Clayton County State Court issues multiple judgments, hears contested motions on March 19 calendar

Clayton County State Court heard a full motions calendar March 19, 2025, issuing several judgments, transferring one action to superior court and reserving decision on a contested motion over alleged deposition coaching.

The calendar covered landlord-tenant disputes, collection actions, personal-injury matters and an evidence-and-procedure dispute in a motor-vehicle case. The judge resolved multiple default and uncontested requests for relief and said written orders would follow for matters where the court took evidence or signaled a transfer.

Why it matters: The court’s rulings resolve monetary claims for tenants and injury victims and set deadlines for follow-up filings — including a transfer of a foreclosure-related matter to Superior Court. The hearing also flagged a discovery-and-ethics dispute that the judge said requires more review and a written ruling.

Key outcomes - Kosia Property Solutions v. Fantasia Mack: The court granted the defendant-tenant’s counterclaim under the Georgia security-deposit statute and awarded a judgment of $4,500 against the landlord/management; the landlord’s dispossessory claim was dismissed after the management company failed to appear. (Transcript evidence: court discussion at the march calendar concluding with the $4,500 award.)

- Lemon v. Norwood: After an unopposed default on liability, the court awarded damages for the plaintiff, Jeffrey Lemon, totaling $122,169.60 plus court costs after testimony and medical-bill proof were presented. The award combined $26,299.60 in medical specials with a court-approved amount for past pain and suffering. (Plaintiff witness: Jeffrey Lemon; counsel: Shannon Young.)

- Allstate Vehicle & Property Ins. Co. v. Yusong International: The court entered judgment on damages for a homeowner’s water-loss claim and awarded $7,333.86 plus costs following testimony from Allstate’s adjuster and proof of mitigation and repair bills.

- Thevenin v. Finger & Sons Collision / Harley James: The plaintiffs obtained a default judgment after the other parties failed to appear; the court granted the amount requested by the plaintiffs’ counsel and directed entry of an order. (Plaintiff counsel: Brandon Smith.)

- Velocity Investments v. Anna Rodriguez: The court granted summary relief on the plaintiff’s contract claim after the defendant failed to respond to discovery and entered a judgment for $15,849.93 plus costs.

- 18-03 Capital, LLC v. Shaw / Tomlinson Flowers / Shauna Gaye Riley: The court granted the plaintiff’s motion after discovery responses were not provided; summary-relief rulings were entered as discussed on the record. (Defendant Shauna Riley said she attempted to respond but the court found discovery was not received.)

- Swabu Alajuwon / Olajuwon matter (Atlanta First Hospitality / Comfort Inn & Suites): After proof of injury and billing, the court awarded $119,313.48 plus costs for the plaintiff who testified he fell over a concealed object protruding from a hotel bed and presented medical bills and lost-wage proof.

Other orders and administrative rulings - Latonya Denise Turner v. Brian Widener et al.: The court concluded it lacked jurisdiction over foreclosure/land-title issues in state court and ordered the case transferred to Superior Court; the court said it would dismiss an intervening defendant who had been added post-answer. (Judge’s transfer instruction recorded on the calendar.)

- Sally Anderson v. Ashwood Ridge Holdings: Counsel presented opposing arguments on a premises-liability summary-judgment motion; the judge said he would review briefs, affidavits and depositions and issue a written order indicating whether the case proceeds to trial.

- Several default-judgment matters in collection and dispossessory calendars were resolved on the plaintiff’s proofs or on the record; where amounts were proven the court entered judgments and where discovery problems persisted the court either granted default or set follow-up dates.

What the court emphasized The judge repeatedly told self-represented parties to use the clerk’s office and to seek counsel when they do not understand court papers. Where counsel asked for sanctions or contested discovery rulings, the judge said he would review the deposition excerpts, affidavits and cited rules before ruling in writing.

Next steps The court will issue written orders reflecting the on-the-record dispositions and the judge said he will circulate rulings on motions he took under advisement. Parties awarded money judgments were told to submit proposed orders and to expect the clerk to mail the signed judgments.

Sources: Proceedings of the Clayton County State Court motions calendar, March 19, 2025; courtroom exchange among the judge, counsel and witnesses as recorded on the calendar.