FI FTH DI VI SI ON

PHI PPS, P. J.

, DI LLA RD and R I CKM A N, JJ.

N O T IC E : M otions for r e c ons i de r a tion m us t be ph y sic a l ly r e ce iv ed i n our c le r k ’s offic e w ithin te n da y s of the da te of de c is ion to be de e m ed tim e ly file d.

http://w w w .ga a ppe a l s .us /r ule s

June 29, 2016



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 6 A0 15 8 . KEM P v . KEM P et al

.

D I LLA R D , J u dg e.

San d ra Kem

p (“ San d ra”) ap p eal s t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s i n t eri m awar d of a ttor ne y fees

t o her s o n , Ch arl es Al ex an der Kem p , II, an d hi s m i n o r ch il d ren (co l l ect i v el y ,

“ Al ex an d er”) i n t h ei r act i on ag ai n s t h er fo r breach o f t ru s t an d o th er rel at ed cl ai m s

. 1

On ap p eal

, San d ra arg u es t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n award i n g at t o rn ey fees to

Al ex an der u n d er O C GA § 5 3 -1 2 -3 0 2 (a) (4 ) p ri o r t o t h e co n cl u s i o n o f t h e cas e

b ecau s e (1 ) su ch an award i s n o t au t h o ri zed b y th e s tat u t e, an d (2 ) i t i s i m p os s i b l e to

k n o w a t th i s ti m e wh et h er an d t o wh at ex t en t Al ex an d er wi l l p rev ai l o n h i s cl ai m s

.

As t o t h e am o u n t o f t h e award

, San d ra m ai n t ai n s t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n award i n g

1 Al t h o u g h t h i s l i t i g at i o n i s s t i l l p en d i n g , t h e t ri al co urt en t ered i t s in t eri m -fee

award as a fi n al ap p eal ab l e o rd er u n d er OCGA § 9 -1 1 -5 4 (b ).fees fo r cl ai m s o t h er th an b reach o f tru s t, i n cl u d i n g cl ai m s th at Al ex a n d e r l a t er

ab an do n ed

. Becau s e we ag ree t h at an award o f at t o rn ey fees an d co s t s of l i t i g at i o n

t o Al ex an d er p ri o r t o t he ad ju d i cat i on o f h i s b reach -o f-t ru st cl ai m i s n o t au t h o ri zed

b y O C G A § 5 3 -1 2 -3 0 2 (a) (4 ), we v acat e t h e fee award an d rem an d t h e cas e fo r

fu rt her p ro ceed i n g s co ns i st en t wi t h t h i s o p i n i on

.

Rel ev an t t o t h i s ap p eal

, t h e reco rd s h o w s 2 t h at Ch arl es A l ex an d er Kem p

(“ Al ex ”), wh o was San dra’ s l at e h u s b an d an d A l ex an d er’s fat h er, was a s u cces s fu l

2 Th e fact u a l b a c k g ro u n d u n d erl y i n g t h i s ap p eal i s g l ean ed fro m t h e t ri al

c o urt ’ s Oct o b er 14

, 2 0 1 4 o rd er, g ran t i n g Al ex an d er’ s req u es t fo r p rel i m i n a r y i n ju n ct i v e rel i ef, w h i ch

, i nt er a l i a , t em po rari l y rem o v ed San dra as tru s t ee of cert ai n fam i l y t ru s t s

. I n i t s o rd er, t h e t ri al co u rt ap pears t o h av e rel i ed u po n t es t i m o n y an d

o t h er ev id en ce p res en t ed at an ev i d en t i ary h eari n g , b u t th e t ran s cri p t o f t hat h eari n g i s n o t i n cl u d ed i n t he ap pel l at e reco rd b ecau s e, i n h er n o t i ce o f ap p eal , San d ra o n l y

req u es t ed t h at t ran s cri p t s o f t wo s u b s eq u en t h eari n gs b e t ran s m it t ed t o t h i s Co u rt

. It

i s n o t

, th en , p o s s ib l e fo r th i s Co u rt t o d et erm i n e wh et h er t h e t ri al co u r t ’s f a ct u al

fi nd i ng s i n t h e Oct o b er 14

, 2 0 1 4 o rd er were s up p o rt ed b y t h e ev i den ce. H o wev er, b ecau s e t h i s a p p e a l i n v o lv es a p u rel y leg al q u es ti o n o f s t at u t o ry i n t erp ret at i o n , we rel y o n t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s fact u al fi n d i n g s s ol el y t o p ro v id e co n t ex t fo r t h e i n s t an t
d i s p u t e bet ween t h e p art i es

. Bu t t o t h e ex t en t t h at t h e o m i t t ed t ran s cri p t i s n eces s ary

t o t h e res o lu t i o n o f t h i s ap p eal

, we p res u m e th at t h e fi nd i n g s o f t h e tri al co u rt are

co rrect

. S ee Co x v. Ba n k o

f Am., N.A.

, 3 2 1 Ga. A p p

. 8 0 6

, 8 0 7 (2 ) ( 7 4 2 SE2 d 1 4 7 ) (2 0 1 3) (“ [W ] e wi l l n ot p res u m e t h e t ri al co u rt co m m it t ed erro r wh ere t h at fact d o es

n o t affi rm at i v el y ap p ear i n th e reco rd .” (p u n ct u at i on an d ci t at i o n o m i t t ed )); s ee a l s o Cu r r y v. Mi l l er , 32 8 Ga. Ap p

. 56 4

, 56 5 (7 6 3 SE2 d 48 9 ) (2 0 1 4 ) (“ Geo rg i a’ s ap p el l at e

co u rt s h av e m ad e cl ear t h at [wh en ] t h e reco rd i s i n co m p l et e as t he res u l t o f an

ap p el l an t ’ s fai l u re to co m pl y wi t h t h e req u i rem en t s o f OCGA § 5 -6 -3 7, t h e o rd er o f

t h e t ri al co urt wi l l b e affi rm ed .”).

2b u s i n es s m an wh o fo u n d ed co m p an i es t h at p ro v i d e d i al y s i s -m an ag em en t s erv i ces

. In

Feb ru ary 2 0 0 4

, Al ex ex ecu t ed h i s l as t wi l l an d t es t am en t

, i n w h i ch San d ra was n am ed

t h e s o l e ex ecu tri x an d t ru s t ee of a m a r i t a l t r u s t an d a res i d u al tru s t

, b o t h o f wh i ch

were creat ed by t h e wi ll

. Al ex an d er, wh o w as 1 9 y ears o l d at t h e t i m e, was n am ed t h e

fi rs t s ucces s or t ru s t ee o f b o t h t ru s t s

. Al s o i n Feb ru ary 20 0 4, Al ex creat ed th e Green

Tree Tru s t

, wh i ch was th e s o l e o wn er o f h i s b u si n es s t h at m an ag ed co n t ract s fo r t h e

o p erat i o n o f W ak e Fo res t Un i v ers i t y ’ s d i al y s i s cl i n i cs

.

Al ex d ied o n M ay 2 4

, 2 00 4

, an d u n d er h i s w i l l, h e l eft s ub s tan t ial l y al l o f h i s

es t at e t o t h e m ari t a l t r u s t

. Th e rem ai n d er of t h e es t at e was l eft t o t h e res i d u al t ru s t

.

