2025 Code of Georgia
Title 9 - Civil Practice (Chs. 1 — 17)
Chapter 11 - Civil Practice Act (Arts. 1 — 10)

Annotations

Notes

Editor’s notes.

The short title for this chapter (the “Georgia Civil Practice Act”) is provided for in § 9-11-85 rather than in the first section of this chapter, where the short title for a chapter of the Code is normally provided for. This results from the fact that the renumbering of sections of this chapter follows the numbering scheme of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure rather than the usual scheme observed elsewhere in the Code.

JUDICIAL DECISIONS

• General Consideration
• Use of Case Law Construing Former Law and Federal Rules
• Retroactive Application of Chapter
• Appeals

General Consideration Construction of Civil Practice Act. —

Civil Practice Act (see now O. C. G. A. Ch. 11, T. 9) should be liberally construed and applied. Ambler v. Archer, 230 Ga. 281, 196 S. E.2d 858, 1973 Ga. LEXIS 883 (1973).

Civil Practice Act (see now O. C. G. A. Ch. 11, T. 9) is in derogation of the common law and must be strictly construed and followed. Tahoe Carpet Indus., Inc. v. Aetna Bus. Credit, Inc., 153 Ga. App. 317, 265 S. E.2d 116, 1980 Ga. App. LEXIS 1789 (1980).

Purpose. —

Civil Practice Act (see now O. C. G. A. Ch. 11, T. 9) is intended to be a revolutionary and sweeping revision of Georgia’s legal procedure. Old Hickory Prods. Co. v. Hickory Specialties, Inc., 366 F. Supp. 913, 1973 U. S. Dist. LEXIS 10956 (N. D. Ga. 1973).

Purpose and scope of the Civil Practice Act (see now O. C. G. A. Ch. 11, T. 9) was to comprehensively and exhaustively revise, supersede, and modernize pretrial, trial, and certain post-trial procedures in civil cases. Bradberry v. Bradberry, 232 Ga. 651, 208 S. E.2d 469, 1974 Ga. LEXIS 1045 (1974).

Paramount purpose of the Civil Practice Act (see now O. C. G. A. Ch. 11, T. 9) is to simplify procedure in civil cases. Morgan v. Reeves, 226 Ga. 697, 177 S. E.2d 68, 1970 Ga. LEXIS 642 (1970).

Promotion of justice intended. —

Rules set forth in the Civil Practice Act (see now O. C. G. A. Ch. 11, T. 9) are intended to promote and not to obstruct the administration of justice and thus enable the court to do substantial justice rather than to decide cases upon technicalities with no relationship to the rights of the parties to litigation. Mundt v. Olson, 155 Ga. App. 145, 270 S. E.2d 344, 1980 Ga. App. LEXIS 2495 (1980).

Decisions on the merits promoted. —

Civil Practice Act (see now O. C. G. A. Ch. 11, T. 9) is designed to simplify civil procedure by deemphasizing form and technicality in order that substantive rights of litigants may be asserted and tried on the merits. Ambler v. Archer, 230 Ga. 281, 196 S. E.2d 858, 1973 Ga. LEXIS 883 (1973).

Civil Practice Act (see now O. C. G. A. Ch. 11, T. 9) should serve to reduce number of decisions resolved on grounds with no relation to merits of litigation. Ambler v. Archer, 230 Ga. 281, 196 S. E.2d 858, 1973 Ga. LEXIS 883 (1973).

Technicalities minimized. —

One of the purposes of the Civil Practice Act (see now O. C. G. A. Ch. 11, T. 9) was to minimize situations in which actions abated on account of niceties of technical rules of practice and procedure. Tyree v. Jackson, 226 Ga. 690, 177 S. E.2d 160, 1970 Ga. LEXIS 641 (1970).

People’s right to litigate with governmental bodies should not be decided on technicalities any more than one citizen’s right to litigate with another citizen. City of Atlanta v. International Soc'y for Krishna Consciousness of Atlanta, Inc., 240 Ga. 96, 239 S. E.2d 515, 1977 Ga. LEXIS 1407 (1977).

Notice pleading substituted for issue pleading. —

Basic premise of the Civil Practice Act (see now O. C. G. A. Ch. 11, T. 9) is that it does away with “issue pleading” and substitutes “notice pleading.” Byrd v. Ford Motor Co., 118 Ga. App. 333, 163 S. E.2d 327, 1968 Ga. App. LEXIS 1383 (1968); General Tel. Co. v. Pritchett, 119 Ga. App. 53, 165 S. E.2d 918, 1969 Ga. App. LEXIS 974 (1969).

