O.C.G.A.

O.C.G.A. § 44-11-4 (2019)

Joint action against separate claimants; when prohibited

✓ O.C.G.A. — 2019 edition (Public.Resource.Org Release 73)

Code text and O.C.G.A. statutory annotations on this page reflect the 2019 Official Code of Georgia Annotated (Public.Resource.Org Release 73, 2019-08-21; public domain per Georgia v. Public.Resource.Org, 2020). The Syfert case-law annotations in Notes of Decisions, below, are current.

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When several persons claim several parcels of land under distinct titles and do not sustain to each other the relationship of landlord and tenant, a joint action of ejectment may not be maintained against them nor may a joint or several recovery be had in such action either for the premises or for mesne profits.

History

Orig. Code 1863, § 3272; Code 1868, § 3283; Code 1873, § 3359; Code 1882, § 3359; Civil Code 1895, § 5000; Civil Code 1910, § 5578; Code 1933, § 33-113. History of Section. This Code section is derived from the

decision in Wood v. Milly McGuire’s Children, 17 Ga. 303 (1855); Ivey v. Cowart, 124 Ga. 159, 52 S.E. 436, 110 Am. St. R. 160 (1905).

Annotations

JUDICIAL DECISIONS Noncompliance with Code section subject to motion to dismiss. - The point that O.C.G.A. § 44-11-4 has not been complied with may be raised by demurrer (now motion to dismiss) if the fact appears on the face of the proceedings. Lewis v. Adams, 61 Ga. 559, 1878 Ga. LEXIS 182 (1878). Nonsuit. - A defendant may move for nonsuit if O.C.G.A. § 44-11-4 has not been complied with, and such irregularity first appears from the evidence. Doe v. Roe, 26 Ga. 238, 1858 Ga. LEXIS 294 (1858); Ivey v. Cowart, 124 Ga. 159, 52 S.E. 436, 1905 Ga. LEXIS 682 (1905); Bradley v. Chattanooga Iron & Coal Co., 144 Ga. 478, 87 S.E. 465, 1915 Ga. LEXIS 644 (1915).

Plaintiff may merely drop suit against improper parties. - In the event defendant moves for a nonsuit, the plaintiff may dismiss the suit as regards the improper parties. Doe v. Roe, 26 Ga. 238, 1858 Ga. LEXIS 294 (1858); Ivey v. Cowart, 124 Ga. 159, 52 S.E. 436, 1905 Ga. LEXIS 682 (1905); Bradley v. Chattanooga Iron & Coal Co., 144 Ga. 478, 87 S.E. 465, 1915 Ga. LEXIS 644 (1915). Equity may grant relief where the interests of the parties are complicated. Smith v. King, 50 Ga. 192, 1873 Ga. LEXIS 238 (1873).

RESEARCH REFERENCES C.J.S. 28A C.J.S., Ejectment, § 1 et seq. ALR. Avoidance of multiplicity of suits as ground for jurisdiction in equity of a suit

by one out of possession to quiet title against persons in possession of different portions of the land in severalty, 30 A.L.R. 109.