Opinion ID: 1402384
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Affecting a Substantial Right

Text: The trial court's order did not affect the Defendant's right to venue in the county of its residence because any error in the order can be corrected on appeal following the trial. Immediate appeals under subsection (2) have been allowed in situations where the substantial right could not be vindicated on appeal after the case. See Creed v. Stokes, 285 S.C. 542, 331 S.E.2d 351 (1985). Generally, this subsection has only been used when the trial order affected the mode of trial because if those orders are not immediately appealed, no appellate review is available to correct any error. Id. Defendants argue that the fact that the order is appealable after the trial should not preclude immediate review of the order. Defendants rely on language from Link v. School District, 302 S.C. 1, 393 S.E.2d 176 (1990) which held where an order falls under both subsections, it does not have to be appealed immediately under subsection (2), but the party may wait until the conclusion of the action to appeal the issue under subsection (1). Defendants rely on language from a footnote in Link stating that some rulings controlled by § 14-3-330(2) must be immediately appealed, or the right to review will be lost. Defendants assert the use of the word some reveals this Court will allow other immediate appeals even if the right would not be lost if not immediately reviewed. Currently, this Court does not allow immediate appellate review of the denial of any Rule 12(b), SCRCP motion. [1] See Woodard v. Westvaco Corp., 319 S.C. 240, 460 S.E.2d 392 (1995) (ruling the denial of a Rule 12(b)(1), SCRCP motion was not immediately appealable); Mid-State Distribs., Inc. v. Century Importers, Inc., 310 S.C. 330, 426 S.E.2d 777 (1993) (ruling the denial of a Rule 12(b)(2), SCRCP motion was not immediately appealable); Moyd v. Johnson, 289 S.C. 482, 347 S.E.2d 97 (1986) (ruling the denial of a Rule 12(b)(6), SCRCP motion was not immediately appealable). Also, the denial of a Rule 12(c) motion is not immediately appealable. Rose v. Thrash, 291 S.C. 459, 354 S.E.2d 378 (1987). The basic policy behind denying immediate review of pretrial motions is avoidance of piecemeal litigation where the rights of the parties have not been substantially impacted. See Knowles v. Standard Sav. and Loan Ass'n, 274 S.C. 58, 261 S.E.2d 49 (1979) (ruling a denial of a pretrial class certification was not immediately appealable). Even though the venue decision will not be revisited by the trial court before the end of the case, we believe avoiding piecemeal litigation is the best policy to follow. The current case reveals why such appeals are disfavored. From the record on appeal, it is clear that General Motors' substantial and continuous contacts with Hampton County will sustain the trial court's decision. We even have had the issue presented by this case previously litigated in this Court. See Godley v. Uniroyal, Inc., 278 S.C. 571, 300 S.E.2d 78 (1983). [2] Already the progress of this case has been delayed several years over the issue of venue. Requiring a defendant to wait until after trial to appeal the issue of proper venue is the most appropriate course to take where any error in that decision will not prejudice the defendant anymore than other interlocutory orders which, if in error, would require a new trial. Since any trial court error concerning venue will be correctable upon appeal, the only damage a losing party will sustain is the expense of litigating in an improper county. Even though proper venue is a substantial right, we have previously found the avoidance of a trial is not a sufficient reason to justify immediate appellate review. See Shields v. Martin Marietta Corp., 303 S.C. 469, 402 S.E.2d 482 (1991). In this case, since any venue error will be correctable upon appeal after trial, we find the right of proper venue has not been affected such that the order would be immediately appealable.