Title: Ex parte J.E. Estes Wood Company, Inc. and A.A. Nettles, Sr. Properties, Ltd. PETITION FOR WRIT OF MANDAMUS: CIVIL (In re: Shawnee Terminal Railroad v. J.E. Estes Wood Company, Inc., et al.)
Citation: N/A
Docket Number: 1081728
State: Alabama
Issuer: Alabama Supreme Court
Date: January 29, 2010

REL: 01/29/2010 
N o t i c e : 
T h i s o p i n i o n i s s u b j e c t t o f o r m a l 
r e v i s i o n b e f o r e 
p u b l i c a t i o n i n t h e advance 
s h e e t s o f Southern Reporter. 
R e a d e r s a r e 
r e q u e s t e d t o n o t i f y t h e 
Reporter of 
Decisions, 
Alabama A p p e l l a t e 
C o u r t s , 300 D e x t e r Avenue, Montgomery, Alabama 36104-3741 
((334) 
2 2 9 - 0 6 4 9 ) , o f any t y p o g r a p h i c a l o r o t h e r e r r o r s , i n o r d e r t h a t c o r r e c t i o n s may be made 
b e f o r e t h e o p i n i o n i s 
p r i n t e d i n 
Southern Reporter. 
SUPREME COURT OF ALABAMA 
OCTOBER TERM, 2009-2010 
1081728 
Ex p a r t e J.E. E s t e s Wood Company, Inc., 
and 
A.A. N e t t l e s , Sr. P r o p e r t i e s , L t d . 
PETITION FOR WRIT OF MANDAMUS 
( I n r e : Shawnee Terminal R a i l r o a d 
v. 
J.E. E s t e s Wood Company, Inc., 
e t 
a l . ) 
(Monroe C i r c u i t Court, CV-09-900018) 
WOODALL, 
J u s t i c e . 
J . E . 
E s t e s 
Wood Company, 
I n c . ( " E s t e s " ) , 
a 
t i m b e r -
management company, a n d A.A. N e t t l e s , S r . P r o p e r t i e s , L t d . 
1081728 
( " N e t t l e s " ) , 
p e t i t i o n 
t h i s 
C o u r t 
f o r 
a 
w r i t 
o f 
mandamus 
d i r e c t i n g t h e Monroe C i r c u i t C o u r t t o v a c a t e an o r d e r 
d e n y i n g 
t h e i r m o t i o n 
t o d i s m i s s , p u r s u a n t 
t o A l a . Code 1975, 
§ 
6-5¬
4 4 0 , 
t h e 
a c t i o n 
o f 
Shawnee 
T e r m i n a l 
R a i l r o a d 
("Shawnee") 
a g a i n s t them. 
We 
g r a n t t h e p e t i t i o n and 
i s s u e t h e 
w r i t . 
I . 
F a c t u a l and P r o c e d u r a l B a c k g r o u n d 
The 
f a c t s 
a r e 
u n d i s p u t e d . 
On 
M a r c h 
4, 
2009, 
Shawnee 
f i l e d a c o m p l a i n t i n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s D i s t r i c t C o u r t f o r t h e 
S o u t h e r n 
D i s t r i c t 
o f A l a b a m a , n a m i n g as d e f e n d a n t s 
E s t e s 
and 
N e t t l e s . The 
c o m p l a i n t 
a l l e g e d t h a t Shawnee was 
t h e owner o f 
"a common c a r r i e r 
r a i l 
l i n e r u n n i n g f r o m F l o m a t o n , A l a b a m a , t o 
B e a t r i c e , 
A l a b a m a " 
("the 
r a i l 
l i n e " ) . 
The 
c o m p l a i n t 
a l s o 
c o n t a i n e d t h e f o l l o w i n g r e l e v a n t f a c t u a l 
a v e r m e n t s : 
"13. The 
r a i l l i n e r u n s g e n e r a l l y n o r t h - t o - s o u t h 
t h r o u g h a s e c t i o n o f p r o p e r t y owned by [ N e t t l e s ] and 
l o c a t e d 
i n Monroe C o u n t y , A l a b a m a . 
The 
p o r t i o n o f 
t h e 
r a i l 
l i n e t h a t r u n s t h r o u g h [ N e t t l e s ' s ] p r o p e r t y 
i n c l u d e s 
a 
275 
f t . wooden 
b r i d g e , 
w h i c h 
s p a n s 
a 
r a v i n e and 
t r i b u t a r y o f w a t e r 
on t h e p r o p e r t y . 
The 
b r i d g e i s commonly r e f e r r e d t o as ' B r i d g e 
3 8 . ' 
f i 
"15. 
On 
o r a b o u t M a r c h 
7 , 2007, 
[ N e t t l e s 
and 
E s t e s ] 
t r i e d 
t o 
p e r f o r m 
a 
' c o n t r o l l e d 
b u r n ' 
on 
[ N e t t l e s ' s ] p r o p e r t y . 
H o w e v e r , 
[ t h e y ] l o s t 
c o n t r o l 
o f 
t h e 
f i r e . 
The 
f i r e 
i g n i t e d 
B r i d g e 
38 
and 
t h e 
s u r r o u n d i n g 
t r a c k s . 
The 
f i r e 
t o t a l l y 
d e s t r o y e d 
B r i d g e 38 
and t h e s u r r o u n d i n g 
t r a c k s . " 
2 
1081728 
The 
c o m p l a i n t s o u g h t c o m p e n s a t o r y a n d / o r p u n i t i v e damages on 
t h e o r i e s 
o f 
(1) 
v i o l a t i o n 
o f 
18 U.S.C. 
§ 
1 9 9 2 ( a ) , 
(2) 
n e g l i g e n c e , (3) w a n t o n n e s s , (4) n e g l i g e n c e p e r s e , (5) 
s t r i c t 
l i a b i l i t y , 
a n d (6) t r e s p a s s . 
The a c t i o n commenced by 
t h i s 
c o m p l a i n t i s h e r e i n a f t e r 
r e f e r r e d t o as " t h e f e d e r a l 
a c t i o n . " 
Two 
d a y s 
l a t e r , 
on 
M a r c h 
6, 
2009, 
Shawnee 
f i l e d 
a 
c o m p l a i n t b a s e d on t h e same f a c t s i n t h e Monroe C i r c u i t 
C o u r t 
a g a i n s t 
t h e same d e f e n d a n t s 
( h e r e i n a f t e r 
r e f e r r e d t o as " t h e 
s t a t e a c t i o n " ) . 
