FOURTH D I VI SI ON

BA RNES, P. J.

, RA Y and M CM I LLI A N, JJ.

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 ls .us /r ule s /

M ay 1, 2015



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 5 A0 67 6

. ANDERSON v. ALL AM E R I C A N Q U A L I T Y FOODS.

M C M ILLI A N , J u dg e.

Ap p el l an t W an d a An d ers o n ap p eal s

, co n ten d i n g t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred by

d en y i n g h er m o t i o ns t o be des ig n at ed in d ig en t an d d i sm i s s i n g h er n o t i ce o f ap p eal

fro m t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s o rd er g ran t i n g s u m m ary ju d g m en t t o a p p e l l e e A l l Am eri can

Qu al i t y Fo o d s (“ Qu al i ty Fo o d s ”) an d d i s m i s s i n g h er s eco n d n o ti ce o f ap p eal fro m t h e

d i s m i s s a l ord er. Hav i n g co n s i d ered An d ers o n ’ s co n t en ti o n s o n ap p eal

, we n o w

affi rm

.

Pert i n en t t o t h es e i s s u es

, t h e reco rd s h o ws t h at o n N ov e m b e r 2 2

, 2 0 1 0,

A n d ers o n fi led a ren ewed co m p l ai n t s eek i n g d am ag es fo r i n ju ri es s h e al l eg ed l y

recei v ed wh en s h e s l i p p ed an d fel l in a F o o d D e p o t s t o re o wn ed an d op erat ed by

Qu al i t y Fo o d s i n St ock b ri d g e, Geo rg i a. Th e t ri al co u rt en t ered an ord er g ran t i n gs u m

m ary ju d g m en t to Qu al i t y Fo o d s o n M arch 2 8

, 2 0 12

, an d An d ers o n fi l ed a n o t i ce

o f a p p e al an d m o t io n fo r reco n s i d erat i on fro m t h at o rd er o n Ap ri l 2 7, 2 0 1 2 (“ fi r s t

n o t i ce o f ap p eal ”); An d ers o n ’ s n o t i ce of ap p eal d ire c t ed t he t ri al co u rt cl erk to

i n cl u d e t h e en t i re reco rd o n ap p eal

, i n cl u d i n g t h e tran s cri p t fro m t h e s u m m ary

ju d g m en t h eari n g.

A heari n g was h el d o n An d ers o n ’ s m o t i o n fo r reco n s i d erat i o n o f t h e s u m m ary

ju d g m en t o rd er o n J u n e 2 7, 2 0 1 2

, an d t h e t ri al co u rt d e n i e d An d ers o n ’ s m o t i o n in

J u l y 2 0 1 2

. 1 On Au g u s t 2 1

, 2 0 1 2, An d ers o n fi l ed an am en d ed n o t i ce o f ap p eal t o t h i s

Co u rt an d ag ai n d i rect ed t h e t ri al co u rt cl erk to in cl u d e t h e en t i re reco rd o n ap p eal

,

i n cl u d i n g t he h eari n g t ran s cri p t s

. Th e o ri g i n al an d am en d ed n ot i ces o f ap p eal were

s i gn ed b y An d ers on ’ s at t o rn ey

, wh o l i s t ed h i s ad d res s as “ 1 1 6 S. M ai n St reet

, Su i t e

9

, J o n es bo ro

, Geo rg i a 3 0 2 3 6.” Al s o o n Au g u s t 2 1

, 2 0 1 2

, t h e Cl erk o f t h e St at e Co u rt

o f H en ry Co u n ty sen t An d ers o n ’ s at t o rn ey a s t at em en t fo r co s t s t o tal i n g $ 2 9 9,

s p eci f i c a l l y s t a t i n g t hat co st s h ad t o b e p ai d wi t h in 2 0 day s fro m t he d at e o f t h e

1 Th e o rd er d en y in g An d ers o n ’ s m o ti o n fo r reco n s i d erat i o n i s no t co n t ai n ed in

t h e reco rd o n ap p eal

, b u t An d ers o n i n d icat ed i n h er s u bs eq u en t m o t i o n fo r

d es i g n at i o n o f i nd i g en cy t hat i t was d en ied “ o n o r ab o u t J u l y 1 5

, 2 0 12 .” Fu rt h er,

m an y o f ou r fact s are t ak en fro m t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s ord ers

, s in ce t h e reco rd o n ap p eal

i s s o m ewh at i n co m

p l et e an d t h ere ap p e a r s t o b e n o d is pu t e co n cern i ng t h e b as i c

p ro ced ural h i s t o ry

o f t h i s cas e.

