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2018 Georgia Code 23-4-31 | Car Wreck Lawyer

TITLE 23 EQUITY

Section 4. Equity Procedure, 23-4-1 through 23-4-38.

ARTICLE 3 DECREES

23-4-31. Power of court to mold and enforce decrees.

A superior court shall have full power to mold its decrees so as to meet the exigencies of each case and shall have full power to enforce its decrees when rendered.

(Orig. Code 1863, § 4123; Code 1868, § 4154; Code 1873, § 4213; Code 1882, § 4213; Civil Code 1895, § 4853; Civil Code 1910, § 5426; Code 1933, § 37-1203.)

Law reviews.

- 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).

JUDICIAL DECISIONS

A decree may be partly final and partly interlocutory; final as to its determination of all issues of law and fact, and interlocutory as to its mode of execution. Johnson v. James, 246 Ga. 680, 272 S.E.2d 692 (1980).

A final decree disposing of all the substantial equities of the case is not made interlocutory by the mere reservation of the right to direct the mode of its execution. Johnson v. James, 246 Ga. 680, 272 S.E.2d 692 (1980).

The judgment of the court should conform to the reasonable intendment of the verdict upon which it is based. McGill v. McGill, 247 Ga. 428, 276 S.E.2d 587 (1981).

The decree of a court of equity must in every case follow the verdict, and may not embrace questions which the verdict does not cover. Burke v. Wilkins, 49 Ga. 257 (1873); Hall v. Huff, 80 Ga. 31, 5 S.E. 49 (1887); Gray v. Junction City Mfg. Co., 195 Ga. 33, 22 S.E.2d 847 (1942).

Decree may be molded to meet exigencies of the case, etc.

- After a jury returns a general verdict finding a nuisance exists, the trial court is authorized under this section to mold its decree so as to meet the exigencies of the case and the prayers of the plaintiffs. Tufts v. DuBignon, 61 Ga. 322 (1878); Parnell v. Wooten, 202 Ga. 443, 43 S.E.2d 673 (1947); City of Cordele v. Hobby, 240 Ga. 207, 240 S.E.2d 16 (1977); Cotts v. Cotts, 245 Ga. 138, 263 S.E.2d 163 (1980).

Trial court was entitled to enter an order molding the verdict in continuing a nuisance case pursuant to O.C.G.A. § 23-4-31, as doing so was necessary to meet the exigencies of the case and the prayers of the landowners, and the order entered three months after judgment did not modify the judgment in any matter of substance not contemplated by the parties at the time the judgment was entered. City of Columbus v. Barngrover, 250 Ga. App. 589, 552 S.E.2d 536 (2001).

Enforcement order proper.

- Trial court did not abuse its broad discretion in balancing the equities and entering a second order requiring conveyance of property in exchange for payment of the sum determined in its original order, plus interest, and refusing to order either party to reimburse the other for taxes, maintenance, or rental value related to the property. Nowlin v. Davis, 278 Ga. 240, 599 S.E.2d 128 (2004).

Enforcement of divorce decree not an impermissible modification.

- Trial court's order requiring a husband to return to the wife items of jewelry which were not mentioned in the original decree was not an impermissible modification of the decree but an enforcement of a settlement agreement reached between the parties themselves, as permitted by the decree, which the court could enforce under O.C.G.A. § 23-4-31. Doritis v. Doritis, 294 Ga. 421, 754 S.E.2d 53 (2014).

Manner of enforcement of decree is within discretion of judge.

- In molding a decree upon the jury's verdict upon the facts, the chancellor (now judge) has a very broad discretion in determining what steps shall be taken to secure the enforcement of the rights awarded by the verdict, to the end that equity may afford adequate and complete relief, and this discretion will not in any case be controlled unless it is manifest there has been an abuse of discretion in a material matter. Bank of Tupelo v. Collier, 191 Ga. 852, 14 S.E.2d 59 (1941); Bregman v. Rosenthal, 212 Ga. 95, 90 S.E.2d 561 (1955).

