Dogan v. Georgia Department of Human Resources
Dogan v. Georgia Department of Human Resources
Opinion of the Court
The trial court held Walter Dogan in contempt for falsifying documentation he submitted to the court in connection with a child support petition. Dogan appeals the contempt order, asserting that the trial court erred in finding him in contempt. In the alternative, Dogan argues that the judge was required to recuse himself. Finding no error, we affirm.
1. On appeal from a conviction for criminal contempt, we view the evidence in a light favorable to the trial court’s ruling.
[a] side from the issue of support, what is so troubling to me is .. . Dogan’s conduct in submitting [these] documents. He fabricated a series of documents in an effort to convince the Court that his earnings were about half of what they actually were. . .. I’m inclined to find Mr. Dogan in .. . criminal contempt of Court because he’s disrupted the Court process by submitting these obviously false documents.
In order to afford Dogan proper notice and an opportunity to be heard, the trial court gave him five days before a contempt hearing would be held. Because Dogan had a flight scheduled, he waived any notice requirement, and the contempt hearing was conducted the same day.
According to Dogan, the trial court erred in finding him in contempt because any allegedly contemptuous conduct was not directed to the court. Dogan seems to imply that, since DHR tendered the pay stubs, he cannot be held responsible for their introduction before the trial court. This might be true if the court only had the power to cite litigants for direct contempt, which generally requires that the contemptuous conduct be committed in open court.
2. Dogan also contends that the trial court erred in failing to recuse himself. Dogan cites In re Schoolcraft
As a threshold matter, we question whether Dogan has preserved this alleged error for appeal as there is no evidence that Dogan asked the judge to recuse himself.
A judge must recuse himself when a contemnor lies to the court in direct response to a question from the court
Judgment affirmed.
See In re Spruell, 227 Ga. App. 324, 325 (1) (489 SE2d 48) (1997).
As Dogan is a resident of New York, DHR filed a long-arm complaint. On appeal, Dogan does not challenge the Georgia court’s jurisdiction.
Although he does not currently practice, Dogan is a lawyer, licensed to practice law in both New Jersey and Georgia. Thus, he was capable of appreciating the nature of such waiver.
See Ramirez v. State, 279 Ga. 13, 14 (2) (608 SE2d 645) (2005).
See id. We note that, for indirect contempt proceedings, a litigant is entitled to due process, such as “reasonable notice of the charges,... counsel of his own choosing, and... the opportunity to call witnesses.” Id. at 16 (3). Since Dogan waived these requirements, we need not address them on appeal. See In re Woodall, 241 Ga. App. 196, 202 (2) (c) (526 SE2d 69) (1999); In re Brant, 230 Ga. App. 283, 285 (3) (496 SE2d 321) (1998).
See Crute v. Crute, 86 Ga. App. 96, 98 (70 SE2d 727) (1952) (“a witness who is seeking to conceal the truth and to give evasive answers or to falsify and mislead the court certainly is not acting respectfully to the court and his conduct is reprehensible”).
274 Ga. App. 271, 273 (1) (617 SE2d 241) (2005).
See Brant, supra at 285 (2) (where contemnor fails to seek recusal, a judge does not err in failing to sua sponte recuse himself).
See In re Adams, 215 Ga. App. 372, 375 (1) (450 SE2d 851) (1994).
See Ramirez, supra; In re Daley, 270 Ga. App. 583, 585 (1) (608 SE2d 253) (2004).
See In re Longino, 254 Ga. App. 366, 370 (5) (562 SE2d 761) (2002).
Indeed, Dogan concedes that the contumacious conduct was not directed to the trial court.
See Daley, supra.
See Longino, supra; compare Adams, supra at 377 (1) (where judge imposed the maximum sentence, insisted upon immediate incarceration, denied supersedeas, and refused to allow contemnor to make a phone call, there is a strong inference that the judge has become personally embroiled in the controversy).
Reference
- Full Case Name
- DOGAN v. GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES
- Cited By
- 4 cases
- Status
- Published