Opinion ID: 3062871
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: State Court Personal Injury Action

Text: According to Watson’s § 1983 complaint, Watson filed a personal injury action in the Dougherty County Superior Court after he was injured in a car accident. Watson also filed an affidavit of indigence and was relieved of state court costs. On March 28, 2008, Superior Court Judge Lockette ordered Watson’s personal injury case transferred to the city of Sylvester, Georgia. The transfer order imposed upon Watson a $50 transfer fee. The superior court clerk sent Watson a copy of the order and a letter explaining that the case would be transferred after Watson paid the transfer fee. On April 18, 2008, Watson took his notice of appeal and other appeal papers to the superior court clerk’s office for filing. The clerk’s office receptionist and another office worker looked over Watson’s appeal papers, and the receptionist 2 told Watson she could not accept them because they were not proper. She also told Watson he could not file an appeal in forma pauperis and had to pay the filing fee. The receptionist advised Watson to go to a law library to learn how to file an appeal. Watson left with his papers and, several days later, mailed his notice of appeal, affidavit of poverty and certificate of service to the superior court. On April 27, 2008, Watson’s deadline for appealing the transfer order expired. Two days later, on April 29, 2008, the clerk’s office returned Watson’s appeal papers by mail with a letter explaining that Watson needed a certificate of service before his appeal could be filed. The clerk’s office also included a guide for filing an appeal.