The l a t e r 
f i l e d c o m p l a i n t i n t h e s t a t e 
a c t i o n 
s o u g h t t h e same 
r e l i e f 
u n d e r t h e same 
t h e o r i e s 
as d i d t h e 
e a r l i e r 
f i l e d c o m p l a i n t i n t h e f e d e r a l 
a c t i o n . 
A c c o r d i n g t o 
Shawnee, i t " f i l e d 
[ t h e s t a t e 
a c t i o n ] 
t o p r e s e r v e a f o r u m t o  
l i t i g a t e 
i t s c l a i m s 
i n t h e e v e n t 
t h e 
f e d e r a l 
a c t i o n 
was 
 
d i s m i s s e d f o r l a c k o f s u b j e c t 
m a t t e r 
j u r i s d i c t i o n more 
t h a n  
two 
y e a r s 
a f t e r t h e f i r e . " 
Shawnee's b r i e f , 
a t 2 
( e m p h a s i s 
a d d e d ) . 
On M a r c h 27, 2009, N e t t l e s 
and E s t e s moved t h e f e d e r a l 
d i s t r i c t 
c o u r t 
t o d i s m i s s 
t h e f e d e r a l 
a c t i o n 
f o r l a c k o f 
s u b j e c t - m a t t e r j u r i s d i c t i o n . 
I n A p r i l 2009, w h i l e t h e m o t i o n 
t o d i s m i s s 
t h e f e d e r a l 
a c t i o n was p e n d i n g , E s t e s and 
N e t t l e s 
3 
1081728 
moved t o d i s m i s s t h e s t a t e a c t i o n , p u r s u a n t t o A l a . Code 1975, 
§ 6-5-440, t h e a b a t e m e n t s t a t u t e , w h i c h 
p r o v i d e s : 
"No 
p l a i n t i f f 
i s 
e n t i t l e d 
t o 
p r o s e c u t e 
two 
a c t i o n s i n t h e c o u r t s o f t h i s 
s t a t e a t t h e same t i m e 
f o r t h e same c a u s e and a g a i n s t 
t h e same p a r t y . 
I n 
s u c h a c a s e , t h e d e f e n d a n t may 
r e q u i r e t h e p l a i n t i f f 
t o 
e l e c t 
w h i c h 
he 
w i l l 
p r o s e c u t e , 
i f commenced 
s i m u l t a n e o u s l y , and t h e p e n d e n c y o f t h e f o r m e r i s a  
g o o d d e f e n s e t o t h e l a t t e r i f 
commenced a t d i f f e r e n t  
t i m e s . " 
( E m p h a s i s 
added.) 
I n r e s p o n s e t o t h e m o t i o n s t o d i s m i s s 
t h e s t a t e 
a c t i o n , 
Shawnee moved t h e Monroe 
C i r c u i t 
C o u r t 
t o 
s t a y 
t h e 
s t a t e 
a c t i o n p e n d i n g r e s o l u t i o n o f t h e m o t i o n t o d i s m i s s t h e e a r l i e r 
f i l e d 
f e d e r a l 
a c t i o n . 
On 
J u l y 27, 2009, t h e Monroe 
C i r c u i t 
C o u r t d e n i e d t h e m o t i o n s t o d i s m i s s 
and g r a n t e d t h e m o t i o n t o 
s t a y 
t h e 
s t a t e 
a c t i o n 
" u n t i l 
r e s o l u t i o n 
o f t h e 
[ f e d e r a l ] 
a c t i o n . " 
On S e p t e m b e r 4, 2009, E s t e s and N e t t l e s 
p e t i t i o n e d 
t h i s C o u r t f o r a w r i t o f mandamus, d i r e c t i n g t h e d i s m i s s a l o f 
t h e 
s t a t e a c t i o n . 
Two weeks l a t e r , on S e p t e m b e r 18, 2009, t h e 
f e d e r a l d i s t r i c t c o u r t d i s m i s s e d t h e f e d e r a l a c t i o n . 
Shawnee 
has a p p e a l e d f r o m t h a t j u d g m e n t , and t h a t a p p e a l i s p e n d i n g i n 
t h e 
U n i t e d S t a t e s 
C o u r t o f A p p e a l s f o r t h e E l e v e n t h 
C i r c u i t . 
4 
1081728 
I I . 
D i s c u s s i o n 
"[A] w r i t o f mandamus i s an e x t r a o r d i n a r y remedy, w h i c h 
r e q u i r e s t h e p e t i t i o n e r t o d e m o n s t r a t e a c l e a r , l e g a l r i g h t t o 
t h e 
r e l i e f s o u g h t , o r an a b u s e o f d i s c r e t i o n . " 
Ex p a r t e 
P a l m 
 
H a r b o r Homes, I n c . , 
7 
98 So. 2d 656, 660 ( A l a . 2001 
) . 
Mandamus 
i s t h e a p p r o p r i a t e remedy t o c o r r e c t a t r i a l 
c o u r t ' s 
f a i l u r e 
t o p r o p e r l y 
a p p l y § 6-5-440. 
See Ex p a r t e Chapman 
N u r s i n g 
Home, I n c . , 
903 So. 2d 813 ( A l a . 
2 0 0 4 ) ; Ex p a r t e Breman 
L a k e 
V i e w R e s o r t , L.P., 729 So. 2d 849, 852 ( A l a . 1 9 9 9 ) . 
" [ S e c t i o n 
6 - 5 - 4 4 0 ] , 
b y 
i t s p l a i n 
l a n g u a g e , 
f o r b i d s a p a r t y f r o m p r o s e c u t i n g two a c t i o n s f o r t h e 
'same 
c a u s e ' 
and a g a i n s t 
t h e 'same 
p a r t y . ' 
T h i s 
C o u r t h a s p r e v i o u s l y h e l d t h a t an a c t i o n p e n d i n g i n 
a f e d e r a l c o u r t 
f a l l s 
w i t h i n t h e c o v e r a g e o f 
t h i s 
Code s e c t i o n : 
"'"The p h r a s e 
' c o u r t s o f t h i s s t a t e , ' 
as u s e d i n § 6-5-440, i n c l u d e s a l l 
f e d e r a l 
c o u r t s l o c a t e d i n A l a b a m a . 