An order entered by the trial court after appeal was not an impermissible modification of a final judgment, where the second decree became necessary only because the owner refused to obey the first decree. Gallogly v. Bradco, Inc., 260 Ga. 311, 392 S.E.2d 529 (1990).

Out-of-term modification of order not permitted.

- Where the trial court's order is final in that the case is no longer pending in the trial court, the trial court lacks authority, in a succeeding term, to modify that order so as to relieve parties from their duty of compliance. Cobb County v. Buchanan, 261 Ga. 854, 413 S.E.2d 198 (1992).

Creation of trust for child support effectuated jury's intent.

- Where, in a divorce case, the jury clearly intended to create a trust for the purpose of providing support for the minor child during his minority and they also intended that there be monthly payments from the trust for the use of the child, but the husband failed to take any substantive steps to set up the trust, there was no error in the trial court naming a trustee and providing the necessary provisions to effectuate the trust for the purpose of providing monthly child support, such as requiring the husband to make the payments necessary to keep current on his obligations for his share of the debts, encumbrances and maintenance of the trust property. Aycock v. Aycock, 251 Ga. 104, 303 S.E.2d 456 (1983).

Cited in Wade v. Peacock, 121 Ga. 816, 49 S.E. 826 (1905); Swift & Co. v. First Nat'l Bank, 161 Ga. 543, 132 S.E. 99 (1926); Gore v. Humphries, 163 Ga. 106, 135 S.E. 481 (1926); Watters v. Southern Brighton Mills, 168 Ga. 15, 147 S.E. 87 (1929); Holst v. City of La Grange, 175 Ga. 402, 165 S.E. 217 (1932); Westberry v. Reddish, 178 Ga. 116, 172 S.E. 10 (1933); Jarecky v. Arnold, 51 Ga. App. 954, 182 S.E. 66 (1935); Kirk v. Bray, 181 Ga. 814, 184 S.E. 733 (1935); Snyder v. Elkan, 187 Ga. 164, 199 S.E. 891 (1938); Payne v. Home Sav. Bank, 193 Ga. 406, 18 S.E.2d 770 (1942); Hughes v. Cobb, 195 Ga. 213, 23 S.E.2d 701 (1942); Johnson v. Wilson, 212 Ga. 264, 91 S.E.2d 758 (1956); G.S. & M. Co. v. Dixon, 220 Ga. 329, 138 S.E.2d 662 (1964); Moon v. Moon, 222 Ga. 650, 151 S.E.2d 714 (1966); Bradley v. Bradley, 233 Ga. 83, 210 S.E.2d 1 (1974); Brown v. Techdata Corp., 238 Ga. 622, 234 S.E.2d 787 (1977); Gorman v. Gorman, 239 Ga. 312, 236 S.E.2d 652 (1977); Golden v. Frazier, 244 Ga. 685, 261 S.E.2d 703 (1979); Holman v. Ruesken, 246 Ga. 557, 272 S.E.2d 292 (1980); Hudson v. Hudson, 258 Ga. 692, 373 S.E.2d 372 (1988); Getman v. Ackerly, 259 Ga. 534, 384 S.E.2d 651 (1989); Hirsh v. City of Atlanta, 261 Ga. 22, 401 S.E.2d 530 (1991).

RESEARCH REFERENCES

Am. Jur. 2d.

- 27 Am. Jur. 2d, Equity, § 251.

C.J.S.

- 30 C.J.S., Equity, § 12. 31 C.J.S., Equity, § 612 et seq.

ALR.

- Constitutionality of statute conferring on chancery courts power to abate public nuisance, 22 A.L.R. 542, 75 A.L.R. 1298.

Power of equity to require acceptance of damages in lieu of injunctive relief asked, 105 A.L.R. 1381.

Cases Citing O.C.G.A. § 23-4-31

Total Results: 14  |  Sort by: Relevance  |  Newest First

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O'donnell v. Durham, 573 S.E.2d 23 (Ga. 2002).

Cited 21 times | Published | Supreme Court of Georgia | Nov 12, 2002 | 275 Ga. 860

...The judge of the habeas court was a sitting superior court judge, and judges of the superior courts have authority to hear and determine questions arising upon writs of habeas corpus or bail, when properly brought before them. OCGA § 15-6-9. A superior court also has full power to enforce its decrees when rendered. OCGA § 23-4-31....
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Smith v. Smith, 293 Ga. 563 (Ga. 2013).

