A Default Judgment She Didn't Bother to Fight
Wells Fargo Bank filed suit against Christine Conoly in Oconee County Superior Court. According to the court's Default and Judgment order, Conoly failed to appear, plead, or otherwise defend — in any way. She did not respond to the lawsuit.
Because she did not contest the suit, the court entered a default against her and issued a formal judgment in Wells Fargo's favor.
What the Court Ordered
On April 3, 2023, the Honorable Judge Eric W. Norris signed the Default and Judgment order. The court ordered that Wells Fargo recover from Christine Conoly:
| Outstanding balance (principal) | $12,379.38 |
| Attorney's fees | $800.00 |
| Filing, e-filing & service costs | $404.59 |
| Total judgment | $13,583.97 |
The Execution Writ — And What the Sheriff Found
Because Conoly did not pay the judgment, Wells Fargo's attorneys obtained a Writ of Fieri Facias (Fi. Fa.) — a court-issued execution writ directing law enforcement to seize property to satisfy the debt. The writ was signed by the Clerk of Superior Court on April 28, 2023.
The sheriff was commanded to levy upon and seize the goods, chattel, lands, and tenements of Christine Conoly to satisfy the full judgment amount.
The Sheriff's Return contains a single, notable finding:
"A diligent search was made and no property of the Defendant(s) was found in Oconee County on which to levy this Fi. Fa." — Sheriff's Return, Writ of Fieri Facias, Case No. SUCV2022000215
The sheriff conducted a diligent search and found nothing to seize.
The Lien Recorded in Clarke County
The judgment lien arising from this case was subsequently recorded in the Superior Court of Athens-Clarke County (Book 00500, Page 0386), placing the judgment against Conoly's interests in Clarke County as well.
A judgment lien attaches to real property owned by the debtor in the county where it is recorded. This lien remained on the public record as a cloud on any Clarke County property interests Conoly held.
- Wells Fargo sued Christine Conoly in Oconee County Superior Court
- She failed to appear, plead, or defend in any way — a default was entered against her
- The court entered a judgment of $13,583.97 against her on April 3, 2023
- A Writ of Fieri Facias was issued directing the sheriff to seize her property
- The sheriff conducted a diligent search and found no property to levy in Oconee County
- The judgment lien was recorded in Athens-Clarke County (Bk 00500, Pg 0386)
Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 2022 | Wells Fargo files suit against Christine Conoly in Oconee County Superior Court (SUCV2022000215) |
| Apr 3, 2023 | Court enters Default and Judgment against Conoly — $12,379.38 + $800 attorney's fees + $404.59 costs — after she fails to appear, plead, or defend in any way |
| Apr 28, 2023 | Writ of Fieri Facias issued (Doc. CM26039); sheriff commanded to seize Conoly's property to satisfy the $13,583.97 judgment |
| Apr 28, 2023 | Sheriff conducts diligent search; files return: no property found in Oconee County on which to levy |
| May 11, 2023 | Judgment lien recorded in Athens-Clarke County Superior Court (Bk 00500, Pg 0386), attaching to any Clarke County real property interests |
Default and Judgment: Superior Court of Oconee County — Civil Action No. SUCV2022000215 (filed April 3, 2023)
Writ of Fieri Facias: Oconee County Superior Court — Doc. CM26039 (filed April 28, 2023); also recorded at Athens-Clarke County Superior Court, Bk 00500, Pg 0386 (recorded May 11, 2023)
State court records are available through the Oconee County Clerk of Superior Court and the Athens-Clarke County Clerk of Superior Court.