Court Opinion

ID: 9576298
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-21 21:23:00.923292+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:05:03.755706
License: Public Domain

Ness, Chief Justice,
(dissenting):
I respectfully dissent. At the second trial, appellant Enoree Baptist Church attempted to proceed on an amended complaint. When respondents objected, the Church argued the amended complaint was proper because it had been served prior to the second trial. The church did not object to the exclusion of the amended complaint on the grounds that one circuit judge does not have the authority to overrule another circuit judge. An appellant may not argue a different ground for reversal on appeal than he argued in his objection at trial. Rosamond Enterprises, Inc. v. McGranahan, 278 S. C. 512, 299 S. E. (2d) 337 (1983). Reversal on a ground not raised at trial is improper. It is hot the function of an appellate court to supply a ground for reversal. Shayne of Miami, Inc. v. Greybow, Inc., 232 S. C. 161, 101 S. E. (2d) 486 (1957).
Moreover, a mistrial leaves the parties in the position they were prior to trial, with no binding adjudications having occurred. Keels v. Powell, et al., 213 S. C. 570, 50 S. E. (2d) *605704 (1948); Floyd v. Page, 124 S. C. 400, 117 S. E. 409 (1923). A mistrial is the equivalent of no trial, and the status of the parties and the litigation became the same as if no trial had taken place. Grooms v. Zander, 246 S. C. 512, 144 S. E. (2d) 909 (1965).
The record reflects the motion to amend was made at the commencement of the first trial. The granting of a mistrial therefore rendered the ruling a nullity. In the second trial, the judge properly proceeded as if no prior rulings had been made.
I would affirm.