Title 9

(a) The judges of the superior, state, and city courts, when counsel for either party requests it before argument begins, shall write out their charges and read them to the jury; and it shall be error to give any other or additional charge than that so written and read; provided,…

A juror shall not act on his or her private knowledge respecting the facts, witnesses, or parties. History. Civil Code 1895, § 5337; Civil Code 1910, § 5932; Code 1933, § 110-108; Ga. L. 2011, p. 99, § 9/HB 24. History of Section. This Code section is derived from the decisions i…

GMC, 187 Ga. App. 176, 369 S.E.2d 525, 1988 Ga. App. LEXIS 545 (1988). Response to jury question as to elements. — Trial court’s statements to the jury did not give undue prominence to contentions of either party where the judge, in response to a question from the jury, told the …

All actions seeking equitable relief shall be filed in the county of the residence of one of the defendants against whom substantial relief is prayed, except in cases of injunctions to stay pending proceedings, when the action may be filed in the county where the proceedings are pe…

(a) The General Assembly finds that Paragraph IV of Section II of Article VI of the Georgia Constitution permits a trial and entry of judgment against a resident of Georgia in a county other than the county of the defendant’s residence only if the Georgia resident defendant is a j…

(a) If a court of this state, on written motion of a party, finds that in the interest of justice and for the convenience of the parties and witnesses a claim or action would be more properly heard in a forum outside this state or in a different county of proper venue within this …

Where the maker and endorser of a promissory note who reside in different counties are subjected to an action in the county where the maker resides, as provided by Article VI, Section II, Paragraph V of the Constitution of this state, service of a copy of the original pleading an…

A person who is not a citizen of this state, passing through or sojourning temporarily in the state, may be subject to an action in any county thereof in which he may be found at the time when the action is brought. History. Orig. Code 1863, § 3318; Code 1868, § 3339; Code 1873, …

(a) As used in this Code section, the term: (1) “Defending party” means a party to a civil action who is: (A) A defendant who contends that a person or entity not a party to the action is or may be liable to the defendant for all or part of a plaintiff’s claim against the defenda…

(a) Whenever, by an examination voir dire of the persons whose names are on the jury list and who are compellable to serve on the jury, the presiding judge is satisfied that an impartial jury cannot be obtained in the county where any civil case is pending, the civil case may be t…

In all actions brought by one county against another county in the defending county, the judge shall change the venue to a county adjoining the one in which the action is brought, on the motion of the plaintiff, supported by the oath of the chairman or presiding official of the c…

The clerk of the court from which a case has been transferred shall send a true transcript of the order for the change of venue, together with the original record in the case, including depositions and orders and all pleadings, to the court of the county to which the case has bee…

After a case has been transferred, all further proceedings shall be conducted as if the case had been originally commenced in the court to which the same was transferred. History. Ga. L. 1884-85, p. 35, § 3; Civil Code 1895, § 4958; Civil Code 1910, § 5535; Code 1933, § 3-210.

All costs which have accrued at the time of the transfer of a case shall, at the termination of the case, be paid by the party or parties against whom the same are assessed to the proper officers of the county from which the case was transferred. History. Ga. L. 1884-85, p. 35, §…

(a) Anything to the contrary notwithstanding, in all instances where a minor, 14 years of age or older, is a legal resident of the county wherein the legal proceeding concerning such service is sought to be made but is temporarily residing or sojourning outside this state or outs…

(a) Where any nonresident or person unknown claims or owns title to or an interest, present or contingent, in any real or personal property in this state, service on the nonresident or unknown owner or claimant may be made by publication in cases affecting such property in procee…

If the defendant or any of the defendants reside outside the county where the action is filed, the clerk shall issue a second original and copy for such other county or counties and forward the same to the sheriff, who shall serve the copy and return the second original, with his …

The defendant may acknowledge service or waive process by a writing signed by the defendant or someone authorized by him. History. Laws 1840, Cobb’s 1851 Digest, p. 363.; Code 1863, § 3250; Code 1868, § 3261; Code 1873, § 3337; Code 1882, § 3337; Civil Code 1895, § 4983; Civil Co…

As used in this article, the term “nonresident” includes an individual, or a partnership, association, or other legal or commercial entity (other than a corporation) not residing, domiciled, organized, or existing in this state at the time a claim or cause of action under Code Se…

Sweeney, 514 F. Supp. 622, 1981 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 12337 (S.D. Ga. 1981). Rule conferring jurisdiction over nonresident tort-feasors committing tortious acts or omissions outside the state which cause injury within the state exists judicially under paragraph (2) of O.C.G.A. § 9-10-…

Where personal jurisdiction is based solely upon this article, an appearance does not confer such jurisdiction with respect to causes of action not arising from the conduct enumerated in Code Section

Venue in cases under this article shall lie in any county wherein a substantial part of the business was transacted, the tortious act, omission, or injury occurred, or the real property is located. Where an action is brought against a resident of this state, any nonresident of th…

A person subject to the jurisdiction of the courts of the state under Code Section 9-10-91, or his executor or administrator, may be served with a summons outside the state in the same manner as service is made within the state by any person authorized to make service by the laws…

