Opinion
A22A1581
07-14-2022
SILVERSTONE RESIDENTIAL, LLC et al v. PREMIER RESIDENTIAL SE, LLC.
The Court of Appeals hereby passes the following order:
Premier Residential SE, LLC ("Premier"), sued Silverstone Residential, LLC ("SR"), and Steve Connor. SR and Connor asserted counterclaims against Premier and third-party claims against additional defendants, including Silverstone Residential Georgia, LLC's ("SRG"). After a trial, the jury returned a verdict in favor of SR and Connor against Premier and some of the third-party defendants. However, the trial court granted SRG's motion for a directed verdict on the claims asserted against it by SR and Connor. The court entered final judgment on April 4, 2022. Within 30 days, SR and Connor filed a notice of appeal from the directed verdict order and a previous order partially granting summary judgment to some of the third-party defendants. One day later, Premier and several third-party defendants filed a timely motion for new trial. SR and Connor's appeal has now been docketed in this Court, but we lack jurisdiction.
A notice of appeal ordinarily divests a trial court of its jurisdiction to act in a case. See Jones v. State, 309 Ga.App. 149, 149 (1) (709 S.E.2d 593) (2011). Where, however, both a notice of appeal and motion for new trial are timely filed, the trial court retains jurisdiction to rule on the motion for new trial, and any appeal is premature. See id. at 149-150 (1).
Even though a notice of appeal may divest the trial court of jurisdiction, . . . such divestiture does not become effective during the period in which a motion for new trial may be filed. In the event a motion for new
trial is timely filed . . ., the effectiveness of the divestiture of jurisdiction is then delayed until the motion for new trial is ruled upon and a notice of appeal to the ruling has been filed or the period for appealing the ruling has expired.Id. at 149 (1). Accordingly, this direct appeal is hereby DISMISSED. See Home Ins. Co. v. Fort Valley Mills, 132 Ga.App. 15, 15 (207 S.E.2d 590) (1974).