In th e S u p re m e Co u rt o f Ge o rg ia

De c id e d: S e p te m b e r 1 2 , 2 0 1 6

S 1 6 A1 2 1 0 . DALLOW v

. DALLOW.

NAHMIAS , Ju stic e

.

Th is a pp e a l a rise s fro m th e a

p p e lle e m o th e r’s c o m

pla in t fo r m o d ific a tio n

o f t h e d iv o rc e p a re n tin g p la n fo r he r n o w-1 7 -y e a r-o ld c h ild

. T h e a p p e lla n t

fa th e r c o n te n d s th a t th e tria l c o u rt e r r e d in d e n y in g his m o tio n to d ism iss th e

m o d ific a tio n a c tio n

, im

p e rm issib ly m o d ifie d h is visita tio n rig h ts to re q u ire h im

to arra n g e visits with h is d a u g h te r a t tim e s th a t a re m u tu a lly a g re e a

b le

, a n d

im p ro p e rly a wa rd e d th e m o th e r $ 4 6 ,5 93

. 0 5 in a tto rn e y f e e s a n d c o sts. Asid e

fro m wh a t we c o n c lu d e is a sc riv e n e r’s m ista k e in th e o rd e r a wa rd in g a tto rn e y

fe e s, we se e n o e rro r. Ac c o rd in g ly , we a ffirm

.

1

. Th e p e rtin e n t fa c ts a n d c o n v o lu te d p ro c e d u ra l h isto ry o f th is c a se

a n d th e re la te d c o n te m

p t p ro c e e d in g s will ta k e a n um b e r o f p a ge s to la y o u t.

(a ) Jo e l A. Da llo w (F a th e r) a n d Ma ry E l l e n Ke lly (Mo th e r)

m a rrie d in Au g u st 1 9 9 4 a n d h a d th re e c h ild re n to g e th e r: Ce c ily

, Eric

, a n d th ec h ild a t issu e in th is c a se

, J.D. F a th e r is a m u sic ia n with th e Atla nta S y m p h o n y

Orc h e stra

, a n d Mo th e r is a n e m e rg e n c y r o o m nu rse a t No rth sid e Ho sp ita l. In

Ja n u a ry 2 0 1 4

, F a th e r file d a c o mp la in t fo r d iv o rc e

, a n d Mo th e r a n swe re d a n d

c o u n te rc la im e d fo r d iv o rc e

. Th e p a rtie s e n te re d in to a se ttle m e nt a g re e m e n t a n d

p re p are d a

n a gre e d p a re n tin g p la n

, p ro p o se d c h i l d su p po rt wo rk sh e e t, a n d

c o n se n t c h ild su pp ort a d d e n d u m

. On Ap ril 2 3

, 2 0 1 4

, th e tria l c o u rt e n te re d a

fin a l ju d g m e n t a nd d e c re e o f div o rc e in c o rp o ra tin g th e p a rtie s’ a gre e m e n ts a n d

p ro p o sa ls. Wh e n th e d e c re e wa s e n t e r e d

, C e c ily wa s a n a du lt a n d in c o lle g e ;

Eric wa s 1 7 a nd a

b o u t to g ra d u a te fro m h ig h sc h o o l a n d g o a wa y to c o lle g e ; a n d

J.D. wa s 1 4

. Th e p a rtie s w e re a wa rd e d jo in t le g a l c u sto d y o f Eric a n d J.D., with

Mo th e r g iv e n fin a l de c isio n -m a k in g a u th o rity re ga rd in g th e ir n o n -e m e rg e n c y

h e a lth c a re , e x tra c u rric u la r a c tiv itie s, e d u c a tio n , an d re lig io u s u pb rin gin g

.

