Russo v. Manning, 40679

Decision Date16 February 1984
Docket NumberNo. 40679,40679
Citation252 Ga. 155,312 S.E.2d 319
PartiesRUSSO v. MANNING.
CourtGeorgia Supreme Court

Michael Lucio Russo, pro se.

David R. Rogers, Rogers & Brownlow, Decatur, for Sharon Russo Manning.

MARSHALL, Presiding Justice.

The following appeals must be made by application: "Appeals from judgments or orders granting or refusing a divorce or temporary or permanent alimony, awarding or refusing to change child custody, or holding or declining to hold persons in contempt of such alimony or child custody judgment or orders." (Emphasis supplied.) OCGA § 5-6-35(a)(2) (Code Ann. § 6-701.1). Where the underlying subject matter, i.e., the issues sought to be appealed, clearly arises from or is ancillary to divorce proceedings, or is derived from a marital relationship and divorce, the appeal is within the ambit of this statute. Floyd v. Floyd, 250 Ga. 208, 296 S.E.2d 607 (1982) and cits.; Tobitt v. Tobitt, 249 Ga. 245, 290 S.E.2d 49 (1982).

A judgment of contempt regarding a domestic relations decree is appealable only by application for discretionary appeal. Walters v. Walters, 245 Ga. 695, 266 S.E.2d 507 (1980). In Ensley v. Ensley, 239 Ga. 860, 238 S.E.2d 920 (1977), we held that a father who wilfully refuses to pay child support required by a divorce decree may be found guilty of contempt of court and unconditionally imprisoned for 20 days pursuant to Code § 24-2615(5) (OCGA § 15-6-8).

Accordingly, this notice of appeal from a judgment of contempt regarding a domestic relations decree (finding violations by harassment, abuse, threats, assaults, annoyances, and wilful refusal to make house payments as ordered), which judgment imposed a 20-day unconditional imprisonment, must be dismissed for failure to file an application for appeal pursuant to OCGA § 5-6-35(a)(2) (Code Ann. § 6-701.1).

Appeal dismissed.

All the Justices concur.

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26 cases
  • Massey v. Massey
    • United States
    • Supreme Court of Georgia
    • November 18, 2013
    ...required when ‘the underlying subject matter’ of the appeal is listed in OCGA § 5–6–35(a)....” (citation omitted)); Russo v. Manning, 252 Ga. 155, 156, 312 S.E.2d 319 (1984) (“A judgment of contempt regarding a domestic relations decree is appealable only by application for discretionary ap......
  • Dean v. State, 70405
    • United States
    • United States Court of Appeals (Georgia)
    • November 26, 1985
    ...or the opposite. Appeals that have not been filed in compliance with OCGA § 5-6-35 have been dismissed. See, e.g., Russo v. Manning, 252 Ga. 155, 312 S.E.2d 319 (1984); Strickland v. Strickland, 252 Ga. 218, 312 S.E.2d 606 (1984); In the Interest of J.E.P. III, 252 Ga. 520, 315 S.E.2d 416 (......
  • Hagan v. Hagan
    • United States
    • United States Court of Appeals (Georgia)
    • September 21, 2020
    ...is derived from a marital relationship and divorce, the appeal is within the ambit of [ OCGA § 5-6-35 (a) (2) ]." Russo v. Manning , 252 Ga. 155, 155, 312 S.E.2d 319 (1984) ; see also Rebich v. Miles , 264 Ga. 467, 469, 448 S.E.2d 192 (1994) ("[T]he underlying subject matter generally contr......
  • Duffy v. Sanders
    • United States
    • United States Court of Appeals (Georgia)
    • March 20, 2020
    ...appeal).Wife’s failure to file a discretionary application here deprives us of jurisdiction over this appeal. See Russo v. Manning , 252 Ga. 155, 156, 312 S.E.2d 319 (1984). Accordingly, Husband’s motion to dismiss is granted, and this appeal is dismissed. Husband’s motions to remand and mo......
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