THI RD DI VI SI ON

DI L LA RD, P. J.

, GOBEI L and HODGES, 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 l s .us /r ule s

Febr uar y 18, 2020



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 9 A2 39 8

. RHONDA NEW TON, Co u rt Ap p o i n t ed Ad m i n is t rat o r

o f t he Es tat e o f RONNIE CANTRELL v

. KAYE FREEM AN,

Co u rt A p p o i n t ed Tem

p o rary Ad m i n i st rat o r o f t h e Es t at e o f

M ARGARET CANTRELL.

A2 0 A0 0 5 8

. K

AYE FREEM AN, Co u rt Ap p o i n t ed Tem p o rary Ad m i ni s trat o r o f t h e Es t at e o f M ARGARET CANTRELL v

. RHONDA NEW TON, Co u rt Ap po i n t ed Ad m i n i s t rat o r o f t h e Es t at e o f RONNIE CANTRELL.

D I LLA R D , Pres i d i n g J u d g e.

In 2 0 0 5

, Kay e Freem an

— as t he g uard i an an d u l t i m at el y ad m in i s t rat o r o f h er

m o th er’ s es t at e— fi l ed s ui t ag ai n s t h er b ro t h er, Ro n n i e Can t rel l

, s eek i ng can cel l at i o n

o f a d eed co n v ey i n g M arg aret Can t rel l ’ s p ro p ert y an d d a m ag es

. T h e cas e was

d i s m i s s ed fo r wan t o f p ro s ecu t i o n i n 2 00 7

, b u t rei ns t at ed t h ree y ears l at er. Fo l l o wi n g

a 2 0 1 7 t r i a l

, i n wh i ch Rh o n d a Newt o n rep res en ted her t h en -d eceas ed b ro t h er

Ro n n i e’ s es t at e, a ju ry ret u rn ed a v e r d i c t i n fav o r o f Freem an an d award ed h er

$ 2 ,5 4 1 ,0 0 0 i n d am ag es

. In Cas e No

. A1 9 A2 39 8

, Newt o n co n t en d s t h at t h e t ri al co u rterred i n rei n st at i n g t h e cas e i n 2 0 1 0

, ad m i t t i n g b ad ch aract er ev i d en ce pert ai n i n g to

n o n -p art i es d u ri ng t ri al

, an d en t eri n g ju d g m en t o n an award o f d am ag es t h at was n ot

s u p p ort ed b y ev i d en ce. An d i n Cas e No

. A2 0 A 0 0 5 8

, Freem an co n t en d s t h at t h e t ri al

co u rt erred i n d en y i n g h er m o ti o n t o d i s m i s s Newt o n ’ s ap p eal fo r fai l i ng to t i m el y fi l e

t h e t ri al tran s cri pt

. Fo r t h e reas o n s d i s cu s s ed i n f ra , we rev ers e t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s d en i al

o f Freem an ’ s m o t i o n an d , t h u s , d i s m i s s Newt o n ’ s ap p eal

.

Th e reco rd s h o ws t h at o n A p ri l 6

, 1 9 9 4

, Ro n n ie Can t rel l en t e r e d i n t o an

ag reem en t wi t h hi s p aren t s

— M arg aret an d Li n zy Can trel l

— t o pu rch a s e 3 2 .8 acres

o f l an d i n H e n r y C o u n t y fo r $ 1 0 0,0 0 0

. T he co n t ract fo r t h e s al e o f t h e p ro p ert y

i n cl u d ed a s t i p u l at i o n t h at it wo u l d b e rezo n ed pri o r t o it s act u al co n vey an ce. An d

fo l l o w i n g t h e ex ecu t i o n of t h e sal es co n t ract

, Ro n n i e i m m ed i at el y s o ug h t t o h av e t h e

l an d rezo n ed b u t was u n ab l e t o d o s o u n t il 2 0 02

. Th u s , o n J u n e 5, 20 0 2

, Ro n n i e p ai d

M arg aret

— h i s fat h er Li n zy h ad p as s ed away in t h e i nt eri m

— $ 9 9 ,0 0 0 i n ex ch an g e fo r

t h e p ro p ert y an d reco rd ed t h e d eed wi t h t h e H en ry Co u n t y cl erk

. Th e v ery n ex t d ay ,

Ro n n i e s o l d t h e p ro p ert y , as wel l as an ad d i t io n al 3 4 acres h e acq ui red fro m o n e o f

h i s m o t h er’ s n ei g h b o rs , fo r $ 1

, 15 6 ,0 0 0

. 0 0 t o Lex i n g t o n Park LLC, wh i ch p l an n ed to

d ev el o p a s u b d i vi s io n o n t h e l an d

.

