Andrews, Judge.Gail and James Brock sued Dion Daugherty, an adjoining landowner, for damages resulting from excavations performed by Bruce Swartley on Daugherty’s property that impermissibly removed soil from the Brocks’ property.[1] The Superior Court of Crawford County granted Daugherty’s motion for summary judgment, and the Brocks appeal, contending they are entitled to equitable relief pursuant to OCGA § 23-1-14. However, the state of the record on appeal precludes us from properly reviewing this case de novo. Therefore, we affirm. The Brocks alleged that Daugherty allowed Peach State Excavation, LLC and H. Alton Tucker to remove “approximately 260 loads of soil” that was “uniquely well suited for use in ground foundation for the construction of buildings and roadbeds.” Daugherty moved for summary judgment, relying upon the pleadings in the case, Daugherty’s affidavit and attached exhibits, 12 depositions, “[e]xhibits attached to the Complaint,” and “[a]ll other material of record.”[2] The trial court granted Daugherty’s motion, noting that it had “carefully considered the entire file in this civil action including all pleadings, briefs and affidavits, and argument of counsel. . . .” This appeal followed. Among other criteria, OCGA § 5-6-37 mandates that a notice of appeal shall include “a designation of those portions of the record to be omitted from the record on appeal” and “shall state whether or not any transcript of evidence and proceedings is to be transmitted as a part of the record on appeal.” Although the Brocks’ notice of appeal contains a statement that “[t]he transcript of evidence and proceedings will be filed for inclusion in the record on appeal[,]“[3] it does not identify those portions of the record that should be excluded on appeal.[4] See OCGA § 5-6-37. And unlike other cases we have examined, nor does the notice of appeal contain a statement of what should be included in the record.[5] See, e. g., Turner v. National Collegiate Student Loan Trust 2007-4, 342 Ga. App. 835 (803 SE2d 797) (2017); Redford v. Collier Heights Apartments, 298 Ga. App. 116, 117 (679 SE2d 120) (2009). To the contrary, the notice of appeal is completely silent concerning the content of the record on appeal.[6] As a result, the Brocks’ notice of appeal fails its rudimentary function “to allow [this Court] to determine if the record before [it] contains the same evidence that was before the trial court at the time it ruled.” (Citation omitted.) Redford, 298 Ga. App. at 117. “Nonetheless, after study of the record sent up . . ., it is apparent that . . . some portion of the evidence upon which the superior court relied in this case has been omitted from the record on appeal.” Bennett v. Executive Benefits, Inc., 210 Ga. App. 429 (436 SE2d 544) (1993). “It is well established that the burden is on the party alleging error to show it affirmatively by the record. . . .” (Citation omitted.) Armstrong v. Rapson, 299 Ga. App. 884, 885 (683 SE2d 915) (2009). See also Turner, 342 Ga. App. at 835; Curry v. Miller, 328 Ga. App. 564, 565 (763 SE2d 489) (2014). To that end, “[w]hen this court reviews the grant of summary judgment, we must look at the entire record before the trial court.” (Citation omitted.) Armstrong, 299 Ga. App. at 885. See also Redford, 298 Ga. App. at 117 (“In considering the grant of summary judgment, we and the trial court must look at the entire record.”) (citation and punctuation omitted). “[A]nd where the proof necessary for determination of the issues on appeal is omitted from the record, an appellate court must assume that the judgment below was correct and affirm.” Armstrong, 299 Ga. App. at 885.[7] See also Turner, 342 Ga. App. at 835; Curry, 328 Ga. App. at 565. As a result,appellants who omit portions of the record which they view as not pertaining to any issue on appeal create a probably fatal defect in their appeals. Such omissions from the appellate record from matters on summary judgment generally prove fatal to appellate review since it must be assumed by a reviewing court that the trial court’s grant of summary judgment is properly supported by the trial court record and since appellant has the burden of showing error affirmatively by the record on appeal.
