Mobile County v. Ashley Rich

Summary

The court affirmed the County's appeal, rejecting its constitutional challenges, upholding the refusal to permit a late counterclaim amendment under Rule 15(b), and sustaining the trial court's interpretation of the local funding acts on most issues. It reversed in Rich's cross-appeal insofar as the trial court refused to adjust the salary-funding schedules for raises granted to State or County employees, while affirming the rulings concerning investigation-unit salaries. The case was remanded for recalculation of the applicable salary-funding schedules. Justice Murdock concurred specially regarding the limited Rule 15(b) issue, and Chief Justice Moore concurred in part and dissented from the application of the 1982 Act's salary-adjustment provision.