THI RD DI VI SI ON

ELLI NGTON, P. J.

, BETHEL, J.

, and SENI OR A PPELLA T E JUDGE PHI PPS

N O T IC E : M otions for r e c ons i de r a tion m us t be

ph y sic a l ly r e ce iv ed i n our c le r k ’s offic e w ithin te n

da y s of the da te of de c is ion to be de e m ed tim e ly file d.

http://w w w .ga a ppe a l s .us /r ule s

M ay 24, 2018



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 8 A0 65 6 . ROUNSAVILLE v . STATE OF GEORGIA.

E LLI N G T O N , Pres i d i n g J ud g e.

P u r s u a n t t o a g ran t ed ap p l i cat i o n fo r an i n terl o cu t o ry ap p eal

, Ran d al l Sco t t

Ro u n s av i l l e co n t en d s t h at t h e Su p eri o r Co u rt of Cat o o s a Co u nt y erred i n den y i n g h i s

m o ti o n to d is m i s s t h e St at e’ s co m p l ai n t fo r fo rfei t u re an d in g ran t in g t he S t at e’ s

m o ti o n fo r a co n t i n u an ce b ecau s e t h e St at e fai l ed t o s at i s fy th e s t at u t o ry m an d at es fo r

s ch ed u l i n g fo rfei t u re t ri al s

. F o r t h e fo l l o wi n g reas o n s

, we ag ree an d rev ers e t h e

s u p eri o r co u rt ’ s o rd er.

Becau s e t h is ap p eal p res en t s a q u es t i o n of l aw b as ed o n u n d i s p u t ed fact s

, o u r

rev i ew i s d e n ov o. 1 Th e reco rd s h o ws t h at

, o n M arch 2

, 2 0 1 7

, th e St at e b ro u g h t an in

1 See Bu ch a n an v. S ta t e o f Geo r g ia

, 3 1 9 G a

. A p p

. 52 5

, 52 6 -5 2 7 (7 3 7 SE2 d 3 2 1 )

(2 0 1 3 ) (“ [W ] h en t h e ev i d en ce i s u n co n t ro v ert ed an d no q u es ti o n reg ard i n g t h e cred i b i l i t y

o f wi t n e s s e s w as p res en t ed bel o w, we co nd u ct a d e no v o rev i ew o f th e t ri al co u rt ’ s

ap p l i cat i o n o f l aw to t h e u nd i s p u t ed fact s,

. . . o we n o d eferen ce t o th e t ri al co u rt ’ sp ers o n am cri m i n a l fo rfei t u re act i o n in Cat o o s a Co u nt y Su p eri o r Co urt ag ai n s t

Ro u n s av i l l e an d a co -d efen d an t

, s eek i n g t o fo rfei t ap p ro x i m at el y $ 1 0 0 ,0 0 0 i n cas h,

s i x fi rearm s, an d o t h er p ers on al t y t h at were s ei zed d u ri n g a s earch o f Ro u n s av i l l e’ s

res i den ce. 2 Th e St at e al l eg es t h at t h e au th o ri t i es al s o fo u n d n i n e p o un d s o f su s p ect ed

m et h am p h et am i ne at t h e res i d en ce an d t h at th e p ro p ert y s o u g h t t o b e fo rfei t ed was

l o cat ed n ear, an d was u sed t o f a c i l i t at e th e d i st ri b u t i o n o f, t h e m et h am p het am i ne.

Ro u n s av i l l e an d h i s co -d efen d an t were arres t ed an d ch arg e d wi t h traffi ck i n g in

m et h am p h et am i ne.