2On Feb ru ary 1 1

, 2 0 0 5

, Ka ye Freem an —as t he co u rt -ap p o i n t ed g u ard i an o f

M arg aret

, wh o was i n cap aci t at ed d u e t o d em en t ia— fi l ed s u i t ag ai n s t h er bro t h er an d

L e x i n g to n Park

, s eek i n g can cel l at i o n o f t h e d eed co n v ey i n g h er m o t h er’ s p ro p er t y

an d d am ag es fo r b reach o f fi d u ci a r y d ut y an d frau d

. Sp eci fi cal l y , Freem an ’ s

co m p l ai n t al l eg ed t h at Ro n n i e t o o k ad v an t ag e o f h i s m o t her’ s p o o r m en t al an d

p h y s i cal h eal t h in co n v i n ci n g h er t o co n v ey h im t h e p ro pert y s o t hat h e co u l d i n t u rn

s el l t he p ro pert y t o Lex i n g t o n Park fo r a l arg e p ro fi t

. Ro n n ie an d Lex i n g t o n Park fi l ed

an s wers an d co u n t ercl ai m s , an d d i sco v ery en s u ed

. Th ereaft er, in J a n u ary 2 0 0 7,

Lex in g t on Park s et t l ed wi t h Freem an , an d th e tri al co u rt d i s m i s s ed t h a t e n t i t y fro m

t h e cas e.

On Feb ru ary 6

, 2 0 0 7

, t he s u p eri o r co u rt cl erk ’ s o ffi ce i s s u e d a p erem p t o ry

cal en d ar o rd er, i n wh i ch i t no t i fi ed al l at t o rn ey s wi t h cas es b efo re t h e co u rt

, i n cl u d i n g

F r e e m a n an d Ro n n i e Can t rel l ’ s res p ect i v e co u n s el

, th at p en d i n g act io n s wo u l d b e

d i s m i s s e d fo r wan t o f p ro s ecu t i o n i f at t o rn ey s d id n o t ap p ear at t h e cal en d ar cal l

cu rren t l y s ch ed u l ed fo r Ap ri l 18

, 2 0 0 7. Bu t i n t hat s am e o rd er, t he cl erk al s o i n fo rm ed

co u ns el t h at :

In t h e al t ern at i v e, t h e at t o rn ey fo r t h e res p ect i v e p art i es m ay ad v i s e th e

o ffi ce o f t h e Cl erk o f t he Su p eri o r Co urt i n wri t i n g , n o t l at er t h an 4 : 0 0

3o ’ cl o ck P.M

., Tu es d ay , Ap ri l 1 7

, 2 0 07

, as t o t h e reas o n h is act i o n s h o u l d

n o t be di sm i s s ed fo r wan t o f p ro s ecu ti o n

. If an y a t t o r n e y ch o o s es t o

av ai l h i m sel f o f t h i s m et h o d o f n o t i fi cat i o n , i t s h al l b e u n n eces s ary fo r

h i m t o ap p ear at t h e p erem

p t ory cal en d ar cal l o n Ap ri l 1 8 , 2 0 0 7.

Bo t h co un s el fo r Freem an an d Ro n n i e Can t rel l wro t e th e cl erk p ri or t o t h e A p ri l 1 7,

2 0 0 7 d e a d l i ne t o req u es t th at th e cas e b e k ep t act iv e. An d reco rd s i n d i cat e t h at t h e

cl erk

, i n fact

, recei v ed t h o se req ues t s

. Nev ert hel es s, o n Au g u st 2 7, 2 00 7

, t h e t ri al

co u rt

, fo r reas o n s n ot en t irel y cl ear, di s m i s s e d Freem an ’ s cas e b ut n o t Ro n n i e

Can trel l ’ s co u n t ercl ai m s

. F ur t he r m or e , that d is m i ss al o rd er was ap p aren t l y n o t s erv ed

o n ei t h er p art y , an d b o t h p art i es co n ti n u ed as i f t h e cas e w ere st i l l act i v e. On Au g u s t

1 0 , 2 0 1 0 , t he cl erk ’ s o ffi ce d i s co v ered t h at t h e cas e h ad b een m i s tak en l y d i s m i s s ed

an d i m m ed i at el y fi l ed an affi dav i t wi t h t h e co u rt ex pl ai n i n g t h e erro r. Co n s eq u en t l y ,

a few d ay s l at er, t he t ri al co u rt is s u ed an o rd er rei ns t at i n g t h e cas e o n t he g ro u n d t h at

t h e earl i er d i s m i s s al h ad b een d u e t o a s cri ven er’ s erro r.