Cited 20 times | Published | Supreme Court of Georgia | Sep 9, 2013 | 748 S.E.2d 456, 2013 Fulton County D. Rep. 2800

...ssible modification within a contempt proceeding. “[T]he purpose of civil contempt is to provide a remedy and to obtain compliance with the trial court’s orders.” Hughes v. Dept. of Human Resources, 269 Ga. 587, 588 (502 SE2d 233) (1998). OCGA § 23-4-31 provides in this regard that “[a] superior court shall have full power to mold its decrees so as to meet the exigencies of each case and shall have full power to enforce its decrees when rendered.” Thus, while a trial court is not auth...
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Goode v. Mountain Lake Investments, L.L.C., 524 S.E.2d 229 (Ga. 1999).

Cited 16 times | Published | Supreme Court of Georgia | Nov 22, 1999 | 271 Ga. 722, 99 Fulton County D. Rep. 4118

...NOTES [1] Columbia County v. Doolittle, 270 Ga. 490, 512 S.E.2d 236 (1999). [2] Richmond County Hosp. Auth. v. Richmond County, 255 Ga. 183, 191, 336 S.E.2d 562 (1985). [3] See Hudson v. Hudson, 258 Ga. 692, 693, n. 1, 373 S.E.2d 372 (1988); OCGA §§ 23-4-31; 9-5-8....
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Doritis v. Doritis, 294 Ga. 421 (Ga. 2014).

Cited 15 times | Published | Supreme Court of Georgia | Jan 21, 2014 | 754 S.E.2d 53, 2014 Fulton County D. Rep. 93

...ound that the parties entered an agreement regarding the contents of the safe, which they were authorized to do under the plain terms of the final decree, and entered an order enforcing the decree, which it clearly was authorized to do. See OCGA § 23-4-31; Hamilton v....
... returned the jewelry to wife or provided her with adequate compensation for the items sold. We agree with husband that this was an improper modification of the final decree. Although the trial court had broad authority to enforce and seek compliance with its original decree, OCGA § 23-4-31, it could not do so by imposing upon husband a pre-condition to his receipt of the net proceeds that did not exist in the original decree....
...to wife, I would affirm the trial court’s authority to require that husband comply 10 with his obligations regarding the jewelry prior to receiving any proceeds from the sale of the marital residence. See OCGA § 23-4-31 (“[a] superior court shall have full power to mold its decrees so as to meet the exigencies of each case and shall have full power to enforce its decrees when rendered”); Smith v....
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Hirsh v. City of Atlanta, 401 S.E.2d 530 (Ga. 1991).

Cited 15 times | Published | Supreme Court of Georgia | Mar 15, 1991 | 261 Ga. 22

...The trial court was authorized to enjoin a public nuisance, and the public nuisance herein involved had constitutionally-protected elements. The trial court did no more than exercise its power to mold a decree so as to meet the exigencies of the case. OCGA § 23-4-31....
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Jones v. Jones, 298 Ga. 762 (Ga. 2016).

Cited 8 times | Published | Supreme Court of Georgia | Mar 25, 2016 | 787 S.E.2d 682

...Though it is well-established that a trial court cannot modify the terms of a divorce decree in a contempt proceeding, a trial court is authorized to “‘exercise its discretion to craft a remedy for contempt.’” Gooch v. Gooch, 297 Ga. 189 (773 SE2d 247) (2015). See OCGA § 23-4-31 (“[a] superior court shall have full power to mold its decrees so as to meet the exigencies of each case and shall have full power to enforce its decrees when rendered”)....
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Nowlin v. Davis, 599 S.E.2d 128 (Ga. 2004).