OCGA § 9 -1 6 -1 3 s et s fo rt h t h e p ro ced u re fo r i n p ers o n am cri m i n al fo rfei t u res

i n Geo rg i a. A m o n g o t h er t h in gs

, t h e s t at u t e p r o v i d es t h at

, i f th e d efen d an t fi l es an

an s wer wi t hi n 3 0 d ay s aft er b ei n g s erv ed wi t h t h e co m p l ai n t

, t h en “ a b en ch tri al s h al l

b e h e l d w i t h i n 6 0 d ay s aft er t h e l as t cl ai m an t was s erv ed w i t h t h e co m p l ai n t ;

p r o v i d ed

, h o wev er, t h at s u ch t ri al m ay b e co n ti n u ed b y t h e co u rt fo r g o od cau s e

s h o wn .” OCGA § 9 -1 6 -1 3 (f). Ro u n s av i ll e co n t en d s , i n t er al i a, t h at t he St at e fai l ed

co n cl u s i o ns o f l aw[, an d]

. . . we are free to ap p l y an ew t h e l eg al p ri n ci p les t o t h e fact s .”)

(ci tat i o n s an d p u n ct uat i o n o m i t t ed ).

2 Th e s u i t was o ri g i n al l y b ro u g h t as a pet i t i o n fo r ad m i ni s t rat i v e fo rfei t u re, b u t t h e

St at e l at er am en d ed i t t o i n d i cat e t hat i t s o u g h t in p ers o n am fo rfei t u re u n d er OCGA § 9 -1 6

-

1 3

.

2t o m eet t he s t at u t o ry 6 0-d ay d ead l i n e fo r co n d uct i n g a ben ch t ri al an d t h at t he co u rt

,

t h erefo re, erred i n d en y i ng h is m o t i o n t o d i s m i s s

.

Befo re t u rn i n g t o t h e ch ro n o l o g y o f ev en t s, we n ot e t wo fact o rs rel ev an t t o t h i s

cas e. Fi rs t

, t he s u p eri or co u rt i s l o cat ed i n t h e Lo o ko u t Mo u n t ai n J ud i ci al Ci rcu i t

, in

w h i ch fo u r ju d g es co v er fo u r co u n t i es

, i n cl u di ng Cat oo s a. Seco n d, d ue t o co n fl i ct s

o f i n t eres t wi t h d efen s e co u n s el ’ s l aw fi rm

, o n l y o n e o f t h os e ju d g e s

– J ud g e Dan

Th o m p s o n

– co ul d h ear cas es i n w h i ch Ro u n s av i l l e’ s l awy er ap p eared as co u n s el

.

J u d g e T h o m

p s o n s p en ds o n l y a few d ay s each m o n t h i n Cat o os a Co u nt y o n b en ch

t ri al cal e n d ars

, as i s ev id en ced b y em ai l co rres p on d en ce b et ween h i s o ffi ce an d

co u ns el

.

Ag ai n s t t hi s back g r o u n d

, t h e fo l l o wi n g o ccu rred

. Becau s e t h e St at e fi l ed i t s

p et i t i o n o n March 9

, 2 0 1 7

, t h e 6 0 -d ay peri o d d u ri n g w h i ch a b en ch t ri al o n t h e

p et i t i o n co u l d b e h eard w o u l d e x p i re o n M ay 9

. On M arch 3 0, d efen s e co u n s el

em ai l ed t h e p ro s ecu to r as k i n g t h at t he t ri al d at e n o t b e s ch ed u l ed fo r Ap ri l 2 4 (o n e

o f J u d g e Th o m

p s o n’ s few b en ch cal en d ar d ay s), as co u n s el had p l an n ed t o be o ut o f

t o wn

. Th e p ro s ecu to r n o t i c e d t h e t r i a l fo r Ap ri l 24

, g i ven t h at h e h ad h i s o wn

o b l i g at i o ns

, bu t a g r e e d t o s p eak t o t h e ju d g e ab o u t a co n t i n u an ce. O n Ap ri l 2 0

, t h e

t ri al ju dg e hel d a co nferen ce cal l wi t h d efen s e co u n s el an d t h e p ro s ecu t o r. Th e ju d g e

3o ral l y ag reed t o co n t i n ue t h e Ap ri l 2 4 t ri al i n l i g h t o f d efen s e co u ns el ’ s co nfl i ct an d

as k ed d efen s e co u n s el to p rep are an o rd er t o t h at effect ; ho wev er, t he p art i es reach ed

n o ag reem en t co n cern i n g an al tern at e t ri al d at e an d t h e co urt s ch ed u led n o n e.

