Fulton County v. Dillard Land Investments, LLC
322 Ga. App. 344
Ga. Ct. App.2013Background
- Fulton County filed a condemnation petition on Feb. 24, 2012 to acquire 12 acres from Dillard Land Investments for library expansion under OCGA § 22-2-100 et seq.
- A special master awarded just compensation of $5,187,500 on May 10, 2012; the trial court adopted the award on May 16, 2012.
- Fulton County voluntarily dismissed the petition on May 18, 2012.
- Dillard moved to vacate the voluntary dismissal; Fulton County moved to set aside the judgment.
- The trial court granted Dillard’s motion to set aside the dismissal and abrogated the judgment to allow nonvalue exceptions; Fulton County appealed.
Issues
| Issue | Plaintiff's Argument | Defendant's Argument | Held |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whether a condemnor may voluntarily dismiss after adopting the award but before payment. | Fulton County entitled to dismissal under OCGA § 22-1-12. | Gramm controlling; abandonment requires payment or finality constraints. | Yes; Fulton County could dismiss the condemnation petition. |
Key Cases Cited
- Gramm v. City of Stockbridge, 297 Ga. App. 165, 167 (676 SE2d 818) (2009) (Ga. App. 2009) (abandonment context; payment/registry critical to finality of award)
- Woodside v. City of Atlanta, 214 Ga. 75, 82 (3) (103 SE2d 108) (1958) (Ga. 1958) (assessors’ method distinguished; special master proceedings require adoption by court)
- Fowler v. City of Warm Springs, 238 Ga. App. 601, 602 (3) (519 SE2d 703) (1999) (Ga. App. 1999) (strict adherence to ten-day appeal period; no acquiescence/waiver)