2s t at em en t

. Th i s n o ti ce of co s t s was s en t by cert i fi ed m ai l t o th e sam e ad d res s l i s t ed

fo r An d ers o n ’ s at to rn ey

o n h er o ri gi n al an d am en d ed n ot i ces o f ap p eal

.

On Sep t em

b er 1 1

, 2 0 1 2

, t h e t ri al co urt i s s ued a ru l e n i s i f o r a h eari n g o n t h e

s t at u s o f An ders o n’ s n o ti ce of a p p e a l a n d t o s h o w cau se wh y her n o t i ce o f ap p eal

s h o u l d n o t b e d i s m i s sed

. On Oct ob er 1 5

, 2 0 1 2

, An ders o n fi l ed a m o t i o n fo r

d es i g n at i o n o f i n d i gen cy

p u rs u an t t o OCGA § 9 -1 5-2 an d req u es t ed t o b e p ro v i d ed

wi t h a free co p y o f th e m o t i o n h eari ng t ran s cri p t s

. An d ers o n at t ach ed an affi d av i t o f

i n d i g en ce t o h er m o ti o n

, wh i ch s t at ed t h at s h e wa s u n a b l e t o p ay t h e co s t s o f t h e

ap p eal an d t h e h eari n g t ran s cri p t s

.

Qu al i t y Fo o d s fi led a b ri ef o p p o s in g An d ers o n’ s m o ti o n o n Oct o ber 2 4

, 2 0 1 2,

n o t i n g An d ers on ’ s fai l u re t o s erv e Qu al i t y Fo o d s ’ co u n s el w i t h t h e am en ded n o t i ce

o f ap p eal an d th at An d ers o n h ad wai t ed t h ree m on t h s fro m t h e d en ial of h er m o t i o n

fo r reco n s i d erat io n

, an d al m o s t t wo m o n t h s fro m t h e t i m e t h e tri al co u rt cl erk s en t t h e

s t at em en t o f ap p eal co s t s

, t o fi l e h er m o t i o n to b e d es i g n at ed i n d i g en t an d rel i ev ed o f

t h e co s t s o f p urs u i n g h er ap p eal an d o b t ai n i n g t he t ran s cri p t s

. On Oct ob er 2 9

, 2 0 1 2,

t h e t ri al co u rt i s s ued an am en d ed ru l e ni s i

, t o p ro v id e fo r a h eari n g o n An d e r s o n ’s

i n d i g en cy s t at u s an d h er en t i t l em en t t o a free co p y o f t h e t ran s cri p t

.

3On Ap ri l 3, 20 1 4

, t h e t ri al co u rt en t ered an o rd er d i s m is s i n g An ders o n ’ s n o t i ce

o f ap p eal

. T h e t ri al co u rt fo u n d t h at i t h ad at t em p ted t o d et erm i n e An d ers o n ’ s

i n d i g en t st at us at t h e No v em b er 6

, 2 0 1 2 h eari n g

, bu t t h at An d ers o n fai l ed t o ap p ear

at t h e h eari ng an d t h at

, t h erefo re, i t co u l d n ot is su e a fi n d i n g of i n d i g en cy ; fu rt h er, t h e

t ri al co u rt f

o u n d t hat An ders o n ’ s Oct o ber 1 5

, 2 01 2 affi d av i t o f i nd i g en ce was

u n t i m el y b ecau s e i t was n o t fi l ed u n t i l a p p ro x i m at el y 1 3 9 d ay s aft er t he t ran s cri p t s

were d ue t o b e fi led

. T h e t ri al co u rt al s o n o t ed t h at at th e heari n g it ag ai n as k ed

An d ers on ’ s co u ns el 2 wh et h er t h e t ran s cri p t s h ad b een o rd ered

, an d t h at An d ers o n ’ s

at t o rn ey arg u ed th at An d ers o n ’ s i n d ig en t s t at u s rel iev ed h er o f t h e ob l i gat i on t o fi l e

th e t ran s cri p t

. Ad d i t i on al l y

, t h e t ri al co u rt no t ed t h at An d ers on ’ s at tor ne y ha d a sse r

te d

t h at h e h ad n o t recei v ed t h e b i l l o f co s t s s en t by t h e t r i al co urt cl erk o n Au g u s t 2 1,

2 0 1 2 , an d t h at t ho s e co s t s h ad n o t b een p ai d

.