In Feb ru ary 20 1 7

, t h e cas e p ro ceed ed t o t ri al

, wi t h Rh o n d a N e w t o n n o w t h e

d efen d an t i n h er cap aci t y as t h e c o u rt -ap p o i n ted ad m in i s t rat or fo r t h e es t at e o f Ro n n i e

Can trel l

, wh o h ad pas s ed away s ev eral y ears earl i er. Du ri n g t h e t ri al

, nu m ero u s

wi t n es s es t es t i fi ed reg ard i n g , i n t er a l i a , th e p ro p ert y co n v ey an ce a n d M a rg aret ’ s

m en t al s t at e at t he t i m e o f t h at co n v ey an ce. A t t h e c o n c l u s i o n o f t h e t ri al

, t h e ju ry

4i s su ed a v erd i ct i n fav or o f F reem an an d award ed h er $ 2,5 4 1 ,0 0 0 i n co m p en s at o ry

d am ag es

. An d t h e fo ll o wi n g d ay , Feb ru ary 2 2

, 2 0 17

, th e tri al c o u rt en t ered a

ju d g m en t fo r Freem an i n t h at s am e am o u nt

.

On M arch 1 7

, 2 0 1 7

, Newt o n fi l ed a n o t i ce o f ap p eal an d a m ot i on fo r ex t en s i o n

o f t i m e t o fi l e th e tran s cri p t o f ev i d en ce an d p ro ceed i n g s

. Th e tri al co u rt gran t ed t h e

m o ti o n an d set t h e n e w f i l i n g d ead l i n e fo r J u l y 1 0

, 2 0 17

. A few d ay s b efo re t h at

d ead li n e, Newt o n fi l ed a s eco n d m o t io n fo r ex ten s i o n o f ti m e t o f i l e t h e t ran s cri p t

.

Th e t ri al co u rt g ran ted t h i s m o t i o n as wel l an d s et a n ew fi l i n g d ead l i n e fo r Sep t em b er

1 5

, 2 0 1 7

. Newt o n req u es t ed n o ad d i t i o n al ex t en si o n s o f t i m e, an d

, in fact

, h er co u n s el

recei v ed an el ect ro n ic vers i o n o f t h e tran s cri p t o n A u g u s t 3 0

, 2 01 7

, an d al leg ed l y efi led i t wi t h t h e s up eri o r co urt cl erk l es s th an a w eek l at er. Bu t t h e s u p eri o r co u rt

cl erk ap p aren t l y en co u n t ered d i ffi cu l t i es e-fi li n g t h e d i g i t al ex h i b i t s

. As a res u l t

, t h e

fi nal t ran s cri p t an d al l t ri al ex h i b i t s were n o t fi l ed u n t i l Decem b er 1 2

, 20 1 8

— n earl y

fi ft een m o n t h s aft er t he l as t ex t en s io n o f t i m e fo r fi l i n g t h at had b een g ran t ed b y t h e

t ri al co u rt

. An d d uri n g t h at p eri o d o f t i m e, Newt on s o ug h t n o ad d i ti o nal ex t en s i on s

o f t i m e.

5On Ap ri l 11

, 2 0 1 9

, Freem an fi l ed a m o t i on t o d is m i ss Newt on ’ s ap p eal i n t h e

t ri al co u rt

, ci t i n g t h e n earl y fi ft e e n

- m o n t h d el ay i n fi l in g t h e t ri al tran s cri p t b ey o n d

t h e s eco n d ex t en s i o n o f t i m e g ran t ed b y t h e co urt

. Newt o n fi l ed a res p o ns e, an d t h e

t ri al co u rt co n d u ct ed a h eari n g o n M ay 9

, 2 0 1 9

. At t h e co n cl us i o n o f t h e h eari n g , t h e

t ri al co u rt d en i ed Freem an ’ s m ot i o n an d is s u ed an o rd er t o t h at effect

. Freem an t h en

fi led a n o t i ce o f ap p eal as t o t h at d eci s i o n , an d t h o s e t w o ap p eal s are n o w b efo re u s

.

