

	
	
	
	2019 Opinions – Supreme Court of Georgia




		
		
		
		
				

		
		
		
		
		

									
									
		
	

























		
		
	


		Skip to content

	








HomeFAQContact UsTwitter 


















Court InformationCourtClerk’s OfficeCourt TermsDirectionsHolidaysHistoryToursAttend Oral ArgumentsWatch Oral ArgumentsMediaPurchase Certificates, Opinions and DVD’sEmployment OpportunitiesNews and ReportsBiographiesChief Justice Harold D. MeltonPresiding Justice David E. NahmiasJustice Robert BenhamJustice Keith R. BlackwellJustice Michael P. BoggsJustice Nels S.D. PetersonJustice Sarah H. WarrenJustice Charles J. BethelJustice John J. EllingtonCertificates & ReportsLaw School Graduate CertificateReciprocity/Court of Last Resort CertificatesLegal Education Committee ReportQuick LinksAttorney AdmissionsDomestic Relations CasesLegal WebsitesPauper’s AffidavitOral Argument Calendar2019 Summaries of Cases2018 Summaries of Cases2017 Summaries of Cases2016 Summaries of CasesDocketGranted and Denied Petitions2019 Granted2019 Denied2018 Granted2018 Denied2017 Granted2017 DeniedGranted Applications2019 Discretionary2019 Interlocutory2018 Interlocutory2017 InterlocutoryOpinionsForthcoming Opinions2019 Opinions2018 Opinions2017 OpinionsRulese-fileRule 3.15 FormSuperior Court Rule 39.3.1 Information














2019 Opinion and Summaries








2019 OpinionsWeb Editor2019-11-18T15:46:05-05:00



DISCLAIMER:
These opinions are subject to the parties’ motion for reconsideration, the Court’s reconsideration, and editorial changes made by the Reporter of Decisions.  An opinion designated as “Final Copy” is the Supreme Court’s official opinion as published in the advance sheets.  Please Note: Adobe Acrobat Reader is necessary to read the following opinions. You may download Adobe Acrobat Reader here if necessary. Thank you.
 
November
November 18, 2019

S18Y0982. IN THE MATTER OF NATHANIEL ANTONIO BARNES, JR. Reinstatement issued.

November
November 18, 2019 – SUMMARIES for NOTEWORTHY OPINIONS

S19A1146. HOLMES v. THE STATE
S19A1201. MORRALL v. THE STATE
S19A1226. JORDAN v. THE STATE
S19A1586. CARTER v. THE STATE
S19Y1471. IN THE MATTER OF CARLA BURTON GAINES
S20Y0335. IN THE MATTER OF NATASHA SIMONE WHITE

November
November 4, 2019 – SUMMARIES for NOTEWORTHY OPINIONS

S19A1086. HENRY v. THE STATE
S19A1109. HOWARD v. THE STATE
S19A1129. GUERRERO v. THE TATE
S19A1171. MOORE v. THE STATE
S19A1264. JONES v. THE STATE
S19A1332. MATTEI v. THE STATE
S19A1436. HOPWOOD v. THE STATE
S19Y1156. IN THE MATTER OF MILLARD C. FARMER, JR.
S19Y1329. IN THE MATTER OF JOEL S. WADSWORTH
S19Y1553. IN THE MATTER OF NEVADA MICHAEL TUGGLE
S20Y0079. IN THE MATTER OF WILLIAM LESLIE KIRBY III

October
October 31, 2019 – SUMMARIES for NOTEWORTHY OPINIONS

S19A0535. THE STATE v. BEARD
S19A0597. RICKS v. THE STATE
S19A0644. GREEN v. THE STATE   11-14-2019 Substitute opinion issued.
S19A0684. DADDARIO v. THE STATE
S19A0769. RHONDA J. MARTIN et al. v. FULTON COUNTY BOARD OF REGISTRATION AND ELECTIONS et al.
S19A0789. SHAW v. THE STATE
S19A0803. EBERHART v. THE STATE
S19A0825, S19X0826. FORD v. TATE (and vice versa)


