399 S.E.2d 493 | Ga. Ct. App. | 1990
Appellant and appellee were involved in an automobile accident on July 15, 1987. On April 4, 1989, appellant filed an action against appellee for negligence in the Superior Court of Bibb County, the
“If an action is filed within the period, of limitation, but not served upon the defendant within five days or within the limitation period, plaintiff must establish that service was made in a reasonable and diligent manner in an attempt to insure that proper service is made as quickly as possible. If reasonable and diligent efforts are not made to insure proper service as quickly as possible, plaintiff is guilty of laches, and in such case, service will not relate back to the time of the filing of the complaint for the purpose of tolling the statute of limitation. [Cits.]” Bowman v. U. S. Life Ins. Co., 167 Ga. App. 673 (3) (307 SE2d 134) (1983). “ ‘The determination of whether the plaintiff was guilty of laches in failing to exercise due diligence in perfecting service after the running of the statute of limitations is a matter within the trial court’s discretion and will not be disturbed on appeal absent abuse.’ [Cit.]” Ingram v. Grose, 180 Ga. App. 647 (350 SE2d 289) (1986).
Our review of the record shows no abuse of discretion. Appellant knew as early as May 5, 1989, over two months before the expiration of the statute of limitation, the address where appellee resided in Houston County yet appellant took no action to have appellee properly served. It further appears that even after appellee raised in her motion for summary judgment that the action was barred by the statute of limitation, appellant took no action until the case was transferred. Inasmuch as there is no evidence in the record showing that
Judgment affirmed.