From Casetext: Smarter Legal Research

Kiplinger v. Kiplinger

Supreme Court of Georgia
Oct 31, 1978
249 S.E.2d 254 (Ga. 1978)

Opinion

33477.

SUBMITTED APRIL 14, 1978.

DECIDED OCTOBER 31, 1978.

Contempt. DeKalb Superior Court. Before Judge Peeler.

Fred W. Minter, for appellant.

Charles T. Kiplinger, pro se.


On September 2, 1977, appellant filed an action for contempt against her former husband for nonpayment of support. Appellant now appeals portions of the trial court's order of November 30, 1977, which reduced the amount of attorney fees allegedly owed by appellee and which did not increase appellee's support payments.

1. Appellant first alleges that the trial court erred when it absolved appellee from paying $350 in attorney fees awarded appellant in a previous contempt action. This claim is without merit.

Evidence presented during the hearing on this action established that this debt of appellee's had been discharged in bankruptcy. In Manuel v. Manuel, 239 Ga. 685, 686 ( 238 S.E.2d 328) (1977), this court held that when "an application for a determination of discharge ability is filed and adjudicated in the bankruptcy court, that judgment is res judicata in other courts."

2. Appellant's second enumeration of error attempts to review a previous contempt order dated October 19, 1976, which reduced an award of attorney fees from $450 to $350. No notice of appeal was ever filed after entry of this judgment, and it cannot be now raised for review. Code § 6-803 (a).

3. A final enumeration of error claims that the trial court erred in refusing to increase appellee's support payments. This enumeration is also meritless. A trial judge has no authority in a contempt proceeding to modify the terms of a divorce and alimony judgment. Herrington v. Herrington, 231 Ga. 177 ( 200 S.E.2d 867) (1973).

Judgment affirmed. All the Justices concur.


SUBMITTED APRIL 14, 1978 — DECIDED OCTOBER 31, 1978.


Summaries of

Kiplinger v. Kiplinger

Supreme Court of Georgia
Oct 31, 1978
249 S.E.2d 254 (Ga. 1978)
Case details for

Kiplinger v. Kiplinger

Case Details

Full title:KIPLINGER v. KIPLINGER

Court:Supreme Court of Georgia

Date published: Oct 31, 1978

Citations

249 S.E.2d 254 (Ga. 1978)
249 S.E.2d 254

Citing Cases

Sanchez v. Pritchard

The trial court had no authority in the contempt proceedings to modify and condition the terms of the…