T h i s C o u r t h a s 
c o n s i s t e n t l y 
r e f u s e d t o a l l o w a p e r s o n t o 
p r o s e c u t e an a c t i o n i n a s t a t e c o u r t 
w h i l e 
a n o t h e r 
a c t i o n 
on 
t h e same 
c a u s e 
and 
a g a i n s t t h e same p a r t i e s i s p e n d i n g i n a 
f e d e r a l c o u r t i n t h i s 
S t a t e . " ' " 
Ex p a r t e 
N o r f o l k 
S o u t h e r n Ry., 992 So. 2d 1286, 1289 
( A l a . 
2008 ( q u o t i n g Ex p a r t e U n i v e r s i t y o f S o u t h A l a b a m a F o u n d . , 788 
So. 2d 161, 164 ( A l a . 
2 0 0 0 ) , q u o t i n g i n t u r n Weaver v . Hood, 
577 So. 2d 440, 442 ( A l a . 1 9 9 1 ) ) . 
The d i s m i s s a l o f an e a r l i e r 
5 
1081728 
f i l e d 
f e d e r a l a c t i o n does n o t 
r e n d e r 
§ 6-5-440 
i n a p p l i c a b l e 
d u r i n g 
t h e p e n d e n c y 
o f 
an 
a p p e a l 
f r o m 
t h a t 
d i s m i s s a l . 
L.A. 
D r a p e r & Son, 
I n c . v. W h e e l a b r a t o r - F r y e , I n c . , 454 
So. 
2d 
506, 
508 
( A l a . 1984) 
("An 
a c t i o n i s deemed p e n d i n g i n f e d e r a l 
c o u r t 
so 
l o n g 
as 
a 
p a r t y ' s 
r i g h t 
t o 
a p p e a l 
has 
n o t 
y e t 
b e e n 
e x h a u s t e d o r 
e x p i r e d . " ) . 
I t 
i s u n d i s p u t e d 
t h a t 
§ 6-5-440 
a p p l i e s 
t o 
t h e 
s t a t e 
a c t i o n , 
and 
E s t e s 
and 
N e t t l e s 
c o n t e n d 
t h a t 
t h e 
s t a t u t e 
r e q u i r e s 
t h e 
d i s m i s s a l o f t h e 
s t a t e a c t i o n . 
I n o t h e r 
w o r d s , 
t h e 
s t a y 
o r d e r e d by 
t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t 
does 
n o t , 
a c c o r d i n g 
t o 
E s t e s 
and N e t t l e s , s a t i s f y t h e s t a t u t e . 
Shawnee i n s i s t s 
t h a t 
t h e 
s t a t u t e 
i s s a t i s f i e d 
by 
a " s t a y 
o f 
t h i s 
c a s e i n 
l i e u 
o f 
d i s m i s s a l " as a m a t t e r o f d i s c r e t i o n . Shawnee's b r i e f , 
a t 
13 
( e m p h a s i s a d d e d ) . 
We 
a g r e e w i t h E s t e s 
and 
N e t t l e s . 
" S e c t i o n 6-5-440, as 
i n i t i a l l y c o d i f i e d i n A l a . 
Code 1907, 
§ 2451, 
was 
'a t r a n s c r i p t o f s e c t i o n 
4331 
o f t h e 
C i v i l Code o f G e o r g i a . ' 
Ex p a r t e D u n l a p , 
209 
A l a . 
453, 
455, 
96 So. 
441, 
442 
( 1 9 2 3 ) . 
See 
c u r r e n t 
v e r s i o n 
a t Ga. 
Code Ann. 
§ 9 - 2 - 5 ( a ) ( M i c h i e 
1 9 8 2 ) . 
H o w e v e r , 
t h e s e 
s t a t u t e s 
m e r e l y 
c o d i f i e d 
t h e 
p r i n c i p l e e x p r e s s e d i n t h e common-law maxim: 'Nemo  
d e b e t b i s 
v e x a r i 
( s i c o n s t e t 
c u r i a e q u o d 
s i t ) 
p r o 
 
una 
e t eadem c a u s a , ' 
t h a t 
i s : 'No 
man 
o u g h t t o 
be 
t w i c e 
t r o u b l e d 
o r 
h a r a s s e d 
( i f i t a p p e a r 
t o 
t h e 
c o u r t 
t h a t 
he 
i s ) , f o r 
one 
and 
t h e 
same 
c a u s e . ' 
O ' B a r r 
v. 
T u r n e r , 
16 
A l a . 
App. 
65, 
67-68, 
75 
So. 
271, 
274 
( 1 9 1 7 ) , c e r t . d e n i e d , 200 
A l a . 699, 
76 
So. 
997 
(1917) . 
T h i s 
r u l e 
was 
w e l l 
e s t a b l i s h e d 
i n 
6 
1081728 
A l a b a m a l o n g b e f o r e 
i t was 
f i r s t 
c o d i f i e d 
i n A l a . 
Code 1907, 
§ 2451. 
I n F o s t e r v. N a p i e r , 
73 A l a . 
595 
( 1 8 8 3 ) , 
f o r e x a m p l e , t h i s C o u r t 
e x p l a i n e d : 
"'The 
d o c t r i n e i s t h u s s t a t e d i n 1 B a c . 
Ab. 
28, 
M.: 
"The 
l a w 
a b h o r s 
m u l t i p l i c i t y 
o f 
a c t i o n s ; 
and, 
t h e r e f o r e , 
w h e n e v e r 
i t 
a p p e a r s on 
r e c o r d , t h a t t h e 
p l a i n t i f f 
has 
s u e d 
o u t 
two 
w r i t s 
a g a i n s t 
t h e 
same 
d e f e n d a n t , 
f o r t h e same t h i n g , t h e 
s e c o n d 
w r i t 
s h a l l 
a b a t e ; 
f o r i f i t w e r e 
a l l o w e d 
t h a t 
a 
man 
s h o u l d 
be 
t w i c e 
a r r e s t e d , 
o r 
t w i c e 
a t t a c h e d 
by 
h i s g o o d s 
f o r t h e same 
t h i n g , b y 
t h e same r e a s o n 
he m i g h t 
s u f f e r 
i n 
i n f i n i t u m ; 
... 
i f t h e r e was 
a w r i t 
i n 
b e i n g a t t h e t i m e o f s u i n g o u t t h e 
s e c o n d , 
i t 
i s p l a i n 
t h e 
s e c o n d was 
v e x a t i o u s 
a n d 
- 1 1 1 
- i ^ - ; - ! - - ; ^ 
II 
I 
i l l 
ab 
i n i t i o . " ' 
" F o s t e r v. N a p i e r , 
73 A l a . 595, 
603 
(1883) 
( q u o t i n g 
1 M. B a c o n , A New 
A b r i d g m e n t o f t h e Law 
28 
( 1 8 4 3 ) ) . 
as 
i n 
i n 
I n 
f a c t , 
t h e 
r u l e was 
w e l l e s t a b l i s h e d as e a r l y a 
1461, 
f o r i t was 
t h o r o u g h l y d i s c u s s e d a n d a p p l i e d i 
Y.B. 