New rules under the Civil Practice Act (see now O. C. G. A. Ch. 11, T. 9) restrict pleadings to task of general notice-giving, and invest the depositions and discovery process with a vital role in preparation for trial. Byrd v. Ford Motor Co., 118 Ga. App. 333, 163 S. E.2d 327, 1968 Ga. App. LEXIS 1383 (1968).

Civil Practice Act (see now O. C. G. A. Ch. 11, T. 9) abolished “issue pleading,” substituted in lieu thereof “notice pleading,” and directs that all pleadings shall be construed as to do substantial justice. Sheppard v. Yara Eng'g Corp., 248 Ga. 147, 281 S. E.2d 586, 1981 Ga. LEXIS 934 (1981).

Under the spirit and intent of the Civil Practice Act (see now O. C. G. A. Ch. 11, T. 9), “notice pleading” has been substituted for “issue pleading.” Mills v. Bing, 181 Ga. App. 475, 352 S. E.2d 798, 1987 Ga. App. LEXIS 1449 (1987).

Notice pleading requirements. —

Under notice pleading procedure of the Civil Practice Act (see now O. C. G. A. Ch. 11, T. 9), only a short and plain statement of the claim is required; nevertheless, a complaint must give a defendant notice of the claim in terms sufficiently clear to enable the defendant to frame a responsive pleading thereto. Allen v. Bergman, 201 Ga. App. 781, 412 S. E.2d 549, 1991 Ga. App. LEXIS 1575 (1991), cert. denied, No. S92C0282, 1992 Ga. LEXIS 32 (Ga. Jan. 10, 1992).

Purpose of notice pleading. —

Objective in adopting the Civil Practice Act (see now O. C. G. A. Ch. 11, T. 9), and rejecting “issue” pleading was to avoid dismissal on technicalities and to give parties fair notice of claims and/or defenses to be asserted against the parties; the discovery process was to be used to fill in details. The substance or function of a pleading, rather than the pleading’s name, should determine the pleading’s nature. Edelschick v. Blanchard, 177 Ga. App. 410, 339 S. E.2d 628, 1985 Ga. App. LEXIS 2607 (1985).

Word “hearing,” as contained in the Civil Practice Act (see now O. C. G. A. Ch. 11, T. 9), is limited in its context to court hearings on motions. Knowles v. Knowles, 125 Ga. App. 642, 188 S. E.2d 800, 1972 Ga. App. LEXIS 1432 (1972); Montgomery v. USS Agri-Chemical Div., 155 Ga. App. 189, 270 S. E.2d 362, 1980 Ga. App. LEXIS 2516 (1980).

Special plea of mistaken identity not required. —

Civil Practice Act (see now O. C. G. A. Ch. 11, T. 9) does not require that a party must specially plead or raise by motion the defense that the plaintiff sued the wrong person (in this case, individuals rather than a corporation). Calhoun v. Herrin, 125 Ga. App. 518, 188 S. E.2d 273, 1972 Ga. App. LEXIS 1391 (1972).

Since the Declaratory Judgment Act (see now O. C. G. A. Ch. 11, T. 9) contains no special provisions for pleading, the test of what is needed to withstand a motion to dismiss petition for declaratory judgment is determined under the Civil Practice Act (see now O. C. G. A. Ch. 11, T. 9). Southeastern Fid. Fire Ins. Co. v. State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co., 118 Ga. App. 861, 165 S. E.2d 887, 1968 Ga. App. LEXIS 1549 (1968).

Civil Practice Act (see now O. C. G. A. Ch. 11, T. 9) is applicable to actions seeking declaratory judgment, and the test of what is needed to withstand a motion to dismiss petition for declaratory judgment is determined under that Act. Rockdale County v. City of Conyers, 231 Ga. 477, 202 S. E.2d 436, 1973 Ga. LEXIS 739 (1973).

Declaratory judgments. —

Declaratory Judgment Act, O. C. G. A. Ch. 4, T. 9, is governed by the practice rules contained in the Civil Practice Act, O. C. G. A. Ch. 11, T. 9. Town of Thunderbolt v. River Crossing Apts., Ltd., 189 Ga. App. 607, 377 S. E.2d 12, 1988 Ga. App. LEXIS 1484 (1988).

Suit on contract that only licensed person can enter. —

Civil Practice Act, O. C. G. A. Ch. 11, T. 9, does not require a person suing on a contract permitted to be entered into only by licensed persons to plead the existence of such a license in order to state a claim, but, at whatever stage of the proceedings it appears that the plaintiff is seeking to recover upon a contract permitted to be entered into only by persons holding licenses issued as a regulatory measure, it becomes imperative for the plaintiff to prove that the plaintiff holds such a license and held such a license at the time the contract was entered into in order to authorize a recovery. Myers v. Wynn, 201 Ga. App. 764, 412 S. E.2d 581, 1991 Ga. App. LEXIS 1579 (1991).

