Court Opinion

ID: 7802000
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-08-19 14:02:15.619292+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:29:22.615586
License: Public Domain

Court of Appeals
of the State of Georgia

                                          ATLANTA,____________________
                                                   August 19, 2022

The Court of Appeals hereby passes the following order:

A22A1690. BERNA MASON v. PERMANENT GENERAL ASSURANCE
    CORPORATION et al.

       Berna Mason sued Permanent General Assurance Corp., Permanent General
Assurance Corp. of Ohio, and the General Automobile Insurance Company
(collectively “Defendants”) for breach of contract and unjust enrichment. Defendants
filed an answer and defenses, along with a counterclaim against Mason for abusive
litigation, seeking recovery of litigation expenses under OCGA §§ 51-7-80 et seq.,
9-15-14, and 13-6-11. Defendants also filed a motion for judgment on the pleadings.
The trial court entered an order granting Defendants’ motion for judgment on the
pleadings. The order did not address Defendants’ counterclaim, which remains
pending. Mason filed this direct appeal. Defendants have filed a motion to dismiss the
appeal, arguing that we lack jurisdiction. We agree.
       Under OCGA § 5-6-34 (a) (1), appeals generally may be taken from “[a]ll final
judgments, that is to say, where the case is no longer pending in the court below.” “In
a case involving multiple parties or multiple claims, a decision adjudicating fewer
than all the claims or the rights and liabilities of less than all the parties is not a final
judgment.” Shoenthal v. Shoenthal, 333 Ga. App. 729, 730 (776 SE2d 663) (2015)
(punctuation omitted). For a party to obtain appellate review under such
circumstances, there must be either an express determination by the trial court that
there is no just reason for delay under OCGA § 9-11-54 (b) or compliance with the
interlocutory appeal requirements of OCGA § 5-6-34 (b). See id. Where neither code
section is followed, the appeal is premature and must be dismissed. Id.
       Here, the trial court did not rule on Defendants’ counterclaim, and it did not
direct the entry of judgment under OCGA § 9-11-54 (b). Consequently, this action
remains pending in the trial court, and Mason therefore was required to use the
interlocutory appeal procedures – including obtaining a certificate of immediate
review from the trial court – to appeal the order granting Defendants’ motion for
judgment on the pleadings. See OCGA § 5-6-34 (b); CitiFinancial Svcs., Inc. v.
Holland, 310 Ga. App. 480, 481 (713 SE2d 678) (2011); Chatham County Hosp.
Auth. v. Mack, 185 Ga. App. 13, 14 (363 SE2d 264) (1987). Mason’s failure to do so
deprives us of jurisdiction over this premature direct appeal. See Bailey v. Bailey, 266
Ga. 832, 833 (471 SE2d 213) (1996). Accordingly, Defendants’ motion to dismiss the
appeal is GRANTED, and the appeal is hereby DISMISSED.

                                        Court of Appeals of the State of Georgia
                                               Clerk’s Office, Atlanta,____________________
                                                                         08/19/2022
                                               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.