Court Opinion

ID: 9572434
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-21 20:41:37.512577+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:32:56.175389
License: Public Domain

Gregory, Justice,
dissenting.
I have reservations regarding the wisdom of permitting a plaintiff in a civil action to voluntarily dismiss his complaint at any time before verdict. However, that is precisely what the legislature has provided in OCGA § 9-11-41 (Code Ann. § 81A-141).
The legislature has provided exceptions to a plaintiffs right to dismiss any time before verdict. If a counterclaim has been pleaded by defendant prior to the service upon defendant of plaintiffs motion to dismiss there can be no dismissal against defendant’s objection, unless the counterclaim can remain pending for independent adjudication. OCGA § 9-11-41 (Code Ann. § 81A-141). If a receiver has been appointed, dismissal must be by order of the court. OCGA § 9-11-66 (Code Ann. § 81A-166). A class action may not be dismissed *461without approval of the court. OCGA § 9-11-23 (c) (Code Ann. § 81A-123).
The majority opinion creates a new exception to a plaintiff’s right to dismiss. The exception is to disallow voluntary dismissal where the trial court has announced its decision relative to temporary custody of children in a pending divorce action. This may very well be a needed exception, but I believe legislative action is required to create this new exception. The majority opinion holds that the trial court’s announcement is the equivalent of a “verdict” within the meaning of OCGA § 9-11-41 (Code Ann. § 81A-141). The word “verdict” relates to a final determination of the action in the trial court. OCGA § 9-11-41 (Code Ann. § 81A-141) dictates a time limit before which a plaintiff may voluntarily dismiss. That time limit is at the end of the case, at the time of the verdict. The majority has moved that time limit forward to the temporary order. A temporary order of custody is merely a provision for custody, “until the final judgment in the case.” OCGA § 19-6-14 (Code Ann. § 30-206). “Verdict” cannot be equated with a temporary custody order.
I am authorized to state that Presiding Justice Marshall and Justice Smith join in this dissent.