Mo th e r wa s a w a rd e d th e m a rita l re sid e n c e

, wh ic h is in wa lk in g d ista n c e

o f J.D.’s h ig h sc h o o l. Th e a g re e d p a re n tin g p la n in c o rp o ra te d in to th e d iv orc e

d e c re e d e sig n a te d Mo th e r a s E ric a n d J.D.’s p rim a ry p h y sic a l c u sto d ia n. As fo r

v isita tio n , th e p la n sa id :

Du e to th e fa c t th a t Eric will gra du a te h ig h sc h o o l in Ma y 2 0 1 4, a n d

th a t [J.D.] is o v e r th e a ge o f 1 4

, [F a th e r] will h a v e pa re n tin g tim e a t

a n y tim e m

u tu a lly a g re e a

b le to [F a th e r] a n d e a c h m in o r c h ild

. To

2th e e x te n t t h a t [ Fa th e r] a n d [J.D.] c ann o t a g re e to m o re tim e

, th is

P a re n tin g P l a n is th e m in im u m tim e [F a th e r] will h a v e with [h e r]

. [F a th e r] sh a ll h a v e th e m in im u m p a re ntin g tim e e a c h we e k w ith

[J.D.] : if h e is n o t wo rk in g o n S u nd ay

, h is p a re n tin g tim e sta rts a t

1 2 :0 0 n o o n o n S u n da y

, a n d if h e is w o r k in g

, h is p a re ntin g tim e

sta rts a t 6 :0 0 p .m

. o n S un d a y c o ntin u in g u n til We d n e sd a y m o rn in g

to d ro p [J.D.] o ff a t s c h o o l

, o r a t 9 :0 0 a .m

. w h e n sc h oo l is no t in

se ssio n

.

Th e re wa s a lso a

h o lid a y a n d sc h o o l b re a k v isita tio n sc h e d u le

.

Th e p a re ntin g p la n a c k n o wle d g e d th e l o g i s t i c a l c h a lle ng e s in h e re n t in

ra isin g b u sy te e n a g er s wh o h a v e e x te n siv e tim e c o m m itm e n ts in a dd itio n to

sc h o o l. Th e p a rtie s a g re e d to “ e x c h a n ge th e c h ild re n a t sc h o o l wh e n p o ssib le ,”

b u t “ [i] f th e c h ild re n a re n o t in sc h o o l or e xc h a n g e a t sc h o o l is no t p ra c tic a b le ,”

F a th e r w a s o rd e re d to “ p ic k u p th e c h ild re n fro m [Mo th e r an d ]

. . . d ro p th e

c h ild re n o ff with [Mo th e r] a t t h e e n d o f h i s

. . . v isita tio n p e rio d .” Un d e r th e

h e a d in g “ Oth e r P a re n tin g Tim e P ro v isio n s/Ag re e m e n ts,” th e pla n liste d se v e ra l

o p tio n a l p ro v isio n s, in c lu d in g th e fo llo win g o ne th at wa s c h e c k e d by th e p a rtie s:

Th e p a rtie s a g re e th a t stric t c o m p lia n c e w ith tim e a n d sc h e d u le s se t

fo rth h e re in will no t a lwa y s b e p o ssib le a n d a g re e to c o o p e ra te w ith

e a c h o th e r in c o n n e c tio n th e re w ith . Bo th p a rtie s a g re e to e x e rc ise

th e p a re n tin g tim e /v isita tio n sc h e d u le a s se t fo rth h e re in so a s n o t

to u n re a so n a

b ly in te rfe re with [J. D

. ’ s ] s c h o o l i n g a n d e x t ra c u rric ula r

a c tiv itie s. . . .

Th e p a r t i e s did no t c h e c k th e o p tio n to re q u ire b o th p a re n ts to “ c o n su lt with

3e a c h o th e r p rio r to sc h e d u lin g a n y a c tiv ity th a t will im p a c t tim e th e oth e r p a re n t

sp e n d s with th e c h ild (re n).”

(b ) In Ma y 2 0 1 4

, F a th e r b o u gh t a h o u se th re e m ile s fro m th e

m a rita l re sid e n c e

. In Ju n e

, J.D. th re w a n u n a u t h o r i z e d p a rty a t F a th e r’s n e w

h o u se wh ile h e wa s o u t o f to wn

, wh ic h re su lte d in wh a t F a th e r c h a ra c te riz e d a s

so m e m in im a l p ro pe rty d a m a g e

. Two wa tc h e s w ith se n tim e n ta l v a lu e to F a th e r

a lso we n t m issin g

, a lo n g with a n iP h on e c h a rg e r, se v e ra l pie c e s of a ra tc h e t se t,

a n d two v e g e ta ria n p iz z a s. J.D.’s c on du c t da m a g e d he r p a re nts’ t r u s t i n he r.

