Court Opinion

ID: 9695223
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-25 18:12:56.29474+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:20:10.196781
License: Public Domain

HEFLIN, Chief Justice
(concurring specially) :
I concur in the result reached by the majority in this case, but for a different reason.
There was substantial evidence adduced by the respondent-appellant County that the property in question was acquired by the County on behalf of the State of Alabama, and that the County was merely acting as an agent of the State for such acquisition. The State undisputedly bore the cost of the acquisition. Thus it is clear that the State had an interest in the property, either full ownership under the law of agency or at least equitable title since the State supplied the purchase money. This court has often stated that in a court of equity all persons having a material interest, legal or equitable, in the subject matter of a suit must be made parties, either as plaintiffs or defendants. E. g., Hawkins v. Snellings, 255 Ala. 659, 53 So. 2d 552 (1951). The holders of both legal or equitable interests are necessary parties. Walker County v. White, 248 Ala. 53, 26 So.2d 253 (1946). Thus the State was unquestionably a necessary party to this action.
This court has recently reiterated its position that the absence of necessary or indispensable parties is jurisdictional and that such absence necessitated the dismissal of the cause without prejudice or a reversal with directions to allow the cause to stand over for amendment, and furthermore, that it is the duty of the court ex mero motu to notice the absence of a necessary or indispensable party even on appeal where the issue is not raised by either party. Morris v. Owens, 292 Ala. 159, 290 So.2d 646 (1974) and cases cited therein.
Thus I would reverse this case with directions to allow the cause to stand over for amendment.