Criminal contempt is tried under rules of civil procedure, rather than under rules of criminal procedure, and the preponderance of the evidence is sufficient to convict the defendant. Hill v. Bartlett, 124 Ga. App. 56, 183 S. E.2d 80, 1971 Ga. App. LEXIS 809 (1971). But see In re Crane, 253 Ga. 667, 324 S. E.2d 443, 1985 Ga. LEXIS 524 (1985).

Applicability to juvenile courts. —

Civil Practice Act, O. C. G. A. Ch. 11, T. 9, does not apply to juvenile courts. In re N. N. G, 196 Ga. App. 765, 397 S. E.2d 40, 1990 Ga. App. LEXIS 1082 (1990).

Claim for indebtedness. —

While a creditor may bring separate actions to foreclose a security interest and on an indebtedness, and both remedies may be sought in the same action, the claim for indebtedness, whether filed in a separate action or in the same action as foreclosure proceeding under former Code 1933, § 67-701 (see now O. C. G. A. § 44-14-230 et seq.), must stand or fall upon the principles set forth in the Civil Practice Act (see now O. C. G. A. Ch. 11, T. 9), including, but not limited to, process and service of process, and may not be “piggy-backed” into court using special rules applicable to foreclosure actions under former Code 1933, § 67-701 (see now O. C. G. A. § 44-14-230 et seq.). Porter v. Midland-Guardian Co., 242 Ga. 1, 247 S. E.2d 743, 1978 Ga. LEXIS 1066 (1978).

Other statutory time periods control. —

Provisions of the Civil Practice Act, O. C. G. A. Ch. 11, T. 9, which deal with time frames do not apply to periods of time which are definitely fixed by other statutes, such as O. C. G. A. § 32-3-14. Bates & Assocs. v. Department of Transp., 186 Ga. App. 828, 368 S. E.2d 544, 1988 Ga. App. LEXIS 510 (1988).

Act creating municipal court repealed. —

Adoption of the Civil Practice Act (see now O. C. G. A. Ch. 11, T. 9) had effect of repealing provisions of Ga. L. 1952, p. 2184 et seq., the Act creating Municipal Court of Columbus, which are contrary to its provisions. Lee v. G. A. C. Fin. Corp., 130 Ga. App. 44, 202 S. E.2d 221, 1973 Ga. App. LEXIS 1217 (1973).

Waiver of jury trial. —

Passage of the Civil Practice Act (see now O. C. G. A. Ch. 11, T. 9) did not change the time-honored rule of law that when a party has the right to demand a jury trial and fails to do so, the party may be held to have waived the jury trial. Marler v. Citizens & S. Bank, 139 Ga. App. 851, 229 S. E.2d 786, 1976 Ga. App. LEXIS 2020 (1976), aff'd, 239 Ga. 342, 236 S. E.2d 590, 1977 Ga. LEXIS 909 (1977).

Equitable complaint in appeal from probate court not maintainable. —

Nothing in the Civil Practice Act (see now O. C. G. A. Ch. 11, T. 9) can be construed as authorizing the superior court to entertain a complaint in equity in a case on appeal from the probate court as on appeal jurisdiction of superior court is no greater than that of probate court. Logan v. Nunnelly, 230 Ga. 588, 198 S. E.2d 321, 1973 Ga. LEXIS 992, transferred, 130 Ga. App. 33, 202 S. E.2d 220, 1973 Ga. App. LEXIS 1212 (1973).

Party dismissed only when no set of facts supports claim. —

Party should not be dismissed for failure to state a claim against such party, unless it appears beyond doubt that the plaintiff can prove no set of facts in support of the plaintiff’s claim which would entitle the plaintiff to relief against that party. Sheppard v. Yara Eng'g Corp., 248 Ga. 147, 281 S. E.2d 586, 1981 Ga. LEXIS 934 (1981).

Use of Case Law Construing Former Law and Federal Rules Precedential value of case law construing former actions. —

While provisions which have been repealed specifically by the Act which enacted the Civil Practice Act (see now O. C. G. A. Ch. 11, T. 9) have been rendered void and are generally no longer effective, cases construing such former sections are of precedential value in construing the same or similar provisions found elsewhere in the Code. Bowen v. State, 239 Ga. 517, 238 S. E.2d 62, 1977 Ga. LEXIS 1229 (1977).

