24 Ga. App. 616 | Ga. Ct. App. | 1919
(After stating the foregoing facts.) The right to sue out a certiorari is a constitutional right and the writ lies
The finality of a judgment or order is not determined by the time within which it is rendered, but by its effect in ending the litigation. The fact that a motion for new trial has been made, seeking to set aside a verdict and judgment which in themselves are final, does not operate to destroy the finality of the verdict and judgment thereon, although the action of the trial judge upon .the motion for new trial, such as dismissing it, or overruling it, is itself final as ending the litigation. In this sense, there may be two final judgments in the same case,, either one of which operates to end the litigation. It is clear that a verdict and judgment rendered in the municipal court of Atlanta is a final judgment and may be excepted to on certiorari without a motion for new trial. It is also clear that an order disposing of a motion for new trial in the municipal court of Atlanta may be a judgment and may be excepted to on certiorari without appealing to the appellate division of that court. It is also clear that a judgment of the appellate division of the municipal court of Atlanta may be a final judgment and may be excepted to on certiorari. There can, therefore, be three final judgments in a case in the municipal court of Atlanta. It is clearly established that the last final judgment in point of time may be excepted to on certiorari. While certiorari lies to any one of such final judgments, if applied for within the statutory period after the rendition of the final judgment complained of and before the losing party has sought to obtain any further relief in the municipal court, it would be a bare assertion to hold that, where the losing party in the first instance in a case tried in that court avails himself of the remedy by oral motion for new trial therein, and the motion is overruled, thus affirming the original judgment, he cannot by petition for certiorari, tendered in time, except to the original verdict and judgment, and that his sole remedy would be to except to the judgment overruling the motion for new trial.
When the original judgment in the trial court stands final in
We can therefore see no. reason why, after an oral motion for
Judgment reversed.