Court Opinion

ID: 9576060
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-21 21:20:20.674792+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:56:29.287447
License: Public Domain

Smith, Judge,
dissenting.
In my view, the trial court’s entry of summary judgment in favor of appellees was proper. I would affirm the judgment.
*293Code § 38-627 (a) provides in pertinent part: “The records and judicial proceedings of any court of any such State, Territory or Possession, or copies thereof, shall be proved or admitted in other courts within this State by the attestation of the clerk and seal of the court annexed, if a seal exists, together with a certificate of a judge of the court that the said attestation is in proper form.” In the instant case, a properly authenticated copy of the judgment was alleged in the complaint and proved under Code § 38-627. Appellee has therefore established a prima facie case. Heakes v. Heakes, 157 Ga. 863 (122 SE2d 777) (1924); Melnick v. Bank of Highwood, 151 Ga. App. 261 (259 SE2d 667) (1979). “[0]nce the [Maryland] judgment was duly introduced the defendant’s pleadings were pierced and the burden fell upon the defendant to introduce proof which would tend to rebut the plaintiffs case. Household Finance Corp. v. Rogers, 137 Ga. App. 315, 316 (223 SE2d 462).” Conner v. Conner, 140 Ga. App. 520, 521 (231 SE2d 512) (1976).
Appellant’s answer alleges that the Maryland judgment is void for lack of personal jurisdiction. However, “[w]hen a motion for summary judgment is made and supported as provided in this section, an adverse party may not rest upon the mere allegations or denials of his pleading, but his response, by affidavits or as otherwise provided in this section, must set forth specific facts showing that there is a genuine issue for trial. If he does not so respond, summary judgment, if appropriate, shall be entered against him.” CPA § 56 (e) (Code Ann. § 81A-156 (e)); Belcher v. Logan, 150 Ga. App. 249 (257 SE2d 299) (1979). I do not believe appellant has made the requisite response to appellee’s prima facie case.
“The jurisdiction of a court of general jurisdiction is presumed and its judgment cannot be collaterally attacked where no want of jurisdiction is apparent of record. Albert v. Albert, 86 Ga. App. 560, 564 (71 SE2d 904); Peoples v. Peoples, 103 Ga. App. 462, 468 (119 SE2d 710).” Conner v. Conner, supra at 521. There is nothing in the Maryland judgment or the documents accompanying it which raise a question as to the Maryland court’s jurisdiction over appellant. Any evidentiary response to appellee’s motion must be found in “Defendant’s Response to Plaintiffs Request for Admission of Facts.” I find this evidentiary response insufficient.
Appellee’s requests for admission are as follows: “1) Admit that on June 10, 1976, you received at your home address, by certified mail, copies of the plaintiffs’ Declaration and Exhibits thereto, the plaintiffs’ motion for Summary Judgment and the Affidavit and Points and Authorities in support thereof, together with a copy of the Summons issued by the Circuit Court for Prince George’s County, Maryland, on May 26, 1976. 2) Admit that you have been properly *294served with process in this matter. 3) Admit that you are indebted to the plaintiffs in the sum of Eight Thousand One Hundred Six and 53/100 Dollars ($8,106.53), plus the costs involved in the Maryland lawsuit which resulted in the Maryland judgment which is the subject of this present action plus interest at the legal rate from October 27, 1976, until the present time.” Appellant denied all of the requests. However, in my view, none of these denials establish a genuine issue of material fact for the jury.
The denial of the first request merely raises a question of fact as to whether service was perfected in the manner set forth in the request. It does not negative the existence of valid service by specific factual averment. This was appellant’s burden on the motion, and this burden he failed to meet. See Dunaway v. North Georgia Co., 150 Ga. App. 66 (256 SE2d 669) (1979).
Appellant’s responses to the second and third requests for admission are also insufficient to defeat appellee’s properly supported motion for summary judgment. Appellant’s denial that he was “properly served” amounts to a bare conclusion. Hathcock v. National Bank of Georgia, 147 Ga. App. 134 (248 SE2d 206) (1978). His denial of indebtedness to appellee is simply irrelevant to the present inquiry.
I conclude that appellant has failed to raise a genuine issue of material fact with respect to the Maryland court’s jurisdiction. I believe the trial court was correct in granting appellee’s motion for summary judgment. See Conner v. Conner, supra; Lowther v. Mathers, 147 Ga. App. 82 (248 SE2d 161) (1978).