FIFTH DIVISION BROWN, C. J., RICKMAN, P. J., and MERCIER, 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. https://www.gaappeals.us/rules
May 4, 2026
In the Court of Appeals of Georgia A26A0465. ROBERTS v. EVANS et al.
RICKMAN, Presiding Judge.
Devine Roberts, appearing pro se, appeals from the trial court’s final order
dismissing his “breach of trust” lawsuit for failure to state a viable claim. Roberts
claims that the trial court erred by (1) dismissing the lawsuit without requiring
appellees to show cause at the hearing; (2) failing to apply equitable maxims and
constructive trust principles to his claims; (3) misconstruing the substantive equity
issues raised by his claims; and (4) imposing filing restrictions and threats of contempt
against him. We discern no error and affirm.
The record shows that in June 2024, Roberts was charged with multiple
violations of the Barrow County Code of Ordinances for his alleged failure to maintain control of his two family pets – a Rottweiler and a German Shepherd (the “dogs”).
The charges alleged, inter alia, that Roberts’s dogs had been repeatedly at large and
had been chasing people (the “code enforcement case”). Roberts’s dogs were
confiscated and held by the County’s Animal Control Division pending a jury trial.
On September 16, 2024, in response to the underlying code enforcement case,
Roberts filed the instant petition for “Bill in Equity for a Breach of Trust” in the trial
court (the “lawsuit”). The lawsuit was filed against Chief Judge Caroline Power
Evans of the Barrow County Magistrate Court; Andrew Brill; Jeff Perry; Tracy Byrd;
Jaclyn Fryman; and Judge Jaime Crowe of the Barrow County Magistrate Court
(collectively “Appellees”), who took actions in their judicial and official capacities in
the code enforcement case.1 Roberts claimed that he had appointed Brill, Perry, and
Byrd as trustees to settle and close the code enforcement case on his behalf, but that
they had failed to perform their fiduciary duties.2 He also complained that he had been
1 Judge Crowe entered the hold order for confiscation of the dogs; Chief Judge Evans was a prior judge in the code enforcement case; Brill and Perry were the Assistant District Attorneys who prosecuted the code enforcement case on behalf of the County; Byrd was a trial court clerk; and Fryman was director of the Barrow County Animal Control Division. 2 Roberts’s trustee appointment allegedly occurred in July 2024, after the filing of the code enforcement case and the dog confiscations. While Roberts’s allegations 2 deprived of due process by Judge Evans and Judge Crowe because the dogs had been
confiscated without a prior jury trial.
Appellees denied Roberts’s substantive allegations and filed a motion to dismiss
the lawsuit for failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted, arguing that
Roberts’s claims merely sought to improperly interfere with the pending code
enforcement case.3 Appellees also argued that the equitable claims were subject to
dismissal since Roberts had an adequate remedy at law in the code enforcement case.
Following a hearing, the trial court granted Appellees’ motion to dismiss.
Finding that Roberts had repeatedly filed frivolous documents in the lawsuit, the trial
court further ordered the trial court clerk to reject Roberts’s pro se filings unless they
had been reviewed and approved by a trial court judge (the “pro se filing
restrictions”). And although the trial court found that Appellees had demonstrated
entitlement to attorney fees and litigation expenses in the amount of $15,000, it
in the petition are convoluted and largely indecipherable, it is apparent that his claims directly relate to and arise from the code enforcement case. 3 Appellees also raised the defenses of official, prosecutorial, and judicial immunity. The trial court, however, did not address whether Roberts’s claims were barred on those grounds. 3 reserved entry of an award.4 Roberts has filed this appeal to challenge the trial court’s
decision.
1. Roberts argues that at the motion hearing, the trial court erroneously placed
the burden of proof upon him to establish his claim, while defendants failed to offer
any evidence or rebuttal. No error has been shown.
Because a transcript of the hearing has not been included in the record, we are
unable to confirm what transpired during the hearing below. “It is well established
that the burden is on the appellant to arrange for the preparation and filing of the
transcript of the lower court proceedings.”Hensley v. Young, 273 Ga. App. 687 (615
SE2d 771) (2005) (punctuation omitted). OCGA § 5-6-37 requires that the notice of
appeal “shall state whether or not any transcript of evidence and proceedings is to be
transmitted as a part of the record on appeal.” The record before us does not indicate
whether the motion hearing was transcribed, and Roberts’s notice of appeal does not
designate a hearing transcript for inclusion in the appellate record.
Absent the transcript, we must presume the correctness of the trial court’s
conduct of the proceedings. See Christie v. Rainmaster Irrigation, Inc., 299 Ga. App.