On Ap ri l 2 3, d efen s e co u n s el em ai l ed a pro p o s ed co n ti n u a n c e o r d er t o t h e

p ro s ecu to r wi t h t h e un ders t an d i n g t h at t h e p ro s ecu t o r w o u l d p res en t i t to t h e ju d g e

i n co u rt t h e fo l l o wi n g d ay

. Th e o rd er co n t ai n ed a b l an k s p ace fo r t h e d at e o f t h e

res ch ed u l ed fo rfei t u re t ri al

. Th e p ro s ecu t o r, h owev er, d i d n ot p res en t t h e o rd er t o t h e

ju d g e o n Ap ri l 2 4. Rat h er, t he p ro s ecu t o r em ai l ed t h e p ro p o s ed co n t i nu an ce o rd er to

t h e ju dg e .

On J u n e 1

, t h e p ro s ecu to r co n t act ed t h e ju dg e’ s as s i s t an t

, as k i ng wh en t h e

ju d g e wo u l d nex t b e i n Cat o o s a Co u n t y fo r b en ch t ri al d ay s

. Th e as si s t an t res p o n d ed

t h at t h e ju d g e wo u l d b e av ai l ab l e on J u n e 2 1 an d J u ly 5

. Th e r e a ft er, t h e p ro s ecu t o r

em ai l ed d efen se co u n s el as k i ng i f h e wo u ld b e av ai l ab l e o n J u l y 5. Defen s e co u n s el

rep l i ed i n t h e affi rm at iv e, b u t t h e p ro s e cu t o r d i d n o t s ch ed u l e th e t ri al fo r t h at d ay

.

In s t ead

, o n J u n e 5

, th e ju d g e s i g n ed d efen s e co u n s el ’ s p ro p os ed co n t i n u an ce o rd er.

In t he b l an k sp ace co u n s el l eft o p en fo r t h e t r i a l d at e, ei th er t h e ju d g e o r t h e

p ro s ecu to r wro t e “ 1 0/ 1 1 / 1 7

. ” Aft er t he wri t t en co n t in u an ce o rd er was fi n al l y en t ered

o n J ul y 1 7

, t h e p ro s ecu t o r em ai l ed d efen s e co u ns el an d to l d h i m t h at t h e Oct o b er 1 1

4d at e w as t h e nex t ti m e J u d g e Th o m p s o n wo u l d be i n Cat o o s a Co u nt y fo r a n o n -ju ry

d ay

.

On J u ly 2 5

, d efen s e co u n s el em ai led th e pro s ecu t or, o b ject i n g to t h e m an n er

i n wh i ch t he o rd er was en t ered

, si n ce i t d id n o t refl ect t h ei r ag reem en t

. Defen s e

co u ns el m o v ed to v acat e t h e co n ti n u an ce o r d e r

, p res en t i n g em ai l ev i d en ce

d em o n s t rat i n g t h at h e had n o t ag reed t o an Oct o b er t ri al d at e. On J u l y 21

, t h e ju d g e

o ral l y v acat ed t h e co n t in u an ce o rd er; h o wev er, h e d i d n o t en t er t h e w ri t t en o rd er u n t i l

Au g u s t 1

. On J ul y 3 1

, t h e c o u rt en t ered a rev i s ed ord er g ran t i n g Ro u n s av i l l e’ s

p rev i o u s req u es t fo r a co n ti n u an ce d u e t o d efen se co u n s el ’ s s ch ed ul i n g co n fl i c t s

,

n u n c p ro t u n c t o Ap ri l 2 4, b u t t h e o rd er d i d n o t s et a t ri al d at e.

