RUSSELL RATHBURN v. COMMUNITY BANKING COMPANY OF FITZGERALD

Court of Appeals of the State of Georgia ATLANTA,____________________ December 16, 2020 The Court of Appeals hereby passes the following order: A21A0647. RUSSELL RATHBURN et al. v. COMMUNITY BANKING COMPANY OF FITZGERALD. This case originated as a dispossessory proceeding in magistrate court. Following an adverse ruling, defendants Russell Rathburn and Wanda Ann Rathburn appealed to the superior court. The superior court also ruled in favor of the plaintiff, and the Rathburns filed this direct appeal from the superior court’s order. We, however, lack jurisdiction. Because the superior court’s order disposed of a de novo appeal from a magistrate court decision, the Rathburns were required to follow the discretionary appeal procedure to obtain review of the superior court’s decision. See OCGA § 5-635 (a) (1); English v. Delbridge, 216 Ga. App. 366, 367 ( 454 SE2d 175 ) (1995). Their failure to follow this procedure deprives us of jurisdiction to consider this direct appeal, which is hereby DISMISSED. Court of Appeals of the State of Georgia Clerk’s Office, Atlanta,____________________ 12/16/2020 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.