Fo l l owi n g t h e heari n g

, t h e t ri al c o u r t d i s m i s s ed An ders o n ’ s n o t i ce o f ap p eal

b as ed o n h er u nreas o nab l e an d i n ex cu s ab l e d el ay i n fi l i ng th e h eari n g t ran s cri p t s

. See

OCGA § § 5 -6 -4 1 ; 5 -6 -4 2 ; 5 -6 -4 8 (c). Fu rt h er, as an ad d i t i o n al bas i s fo r d is m i s s i n g

2 Th e t ri al co u rt in di c a t e d i t m ad e t h i s s am e i n q u i ry at t h e h eari n g o n

An d ers on ’ s m ot io n fo r reco n si d erat i o n

.

4t h e a p p eal

, t he t ri al co u rt fo u n d t h at An d ers o n ’ s fai l u re t o p ay co s t s res u l t ed i n a n

u n reas o nab l e an d i nex cu s ab l e d el ay i n t ran s m i t t i n g t he reco rd t o t h i s Co u rt . Id

.

On M a y 5

, 2 0 1 4, An d ers o n fi l ed a n ot i ce of ap p eal fro m

, i n t er al i a, t h e t ri al

co u rt ’ s o rd er d i s m i s s in g h er no t i ce o f ap p eal (“ s eco n d n o t i ce o f ap p eal ”). An d ers o n

ag ai n d irect ed t h e t ri al co urt cl erk t o i n cl u d e t h e en t i re reco rd o n ap p eal

, i n cl u d i n g

t h e h eari n g t ran s cri pt s

. On J u l y 2 , 2 0 1 4

, t h e t ri al co u rt i s s u ed a s h o w cau s e h eari n g

o rd er t o d et erm in e wh y A n ders o n ’ s s eco nd n o t i ce o f ap p eal al so s h o u ld n o t b e

d i s m i s s ed fo r fai l u re t o p ay co s t s

.

On J u l y 7

, 2 0 1 4

, Qu al i t y Fo o d s m o ved t o d i s m i s s An d ers o n ’ s s eco n d no t i ce o f

ap p eal an d fo r at t orn ey fees b as ed o n An d ers o n’ s fai lu re t o p ay co s t s an d fai l u re t o

s erv e Qu al i t y Fo o d s wi t h her s eco nd n o t i ce o f ap p eal

, wh i ch Qu al i t y Fo o ds as s ert ed

was p art o f an o n -g o i n g p a t t ern b y An d ers o n ’ s co u ns el to fai l to s erv e i t wi th

An d ers on ’ s co u rt fi l i n g s

.

O n J u l y 1 4

, 2 0 14

, An d ers on fi l ed h er s eco n d m ot i o n fo r d es i g n at i o n o f

i n d i g en cy an d fo r a free co p y of t h e h eari n g t ran s cri p t s ; A n d ers o n ’ s p urp o rt ed s eco n d

affi d av i t o f i n d i g en ce was at t ach ed t o h er m o t i on

, b u t i t was u n s i g n ed an d un s wo rn

.

On J u l y 1 6

, 2 01 4, t h e t r ial co u rt i s s u ed an am en ded ru le n i s i

, s et t i n g a s ho w cau s e

5h eari n g o n t h e d is m i s s al o f An d ers o n ’ s s eco n d n ot i ce o f ap p eal an d h er s eco n d

m o ti o n fo r d es i g n at i o n o f i n d i g en cy

.