Mo th e r g ro u n d e d J.D. f

o r t h e r e s t o f th e su m m e r. F a th e r wa s ve ry u pse t. He

d e m a n de d th a t sh e g iv e h im th e n a m e s o f th e o th e r c hild re n a t th e p a rty so th a t

h e c ou ld c a ll th e ir p a re nts, a n d wh e n J.D. re s i s t e d

, h e th re a te n e d to c a ll th e

p o lic e o n he r. Th is th re a t g re a tly d istu rb e d h e r

. F a th e r h o u n d e d J.D. to h e lp

h im fin d ou t wh o to o k t h e m issin g ite m s; a fte r a fe w d a y s, th e le v e l a n d

c o n sta nc y o f Fa th e r’s a n g e r a n d y e llin g a t J.D. m a d e h e r sc are d to b e a lo n e with

h im

, so o n F a th e r’s Da y sh e v isi t e d h i m with he r o ld e r b ro th e r Eric

. J.D.

e v e n tu a lly g a v e F a th e r th e o th e r c h i ld re n ’s n a m e s, a n d h e c o nta c te d th e ir

p a re n ts. At th e e n d o f th e su m m e r, E ric m ov e d to No rth Ca ro lin a to sta rt

c o lle g e

.

4Du rin g th e su m m e r o f 20 1 4

, th e a m o u n t o f tim e th a t F a th e r re q u e ste d fo r

v isita tio n with J.D. wa s fa r le ss th a n th e m in im u m p a r e n tin g tim e sp e c ifie d in

th e d iv o rc e d e c re e

. Ne v e rth e le ss, t o wa rd s th e e n d o f th e su m m e r, F a th e r

re v ie we d th e p a re n tin g p la n a n d b e g an th re a te n in g J.D. th a t h e wo u ld ta k e h e r

a n d Mo th e r to c o u rt if J.D. d i d n o t a b id e b y th e m in im u m visita tio n sc h e d u le

.

Th e a tm o sp h e re of m istru st a n d re se n tm e n t c re a te d b y th e p a r t y a n d its

a fte rm a th

, a n d Fa th e r’s de m a n d in g a p p ro a c h in a sse rtin g h is visita tio n rig h ts,

m a d e J.D. in c re a sin gly re lu c ta n t to sta y with him

. J.D. p ro po se d to F a th e r th a t

sh e ha v e v isita tio n with him e v e ry o th e r we e k e n d, w h ic h wo uld k e e p h e r fro m

h a v in g to div id e h e r tim e b e twe e n two h o u se h o ld s d u rin g th e sc h o o l we e k

, b u t

F a th e r re je c te d h e r p ro p o sa l o u t o f h a n d

.

(c ) On Au g u st 1 1

, 2 01 4, J.D.’s first d a y o f te n th g ra d e

, F a th e r

file d

, in th e div o rc e a c tio n, a p ro se p e titio n f

o r c o n te m p t a g a in st Mo th e r. He

a lle g e d a m o n g o th e r th in g s th a t Mo th e r h a d d e n ie d h im v isita tio n with J.D. b y

“ a llo w[in g ] th e m in or c h ild to b e u n a v a ila b le fo r p ic k u p a t th e d e sig n a te d tim e s

in th e P a re n tin g Pla n ,” b y pe rm itt i n g J.D. to m a ke p la n s d u rin g h is v isita tio n

tim e

, a nd b y fa ilin g to e n c o u ra g e J.D. to sta y in to uc h with h im a n d to k e e p h im

in fo rm e d a

b o u t w h a t wa s g o in g o n in h e r life

. F a th e r re q u e ste d a m on g o th e r

5th in g s th a t M o th e r b e ja ile d

, th a t h e be g iv e n “ m a k e u p ” v isita tio n tim e with

J.D., a nd th a t th e c o u rt o rd e r t h a t J.D. un de rg o th e ra p y with a c lin ic a l so c ia l

wo rk e r o r p sy c ho lo g ist c h o se n b y F a th e r.