Cited 8 times | Published | Supreme Court of Georgia | Jun 28, 2004 | 278 Ga. 240, 2004 Fulton County D. Rep. 2117

...Nowlin to transfer title to the property to Davis upon payment. Nowlin appeals, contending that she should not be required to convey the property, and in the alternative, that she should be reimbursed for various sums if conveyance is required. OCGA § 23-4-31 provides that "[a] superior court shall have full power to mold its decrees so as to meet the exigencies of each case and shall have full power to enforce its decrees when rendered." In addition, "`the discretion of the judges of the super...
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Sponsler v. Sponsler, 301 Ga. 600 (Ga. 2017).

Cited 7 times | Published | Supreme Court of Georgia | May 30, 2017 | 800 S.E.2d 564

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Cobb Cnty. v. Buchanan, 413 S.E.2d 198 (Ga. 1992).

Cited 5 times | Published | Supreme Court of Georgia | Feb 13, 1992 | 261 Ga. 857, 42 Fulton County D. Rep. 19

...Bradco, Inc., 260 Ga. 311(2), 392 S.E.2d 529 (1990), relied upon by appellees, does not support their position. There, this court approved an order entered by a superior court after appellate affirmance of a previous order. Citing the superior court's power under OCGA § 23-4-31 to enforce its judgments, this court held that the second order became necessary only because of the failure of a party to abide by the first judgment, and that the second order was not a modification of the first judgment....
...Appellees, rather than seeking enforcement of an order, seek to avoid enforcement of an order, a change which is unquestionably a modification of the first order. Making a change of that kind is not the function of the superior court's power under OCGA § 23-4-31, and the stay issued in this case was not authorized by that statute or by the holding in Gallogly....
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Gallogly v. Bradco, Inc., 392 S.E.2d 529 (Ga. 1990).

Cited 5 times | Published | Supreme Court of Georgia | Jun 21, 1990 | 260 Ga. 311

...The second decree became necessary only because the owner refused to obey the first decree. "A superior court shall have full power to mold its decrees so as to meet the exigencies of each case and shall have full power to enforce its decrees when rendered." OCGA § 23-4-31....
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Hudson v. Hudson, 258 Ga. 692 (Ga. 1988).

Cited 3 times | Published | Supreme Court of Georgia | Nov 10, 1988 | 373 S.E.2d 372

...gment.1 Judgment reversed and case remanded. All the Justices concur. “A superior court shall have full power to mold its decrees so as to meet the exigencies of each case and shall have full power to enforce its decrees when rendered.” OCGA § 23-4-31. The superior courts, on the trial of any civil case, shall give effect to all the rights of the parties, legal, equitable, or both, and apply remedies or relief, legal, equitable, or both, in favor of either party, as the nature of the case may allow or require....
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Aycock v. Aycock, 303 S.E.2d 456 (Ga. 1983).

Cited 3 times | Published | Supreme Court of Georgia | Jun 7, 1983 | 251 Ga. 104

...original decree and in making substantial modification of the final judgment. A trial court is authorized to mold its decrees "to do full justice to the parties," OCGA § 9-12-5 (Code Ann. § 110-106), and "to meet the exigencies of each case," OCGA § 23-4-31 (Code Ann....
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S. Healthcare Sys., Inc. v. Health Care Capital Consol., Inc., 275 Ga. 247 (Ga. 2002).

Cited 1 times | Published | Supreme Court of Georgia | May 13, 2002 | 563 S.E.2d 132, 2002 Fulton County D. Rep. 1391

...After conducting a hearing, the trial court concluded that Bank One was a “stumbling block” to SHS’s compliance and that, by refusing to participate in the selection of an independent manager, the senior lender *248had “effectively written itself out of the management selection process.” Citing OCGA §§ 9-8-1 and 23-4-31, the trial court ordered SHS and HCCC to reach an agreement on naming an independent manager or, in the event they did not, a receiver would be appointed to manage SHS’s assets....
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Getman v. Ackerly, 259 Ga. 534 (Ga. 1989).

Published | Supreme Court of Georgia | Oct 19, 1989 | 384 S.E.2d 651

...s danger of loss or other injury to his interests. [OCGA § 23-2-91.] *536“A superior court shall have full power to mold its decrees so as to meet the exigencies of each case and shall have full power to enforce its decrees when rendered.” OCGA § 23-4-31.