On J u l y 2 1

, 20 1 4

, An d ers o n refi l ed h er m o t i o n f o r i n d i g en cy ; al th o u g h t h e

affi d av i t o f i n d i g en ce at t ach ed t o t h at m o t i o n w as s i g n ed b y An d ers on an d a No t ary

Pu b l ic, t h e ju rat was u n d at ed

. Al s o o n t hat d at e, An d ers o n fi led a “ res p o n se” t o t h e

t ri al co u rt ’ s J u l y 2 an d J u l y 1 4

, 2 0 1 4

, s ho w cau s e o rd ers an d Qu al it y Fo o d s ’ m o t i o n

t o di s m i s s h er seco n d no t i ce o f ap p eal arg ui n g

, am o n g o t h er t h i n g s, t h at n ei t h er s h e

n o r h er at t o rn ey h ad ev er recei ved o r reject ed t he s t at em en t o f ap p eal s co st s s en t by

t h e cl erk o f t he t ri al co u rt

, 3 an d t h u s an y d el ay i n t ran sm i t ti n g t h e reco rd t o t h i s Co u rt

was cau s ed b y th e fai l u re o f t h e t r i al co u rt cl erk t o en su re t h at An ders o n o r h er

at t o rn ey recei v ed t h e s t at em en t o f co s t s

. 4

On Au g u s t 8

, 2 0 1 4, t h e t r i a l c o u r t en tered an o rd er d i s m i ss i n g An d ers o n ’ s

s eco n d n o t ice o f ap p eal o n t h e b as i s t hat s he fai led t o t i m el y t ran s m i t th e reco rd to

3 Ho wev er, as fo u nd b y t h e t ri al co u rt

, t h e s t at em en t of ap p eal s co s t s was s en t

t o An d ers o n ’ s co u n s el at h i s ad d res s o f rec o r d v i a cert i fi ed m ai l

, ret urn recei pt

req u es t ed , b u t t h e m ai l i ng was ret u rn ed as “ u n cl ai m ed ” an d “ u n ab le t o fo rward .”

4 An d ers o n al s o fi l ed a m o t i o n t o recu s e t h e t ri al co urt ju d g e, an d o n J u l y 2 4,

2 0 1 4

, t h e t ri al co u rt i s s u ed an o rd er d en y i n g An ders o n ’ s m o t i o n t o recu s e o n t h e b as i s

t h at t h e al l eg at i o n s s et fo rt h i n h er m o t i o n were u n t i m el y

, l eg al ly i n su ffi ci en t, an d d id

n o t warran t recu s al . An d ers o n d o es n o t ch al l en g e t h at o rd er o n ap p eal

.

6t h i s Co u rt as req u i red b y OCGA § 5 -6 -4 8 (c) an d fai l ed t o ti m el y fi l e an affi d av it o f

i n d i g en ce. An ders o n n o w ap peal s fro m t h at o rd er. 5

1

. Ci t in g OCGA § 9 -1 5-2 (a) (1 ), An d ers on arg u es s h e d id al l t h e s t at u t e

req u i res h er t o d o in ord er t o b e d es i g n at ed i n d ig en t an d rel i ev ed o f p ay i n g t h e co s t s

o f h er ap p eal s

, an d t h at i n t he ab s en ce o f a t rav ers e b y t h e d efen dan t , t h e t ri al co u rt

was req u ired t o g ran t h er m o t i o n fo r d es i g n at i o n o f i n d i g en cy w i t ho u t an y ad d i t i o n al

s h o wi n g o n h er p art . Bu t A nd ers o n’ s arg um en t i g no res t h e fu l l t ex t o f t he s t at u t e.

W e s t art wi th t h e rel ev an t s t at u t o ry p ro v is io n s

. Pu rs u an t t o OCGA § 9 -1 5 -2 (a)

(1 ),

[w] h e n an y p art y

, p l ai n t i ff or d efen d an t

, i n an y act i o n o r pro ceed i n g

h el d i n an y co u rt o f t hi s s t at e i s u n ab l e t o p ay an y d ep o si t

, fee, o r o t h er

co s t wh i ch i s n orm al l y req u i red i n t h e co urt

, i f t h e p art y s h al l su b s cri be

an affi d av i t t o t h e effect t h at b ecau s e o f h i s i n d ig en ce h e i s u n ab l e t o p ay

t h e co st s, t h e p art y s h al l b e rel i ev ed fro m p ay i n g t h e co s t s an d h i s ri g h t s

s h al l b e t h e s am e as i f h e h ad p ai d t h e co s t s

.

