Easterling v. Easterling, 28585

Decision Date07 March 1974
Docket NumberNo. 28585,28585
PartiesJames Hardy EASTERLING v. Louise Cash EASTERLING.
CourtGeorgia Supreme Court

James H. Easterling, pro se; Robert D. Brooks, Atlanta, for appellant.

Joseph E. Cheeley, Buford, for appellee.

Syllabus Opinion by the Court

MOBLEY, Chief Justice.

In the divorce action of Louise Cash Easterling against James Hardy Easterling, judgment and decree was entered in favor of the wife for divorce, monthly alimony payments, attorney fees, and described property. The judgment and decree recites that: 'Upon consideration of the above entitled case, it appearing that defense has been filed and dismissed on motion, defendant having failed to appear-upon evidence submitted to the court to sustain the allegations of the petition, it is the judgment of the court that a total divorce be granted between the parties; etc.' The husband appeals from this judgment.

1. The appellant contends that the court erred in dismissing his defensive pleading on the oral motion of the appellee. Code § 81A-107(b)(1) (Ga.L.1966, pp. 609, 618; Ga.L.1967, pp. 226, 230) provides that motions shall be made in writing, 'unless made during a hearing or trial.' The motion to dismiss the appellant's defensive pleading apparently was made at the trial of the case, where it could be made orally.

2. The appellant asserts that the court erred in proceeding to trial without a jury. There is no merit in this contention since the appellant failed to appear for trial.

3. The appellant asserts that the court erred in failing to put him on notice of the trial date of his case. The record does not show whether notice was given to the appellant. The appellee, in her brief, states that notice was given to the attorney who was representing the appellant at that time.

There is a presumption in favor of the regularity and legality of all proceedings in the superior court. This presumption of law cannot be rebutted by a direct appeal involving an issue of fact which has not been judicially determined by the trial court. Touchton v. Stewart, 229 Ga. 303, 190 S.E.2d 912.

Judgment affirmed.

All the Justices concur, except GUNTER and INGRAM, JJ., who dissent.

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8 cases
  • Gosnell v. Waldrip, 61981
    • United States
    • Georgia Court of Appeals
    • May 28, 1981
    ...when orally submitted at trial. Code Ann. § 81A-107(b)(1) (Ga.L.1966, pp. 609, 618; 1967, pp. 226, 230); Easterling v. Easterling, 231 Ga. 889, 890(1), 204 S.E.2d 610. This motion in limine sustained at or during the trial amounted to a mere modification of the pre-trial order originally is......
  • Matthews v. Matthews
    • United States
    • Georgia Supreme Court
    • January 12, 1998
    ...take part in the trial at all, it cannot be said that she impliedly waived her jury trial demand. Relying upon Easterling v. Easterling, 231 Ga. 889, 890(2), 204 S.E.2d 610 (1974), husband asserts wife did impliedly waive her jury trial demand. In that divorce case, as in the case at bar, a......
  • Hancock v. Oates, s. 35055
    • United States
    • Georgia Supreme Court
    • September 7, 1979
    ...has not been judicially determined by the trial court. Touchton v. Stewart, 229 Ga. 303, 190 S.E.2d 912 (1972)." Easterling v. Easterling, 231 Ga. 889(3), 204 S.E.2d 610 (1974). " However, this does not mean that the trial court is without authority to set aside the judgment or grant a new ......
  • Walker v. Walker, S06F0577 (Ga. 5/17/2006), S06F0577
    • United States
    • Georgia Supreme Court
    • May 17, 2006
    ...failure to appear at the call of the case has never been such a circumstance. On the contrary, by disapproving Easterling v. Easterling, 231 Ga. 889 (2) (204 SE2d 610) (1974), Matthews rejected a similar implied waiver argument where the spouse never appeared for On appeal, Walker argues th......
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1 books & journal articles
  • Domestic Relations - Barry B. Mcgough and Gregory R. Miller
    • United States
    • Mercer University School of Law Mercer Law Reviews No. 50-1, September 1998
    • Invalid date
    ...at 326. 11. Id. 12. Id. 13. Id. (citing Ivey v. Ivey, 264 Ga. 435, 445 S.E.2d 258 (1994)). 14. Id. at 864, 494 S.E.2d at 326. 15. Id. 16. 231 Ga. 889, 204 S.E.2d 610 (1974). 17. 268 Ga. at 865, 494 S.E.2d at 327. 18. 269 Ga. 480, 499 S.E.2d 317 (1998). 19. Id. at 481, 499 S.E.2d at 318. 20.......

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