Court Opinion

ID: 9854562
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-09-24 06:09:14.524194+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:23:09.393757
License: Public Domain

Pope, Judge,
dissenting.
I must dissent to that portion of the majority opinion which allows appellee Morris, who though properly served failed to timely file his notice of appeal, to join Morris’s, Inc. and C & L Gifts and Jewelry, Inc. in their appeal against DOT.
The payment of just and adequate compensation by the condemnor is a constitutional prerequisite to the taking of property through the power of eminent domain. The condemnee does have a right to file an appeal to a jury on the question of value but “only if it is filed not later than 30 days following the date of service as provided for in [OCGA § 32-3-8].” (Citations and punctuation omitted.) Blonder v. Dept. of Transp., 156 Ga. App. 711 (275 SE2d 762) (1980); OCGA § 32-3-14. Likewise, it has been established beyond cavil that “ ‘[t]he right to appeal to a jury from a declaration of taking has been held to be absolutely conditional upon the filing of a timely notice of appeal in the superior court. [Cit.]; D. O. T. v. Massengale, 141 Ga. App. 70 (232 SE2d 608) (1977); D. O. T. v. Harrison, 154 Ga. App. 118 (267 SE2d 651) (1980).’ ” Chambers v. Dept. of Transp., 172 Ga. App. 197 (1) (322 SE2d 366) (1984). “Accordingly, the trial court [has] no authority or discretion to extend the period of time for filing a notice of appeal.” McClure v. Dept. of Transp., 140 Ga. App. 564 (231 SE2d 532) (1976). See also Dept. of Transp. v. Rudeseal, 156 Ga. App. 712 (1) (276 SE2d 52) (1980); Dept. of Transp. v. Forrester, 149 Ga. App. 647 (255 SE2d 115) (1979); Dept. of Transp. v. Brooks, 143 Ga. App. 872 (1) (240 SE2d 163) (1977). Thus, to the extent that Knight v. Dept. of Transp., 134 Ga. App. 332 (214 SE2d 418) (1975), suggests otherwise, I believe it must be overruled and the decision of the court below be reversed as to appellee Morris.
I am authorized to state that Judge Sognier joins in this dissent.
*676Decided March 16, 1988
Rehearing denied March 31, 1988.
Michael J. Bowers, Attorney General, Marion 0. Gordon, First Assistant Attorney General, Roland F. Matson, Senior Assistant Attorney General, Beverly B. Martin, Assistant Attorney General, Wil*677liam A. Zorn, for appellant.