Case Name: Smith v. Chivers
Court: Court of Appeals of Georgia
Jurisdiction: Georgia
Decision Date: 1909-05-04
Citations: 6 Ga. App. 154
Docket Number: 1559
Parties: Smith v. Chivers.
Judges: 
Reporter: Georgia Appeals Reports
Volume: 6
Pages: 154–154

Head Matter:
1559.
Smith v. Chivers.
Certiorari, from Washington, superior court — Judge Bawlings. November 7, 1908.
Submitted January 28, —
Decided May 4, 1909.
M. L. Gross, A. R. Wright, for plaintiff in error.

Opinion:
Hill, C. J.
1. The defendant in a justice's court, when sued on an unconditional contract in writing, must appear and make his defense at the-first term, either by pleading or by the marking of his name, or that of his attorney, on the docket. Civil Code, §4134; Heyward v. Field, 95 Ga. 714 (22 S. E. 653); Morgan v. Prior, 110 Ga. 791 (36 S. E. 75).
2. When no defense whatever is made at or before the first term to a suit, in a justice's court on an unconditional contract in writing, no plea can be filed on an appeal to a jury from the judgment rendered in favor of the plaintiff. The justice did not err in dismissing the appeal.
Judgment affirmed.