In S e p te m

b e r 20 1 4

, th e A t la n ta Sy m p h o n y Orc h e stra lo c k e d o u t its

m u sic ia n s in a la

b o r d isp ute th a t la ste d fo r th e n e x t two m o n th s, a n d b e twe e n th e

e n d of S e p te m

be r a n d th e m id d le of No ve m b e r, F a th e r m isse d six we e k s o f

v i s i ta tio n with J.D. F a th e r’s e x p la n a tio n wa s th a t he c o u ld n o t e x e rc ise a n y

v isita tio n b e c a

use h e wa s wo rk in g v a rio u s jo b s o u t-o f-sta te

.

M e a n w h i l e

, o n O c t o b e r 3

, 2 0 1 4

, Mo th e r file d a c o m p la in t fo r m o d ific a ti o n

o f F a th e r’s v isita tio n rig h ts a s a c iv il a c tio n se p a ra te fro m th e d iv orc e a c tio n in

wh ic h F a th e r ha d file d h is c o n te m p t p e titio n

. S u p p o rte d b y a n a ffid a vit b y J.D.

e x p re ssin g he r p re fe re n c e no t to be fo rc e d to v isit F a th e r, th e m od i f i c a tio n

c o m p la in t a lle g e d th a t J.D. wa s n e v e r c o n su lte d b e fo re th e d iv o rc e a bo u t h e r

wish e s c o nc e rn in g v isita tio n

, th a t s h e f o u nd th e sp lit-we e k arra n g e m e n t to

wh ic h th e p a rtie s ha d a g re e d h ig h ly o b je c tio n ab l e d u rin g th e sc h o o l y e a r, a n d

th a t th e in c o n v e n ie nt a rra n g e m e n t h a d c a u se d he r s i g n ific a n t stre ss a n d

e m o tio n a l h a rd sh ip a

n d h a d s i g n i f

ic a n tly da m a g e d h e r q ua lity o f life

. Th e

c o mp la in t re q u e ste d th a t th e p a re n tin g p la n be m o difie d so th a t J.D. wo u ld b e

6re q u ire d to v isit F a th e r o n ly o n d a y s a n d tim e s th a t a re m utu a lly a g re e a b le to

b o th o f th e m

.

On No v e m

be r 4

, 2 0 1 4

, F a th e r file d a m o tio n to d i s m i s s Mo th e r’s

mo d ific a tio n c o m

p la in t, wh ic h h e a m e n d e d fiv e tim e s o v e r th e n e x t se v e n

m o n th s. On No v e m

b e r 1 8

, M o th e r, a c tin g th ro u g h c o u n se l, a c c e pte d se rv ic e o f

F a th e r’s c o n te m

p t pe titio n

, a n d o n De c e m b e r 1

, sh e file d h e r a n swe r, d e n y in g

th a t sh e ha d willfu lly v io la te d th e d iv o rc e d e c re e

. M o th e r a lle g e d th a t sh e h a d

b e e n a n d wo u ld c o n tin u e o n a d a ily b a sis to a c t i v e ly e n c o ura ge J.D. to se e

F a th e r a n d to k e e p h im in fo rm e d a b o u t wh a t wa s ha

p p e n in g in he r life

, a d d in g

th a t sh e ha d u rg e d J.D. to wo rk with F a th e r to d e vise a v isita tio n sc h e du le th a t

wo rk e d fo r b o th of th e m

.

O n De c e m

b e r 3

, 2 0 14

, F a th e r file d a p ro se a m e n d m e nt to h is c o n t e mp t

p e titio n a n d a m o tio n to m o d ify th e p a r en tin g p la n to in c re a se h is m in im u m

v isita tio n tim e w ith J.D. F a th e r a lle g e d th a t M o th e r wa s c o n tin uin g to in te rfe re

with h is v isita tio n tim e a n d b la m e d Mo th e r fo r c re a tin g “ a se n se o f e stra n g e m e n t

a n d a lie n a tio n ” be twe e n h im a n d J .D. F a th e r a sk e d th e c o u rt to m o d ify th e

p a re n tin g p la n to a wa rd h im

, a s “ m a k e u p” v isita tio n with J.D., “ a ll h o lid a y s a n d

sc h o o l b re a ks in 2 0 1 5

, with th e e x c e ptio n o f Mo th e r’s Da y a n d Ch ristm a s Da y

7u n til 1 :0 0 p

. m .,” a n d d ou ble su m m e r v a c a tio n tim e o f fo u r we e k s. F a th e r a lso