1

. W e fi rs t ad d res s Freem an ’ s ap p eal i n Cas e N o

. A2 0 A0 05 8

, i n w h i c h s h e

co n ten d s t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n d en y i n g h er m o t io n t o d i sm i s s Newt o n ’ s ap p eal

i n Cas e No . A1 9 A2 3 98 . W e ag ree.

OCGA § 5 -6 -4 8 (c) p ro v i d es t h at

[n ] o ap p eal s h al l be d i s m i s s ed b y t h e ap p el l at e co u rt n o r co n s i d erat i o n

o f an y erro r t h erei n refu s ed becau s e of fai lu re o f an y p art y t o cau s e th e

t ran s cri p t o f ev id en ce an d p ro ceed i n g s t o b e fi l ed wi t h i n t h e t i m e

al l o wed b y l aw o r o rd er o f co u rt ; b u t t he tri al co u rt m ay , aft er n ot i ce an d

o p p o rt un i t y fo r heari n g , o rd er t hat t h e ap peal b e d i s m is s ed w h ere t h ere

h as b een an u n reas o n ab le d el ay i n t he fi l i n g o f t he t ran s cri pt an d i t i s

s h o wn t hat t h e d el ay

was i n ex cu s ab le an d was cau s ed b y s uch p art y

.

Ad d i t i o n al l y , u n d er O CGA § 5 -6 -4 2

, w h en “ t h ere is a t ran s cri pt o f ev i d en ce an d

p ro ceed in g s t o b e i n cl u ded i n t h e reco rd o n ap p eal

, th e a p p e l l an t s h al l cau s e t h e

t ran s cri p t t o b e p rep ared an d fi l ed

. . . wi t h i n 3 0 d ay s aft er fi l i ng o f t he n o t i ce o f

6ap p eal

. . . . ” 1 Im po rt an t l y , i n co n s i d eri n g a m o t i o n t o d i s m i s s o n g ro u n d s o f a fai l u re

t o ti m el y fi le t h e t ran scri p t

, th e t ri al co urt m u s t d et erm i n e “ t h e l en g t h o f t h e d el ay , t h e

reas on s fo r t h e d el ay , wh et h er th e ap p eal i ng p art y cau s ed t h e d el ay , an d w h et h er t h e

d el ay was i n ex cu sab l e, an d t h en ex erci se d is cret i o n in d e c i d i n g wh et h er t o d i s m i ss

t h e ap p eal .” 2 An d wh i l e t ri al co u rt s hav e wi d e d is cret i o n wh en ru l i n g on a m o t i o n to

d i s m i s s an ap p eal b as ed o n a fai l u re t o t i m el y fi l e a t ran s cri pt

, t h at d i s cret i o n i s “ n ot

u n l i m i t ed .” 3

Here, Newt o n fi l ed h er n o t i ce o f ap p eal o f t he ju ry ’ s v erd ict an d t ri al co urt ’ s

ju d g m en t o n M arch 1 7

, 2 0 1 7

, an d o n t h at s am e d at e, al s o su b m i tt ed a m o t i o n fo r

ex t en s i o n o f t i m e t o fi l e t h e tran s cri p t o f ev i d en ce an d p ro ceed i n g s

. A few d ay s

b efo re t h at d ead l in e, Newt o n fi l ed a s eco n d m ot io n fo r ex t en si o n o f t i m e t o fi l e t h e

t ran s cri p t an d w as g ran t ed a n ew fi l i n g dead l i n e o f Sep tem b er 15

, 20 1 7. Th ereaft er,

1 OCGA § 5 -6 -4 2

.

2 S t a t e v. Br ien z a , 3 5 0 G a

. A p p

. 67 2

, 6 7 4 -7 5 (8 2 9 SE2 d 8 9 4 ) (2 0 1 9 ) (p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ); a cco r d Pr o p s t v. Mo rg a n , 2 8 8 Ga. 8 6 2

, 8 6 3 (7 0 8 SE2 d 2 9 1 ) (2 0 1 1); Go r do n v. Den n i s , 3 4 1 Ga. Ap p . 7 9 5 , 7 9 7 (1 ) (8 0 2 SE2 d 7 7 ) (2 0 1 7 ).