39 
H e n r y 
V I , 
p l . 12 
( 1 4 6 1 ) , 
c a s e 
q u o t e d 
i 
t o t o , Commonwealth v. C h u r c h i l l , 5 M a s s . 174 
( 1 8 0 9 ) ; 
s e e 
a l s o S p a r r y ' s 
C a s e , 
5 Coke 61a., 
77 
Eng. 
Rep. 
148 
(K.B. 
1 5 9 1 ) . " 
Ex p a r t e S t a t e Mut. 
I n s . Co., 
715 
So. 
2d 207, 
213 
( A l a . 
1997) 
( e m p h a s i s a d d e d ) . 
H i s t o r i c a l l y , 
a 
v i o l a t i o n 
o f 
t h e 
p r o h i b i t i o n 
a g a i n s t 
m u l t i p l e 
p e n d i n g 
a c t i o n s 
was 
r e d r e s s a b l e 
by 
a 
" p l e a 
i n 
a b a t e m e n t . " 
B e n s o n v. C i t y o f S c o t t s b o r o , 286 A l a . 315, 
317, 
239 
So. 
2d 
747, 
748-49 
( 1 9 7 0 ) . 
The 
p l e a 
i n a b a t e m e n t 
o f 
s i m u l t a n e o u s 
a c t i o n s was 
t h e p r e d e c e s s o r 
o f t h e modern m o t i o n 
7 
1081728 
t o d i s m i s s . 
T e r r e l l v. C i t y o f B e s s e m e r , 406 So. 2d 337, 340 
( A l a . 
1981) ("In t h i s 
j u r i s d i c t i o n t h e r u l e i s t h a t a m o t i o n 
t o 
d i s m i s s 
( f o r m e r l y 
a p l e a 
i n a b a t e m e n t ) 
w i l l be g r a n t e d 
where d e f e n d a n t moves t o d i s m i s s 
p l a i n t i f f ' s s e c o n d a c t i o n f o r 
t h e 
same 
c a u s e , 
e v e n 
t h o u g h 
p l a i n t i f f 
d i s m i s s e d h i s f i r s t 
a c t i o n a f t e r t h e m o t i o n t o d i s m i s s was f i l e d . " ) . 
Thus, a s t a y 
i s n o t an a b a t e m e n t . 
See Ex p a r t e DeArman, 694 So. 2d 1288, 
1290 
( A l a . 1 9 9 7 ) . 
M o r e o v e r , 
where 
§ 
6-5-440 
a p p l i e s , 
i t 
" c o m p e l s 
 
d i s m i s s a l . " 
Ex p a r t e 
C a n a l I n s . Co., 534 So. 2d 582, 585 
( A l a . 
1 9 8 8 ) ( e m p h a s i s added) 
( " S i n c e t h e m a t t e r r a i s e d i n 
t h e 
s t a t e c o u r t c o m p l a i n t c o n s t i t u t e s a c o m p u l s o r y c o u n t e r c l a i m i n 
t h e 
f e d e r a l 
c o u r t 
a c t i o n 
t h a t was p e n d i n g a t t h e t i m e t h e 
s t a t e 
c o u r t 
a c t i o n 
was 
commenced, 
t h e 
s t a t u t e 
c o m p e l s 
d i s m i s s a l o f t h e s t a t e c o u r t 
a c t i o n . " ) . 
See Ex p a r t e B e n n e t t , 
231 
A l a . 223, 224, 164 So. 298, 299 
(1935) 
("A 
p l e a i n 
a b a t e m e n t goes t o t h e p r e s e n t r i g h t t o m a i n t a i n t h e a c t i o n . 
To s u s t a i n t h e p l e a 
r e s u l t s i n a d i s m i s s a l o f t h e a c t i o n . " ) . 
T h i s 
i s t r u e , 
e v e n 
where 
t h e p a r t y 
i n v o k i n g 
t h e 
s t a t u t e 
r e q u e s t s a d i s m i s s a l o r , i n t h e a l t e r n a t i v e , a s t a y . 
C a n a l 
 
I n s . , 
s u p r a . 
8 
1081728 
Shawnee c i t e s two c a s e s i n s u p p o r t o f i t s c o n t e n t i o n 
t h a t 
t h e 
s t a t u t e 
d o e s n o t m a n d a t e a d i s m i s s a l , 
n a m e l y , Ex p a r t e  
AmSouth Bank, 735 So. 2d 1151 ( 1 9 9 9 ) , a n d Ex p a r t e 
U n i v e r s i t y  
o f 
S o u t h A l a b a m a F o u n d a t i o n , 
788 So. 2d 161 
( A l a . 2 0 0 0 ) . 
AmSouth Bank does n o t a i d Shawnee, a n d U n i v e r s i t y o f S o u t h  
A l a b a m a was w r o n g l y 
d e c i d e d . 
AmSouth 
Bank 
i n v o l v e d 
"an 
a c t i o n 
c o n t a i n i n g 
c l a s s 
a l l e g a t i o n s 
t h a t 
was commenced i n a 
s t a t e 
c o u r t 
[ a g a i n s t 
AmSouth 
Bank] 
a f t e r 
an 
a c t i o n 
c o n t a i n i n g 
s i m i l a r 
c l a s s 
a l l e g a t i o n s ... h a d b e e n commenced [ a g a i n s t A m S o u t h ] , b u t 
n o t 
y e t 
c e r t i f i e d 
[as a 
c l a s s 
a c t i o n ] , 
i n t h e U n i t e d 
S t a t e s 
D i s t r i c t C o u r t f o r t h e S o u t h e r n D i s t r i c t o f A l a b a m a . " 735 So. 