Bo t h th e m ari t al an d res i du al t ru s t s (l i k e t h e G reen T ree T r u s t ) pro v i ded t h at al l

i n co m e d eri v ed fro m

t ho s e t ru s t s b e p a i d t o San d ra d u ri ng h er l ifet i m e, an d i f s u ch

i n co m e was n ot s u ffi ci en t

, t h e t ru s t ee o f t h e m ari t al t ru s t co u l d d raw fro m t h e

p ri n ci p al as n eces s ary

. T h e w i l l fu rt h er p ro v i d ed t h at

, aft er San dra’ s d eat h

, t h e m ari t al

an d res i d u al t r u s ts wo u l d b e co m b i n ed

, wi t h Al ex an der as t he so l e tru s t ee an d

b en efi ci ary o f th e i n co m e an d p ri n ci p al

. Th ereaft er, al l t ru s t p ro p ert y wo u ld

ev en tu al l y p as s o u t ri g ht

, free o f t ru s t , t o Al ex an d er i n crem en t al l y o v er h i s l i fet i m e.

Sh o rt l y aft er Al ex ’ s d eat h

, h i s l i fe i n s u ran ce p o l icy p ai d $ 4

, 7 8 1 ,2 3 5

. 0 7 to

San dra, as t ru s t ee o f t h e s o-cal l ed 1 9 9 0 Li fe In s u ran ce Tru s t t h at Al ex h ad creat ed

3p ri o r t o h i s d eat h

. Un d er t h is t ru s t

, San dra was en t i t led t o i n co m e, b u t n o p ri n c i p a l

ab s en t a s h o wi ng o f a n eed fo r t h e fu n d s

. Fo l lo wi n g h er d eat h

, Al ex an d er wo u l d b e

t h e s o l e b en efi ci ary

o f al l t ru st p ro pert y . Bu t n o t w i t hs t an d i n g t h e t erm s o f t h e 1 9 9 0

Li fe In s u ran ce Tru s t

, San d ra d i s t ri b u t ed al l o f t h e l i fe i n s u ran ce p ro ceed s t o h ers el f,

i n d i v i d u al l y

. An d l a t e r , w h en t h e i n s u ran ce co m p an y p ai d $ 80 ,0 0 0 fro m a l aws u i t

s et t l em en t t o San d ra, as t ru s t ee o f t he 1 9 9 0 Li fe In s u ran ce Tru s t

, sh e ag ai n d ep o s i t ed

t h e fu n d s t o an acco un t i n h er i n d i vi d u al n am e.

On Oct o b er 1 2

, 2 00 5, San d ra’ s at t o rn ey s creat ed t h e SS Kem p T ru s t t o rep l ace

t h e G r e en Tree Tru st

. Des p i t e b ei n g n am ed as a t ru s t ee o f th e SS Kem p Tru s t

,

Al ex an der h ad n o k n o wl ed ge t h at t h e tru s t was creat ed

, n ev er s i g n ed th e t r u s t

ag reem en t

, an d o n l y d i s co vered the tr ust’ s e xiste nce aft er in it i at in g t h i s l it i gat i o n

. Th e

SS K em p Tru s t w as d i fferen t fro m t he Green T ree Tru s t i n s ev eral m at eri al res p ect s ,

i n c l u d i ng t h at San d ra res erv ed t h e ri g h t t o u n i l at eral l y des i g nat e al l o f t h e t ru s t

p ro p ert y t o pas s t o h er fu t u re s p o u s e o r s i bl i n g s , a m o n g o t h e r s

. In 20 0 7

, San d ra

en t ered a n ew m an ag em en t co n t ract fo r t h e o perat i o n o f W ak e Fo res t Un i v ers i t y ’ s

d i al y s i s cl i n i cs , referen ced s u pr a , b u t s h e d i d s o v i a a co m p an y o wn ed b y t h e SS

Kem p Tru s t

, i n s t ead of t h e o n e o w n ed b y t h e Green T ree Tru s t

, wh i c h h ad b een

creat ed b y h er l at e h u s b an d

. Th e b u s i n es s m o d el was i d en t ical t o t h at creat ed b y Al ex

4i n 2 0 0 4

, ex cep t fo r t h e di fferen t t erm s s et fo rt h i n t h e SS Kem p Tru s t. Su b s eq u en t l y ,

San dra, as m an ag in g m em b er o f a n ew d i al y s i s -m an ag em en t co m p an y o wn ed b y t h e

SS Kem p Tru s t

, co n tract ed wi t h Em o ry Un i v ers i t y to m an ag e i t s d i al y s i s cl i n i cs

.

W h i l e t h e m ari t al t ru s t an d Al ex an d er h ad an i n t eres t an d a reas o n ab l e ex p ect an cy in

t h e p ro fi t s fro m t h i s n ew b u s i n es s o p p o rt u n i ty

, t h e p ro fi ts d eri v ed fro m th i s b u s i n es s

were d i s t ri b u t ed s o l el y

t o San d ra, o u t s i d e o f t ru s t

.

O n O c t o b er 11

, 2 0 1 3, San d ra creat ed y et an o th er i rrev o cab le t ru s t

, t h e S S K

Kem p Tru s t

, t o rep lace t he SS Kem p Tru s t an d t o o wn 9 9 p e r c e nt o f t h e d i al y si s

m a n ag em en t b us i nes s

. Un d er t h i s t ru s t ’ s t erm s , San d ra was th e t ru s t ee an d s e v e r a l

o t h er i n d i v i d u al s were h er co -s u cces s o rs , b ut Al ex an d er was n ei t h er a t ru s t ee n o r a

s u cces s o r t ru s tee. In deed

, pri or t o fi l i n g t h i s l aws u i t

, A l ex an d er h ad n ev er ev en s een

t h e SSK Kem

p T ru st

. San dra was t h e l i fet i m e b en efi ci ary o f t h e t ru s t, an d aft er h er

d e a t h

, a l l t ru s t p ro p ert y was t o b e d i s t ri b u t ed t o h er g ran dch i l d ren

. Th u s , t h e SSK

Kem p Tru s t

, u n l ik e t h e Green Tree Tru st fro m wh i ch i t o ri g i n at ed

, e x cl u d ed

Al ex an der as a b en efi ci ary

.

On J u n e 9

, 20 1 4

, Al ex an d er, i n di v i d u al ly an d o n beh al f o f h i s m i n or ch i l d ren ,

fi led a co m

p l ai n t a g a i n st San d ra, p ers o n al l y an d as t ru s tee of t h e ab o ve-referen ced

t ru s t s , as wel l as v ari o us b u s i n es s es t h at were o wn ed b y t h o s e t ru st s. Th e co m p l ai nt

5as s ert ed

, i n t e r a l i a , cl ai m s fo r “ b reach o f t ru st

, m i s ap p ro pri at i on of co rp o rat e

o p p o rt u ni t y , s el f-d eal in g , co n s p i racy t o co m m i t b reach o f t ru s t

, an d a i d i n g an d

ab et t in g i n b reach o f t ru s t .” In rel ev an t p art

, Al ex an der co n ten d ed th at

, as t ru s t ee o f

t h e m ari t al t ru st

, San dra h ad “ p u rs u ed an d m i s ap p ro p ri at ed o p p ort u n i t i es bel o n g i n g

t o t h e [m ] ari t al [ t ]r u s t ” an d “ en t ered i n t o v ari ou s b u s i n es s es t h at co m p et e d i rect l y

wi t h t h e [m ] ari t al [t ] ru s t .” In ad d i t i o n , Al ex an d er s o u g h t p rel i m i n ary an d p erm an en t

i n ju n ct i v e rel i ef, req u es t i n g t h at San d ra b e i m m ed i at el y r e m o v ed as t ru s t ee o f t h e

m ari t al t ru s t an d Al ex an d er b e ap p o i nt ed as s u cces s or t ru st ee.