3 Co pt ic Co n s t r

. C o

., In c. v. Ro l l e , 2 7 9 Ga. Ap p

. 4 5 4

, 4 5 6 (6 3 1 SE2 d 4 7 5 ) (2 0 0 6); see Pr o

p s t

, 2 88 Ga. at 8 6 3 (“ Th e t ri al co u rt ’ s ru l in g [o n a m o t i o n t o d i s m i ss

an ap p eal ] wi l l b e rev ers ed o n ap p eal o n l y fo r ab u se o f d i s cret i o n

. ”); Br i en z a , 3 5 0 Ga. Ap p

. at 6 7 5 (n o t i n g t h at t h i s Co u rt “ wi l l o n l y rev ers e a t ri al co u rt ’ s ru l i n g o n s u ch a

m o ti o n i f t h e co urt ab u s ed i t s d i s cret i o n .”)

7Newt o n req u es t ed n o ad d it i o n al ex t e n si o n s o f ti m e. An d al t h o u gh h er co u n s el

recei v ed an el ect ro n i c v ers i o n o f t h e t ran s cri p t o n Au g u s t 3 0

, 2 01 7

, an d al l eg ed l y efi led i t wi t h t h e s u p eri o r co urt cl erk l es s t h an a week l at er, t he fi n al t ran scri p t an d al l

t ri al ex h i bi t s were n o t fi l ed u n t i l n earl y fi ft een m o n th s aft er t h e l as t ex t en s i o n o f t i m e

fo r fi l in g h ad b een g ran t ed b y t h e t r i a l co u rt

. Im p o rt an t l y , d u ri ng t h o s e fi ft een

m o nt h s , Newt o n s o u g h t n o ad di t i o n al ex t en s i o n s o f t i m e an d m ad e n o effo rt t o en s u re

t h at t h e t ri al t ran s cri p t an d ex h i b i t s were fi l ed

.

In i t s b ri ef o rd er d en y i n g Freem a n ’s m o t i o n t o d is m i ss t he ap p eal

, t h e t ri al

co u rt ack n o wl ed g ed t h at t h ere w as a d el ay i n fi l i n g th e t ran s cri p t an d t h e ex h i b i t s b ut

d i d n o t at t ri b u te t he d el ay t o N ewt o n

— s eem i ng l y i n l ig h t of t h e cl erk ’ s d i ffi cu l t y in

fi li n g t h e ex h i b i t s

. In co n s i d eri n g t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s d eci si o n , we n o t e t hat o u r Su p rem e

Co u rt h as p rev io u s l y h el d t h at “ a d el ay i n ex ces s o f 3 0 d ay s i n fi l i ng a t ran s cri p t aft er

a n o t i ce o f ap p eal i s fi l ed i s p ri m a f a c i e u n r e a s o nab l e an d i n ex cu s ab l e, b u t t h i s

p res u m p t i o n i s s u b

j ect t o reb u t t al i f t h e p art y co m es fo rward w i t h ev i d en ce t o s h o w

8t h at t h e d el ay was n ei t h er u n reas o nab l e n o r in ex cu sa b l e .” 4 Fu rt h erm o re, t h i s Co u rt

wi l l al so co n si d er

a n y d el ay i n t ran s m i t t i n g t h e ap p el l at e reco rd un reas o n ab l e w h ere i t m ay

affect an ap p eal b y : (a) d i rect l y p reju d i ci n g t h e p o s i t i o n of a p art y b y

al l o wi n g an i n t erm ed i at e ch an g e o f co n d i ti o n s o r o t h erwi s e res u lt i ng i n

i n eq ui t y ; or (b ) cau s i n g t h e ap p eal t o b e s t al e, s u ch as , b y d el ay i n g ju s t

d i s p o s i t i o n o f t h e ca s e , b y p rev en t i n g p l acem en t o f t h e cas e o n th e

earl i es t p os s i b l e ap pel l at e co u rt cal en dar, o r b y d el ay i n g t h e d o ck et i n g

o f t h e ap p eal an d h eari n g o f t h e cas e b y an ap p el l at e co u rt

. 5

In fact

, w e h av e rep eat ed l y reco g n i zed t hat ju s ti ce del ay ed fo r ev en o n e d ay i s “ ju s t i ce

