Court Opinion

ID: 5628984
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-01-11 05:11:14.438781+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:37:43.664432
License: Public Domain

Gardner, P. J.
No motion is made to dismiss the writ of error. However, in matters affecting the jurisdiction of this court to entertain a writ of error, we must act ex mero motu. Service of the bill of exceptions on the defendant in error or its counsel, or proper acknowledgment thereof by such party or its counsel or the due and legal waiver thereof) as provided by Code § 6-911, is absolutely essential to confer jurisdiction on this court to entertain the writ of error. Southside Atlanta Bank v. Anderson, 200 Ga. 322 (3) (37 S. E. 2d, 404), and cit.; Irwin v. LeCraw, 206 Ga. 702 (58 S. E. 2d, 383) and cit. An unverified certificate by counsel for the plaintiff in error that he has on the date named, as counsel for the plaintiff in error, served the counsel of record for the defendant in error with a copy of the bill of exceptions by delivering the same in person to a named member of the firm of attorneys representing the defendant in error in the cause—no other service, waiver thereof, or acknowledgment appearing—does not confer jurisdiction on this court, and the writ of error, even in the absence of a motion therefor, must be dismissed. Anderson v. Humphries, 140 Ga. 368 (78 S. E. 1079); Smith v. McKnight Brothers, 28 Ga. App. 732 (113 S. E. 48); Bray v. Langley, 169 Ga. 733 (151 S. E. 376); Ivey v. McWilliams, 178 Ga. 760 (174 S. E. 354); Sistrunk v. Lipscomb-Weyman-Connors Co., 179 Ga. 48 (2) (175 S. E. 12). Service of such bill of exceptions can not be shown in the Court of Appeals after the writ of error has been filed in said court. Johnson v. McKelvin, 150 Ga. 812 (105 S. E. 600).
The defendant in error cannot confer jurisdiction upon this court by appearing and filing briefs in the appellate court and making no motion to dismiss the writ of error. See Mauldin v. Mauldin, 203 Ga. 123 (45 S. E. 2d, 818); Harper v. A. & W. P. R. Co., 204 Ga. 311 (49 S. E. 2d, 513); West Lumber Co. v. Harris, 204 Ga. 343 (50 S. E. 2d, 15). The act of 1946 (Ga. L. 1946, p. 726 et seq.) made no change in the provisions of Code § 6-911. Harper v. A. & W. P. R. Co., supra; Mauldin v. Mauldin, supra. No part of said act was intended to change or changed the requirements of service or acknowledgment of serv *666ice as previously provided by law. Hendrix v. Toledious, 80 Ga. App. 160, 161 (55 S. E. 2d, 752), and cit.; Godwin v. Atlanta Steel Co., 82 Ga. App. 391 (61 S. E. 2d, 155).
It follows that the unverified statement and certificate of counsel for the plaintiff in error that he had delivered a copy of the bill of exceptions to counsel of record for the defendant in error in person is not sufficient-and the writ of error must be

Dismissed.

Townsend and Carlisle, JJ., concur.