a sk e d th e c o u rt to m o d ify th e “ Oth e r P a re ntin g Tim e P ro v isio n s/Ag re e m e n ts”

se c tio n

to re q uire [Mo th e r] to o ffe r [F a th e r] th e rig h t o f first r e f u s a l o f

su p e rv isio n

, tra n sp o rta tio n

, o r oth e r c a re a n d c u sto d y o f [J.D.] p rio r

to m a k in g a n y a rra n g e me nts fo r th e c h ild to b e in a n y o ne e lse ’s

c a re

, c u sto d y o r su p e rv isio n

, re g a rd le ss o f th e a m o u n t of tim e ; a n d

. . . b y c h e c k i n g th e b o x th a t re q u ire s p a re n ts to c on fe r w ith e a c h

o th e r p rio r to sc h e d u lin g a n y a c tiv ity th a t im p a c ts th e tim e th e o th e r

p a re n t h a s with th e c h ild

, in c lu d in g a sp e c ific d ire c tio n to [Mo th e r]

th a t sh e is n ot pe rm itte d to sc h e d u le a n y th in g fo r th e m in or c h ild

,

o r a llo w th e m in or c h ild to sc h e d u le a n y th in g [,] th a t c o n flic ts w ith

[F a th e r’s] c o u rt-o rd e re d m in im u m v isita tio n a n d p are n tin g tim e

.

In e a rly Ja n u a ry 2 0 1 5

, d u rin g F a th e r’s first v isita tio n with J.D. a f t e r th e

h o lid a y sc h o o l b re a k

, he sa t h e r d o wn a n d re a d h e r th e 1 2 -p a g e pa re n tin g p la n

v e rb a tim

, wh ic h m a d e h e r c ry

. J.D. wa s so u p se t th a t sh e c o nta c te d h e r b ro th e r

Er i c a n d a s ke d h im to c om e p ic k h e r u p. Ac c o rd in g to F a th e r, J.D.’s a ttitu d e

to wa rd s h im c h a n g e d a fte r th is in c id e nt an d c o n tin u a lly d e te rio ra te d a fte r th a t.

On Ja n u a ry 2 7 , 2 0 1 5

, th e tria l c o u rt h e ld a h e a rin g o n F a th e r’s a m e n d e d

c o n te m pt p e titio n, a t wh ic h h e wa s re p re se n te d b y a Virg in ia a tto rn e y a p p e a rin g

p ro h a c v ic e

. On F e b ru a ry 12

, th e c o u rt e n te re d a fin a l o rd e r fin d in g Mo th e r in

c o n te m p t in se v e ra l re sp e c ts re la te d to th e p ro p e rty d iv isio n p ro visio n s o f th e

8d iv o rc e d e c re e

. Th e c o u rt e x p re ssly re je c te d

, h o we v e r, F a th e r’s a sse rtio n th a t

Mo th e r wa s th e so u rc e o f th e d isru pti o n o f h i s v isita tio n with J.D. a n d th e

d e t e r i o r a t i o n o f th e ir fa th e r-d a u g h te r re la tio nsh ip

, a n d th e re fo re d e c lin e d to h o l d

Mo th e r in c o n te m

p t o n th is issu e

. Th e c ou rt d id g ra n t F a th e r’s re q u e st to o rd e r

Mo th e r to re fra in fro m sc h e d u lin g an y a c tiv ity fo r J.D. d u rin g F a th e r’s v isita tio n

tim e a n d d ire c te d Mo th e r to a d m o n ish J.D. th a t a ny a c t i v ity sc h e d u le d d u rin g

th a t tim e m

u st b e c le a

re d with F a th e r.

(d ) On F e b ru a ry 1 6

, 2 0 1 5

, J.D. in fo rm e d Fa th e r th a t sh e wa n te d

to sta y a t h o m e th a t n ig h t a n d to ld h im b y te x t m e ssa g e no t to p ic k h e r u p a fte r

d a n c e c la ss. F a t h e r re sp o n d e d th a t h e wa s g o in g to p ic k J.D. u p d e sp ite h e r

wish e s, so s h e a s k e d Mo th e r to p ic k h e r u p e a rly fro m d a n c e c la ss, wh ic h

