Paris Bennett-Stroud v. Ashley Tatum

Opinion

Court of Appeals of the State of Georgia

ATLANTA,____________________ August 26, 2026

The Court of Appeals hereby passes the following order:

A27D0040. PARIS BENNETT-STROUD v. ASHLEY TATUM.

Ashley Tatum filed a petition for a stalking protective order against Paris Bennett-Stroud. The trial court granted the petition and issued a 12-month protective order under OCGA § 16-5-94, and Bennett-Stroud filed this timely application for discretionary review.

The application materials appear to contain no indication that the parties have a familial relationship. See OCGA § 19-13-1. Because the protective order does not appear to arise out of a domestic relations matter that would subject it to the discretionary review procedures, see OCGA § 5-6-35(a)(2) & (b), it is directly appealable. See Bodi v. Ryan, 358 Ga. App. 267, 268 n.3 (855 SE2d 11) (2021); Bruno v. Light, 344 Ga. App. 799, 800 n.2 (811 SE2d 500) (2018).

Under OCGA § 5-6-35(j), this Court will grant a timely application for discretionary review if the lower court’s order is subject to direct appeal. See City of Rincon v. Couch, 272 Ga. App. 411, 412 (612 SE2d 596) (2005). Accordingly, this application is hereby GRANTED. Bennett-Stroud shall have ten days from the date of this order to file a notice of appeal in the trial court. See OCGA § 5-6-35(g). If Bennett-Stroud already has filed a notice of appeal in the trial court, then she need not file a second notice. The trial court clerk is DIRECTED to include a copy of this order in the record transmitted to the Court of Appeals.

Court of Appeals of the State of Georgia Clerk’s Office, Atlanta,____________________ 08/26/2026

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.