Sh o rt l y a ft er t h e co m

p l ai n t w as fi l ed

, th e t ri al co urt i s s ued a t em p o rary

res t rai n i n g o rd er, p ro v i d i n g t h at al l d efen d an t s i n t h e cas e were

res t rai n ed an d en

jo in ed fro m

d i v ert i n g , t ran s ferri n g , s el l i n g, s ecret i n g ,

en cu m b eri n g , t r ad in g , p l ed gi n g as co l l at eral

, co n t ract i n g t o s el l

,

co n ceal in g, o r o t h erwi s e d i s p o s i n g o f o r rem o v i n g fro m t h e j u ri s d i ct i o n

o f [t h e co u rt ] an y o f t h e as s et s , p ro p ert y , co nt ract s , eq u i p m en t

, acco u n t s ,

co rp orat e o p p ort u n i t i es , o r t h e l i k e o f an y o f t h e [d ] efen d an t en t i t i es , [d ]e f e n d a n t s , t h e [m ] ari t al [t ] ru st

, an d [a “ n ew tru s t ” referen ced i n a

l et t er b y San d ra’ s at t orn ey ]

— ex cep t as i s cu s t o m ary an d i n t h e ord i n ary

co u rs e o f b u s i n es s an d i s n eces s ary t o m ai n t ai n o n g o i n g o p erat i o n s.

In ad d i t i o n , the t ri al co u rt p ro h i b i t ed t h e p art ies fro m “ d es t ro y i n g o r s ecret i n g” cert ai n

reco rd s rel ev an t to th e l i ti g at i o n an d g ran t ed A l ex an d er acces s t o v ari ou s reco rd s an d

6d o cu m en t s i n t h e d efen d an t s ’ cu s t od y an d co n t ro l

. Th e o rd er al so p ro v i d ed t h at al l

d o cu m en t s ex ch an g ed in di sco very m u s t rem ai n co n fi d en t i al an d t h at t h e co m p l ai nt

an d an y fu rt h er p l ead i n g s wo u ld rem ai n s eal ed as l o n g as t h e tem po rary res t rai n i n g

o rd er was i n effect

.

Su b s eq uen t l y , aft er t h e d efen d an t s fi l ed t h ei r an s wers t o t h e co m p lai n t

, t h e t ri al

co u rt i s s u ed a co n s en t o rd er, ex t en d i n g t h e t em p o rary r e s t r a i n i n g o rd er u n t i l

Sep tem b er 1 1

, 2 0 14

, an d o rd eri n g San d ra t o t ak e s ev eral act i o n s wi th res p ect t o t h e

t ru s t s at i s s u e. Bu t n o twi th s t an d i n g t h e res t rai n i n g ord er, San dra, i n t en t i on al l y an d in

v i o l at i o n o f t h e o rd er, t ran sf e r r e d ap p ro x i m at el y $ 4

, 8 0 0 ,0 0 0 i n as s et s hel d i n h er

i n d i v i d u al nam e t o a n ew t ru s t th at was i n t en d ed t o rep li cat e t h e 19 9 0 Li fe In s u ran ce

Tru s t . Ad d i t i o n al l y , s h e p urch as ed a n ew h o m e wi t h p ers o n al fu n d s

.

On Sep t em

ber 3

, 2 0 1 4

, Al e x a n d e r fi l ed an ap p l icat i o n fo r a co nt em p t o rd er

ag ai n s t San d ra fo r al l eg ed v i o l at i o n s o f t h e t em p o rary res trai n i n g o rd er. Sp eci fi cal l y ,

Al ex an der req u es t ed an ord er h o l d i n g San d ra i n ci v i l co n t em p t of co u rt

, ord eri n g h er

t o p ay a $ 1 ,0 0 0 fi n e fo r each “ d i s o b ed i en t act ,” o rd eri n g h er t o co m p ly w i t h t h e t ri al

co u rt ’ s ord ers at al l t i m es , an d award i n g Al ex an d er reas o nab l e at t o rn ey fees fo r fi l i n g

t h e ap p l icat i o n

. Acco rd i n g t o Al ex an d er, San d ra h ad b reach ed at l eas t two p ro v i s i on s

o f t he tri al co u rt ’ s t em

p o rary r e s t r a i n i n g o rd er b y s p en d i n g $2 5 0 ,0 00 i n p ers o n al

7fu n d s t o p u rch as e real es t at e, t ran s ferri n g ap p ro x i m at el y $ 4

, 8 0 0 ,0 0 0 i n s ecu ri t i es to

a n ew l ife i n s u ran ce t ru st , l i s ti n g h er p ers o n al res i den ce fo r s al e, an d d i s cl o s i n g t h e

co n ten t s o f t h e co m

p l ai n t an d th e al l eg at i o n s co n t ai n ed t h erei n t o t h i rd p art i es

.

On O ct ob er 1 4

, 2 0 1 4

, t h e t ri al co u rt g ran t ed Al ex an d er’ s p et it i o n fo r

p rel i m i nary i n

ju n ct i ve rel i ef. Aft er s et t i n g fo rt h i t s d e t ai l ed fi n d i ng s , t h e co u rt

o rd ered

, i n t er a l i a , t h at San d ra b e t em p o rari l y rem o v ed a s t ru s t ee o f t h e “ Kem p

Tru s t s ” 3 an d th at Al ex an d er b e ap p o i n t ed as t em p o rary t ru s t ee o f t h o s e tru s t s

. A few

d ay s l at er, th e t ri al co u rt i s s u ed an o t h er ord er, ho l di n g San dra i n ci v i l co n t em p t o f i t s

t em p o rary res t rai n in g o rd ers a n d award i n g Al ex an d er at t orn ey fees i n cu rred in

p u rs u i n g h i s co nt em

p t p et i t i on

. In t h at o rd er, t h e co u rt n o t ed t h at San dra ad m i t t ed

d i s p o s i n g o f ap p ro x i m at el y $ 2 5 0 ,0 0 0 o f h er as s et s b y p u rch as i n g cert ai n real es t at e,

s h e i m p erm i s s i bl y t ran s ferred ap p ro x i m at el y $4 ,8 0 0

, 0 00 i n s ecu ri t i es t o a l i fe

i n s u ran ce t ru st

, an d s he ad m i t t ed m ak i n g cert ai n d i s cl o s u res th at v i o l at ed “ t h e s p i ri t

an d t h e t erm s ” o f t h e o rd ers ’ co n fi d en t i al i t y p ro v i s i on s

.

3 Th e co u rt d efi n ed th e Kem p Tru s t s as i n cl u d i n g t h e m ari t al t ru st

, t h e res i d u al

t ru s t

, t h e 1 99 0 Li fe In su ran ce T ru s t

, an d th e “ 2 0 1 4 G r een Tree II Tru s t .” T h e 2 0 1 4

Green Tree II Tru s t was es t ab l i s h ed d u ri n g t h is l it i gat i o n t o co m p ly wi t h th e co urt ’ s

o rd er t h at th e m an ag em en t co n t ract s o wn ed b y t ru s t s t h at San dra creat ed t o rep l ace

t h e o ri g i n al G reen Tree T ru st b e t ran s ferred i n to a new t ru s t

, wi t h an es tat e-p l an n i n g

m o del t h at fo l l o wed Al ex ’ s i n ten t i o n s

.

