Precision Planning, Inc. v. Wall

Court of Appeals of Georgia

Precision Planning, Inc. v. Wall

387 S.E.2d 610, 193 Ga. App. 331, 1989 Ga. App. LEXIS 1433

CourtCourt of Appeals of Georgia

DecidedOctober 31, 1989

DocketA89A1003, A89A1004

StatusPublished

Cited by20 cases

This text of 387 S.E.2d 610 (Precision Planning, Inc. v. Wall) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Georgia primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook

Precision Planning, Inc. v. Wall, 387 S.E.2d 610, 193 Ga. App. 331, 1989 Ga. App. LEXIS 1433 (Ga. Ct. App. 1989).

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Opinions

Deen, Presiding Judge.

The two appellees sued the appellant, Precision Planning, Inc., for professional malpractice as the project engineer of a construction project. The appellees filed their complaints on October 2, 1987, although the operative facts occurred in late 1985. In answering the complaints, the appellant raised the defense that the appellees had [332]*332not submitted the affidavit of an expert as required by OCGA § 9-11-9.1, which was effective July 1, 1987, and subsequently moved to dismiss the complaints on that basis. The appellees never attempted to amend their complaints to include an expert’s affidavit. The trial court denied the appellant’s motions, after finding that OCGA § 9-11-9.1 affected substantive rights and thus was to be applied prospectively only. This interlocutory appeal followed. Held:

“Generally statutes prescribe for the future and that is the construction to be given unless there is a clear contrary intention shown. [Cits.] On the other hand, where a statute governs only procedure of the courts, including the rules of evidence, it is to be given retroactive effect absent an expressed contrary intention. [Cits.] . . . Substantive law is that law which creates rights, duties, and obligations. Procedural law is that law which prescribes the methods of enforcement of rights, duties, and obligations. [Cit.]” Polito v. Holland, 258 Ga. 54, 55 (365 SE2d 273) (1988).

In the instant case, the OCGA § 9-11-9.1 requirement of submitting an expert’s affidavit along with the complaint did not affect the substantive right of action for professional malpractice; it alters neither the standard of care to be applied nor the measure of recovery. The statute merely prescribes a procedure for enforcing that right, evidently with the purpose of preventing frivolous or unsustainable actions. Accordingly, the trial court erred in applying the statute prospectively only, and in denying the appellant’s motions to dismiss. Compare Glaser v. Meck, 258 Ga. 468 (369 SE2d 912) (1988). See also St. Joseph’s Hosp. v. Nease, 259 Ga. 153 (377 SE2d 847) (1989).

Judgments reversed.

Birdsong and Benham, JJ., concur and also concur specially.

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Deen, Presiding Judge.

The two appellees sued the appellant, Precision Planning, Inc., for professional malpractice as the project engineer of a construction project. The appellees filed their complaints on October 2, 1987, although the operative facts occurred in late 1985. In answering the complaints, the appellant raised the defense that the appellees had [332]*332not submitted the affidavit of an expert as required by OCGA § 9-11-9.1, which was effective July 1, 1987, and subsequently moved to dismiss the complaints on that basis. The appellees never attempted to amend their complaints to include an expert’s affidavit. The trial court denied the appellant’s motions, after finding that OCGA § 9-11-9.1 affected substantive rights and thus was to be applied prospectively only. This interlocutory appeal followed. Held:

“Generally statutes prescribe for the future and that is the construction to be given unless there is a clear contrary intention shown. [Cits.] On the other hand, where a statute governs only procedure of the courts, including the rules of evidence, it is to be given retroactive effect absent an expressed contrary intention. [Cits.] . . . Substantive law is that law which creates rights, duties, and obligations. Procedural law is that law which prescribes the methods of enforcement of rights, duties, and obligations. [Cit.]” Polito v. Holland, 258 Ga. 54, 55 (365 SE2d 273) (1988).

In the instant case, the OCGA § 9-11-9.1 requirement of submitting an expert’s affidavit along with the complaint did not affect the substantive right of action for professional malpractice; it alters neither the standard of care to be applied nor the measure of recovery. The statute merely prescribes a procedure for enforcing that right, evidently with the purpose of preventing frivolous or unsustainable actions. Accordingly, the trial court erred in applying the statute prospectively only, and in denying the appellant’s motions to dismiss. Compare Glaser v. Meck, 258 Ga. 468 (369 SE2d 912) (1988). See also St. Joseph’s Hosp. v. Nease, 259 Ga. 153 (377 SE2d 847) (1989).

Judgments reversed.

Birdsong and Benham, JJ., concur and also concur specially.

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387 S.E.2d 610, 193 Ga. App. 331, 1989 Ga. App. LEXIS 1433, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/precision-planning-inc-v-wall-gactapp-1989.

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