2d a t 1154 (Cook, J . , d i s s e n t i n g ) . 
AmSouth moved t h e s t a t e 
c o u r t t o d i s m i s s 
t h e a c t i o n , 
c i t i n g § 6-5-440, as w e l l as Ex  
p a r t e 
F i r s t 
N a t i o n a l 
Bank o f J a s p e r , 717 So. 2d 342 
( A l a . 
1 9 9 7 ) , a n d F i r s t T e n n e s s e e Bank, N.A. v. S n e l l , 718 So. 2d 20 
( A l a . 
1 
9 9 8 ) . 
AmSouth B a n k , 735 So. 2d a t 1152. 
The 
s t a t e 
c o u r t d e n i e d t h e 
m o t i o n , a n d AmSouth p e t i t i o n e d t h i s C o u r t 
f o r 
a 
w r i t o f mandamus 
d i r e c t i n g t h e t r i a l 
j u d g e t o g r a n t 
i t s 
m o t i o n t o d i s m i s s 
t h e a c t i o n . 
T h i s C o u r t 
d e c l i n e d 
t o o r d e r a d i s m i s s a l a n d , i n s t e a d , 
i s s u e d a w r i t o f mandamus o r d e r i n g a s t a y o f t h e a c t i o n i n t h e 
9 
1081728 
s t a t e c o u r t p e n d i n g a r e s o l u t i o n o f t h e c e r t i f i c a t i o n i s s u e i n 
t h e 
f e d e r a l c o u r t . 
However, i t d i d s o , n o t on t h e a u t h o r i t y  
o f § 6-5-440 b u t on t h e a u t h o r i t y o f t h e r u l e a n n o u n c e d i n 
J a s p e r 
as 
r e f i n e d b y 
S n e l l . 
T h a t 
r u l e , 
w h i c h 
t h i s 
C o u r t 
p r o p o u n d e d 
s p e c i f i c a l l y 
t o 
d e a l 
w i t h 
t h e p e c u l i a r 
i s s u e s 
r a i s e d by t h e f i l i n g i n t h e c o u r t s o f t h i s 
S t a t e o f m u l t i p l e 
a c t i o n s c o n t a i n i n g o v e r l a p p i n g c l a s s a l l e g a t i o n s , i s s t a t e d as 
f o l l o w s : 
"The 
f i r s t 
c l a s s 
a c t i o n 
p r e v a i l s 
o v e r 
a 
s e c o n d 
s u b s t a n t i a l l y 
s i m i l a r 
c a s e 
f i l e d 
i n a n o t h e r 
c o u r t . 
... [ T ] h e c o u r t i n w h i c h t h e s e c o n d c l a s s a c t i o n i s 
f i l e d 
s h o u l d 
r e f u s e 
t o e x e r c i s e 
j u r i s d i c t i o n 
o v e r 
t h e 
c a s e 
once 
i t i s a p p r i s e d 
o f t h e 
f a c t 
t h a t 
a n o t h e r 
c o u r t 
has 
assumed 
j u r i s d i c t i o n 
o f 
s u b s t a n t i a l l y 
t h e same 
c a s e 
( i n v o l v i n g t h e same 
p a r t i e s , t h e same i s s u e s , 
e t c ) . " 
S n e l l , 718 So. 2d a t 23 
( e m p h a s i s added) 
( q u o t e d 
i n AmSouth 
Bank, 735 So. 2d a t 1 1 5 4 ) . 
The C o u r t i n AmSouth Bank s t a t e d : 
"As o f t h e d a t e o f t h e r e l e a s e o f t h i s 
o p i n i o n , 
t h e r e has b e e n no 
c e r t i f i c a t i o n o f a c l a s s i n t h e 
[ f i r s t - f i l e d 
f e d e r a l ] a c t i o n . 
T h e r e f o r e , 
t h e o n l y 
i n j u r y AmSouth has i n c u r r e d i n r e g a r d t o t h e S t a t e 
a c t i o n 
... 
i s a r e q u i r e m e n t 
t h a t AmSouth 
p r o d u c e 
d o c u m e n t s , p r e p a r e f o r d e p o s i t i o n s , and p r e p a r e f o r 
a c l a s s - c e r t i f i c a t i o n 
h e a r i n g , 
w h i l e 
a l r e a d y 
d o i n g 
t h e s e 
same t h i n g s 
i n r e g a r d 
t o t h e a c t i o n i n t h e 
f e d e r a l 
d i s t r i c t 
c o u r t . 
T h i s 
i n j u r y 
s h o u l d 
be 
a d d r e s s e d 
n o t b y 
a b a t i n g 
[ t h e l a t e r 
f i l e d ] 
S t a t e 
a c t i o n , 
b u t b y 
p u t t i n g i t on 
a d m i n i s t r a t i v e 
h o l d 
u n t i l t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s D i s t r i c t C o u r t c e r t i f i e s , o r 
r e f u s e s 
t o 
c e r t i f y , 
t h e 
c l a s s 
i n t h e 
[ f e d e r a l ] 
10 
1081728 
a c t i o n , 
as 
t o 
t h e 
b r e a c h - o f - c o n t r a c t 
and 
f r a u d 
c l a i m s . " 
735 
So. 
2d 
a t 
1154 
( e m p h a s i s a d d e d ) . 
S i g n i f i c a n t l y , 
h o w e v e r , 
t h e AmSouth Bank C o u r t 
f u r t h e r 
s t a t e d : 
" I f a c l a s s 
i s c e r t i f i e d 
i n t h e 
[ f e d e r a l ] 
a c t i o n 
and 
t h a t 
c l a s s i n c l u d e s 
[ t h e named p l a i n t i f f 
i n t h e 
S t a t e 
a c t i o n ] 
and 
h i s c l a i m s , 
t h e n 
[ t h e ] 
S t a t e 
a c t i o n must be a b a t e d . " 
735 
So. 
2d 
a t 
1154 
( e m p h a s i s a d d e d ) . 
I n o t h e r w o r d s , t h e 
C o u r t 
r e c o g n i z e d 
t h a t , 
i f a 
c l a s s 
e n c o m p a s s i n g 
t h e 
a c t i o n 
i n 
t h e 
s t a t e 
c o u r t 
was 
e v e n t u a l l y 
c e r t i f i e d 
i n 
t h e 
f e d e r a l 
c o u r t , 
t h e n t h e 
a p p l i c a t i o n o f § 6-5-440 w o u l d r e q u i r e 
t h e 
d i s m i s s a l 
o f t h e 
a c t i o n b r o u g h t i n t h e 
s t a t e c o u r t . 