Mo th e r th e n d id

. Wh e n F a th e r le a rn e d th a t J.D. h a d le ft e a rly

, h e c a lle d th e

p o lic e a n d d ro v e to Mo th e r’s h o u se

, wh e re h e sh o we d th e p o lic e th e p are n tin g

p la n g iv in g h im v isita tio n with J.D. th a t e v e n in g a n d th e n wa ite d in h is c a r wh ile

th e p o lic e w e n t in sid e a n d sp o k e with Mo th e r a n d J.D. Th e p o lic e to ld J.D. th a t

th e y wo u ld a rre st Mo th e r if J.D. d id n o t g o w ith F a th e r, so sh e we n t to his h o use

to sp e n d th e n ig h t. J.D. wa s e x tre m e ly u p se t a t F a th e r fo r c a llin g th e p o lic e a n d

fo r fo rc in g h e r to g o with h im th a t n ig h t a ga in st h e r wish e s.

9Th ro u g h o u t th e sc h o o l y e a r, F a th e r in siste d th a t J.D. rid e th e b u s to sc h o o l

so m e m o rn in gs d u rin g his v isita tio n tim e e v e n th o u g h h e wa s h o m e a n d

a v a ilable to d riv e he r. On th o se m o rn in g s, he wo uld n ot le t J.D. rid e to sc h o o l

with a frie n d

, a n d a lth o u g h h e so m e tim e s a llo we d Mo th e r to p ic k J.D. u p fro m

h is h o u se a n d d riv e h e r to sc ho o l, a t o th e r tim e s h e wo u ld re fu se

. F a th e r’s in itia l

e x p la n a tio n fo r h is pe rio d ic re fu sa l to ta k e J.D. to sc ho o l wa s th a t h e c o u ld n o t

sp a re th e 3 0 to 6 0 m in u te s it a lle g e d ly to o k h im to do so

. Ho we v e r, h e a lso sa id

,

“ if [J.D.] wa nts m e to g o o u t o f my w ay

, sh e n e e d s to sta rt tre a tin g m e with

re sp e c t.” F a th e r la te r c la im e d th a t h a v in g to rid e th e b us “ b u ild s c h a ra c te r.” It

in fu ria te d J.D. to b e fo rc e d to rid e th e b u s to sc h o o l w h e n Fa th e r w a s a v a ilab le

b u t u n willin g to ta k e h e r a n d u n willin g to a llo w h e r to ge t a rid e to sc h o o l, b u t

d e sp ite th e fric tio n th a t th is issu e c a u se d in th e ir re la tio n sh ip

, Fa th e r wo u ld n o t

re le n t.

On th e m orn in g o f Ma rc h 1 7

, 2 0 1 5

, J.D. h a d a rra n ge d w ith Mo th e r to p ic k

h e r u p a t F a th e r’s h o u se a n d ta k e h e r to sc h o o l, a p p a re n tly with Fa th e r’s

c o n se n t, b u t J.D. o v e rsle p t a n d Mo t h e r h a d to g o o n to wo rk

. Wh e n F a th e r

n o tic e d th a t J.D

. w a s n o t u p

, h e wo k e he r a n d to ld h e r th a t sh e n e e d e d to g e t

re a d y f o r th e b us. J.D. d id n o t h a v e c le an c lo th e s to we a r to sc ho ol a n d wa s

1 0u p se t th a t Mo th e r wa s a lre a d y a t wo rk a n d c o u ld n o t p ic k h e r u p a n d ta k e h e r

h o m e to c ha n g e c lo th e s b e fo re sc h o o l. F at h e r w a s u n m ov e d an d in siste d th a t

J.D. ta k e th e b u s to sc h o o l in h e r d irty c lo th e s, b e c a u se h e h a d “ t o ld [J.D.]

re p e a te d ly

, p a c k wh a t y o u n e e d fo r th e h a lf we e k so th a t y o u h a v e wh a t y o u

n e e d fo r sc h o o l.”