8In l at e O ct ob e r 2 0 14

, Al ex an d er fi l ed t h e m ot i o n g i vi n g ri s e t o t h i s ap p eal

,

wh i ch s o u g h t at to rn ey fees an d co s t s o f li t i g at io n un d er OCGA § 5 3-1 2 -3 02 (a) (4 ) 4

an d OCGA § 9 -1 5 -1 4 5 t h at he i n cu rred in p u rs u i ng t h e t em p o rary rem o v al of San d ra

as t r u st ee o f t h e Kem

p Tru s t s an d h i s ap p o in tm en t as t em p o rary t ru s t ee. Al ex an d er

co n ten d ed t h at

, o v er t h e co u rs e o f a f o u r

- d ay h eari n g , San d ra, i n h er cap aci t y as

t ru s t ee, ad m i t t ed t o t h e m i sco n d u ct s et fo rt h i n t h e t ri al co u rt ’s o rd er g ran t i n g

i n ju n ct i v e rel i ef an d t h at h er at t em p ts t o d efen d t h es e act s o f b reach were fri v o l ou s

an d wi th o u t m eri t. In ad d i t i o n , h e co n t en d ed t h a t S an d ra h ad i g n o red h is p ret ri al

req u es t s fo r do cu m en t at i o n an d reb u ffed h is rep eat ed at t em p t s t o av o i d th i s l i t i g at i o n.

4 S ee OCGA § 5 3 -1 2 -3 0 2 (a) (4 ) (au t ho ri zi n g a t ri al co u rt

, in i t s d i s cret i o n , to
award ex p en s es of l i t i g at i o n , i n cl u d i n g reas o n ab l e at t o rn ey fees

, i n cu rred i n b ri n g i n g

an act i o n fo r b reach o f t ru s t o r t h reat t o co m m i t s u ch b reach ).

5 S ee OCGA § 9 -1 5 -1 4 (a), (b ) (au t h o ri zi n g an award o f at t orn ey fees ag ai n s t

a p art y wh o as s ert s “ a cl ai m , d efen s e, or o t her p o s i ti o n wi t h res p ect t o wh i ch t h ere

ex i s t ed s u ch a co m

p l et e ab s en ce o f an y ju s t ici ab l e is su e o f l aw o r fact t h at i t co u l d n ot
b e reas o n ab l y b el i ev ed t hat a co u rt w o u l d accep t th e as s ert ed cl ai m , d efen se, o r o t h er

p o s i t i on ,” or ag ai n s t a p art y (o r at t o rn ey ) w h o “ b ro u g ht o r d efen d ed an act i o n , o r an y

p art t h ereo f, t h at l ack ed su b s t an t i al ju s t i fi cat i o n o r t hat t h e act i on , o r an y p art t h ereo f,

was i n t erp o s ed fo r d el ay o r h aras s m en t, o r if [t h e co u rt ] fi n d s t h at an at t orn ey o r p art y

u n n eces sari l y ex p an d ed t h e p ro ceed i n g b y o t her i m p ro p er co nd u ct

, i n cl u d i n g , b u t n ot
l i m i ted t o , ab u s es o f d i s co v ery p ro ced u res . . . .”).

9San dra res p o nd ed t o t h e m ot i o n , arg u i n g t h at OCGA § 5 3 -1 2-3 0 2 (a) (4 ) d o es n ot

au t h o ri ze an in t eri m award o f at t o rn ey fees an d t hat t h e d efen d an ts h ad n o t en g ag ed

i n an y co n d u ct t h at wo u l d au t h o ri ze an award o f fees un d er OCGA § 9 -1 5 -1 4 (a) o r

(b ). Fo l l o wi n g a h eari n g o n t h e m at t er, th e t ri al co u rt g ran t ed Al ex an d er’ s m o t i o n,

fi nd i ng t h at a fee award was ap p ro p ri at e u n d e r O CGA § 5 3 -1 2 -3 0 2 (a) (4 ).

Sp eci fi cal l y , t he t r i a l co urt award ed Al ex an der $ 2 7 0 ,7 8 9 .7 5 i n at t o rn ey fees an d

$ 2 4 ,7 3 6 .3 4 i n co s ts o f l it i g at i on , wh i ch rep res en t ed t h e am o u n t s t h at h e in cu rred fro m

t h e fi rs t rel ev an t t i m e en t ry t h ro u g h Oct o b e r 1 5

, 2 01 4

, t h e d at e o f t h e t ri al co urt ’ s

o rd er g ran t i n g i n

ju n ct i v e rel i e f

. T h e co u rt d ecl in ed t o reach t h e i s s u e o f wh et h er

at t o rn ey fees were al s o au t h o ri zed u n d er OCGA § 9 -1 5 -1 4 . Th i s ap peal fo ll o ws

.

W e b eg i n b y n o t i n g t h at t h e i n t erp ret at i o n o f a st at u t e i s a q ues t i o n o f l aw,

wh i ch i s “ r e v i ewed d e n o v o o n ap p eal .” 6 In d eed

, wh en o n l y a q u es t i on o f l aw i s at

i s su e, as h ere, we “ o we n o d eferen ce t o t h e tri al co u r t ’s ru l in g an d ap p ly t h e ‘ p l ai n

6 Br a n t l ey La nd & Ti mb er

, LLC v. W & D In ves tmen t s

, In c ., 31 6 Ga. Ap p

. 2 7 7,

2 7 9 (7 2 9 SE2 d 4 5 8 ) (2 0 1 2 ) (p u n ct u at io n o m i t t ed ); s ee a l s o Lu e v. Ea d

y , 2 9 7 Ga. 3 2 1,

3 2 6 (2 ) (a) (7 7 3 SE2 d 6 7 9 ) (2 0 1 5 ) ( “ Th e in t erp ret at io n o f s tat u t es

. . . p r e s e n t s a

q u es ti o n o f l aw fo r t h e co u rt .”).

10l eg al erro r’ s tan d ard of rev i ew.” 7 W i t h t h es e g u i d in g pri n ci p l es i n m i n d

, w e t u rn n o w

t o San dra’ s s p eci fi c cl ai m s o f erro r.

As n o t e d s u

p r a , San d ra arg u es t hat t h e t ri al co u rt erred in award i n g at t o rn ey

fees fo r b reach o f tru s t becau s e an i n t eri m award o f a t t o r n e y f e e s p ri or t o t h e fi n al

d i s p o s i t i on o f t h e cas e i s n o t au t h o ri zed b y OCGA § 5 3 -1 2 -3 0 2 (a) (4 ) an d b ecau s e

i t i s n ot p o s s i b l e t o k n o w wh et h er an d t o wh at ex t en t Al ex an d er wi l l prev ai l o n h i s

b reach -o f-t ru s t cl ai m

. Sh e al s o m ai n t ai n s t h at t he t ri al co u rt erred in award i ng fees fo r

cl ai m s o t h er th an b reach o f t ru s t

. Becau s e we ag ree t h at OCGA § 5 3 -1 2 -3 0 2 (a) (4 )

d o es n ot au t h o ri ze an award o f at to rn ey fees b efo re t h e fi n al ad ju d i cat i o n o f

Al ex an der’ s b reach -o f-t ru s t cl ai m , we n eed no t ad d res s San d ra’ s rem ai ni n g cl ai m s

o f erro r.

W h en we in t erp ret an y s t at u t e, we neces s ari l y beg i n o u r an al y s is wi t h “ fam i l i ar

an d b i nd i n g can o n s o f co n s t ru ct i o n

. ” 8 In co n s id eri n g t h e m ean in g o f a s t at u t e, o u r

7 Co ker v. Mo emeka

, 3 1 1 Ga. Ap p. 1 0 5

, 1 0 7 (1 ) (7 1 4 SE2 d 64 2 ) ( 2 0 1 1 ) (p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ); a cco r d A r t s o n

, LLC v. Hu d

s o n , 3 2 2 Ga. Ap p . 8 59 , 8 6 0 (7 4 7

SE2 d 6 8 ) (2 0 1 3 ).

8 Ho l co mb v. Lo n g , 3 2 9 Ga. Ap p

. 5 1 5

, 5 1 7 (1 ) (7 6 5 SE2 d 68 7 ) (2 0 1 4 ); a cco r d

In r e L. T. , 3 2 5 Ga. Ap p . 5 9 0 , 5 9 1 (7 5 4 SE2 d 3 8 0 ) (2 0 1 4 ).