October
October 21, 2019 – SUMMARIES for NOTEWORTHY OPINIONS

S18G1326. LANGLEY v. MP SPRING LAKE, LLC    11-14-2019 Substitute opinion issued.
S18G1419. DEKALB COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT et al. v. GOLD et al.
S18G1546. MOBLEY v. THE STATE
S19A0541. LEILI v. THE STATE    11-14-2019 Substitute opinion issued.
S19A0557. THE STATE v. TOWNS
S19A0658. COLLIER v. THE STATE
S19A0682. ANDERSON v. THE STATE
S19A0705. MOHAMED v. THE STATE
S19A0721. POWELL v. THE STATE
S19A0749, S19A0750, S19A0751. SMITH v. THE STATE (three cases)
S19A0755. THORNTON v. THE STATE
S19A0908. MCKINNEY v. THE STATE
S19A0953. HENRY v. THE STATE
S19A0957. CAUSEY v. THE STATE
S19A1352. DOS SANTOS v. THE STATE


October
October 7, 2019 – SUMMARIES for NOTEWORTHY OPINIONS

S18G1149. GEORGIACARRY.ORG, INC. et al. v. ATLANTA BOTANICAL GARDENS, INC.
S18G1189, S18G1190. ROCKDALE HOSPITAL, LLC v. EVANS et al. (two cases)
S18G1495. PENNINGTON v. THE STATE
S18G1599. MCCLURE v. THE STATE

S19A0530. RODRIGUES v. THE STATE
S19A0533. FRANKLIN v. THE STATE

S19A0554. MITCHUM v. THE STATE

S19A0590. VELASCO v. THE STATE

S19A0616. MYRICK v. THE STATE

S19A0696. BENTLEY v. THE STATE

S19A0785. HOWARD v. THE STATE
S19A0820. BROWN v. THE STATE

S19A0936. SMITH v. THE STATE
S19A0937. JACKSON v. THE STATE

S19A1042. SCOTT v. THE STATE

S19A1204. COLQUITT v. THE STATE

S19A1394. JOHNSON v. THE STATE

S19Y1546. IN THE MATTER OF DENISE F. HEMMANN

S19Y0527. IN THE MATTER OF SHERRI JEFFERSON
S19Z1117. IN THE MATTER OF JOAN PALMER DAVIS


September
September 23, 2019 – SUMMARIES for NOTEWORTHY OPINIONS

S19A0594. GENO WEST v. THE STATE
S19A0655. POLO GOLF and COUNTRY HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION, INC. v. CUNARD et al.
S19A0699. THE STATE v. DENSON
S19A0866. HILLS v. THE STATE
S19A0912. HAWKINS v. THE STATE
S19A0975. HERON LAKE II APARTMENTS, LP et al. v. LOWNDES COUNTY BOARD OF TAX ASSESSORS

September
September 9, 2019 – SUMMARIES for NOTEWORTHY OPINIONS

S19A0489. MARTIN v. THE STATE
S19A0491. SMITH v. THE STATE
S19A0591. RIGGS v. THE STATE
S19A0681. DAVIS v. THE STATE
S19A0762. REID v. THE STATE
S19A0913. RICHARDS v. THE STATE

September
September 3, 2019 – SUMMARIES for NOTEWORTHY OPINIONS

S19A0540. WALKER v. THE STATE
S19A0613. THE STATE v. HOLMES
S19A0654. HARDY v. THE STATE
S19A0661. LEE v. THE STATE
S19A0688. SEABROOKS v. THE STATE
S19A0707. WILLIAMS v THE STATE
S19A0722. THE STATE v. HAMILTON
S19A0747. BRYANT v. THE STATE
S19A0784. COWEN v. CLAYTON COUNTY et al.
S19A0795. JACKSON v. THE STATE
S19A0860. WILLIAMS v. THE STATE
S19A0927. BENTON v. HINES
S19A0951. VARNER v. THE STATE

