Opinion ID: 1646714
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: MacMillan.

Text: MacMillan was brought back into the lawsuit shortly before trial by substitution for fictitious defendant No. 3. Under the above-stated principles, it seems on first blush that MacMillan should also prevail on its statute of limitations defense, because no cause of action was stated against fictitious party No. 3. Here, however, because MacMillan was named as an original defendant before the substitution of Particle Board, a different analysis is warranted. We must ascertain, therefore, whether MacMillan was validly in the lawsuit on some basis other than through substitution as a fictitious party. MacMillan cites Eason v. Middleton, 398 So.2d 245 (Ala.1981), for this proposition: Once a defendant is identified, properly before the court, and thereafter dismissed, the plaintiff cannot take advantage of the fictitious party rule to bring the dismissed party back in after the statute of limitations has run, because the identity of the party is known at the inception of the suit. We agree; but, as the Eason court pointed out, its holding is premised upon the utilization of the fictitious party rule: Although it is not clear under which theory the plaintiff sought to add Wanda Middleton as a defendant, we assume that she was being added by the fictitious party provision of Rule 9(h), ARCP.... 398 So.2d at 247. Plaintiffs contend, however, that they are not relying on the fictitious party provision as regards MacMillan. Their argument is this: 1) MacMillan was properly and timely served originally; 2) the order of dismissal was not made final pursuant to ARCP 54(b); and, therefore, the action was not terminated as to MacMillan; and 3) the amended complaint, filed when MacMillan was added, related back to the time of the filing of the original complaints pursuant to ARCP 15(c), because the claim arose out of the conduct set forth in the original pleading. This Court in Eason did not address the situation where a nonfinal judgment was involved; nor did the Court address the effect of the first sentence of ARCP 15(c) on facts as here presented. Had the final judgment been entered and the lawsuit terminated as to MacMillan, then its argument would not concern the statute of limitations. Rather, its argument would be that it had a final judgment, the time for appeal had run, and the subsequent amendment was barred under the doctrine of res judicata. We find Plaintiffs' argument convincing, and hold the statute of limitations did not bar an action against MacMillan.