On J u l y 2 8

, t he St at e m ov ed fo r a co n t in u an ce fo r g o o d cau s e, arg u in g

, am o n g

o t h er t h i n g s

, t h at i t h ad n o t recei v ed t h e res u l t s o f d ru g t e s t i n g o n t h e su s p ect ed

m et h am p h et am i ne s ei zed fro m Ro un s av i l l e’ s res i den ce. On Au g u st 1

, Ro u n s av i l l e

m o ved t o d i s m i s s th e fo rfei t u re co m p l ai n t fo r, am on g o th er t hi n g s

, t he St at e’ s fai l u re

t o m eet t h e s t at u t o ry 6 0 -d ay d ead l i n e fo r co nd u ct in g a b en ch tri al

. A ft er an Au g u s t

2 h eari n g o n t h es e m o t i o n s, t he co u rt en t ered an o rd er d en y i n g Ro u n s av i ll e’ s m o t i o n

t o d i sm i s s an d g ran t in g t h e St at e’ s m o t io n fo r a co n t i n u an ce. Th e ju d g e fo u n d t h at

co u ns el fo r b o t h p art i es h ad been “ act i ve i n res ch ed u li n g ” t h e t ri al an d “ en g ag ed i n

5t ry i n g t o fi n d a m u t u al t i m e t o res ch ed u l e t h e cas e,” b ut t hat bu s y s ch e d u l e s h ad

p recl u d ed a co n s en s u s

. Th e ju d g e fu rt h er fo u n d t h at t h ere was g o o d cau s e t o co n t i n u e

t h e t ri al fro m t h e o ri g i n al Ap ri l 2 4 d at e d u e t o d efen s e co u n s el ’ s s ch ed u l i n g co n fl i ct

,

an d “ [g ] o o d cau s e co n ti n u es to ex i s t d u e t o t hi s Co u rt ’ s b u s y d o ck et an d t h e fact t h at

t h e al l eg ed co nt ro l l ed s u b s t an ces i n q u es t io n h av e n o t b een t es t ed b y a Fed eral cri m e

l ab .” Fi n al l y

, t he ju dg e fo un d t h at Ro un s av i l l e had “ wai v ed t h e [s tat u t o ry ] t i m el i n es

i n q u es t i o n o r acq ui es ced t o wai v i ng t h e t i m el i n es

. ”

As n o t ed ab o ve, OCGA § 9 -1 6-1 3 (f) req u i res t hat a fo rfei t u re t ri al “ s h al l ” b e

h el d wi th i n 6 0 d ay s o f t h e d at e t h e d efen dan t is s erv ed wi t h t h e co m p lai n t, wh i ch

, in

t h i s cas e, was M ay

9 , 2 0 1 7 . Th i s 6 0 -d ay req u i rem en t i s m an d at ory

, n ot perm i s s i ve,

b ecau s e th e p urp os e o f t he s t at u t e i s to “ en s u re a sp eed y r e s o l u ti o n of co n t es t ed

fo rfei t u re cas es i n t he co u rt s

, as wel l as a sp eed y res o l u t i o n o f p ro p ert y ri g h ts .” S t a t e

v. Hen d er s on

, 2 6 3 Ga. 50 8

, 5 1 1 (4 3 6 SE2 d 2 0 9 ) (1 9 93 ) (d eci d ed u n d er fo rm er OCGA

§ 1 6-1 3 -4 9 ). Th e t ri al co u r t m a y g ran t a co n t i n u an ce fo r g o o d cau s e, b u t “ ev en i f a

co n ti n u an ce i s g ran t ed fo r g o o d cau s e t h ereb y cau si n g th e St at e t o m i s s t h e o ri g i n al

6 0 -d ay dead l i n e, t h e o u t er m o s t l i m i t s o f a co nt i n u an ce wo u ld b e an o t h er 6 0 -d ay

p eri o d befo re ei t h er t h e m at t er i s h eard or an o th er co n t i n u an ce i s gran t ed .”

(Pu n ct u at i on o m i t t ed ) McDo wel l v. S t a t e

, 2 9 0 Ga. Ap p

. 5 3 8

, 5 3 9 (2 ) (6 6 0 SE2 d 2 4 )

6(2 0 0 8) (d eci ded u n d er fo rm er OCGA § 1 6 -1 3 -4 9 (o ) (5 ) 3 ); s ee al s o W il li a m s v. S t a t e