August
August 19, 2019 – SUMMARIES for NOTEWORTHY OPINIONS

S18G1644. SCOTT v. THE STATE
S19A0490. MCCAMMON v. THE STATE
S19A0559. HOLMES v. THE STATE
S19A0603. THE STATE v. COLEMAN
S19A0618. MOORE v. THE STATE
S19A0635. MARTIN v. THE STATE  8-20-2019 Substitute opinion issued.
S19A0659. COOPER v. THE STATE
S19A0683. GLENN V. THE STATE
S19A0694. SMITH v. THE STATE
S19A0695. DANIELS v. THE STATE
S19A0715. FOREMAN v. THE STATE
S19A0723. JACOBS v. THE STATE
S19A0791. COX v. THE STATE
S19A0801. BLACKWELL v. THE STATE
S19A0818. WALKER v. THE STATE
S19A0854. FOSTER v. THE STATE  8-19-2019 Substitute opinion issued.
S19A0880. DAVIS v. THE STATE
S19A0924. WORTHEN v. THE STATE
S19A0947. MACK v. THE STATE
S19A0954. ROBINSON V. THE STATE
S19Y0873. IN THE MATTER OF CHRISTOPHER JOHN THOMPSON  8-19-2019 Substitute opinion issued.
S19Y1128. IN THE MATTER OF PHILLIP NORMAN GOLUB
S19Y1192. IN THE MATTER OF CHARLES EDWARD TAYLOR


August
August 5, 2019 – SUMMARIES for NOTEWORTHY OPINIONS

S19A0508. EVANS v. THE STATE
S19A0509. RHYNES v. THE STATE
S19A0598. SCOTT v. THE STATE
S19A0611. GUDE v. THE STATE
S19A0643. DAVIS v. THE STATE
S19A0646. THE STATE v. JACKSON
S19A0665. DERRICO v. THE STATE
S19A0669. CAIN v. THE STATE
S19A0686. VICTORIA v. THE STATE
S19A0739. CHEEVES v. THE STATE
S19A0741. ABNEY V. THE STATE
S19A0765. LEWIS v. THE STATE
S19A0809. COLLINS v. THE STATE
S19A0819. GLYNN CO. SCHOOL DIST v. BRUNSWICK-GLYNN CO. JOINT WATER & SEWER COMM.
S19A0846. WELCH v. THE STATE
S19A0861. JACKSON v. THE STATE
S19A0868. CHAPMAN v. THE STATE
S19A0882. GRAVES v. THE STATE
S19A0886. SHUBERT v. THE STATE
S19A0899. MORTON v. THE STATE
S19A0985, S19A0986. MOORE v. THE STATE (two cases)
S19Y1164, S19Y1165, S197166. IN THE MATTER OF JEFFREY L. SAKAS (three cases)


July
July 1, 2019 – SUMMARIES for NOTEWORTHY OPINIONS

S19Y0608. IN THE MATTER OF EDWARD NEAL DAVIS
S19Y0709. IN THE MATTER OF CLARENCE A. SYDNOR, IV
S19Y0977. IN THE MATTER OF CHERYL JOYCE BRAZIEL
S19Y1168. IN THE MATTER OF HAKEEM BERTRAND BROCK

June
June 28, 2019 – SUMMARIES for NOTEWORTHY OPINIONS

S18G0976. BUDHANI v. THE STATE
S18G1136. BOURASSA v. STATE OF GEORGIA
S19A0209, S19X0210. THE STATE v. MONDOR (and vice versa)
S19A0331. ELKINS v. THE STATE


June
June 24, 2019 – SUMMARIES for NOTEWORTHY OPINIONS

S18G1022. MERCER UNIVERSITY v. STOFER et al.
S19A0018. BOYD v. THE STATE
S19A0042. VASQUEZ v. THE STATE
S19A0047. BRANT v. THE STATE
S19A0069. HENRY v. SPIVEY
S19A0116. FLEMING v. THE STATE
S19A0146. WILKES & McHUGH P.A. et al. v. LTC CONSULTING, L.P. et al.
S19A0166. VENTURINO v. THE STATE
S19A0231. JACKSON v. THE STATE  6-25-2019 Substitute opinion issued.
S19A0373. TAYLOR v. THE STATE
S19A0418 . BANNISTER v. THE STATE
S19A0460. CITY OF COLLEGE PARK v. CLAYTON COUNTY et al.

June
June 20, 2019

S19I1232. PEEPLES v. BRAZELL et al.

