Court Opinion

ID: 9958032
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2024-04-06 07:03:52.216177+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:17:42.143578
License: Public Domain

Court of Appeals
of the State of Georgia

                                         ATLANTA,____________________
                                                  April 04, 2024

The Court of Appeals hereby passes the following order:

A24D0281. KWINNESHA MITCHELL v. 2018-1 IH BORROWER LP.

      2018-1 IH Borrower LP obtained a default judgment against Kwinnesha
Mitchell in Gwinnett County Magistrate Court. On December 18, 2023, the
magistrate court denied Mitchell’s motion for a new trial. Seeking review of the
magistrate court’s order, Mitchell filed this application for discretionary appeal on
March 15, 2024. We lack jurisdiction for two reasons.
      First, to be timely, a discretionary application must be filed within 30 days of
the entry of the order, decision, or judgment sought to be appealed. OCGA § 5-6-35
(d). This statutory deadline is jurisdictional, and this Court cannot accept an
application for appeal that fails to comply with the statute. See In the Interest of B. R.
F., 299 Ga. 294, 298 (788 SE2d 416) (2016) (holding that an appellate court lacks
jurisdiction over an untimely application for discretionary appeal). Here, because
Mitchell did not file her application until 88 days after entry of the magistrate order,
we lack jurisdiction to consider it.
      Second, “the only avenue of appeal available from a magistrate court judgment
is provided by OCGA § 15-10-41 (b) (1), which allows for a de novo appeal to the state
or superior court.” Tate v. Habif, 367 Ga. App. 435, 438-439 (2) (886 SE2d 389)
(2023) (citation and punctuation omitted). Thus, this Court has jurisdiction to address
an order of the magistrate court only if that order has been reviewed by a state or
superior court. Id. See also Bullock v. Sand, 260 Ga. App. 874, 875 (581 SE2d 333)
(2003); Baker v. G. T., Ltd., 194 Ga. App. 450, 451 (3) (391 SE2d 1) (1990). Mitchell’s
failure to obtain review in the state or superior court also deprives us of jurisdiction
over this application. And because Mitchell failed to pursue a timely appeal, we cannot
transfer the case to the superior court for consideration. See Ga. Const. of 1983, Art.
VI, Sec. I, Par. VIII (allowing this Court, in cases where it lacks jurisdiction, to
transfer a civil case to a court having jurisdiction of the same); Bosma v. Gunter, 258
Ga. 664, 665 (373 SE2d 368) (1988). See also OCGA §§ 5-3-7 (b); 15-10-41 (b) (1) (a
state or superior court has jurisdiction over an appeal from magistrate court only
where that appeal is filed within 30 days after entry of the judgment).
      Given our lack of jurisdiction, this application is hereby DISMISSED.

                                        Court of Appeals of the State of Georgia
                                          Clerk’s Office, Atlanta,____________________
                                                                      04/04/2024
                                                   I certify that the above is a true extract from
                                        the minutes of the Court of Appeals of Georgia.
                                                  Witness my signature and the seal of said court
                                        hereto affixed the day and year last above written.

                                                                                          , Clerk.