RAHAMA KHATU v. ALLIANCE AUTOMOTIVE GROUP, LLC

Opinion

Court of Appeals of the State of Georgia

ATLANTA,____________________ August 27, 2026

The Court of Appeals hereby passes the following order:

A27A0057. RAHAMA KHATU v. ALLIANCE AUTOMOTIVE GROUP, LLC et al.

Rahama Khatu filed a complaint for damages against Alliance Automotive Group, LLC, Mizar Gonzalez Ortiz, and Danielle Wayne Sherrer. Khatu sought damages associated with a used car, alleging the vehicle became inoperative within four days of purchase. The trial court issued an order that, among other things, dismissed Khatu’s claim “only as it relates to the alleged violation of Georgia’s Lemon Law, OCGA § 10-1-780 et seq.” Khatu filed a notice of appeal from that order. We lack jurisdiction.

Generally, a right of direct appeal lies from only a final judgment — that is, “where the case is no longer pending in the court below.” OCGA § 5-6-34(a)(1)(B). An order is final “where it leaves no issues remaining to be resolved, constitutes the court’s final ruling on the merits of the action, and leaves the parties with no further recourse in the trial court.” Paine v. Nations, 301 Ga. App. 97, 99(1) (686 SE2d 876) (2009) (citation and punctuation omitted).

Here, the trial court’s order only dismissed Khatu’s claim as it related to Georgia’s Lemon Law and did not dismiss the complaint in its entirety. As such, Khatu “was required to comply with the interlocutory appeal procedures — including obtaining a certificate of immediate review from the trial court — to appeal.” Drain v. Lee, 350 Ga. App. 327, 328 (825 SE2d 927) (2019). See OCGA § 5-6-34(b).

Because Khatu did not follow the interlocutory appeal procedures, we are without jurisdiction to consider this appeal, which is hereby DISMISSED.

Court of Appeals of the State of Georgia Clerk’s Office, Atlanta,____________________ 08/27/2026

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.