June
June 10, 2019 – SUMMARIES for NOTEWORTHY OPINIONS

S18G1007. MCKIE v. THE STATE
S18G1354. THE STATE v. BURNS
S19A0118, S19A0119. BROXTON v. THE STATE (two cases)
S19A0164, S19A0416. DAVIS v. THE STATE (two cases)
S19A0360. SWANSON v. THE STATE
S19A0367. CLARK v. THE STATE
S19A0605. COOPER v. THE STATE
S19A0674. TOOKES v. THE STATE
S19A0790, S19A0907. STROZIER v. THE STATE (two cases)
S19M0969. DUKE v. STATE
S19Y0792. IN THE MATTER OF LESLEY ANNIS
S19Y0823. IN THE MATTER OF ALEXANDER E. KAHN

 
June
June 3, 2019 – SUMMARIES for NOTEWORTHY OPINIONS

S18G0699. ADAMS v. THE STATE
S18G0876, S18G1107. MILLIKEN & COMPANY. v. GEORGIA POWER COMPANY (two cases)
S18G0947. NORDAHL v. THE STATE
S19A0095. DOZIER v. THE STATE
S19A0172. RIGSBY v. THE STATE
S19A0177. WALKER v. THE STATE
S19A0185. THE STATE v. WILLIAMS
S19A0224. GOINS v. THE STATE
S19A0289. ROWLAND v. THE STATE
S19A0343. JACKSON v. THE STATE
S19A0366. BLACKMON v. THE STATE
S19A0378. DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY OF COBB COUNTY et al. v. STATE OF GEORGIA et al.
S19A0428. BOWMAN v. THE STATE
S19A0565. GOLSON v. THE STATE
S19Q0249. THOMASTON ACQUISITION, LLC v. PIEDMONT CONSTRUCTION GROUP, INC. et al.
S19Y0706. IN THE MATTER OF JONNIE MAE GRAHAM
S19Y0959. IN THE MATTER OF PRESTON B. KUNDA

 
May – SUMMARIES for NOTEWORTHY OPINIONS
May 20, 2019

S17Y1532. IN THE MATTER OF JOHN DENNIS DUNCAN  Reinstatement issued.

 
May 20, 2019

S18G0944, S18G0945. CITY OF GUYTON et al. v. BARROW (two cases)
S18G1316, S18G1317. GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF LABOR v. MCCONNELL et al. (and vice versa)
S18G1338. IN THE INTEREST OF M.F., a child
S19A0066. SPELL v. THE STATE
S19A0149. COCHRAN v. THE STATE
S19A0173. GOODEN v. THE STATE
S19A0279. STROTHER v. THE STATE
S19A0297. BAILEY v. THE STATE
S19A0308. DAVIS v. THE STATE
S19A0324. COLLETT v. THE STATE
S19A0348. WILLIAMS v. THE STATE
S19A0384. BRADLEY v. THE STATE
S19A0409. CARTER v. THE STATE
S19A0419. DAVIS v. THE STATE
S19A0440. CARTER v. THE STATE
S19A0443. MOSS v. THE STATE
S19A0634. GRIER v. THE STATE
S19Y1076. IN THE MATTER OF RICHARD SCOTT THOMPSON

 
May – SUMMARIES for NOTEWORTHY OPINIONS
May 6, 2019

S18G0994.  THE STATE v. ORR  5-13-2019 Substitute opinion issued.
S19A0068.  JONES v. THE STATE
S19A0101.  JONES v. THE STATE
S19A0157.  THE STATE v. TURNQUEST
S19A0276.  WILLIAMSON v. THE STATE
S19A0346.  WILLIAMS v. THE STATE
S19A0351, S19A0352.  HANEY V STATE (two cases)

 
April – SUMMARIES for NOTEWORTHY OPINIONS
April 29, 2019

S19A0012. KOONCE v. THE STATE
S19A0019. OLIVER v. THE STATE
S19A0031. HART v. THE STATE
S19A0100. LUCKIE v. BERRY
S19A0129. WOFFORD v. THE STATE
S19A0138. MOORE v. THE STATE
S19A0158. OUTLER v. THE STATE
S19A0174. BELL v. THE STATE
S19A0243. PARKS v. THE STATE
S19A0361. LAY v. THE STATE
S19A0374. THE STATE v. NEWMAN
S19Y0645. IN THE MATTER OF LAKEISHA TENNILLE GANTT
S19Y0980. IN THE MATTER OF DON SMART