Use of federal case law in construing chapter. —

Since the Civil Practice Act (see now O. C. G. A. Ch. 11, T. 9) is modeled and predicated on the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, federal cases, while not binding precedent, will be considered as persuasive authority in construing pertinent provisions. Poole v. City of Atlanta, 117 Ga. App. 432, 160 S. E.2d 874, 1968 Ga. App. LEXIS 1113 (1968).

As the Civil Practice Act (see now O. C. G. A. Ch. 11, T. 9) is substantially identical to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, it is appropriate to resort to federal cases for its construction. Harper v. DeFreitas, 117 Ga. App. 236, 160 S. E.2d 260, 1968 Ga. App. LEXIS 1044 (1968).

Because of the similarity between the state Civil Practice Act, O. C. G. A. Ch. 11, T. 9, and the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, it is proper that the court give consideration and great weight to constructions placed on the federal rules by the federal courts. Bicknell v. CBT Factors Corp., 171 Ga. App. 897, 321 S. E.2d 383, 1984 Ga. App. LEXIS 2359 (1984).

Retroactive Application of Chapter

Remedial statutes are not inoperative, although of a retrospective nature, provided the statutes do not impair contracts, and only go to confirm rights already existing, in furtherance of the remedy, by curing defects and adding to means of enforcing existing obligations. Berry v. Siskin, 128 Ga. App. 3, 195 S. E.2d 255, 1973 Ga. App. LEXIS 1360 (1973).

Law which merely alters procedure may be made applicable to past transactions. Berry v. Siskin, 128 Ga. App. 3, 195 S. E.2d 255, 1973 Ga. App. LEXIS 1360 (1973).

No person has a vested right in any course of procedure, nor in the power of delaying justice, nor of deriving benefit from technical and formal matters of pleading. Berry v. Siskin, 128 Ga. App. 3, 195 S. E.2d 255, 1973 Ga. App. LEXIS 1360 (1973).

Effect of simultaneous repeal and reenactment of automatic dismissal provisions. Berry v. Siskin, 128 Ga. App. 3, 195 S. E.2d 255, 1973 Ga. App. LEXIS 1360 (1973).

Appeals Chapter controls over Appellate Practice Act. —

Civil Practice Act (see now O. C. G. A. Ch. 11, T. 9), being the latest expression of legislative will, must control over provisions of the Appellate Practice Act (see now O. C. G. A. Art. 2, Ch. 6, T. 5), if conflict exists. Howard v. Smith, 226 Ga. 850, 178 S. E.2d 159, 1970 Ga. LEXIS 711 (1970).

Application of chapter on appeal. —

Civil Practice Act (see now O. C. G. A. Ch. 11, T. 9) may be applied on appeal in reviewing the judgment of the trial court rendered under the former procedure in cases filed prior to the chapter’s effective date. Bazemore v. Burnet, 117 Ga. App. 849, 161 S. E.2d 924, 1968 Ga. App. LEXIS 1262 (1968).

Regardless of when judgment was entered below, the appellate court must apply the new rules of the Civil Practice Act (see now O. C. G. A. Ch. 11, T. 9). Grubbs v. Duskin, 118 Ga. App. 82, 162 S. E.2d 762, 1968 Ga. App. LEXIS 1312 (1968).

In reviewing enumeration of errors, the appellate court must apply the new rules of the Civil Practice Act (see now O. C. G. A. Ch. 11, T. 9) regardless of when judgment was entered below. Ghitter v. Edge, 118 Ga. App. 750, 165 S. E.2d 598, 1968 Ga. App. LEXIS 1516 (1968).

Court of appeals must apply the Civil Practice Act (see now O. C. G. A. Ch. 11, T. 9) as it exists at the time of its judgment rather than the law prevailing at the rendition of judgment under review. Turner v. Bank of Zebulon, 128 Ga. App. 404, 196 S. E.2d 668, 1973 Ga. App. LEXIS 1495 (1973).

Research References & Practice Aids

Cross references.

Citation of chapter as “Georgia Civil Practice Act,” § 9-11-85.

Procedure in magistrate courts, § 15-10-40 et seq.

Practice and procedure in garnishment proceedings, T. 18, C. 4.

Authority to enact local rules, Uniform Superior Court Rules, Rule 1.2.

Motions for summary judgment, Uniform Superior Court Rules, Rule 6.5.

Law reviews.

For article advocating the adoption of the federal rules of civil procedure in Georgia, see 18 Ga. B. J. 297 (1956).

For article discussing rule-making power and advocating, Supreme Court of Georgia be vested with rule-making power over both civil and criminal procedure, see 23 Ga. B. J. 303 (1961).

