g t h e

v o l u n t ary d i s m i s s al wi th o u t p reju d i ce as t o al l b ut on e o f t h e d efen d an t s

. To cal cu l at e

t h e d ead l i n e fo r Gres ham ’ s ren ewal act i o n

, we ap p l y OCGA § 1 -3 -1 (d ) (3 ) an d fi n d

t h at t h e si x -m o n t h p eri o d fo r fi l i n g h i s ren ewal act i o n b eg an o n Au g u s t 1 3

, 2 0 1 2

, t h e

d ay aft er t h e t ri al co urt d i s m i s sed t h e o ri g i n al act i o n

, an d ran u n t i l Feb ru ary 1 2

, 2 0 1 3.

10See Pa r

s o n s

, 3 2 5 Ga. A p p. at 8 8 7 ( 3 )

. A s a res ul t

, Gres h am ’ s refi l i n g o f th e act i o n

o n Feb ru ary 1 1 was t im el y

. See i d

. Th e t ri al co u rt t h erefo re erred in g ran t i n g t h e

Harri s Defen dan t s ’ m o t i o n fo r s u m m ary ju d g m en t

.

Ju d g men t r ever sed . McFa d

d en a n d Ra y, JJ., co n cu r

.

11