Court Opinion

ID: 9591632
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-22 00:06:09.637787+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:03:43.862085
License: Public Domain

Hill, Chief Justice,
dissenting.
I would not find this to be a “construction contract” within the meaning of the Georgia Arbitration Code for Construction Contracts, OCGA § 9-9-80 et seq. (Code Ann. § 7-301 et seq.). OCGA § 9-9-81(b) (Code Ann. § 7-302) provides in pertinent part as follows: “This part shall apply only to construction contracts, contracts of warranty on construction, and contracts involving the architectural or engineering design of any building or the design of alterations or additions thereto. . . .” Although the phrase “construction contracts” is not defined, it is clear to me that the General Assembly intended the arbitration code to apply to the building and erection of structures, not the burying of waste. I therefore dissent from Division 1 and the judgment of affirmance.
So that Division 3 of the majority opinion not be misinterpreted, it should be pointed out that the damages sought by the defendant (plaintiff-in-counterclaim) are for slander. Thus, Division 3 does not stand for the proposition that an ante litem notice is required in order to sue for and recover tort damages arising from a breach of contract. See City of Atlanta v. J. J. Black & Co., 110 Ga. App. 667 (1) (139 SE2d *123515) (1964). I therefore concur in Division 3 of the opinion.
I am authorized to state that Justice Smith joins in this dissent.