Court Opinion

ID: 9592756
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-22 00:16:53.565473+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:01:17.749606
License: Public Domain

Gregory, Chief Justice,
dissenting:
I respectfully dissent.
According to the majority’s recitation of the facts in this case, petitioner requested a voluntary nonsuit because “the parties learned a continuance would not be made available to [petitioner].” The only fact contained in the record, however, is that no motion for continuance was made.
At the time the voluntary nonsuit was entered, the statute of limitations had already run. In consenting to a voluntary nonsuit without prejudice, respondent merely agreed to “leave the situation as though no suit had been brought.” Gulledge v. Young, 242 S.C. 287, 290, 130 S.E. (2d) 695, 696 (1963); see also Small v. Mungo, 254 S.C. 438, 175 S.E. (2d) 802 (1970). Had no suit been brought, the statute of limitations would obviously be a viable defense. I find no waiver of the affirmative defense based on this consent.
The result of the majority’s decision is to place on respondent, rather than petitioner, the burden of protecting petitioner’s suit from a procedural bar. Under the majority’s view, respondent has waived an affirmative defense by merely agreeing to accommodate petitioner. Since petitioner did not raise the statute of limitations as a ground for continuance, I conclude she failed to protect her rights. It is she who should bear the consequences of this oversight, not respondent. I would affirm.