Court Opinion

ID: 9588535
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-21 23:35:24.372483+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:00:59.434220
License: Public Domain

Carley, Judge,
concurring specially.
I concur in the decision of the majority to affirm the grant of summary judgment in favor of the appellee in the above-styled cases. I also agree with the result reached by the majority in Division 1 of the opinion to the effect that the law of the case rule did not prevent the subsequent grant of summary judgment after the earlier denial thereof. However, I believe that such result is mandated by the clear language of that portion of OCGA § 9-11-60 (h) which provides that “[t]he law of the case rule is abolished; but generally judgments and orders shall not be set aside or modified without just cause and, in setting aside or otherwise modifying judgments and orders, the court shall consider whether rights have vested thereunder and whether or not innocent parties would be injured thereby . . .” In this case, the first trial judge reserved a decision on the appellee’s motion to strike certain defenses set forth in appellant’s pleadings. The trial judge subsequently considering the case entered an order striking these defenses. After these defenses had been stricken, the second trial judge then granted summary judgment. Thus, I believe that the record adequately shows compliance of the trial court’s ruling with the criteria of OCGA § 9-11-60 (h).