Thus, AmSouth Bank 
a c t u a l l y 
a i d s E s t e s and 
N e t t l e s . 
A 
y e a r 
a f t e r AmSouth Bank was 
d e c i d e d , 
t h i s 
C o u r t , 
i n 
U n i v e r s i t y 
o f 
S o u t h A l a b a m a , 
d i d 
o r d e r 
a 
s t a y 
i n 
a 
c a s e , 
p u r p o r t e d l y 
a p p l y i n g 
§ 6-5-440. 
T h a t c a s e i n v o l v e d a p e t i t i o n 
by 
p a r t i e s 
who 
were p o t e n t i a l 
c o u n t e r c l a i m 
d e f e n d a n t s 
i n 
an 
a c t i o n i n f e d e r a l c o u r t , 
s e e k i n g a w r i t o f mandamus d i r e c t i n g 
t h e 
t r i a l 
j u d g e 
i n 
a 
l a t e r 
f i l e d 
a c t i o n 
a g a i n s t 
them 
i n 
a 
s t a t e 
c o u r t 
e i t h e r 
(1) 
t o d i s m i s s 
o r 
(2) 
t o 
s t a y 
t h e 
a c t i o n 
i n 
t h e 
s t a t e 
c o u r t . 
788 
So. 
2d 
a t 
163. 
W i t h o u t 
c i t i n g 
any 
l e g a l 
a u t h o r i t y 
s u p p o r t i n g 
a 
s t a y , 
t h i s 
C o u r t 
c h o s e 
t h e 
11 
1081728 
" s e c o n d 
o p t i o n " 
as 
b e i n g 
"more 
a p p r o p r i a t e 
u n d e r 
t h e 
c i r c u m s t a n c e s . " 
788 So. 2d a t 165. 
U n i v e r s i t y 
o f S o u t h 
A l a b a m a 
i s i n c o n s i s t e n t 
w i t h t h e 
p l a i n 
l a n g u a g e 
o f 
§ 
6-5-440 
and 
t h e 
b o d y 
o f 
c a s e l a w 
i n t e r p r e t i n g 
i t , i n c l u d i n g C a n a l I n s u r a n c e . 
A c c o r d i n g t o t h e 
s t a t u t e , 
" t h e p e n d e n c y 
o f t h e f o r m e r 
[ a c t i o n ] 
i s a 
g o o d  
d e f e n s e t o t h e l a t t e r . " 
( E m p h a s i s added.) 
O t h e r w i s e 
s t a t e d , 
t h e 
r u l e 
s t a t e d 
i n § 6-5-440 
i s an 
a f f i r m a t i v e 
d e f e n s e . 
V e t e t o v. Yocum, 793 So. 2d 814, 815-16 ( A l a . C i v . App. 2 0 0 1 ) . 
" T h i s 
C o u r t 
h a s 
d e f i n e d 
an 
a f f i r m a t i v e 
d e f e n s e 
as ' " [ a ] 
d e f e n d a n t ' s 
a s s e r t i o n o f f a c t s and a r g u m e n t s t h a t , i f t r u e , 
w i l l 
d e f e a t 
t h e 
p l a i n t i f f ' s 
... 
c l a i m , 
e v e n 
i f a l l 
t h e 
a l l e g a t i o n s i n t h e c o m p l a i n t a r e t r u e . " ' " 
Ex p a r t e G a d s d e n  
C o u n t r y C l u b , 14 So. 3d 830, 833-34 ( A l a . 2009) ( q u o t i n g L l o y d  
N o l a n d F o u n d . , I n c . 
v . H e a l t h S o u t h , I n c . , 
979 So. 2d 784, 791 
( A l a . 
2 0 0 7 ) , q u o t i n g i n t u r n B l a c k ' s Law D i c t i o n a r y 451 ( 8 t h 
e d . 2 0 0 4 ) ) . 
Thus, t h e p e n d e n c y o f a f o r m e r a c t i o n a b a t e s , o r 
d e f e a t s , a s u b s e q u e n t l y 
f i l e d a c t i o n a g a i n s t t h e same 
p a r t y 
f o r t h e same c a u s e . 
See Ex p a r t e C a n a l I n s . , s u p r a ; Ex p a r t e  
B e n n e t t , s u p r a . 
A s t a y i s , t h e r e f o r e , n o t an o p t i o n t h a t c a n 
be e x e r c i s e d a t t h e d i s c r e t i o n o f t h e j u d i c i a r y . 
12 
1081728 
T h i s i s 
s o , b e c a u s e t h e p r i n c i p l e c o d i f i e d b y t h e s t a t u t e 
" i s f o u n d e d upon t h e p o l i c y o f d i s c o u r a g i n g a m u l t i p l i c i t y 
o f 
s u i t s -- o f p r o t e c t i n g t h e d e f e n d a n t f r o m o p p r e s s i o n , [and] 
f r o m t h e g r i e v a n c e o f d o u b l e v e x a t i o n f o r t h e same c a u s e o r 
t h i n g . " 
F o s t e r v. N a p i e r , 73 A l a . 595, 606 ( 1 8 8 3 ) . "[W]hen a 
d e f e n d a n t i s t w i c e i m p l e a d e d by t h e same p l a i n t i f f , f o r 
t h e 
same t h i n g , t h e o p p r e s s i o n and v e x a t i o n i s 
n o t m a t t e r o f f a c t ; 
i t 
i s a c o n c l u s i o n o f l a w , and i s n o t d e p e n d e n t upon an 
i n q u i r y 
i n t o t h e a c t u a l c i r c u m s t a n c e s 
o f t h e two c a s e s . " 
73 
A l a . 
a t 603. 
" [ T ] h e 
i n s t i t u t i o n 
o f t h e s e c o n d a c t i o n " i s , i n 
i t s e l f , 
an 
" o f f e n s e 
o r w r o n g , so t o s p e a k . " 
I n t e r s t a t e Chem. C o r p .  
v. 
Home Guano Co., 199 A l a . 583, 584, 75 So. 166, 166 (1917) 
( e m p h a s i s a d d e d ) . 
