Parker v. Robinson ( 2016 )

FIRST DIVISION
DOYLE, C. J.,
ANDREWS, P. J., and RAY, J.
NOTICE: Motions for reconsideration must be
physically received in our clerk’s office within ten
days of the date of decision to be deemed timely filed.
http://www.gaappeals.us/rules
June 9, 2016
In the Court of Appeals of Georgia
A16A0212. PARKER v. ROBINSON.
ANDREWS, Presiding Judge.
Adriene Parker appeals from an order of contempt entered against her by the
Superior Court of Fulton County for her wilful violation of certain provisions of a
temporary visitation order. Because Parker failed to timely file a notice of appeal of
the trial court’s contempt order, we lack jurisdiction and dismiss this appeal.
In September 2014, Parker filed a petition to modify the visitation rights of Al-
Rahim Robinson with the couple’s minor child.1 Robinson responded, and the couple
entered a temporary order regarding visitation which required, in part, Parker to board
the minor child on a January 1, 2015 flight to New York City, New York to visit
Robinson. Parker failed to board the child as required. In January 2015, Robinson
1
It does not appear that Parker and Robinson were ever married.
asked the trial court to hold Parker in contempt for violating the temporary order.
Following a hearing during which the trial court received evidence, the trial court
entered an order dated February 13, 2015 finding Parker in contempt and ordering her
to reimburse Robinson for various expenses, including $2,000 in attorney fees.2
On March 13, 2015, Parker filed a “Motion for New Trial or in the Alternative
Motion to Set Aside Judgment.” The thrust of Parker’s argument was that the trial
court did not “state a statutory basis for an award of attorney’s fees.” The trial court
summarily denied Parker’s motion for new trial and granted in part3 and denied in
part Parker’s motion to set aside. On appeal, Parker does not contest the finding of
contempt against her; rather, she argues that “the award of attorney’s fees and
expenses of litigation against her is contrary to Georgia law.”
2
The trial court did not cite a statutory basis for the attorney fee award in its
order.
3
The trial court struck its previous award of Robinson’s travel expenses to
attend Parker’s contempt hearing, finding that “they are not a valid expense of
litigation and are not otherwise recoverable.”
2
Although not addressed by the parties,4 we are obligated to question our
jurisdiction “in all cases in which there may be any doubt regarding the existence of
such jurisdiction.” Bandy v. Elmo, 280 Ga. 221 (626 SE2d 505) (2006); Canoeside
Properties. v. Livsey, 277 Ga. 425, 426 (1) (589 SE2d 116) (2003).
1. Under Georgia law, a litigant cannot use a motion for a new trial to challenge
a trial court’s legal conclusions; rather, it is a proper vehicle only for challenging
factual findings made by either a jury or a judge in a trial-like setting. See, e.g.,
Turner v. Bynum, 255 Ga. App. 173, 175 (1) (564 SE2d 784) (2002) (litigant properly
filed motion for new trial from trial court’s order enforcing a settlement agreement);
Bank South Mortgage v. Starr, 208 Ga. App. 19, 20 (429 SE2d 700) (1993). Where
a motion for new trial is not a proper vehicle for review of a trial court’s action, it has
no validity and will not extend the time for filing the notice of appeal. See Turner,
255 Ga. App. at 174-175 (1). See also Pillow v. Seymour, 255 Ga. 683, 684 (341
SE2d 447) (1986).
4
Indeed, Robinson failed to file an appellee’s brief as required by our rules.
See Court of Appeals Rule 23 (b) (“Appellee’s brief shall be filed within 40 days
after the appeal is docketed or 20 days after the filing of appellant’s brief, whichever
is later.). (Emphasis supplied). The Bar is reminded that “[f]ailure to timely file [an
appellee’s brief] may result in non-consideration of the brief and may subject counsel
to contempt.” Id. See also Court of Appeals Rule 13.
3
While a motion for new trial may be available to challenge a trial court’s
finding of contempt, see Berman v. Berman, 231 Ga. 216 (200 SE2d 870) (1973),
there is no such challenge in this case. Instead, Parker pursued a purely legal
argument that the trial court’s award of attorney fees pursuant to OCGA § 19-6-2 was
not supported by statute. See Suarez v. Halbert, 246 Ga. App. 822, 824 (1) (543 SE2d
733) (2000) (“As a general rule, Georgia law does not provide for the award of
attorney fees even to a prevailing party unless authorized by statute or by contract.
When awarded by statute, such fees may only be obtained pursuant to the statute
under which the action was brought and decided.”); Bank South, 208 Ga. App. at 20.
There being no challenge to any factual issue, we conclude that Parker’s motion for
new trial was not the proper vehicle to review the trial court’s original contempt
order. See Turner, 255 Ga. App. at 175 (1); Bank South, 208 Ga. App. at 20. As a
result, Parker’s motion did not toll the time for appealing the trial court’s order.5 See
Pillow, 255 Ga. at 684; Turner, 255 Ga. App. at 174-175 (1).
5
The result would be the same if Parker’s motion were construed to be a
motion for reconsideration, as such motions do not toll the time for filing a notice of
appeal. See Blackwell v. Sutton, 261 Ga. 284 (404 SE2d 114) (1991); Masters v.
Clark, 269 Ga. App. 537, 539 (604 SE2d 556) (2004).
4
“The proper and timely filing of the notice of appeal is an absolute requirement
to confer jurisdiction upon the appellate court.” Johnson v. State, 234 Ga. App. 675(507 SE2d 529) (1998). “A notice of appeal shall be filed within 30 days after entry
of the appealable decision or judgment complained of. . . .” OCGA § 5-6-38 (a).
Furthermore, “[n]o appeal shall be dismissed . . . except . . . [f]or failure to file notice
of appeal within the time required as provided in this article or within any extension
of time granted hereunder. . . .” OCGA § 5-6-48 (b) (1). In this case, the trial court’s
order finding Parker in contempt and assessing attorney fees was entered February
13, 2015. As a result, Parker’s notice of appeal had to be filed no later than Monday,
March 16, 2015. See OCGA § 5-6-38 (a). However, the notice of appeal was not filed
until August 3, 2015. “The record fails to reflect that [Parker] sought or was granted
an extension of time in which to file the notice of appeal, nor did [she] seek or receive
permission to file an out-of-time appeal.” (Citations omitted.) Davis v. State, 280 Ga.
352 (628 SE2d 374) (2006). “In the absence of a timely filed notice of appeal, this
Court is without jurisdiction to consider the merits of the case, and the appeal in [this
case] must be dismissed.” Johnson, 234 Ga. App. at 675.
5
2. To the extent that Parker seeks to appeal the denial of her motion to set aside
as to attorney fees,6 this Court again lacks jurisdiction. The denial of a motion to set
aside a final judgment under OCGA § 9-11-60 is not directly appealable, but rather
requires the filing of an application for discretionary appeal under OCGA § 5-6-35
(b). Jim Ellis Atlanta, Inc. v. Adamson, 283 Ga. App. 116, 117 (640 SE2d 688)
(2006). No such application was filed. It necessarily follows that our jurisdiction is
again lacking. Id. at 117 (clear that denial of motion to set aside “was not directly
appealable and that the present appeal must consequently be dismissed”).
Appeal dismissed. Doyle, C. J., concurs. Ray, J., concurs in judgment only.
6
It is unnecessary for us to decide whether Parker’s motion could be properly
construed as a motion to set aside because, in either event, our jurisdiction is lacking.
6