VOLUME 22 NUMBER 39
FREE
JANUARY 7, 2016
Published Since April 1995 Serving DeKalb, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry and Rockdale Counties • www.facebook.com/ocgnews
DeKalb, Rockdale anMLK Day 2017 nounce mandatory electronic filing for What are you doing to civil cases, land records celebrate the King Holi-
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ourts in DeKalb and Rockdale counties are among those in metro Atlanta that are making electronic filing mandatory for civil cases and land records, effective this year. The new system, officials say, will enable residents and attorneys to open cases and file documents from a user-friendly, secure website — 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Officials say electronically filed transactions are faster the old way of filing by paper, with many e-filings taking less than 60 seconds. “We have reached a pivotal moment in our transition to electronic court records and now documents can be digitally filed, served, distributed and delivered at any time and any place,” said Debra DeBerry, Clerk of the DeKalb County Superior Court. “This transition will help us achieve greater efficiencies, as well as create time savings for attorneys and clerks and enhance access to justice for self-represented litigants.” Rockdale Clerk of Courts Ruth A. Wilson said along with the full launch of civil cases filed electronically in Rockdale, all land records—maps, plats and floor plans—also now must be filed at efile.gsccca.org. “Our e-Filing solutions feature easy-to-use interfaces. It saves attorneys time and money and greatly reduces the manual paper processing in the clerk’s office,” said Wilson. Superior and State Courts are now accepting civil cases through Rockdale Odyssey eFile GA. To begin taking advantage of civil e-Filing and training sessions for which Continuing Legal Education credit may be earned, attorneys may register using the Odyssey eFile GA link provided at www. rockdaleclerk.com, Wilson said. For more information regarding e-Filing requirements for land records, visit www.gsccca.org/ learn/efiling-information. In addition to DeKalb and Rockdale courts, other metro Atlanta areas using eFileGA include courts in Macon, Bibb; Cherokee; Clayton; Coweta; Douglas; Forsyth; Fulton; Gwinnett; and Spalding counties.
day? Check out On Common Ground’s special guide for local events and celebrations commemorating the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in honor of the national holiday observed Monday, Jan. 16, See page 4
Conyers police seek armed robber who ambushed Fred’s worker
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obbers are becoming more clever in their holdups. Conyers police are asking for the public’s help in finding the suspect who waited in a bathroom stall until closing to rob a Fred’s discount store. “It is unusual. I can’t think of any robbery we have had recently like this one,” Conyers Police Sgt. Kim Lucas said. Police said the black male entered Fred’s on New Year’s Eve around 8:40 p.m. and waited in a women’s bathroom stall before ambushing an employee at 9 p.m., closing time. The subject was armed with a black semi-automatic handgun and used duct tape to restrain the victim. “The store’s video shows the suspect had come in earlier and looked around, scoping out the store. He left and then returned a short time later and lay in wait in the bathroom until the store closed,” said Sgt. Lucas. “He ambushed the employee. She was very scared, but fortunately, she was not hurt.”
Lucas said police are hoping other jurisdictions in the metro Atlanta area will pay attention to the Conyers case in the event they may be working similar armed robberies. Any information leading to the arrest of the suspect may result in a cash reward of up to $2,000, Lucas said.
Tipsters will remain anonymous and are asked to contact Crime Stoppers with any information. Call: 404.577.TIPS (8477) Text: CSA + your tip to CRIMES (274637) Click: www.CrimeStoppersAtlanta.org