Opinion
63539.
DECIDED JUNE 28, 1982.
Action on contract. Forsyth Superior Court. Before Judge Neville.
Jeffrey R. Sliz, for appellant.
Kenneth J. Vanderhoff, Jr., for appellee.
1. Appellant filed a timely motion for new trial on September 12, 1980. The rule nisi entered on that date set the matter down for hearing to be held on November 6, 1980. The record discloses that on September 18, 1981 the trial court denied appellant's motion without ever having a hearing thereon. Our Supreme Court has held "that the statutes pertaining to motions for new trial clearly indicate that a movant for new trial is entitled to a hearing; that the statutory provisions for hearing are consonant with the constitutional requirements for procedural due process; and that a movant for new trial is entitled to be heard on his motion in the trial court before a ruling is made thereon." Foster v. State, 230 Ga. 870 ( 199 S.E.2d 790) (1973); Shockley v. State, 230 Ga. 869 ( 199 S.E.2d 791) (1973). There is nothing in the record to indicate that appellant has waived or abandoned his right to a hearing. See Peyton v. Peyton, 236 Ga. 119 (1, 2) ( 223 S.E.2d 96) (1976); Moody v. State, 14 Ga. App. 523 (2) ( 81 S.E. 588) (1914). Accordingly, we are constrained to return this case to the trial court for a hearing and disposition of appellant's motion for new trial.
2. In light of our holding in Division 1 of this opinion, we do not reach the merits of appellant's remaining enumerations of error.
Judgment reversed. Deen, P. J., and Sognier, J., concur.