5 W e n o te t h at Q u al i t y Fo o d s m ov ed to d i s m is s An ders o n ’ s ap p eal i n th i s Co u rt

o n t h e g ro u n d s t h at s h e h ad fai l ed t o p ay co s t s

, p ro vi de a cert ifi cat e o f s erv i ce wi th

h er bri ef, an d rep eat ed l y fai l ed to s erv e p l ead i n g s o n h er op p o s i n g co u n s el

. A l t h o u g h

n o t i n g t h at we had p rev i o u s l y rem i n d ed An ders o n an d h er co u n sel o f t hei r o bl i g at i o n

t o s e r v e fi l i n g s p u rs u an t t o o u r Ru l e 6 an d t h at we wo u l d b e wel l wi t h i n o u r

d i s cret i o n t o d i s m i s s An d ers o n ’ s ap p eal

, we d ecl i n ed t o d o s o

. H o wev er, we d id

i m p o s e a $ 2 5 0 s an ct i on ag ai ns t An d ers o n ’ s at t orn ey fo r th e fai l u re t o co m p l y wi t h o u r

Ru l es

.

7Ho wev er, OCGA § 9 -1 5 -2 fu rt h er p ro v i d es i n s ub s ect i o n (a) (2 ) t hat

,

[a] n y ot her p art y at in t eres t o r hi s ag en t or at t o rn ey m ay co n tes t th e tru t h

o f an affi d av it o f i n d i g en ce b y v eri fy i ng affi rm at i v el y u n d er o at h t hat

t h e s am e i s u n tru e. T h e i s s u e t h ereb y fo rm ed sh al l b e h eard an d

d et erm i ned b y t h e co u rt

, u n d er t h e ru l es o f t h e co u rt

. Th e j u d g m en t o f

t h e co u rt on al l i s s u es o f fact co n cern i n g t h e ab i l i t y o f a p art y t o p ay

co s t s o r g iv e b on d s h al l b e fi n al

.

Fu rt h er, co n trary t o An d ers on ’ s arg u m en t o n ap p eal

, th e s t at u t e s p eci fi cal l y p ro v i d es

t h at ev en

[i ] n t h e ab s en ce o f a t rav ers e affi d av i t co n tes t in g t h e t ru th o f an affi d av i t

o f i n d i g en ce, th e co u rt m a y i n q u i re i n t o t he t ru t h o f t h e affi d av i t o f

i n d i gen ce. A ft er a h eari ng

, t h e co u rt m ay o rd er t h e co s ts t o be p ai d i f i t

fi nd s th at t h e d ep o s i t

, fee, o r o t h er co s t s can b e p ai d an d

, i f t h e co s t s are

n o t p a i d wi t h i n t h e ti m e p erm i t t ed in s u ch o rd er, m ay d en y t he rel i e f

s o u g h t

.

OCGA § 9 -1 5 -2 (b ).

As an i n i t i al m a t t e r w e n o t e t h at al t ho u gh Qu al i t y Fo o ds d i d n ot fi l e an

affi d av i t u n d er o at h co n t es t i n g t h e t ru t h o f An d ers on ’ s affi d av it o f in d i gen ce, Qu al i t y

Fo o d s d i d o p p o s e An ders o n ’ s affi d av i t o f i n d i g en ce o n o t he r g ro u n d s. An d i n an y

ev en t, u n d er O CGA § 9-1 5 -2 (b ), t h e t ri al co u rt h ad t h e au t h o ri t y to i n q u i re i n t o t h e

t ru t h o f t h e affi d av i t ev en i n t h e ab s en ce of a ch al l en g e fro m t h e o pp o si n g p art y