d en ied t o t h e l it i gan t wh o was su cces s fu l in t h e l o wer co u rt an d wh o i s en t i t l ed t o h i s

ju d g m en t u n l es s t he cas e i s p ro p erl y rev ers ed .” 6

Nev ert h el es s , N ewt o n arg u es t h at th e s u p eri o r co urt cl erk ’ s t ech n i cal i n ab i l i t y

t o fi l e t he t ri al ex h i b i t s

— rat h er t h an h er o wn act i o n s o r i n act i o n s

— was th e s o l e cau s e

4 HTTP Hyp o t her m i a Th er a p y v. Ki mb er l

y-Cl a r k Co rp

. , 3 3 0 Ga. Ap p

. 8 5 7

, 8 5 9 -6 0 (1 ) ( 7 6 8 S E 2 d 5 4 2 ) (2 0 1 5) (p u nct u at i o n o m i t t ed ); acco r d Kel l y v. Da ws o n Ct y. , 2 8 2 Ga. 1 8 9

, 1 8 9 (6 4 6 SE2 d 5 3 ) (2 0 0 7 ); Ad ams v. Heb er t

, 2 79 Ga. Ap p . 1 5 8,

1 5 9 (6 30 SE2 d 6 5 2 ) (2 0 0 6 ).

5 HTTP Hyp o t h er m i a Th er a p y , 3 3 0 Ga. Ap p

. at 8 6 0 (1 ) (p u n ct u at i on o m i t t ed );

a cco rd Mer cer v. Mu n n , 32 1 Ga. Ap p

. 7 2 3

, 7 2 6 (1 ) ( 7 4 2 SE2 d 7 4 7 ) (2 0 1 3 );

Pi s t a cch i o v. Fr as s o , 3 1 4 Ga. Ap p . 1 1 9 , 1 2 1 -2 2 (7 2 3 SE2 d 3 22 ) (2 0 1 2).

6 HTTP Hyp o t h er mi a Th er a p y , 3 3 0 Ga. Ap p

. at 8 6 0 (1 ); a cco r d As h l ey v. JP

Mo r g a n Ch a s e Ba n k, N.A. , 3 2 7 Ga. Ap p . 2 3 2 , 2 3 7 (1 ) (7 5 8 SE2 d 1 3 5 ) (2 0 1 4 ).

9o f t h e d el ay i n fi l i n g t he t ran s cri pt

. Bu t Newt on fai l ed t o ev en co n tact t he cl e r k t o

i n q u i re reg ard i n g t h e s t at u s o f t h e t ri al t ran s cri p t fo r nearl y fi ft een m o n th s , m u ch l es s

s eek an o t h er ex t en s i o n o f t i m e i n wh i ch t o fi l e i t

. An d d es pi t e h er at t em p t t o fau l t t h e

s u p e r i o r co u rt cl erk fo r t h e d el ay , i t w as Newt o n ’ s d u t y , as t h e ap p eal i n g p art y , t o

m o ni t o r t h e p ro g res s t oward t i m el y fi li n g t h e t ran s cri p t an d ex h i bi t s

. 7

M o reo v er, in i t s o rde r de ny in g Freem an ’ s m o t i o n t o d i s m is s t h e ap p eal

, t h e t ri al

co u rt d i d n o t co n s i d er wh et her Freem an s u ffered p reju di ce as a res u l t o f t h e fi ft een

m o n t h d e l a y, b u t “ a d el ay i s u n reas o n ab l e i f i t affect s an ap peal ei t h er b y d i rect l y

p reju d i ci n g t h e p o s it i o n o f a p art y b y al l o wi n g an i n t erm ed i at e ch an g e o f co n d i t i on s

o r o t h erwi s e res u l t in g i n i n e q u i t y, o r b y cau si ng th e ap p eal t o b eco m e s t al e, fo r

7 S ee Mer cer , 3 2 1 Ga. Ap p

. at 7 2 6 (1 ) (“ [T] h e d u ty t o o rd er t h e t ran s cri p t an d

t o m o n it o r t i m el y th e p ro g res s o f t h e rep o rt er’ s offi ce i n t ran s cri p t pr e p a r at i o n i s

v es t ed up o n t h e ap p ro p ri at e ap peal i n g p art y .” (p un ct u at io n o m i t ted )); Co p t i c Co ns t

