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Vereen v. Deutsche Bank Natl. Trust Co.

Supreme Court of Georgia
Apr 28, 2009
285 Ga. 330 (Ga. 2009)

Opinion

No. S09A0296.

DECIDED APRIL 28, 2009.

Title to land. Dekalb Superior Court. Before Judge Flake.

Solomon Vereen, pro se. Dickenson Gilroy, Monica K. Gilroy, for appellees.


The appellant, Solomon Vereen, appeals from the trial court's judgment ruling that Vereen's action against the appellees was barred by res judicata and from its award of attorney fees to the appellees. In an earlier action between the parties, this Court affirmed the trial court's judgment that "fee simple title to the property is vested in Deutsche Bank and that appellant has no right, title, interest or lien in or against the property." Because Vereen's present action is premised on his claim of ownership of the property and because the prior judgment resolved that claim against him, the trial court properly dismissed Vereen's present action based on the principles of res judicata. Moreover, we conclude the trial court did not abuse its discretion in awarding approximately $3,500 in attorney fees under OCGA § 9-15-14 (a) and (b). Judgment affirmed. All the Justices concur.

Vereen v. Deutsche Bank Nat. Trust Co., 282 Ga. 284, 286 ( 646 SE2d 667) (2007).

Bryan County v. Yates Paving Grading Co., 281 Ga. 361, 363 ( 638 SE2d 302) (2006) (res judicata acts as procedural bar to claims that were raised or could have been raised in prior action).

Pineres v. George, 284 Ga. 483, 483-484 ( 668 SE2d 727) (2008); Carson v. Carson, 277 Ga. 335, 337 ( 588 SE2d 735) (2003). Vereen's claim that his appeal in a separate action in a different court precluded the trial court from awarding attorney fees in this action is without merit.


DECIDED APRIL 28, 2009.


Summaries of

Vereen v. Deutsche Bank Natl. Trust Co.

Supreme Court of Georgia
Apr 28, 2009
285 Ga. 330 (Ga. 2009)
Case details for

Vereen v. Deutsche Bank Natl. Trust Co.

Case Details

Full title:VEREEN v. DEUTSCHE BANK NATIONAL TRUST COMPANY et al

Court:Supreme Court of Georgia

Date published: Apr 28, 2009

Citations

285 Ga. 330 (Ga. 2009)
676 S.E.2d 227

Citing Cases

Harrell v. Bank of Am.

Georgia courts have applied res judicata to bar a pro se litigant's claims. See, e.g., Vereen v. Deutsche…