Court Opinion

ID: 4261479
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2018-04-05 07:10:52.183742+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:03:57.824941
License: Public Domain

Court of Appeals
of the State of Georgia

                                         ATLANTA,____________________
                                                  March 27, 2018

The Court of Appeals hereby passes the following order:

A18D0347. AVERITT EXPRESS v. LARRY RAINEY.

       Averitt Express, an employer/self-insurer, seeks discretionary review of the
award of the appellate division of the State Board of Workers’ Compensation (“the
board”) affirming the decision of the administrative law judge, which designated an
authorized treating physician for employee Larry Rainey. Averitt Express appealed to
the superior court, which allegedly conducted a hearing. But the superior court did not
issue an order, and the award of the appellate division was thus affirmed by operation
of law. See OCGA § 34-9-105 (b). Averitt Express then filed an application for
discretionary appeal in this Court. Averitt Express, however, has provided insufficient
information to invoke this Court’s jurisdiction.
       Under OCGA § 34-9-105 (b), a party may appeal to the superior court within
twenty days from the date of the appellate division’s award. In relevant part, OCGA
§ 34-9-105 (b) provides that, if that:
       court does not hear the case within 60 days of the date of docketing in
       the superior court, the decision of the board shall be considered affirmed
       by operation of law unless a hearing originally scheduled to be heard
       within the 60 days has been continued to a date certain by order of the
       court. In the event a hearing is held later than 60 days after the date of
       docketing in the superior court because same has been continued to a
       date certain by order of the court, the decision of the board shall be
       considered affirmed by operation of law if no order of the court
       disposing of the issues on appeal has been entered within 20 days after
       the date of the continued hearing. If a case is heard within 60 days from
       the date of docketing in the superior court, the decision of the board shall
       be considered affirmed by operation of law if no order of the court
       dispositive of the issues on appeal has been entered within 20 days of the
       date of the hearing.

       The appellate division issued its award on August 14, 2017. Although Averitt
Express apparently appealed to the superior court, it failed to include with the
application any document indicating: (1) when such appeal was filed with the board;
(2) when the appeal was docketed in superior court; or (3) when the hearing took
place. Under these circumstances, we are unable to ascertain whether the appeal was
timely pursuant to OCGA § 34-9-105 (b). We are also unable to determine the date the
board’s order was deemed final for purposes of calculating the due date for the
discretionary application.
       The time deadlines contained in OCGA § 34-9-105 (b) are jurisdictional. See
Synthetic Indus. v. Camp, 196 Ga. App. 637, 638 (396 SE2d 518) (1990). To be
valid, an application for discretionary appeal must be filed within 30 days of the entry
of the order or judgment to be appealed. See OCGA § 5-6-35 (d); Hill v. State, 204
Ga. App. 582 (420 SE2d 393) (1992). Where, as here, we are unable to determine
whether jurisdictional requirements have been met, we are unable to assume
jurisdiction.   Accordingly, this application for discretionary appeal is hereby
DISMISSED. See, e. g., Coronet Carpets v. Reynolds, 199 Ga. App. 383 (405 SE2d
103) (1991); Synthetic Indus. v. Camp, supra.
Court of Appeals of the State of Georgia
Clerk’s Office, Atlanta,____________________
                          03/27/2018
        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.