Appellee-condemnor owns a pipeline which extends across certain property of appellant-condemnee. Corrosion problems and related difficulties arose with regard to the pipeline, and appellee determined that a protective device was necessary. Pursuant to OCGA §
It is well settled that, when a condemnor institutes condemnation proceedings, all legal and equitable issues relating to the taking must be litigated in those proceedings, and the condemnee cannot bring a separate action to dispose of those matters.
Hendley v. Housing Auth. of Savannah,
In the case at bar, the alleged damage upon which appellant’s counterclaim is based was incurred as a result of corrosion and other problems relating to the pipeline
already existing
on appellant’s land. Such damages are not a consequence of the instant taking, but of a previous taking by appellee. Accordingly, the issues raised in appellant’s counterclaim are properly cognizable in an independent suit for damages, and may not be raised in the current condemnation proceedings. See
Fountain v. DeKalb County,
supra;
Simon v. Dept. of
Appellant contends that its claim for damages and injunctive relief is so “intertwined” with the current condemnation proceedings that it amounts to a compulsory counterclaim under OCGA § 9-11-13 (a), which appellant asserts is applicable to these special statutory proceedings by virtue of OCGA § 9-11-81. Appellant relies on
Ga. Power Co. v. Jones,
The trial court did not err in dismissing appellant’s counterclaim.
Judgment affirmed.