11ch arg e as an ap pel l at e co urt i s t o “ p res u m e t h at t h e Gen eral As sem b l y m e an t wh at

i t s ai d an d s ai d wh at i t m ean t

. ” 9 To ward t h at en d

, we m u st affo rd t h e st at u t o ry t ex t i t s

p l ai n an d o rd i nary m ean i n g , 1 0 co n s i d e r t h e t ex t co n tex t u al l y , 1 1 read t h e t ex t “ i n i t s

m o st n at u ral an d reas on ab l e way , as an o rd i n ary s peak er o f t h e E n g l i s h l an g u ag e

wo u l d

, ” 1 2 a n d s eek t o “ av o i d a co n s t ru ct i o n t h at m ak es so m e l an g u ag e m ere

s u rp l u s ag e.” 1 3 An d wh en t h e l an g u ag e o f a s t at u te i s “ pl ai n an d s u s cep ti b l e t o o n ly

9 Ho l co mb

, 3 2 9 Ga. Ap p

. at 5 1 7 (1 ) (p u n ct u at i on o m i t ted ); a c c o r d Dea l v. Co l ema n , 2 9 4 Ga. 1 7 0 , 1 7 2 (1 ) (a) (7 5 1 SE2 d 3 3 7 ) (2 0 1 3 )

.

1 0 Ho l co mb

, 3 2 9 Ga. Ap p

. at 5 1 7 (1 ); a cco r d D ea l

, 2 9 4 Ga. at 1 7 2 (1 ) (a); s ee

a l s o S t a t e v. Ab l e , 3 2 1 Ga. Ap p

. 6 3 2

, 6 3 6 (7 4 2 S E2 d 1 4 9 ) (2 01 3 ) (“ A ju d g e i s ch arg ed wi t h i n t erp ret i n g t h e l aw i n acco rd an ce wi t h t h e o ri gi n a l a n d / o r p l ai n

m ean i n g o f t h e t ex t at i s s ue (an d al l t h at t h e t ex t fai rl y i m p l i es ) . . . .”).

1 1 Ho l co m b

, 3 29 Ga. Ap p

. at 51 7 (1 ); s ee al s o Ar i z o n a v. In t er Tr i b a l Co u n ci l

o f Ar i z o na

, In c .,

_

_ _ U.S.

_ __ (II) (B) (1 3 3 SCt 22 4 7

, 2 2 5 4

, 1 8 6 LEd 2 d 2 3 9 ) (2 0 1 3 ) (Scal i a, J.) (“ W o rd s t hat can h av e m o re t h an o n e m ean in g are g iv en co n t en t

, h o wev er, b y t h ei r s u rro u n d i n g s .” (p u nct u at i o n an d ci t at i o n om i t t ed )); Dea l

, 29 4 G a. at 1 7 2 (1 ) (a) (“ [W ] e m

u s t v i ew t h e s t at ut o ry

t ex t i n t h e co nt ex t i n wh ich i t ap p ears [.] ”).

1 2 Ho l co m b

, 3 29 Ga. Ap p

. at 51 8 (1 ) (p u n ct u at i o n om i t t ed ); a cco r d Dea l

, 2 9 4

Ga. at 1 72 -7 3 (1 ) (a).

1 3 Ho l co mb

, 3 2 9 Ga. A p p

. at 5 1 8 (1 ) (p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ); a cco r d In t h e In t er es t o f L.T. , 3 2 5 Ga. Ap p

. at 5 9 2

.

12o n e n a t u ral an d reas o n ab le co ns t ru ct i o n, co urt s m u s t co n st ru e t h e s t at u t e

acco rd i n g l y .” 1 4 Fi n al l y , b ecau s e an y s t at ut e t h at “ p ro v i d es fo r t h e award o f at t o rn ey

fees is i n d ero g at i on o f co m m o n l aw, i t m

u s t b e st ri ct l y co ns t ru ed ag ai n s t th e award

o f s u ch d am ag es .” 1 5

As reco g n i z e d b y t h e Su p rem e Co urt o f Geo rg i a, “ [g ] en eral l y an award o f

at t o rn ey fees i s no t av ai l ab le u n l es s s u p p o rt ed b y s t at u t e o r co n t ract .” 1 6 An d wh en a

fee award i s en t ered u n d er a s t at u t e, th e award m us t m ee t t h e r e q u i r em en ts o f t h at

1 4 Ho l co mb

, 3 2 9 Ga. A p p. at 5 1 8 (1 ) (p u n ct u at i o n o m it t ed ); a cco r d Lu a n g kh ot

v. S t a t e , 2 9 2 Ga. 4 2 3

, 4 2 4 (1 ) (7 3 6 SE2 d 3 97 ) (2 0 1 3); s ee a l s o Dea l

, 29 4 Ga. at 1 7 3 (1 ) (a) (“ [I] f t h e st at u to ry t ex t i s cl ear an d u nam bi g uo u s , we at t ri b u t e t o th e s t at u t e i t s

p l a in m ean i n g , an d o ur s earch fo r s t at ut ory m ean in g i s at an en d .” (p u n ct u at i o n

o m it t ed )).

1 5 H o r t o n v

. Den n i s , 3 2 5 Ga. Ap p

. 2 1 2

, 21 6 (7 5 0 SE2 d 49 3 ) (2 0 1 3 ) (p u n ct u at i o n o m i tt ed ); acco r d Jo yn er v. R a

y m o nd Ja mes Fi n

. Ser vs

., In c ., 2 6 8 Ga. Ap p . 8 3 5 , 8 3 8 (2 ) (6 0 2 SE2 d 8 7 1 ) (2 0 0 4 ).

1 6 Ca s o n v. Ca so n , 2 81 Ga. 2 9 6 , 2 9 9 (3 ) (6 37 SE2 d 7 1 6 ) (2 0 0 6 ).

13s t at u te. 1 7 Tu rn i n g t o t h e cas e s u b j u di ce , t he t ri al co u rt award ed at t o rn ey fees u n d er

OCGA § 5 3 -1 2 -3 0 2 (a) (4 ), wh i ch p ro v id es , i n rel ev an t p art :

(a) A t ru s t ee wh o co m m i t s a b reach o f t ru s t sh al l b e p ers o n al l y

ch arg eab l e w i t h an y d am ag es res u l t i n g fro m s u ch b reach o f t ru s t

, i n cl u d i n g , b u t n o t l i m i t ed t o :

. . .

(4 ) In t h e d i s cret i o n o f t h e co urt

, ex p en s es of l i t i g at i o n , i n cl u d i n g

reas o n ab l e at t o rn ey ’ s fees i n cu rred in b ri n g i n g an act io n o n s u ch

b reach o r t hreat t o co m

m i t s u ch b reach

.

