Spafford v. Maseroni, 367 S.E.2d 102 (Ga. Ct. App. 1988). · Go Syfert
Spafford v. Maseroni, 367 S.E.2d 102 (Ga. Ct. App. 1988). Cases Citing This Book View Copy Cite
10 citation events (4 in the last 25 years) across 1 distinct court.
Strongest positive: OLD REPUBLIC SURETY COMPANY v. GLYNN COUNTY (gactapp, 2025-02-24)
Top citers, strongest first. 4 distinct citers.
cited Cited as authority (rule) OLD REPUBLIC SURETY COMPANY v. GLYNN COUNTY
Ga. Ct. App. · 2025 · confidence medium
Spafford v. Maseroni, 186 Ga. App. 290, 291 ( 367 SE2d 102 ) (1988) (physical precedent only).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Duffett v. E & W Properties, Inc.
Ga. Ct. App. · 1993 · signal: cf. · confidence medium
Bank &c. v. Osborne, 233 Ga. 602, 604 (1) ( 212 SE2d 785 ) with Fagala v. Morrison, 146 Ga. App. 377, 378 (2) ( 246 SE2d 408 ); cf. Spafford v. Maseroni, 186 Ga. App. 290, 291 ( 367 SE2d 102 ) (error to deny motion for partial judgment on *486 pleadings where pleadings affirmatively show that no claim in fact existed as to Counts 2 and 3 thereof). 2.
examined Cited "see" Mullen v. Nezhat (4×)
Ga. Ct. App. · 1996 · signal: see · confidence high
Modern Roofing &c. v. Owen, 174 Ga. App. 875, 876 ( 332 SE2d 14 ) (1985); Haskins v. Jones, 142 Ga. App. 153, 154 (3) ( 235 SE2d 630 ) (1977); Rushing v. Ellis, 124 Ga. App. 621, 623 (1) ( 184 SE2d 667 ) (1971); see Spafford v. Maseroni, 186 Ga. App. 290 ( 367 SE2d 102 ) (1988).
discussed Cited "see, e.g." Herndon v. Heard (2×)
Ga. Ct. App. · 2003 · signal: see also · confidence low
See Hathaway v. Bishop, 214 Ga. App. at 871 (2) (even after pretrial order entered, the omission of affirmative defense was “not controlling if evidence pertaining to the issue is introduced without objection, the opposing party is not unfairly surprised, and the issue is actually litigated”); see also Spafford v. Maseroni, 186 Ga. App. 290 ( 367 SE2d 102 ) (1988); compare Hansford v. Robinson, 255 Ga. 530 (1) ( 340 SE2d 614 ) (1986).
Spafford
v.
Maseroni
75719.
Court of Appeals of Georgia.
Mar 9, 1988.
367 S.E.2d 102
John V. Skinner, Jr., for appellant., Anthony Kirkland, for appellee.
McMurray, Sognier, Beasley.
Cited by 5 opinions  |  Published
McMurray, Presiding Judge.

On June 4, 1984, plaintiff Maseroni filed her complaint in three counts against defendant Spafford, her former husband. Count 1 sought a judgment for an arrearage of child support for the years 1979 through 1983 and for the first five months of 1984. Counts 2 and 3 sought to domesticate judgments against defendant in the Superior Court of New Jersey Chancery Division, Morris County, dated February 28,1978, and June 11,1979. However, the dates of the New Jersey judgments stated in plaintiffs complaint are not consistent with the dates shown by abstracts of judgment attached and incorporated by reference in the complaint. From the abstracts it appears the judgments were actually dated January 12, 1978, and March 28, 1979.

On March 31, 1986, plaintiff filed her motion for partial summary judgment as to Counts 2 and 3. Thereafter, on July 11, 1986, defendant amended his answer to add a defense that “Plaintiffs Complaint is barred by the Statute of Limitations under foreign judgments, OCGA § 9-3-20” and moved for “partial judgment on the pleadings.”

The superior court granted plaintiffs motion for partial summary judgment and denied defendant’s motion for partial judgment on the pleadings. In its order the superior court concluded that the failure to plead the statute of limitation at the first opportunity was not cured by the amendment to defendant’s answer. Defendant appeals from the grant of partial summary judgment in plaintiffs favor and the denial of his motion for partial judgment on the pleadings. Held:

[*291] Decided March 9, 1988. John V. Skinner, Jr., for appellant. Anthony Kirkland, for appellee.

OCGA § 9-11-8 (c) provides that: “In pleading to a preceding pleading, a party shall set forth affirmatively . . . statute of limitations . . However, “a properly amended answer is a ‘pleading to a preceding pleading’ within the meaning of [OCGA § 9-11-8].” Security Ins. Co. of Hartford v. Gill, 141 Ga. App. 324, 325 (233 SE2d 278). Thus, while the statute of limitation defense is waivable, it may be raised by amendment. Gaul v. Kennedy, 246 Ga. 290 (1), 291 (271 SE2d 196). As there was no pre-trial order entered in the case sub judice (a proposed pre-trial order signed by the parties’ counsel but not by the superior court does appear in the record) defendant was authorized to amend his answer during the pendency of plaintiff’s motion for partial summary judgment and the superior court was bound to consider defendant’s amended answer in ruling on plaintiff’s motion. Security Ins. Co. of Hartford v. Gill, 141 Ga. App. 324, supra; Haskins v. Jones, 142 Ga. App. 153 (235 SE2d 630); Alexander v. Boston &c. Ins. Co., 127 Ga. App. 783 (195 SE2d 277).

Thus, the superior court erred in ruling that defendant could not raise the statute of limitation by amendment of his answer under the circumstances of the case sub judice. As the statute of limitation (5 years after such judgments have been obtained) defense raised by defendant’s amended answer raises at least some genuine issues of material fact as to whether plaintiff is entitled to judgment on Counts 2 and 3, the superior court also erred in granting plaintiff’s motion for partial summary judgment. As the pleadings affirmatively show that no claim in fact exists, the denial of defendant’s motion for partial judgment on the pleadings as to Counts 2 and 3 was also error. Bergen v. Martindale-Hubbell, 176 Ga. App. 745, 746 (1) (337 SE2d 770).

Judgment reversed.

Sognier and Beasley, JJ., concur in the judgment only.