Background
Jodi L. White appealed in a case against Chris Braswell and others. After the appeal was docketed, White failed to comply with the court’s notice of docketing and Court of Appeals Rule 23 (a), which required her to file an enumeration of errors and an appellate brief within 20 days.
On August 10, 2026, the Court of Appeals ordered White to file the required enumeration of errors and brief by August 20. Neither document had been filed when the court issued its August 24 order.
The Court’s Holding
The Court of Appeals deemed the appeal abandoned because White failed to file an enumeration of errors and brief, even after receiving a court order setting a specific deadline.
The court dismissed the appeal under Court of Appeals Rules 7 and 23 (a). The order did not address the merits of White’s claims.
Key Takeaways
- An appellant must timely file an enumeration of errors and appellate brief after the appeal is docketed.
- Failure to comply with a direct order extending or setting a filing deadline may cause the appeal to be deemed abandoned.
- The court dismissed the appeal on procedural grounds without reaching its merits.
Why It Matters
The order underscores that compliance with appellate filing deadlines is essential to preserving an appeal in Georgia. An appellant who fails to submit the required filings after notice and a subsequent court order risks dismissal without review of the underlying issues.