April
April 15, 2019 – SUMMARIES for NOTEWORTHY OPINIONS

S19A0027. DOZIER et al. v. WATSON
S19A0038. CLARK v. THE STATE
S19A0041. BURGESS v. HALL
S19A0065. BELLAMY v. RUMER
S19A0250. DAVIS v. THE STATE
S19A0323. CASTILLO-VELASQUEZ v. THE STATE
S19A0392. JONES v. THE STATE
S19A0439. CARPENTER v. THE STATE
S19A0457. COLEY v. THE STATE
S19Y0671. IN THE MATTER OF MELODY YVONNE CHERRY


March
March 13, 2019 – SUMMARIES for NOTEWORTHY OPINIONS

S18G0524. HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF AUGUSTA v. GOULD
S18A1073. DEBELBOT v. THE STATE
S18Q1233. FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION v. LOUDERMILK et al.

March
March 11, 2019 – SUMMARIES for NOTEWORTHY OPINIONS

S18G0364. TYNER v. MATTA-TRONSCOSO et al.
S18G0517. FIRST ACCEPTANCE INSURANCE COMPANY OF GEORGIA, INC. v. HUGHES
S18G0563. LICATA v. THE STATE
S18A1052. YARN v. THE STATE
S18A1074, S18A1075. ESPRIT v. THE STATE (two cases)
S18A1090. THE STATE v. ROSENBAUM et al.
S18A1137. THE STATE v. TEDDER
S18A1158. THE STATE v. SPRATLIN 3-27-2019 Substitute opinion issued.
S18A1282. BROOKS v. THE STATE
S18A1295. WARE v. THE STATE
S18A1321. DENNARD v. THE STATE
S18A1467. WEST v. THE STATE
S18A1562. JOHNSON v. THE STATE
S19A0180. COAST v. THE STATE
S19A0430. BLAINE v. THE STATE
S19Y0337-S19Y0340. IN THE MATTER OF NEIL LARSON (four cases)
S18Z1232. IN THE MATTER OF LAJUAN MIGUEL CERTION

 
March
March 4, 2019 – SUMMARIES for NOTEWORTHY OPINIONS

S18G0756. CHAPPUIS et al. v. ORTHO SPORT & SPINE PHYSICIANS SAVANNAH, LLC
S18G1033. HANHAM et al. v. ACCESS MANAGEMENT GROUP, LP
S18A1045. MCCORD v. THE STATE
S18A1071. TYNER v. THE STATE
S18A1121. CONLEY v. PATE
S18A1156. FULTON COUNTY v. CITY OF ATLANTA et al.
S18A1211. PARK v. THE STATE
S18A1273. OVERTON v. THE STATE
S18A1322. CHAMBERS v. HALL, WARDEN
S18A1396. CARTWRIGHT v. CALDWELL
S18A1394. FAVORS v. THE STATE
S18A1491. PRICE v. THE STATE
S18A1593. BECK v. THE STATE
S18A1598. JACKSON v. THE STATE 3-27-2019 Substitute opinion issued.
S18A1609. STANFORD v. THE STATE
S18A1610. CROUCH v. THE STATE
S19A0296. TUGGLE v. THE STATE
S19Y0552. IN THE MATTER OF ALVIS MELVIN MOORE


February
February 18, 2019 – SUMMARIES for NOTEWORTHY OPINIONS

S17G2011. BELLSOUTH TELECOMMUNICATIONS, LLC et al. v. COBB COUNTY et al.
S18G0695, S18G0696. BISHOP v. GOINS et al. (two cases)
S18A1030. IVEY v. THE STATE
S18A1048. RILEY v. THE STATE
S18A1060. GRANT v. THE STATE
S18A1204. ELLIOTT v. THE STATE
S18A1231. WYNO v. LOWNDES COUNTY
S18A1234. WINTERS v. THE STATE
S18A1252. BEASLEY v. THE STATE
S18A1275. THE STATE v. JOHNSON
S18A1299. BENTON v. THE STATE
S18A1428. GOODSON v. THE STATE
S18A1429. MOORE v. THE STATE
S18A1440. ROBERTS v. THE STATE
S18A1445. BATTLE v. THE STATE
S18A1519. MILLER v. THE STATE
S18A1538, S18A1539. VIRGER v. THE STATE (two cases)
S18A1622, S18X1623. MORGAN COUNTY v. MAY (and vice versa)