Un d er t h e p l ai n l a n g u ag e o f t h e fo reg o in g s t at u t e, Al ex an der m ay o n l y b e award ed

co s t s o f l i t i g at i o n , i n cl u d i n g at t o rn ey fees , t h at res ul t fro m

San d ra’ s b reach o f t ru s t

1 7 S ee, e.g

. , Lo ckwo o d v. Fed

. D ep o s it In s. Co r p ., 3 30 Ga. Ap p. 5 1 3, 5 1 5 -1 6 (1 ) (7 6 7 SE2 d 8 2 9 ) (2 01 4 ) (h o l d i n g t h at an award o f a t t o rn ey fees was au th ori zed by

OCGA § 1 3 -1 -1 1 (a) (3 ) w h en th e req u i rem en t s o f t h at s t at u t e were s at i s fi ed ); Nel so n

v. Nel so n , 1 7 6 Ga. Ap p

. 1 0 7

, 10 9 (2 ) (3 3 5 SE2 d 4 1 1 ) (1 9 8 5 ) (fi n d i n g t h at t h e p l ai n t i ff

was en t it l ed t o at t o rn ey fees u nd er OCGA § 13 -1 -1 1 wh en al l t h e co n d it i on s s p eci fi ed

i n th at st at ut e h ad b een m et ). Cf

. Ga

. Dep ’t o

f Co r r

. v. Co u ch

, 2 9 5 Ga. 4 6 9, 4 8 5 (3 ) (b ) (7 5 9 SE2 d 8 0 4 ) (2 0 1 4) (rev ers i n g a p o rt i o n o f at t orn ey fees award ed u nd er OCGA § 9 -1 1 -6 8 (b ) (2 ) b ecau s e, i n t er a l i a , th e t ri al co u rt award ed th e p l ai n t i ffs a l l o f t h ei r

at t o rn ey fees i n t h e cas e wh en t h at s t at u t e o n l y pro v i des fo r reas o n ab l e at t o rn ey fees

an d ex p en s es o f l i t ig at i o n in cu rred “ f r o m t h e d a te o f t h e r ej ect i on o

f [ a s et t l emen t

]

o f f er t h r o u g h t h e en t r

y o f j u d g men t ” (p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed )).

14o r t h reat t o co m m i t s u ch b reach . Bu t h ere, t h e t ri al co u rt award ed at t o rn ey fees an d

co s t s o f l it i g at i o n u n d er OCGA § 5 3 -1 2 -3 0 2 b ef o r e Al ex an d e r ’ s br e a c h- o f-t ru s t cl ai m

h ad b een res o l v ed

. In deed

, a l t h o u g h t h e t ri al co u rt award ed fees aft er g ran t i n g

Al ex an der’ s req u es t fo r i n ju n ct i v e rel i ef b as ed on i t s fi n di n g t hat San d ra ad m i t t ed to

cert ai n b reach es o f h er du t i es as t ru s t ee, h i s b reach -o f-t ru st cl ai m it s el f h as n o t y et

b een ad ju d i cat ed o n th e m eri t s o r res u l t ed i n d am ag es

.

An d wh il e n o Geo rg i a cas e s p eci fi cal l y ad d res s es wh et h er OCGA § 5 3 -1 2 -3 0 2

(a) (4 ) au t h o ri zes an “ i n t eri m -fee award ” ( s u ch as th e o n e i n t h i s cas e), t h e p l ai n

l an g u ag e o f th e s tat u t e p ro v id e s t h a t at t o rn ey fees an d co st s o f l i t i g at i o n m ay b e

i n cl u d ed i n an award o f d

ama g es res u l t i n g fro m a t ru s t ee’ s b reach o f t ru s t o r t h reat

o f s u ch b reach

. 1 8 An d b ecau s e th i s l i t i g at i o n i s s t i l l p en d i n g, n o d am ag es hav e b een

award ed f

o r Al ex an d er’ s b reach -o f-t ru s t cl ai m

. As a res u l t

, t h e i n s t an t fee award

co u ld n o t h av e b een i n cl u d ed in an y su ch d am ag es

. To t h e co n t rary , Al ex an d er was

award ed fees i n cu rred i n pu rs u i n g h i s s u cces s fu l req u es t fo r i n j u n ct i ve r el i ef

; an d i t

i s w o r t h n o t i n g t h at ev en t h e t ri al co urt ’ s g ran t o f i nju nct i v e rel i ef, i n cl u d i n g i t s

rem o v al o f San dra as t ru s t ee o f t h e Kem p Tru s t s , i s o n ly t emp o r a r y. 1 9

1 8 S ee OCGA § 5 3 -1 2 -3 0 2 (a) (4 ).

1 9 S ee i n fr a fo o t n o t e 2 3

.

15Fu rt herm o re, i n ad d res s in g a fo rm er, n earl y i d en ti cal

, v ers io n o f OCGA § 5 3

-

1 2 -3 02 (a) (4 ), 2 0 we ex p l ai ned t h at “ t h ere can b e n o reco v ery o f an y k in d u n d er t h i s

s t at u te, i n cl u d i n g at t o rn ey fees

, wi t h o u t a fi n di n g o f a breach o f t ru s t .” 2 1 Sp eci fi cal l y ,

we h el d t h at

, i n t h e cas e o f a ju ry t ri al

, t h e t ri al co u rt erred in award i n g fees u n d er t h i s

p ri o r s t at u t e wh en t h ere was n o v erd i ct fo rm p res en t i n g th e ju ry wi th t he qu es t i o n o f

wh et h er t h e d efen d an t s b reac h e d a fi d u ci ary d u t y

. 2 2 Bu t h ere, at t h i s s t ag e i n t h e

p ro ceed in g s , we a r e n o t a t l i b ert y t o pres u m e t h at a ju dg e o r ju ry wi l l en t er a

ju d g m en t o r v erd ict an sweri n g t h at q u es t i o n.

In i t s o rd er gran t i n g at t orn ey fees

, t h e t ri al co u rt n o t ed t h at i t was n eces s ary fo r

Al ex an der t o fi l e t h e i n st an t act i o n an d s eek San d ra’ s t em p o rary rem o v al as t ru s t ee

b ecau s e o f t h e “ es t ab l i s h ed b reach e s o f h e r fi du ci ary d ut y ” an d ev i d en ce t h at t h ere

2 0 S ee fo rm er OCGA § 5 3 -1 2 -1 9 3 (a) (4 ) (2 0 0 6 ) (“ [A] t ru s t ee wh o co m m i t s a b reach of t ru s t i s p ers o n al l y ch arg eab l e wi t h an y d am ag es res u l t i n g fro m t h e b reach

o f t ru s t in cl u di n g b u t n o t l i m i t ed to :

. . . In t h e d i s cret i o n o f t h e co u r t

, e x p e n s e s o f

l i ti g at i o n , i n cl u d i n g reas o nab l e at t o rn ey [ ] fees i n cu rred by the be ne f ic ia r y in b ri n g i n g

an act i o n o n th e b reach o r t h reat t o co m m i t a b reach .”); s ee a ls o Rel i a n ce Tr u s t Co

. v. Ca n d l er , 2 9 4 Ga. 1 5

, 1 9 (2 ) n .3 (7 5 1 SE2 d 4 7 ) (2 0 1 3) (n ot i n g t h at t he n ew Co d e

s ect i on (OCGA § 5 3 -1 2-3 02 ) i s “ m at eri al l y i d en t i cal ” t o fo rm er OCGA § 5 3 -1 2 -1 9 3 ).

2 1 B l o od wo r t h v. Bl o o d

wo r t h

, 2 7 7 Ga. Ap p

. 3 8 7

, 3 9 0 (2 ) (6 2 6 SE2 d 5 8 9 ) (2 0 0 6).

2 2 S ee i d

. at 3 9 0 (2 )

.

16were real an d r e al i st i c t hreat s of co n t i n u ed an d ad d it i o n al b reach es o f s u ch d u t i es

.

Nev ert h el es s , ev en i f i t was neces s ary fo r Al ex an d er t o s eek t em p o rary i n ju n ct i v e

rel i ef, t h ere h as b een no o ffi ci al ad ju d i cat i o n o f A l ex an d er’ s b rea ch -o f -t r u st cl a i m o n

t h e m eri t s , ei th er t h ro u g h t h e g ran t o f s u m m ary ju d g m en t o r b y

a ju ry v erd i ct

.

