Court Opinion

ID: 9581407
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-21 22:14:35.543667+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:36:55.381728
License: Public Domain

Ness, Chief Justice
(dissenting):
While I concur in the majority opinion’s analysis of the law, that opinion overlooks several crucial facts in this case which dictate a different result. Therefore, I dissent.
Under Rule 36(a), SCRCP,1 all matters contained in a *270Request for Admission are admitted unless the party serves answers or objects within a certain time. It is undisputed that buyer never responded to Seller’s second Request for Admissions served on February 28, 1985. By its failure to act, Buyer admitted: (1) that it “accepted the equipment and goods supplied by [Seller] as reflected in the invoices..(2) the genuineness of and its acceptance of the invoices and ledger sheets; and (3) that it resold these goods to a third party. These facts are conclusively admitted for the purposes of this litigation since Buyer made no motion to withdraw or amend them. Rule 36(b), SCRCP.
Buyer purchased goods with a total value of $74,660.99 on this account and paid $61,281.80. The outstanding balance due according to Seller’s invoices and ledger sheets, which Buyer admitted are genuine, was $13,379.19.
There is no question that the parties had a contract or that Buyer owes Seller money.2 Buyer’s attempt to contest the amount of money owed under that contract comes too late. It is conclusively bound by its admission of the genuineness of the invoices and ledger sheets which show a balance due of $13,379.19. Rule 36(b), SCRCP.
I would therefore affirm the grant of summary judgment to Seller in the amount of $13,379.19.1 would also reduce the pre-judgment interest rate from 14% to 8.75%. S. C. Code Ann. Section 34-31-20(A) (Supp. 1985).

 See also former Rule 89, Rules of Practice for the Circuit Courts. While this action was commenced prior to the effective date of the SCRCP, it was still pending on that date and therefore the SCRCP is applicable. Rule 86, SCRCP.

 In fact, Buyer admits owing Seller $4,957.27.