Court Opinion

ID: 9597724
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-22 01:02:18.872237+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:25:46.120086
License: Public Domain

Hall, Justice,
dissenting.
I would affirm the ruling of the trial court. It appears clear to me that the trial court was following the rulings of this court in Thomas v. Jackson, 238 Ga. 90 (231 SE2d 50) (1976) and Clover Realty Co. v. Todd, 237 Ga. 821 (229 SE2d 649) (1976). These decisions hold that a person who seeks to intervene does not become a party until there is an order of the court. If there is no party, there is no "counterclaim pleaded by a defendant” under Code Ann. § 81A-141(a) so as to prevent the plaintiffs voluntary dismissal. "It is axiomatic that a court cannot rule upon the validity of an action against a defendant if that defendant is not a party to the case.” Clover Realty Co. v. J. L. Todd Auction Co., 240 Ga. 124, 125 (1977). None of these cases is discussed in the majority opinion.