Brown v. Department of Human Resources, A92A1090

Decision Date15 April 1992
Docket NumberNo. A92A1090,A92A1090
Citation204 Ga.App. 27,418 S.E.2d 404
PartiesBROWN v. DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES et al.
CourtGeorgia Court of Appeals

James Brown, pro se.

Harry D. Dixon, Jr., Dist. Atty., Brenda L. Mullis, Asst. Dist. Atty., Michael J. Bowers, Atty. Gen., for appellees.

SOGNIER, Chief Judge.

James Brown filed a pro se complaint requesting the Superior Court of Ware County declare he is not the biological father of Risetta Whitfield's infant son, Jeremy, and praying the superior court enjoin the Department of Human Resources from requiring him to pay child support. The defendants answered, and the case proceeded to trial. Based on Brown's failure to respond when the case was called, the trial court dismissed his complaint for want of prosecution. OCGA § 9-11-41(b). Brown filed a direct appeal from that order.

Regardless how denominated, appellant's complaint clearly constituted a petition to establish the paternity of a child, which appellant as the alleged father was entitled to institute. OCGA § 19-7-43(a)(5). OCGA § 5-6-35(a)(2) requires all "[a]ppeals from judgments or orders in divorce, alimony, child custody, and other domestic relations cases" be by application. Appeals arising out of paternity petitions are domestic relations cases which require compliance with the discretionary appeal procedure of OCGA § 5-6-35. See Jackson v. Roach, 199 Ga.App. 653, 405 S.E.2d 712 (1991). Since appellant failed to follow the mandatory appeal procedures, his appeal must be dismissed. Id.

Appeal dismissed.

McMURRAY, P.J., and COOPER, J., concur.

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3 cases
  • Rodriguez v. Nunez
    • United States
    • Georgia Court of Appeals
    • October 17, 2001
    ...domestic relations cases which require compliance with the discretionary appeal procedure of OCGA § 5-6-35." Brown v. Dept. of Human Resources, 204 Ga.App. 27, 418 S.E.2d 404 (1992); see also Smoak v. Dept. of Human Resources, 221 Ga.App. 257, 471 S.E.2d 60 (1996). We must read these cases ......
  • Hunter v. State, A92A0567
    • United States
    • Georgia Court of Appeals
    • April 15, 1992
  • Smoak v. Department of Human Resources, A96A0083
    • United States
    • Georgia Court of Appeals
    • May 3, 1996
    ...of. This discretionary appeals procedure is applicable to cases involving petitions to establish paternity, Brown v. Dept. of Human Resources, 204 Ga.App. 27, 418 S.E.2d 404; and judgments of contempt regarding a domestic relations decree, Russo v. Manning, 252 Ga. 155, 312 S.E.2d 319. "Reg......

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