Petitions for a restraining order, injunction, receiver, or other extraordinary equitable relief shall be verified positively by the petitioner or supported by other satisfactory proofs. History. Civil Code 1895, § 4966; Civil Code 1910, § 5544; Code 1933, § 81-110; Ga. L. 1982, p…

In all cases where the plaintiff files a pleading with an affidavit attached to the effect that the facts stated in the pleading are true to the best of his knowledge and belief, the defendant shall in like manner verify any answer. If the defendant is a corporation, the affidavit…

Whenever an action is brought on an open account and the same is verified by the plaintiff as provided by law, the answer either shall deny that the defendant is indebted in any sum or shall specify the amount in which the defendant admits he may be indebted and it shall be verifie…

All affidavits, petitions, answers, defenses, or other proceedings required to be verified or sworn to under oath shall be held to be sufficient when the same are sworn to before any notary public, magistrate, judge of any court, or any other officer of the state or county where t…

The defendant shall always have the privilege of filing an answer under oath for the purpose of using the same as evidence on any motion to dissolve an injunction or to set aside any extraordinary process or remedy granted. A sworn answer may be amended at any time, by leave of th…

All affidavits for the foreclosure of liens, including mortgages, all affidavits that are the foundation of legal proceedings, and all counter affidavits shall be amendable to the same extent as ordinary pleadings and with only the restrictions, limitations, and consequences of o…

All bonds taken under requirement of law in the course of a judicial proceeding may be amended and new security given if necessary. History. Orig. Code 1863, § 3434; Code 1868, § 3454; Code 1873, § 3505; Code 1882, § 3505; Civil Code 1895, § 5123; Civil Code 1910, § 5707; Code 19…

All misnomers, whether in the Christian name or surname, made in writs, pleadings, or other civil judicial proceedings, shall, on motion, be amended and corrected instanter without working unnecessary delay to the party making the same. History. Laws 1850, Cobb’s 1851 Digest, p. …

If a party must apply for leave to amend his pleadings and has been negligent or dilatory in respect to the subject of the amendment, the court may order the party to pay to his adversary the cost of any proceedings which he proposes by amendment and, in the court’s discretion, m…

Either party who amends or attempts to amend his complaint or other pleadings in response to an order or other ruling of the court shall not be held to have waived his objection to the order or ruling but may thereafter take exception thereto as in other cases. History. Civil Cod…

(a) A member of the General Assembly who is a party to or the attorney for a party to a case; any member of the Office of Legislative Counsel, including the legislative counsel and persons provided for under subsection (d) of Code Section 28-4-3, appearing on behalf of the Genera…

Should any member of the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia or any member of the State Board of Education be otherwise occupied, at the time of any meeting of the board, as counsel or party in any case pending in the courts of this state and should the case be c…

Should any member of the Board of Human Services or the Board of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities be engaged, at the time of any meeting of the board, as counsel or party in any case pending in the courts of this state and should the case be called for trial durin…

It shall be the duty of any judge of a court of this state, on or without motion, to continue any case in the court when the case is reached and any party thereto or his leading counsel is absent from the court by reason of his service in the armed forces when such service direct…

When any case pending in the courts of this state in which the Attorney General is of counsel is scheduled to be called for any purpose during sessions of the General Assembly or during a period of 15 days preceding or following sessions of the General Assembly, on motion of the …

The party amending pleadings or other proceedings in any of the courts of this state shall not be entitled to delay or continuance on account of the amendment, except by leave of the court to enable him to make the amendment. History. Orig. Code 1863, § 3449; Code 1868, § 3469; C…

When a pleading is amended, if the opposite party makes oath or his counsel states in his place that he is surprised and not fully prepared for trial because of the amendment, upon a showing of the manner of unpreparedness and that surprise is not claimed for the purpose of delay…

Any person summoned as a witness in any case shall be excused by the judge from attending the court by reason of his attendance as a legislator in the General Assembly. In all civil cases it shall be the right of either party thereto to take the deposition, as provided by law, of…

All applications for continuances upon the ground of the absence of a witness shall show to the court: (1) That the witness is absent; (2) That he has been subpoenaed; (3) That he does not reside outside of the state; (4) That his testimony is material; (5) That the witness is no…

No continuance shall be allowed in any court on account of the absence of a witness or for the purpose of procuring testimony when the opposite party is willing to admit and does not contest the truth of the facts expected to be proved by the testimony of the witness. The court s…

When any case is sent back for trial by the Supreme Court or the Court of Appeals, the same shall be in order for trial; and, if the continuances of a party are exhausted, the trial court may grant one continuance to the party as the ends of justice may require. History. Ga. L. 1…

No appeal case shall be continued more than twice by the same party, except for providential cause, for which it may be continued as often as justice may require. History. Orig. Code 1863, § 3459; Code 1868, § 3479; Code 1873, § 3530; Code 1882, § 3530; Civil Code 1895, § 5137; C…

A continuance requested by a party in a pending case in any court shall not be granted for longer than one term. History. Laws 1799, Cobb’s 1851 Digest, p. 486.; Code 1863, § 3448; Code 1868, § 3468; Code 1873, § 3519; Code 1882, § 3519; Civil Code 1895, § 5126; Civil Code 1910, …