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Miller v. Grier

Court of Appeals of Georgia
May 22, 1985
332 S.E.2d 323 (Ga. Ct. App. 1985)

Opinion

70172.

DECIDED MAY 22, 1985. REHEARING DENIED JUNE 10, 1985.

Dispossessory action. Fulton State Court. Before Judge Langham.

Helen Miller, pro se. V. C. Baker, for appellee.


R. B. Grier brought this dispossessory proceeding against Helen Miller. When Miller failed to appear for trial, the trial court granted Grier's motion to dismiss the answer and counterclaim and entered a default judgment against her. The trial court denied Miller's motion to vacate and set aside the judgment and Miller appeals.

Appellant contends the trial court erred by entering judgment against her and by failing to vacate and set aside the judgment because appellant asserts she received insufficient notice of trial.

On appeal the evidence is construed to uphold rather than overturn the judgment of the trial court. Bhattacharjee v. Kunnatha, 165 Ga. App. 75, 76 ( 299 S.E.2d 144) (1983). "There is a presumption in favor of the regularity and legality of all proceedings in superior court, Hancock v. Oates, 244 Ga. 175, 177 ( 259 S.E.2d 437) (1979); there is also a presumption that the clerk gave notice as required. Trice v. Howard, 130 Ga. App. 895 ( 204 S.E.2d 808) (1974). The burden was on the [appellant] to show that [she] did not receive proper notice. Id." Murer v. Howard, 165 Ga. App. 230, 231 ( 299 S.E.2d 151) (1983).

There is no indication in the record that appellant did not receive proper notice of trial. Absent a transcript of the hearing on appellant's motion to vacate and set aside the judgment, for which appellant was present, we presume the trial court's ruling denying that motion was correct. See Peek v. Duffy, 172 Ga. App. 834, 835 (1) ( 324 S.E.2d 795) (1984). Thus, the trial court did not err by entering judgment by default against appellant and by failing to vacate and set aside the judgment. Murer, supra; see OCGA § 9-11-60 (d).

Although we find no merit in appellant's enumerations of error, we cannot conclude that the appeal was totally frivolous or solely for purposes of delay. Accordingly, appellee's motion for the assessment of penalties under OCGA § 5-6-6 is denied.

Judgment affirmed. Birdsong, P. J., and Carley, J., concur.

DECIDED MAY 22, 1985 — REHEARING DENIED JUNE 10, 1985 — CERT. APPLIED FOR.


Summaries of

Miller v. Grier

Court of Appeals of Georgia
May 22, 1985
332 S.E.2d 323 (Ga. Ct. App. 1985)
Case details for

Miller v. Grier

Case Details

Full title:MILLER v. GRIER

Court:Court of Appeals of Georgia

Date published: May 22, 1985

Citations

332 S.E.2d 323 (Ga. Ct. App. 1985)
332 S.E.2d 323

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