Full Opinion

Court of Appeals of the State of Georgia ATLANTA,____________________ October 29, 2026 The Court of Appeals hereby passes the following order: A27A0660. LUCIEN OUANZIN et al. v. KEITH BODOH et al. In this dental malpractice action, the former attorneys for the plaintiffs filed a notice of attorneys’ fee lien pursuant to OCGA § 15-19-14, which the plaintiffs sought to quash. After the plaintiffs settled with two of the parties, the trial court entered an order enforcing the lien for attorneys’ fees and expenses. The plaintiffs filed this pro se direct appeal. We, however, lack jurisdiction. As the trial court recognized in its order enforcing the lien, this action remains pending below. Under OCGA § 5-6-34(a)(1)(B), appeals generally may be taken from “[a]ll final judgments, that is to say, where the case is no longer pending in the court below.” An order is final “where it leaves no issues remaining to be resolved, constitutes the court’s final ruling on the merits of the action, and leaves the parties with no further recourse in the trial court.” Paine v. Nations, 301 Ga. App. 97, 99(1) (686 SE2d 876) (2009) (quotation marks omitted). Here, the trial court’s order did not resolve the plaintiffs’ claims against the remaining defendant. Under these circumstances, the plaintiffs could appeal only if they complied with the interlocutory appeal procedures of OCGA § 5-6-34(b) or if the trial court expressly determined that there was no just reason for delay under OCGA § 9-11-54(b). Johnson v. Hosp. Corp. of Am., 192 Ga. App. 628, 629 (385 SE2d 731) (1989). See also Smith v. Millsap, 364 Ga. App. 162, 167(1) (874 SE2d 184) (2022) (finding that the order cancelling an attorney’s OCGA § 15-19-14 lien was interlocutory). “Where neither of these code sections [is] followed, the appeal is premature and must be dismissed.” Johnson, 192 Ga. App. at 629 (citation modified). Because the plaintiffs did not follow the interlocutory appeal procedures, and the trial court did not enter judgment in accordance with OCGA § 9-11-54(b), we are without jurisdiction to consider this appeal. See Rhymes v. E. Atlanta Church of God, Inc., 284 Ga. 145, 148 (663 SE2d 670) (2008). Consequently, this appeal is hereby DISMISSED. Court of Appeals of the State of Georgia Clerk’s Office, Atlanta,____________________ 10/29/2026 I certify that the above is a true extract from the minutes of the Court of Appeals of Georgia. Witness my signature and the seal of said court hereto affixed the day and year last above written. , Clerk.