Marco Crawford v. Washington Gardens Apartments

Opinion

Court of Appeals of the State of Georgia

ATLANTA,__________________ January 09, 2014

The Court of Appeals hereby passes the following order:

A14A0775. MARCO CRAWFORD v. WASHINGTON GARDENS APARTMENTS.

Washington Gardens Apartments filed a dispossessory action against Marco Crawford in magistrate court. The magistrate court entered judgment in favor of Washington Gardens Apartments, and Crawford appealed to this Court.

“The only avenue of appeal available from [a] magistrate court judgment is provided by OCGA § 15-10-41 (b) (1), which allows for a de novo appeal to the state or superior court.” Handler v. Hulsey, 199 Ga. App. 751 (406 SE2d 225) (1991). This Court may only address magistrate court matters that already have been reviewed by the state or superior court. See id.; Westwind Corp. v. Washington Federal Savings & Loan Assn., 195 Ga. App. 411 (1) (393 SE2d 479) (1990).

The Georgia Constitution requires that “[a]ny court shall transfer to the appropriate court in the state any civil case in which it determines that jurisdiction or venue lies elsewhere.” See Ga. Const. of 1983, Art. VI, Sec. I, Par. VIII; Bosma v. Gunter, 258 Ga. 664 (373 SE2d 368) (1988). Accordingly, this appeal is hereby TRANSFERRED to the Fulton County State Court.

Court of Appeals of the State of Georgia 01/09/2014 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