Supreme Court of Georgia, 1945

Heath v. Parker

Heath v. Parker
Supreme Court of Georgia · Decided May 9, 1945 · Jenkins
33 S.E.2d 904; 199 Ga. 241; 1945 Ga. LEXIS 299 (South Eastern Reporter, Second Series)

Heath v. Parker

Opinion of the Court

Jenkins, Presiding Justice.

Under the fictitious form of ejectment, an amendment is permissible laying a new demise, thereby bringing in a new cause of action and new parties. Jones v. Johnson, 81 Ga. 293 (6 S. E. 181); Roberts v. Tift, 136 Ga. 901 (72 S. E. 234); Deas v. Sammons, 126 Ga. 431 (55 S. E. 170, 7 Ann. Cas. 1124); Pollard v. Tait, 38 Ga. 439 (5), 443; Pierce v. Tidd (sub nom. Roe v. Doe), 30 Ga. 873; Jones v. Tarver, 19 Ga. 279 (6), 285; Neal v, Robertson, 18 Ga. 399; Powell on Actions for Land, § 117. Such an amendment, however, does not relate back to the time of filing the original suit, but the cause of action therein alleged is commenced when that cause of action is introduced into *242 the declaration. Burbage v. Fitzgerald, 98 Ga. 582 (2, 3) (25 S. E. 554); Bentley v. Crummey, 119 Ga. 911 (47 S. E. 209); Willingham v. Long, 47 Ga. 540 (2).

Where one of the joint lessors, in whom a demise is laid in an action in the common-law form of ejectment, dies pending the action, the demise is amendable by substituting his sole heirs at law as parties, where it is shown that there is no administration on his estate. Towns v. Mathews, 91 Ga. 546 (1, 2) (17 S. E. 955); McElhaney v. Crawford, 96 Ga. 174, 177 (22 S. E. 895); Code, § 3-401; Powell on Actions for Land, §§ 114, 116, 117.

Judgment reversed.

All the Justices concur.

Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.