February
February 4, 2019 – SUMMARIES for NOTEWORTHY OPINIONS

S18G0078. LA FONTAINE v. SIGNATURE RESEARCH, INC.
S18G0365. WHITE v. THE STATE
S18G0493, S18G0499. STATE OF GEORGIA v. INTERNATIONAL INDEMNITY COMPANY et al. (two cases)
S18A1031. McKELVIN v. THE STATE
S18A1145. McDANIEL v. THE STATE
S18A1154. BIRDOW v. THE STATE
S18A1209. FLANNIGAN v. THE STATE
S18A1221. WAINWRIGHT v. THE STATE
S18A1302. CURRY v. THE STATE
S18A1425. GROGAN v. CITY OF DAWSONVILLE
S18A1464. HOLLMAN v. THE STATE
S18A1468. YOUNG v. THE STATE
S18A1512. THE ANTHEM COMPANIES, INC. et al. v. CHERYL WILLS et al.
S18A1559. THE STATE v. HANNA
S19Y0498. IN THE MATTER OF JACK S. JENNINGS

January
January 22, 2019 – SUMMARIES for NOTEWORTHY OPINIONS

S18G0146. PLUMMER v. PLUMMER
S18A1040. MONDRAGON v. THE STATE
S18A1195. SOLOMON v. THE STATE
S18A1208. MIMS v. THE STATE
S18A1212. WORTHEN v. THE STATE
S18A1215. RINGOLD v. THE STATE
S18A1236. CHAVERS v. THE STATE
S18A1307. DE LA HERNANDEZ v. THE STATE
S18A1328. RICHARDSON v. THE STATE
S18A1340. THOMPSON v. THE STATE
S18A1357. MCDONALD v. THE STATE
S18A1391. KENNEDY, WARDEN v. HINES
S18A1434. JORDAN v. THE STATE
S18A1589. PARKER v. THE STATE
S18A1629. BARNES v. THE STATE
S19A0039. STROZIER v. THE STATE
S19A0153. BISHOP v. HALL, WARDEN
S19Y0266. IN THE MATTER OF HEATHER E. JORDAN
S19Y0455. IN THE MATTER OF NATHAN E. HARDWICK, IV
S19Y0466. IN THE MATTER OF SHANNON DEWAYNE PATTERSON


January
January 7, 2019

S19Y0028. IN THE MATTER OF SAMUEL WILLIAMS, JR
S19Y0122. IN THE MATTER OF MELODY YVONNE CHERRY













Supreme Court of Georgia244 Washington Street, Suite 572
Atlanta, Georgia 30334
Phone: (404) 656-3470
FAX: (404) 656-2253
Directions
 

Quick LinksForthcoming Opinions
Docket Search
Watch Oral Arguments
Media
Purchase
Rule 3.15 Form
Rule 3.15 Search
 

Oral Argument CalendarCurrent Monthjanuary 2020Oral Arguments
Nathan Deal Judicial Center

											330 Capitol Avenue S.E.
										
14jan10:00 am4:00 pmOral ArgumentsOral Arguments
Nathan Deal Judicial Center

											330 Capitol Avenue S.E.
										
15jan10:00 am1:00 pmOral ArgumentsOral Arguments
Nathan Deal Judicial Center

											330 Capitol Avenue S.E.
										
16jan10:00 am1:00 pmOral ArgumentsView  Calendar
 

 News and Reports 

					11/1/2019 – SCED System unavailable November 21-25, 2019
									

					9/9/2019 – SUPREME COURT OF GEORGIA AMENDS COURT RULES
									

View All News and Reports
 









		© 2019 Supreme Court of Georgia All Rights Reserved | Privacy | E-Verify ID	













 



									X
									 