,

3 0 2 Ga. Ap p

. 6 1 7

, 6 1 8 (6 9 1 SE2 d 3 85 ) ( 2 0 1 0 ) (acco rd ). Th u s

, i n t h i s cas e, t h e

p ro s ecu to r was req u i red t o res et t h e t ri al d at e o r t o m ov e fo r a co nt i n uan ce b efo re t h e

s eco n d 6 0 -d ay p eri o d ex p i red o n J u n e 2 3

. “ Th e res u lt of a fai lu re t o co nd u ct a h eari n g

wi t h i n 60 d ay s

, o r t o o b t ai n a g o o d -cau s e co n t i n u an ce, i s a d i s m i s s al o f t h e St at e’ s

co m p l ai n t .” Go o d

wi n v. S t a t e

, 3 2 1 Ga. Ap p

. 5 4 8

, 5 49 (1 ) ( 7 3 9 S E 2 d 8 1 4) (2 0 1 3 )

(d eci d ed u n d er fo rm er OCGA § 1 6 -1 3 -4 9 ).

Th e St at e arg u es t h at Ro u n s av i l l e wai v ed h i s ri g h t to i n s i s t u p o n t he st at u t o ry

6 0 -d ay req u irem en ts b ecau s e he i n i t i al l y req u es t ed a co nt i n u an ce. Th e St at e k n ew,

h o wev er, b efo re i t s ch ed u l e d t h e t ri al fo r A p ri l 2 4, t h at d efen s e co u n s el was n ot

av ai l ab l e t hen an d h ad s p eci fi cal l y a s k e d t h at t h e t ri al no t b e s ch ed u led t h at d ay

.

Nev ert h el es s

, t h e St at e n o t i ced t h e t ri al fo r Ap ri l 2 4

, wh i ch p ro m p t ed Ro u n s av i l l e’ s

req u es t fo r a co n ti n u an ce t o t h e n ex t a v a i l a b l e t ri al d at e. Pret erm i t t i n g wh et h er

Ro u n s av i l l e’ s req u es t fo r a co n t i n u an ce act ed t o wai v e a t ri al wi t h i n t h e f i r s t 6 0 -d ay

p eri o d

, t h e ev i d en ce d o es n o t s h o w t h at h e wai v ed a t i m el y t ri al wi t h i n t h e s eco n d 6 0

-

d ay p eri o d b ecau s e t h at h ad y et t o beg i n

. See McDo wel l v. S t a te

, 2 9 0 Ga. Ap p

. at

3 Th at fo rm er Co d e s ect io n s i m i l arl y p ro vi d ed : “ If an an s wer i s fi led

, a h eari n g m u s t

b e h el d wi t h i n 6 0 d ay s aft er serv i ce o f t h e co m p l ai nt un l es s co n t i n u ed fo r g o o d cau s e an d

m u s t b e h el d b y

t h e co u rt wi t h o ut a ju ry

. ”

75 3 9 -5 4 0 (2 ) (“ no t i ce o f a co u rt sch ed u l i n g co n fl i ct is req u i red b y co u rt ru l es an d d o es

n o t , s t an d i n g al o n e, am o u n t t o a wai v er o f t im e req u irem en ts ”).

Th e St at e al s o arg ued

– an d t h e t ri al ju d g e fo u n d

– th at Ro u n s av i l l e wai v ed h i s

ri gh t t o i n s i s t u p on t h e s t at u t o ry s ch ed u l in g req u i rem en t s b y p art i ci p at i n g i n fru i t l es s

d i s cu s s i o n s t o res ch ed u l e t h e t ri al

. 4 Th e reco rd d oes n ot s u p p o rt t hi s fi n d i n g

. Rat h er,

t h e reco rd s h o w s th at th e s u p e r i o r c o u rt o ral l y g ran t ed a co n t i n u an ce o n Ap ri l 2 1,

aft er wh i ch n o th i n g h ap p en ed fo r m o re th an a m o n t h . In earl y J u n e, t h e St at e as k ed

t h e ju d g e’ s as si s t an t fo r u p co m i n g Cat oo s a Co u n t y b e n c h t ri al d at es

