Court Opinion

ID: 9865601
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-09-25 19:05:10.486878+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:40:33.072201
License: Public Domain

ON MOTION FOR REHEARING.
The plaintiff in error insists that the facts of this case take it out of the rule announced in the opinion. In the bill of exceptions it is stated that the plaintiff in error elects not to file an amendment within the time allowed therefor. It is contended that the statement as to this election accelerates the finality of the judgment and estops the plaintiff in error from later amending. In the cases cited, which have held that such a judgment as we have here cannot be excepted to before the date on which it was to become final by order of the trial judge, an effort was made to except to the final judgment before the final date set by the trial judge. Neither this court nor the Supreme Court has ever said that such an exception constituted an election or an estoppel. To our minds the import of the decisions is that the complaining party cannot by any action of his or hers accelerate the date of the finality of the judgment fixed by the trial judge. Therefore the statement that an election was made would make no difference. A party cannot alter the date of the final judgment nor “create” an estoppel in his or her own favor. Under the rulings of the courts, if a good amendment is offered after the effort to except and before the expiration of the time allowed therefor, the court would have to allow it, and if it is not good it would be an acquiescence in the ruling requiring an amendment. The complaining party has two choices: one to amend to meet the order, the other to await the date when the order becomes final and then except to the final judgment. If there is to be an extended time given to amend, there must be an exception pendente lite to the part of the order adjudging an amendment necessary. See Luke v. Ellis, 201 Ga. 482 (supra). Orders and judgments to take effect in the future have caused and will continue to cause confusion, but so long as they are rendered, parties in excepting to them must conform to the rules laid down by the Supreme Court. We know of no relief that can be granted by this court. Rehearing denied.