Court Opinion

ID: 9565326
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-21 19:19:17.72518+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:19:34.104481
License: Public Domain

Beasley, Judge,
dissenting.
Brown v. Assoc. Fin. &c. Corp., 255 Ga. 457 (339 SE2d 590) (1986), is the principal Supreme Court case dealing with a main action and a counterclaim. However, it does not concern a situation where there was a money recovery under either. It held that “an application is required when a party seeking a money judgment prevails, that is a judgment for some sum is obtained.” The court reasoned: “In our view the legislature intended to remove the right of direct appeal when a claimant prevails but a fact finder has determined that the damage suffered is not substantial.” Brown found that a petition for writ of possession which was granted was not an action and judgment for damages, and thus OCGA § 5-6-35 (a) (6) did not apply.
Although there was a counterclaim seeking a set-off or recovery of statutory penalties which was dismissed, the Supreme Court opinion did not include the dismissal of the counterclaim (a so-called “zero” judgment) as an independent basis for direct appeal. Instead, review of the dismissal of the counterclaim was permitted because it was brought up with the judgment on the writ of possession (OCGA § 5-6-34 (c)), which was appealable because that judgment did not involve recovery of damages.
Boatner v. Kandul, 180 Ga. App. 234 (348 SE2d 753) (1986) and Williams v. Charter Credit Co., 179 Ga. App. 721 (347 SE2d 635) (1986), should not be followed because each decision is predicated upon a concept not found in Brown, that a direct appeal may be *149based upon a zero verdict on a counterclaim even though there was a recovery of damages in the amount of less than $2,500 on the main complaint. If these cases were correct, then Brown would have held that the dismissal of Brown’s counterclaim was subject to direct appeal and need not have bottomed the holding on the writ of possession.
Decided June 1, 1987.
Margaret L. Argent, for appellant.
John B. Adams, for appellee.
Instead the focus in Brown simply is whether there was an action for damages or not. If not, then OCGA § 5-6-34 (a) (6) is inapplicable; if so, on the other hand, then apply the $.01 to $2,500 test.
In my view, Rich v. McDonald Car &c. Leasing, 180 Ga. App. 613 (349 SE2d 832) (1986), involves a different situation and should not be overruled. Instead, Boatner, supra, and Williams, supra, should be overruled as conflicting with Brown, supra. This appeal should have been by application and thus should be dismissed because appellant chose the wrong vehicle for review.