. T h e reco rd

s h o ws t h at J ud g e Th om

p s o n was av ai l ab le o n M ay 3 1

, J u n e 7, J u n e 1 9

, an d J u n e 2 1

– al l o f wh i ch wo u l d h av e been wi t h in 60 d ay s o f t h e o ral l y -g ran t ed co n t i n u an ce. Yet

t h e o n l y d at e t h e p ro s ecu to r s u g g es t ed t o d efen s e co u ns el was J u ly 5

. Defen s e co u n s el

co n fi rm ed h i s av ai l ab i l i t y o n t hat d ay

, b u t t h e St at e fai l ed to s ch ed u l e a t ri al

. In s t ead

,

s i x m o re week s p as s ed u n t i l t h e ju d g e fi n al l y en t ered an o rd er s et t i n g t h e t ri al fo r

Oct o b er 1 1

– wel l o u ts i d e t h e s eco n d 6 0 -d ay p eri o d an d a fu l l si x m o n t h s aft er

Ro u n s av i l l e was s er v ed wi t h th e fo rfei t ure co m p l ai n t

. Ro u n sav i l l e arg u es t h at t h e

4 Th e St at e al s o arg u ed b el ow, an d t h e t ri al co u rt fo u n d

, t h at go o d cau se ex i s t ed t o

s eek a co n t i n u an ce becau s e t h e cri m e l ab h ad n o t y et t es t ed t h e s u s p ect ed

m et h am p h et am i n e. Ho w ev er, t h e St at e d i d n o t s eek a co n t i n u an ce o n t h i s b as i s u n t i l J u l y

2 8

– a m o n t h a

f t er t he s eco n d 6 0 -d ay p eri o d h ad al read y ex p i red an d t h e co u rt was

req u i red t o d i s m i s s t h e co m p l ai nt p u rs u an t t o OCGA § 9 -1 6 -1 3 (f).

8res p o n s i b i l i t y f o r r es ch ed u li n g t h e fo rfei t u re t ri al d u ri n g t h e s eco n d 60 -d ay p eri o d

fal l s u po n t h e St at e. W e ag ree.

Th e Su p rem e Co u rt o f Geo rg i a art i cu l at ed t h e p ri n ci p l e t h at “ [f] o rfei t u res are

n o t fav o red ” an d “ s h ou l d b e en fo rced o n ly wh en wi t h i n b o th [t he] l et ter an d s p i ri t o f

t h e l aw.” (Ci t at i o n s om i tt ed .) Ci s co v. S t a t e o f G e o r g i a

, 2 8 5 Ga. 6 5 6, 6 63 (3 ) (6 8 0

SE2 d 8 3 1 ) (2 0 0 9 ). Befo re t h e St at e m ay fo rfei t a d efen d an t ’ s p ro p ert y

, i t m u s t co m p l y

wi t h ru les t h at affo rd t h e r e q u i s i t e p ro ced u ral s afeg u ard s

. Id

. Th is b u rd en i s o n t h e

St at e, n o t t h e d efen d an t

. Th us

, Ro u n sav i l l e i s co rrect i n as s ert i n g t h at i t i s n o t h i s d u t y

t o as s i s t t h e St at e i n d ep ri v in g h i m o f h i s p ro p ert y

. Th e fo rfei t u re s t at u t e req u i res t h e

St at e t o t i m el y i n it i at e a fo rfei t u re act i o n o f s e i zed p ro p ert y

. See OCGA § 9 -1 6 -7

. 5

Fu rt h er, aft er an i n p ers o n al fo rfei t u re co m p l ai nt has been fi l ed

, “ i t i s t h e d u t y o f t h e

St at e t o o b t ai n a co nt i n u an ce i f i t d o es n o t i n v o k e a h eari n g wi th i n t he 6 0 -d ay

p eri o d .” G o o d

wi n v. St a t e

, 3 21 Ga. A p p

. at 5 4 9 (1 ). Fu rt h er, we h av e h el d t h at t h e

t ri al co u rt errs i n refu s in g t o di sm i s s a fo rfei t u re act i on wh en t h e St at e fai l s ei t h er to

en s u re th at a b en ch t ri al is re-s ch ed u l ed wi t h i n t h e ad d i t i o n al 6 0-d ay p eri o d o r t o s eek

5 O CGA § 9 -1 6 -7 (b ) p ro v id es t h at “ [w] i th i n 6 0 d ay s fr o m t h e d at e o f s ei zu re, t h e

s t at e at t o rn ey s h al l : (1 ) In i t i at e a qu as i -ju d i ci al fo rfei t u re as p ro v i d ed fo r i n Co d e Sect i o n

9 -1 6 -1 1 ; o r (2 ) Fi l e a co m p l ai n t fo r fo rfei t u re as p ro v i d ed fo r i n Co d e Sect i on 9 -1 6 -1 2 o r

9 -1 6 -1 3 .”