. Co

. , 27 9 Ga. Ap p

. at 4 5 6 (s am e); s ee a ls o Ja cks o n v. Beech Ai r cr a f t Co rp

. , 2 1 7 Ga. Ap p

. 4 9 8

, 5 0 2 -0 3 (2 ) (4 5 8 SE2 d 3 7 7 ) (1 9 95 ) (“ At n o t i m e d i d t h e co u rt rep o rt er h av e

a du t y t o i n f

o r m a n y p art y t o t h e t ri al t h at t h e t ran s cri p t h ad n o t b een o ffi ci al l y

o rd ered o r t h at i t was n ot bei n g p rep ared

. Th e s t at u t ory d ut y t o fi l e t i m el y a tran s cri pt
d o es n o t res t wi t h t h e co u rt rep o rt er; rat h er t h e du t y t o o rd er t he t ran s c r i p t an d to

m o ni t o r t i m el y t h e p ro g res s o f th e rep o rt er’ s o ffi ce i n t ran s cri p t p rep arat i o n i s v es t ed

u p o n t h e ap p ro p ri at e ap p eal i n g p a r t y

. . . . It w o u l d creat e an u n accep t ab l e an d

i m p ract i cal b u rd en o n th e co u rt rep o rt er’ s o ffi ce t o req u i re t h em t o co nt act at t o rn ey s

o r p art i es an d rep o rt o n t he s t at u s o f al l o r d ered tran s cri p t s or t o co n t act at t o rn ey s i n q u i ri n g wh et h er a t ran s cri p t was b ei n g o rd ered ; we d ecl i n e t o t ak e t h i s o p p o rt u n i t y

t o creat e s u ch an o p p res s i ve ad m i n i s t rat i v e req u i rem en t .”).

10i n s t an ce b y d el ay i n g do ck et in g an d h eari n g i n th i s Co urt .” 8 An d h ere, t h e i n i t i al

d o ck et i n g o f t h i s ap p eal was s i g n ifi can t l y del ay ed wh en Newt o n ’ s n o t i ce o f ap p eal

was fi l ed o n M arch 1 7, 2 0 1 7

, b u t t h e cas e was n o t d o ck et ed w i t h t h i s Co u rt un t i l J u l y

5

, 2 01 9

— o v er t w o y ears l at er. 9 Gi v en t h es e ci rcu m st an c e s , t h e tri al co u rt erred in

8 Br i en z a , 3 5 0 Ga. Ap p

. at 6 7 9 (p u n ct u at i o n o m i t ted ); a cco r d Po s t el l v. Al f a In s

. Co r p ., 3 3 2 Ga. Ap p

. 22

, 2 5 (2 ) ( a ) ( i ) ( 7 7 2 SE2 d 7 9 3 ) (2 0 1 5 ); A s h l ey , 3 2 7 Ga. Ap p

. at 2 3 5 (1 ); Bu sh v. Reed

, 3 1 1 Ga. Ap p

. 32 8

, 3 3 1 -3 2 (a) (7 15 SE2 d 7 4 7 ) (2 0 1 1 );

Ad a m s , 2 7 9 Ga. Ap p . at 1 5 9.

9 S ee Br i en z a , 3 5 0 Ga. Ap p

. at 6 7 9 (h o l d i n g t h at fi v e-m o n t h d el ay i n f i l i n g

t ran s cri p t was u n reas o n ab l e an d d el ay ed do ck et in g in t h is Co urt ); P o st el l

, 3 3 2 Ga. Ap p

. at 2 6 (2 ) (a) (i ) (h o l d i ng t h at fo u r-an d -a-h al f-m o n th d el ay was u n reas o nab l e an d

d el ay ed d o ck e t i n g i n t h i s Co u rt ); As h l ey , 3 2 7 Ga. Ap p

. at 2 3 5 -3 7 (1 ) (h o l d i n g t h at
ei g h t -m o n t h d el ay cau s ed ap p eal t o be d o ck et ed at l eas t o n e t erm l at er th an i t s h o u ld

h av e b een d o ck et ed ); McAl i s ter v. Ab a m-S ams o n , 3 1 8 Ga. Ap p

. 1

, 6 -7 (2 ) (7 3 3 SE2 d

5 8 ) (2 01 2 ) (co n cl u d in g t h at d el ay res u l t ed i n d o ck et i n g fo r a lat er t erm o f co u rt );