Nev ert h el es s , Al ex an d er— rel y i n g p ri m ari l y o n fed eral cas e law— arg u es t h at

h e m ay be co n s i d ered t h e “ prev ai l i n g p art y ” fo r p urp o s es o f t h e at to rn ey -fee award

b ecau s e h e s u cceed ed o n hi s cl ai m fo r in ju n ct iv e rel i e f

, wh i ch co n st i tu t ed “ s o m e

d eg ree o f s u cces s on th e m eri t s .” 2 3 Ho wev er, t h e i s s u e b e f o re u s i s n o t wh et h er

2 3 In s u p p ort of hi s arg u m en t t h at we s h o u l d aff i r m t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s award o f

i n t eri m a t t o rn ey fees b ecau s e h e p rev ai l ed o n h i s req u es t fo r i n ju n ct i v e rel i ef,

Al ex an der rel i es p ri m ari l y o n t h e Su p rem e Co u r t o f t h e Un i t ed St at es ’ s d eci s i o n in Lef emi n e v. W

i d ema n ,

_ _ _ U.S.

_ _ _ (1 3 3 SCt 9

, 1 8 4 LEd 2d 3 1 3 ) (2 0 1 2 ), wh i ch h el d

t h at

, fo r p u rp o s es o f t h e p rev ai l i n g -p art y req u i rem en t fo r recei v i ng an award o f

a t t o r n ey fees u n d er 42 U.S.C. § 1 9 8 8 (b ) i n a ci v i l -ri g h t s act i o n , a p l ai n ti ff, wh o i s

g ran t ed p er ma n en t -i n

ju n ct i v e rel i ef (b u t n o n o m i n al d am ag es ) as t h e fi n al res o l u t i o n

o f a ci v i l -ri g h t s cl ai m , q u al i fi es as a p rev ai l i n g p art y

. S ee i d

. at

__ _ , 1 3 3 SCt at 1 1.

Th e Co u rt reas o n ed t h at t h e gran t o f an in ju n ct io n o r d ecl arat o ry rel ief, l i k e a d am ag es award

, wi ll u s u al l y s at i s fy t h e “ t es t ” t h at “ [a] p l a i n t i f f ‘ p rev ai l s ’

. . .wh en

act u al rel i ef on t h e m eri t s o f h i s cl ai m m at eri al ly al t ers t h e l eg al rel at i o n s h i p b et ween

t h e p art i es b y m od i fy i n g t h e d efen d an t ’ s b eh av i o r in a way t h at d i rect l y b en efi t s t h e

p l ai n t i ff.” Id

. Bu t h ere, un l i k e i n Lef emi ne , Al ex an d e r ’s c l a i m s h av e n o t b een

res o l ved o n t h e m eri ts ei t h er by t h e g ran t o f perm an en t i n ju n ct i v e rel i ef o r an award

o f m o n et ary d am ag es , a n d e v en t h e i n ju n ct i v e rel i ef h e h as b een g ran t ed i s o n l y

t e m p o rary

. An d reg ard l es s , un l i k e 4 2 U.S.C. § 1 9 8 8

, OCGA § 5 3-1 2 -3 0 2 (a) ( 4 )

ex p res s l y p ro v i d es t h at at t o rn ey fees an d co s t s o f l i t i g at i o n m ay b e i ncl u d ed i n t h e cal cu l at io n o f d

ama g es res ul t i n g fro m a t ru s t ee’ s b reach o f t r u s t o r t h reat o f s u ch

b reach

.

17at t o rn ey fees

, i n g en eral

, m ay b e award ed u p o n t h e gran t o f in ju n ct i v e rel i ef. In s t ead

,

we m u s t d eci d e wh et h er at t o rn ey fees m ay b e award ed fo r b reach o f t ru s t u n d er t h e

p l ai n m ean i n g o f OCGA § 5 3 -1 2 -3 0 2 wh i l e th e b r ea ch -o f -t r u st cl a i m it sel f i s s t i l l

p en di n g

.

No t wi t h s t an d i n g OCGA § 5 3 -1 2 -3 0 2 (a) (4 )’ s pro v i si o n t h at at t o rn ey fees fo r

b reach o f t ru s t m ay be in cl u d ed i n an award o f d am ag es , Al ex an d er co n t en d s t h at an

i n t eri m at t o rn ey -fee award i s au t h o ri zed b y th e s tat u t e b e c a u s e it h as n o l an g u ag e

ex p res s l y p ro h i b i t i n g t he award o f i n t eri m fees . Bu t s i g n i fi can tl y , al t h o u g h t h e t ri al

co u rt d ecl i n e d t o co n si d er th e i s s ue, A lex an d er al s o so u gh t at t o rn ey fees u n d er

OCGA § 9 -1 5 -1 4

, wh i ch d o es ex p res s l y p ro v i d e fo r a fee award p r i o r t o t h e

d i s p o s i t i on o f a cas e. In deed

, un l i k e OCGA § 5 3 -1 2-3 0 2 (a) ( 4 ), OCGA § 9 -1 5 -1 4

ex p li ci t l y p ro v i d es t h at “ [a] tt orn ey [ ] fees an d ex p en s es u n d er t h i s Co d e s ect i o n m ay

b e req u es t ed b y m o t i o n a t a n y t i me d u ri n g t h e co u r

s e o f th e a ct io n b u t n o t l at er t h an

4 5 d ay s aft er t h e fi n al di s p o s it i on o f t h e act i o n

. ” 2 4 Th u s , we m u s t p res u m e t h at i f t h e

Gen eral As s em

b l y h ad wi s hed t o al l o w b en efi ci ari es t o s eek at to rn ey fees u n d er

2 4 OCGA § 9 -1 5 -1 4 (e) (em p h as i s s u p p l ied ).

18OCGA § 5 3 -1 2 -3 0 2 (a) (4 ) at an y t i m e d u r i n g t he l i t i g at i o n , i t wo u l d h av e ex p res s l y

au t h o ri zed t h e m t o d o s o

. 2 5 As a res u l t

, w e m u s t al s o p res u m e th at t h e Gen eral

As s em b l y ’ s “ fai lu re t o d o s o was a m at t er o f co n s i d ered ch oi ce.” 2 6 Fi n al ly , t o t h e

2 5 S ee, e.g

. , Fa i r v. S t a t e , 2 8 4 Ga. 1 6 5

, 1 6 8 (2 ) (b ) (6 6 4 SE2 d 2 2 7 ) (2 0 0 8 ) (“ If

t h e Gen eral As s em

b l y h ad i n ten d ed t o req u i re k n o wl ed g e o f t he v i ct i m ’ s s t at u s as a

p eace offi cer i n o rd er fo r th e [t h e s t at u t e] t o ap p l y , t h e st at ut o ry h i s t o ry s h ows t h at i t
k n ew h o w t o do s o

. W e m u s t p re s u m e t h a t i t s fai l u re t o d o s o was a m at t er o f

co n si d ered ch o i ce.” (p un ct u at i o n o m i t t ed )); Ba u er b a n d v. Ja cks o n Ct y. , 27 8 Ga. 2 2 2,

2 2 5 -2 6 (3 ) (5 9 8 SE2 d 4 4 4 ) (2 0 04 ) (n o ti n g t h at t h e u s e o f th e lan g u ag e “ s u m s p ay ab l e i n t h e i n d i v i d u al cal en d ar y ear ren ewal t erm ” an d “ an n u al p ay m en ts ” el s ewh ere i n a

s t at u te s h o wed t h at

, “ h ad t he Gen eral A s sem bl y w i s hed to req u i re t h at fu t u re

o b l i g at i o ns be s et fo rt h as a s u m cert ai n [ i n t h e i n s t a n t p ro v i s i o n ]