. Bo yd

8v. Jo h n Ga lt Ho l d in g s

, LLC

, 3 1 8 Ga. Ap p

. 8 6 6

, 8 7 1 (7 3 6 SE 2 d 4 5 9 ) (2 0 1 2 ). As

req u i red b y t h at s ect i o n

, t h e t ri al co u rt in t h i s cas e, aft er g i v in g p ro p er n o t i ce, h el d a

h eari n g to d et erm in e t h e t ru t h o f An d ers o n ’ s affi d av it o f i n di gen ce. An d ers o n d i d n ot

a t t e n d t h e heari n g an d has n o t ch al l en ged t h e tri al co u rt ’ s fi n d i n g t hat h er ab s e n c e

was wi t h o u t l eg al reas o n or ex cu s e. Th u s

, t he t ri al co u rt was n o t req u i red t o accep t

An d ers on ’ s affi d av it o f in d i g en ce as t ru e wh en s h e fai l ed

, w i t ho u t l eg al ex cu s e o r

cau s e, t o at t en d t h e h eari n g t o al l o w t h e co u rt t o m ak e a d et erm i nat i on o f h er ab i l i t y

t o p ay . Acco rd i n g l y , t h e t ri al co u rt d i d n o t err b y d en y i n g An d ers o n i n d i g en t s t at u s

an d refu si n g to rel i ev e h er o f p a yi n g t h e co s ts o f h er fi rs t ap p eal

. Cf. Gr u n er v.

Th a cke r

, 3 2 0 Ga. A p p. 1 4 6 (7 3 9 SE2 d 4 40 ) (2 0 13 ) (cas e rem an d ed fo r fu rt h er

p ro ceed in g s b ecau s e t ri al co u rt i m p ro p erl y d en i ed p au p er s tat u s wi t h o ut h o l d i n g a

h eari n g ); Jo hn G a lt

Ho l d i ng s

, LLC , 3 1 8 Ga. Ap p

. at 8 7 0 (s am e).

L i k e w i s e, An d ers o n ’ s s eco n d at t em p t t o b e d ecl ared i n d i g en t al s o fai l e d

b ecau s e th e ju rat o f t h e affi d av i t o f i nd i g en ce was u n d at ed an d t h u s t h e affi d av i t was

l eg al ly i n s u ffi ci en t

. Hu r t v. No r wes t M t g

., In c., 2 6 0 Ga. Ap p

. 6 5 1

, 6 5 4 ( 1 ) (a) (5 8 0

SE2 d 5 8 0 ) (2 0 03 ) (affi d av i t o f i n d i g en ce i n v al i d wh en s i g n at ure o f t h e n o t ary “ i s n ot

d at ed t o i n d i cat e t he n o t ary was p res en t at t h e s am e t i m e th e affi an t s i g n e d t h e

d o cu m en t ”); s ee al s o Ha

yg o o d v. Hea d , 3 0 5 Ga. Ap p . 3 75

, 3 8 1 (4 ) (6 9 9 SE2 d 5 8 8 )

9(2 0 1 0) (affi d av i t wi t h o u t val i d ju rat i s i ns u ffi ci en t ); Mi t ch el l v. Ca n cer Ca r ep o i n t

,

I n c

. , 2 9 9 Ga. Ap p

. 8 8 1

, 8 8 2 (1 ) (6 8 3 SE2 d 9 23 ) (2 0 0 9 ) (affi d av i t of i n d i g en ce t h a t

i s n o t n o t ari zed i s i nv al i d ). Acco rd i n g l y , t h i s en u m erat i o n i s wi t ho u t m eri t

.

2

. An d ers o n al s o arg u es t h at b ecau s e h er req u es t to d es i g n at e h er i n d i gen t was

wro ng fu l l y d en i ed b y t h e tri al co u rt

, we m u s t al s o rev ers e t he d i s m i s s a l o f h e r f i r s t

an d seco n d n o t i ces o f ap p eal b ecau s e t h e d el ay i n t ran s m i t t i n g th e reco rd t o t h i s Co u rt

was s o lel y cau s ed b y h er i n ab i l i t y t o p ay

. H o wev er, b e c a u s e w e h av e affi rm ed t h e

t ri al co u rt ’ s d en i al o f h er m o ti o n s fo r i n d ig en cy

, t h is en u m erat i o n al s o fai l s

, an d t h e

t ri al co u rt o rd ers d i s m i s si n g h er ap p eal s are affi rm ed

.

Ju d g men t a f f i r m ed . Ba r nes , P. J., a n d

Ra y, J., co n cu r

.

1011