Lonnie Daniels v. Key Property Services

Court of Appeals
of the State of Georgia
ATLANTA,____________________
February 10, 2015
The Court of Appeals hereby passes the following order:
A15A0808. LONNIE DANIELS v. KEY PROPERTY SERVICES.
This case originated as a dispossessory proceeding in magistrate court.
Following an adverse ruling, Lonnie Daniels appealed the magistrate court’s decision
to superior court. On August 12, 2014, the superior court dismissed the appeal. On
October 3, 2014, Daniels filed this pro se notice of appeal. We lack jurisdiction for
two reasons.
First, because the order at issue disposes of a de novo appeal from a magistrate
court decision, Daniels was required to follow the discretionary appeal procedures.
See OCGA § 5-6-35 (a) (1); English v. Delbridge, 216 Ga. App. 366, 367 (454 SE2d
175) (1995). His failure to do so deprives us of jurisdiction over this appeal.
Second, this appeal is untimely. Although a notice of appeal generally may be
filed within 30 days of entry of the order sought to be appealed, the underlying
subject matter of an appeal controls over the relief sought in determining the proper
appellate procedure. See Rebich v. Miles, 264 Ga. 467, 467-468 (448 SE2d 192)
(1994). The underlying subject matter of this case is a dispossessory judgment. And,
pursuant to OCGA § 44-7-56, an appeal from a dispossessory judgment must be filed
within seven days of the date the judgment was entered. See Ray M. Wright, Inc. v.
Jones, 239 Ga. App. 521 (521 SE2d 456) (1999). Here, Daniels filed his notice of
appeal 52 days after the superior court’s order was entered. For these reasons, we
lack jurisdiction to review this appeal, which is hereby DISMISSED.
Court of Appeals of the State of Georgia
02/10/2015
Clerk’s Office, Atlanta,____________________
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.