Pi s t a cch i o , 3 1 4 G a. Ap p

. at 1 2 2 (“ Th e [t hree-m o n t h ] d el ay h ere d i scern ib l y d el ay ed

d o ck et i n g o f t h e reco rd i n t h e ap p el l at e co u rt an d prev en ted an ap p el l at e d eci s i o n o n

t h e m eri t s at t h e earl i es t p os s i b l e d at e.”); Bu s h

, 3 1 1 Ga. Ap p

. at 3 32 (a) (h o l d i n g t h at

t en -m o n t h d el ay “ p rev en t ed t h e cas e f ro m b ei n g d o ck et ed an d h eard i n t h e earl ies t

p o s s i b l e ap p el l at e t erm o f co u rt ”); M o r r el l v. W

. S er vs

. , LLC

, 2 9 1 Ga. Ap p. 36 9

, 3 7 4 (2 ) (6 6 2 SE2 d 2 1 5 ) (2 0 0 8 ) (h ol d i n g t hat 5 1 -d ay d el ay cau s ed d el ay o f ap p ea l fro m

o n e t erm t o an o th er); A d

a ms , 2 7 9 Ga. Ap p

. at 1 5 9 (co n c l u d i n g t h at 15 0 -d ay d el ay

res u l ted i n d el ay ed d o ck et i n g fro m o n e t erm t o an o t her).

11d en y i n g Freem an ’ s m o t i o n t o d is m i s s Newt o n ’ s ap p eal

. 10 A c c or ding l y , we rev ers e t h e

t ri al co u rt ’ s ju d g m en t i n Cas e No . A2 0 A0 0 5 8

.

2

. In l i gh t o f o u r h o l d i ng i n Di v i s i o n 1

, s up r a , we d i s m i s s Newt o n’ s ap p eal in

Cas e No . A1 9A2 3 9 8

.

Ju d g men t r ever

s ed i n Ca s e No

. A2 0

A0 0 5 8

. Ap

p ea l di s mi s s e d i n Ca s e No

.

A1 9 A 2 3 9 8

. Go b ei l

a n d Ho dg es , JJ., co n cu r

.

1 0 See Br i en z a , 3 5 0 Ga. Ap p

. at 6 7 9-8 0 (rev ers i n g t ri al co u rt ’ s d en i al o f

ap p el l an t ’ s m o t i on t o d i s m i ss St at e’ s ap p eal i n li g h t o f t h e fi ve-m o n t h d el ay i n fi l i n g

t ran s cri p t an d t h e fact th at St at e fai led t o sh o w th at s u ch d el ay was no t u n reas o n ab l e

o r in ex cu s ab l e); Mer cer , 3 2 1 G a. Ap p

. at 7 2 6-2 7 (1 ) (rev ers i n g tri al co urt ’ s d en i al o f

p s y ch i at ri s t’ s m o t i o n t o di s m i s s p at i en t ’ s ap peal g i v en t hat p at i en t fai led to p res en t

ev i d en ce t o reb u t t h e p res u m p t i o n o f u n reas o nab l en es s ari si n g fro m t h e d el ay o f m o re

t h an a y ear, an d d el ay d i s cern i b l y d el ay ed d o ck et i n g o f t h e reco r d i n t h e ap p el l at e

co u rt an d p rev en t ed an ap p el lat e d eci s i o n o n th e m eri t s at t h e earl i es t p o s s i b l e d at e);

Mo r r e l l

, 2 9 1 Ga. Ap p

. at 37 4-7 5 (2 ) (rev ers in g tri al co u rt ’ s refu s al to d i s m i ss

ap p el l ee’ s ap p eal b ecau s e o f un reas o nab le, i n ex cu s ab l e d el ay i n p ay i ng co s t s an d

fi li n g a t ran s cri pt ); Co

p ti c Co n s t r

. Co

., In c. , 2 7 9 Ga. A p p

. at 4 5 6 -5 7 (rev ers i n g t ri al

co u rt ’ s o rd er den y i n g h o m eo wn er’ s m o t i o n t o d is m i ss co n t ract o r’ s ap p eal g i v en l at t er’ s i n ex cu s ab l e del ay of m o re t h an n i n e m o n th s i n fi l i n g t h e tran s cri p t

, wh i ch

d el ay ed ju st d i s p o s it i o n o f cas e).

12