4 The trial court’s order reflects that at the hearing, Appellees moved for an award of attorney’s fees and litigation expenses under OCGA § 9-15-14. 4 383, 387(2) (682 SE2d 687) (2009) (“In the absence of either a record or transcript
of the rule nisi hearing,... this Court must presume the correctness of the trial court’s
actions at the hearing.”); Reynolds v. Kresge, 269 Ga. App. 767, 769 (605 SE2d 379)
(2004) (“Absent a transcript of the hearing, we must presume the correctness of the
proceedings below[.]”).
Nevertheless, it is apparent that Roberts’s argument misconstrues the standard
to be applied in ruling upon a motion to dismiss under OCGA § 9-11-12(b)(6). While
Roberts complains that Appellees failed to offer evidence or rebuttal at the hearing,
they were not required to do so.5 “When presented with a motion to dismiss for failure
to state a claim, a court must examine the sufficiency of the pleadings.” Kammerer Real
Estate Holdings, LLC v. Forsyth County Bd. of Comm’rs, 302 Ga. 284, 286(2) (806
SE2d 561) (2017). “[O]nly the pleadings — not evidence — are evaluated in a motion
to dismiss pursuant to OCGA § 9-11-12(b)(6).”McCloud v. Lowndes County Bd. of
Comm’rs, 369 Ga. App. 756, 759 (1) (894 SE2d 505) (2023). The trial court’s order
states and applies the proper legal standard.
5 To the extent that Roberts also argues that the Rule Nisi issued by the trial court placed the burden of proof upon Appellees to present evidence supporting the motion to dismiss, his argument is baseless. The Rule Nisi made no mention of the burden of proof. 5 2. Roberts also contends that the trial court erred by failing to apply the proper
equitable maxims and constructive trust principles. Again, his contention is without
merit.
We review de novo a trial court’s ruling on a motion to dismiss.
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FIFTH DIVISION BROWN, C. J., RICKMAN, P. J., and MERCIER, 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. https://www.gaappeals.us/rules
May 4, 2026
In the Court of Appeals of Georgia A26A0465. ROBERTS v. EVANS et al.
RICKMAN, Presiding Judge.
Devine Roberts, appearing pro se, appeals from the trial court’s final order
dismissing his “breach of trust” lawsuit for failure to state a viable claim. Roberts
claims that the trial court erred by (1) dismissing the lawsuit without requiring
appellees to show cause at the hearing; (2) failing to apply equitable maxims and
constructive trust principles to his claims; (3) misconstruing the substantive equity
issues raised by his claims; and (4) imposing filing restrictions and threats of contempt
against him. We discern no error and affirm.
The record shows that in June 2024, Roberts was charged with multiple
violations of the Barrow County Code of Ordinances for his alleged failure to maintain control of his two family pets – a Rottweiler and a German Shepherd (the “dogs”).
The charges alleged, inter alia, that Roberts’s dogs had been repeatedly at large and
had been chasing people (the “code enforcement case”). Roberts’s dogs were
confiscated and held by the County’s Animal Control Division pending a jury trial.
On September 16, 2024, in response to the underlying code enforcement case,
Roberts filed the instant petition for “Bill in Equity for a Breach of Trust” in the trial
court (the “lawsuit”). The lawsuit was filed against Chief Judge Caroline Power
Evans of the Barrow County Magistrate Court; Andrew Brill; Jeff Perry; Tracy Byrd;
Jaclyn Fryman; and Judge Jaime Crowe of the Barrow County Magistrate Court
(collectively “Appellees”), who took actions in their judicial and official capacities in
the code enforcement case.1 Roberts claimed that he had appointed Brill, Perry, and
Byrd as trustees to settle and close the code enforcement case on his behalf, but that
they had failed to perform their fiduciary duties.2 He also complained that he had been
1 Judge Crowe entered the hold order for confiscation of the dogs; Chief Judge Evans was a prior judge in the code enforcement case; Brill and Perry were the Assistant District Attorneys who prosecuted the code enforcement case on behalf of the County; Byrd was a trial court clerk; and Fryman was director of the Barrow County Animal Control Division. 2 Roberts’s trustee appointment allegedly occurred in July 2024, after the filing of the code enforcement case and the dog confiscations. While Roberts’s allegations 2 deprived of due process by Judge Evans and Judge Crowe because the dogs had been
confiscated without a prior jury trial.
