Court Opinion

ID: 9624697
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-22 07:14:04.471769+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:07:54.852212
License: Public Domain

Hall, Presiding Judge,
concurring specially. I agree that, under the circumstances of this case, there has been an unreasonable, inexcusable delay in the transmission of the record to the court caused by the failure of Servall’s counsel to pay the costs. I also agree that under the decisions of the Supreme Court, the appeal "must be dismissed.” However, my view of the reasons for the dismissal differs from those given in all these decisions except George v. American Credit Control, 222 Ga. 512 (150 SE2d 683). The George case is predicated upon the doctrine of "laches” under which the court may exercise its discretion to dismiss a "stale” appeal to further the administration of justice without undue delay. For the meaning of "laches,” see Citizens & Southern Nat. Bank v. Ellis, 171 Ga. 717 (156 SE 603). Unfortunately the later decisions began to apply delay as a matter of mechanical rote and hold that these appeals "must be dismissed.” This only means that the court has avoided the process of rational judging.
Applying the ratio decidendi of the George case and two recent opinions of this court, I concur in the dismissal of the appeal. Buffalo Holding Co. v. Shores, 124 Ga. App. 868; Continental Investment Corp. v. Cherry, 124 Ga. App. 863.