, i t k new h o w to

acco m pl i s h t hat ” ) ; A v i l a v. S t a t e , 3 3 3 G a. A p p

. 6 6

, 69 -7 0 (7 7 5 SE2 d 5 5 2) (2 0 1 5 ) (n o t i ng t h at t h e Gen eral As s em b l y ’ s us e o f t he p h ras e “ d u ri n g t h e co m m i s s i o n o f

cri m e”i n cert ai n su b sect i o n s o f a cri m i n al s t at u t e m ad e cl ear t h at i t k n ew h o w to

s p eci fy t h at a d i s q u al i fy in g ev en t m u s t o ccu r wh i le t h e cri m e was in p ro ces s , an d t h at

t h e s u bs ec t i o n a t i s s u e d i d n o t i n cl u d e s u ch a l i m i t at i on ); In l a n d Pa p er b o a r d &

Pa cka g i n g

, In c. v. Ga

. Dep ’t o

f R e v e n ue , 2 7 4 Ga. Ap p

. 1 0 1, 1 04 (6 1 6 SE2 d 8 7 3 ) (2 0 0 5) (n o t i n g t h at

, i f th e Gen eral As s em b l y i n t en ded t o i n cl u d e a p art i cu l ar

ex em p t i o n i n a t ax s t at u t e, t h e s t at u t o ry h i s t o ry s ho wed t hat i t k n ew h ow t o d o s o ).

2 6 In l a n d Pa

per b o a r d & Pa cka g i n g

, In c , 2 7 4 Ga. Ap p

. at 1 0 4 ( p u n ct u at i o n

o m it t ed ), q u o t i n g Ho l lo wel l v. Jo ve , 2 4 7 Ga. 6 7 8

, 6 83 (2 7 9 SE2 d 4 3 0) (1 9 8 1 ); s ee

a l s o Tr a n s p

. In s

. Co

. v. E l Ch ico Res t a u ra n ts

, In c. , 2 7 1 Ga. 7 74

, 7 7 6 (5 2 4 SE2 d 4 8 6 ) (1 9 9 9) (“ W e m

us t p res u m e t h at t h e [l ] eg i s l at u re’ s fai l u re t o i n c l u d e t h e l i m i t i n g l an g u ag e was a m at t er of co ns i d ered ch o i ce.”); Ci t i ba n k (S

. Da ko t a ), N.A. v. G r a h a m , 3 1 5 Ga. Ap p

. 12 0

, 1 22 (1 ) (7 2 6 SE2 d 61 7 ) (2 0 1 2 ) (n o t i n g t hat

, wh en t h e Gen e ral

As s em b l y pro v i ded fo r a t ax refu n d i n a di fferen t s t at u t o r y p r o v i s i o n , “ we m u s t

p res u m e t h at t h e l eg i s l at u re’ s fai l u re t o p ro v i d e a refu n d u n d er [t h e s t at u t e at i s s u e]

was a m at t er o f co n s i d ered ch o i ce” (p u nct u at i o n o m i t t ed )).

19ex t en t th at OCGA § 5 3 -1 2 -3 0 2 (a) (4 ) i s am b i g u o u s reg ard i n g wh et h er at t o rn ey fees

an d l i t i g at i o n co s t s m ay b e award ed b as ed o n th e tri al co urt ’ s fact u al fi n d in g s i n a

t emp o r a r y o rd er t h at d o es n o t ad

ju d i cat e an y breach -o f-t ru s t cl ai m s , we m u s t s t ri ct l y

co n st ru e t h e s t at ut e a g a i n s t t h e award o f fees

. 2 7

In s u m , ev en as s um i n g th at

, as Al ex an d er an d t h e t ri al co u rt m ai n t ai n , San d ra

ad m i t t ed t o m

u l t i p l e b reach es of h er fi d u ci ary d u t i es as t ru s t ee o f t h e Kem p T r u s t s

d u ri n g an ev i d en t i a r y h e a r i n g an d an i nt eri m award o f at t o rn ey fees i s an eq u i t ab l e

s an ct i o n fo r h er m is co n d u ct

, s u ch fees m ay n o t b e award ed u n der OCGA § 5 3 -1 2 -5 0 3

(a) (4 ) u n l es s t h e req u irem en ts o f t h at s t at u t e are s at i s fi ed

. 2 8 An d h ere, becau s e t h ere

h as n o t b een a ju d g m en t i n Al e x an d er’ s fav o r o n t h e m eri t s of h i s b reach -o f-t ru s t

cl ai m , h e h a s n o t s at i s fi ed t he req u i rem en t o f OCGA § 5 3 -1 2 -5 0 3 (a) (4 ) t h at an

award o f at t o rn ey fees an d co s ts o f l i t i g at i o n b e i n cl u ded as d am ag es res u l t i n g fro m

a b reach o f t ru s t o r t h reat o f s u ch b reach

. 2 9

2 7 S ee Ho rt o n , 3 2 5 Ga. Ap p . at 2 1 6; Jo yn er , 2 68 Ga. Ap p . at 8 38 (2 ).

2 8 S ee s u p r a fo o tn o t e 1 7

. Cf

. OCGA § 9 -1 5 -1 4

.

2 9 W e ex pres s n o o pi n i o n reg ard i n g wh et h er an award o f at t o rn ey fees an d co s t s

o f l i t i g at i o n i s warran t ed i n th is cas e u nd er OCGA § 9-1 5 -1 4. As p rev io u s ly n o t ed

, OCGA § 9 -1 5-1 4 i s no t li m i t ed s o l el y t o b reach -o f-t ru s t cl a i m s an d ex p res s l y

p ro v id es t h at s u ch an award m ay be req u es t e d a t a n y t i m e du r in g t h e co u r

s e o f t h e l i ti g a t i o n , b u t n o t l at er t h an 4 5 day s aft er t h e fi nal d is po s i t i on o f t h e cas e. S ee OCGA

20Fo r al l t he fo reg o i n g reas o n s , we v acat e t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s award o f at to rn ey fees

u n d er OCGA § 5 3 -1 2 -5 0 3 an d rem an d t h e cas e fo r t h e t ri al co u rt t o co n s i d er wh et h er

s u ch fees are w arran t ed a t t h e t i m e w h en d am ag es , i f an y , are award ed aft er t h e

d i s p o s i t i on o f Al ex an d er’ s breach -o f-t ru st cl ai m , o r, al t ern at i v el y , wh et h er an award

o f at to rn ey fees i s au t ho ri zed p ri o r t o t h e d i s po s it i o n o f t he breach -o f-t ru s t cl ai m

u n d er OCGA § 9-1 5-1 4 (a) o r (b ).

Ju d g men t va ca t ed a n d ca s e r ema n d ed

. Ph i p p s

, P. J., a n d Ri ckma n, J., co n cu r

.

§ 9 -1 5 -1 4 (e). T h u s , u n l i k e u n d er OCGA § 53 -1 2 -5 0 3

, t h e t ri al co u rt i s n o t p recl u d ed

fro m co n s i deri n g wh et her t o award fees an d co st s u nd er OCGA § 9-1 5 -1 4 (a) o r (b )

b efo re t h e fi n al d i s p o s it i o n o f t hi s cas e. In fact

, i f t h e req u i rem en t s o f OCGA § 9 -1 5

- 1 4 (a) are s at i s fi ed

, an award of at to rn ey fees an d co s t s o f l i ti g at i o n i s m an d at o ry

. See

Fu l t o n Ct y. v. Lo r d

, 3 2 3 Ga. Ap p . 3 8 4 , 3 9 3 (4 ) (7 4 6 SE2 d 1 8 8 ) (2 0 1 3).

21