Court Opinion

ID: 9596800
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-22 00:53:12.24212+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:39:10.354518
License: Public Domain

Fletcher, Presiding Justice,
concurring specially.
I agree that we should affirm the decision of the Court of Appeals. I write separately because I do not agree with the majority that diligence in perfecting service is measured only from the point when plaintiff becomes aware that the process server failed to effect service in accordance with OCGA § 9-11-4 (c). Rather, I agree with the Court of Appeals that diligence in service must be measured from the date of the filing of the complaint. The majority’s new rule relieves the plaintiff of the responsibility to initiate service promptly upon the filing of the complaint.
Regardless of which rule is applied, however, I agree that under the unique facts of this case, the trial court did not abuse its discretion in denying Georgia Farm Bureau’s motion to dismiss.
I am authorized to state that Justice Sears joins in this special *839concurrence.
Decided October 16, 1995
Reconsideration denied November 9, 1995.
Jones, Hilburn & Claxton, James V. Hilburn, for appellant.
W. McMillan Walker, George L. French, E. Herman Warnock, Sarah M. Tipton-Downie, for appellees.