Opinion
59569.
ARGUED MARCH 3, 1980.
DECIDED MARCH 10, 1980.
Action on account. DeKalb State Court. Before Judge Carlisle.
Robert P. Wilson, for appellant.
James A. Mackay, David L. G. King, Jr., for appellee.
Plaintiff appeals from an adverse judgment rendered in a nonjury case from the State Court of DeKalb. The first enumeration of error is addressed to the failure of the trial judge to make the requisite findings of fact and conclusions of law specified by Code Ann. § 81A-152 (Ga. L. 1969, pp. 645, 646; 1970, pp. 170, 171). Held:
"`[I]t is now firmly established that findings of fact and conclusions of law required by Code Ann. § 81A-152 (a) are mandatory; that the facts must be found specially; and that conclusions of law must be stated separately, regardless of whether the order otherwise is sufficient for purposes of review.' CPA § 52 (a) is applicable to the State Court of DeKalb County." Hagin v. Powers, 136 Ga. App. 395 ( 221 S.E.2d 245). Accord, Shannondoah, Inc. v. Smith, 137 Ga. App. 378 ( 224 S.E.2d 465). "The trial judge is to ascertain the facts and to state not only the end result of that inquiry but the process by which it was reached." Beasley v. Jones, 149 Ga. App. 317, 319 ( 254 S.E.2d 472).
The trial judge's order failed to comply with the statutory mandate. The appeal is therefore remanded with direction that the judgment be vacated, and that the trial judge enter a new judgment containing appropriate findings of fact and conclusions of law.
Appeal remanded with direction. Shulman and Carley, JJ., concur.