For article comparing the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure to Georgia trial practice procedures prior to the adoption of the Georgia Civil Practice Act, see 1 Ga. St. B. J. 315 (1965).

For article, “The Georgia Civil Practice Act of 1966: Preliminary Observations,” see 2 Ga. St. B. J. 419 (1966).

For article comparing sections of the Georgia Civil Practice Act with preexisting provisions of the Georgia Code, see 3 Ga. St. B. J. 295 (1967).

For article, “The 1967 Amendments to the Georgia Civil Practice Act and the Appellate Procedure Act,” see 3 Ga. St. B. J. 383 (1967).

For article discussing counterclaims and cross-claims under the Georgia Civil Practice Act, see 4 Ga. St. B. J. 205 (1967).

For article, “Synopses of 1968 Amendments Appellate Procedure Act and Georgia Civil Practice Act,” see 4 Ga. St. B. J. 503 (1968).

For article discussing liability of corporate directors, officers, and shareholders under the Georgia Business Corporation Code, and as affected by provisions of the Georgia Civil Practice Act, see 7 Ga. St. B. J. 277 (1971).

For article discussing 1976 to 1977 developments in Georgia’s practice and procedure, see 29 Mercer L. Rev. 265 (1977).

For article surveying Georgia cases in the area of trial practice and procedure from June 1977 through May 1978, see 30 Mercer L. Rev. 239 (1978).

For article surveying judicial developments in Georgia’s trial practice and procedure laws, see 31 Mercer L. Rev. 249 (1979).

For survey article on trial practice and procedure, see 34 Mercer L. Rev. 299 (1982).

For annual survey of law on trial practice and procedure, see 35 Mercer L. Rev. 315 (1983).

For article surveying 1983 Eleventh Circuit cases on trial practice and procedure, see 35 Mercer L. Rev. 1295 (1984).

For annual survey on trial practice and procedure, see 36 Mercer L. Rev. 347 (1984).

For article, “Defending the Lawsuit: A First-Round Checklist,” see 22 Ga. St. B. J. 24 (1985).

For annual survey of trial practice and procedure, see 38 Mercer L. Rev. 383 (1986).

For article, “On with the Old!,” see 24 Ga. St. B. J. 13 (1987).

For annual survey on trial practice and procedure, see 43 Mercer L. Rev. 441 (1991).

For annual survey on trial practice and procedure, see 44 Mercer L. Rev. 421 (1992).

For annual survey article on trial practice and procedure, see 49 Mercer L. Rev. 313 (1997).

For annual survey article on trial practice and procedure, see 50 Mercer L. Rev. 359 (1998).

For annual survey article discussing trial practice and procedure, see 51 Mercer L. Rev. 487 (1999).

For annual survey article discussing trial practice and procedure, see 52 Mercer L. Rev. 447 (2000).

For article, “Trial Practice and Procedure,” see 53 Mercer L. Rev. 475 (2001).

For article, “Georgia’s New Evidence Code: After the Celebration, a Serious Review of Anticipated Subjects of Litigation to be Brought on by the New Legislation,” see 64 Mercer L. Rev. 1 (2012).

For article, “Exodus from and Transformation of American Civil Litigation,” see 65 Emory L. J. 1491 (2016).

For article, “Class Warfare: The Disappearance of Low-Income Litigants from the Civil Docket,” see 65 Emory L. J. 1531 (2016).

For article, “Settlement’s Rusty Sword: The Forgotten Role of Rule 68 in Constitutional Litigation,” see 70 Mercer L. Rev. 457 (2019).

For annual survey on trial practice and procedure, see 71 Mercer L. Rev. 305 (2019).

For article, “The Inherent and Supervisory Power,” see 54 Ga. L. Rev. 411 (2020).

For article, “Character Evidence in the Civil Setting,” see 26 Ga. St. B. J. 20 (Dec. 2020).

For note, “Default Judgments Under the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and the Georgia Civil Practice Act,” see 7 Ga. St. B. J. 385 (1971).

For note analyzing the Civil Procedure Act of 1966, and its application from 1966 to 1976, see 11 Ga. L. Rev. 546 (1977).

For note, “Venue in Multidefendant Civil Practice in Georgia,” see 6 Ga. State U. L. Rev. 427 (1990).

For survey of 1995 Eleventh Circuit cases on trial practice and procedure, see 47 Mercer L. Rev. 907 (1996).

For review of 1996 civil practice legislation, see 13 Ga. St. U. L. Rev. 23 (1996).

Hierarchy Notes:

O. C. G. A. Title 9