The " o f f e n s e o r w r o n g " 
t h a t t h e s t a t u t e 
s e e k s t o p r e v e n t 
c o n s i s t s i n t h e v e r y 
" e x i s t e n c e 
s 
i m u l e t  
s e m e l " o f t h e s e c o n d a c t i o n . 
F o s t e r , 73 A l a . 
a t 603. 
The 
w r o n g 
c o m m i t t e d 
"'was 
v e x a t i o u s 
a n d 
i
l
l ab 
i n i t i o . ' " I d . 
( e m p h a s i s 
a d d e d ) . 
The 
p l a i n t i f f 
m i g h t 
" a c c o m p l i s h 
[an] 
a t o n e m e n t " f o r 
t h e o f f e n s e "by d i s c o n t i n u i n g h i s f i r s t a c t i o n " 
b e f o r e 
t h e p l e a i n a b a t e m e n t i s f i l e d , 
b u t n o t 
a f t e r w a r d .
1 
1Where t h e p l a i n t i f f ' s 
f i r s t - f i l e d 
a c t i o n i s i n f e d e r a l 
c o u r t 
s e e k i n g 
r e l i e f 
on b o t h 
f e d e r a l c l a i m s 
and 
s t a t e - l a w 
c l a i m s b u t t h e f e d e r a l c o u r t h a s d e c l i n e d t o e x e r c i s e i t s 
13 
1081728 
I n t e r s t a t e Chem., 199 A l a . a t 585, 75 So. a t 166. However, a 
mere 
s t a y 
o f 
t h e 
s e c o n d 
a c t i o n 
a c c o m p l i s h e s 
no 
s u c h 
" a t o n e m e n t . " 
"The 
p l a i n t i f f 
i s , " a f t e r 
a l l , 
" t h e ' m a s t e r 
o f h i s 
c o m p l a i n t . ' " 
N o l a n d H e a l t h S e r v s . 
I n c . 
v. W r i g h t , 971 So. 2d 
681, 693 ( A l a . 
2 0 0 7 ) . 
" T h e r e c a n be no n e c e s s i t y f o r 
t h e 
i n s t i t u t i o n o r t h e p e n d e n c y o f two s u i t s f o r 
t h e same m a t t e r 
a t 
t h e same 
t i m e . 
The 
s e c u r i t y o f t h e p l a i n t i f f 
c a n n o t 
r e q u i r e 
i t . " 
F o s t e r , 73 A l a . a t 606 ( e m p h a s i s a d d e d ) . 
I f 
t h e 
f i r s t 
a c t i o n i s " d e f e c t i v e , i t 
i s 
t h e f a u l t o f t h e 
p l a i n t i f f , 
n o t o f t h e d e f e n d a n t . " 
I d . a t 605. 
I n d e e d , 
r e c o g n i z i n g a 
s t a y o f t h e s e c o n d a c t i o n as an a c c e p t a b l e o p t i o n , p e n d i n g t h e 
outcome o f t h e f i r s t , w o u l d n o t o n l y e n c o u r a g e f o r u m s h o p p i n g , 
b u t a l s o " ' w o u l d e n c o u r a g e and c u l t i v a t e a want o f due c a r e i n 
m a k i n g t h e f i r s t one e f f e c t u a l . ' " 
I d . a t 606 ( q u o t i n g Gamsby  
v. Ray, 52 N.H. 513 ( 1 8 7 2 ) ) . 
E v e n i f 
t h e l a t e r 
f i l e d 
a c t i o n 
i s 
s t a y e d , t h e d e f e n d a n t 
r e m a i n s 
o b l i g a t e d t o s t a n d b e f o r e 
b o t h c o u r t s p r e p a r e d t o d e f e n d a g a i n s t t h e same c a u s e . 
p e n d e n t 
j u r i s d i c t i o n 
o v e r t h e s t a t e - l a w c l a i m s , t h e p l a i n t i f f 
may t h e n p u r s u e t h e s t a t e - l a w c l a i m s i n s t a t e 
c o u r t w i t h o u t 
v i o l a t i n g § 6-5-440. 
T e r r e l l v . C i t y o f B e s s e m e r , 406 So. 2d 
337 
( A l a . 1 9 8 1 ) . 
However, t h e d i s m i s s a l o f an e a r l i e r 
f i l e d 
f e d e r a l a c t i o n does n o t r e n d e r § 6-5-440 i n a p p l i c a b l e 
d u r i n g 
t h e 
p e n d e n c y 
o f an 
a p p e a l . L.A. 
D r a p e r 
& Son, I n c . v .  
W h e e l a b r a t o r - F r y e , I n c . , 
454 So. 2d 506 ( A l a . 1 9 8 4 ) . 
14 
1081728 
Shawnee 
e s s e n t i a l l y c o n c e d e s 
t h a t 
i t had 
r e s e r v a t i o n s 
a b o u t t h e 
v i a b i l i t y 
o f i t s f e d e r a l a c t i o n and 
t h a t 
i t s o u g h t 
t o hedge i t s b e t by 
f i l i n g t h e s t a t e a c t i o n . 
Shawnee's 
b r i e f , 
a t 2. 
T h i s i s p r e c i s e l y t h e 
e v i l t h e s t a t u t e a i m s t o p r e v e n t . 
We 
h o l d , 
t h e r e f o r e , 
t h a t § 6-5-440 i s n o t 
s a t i s f i e d by 
a 
s t a y 
o f 
t h e 
l a t e r 
f i l e d c a s e i n 
l i e u 
o f 
d i s m i s s a l . 
B e c a u s e 
t h e 
s t a t u t e 
p r o v i d e s 
no 
s u c h 
d i s c r e t i o n a r y 
a u t h o r i t y , 
we 
r e g a r d 
U n i v e r s i t y o f 
S o u t h A l a b a m a 
as 
an 
a b e r r a t i o n 
i n 
t h e 
c a s e l a w 
c o n s t r u i n g 
and 
a p p l y i n g 
§ 
6-5-440. 
Thus, 
t o 
t h e 
e x t e n t 
t h a t 
i t p u r p o r t s 
t o 
a u t h o r i z e 
a 
s t a y 
i n 
l i e u 
o f 
a 
d i s m i s s a l , 
i t i s h e r e b y 
o v e r r u l e d . 
I I I . 
