Case Name: BETALLIC, INC. et al. v. DEAVOURS et al.
Court: Supreme Court of Georgia
Jurisdiction: Georgia
Decision Date: 1994-01-24
Citations: 263 Ga. 796
Docket Number: S93G0910
Parties: BETALLIC, INC. et al. v. DEAVOURS et al.
Judges: Clarke, C. J., Hunt, P. J., Fletcher and Sears-Collins, JJ., concur; Benham, J., concurs in the judgment only; Hunstein, J., and Judge William H. Ison dissent. Carley, J., disqualified.
Reporter: Georgia Reports
Volume: 263
Pages: 796–798

Head Matter:
S93G0910.
BETALLIC, INC. et al. v. DEAVOURS et al.
(439 SE2d 643)

Opinion:
Sears-Collins, Justice.
We agree with the Court of Appeals' conclusion in this case and with that court's construction of OCGA § 9-15-14, except that part where the court finds that a claim for litigation costs and attorney fees assessed for frivolous actions and defenses is available only to a "prevailing party." Deavours v. Hog Mtn. Creations, 207 Ga. App. 557 (428 SE2d 388) (1993). OCGA § 9-15-14 does not limit recovery to a certain party, but permits any party to recover from another party who has "unnecessarily expanded the proceeding by . . . improper conduct, including, but not limited to, abuses of discovery." OCGA § 9-15-14 (b).
Judgment affirmed.
Clarke, C. J., Hunt, P. J., Fletcher and Sears-Collins, JJ., concur; Benham, J., concurs in the judgment only; Hunstein, J., and Judge William H. Ison dissent. Carley, J., disqualified.