Edward Earl Bowen v. Parisa, LLC

Court of Appeals of the State of Georgia ATLANTA,____________________ October 17, 2018 The Court of Appeals hereby passes the following order: A19A0465. EDWARD EARL BOWEN et al. v. PARISA, LLC. This case began as a dispossessory proceeding in magistrate court. Following an adverse ruling, one or more defendants appealed to the superior court, which dismissed the appeal. Defendant Edward Bowen then appealed directly to this Court.1 We lack jurisdiction. Appeals from superior court decisions reviewing lower court decisions by certiorari or de novo proceedings must be initiated by filing an application for discretionary appeal. OCGA § 5-6-35 (a) (1), (b); Bullock v. Sand, 260 Ga. App. 874, 875 ( 581 SE2d 333 ) (2003). “Compliance with the discretionary appeals procedure is jurisdictional.” Smoak v. Dept. of Human Resources, 221 Ga. App. 257, 257 ( 471 SE2d 60 ) (1996). Bowen’s failure to follow the proper procedure deprives us of jurisdiction over this appeal, which is hereby DISMISSED. See Bullock, 260 Ga. App. at 875 . Court of Appeals of the State of Georgia Clerk’s Office, Atlanta,____________________ 10/17/2018 I certify that the above is a true extract from the minutes of the Court of Appeals of Georgia. Witness my signature and the seal of said court hereto affixed the day and year last above written. , Clerk. [1] Bowen, a non-lawyer, is the only defendant who signed the notice of appeal. He thus is the sole appellant because, as a non-attorney, he may not file an appeal on behalf of any other parties. See Aniebue v. Jaguar Credit Corp., 308 Ga. App. 1, 1, n. 1 ( 708 SE2d 4 ) (2011).