Appellees denied Roberts’s substantive allegations and filed a motion to dismiss
the lawsuit for failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted, arguing that
Roberts’s claims merely sought to improperly interfere with the pending code
enforcement case.3 Appellees also argued that the equitable claims were subject to
dismissal since Roberts had an adequate remedy at law in the code enforcement case.
Following a hearing, the trial court granted Appellees’ motion to dismiss.
Finding that Roberts had repeatedly filed frivolous documents in the lawsuit, the trial
court further ordered the trial court clerk to reject Roberts’s pro se filings unless they
had been reviewed and approved by a trial court judge (the “pro se filing
restrictions”). And although the trial court found that Appellees had demonstrated
entitlement to attorney fees and litigation expenses in the amount of $15,000, it
in the petition are convoluted and largely indecipherable, it is apparent that his claims directly relate to and arise from the code enforcement case. 3 Appellees also raised the defenses of official, prosecutorial, and judicial immunity. The trial court, however, did not address whether Roberts’s claims were barred on those grounds. 3 reserved entry of an award.4 Roberts has filed this appeal to challenge the trial court’s
decision.
1. Roberts argues that at the motion hearing, the trial court erroneously placed
the burden of proof upon him to establish his claim, while defendants failed to offer
any evidence or rebuttal. No error has been shown.
Because a transcript of the hearing has not been included in the record, we are
unable to confirm what transpired during the hearing below. “It is well established
that the burden is on the appellant to arrange for the preparation and filing of the
transcript of the lower court proceedings.”Hensley v. Young, 273 Ga. App. 687 (615
SE2d 771) (2005) (punctuation omitted). OCGA § 5-6-37 requires that the notice of
appeal “shall state whether or not any transcript of evidence and proceedings is to be
transmitted as a part of the record on appeal.” The record before us does not indicate
whether the motion hearing was transcribed, and Roberts’s notice of appeal does not
designate a hearing transcript for inclusion in the appellate record.
Absent the transcript, we must presume the correctness of the trial court’s
conduct of the proceedings. See Christie v. Rainmaster Irrigation, Inc., 299 Ga. App.
4 The trial court’s order reflects that at the hearing, Appellees moved for an award of attorney’s fees and litigation expenses under OCGA § 9-15-14. 4 383, 387(2) (682 SE2d 687) (2009) (“In the absence of either a record or transcript
of the rule nisi hearing,... this Court must presume the correctness of the trial court’s
actions at the hearing.”); Reynolds v. Kresge, 269 Ga. App. 767, 769 (605 SE2d 379)
(2004) (“Absent a transcript of the hearing, we must presume the correctness of the
proceedings below[.]”).
Nevertheless, it is apparent that Roberts’s argument misconstrues the standard
to be applied in ruling upon a motion to dismiss under OCGA § 9-11-12(b)(6). While
Roberts complains that Appellees failed to offer evidence or rebuttal at the hearing,
they were not required to do so.5 “When presented with a motion to dismiss for failure
to state a claim, a court must examine the sufficiency of the pleadings.” Kammerer Real
Estate Holdings, LLC v. Forsyth County Bd. of Comm’rs, 302 Ga. 284, 286(2) (806
SE2d 561) (2017). “[O]nly the pleadings — not evidence — are evaluated in a motion
to dismiss pursuant to OCGA § 9-11-12(b)(6).”McCloud v. Lowndes County Bd. of
Comm’rs, 369 Ga. App. 756, 759 (1) (894 SE2d 505) (2023). The trial court’s order
states and applies the proper legal standard.
5 To the extent that Roberts also argues that the Rule Nisi issued by the trial court placed the burden of proof upon Appellees to present evidence supporting the motion to dismiss, his argument is baseless. The Rule Nisi made no mention of the burden of proof. 5 2. Roberts also contends that the trial court erred by failing to apply the proper
equitable maxims and constructive trust principles. Again, his contention is without
merit.
We review de novo a trial court’s ruling on a motion to dismiss. Auto-Owners
Ins. Co. v. Tracy, 344 Ga. App. 53, 54 (806 SE2d 653) (2017). “A motion to dismiss
for failure to state a claim should be granted where it appears to a certainty that the
plaintiff would be entitled to no relief under any state of facts which could be proved
in support of his claim.”Voyles v. McKinney, 283 Ga. 169, 170(1) (657 SE2d 193)
(2008) (punctuation omitted). In ruling upon a motion to dismiss, “the pleadings to
be construed include any exhibits attached to and incorporated into the complaint and
the answer.” Babalola v. HSBC Bank, USA, N.A., 324 Ga. App. 750, 750 (751 SE2d
545) (2013). See also OCGA § 9-11-10(c) (“[a] copy of any written instrument which
is an exhibit to a pleading is a part thereof for all purposes”). We note that the Georgia
Civil Practice Act only requires notice pleading, the complaint must be construed in
the light most favorable to Roberts as the plaintiff, and pro se pleadings are held to less
stringent standards. See Zephaniah v. Ga. Clinic, P.C., 350 Ga. App. 408, 411-12(1)
6 (829 SE2d 448) (2019). Applying these standards, the trial court’s dismissal of
Roberts’s petition was proper.
