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Almaroad v. Giles

Supreme Court of Georgia
Apr 16, 1973
197 S.E.2d 706 (Ga. 1973)

Opinion

27764.

SUBMITTED MARCH 12, 1973.

DECIDED APRIL 16, 1973.

Injunction. Bibb Superior Court. Before Judge Bell.

Charles R. Adams, Jr., for appellants.

Robert E. Lanyon, Albert E. Jones, Lawrence C. Collins, for appellee.


1. "Since the adoption of the Civil Practice Act (Ga. L. 1966, p. 609; 1967, p. 226; Code Ann. Title 81A) a complaint need not set forth a cause of action in order to withstand a motion to dismiss but need only to set forth a claim for relief. Under that title, the complaint may no longer be construed most strongly against the pleader. `Furthermore, "a motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim should not be granted unless it appears to a certainty that the plaintiff would be entitled to no relief under any state of facts which could be proved in support of his claim. If, within the framework of the complaint, evidence may be introduced which will sustain a grant of relief to the plaintiff, the complaint is sufficient." 2A Moore, Federal Practice, 1706, § 8.13.' Mitchell v. Dickey, 226 Ga. 218, 220 ( 173 S.E.2d 695); Gill v. Myrick, 228 Ga. 253, 259 ( 185 S.E.2d 72); Johnson v. Wormsloe Foundation, 228 Ga. 772, 725 ( 187 S.E.2d 682)." Koehler v. Massell, 229 Ga. 359, 361 ( 191 S.E.2d 830). Applying the foregoing rules to the amended complaint in this case, it is apparent that the plaintiff seeks relief in a court of equity to restrain the further use by the defendant of what formerly was a way of necessity from the defendant's land across the plaintiff's land to a public road, on the ground that the necessity which dictated the original grant of the way no longer exists since defendant now has direct access from his property to the public road. Plaintiff, under the allegations of the complaint, if they be proved, is clearly entitled to this relief under the law. Code § 85-1402. Russell v. Napier, 82 Ga. 770, 774 ( 9 S.E. 746); Gaines v. Lunsford, 120 Ga. 370 ( 47 S.E. 967, 102 ASR 109).

2. The action in this case is not one respecting title to land. There is no question under the pleadings but that the plaintiff owns the land in question. The question presented is whether he owns the land subject to the servitude of defendant's easement for a way of access. The action is in equity to restrain further trespass by the defendant on the plaintiff's land and was properly brought in the county of the residence of the defendant against whom substantial equitable relief is sought, though the land involved lies in another county. Screven County v. Reddy, 208 Ga. 730 (1) ( 69 S.E.2d 186); Bond v. Ray, 207 Ga. 559, 561 ( 63 S.E.2d 399).

3. As we view this case, we are not called upon at this time to determine whether plaintiff has a claim for relief by way of declaratory judgment. See, however, Calvary Independent Baptist Church v. City of Rome, 208 Ga. 312 (3) ( 66 S.E.2d 726); and City of Atlanta v. East Point Amusement Co., 222 Ga. 774 (1) ( 152 S.E.2d 374).

4. The Superior Court of Bibb County erred in dismissing the complaint for failure to state a claim for relief and in holding that it lacked jurisdiction of the controversy because same involved title to land lying in Peach County.

Judgment reversed. All the Justices concur.


SUBMITTED MARCH 12, 1973 — DECIDED APRIL 16, 1973.


Summaries of

Almaroad v. Giles

Supreme Court of Georgia
Apr 16, 1973
197 S.E.2d 706 (Ga. 1973)
Case details for

Almaroad v. Giles

Case Details

Full title:ALMAROAD et al. v. GILES

Court:Supreme Court of Georgia

Date published: Apr 16, 1973

Citations

197 S.E.2d 706 (Ga. 1973)
197 S.E.2d 706

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