9an o th er co n t i n u an ce b efo re t h at p eri o d ex pi res

. B l a n ks v. S t a t e o f Geo r g i a , 2 4 0 Ga.

Ap p

. 1 7 5

, 1 7 7 (5 2 2 SE2 d 77 0 ) (1 9 9 9) (d eci d ed u n d er OCGA § 1 6-1 3 -4 9 (o ) (5 )); s ee

al s o Ri ce v. S t a t e

, 2 4 6 Ga. Ap p

. 4 1 4

, 4 1 6 (5 4 1 SE2 d 58 ) (2 0 0 0 ) (In rev ers i n g t h e

l o w er co u rt an d d i s m i s s i n g t h e co m pl ai n t

, w e fo u n d t h at t h e t ri al in t he cas e was

co n ti n u ed fo r g o o d cau s e u nt il fu rt h er o rd ered wi th i n t h e s t at u t ory 6 0 -d ay p eri o d

, b ut

n o t ri al was hel d o r ad d i t i o n al co n ti n u an ce g ran t ed w i t hi n t he f o l l o w i n g 6 0 d ay s

.

Su ch a l en g t hy d el ay i n co n d u ct i n g t h e tri al ren dered m ean i n g l es s t h e p u rp o s e o f t h e

s t a t u t e : a s peed y res o lu ti o n o f co n t es t ed fo rfei t u re act i o ns .) (d eci d ed u nd er OCGA

§ 1 6-1 3-4 9 (o ) (5 )).

In t h i s cas e, Ro u ns av i l l e ag reed t o a Ju l y 5 t ri al d at e t h at was wi t h i n t he s eco n d

6 0 -d ay p eri o d

. T h r o u g h n o fau l t o f h i s o w n, t h e St at e s et t h e t ri al d at e wel l o u t s i d e

o f t h at peri od

. No t h i n g i n t h e reco rd in d i cat es t hat Ro u ns av i l l e co n s en t ed to

re-s ch ed u l in g th e t r i a l o u t s i d e t h e 6 0 -d ay p eri o d o r en gag ed in an y co n d u ct t h at

wo u l d h av e co n s t i t u t ed a wai v er o f t h es e st at ut o ry req u i rem en t s . Co ns eq uen t l y , t h e

co u rt ’ s or de r d e ny ing R ounsa v i ll e’ s m o t i o n t o di s m i s s an d g ran t in g t he St at e’ s m o t i o n

fo r a co n ti n u an ce m

u s t b e rev ers ed

. OCGA § 9 -1 6 -1 3 (f). See Ri ce v. S t a t e

, 2 4 6 Ga.

Ap p

. at 4 16 ; W

i l li a ms v. St a t e

, 3 0 2 Ga. Ap p

. at 6 1 8 -6 1 9

. (Al t h o ug h a cro wd ed d o ck et

m ay p ro v i d e g o o d cau s e fo r co n t i n u i n g a fo rfei t u re tri al

, t h e St at e n ev ert h el es s fai l ed

10t o s ch ed u l e a t ri al d at e o r req u es t a co n t i n uan ce wi t h in t h e s eco n d 6 0- d a y p e ri o d

fo l l o w i n g t h e fi l i n g o f t he co m p l ai n t

. Th erefo re, t h e t ri al co u rt was req u i red to

d i s m i s s t he co m

p l ai n t.).

Ju d g men t r ever sed

. Bet h el

, J. a n d S en i o r A p p el l a t e Ju d

g e H er b er t E. Ph i pp s

co n cu r

.

11