Roberts’s claims in the lawsuit directly related to the pending code enforcement
case.6 The trial court correctly ruled that Roberts could not assert the equitable claims
to interfere with the code enforcement case. See OCGA § 9-5-2 (“Equity will take no
part in the administration of the criminal law. It will neither aid criminal courts in the
exercise of their jurisdiction, nor will it restrain or obstruct them.”); Mohwish v.
Franklin, 291 Ga. 179, 180 (728 SE2d 240) (2012) (affirming the trial court’s dismissal
of a civil complaint when plaintiff’s claims wanted the trial court to interfere with his
ongoing criminal prosecution); Sarrio v. Gwinnett County, 273 Ga. 404, 405(1) (542
SE2d 485) (2001) (affirming the dismissal of equitable claims and ruling that equity
courts should not intervene in prosecutions involving the violation of municipal
ordinances); Talbot State Bank v. Columbus, 261 Ga. 850 (413 SE2d 194) (1992)
(affirming the trial court’s refusal to enjoin the prosecution of the violation of a city
ordinance because “equity will not interfere with criminal proceedings”).
6 Roberts conceded that his equity and fiduciary breach claims in the lawsuit were related to and overlapped the pending code enforcement case. 7 Roberts’s response to the dismissal motion claims that this case is “about
property rights.” Roberts’s property rights must be adjudicated in the code
enforcement proceedings, which provide an adequate remedy at law. See OCGA § 23-
1-4 (“Equity will not take cognizance of a plain legal right where an adequate and
complete remedy is provided by law[.]”); Pendleton v. Atlanta, 236 Ga. 479, 480(2)
(224 SE2d 357) (1976) (appellants’ civil action seeking relief related to a pending
criminal case against them was properly dismissed since all questions set forth in the
petition concerning the process and authority by which appellants were brought to
trial could be attacked in the criminal proceedings, giving the appellants an adequate
remedy at law).
3. Roberts further argues that the trial court misconstrued his equitable claims
as “sovereign citizen” contentions. In light of our conclusion that Roberts’s claim was
legally barred, we need not address this contention of error.
4. Lastly, Roberts claims that the trial court erred by imposing the pro se filing
restrictions and by considering an award of attorney fees for frivolous litigation under
OCGA § 9-15-14. We discern no error.
8 (a) Based upon Roberts’s pattern of frivolous filings, the trial court’s imposition
of the pro se filing restriction was authorized. The record amply supports the trial
court’s finding that Roberts had submitted multiple filings and documents that
presented convoluted, frivolous arguments and demands in both this lawsuit and the
underlying code enforcement case. According to Appellees, Roberts also had filed a
quo warranto petition against several Appellees in another lawsuit that was dismissed
as improperly filed.
No person is free to abuse the courts by inundating them with frivolous suits [and filings] which burden the administration of the courts for no useful purpose. This limitation on [Roberts’s] ability to file pro se [submissions] does not totally deprive him of meaningful access to the courts and is reasonable under the circumstances.
Higdon v. Higdon, 321 Ga. App. 260, 266(4) (739 SE2d 498) (2013) (citation and
punctuation omitted).
(b) The trial court did not enter an attorney fees award and instead took the
issue under advisement. Because there has been no final award, Roberts’s claim of
error need not be addressed in this appeal. See U-Haul Co. of Arizona v. Rutland, 348
Ga. App. 738, 751(2)(b) n. 10 (824 SE2d 644) (2019) (where the trial court reserved
9 ruling on the award of attorney fees under OCGA § 9-15-14, there was nothing for this
Court to review as to that issue); Homelife on Glynco v. Gateway Ctr. Commercial Ass’n,
348 Ga. App. 97, 106(6) (819 SE2d 723) (2018) (“Where there is no final ruling upon
an issue by the trial court, there is nothing for the appellate court to pass upon, for this
court is a court for the correction of errors made in the trial court.”) (punctuation
omitted).
Judgment affirmed. Brown, C. J., and Mercier, J., concur.