C o n c l u s i o n 
F o r 
t h e 
f o r e g o i n g 
r e a s o n s , 
we 
c o n c l u d e 
t h a t 
E s t e s 
and 
N e t t l e s h a v e d e m o n s t r a t e d a c l e a r , l e g a l r i g h t t o 
a w r i t 
o f 
mandamus d i r e c t i n g t h e Monroe C i r c u i t C o u r t 
(1) t o v a c a t e i t s 
J u l y 
27, 
2009, 
o r d e r , 
and 
(2) 
t o 
e n t e r 
an 
o r d e r 
d i s m i s s i n g 
t h i s 
a c t i o n 
w i t h o u t 
p r e j u d i c e , 
p u r s u a n t 
t o 
§ 6-5-440. 
We 
t h e r e f o r e 
g r a n t t h e 
p e t i t i o n 
and 
i s s u e t h e 
w r i t . 
P E T I T I O N GRANTED; WRIT ISSUED. 
Cobb, C . J . , 
and 
S t u a r t , 
S m i t h , 
B o l i n , P a r k e r , 
M u r d o c k , 
and Shaw, J J . , c o n c u r . 
L y o n s , J . , c o n c u r s 
s p e c i a l l y . 
15 
1081728 
LYONS, J u s t i c e ( c o n c u r r i n g 
s p e c i a l l y ) . 
The 
m a i n o p i n i o n 
o v e r r u l e s Ex p a r t e 
U n i v e r s i t y o f S o u t h  
A l a b a m a F o u n d a t i o n , 788 So. 2d 161 ( A l a . 2 0 0 0 ) , w i t h o u t 
h a v i n g 
b e e n 
a s k e d t o do so b y t h e p e t i t i o n e r s , J . E . E s t e s 
Wood 
Company, I n c . , 
a n d A.A. 
N e t t l e s , S r . P r o p e r t i e s , L t d . 
I 
a d h e r e 
t o t h e v i e w I e x p r e s s e d i n 
Ex p a r t e Hanna S t e e l C o r p . , 
905 So. 2d 805, 810 ( A l a . 2 0 0 4 ) ( L y o n s , J . , 
c o n c u r r i n g i n 
t h e 
r e s u l t ) 
( " W i t h o u t 
a 
s p e c i f i c 
r e q u e s t 
t o 
o v e r r u l e 
p r i o r 
p r e c e d e n t i n 
a s e t t i n g where no a r g u m e n t c a n be made t h a t t h e 
p r e c e d e n t h a s a l r e a d y b e e n o v e r r u l e d sub s i l e n t i o by p r e v i o u s 
d e c i s i o n s , a c o u r t 
t a k i n g s u c h a c t i o n s u a s p o n t e c u t s o f f 
an 
a d v e r s e p a r t y ' s 
r i g h t t o h a v e t h e c o u r t c o n s i d e r t h e i m p o r t a n t 
s u b o r d i n a t e 
q u e s t i o n - - a s s u m i n g 
t h e p r e c e d e n t 
was 
w r o n g l y 
d e c i d e d , w h e t h e r s t a r e d e c i s i s r e q u i r e s a d h e r e n c e t o i t . S e e , 
e.g., 
U n i t e d 
S t a t e s v . J o h n s o n , 481 U.S. 681, 7 0 3 , 107 
S . C t . 
2063, 95 L . E d . 2 d 648 (1987) 
( S c a l i a , J . , d i s s e n t i n g ) ('We h a v e 
n o t 
b e e n 
a s k e d b y r e s p o n d e n t t o o v e r r u l e 
F e r e s 
[ v . U n i t e d  
S t a t e s , 340 U.S. 135 ( 1 9 5 0 ) ] , a n d so n e e d n o t r e s o l v e w h e t h e r 
c o n s i d e r a t i o n s o f s t a r e d e c i s i s s h o u l d i n d u c e u s , d e s p i t e t h e 
p l a i n e r r o r o f t h e c a s e , t o l e a v e b a d e n o u g h a l o n e . ' ) . " ) . 
I n C l a r k v. W e l l s F a r g o B a n k , N.A., [Ms. 1 0 7 1 1 9 2 , May 15, 
2009] 
So. 3 d 
( A l a . 2 0 0 9 ) , r e l e a s e d b e f o r e t h e 
t r i a l 
16 
1081728 
c o u r t 
i s s u e d i t s s t a y i n t h i s 
c a s e on J u l y 27, 2009, 
t h i s 
C o u r t 
q u o t e d 
w i t h 
a p p r o v a l 
f r o m 
J o h n s o n 
v. 
B r o w n - S e r v i c e 
 
I n s u r a n c e Co., 293 A l a . 549, 552, 307 So. 2d 518, 520 
( 1 9 7 4 ) , 
i n w h i c h t h e J o h n s o n C o u r t q u o t e d w i t h a p p r o v a l t h e f o l l o w i n g 
s t a t e m e n t f r o m a b r i e f o f one o f t h e p a r t i e s : 
" ' I f 
a l a w y e r 
s t a r t s 
w i t h two 
c o m p l a i n t s 
i n 
h i s 
p o c k e t , e a c h b y t h e same p l a i n t i f f a g a i n s t t h e same 
d e f e n d a n t 
f o r t h e same 
c a u s e , 
a n d w a l k s 
t o t h e 
F e d e r a l C o u r t h o u s e 
f i r s t t o f i l e h i s s u i t , 
t h e n t o 
t h e 
S t a t e 
C o u r t h o u s e t o 
f i l e 
h i s s u i t 
t h e r e , t h e 
r u l e 
a p p l i e s . Upon t h e i s s u e 
b e i n g 
r a i s e d i n t h e 
S t a t e c o u r t , t h e s u i t m u s t be a b a t e d . ' " 
( E m p h a s i s added.) 
B e c a u s e t h e f o r e g o i n g s t a t e m e n t as t o t h e t r i a l 
c o u r t ' s 
a u t h o r i t y i n d e a l i n g w i t h a s e c o n d - f i l e d s t a t e - c o u r t a c t i o n 
c a n n o t be r e c o n c i l e d w i t h Ex p a r t e U n i v e r s i t y o f S o u t h A l a b a m a 
F o u n d a t i o n I c o n s i d e r i t 
t o h a v e b e e n s u b s i l e n t i o 
o v e r r u l e d 
b y t h e 
more r e c e n t d e c i s i o n i n C l a r k v. W e l l s F a r g o Bank, N.A. 
17