J.D., c ry in g h y ste ric a lly

, c a lle d a frie n d wh o se m o th e r th e n pic k e d h e r u p

fro m F a th e r’s h o u se

, to o k he r h o m e so th a t sh e c o uld p ut o n c le a n c lo th e s, a n d

th e n d ro v e h e r to sc ho o l. Wh e n F a th e r disc o v e re d th a t J.D. d id n ot ta ke th e b u s,

h e a ssu m e d th a t sh e h a d c a u g h t a rid e to sc h o o l, b u t h e n e ve rth e le ss c o n ta c te d

th e p o lic e a n d h a d th e m c a ll J.D., wh o wa s a t h om e c h a n g in g fo r sc h o o l. F a th e r

a l s o c o n ta c te d th e wo m a n wh o p ic k e d J.D. up a n d th re a te n e d le g a l a c ti o n

a g a in st h e r if sh e e v e r g a v e J.D. a rid e to sc h o o l fro m h is h o u se a g a in

. J.D. wa s

e x tre m e lyup se t th a t F a th e r h a d c a lle d th e p o lic e o n h e r a g a in

.

On Ap ril 2 7, 2 0 15

, F a th e r file d a no th e r c o n te m p t pe titio n

, a lle g in g a m o n g

o th e r th in g s th a t Mo th e r h a d in te rfe re d with h is v isita tio n in v a rio u s w a y s. On

Ma y 1 9 , F a th e r file d a no th e r c o n te m p t p e titio n , th is tim e a lle g in g th a t Mo th e r

fa ile d to fo ste r h is fa th e r-d a u g h te r re la tio n sh ip with J.D., fa ile d to c on fe r with

h im wh e n c h o o sin g a th e ra pist fo r J.D., to ld J.D. th a t F a th e r wa s re q u irin g h e r

1 1to g o to th e ra p y

, a n d re fu s e d t o c o n se n t to th e ra p y fo r J.D. with a p a re n ta l

a lie n a tio n sp e c i a l i s t c h o se n b y F a th e r. On Ju n e 2

, F a th e r file d y e t a n o th e r

c o n te m pt p e titio n

, a lle g in g th a t M o th e r in stru c te d J.D. to fo rwa rd to h e r a

v isita tio n -re la te d e m a il fro m F a th e r a n d fa ile d to tu rn o v e r to th e tria l c o u rt a ll

c o m m u nic a tio n s b e twe e n Mo th e r a n d J.D. a s h e re q ue ste d

. On Ju n e 3

, Mo th e r

re sp o n d e d to F a th e r’s c o n te m p t m o tio n s, d e n y in g h is a lle g a tio ns a n d a sse rtin g

th a t h e wa s b e in g u n c o o p e ra tiv e a n d u n re a so n a ble

.

(e ) On Ju ne 4

, 2 0 1 5

, th e tria l c o u rt he ld a le n g th y h e a rin g o n

“ e v e ry th in g ” p e n d in g in bo th th e m o d ific a tio n o f v isita tio n a n d d iv orc e

c o n te m pt c a se s. F a th e r

, M o t h e r, o n e o f M o th e r’s n e ig hb ors, a nd th e wo m a n

wh o g a v e J.D. a rid e to sc h o o l o n Ma rc h 1 7 te stifie d

, a n d th e p a rtie s in tro d u c e d

v o lu m in o u s writt e n c o m m u n ic a tio n s a m on g F a th e r, Mo th e r, a n d J.D. It wa s

u n d isp u te d th a t J.D. h a te d th e fo rc e d v isita tio n sc h e d u le with F a th e r a nd th a t sh e

a c tiv e ly re siste d g o in g to se e h im

. Th e e v id e n c e sh owe d th a t wh e n J.D. sta y e d

a t F a th e r’s h o u se

, sh e lo c k e d h e rse lf i n h e r b e d ro o m fo r th e d u ra tio n o f th e

fo rc e d visits; sh e re fu se d to e a t h is fo o d ; and wh e n F a th e r p u t u p p ic tu re s in h e r

b e d ro o m o f th e m to g e th e r wh e n sh e wa s y o un g e r, sh e to o k th e p ic tu re s d o wn

,

e x p l a i n i n g to F a th e r th a t sh e d id n o t wa n t to lo o k a t th e m

. F a th e r d e n ie d a n y

1 2re sp o n sib ility fo r th e d iffic ultie s in his re la tio n sh ip with J.D. a n d he r d e sire n o t

to h a v e fo rc e d v isita tio n with h im

, a ttrib u tin g th e p ro b le m s e n tire ly to Mo th e r’s

a lle g e d e f f o r t s to a lie n a te h im fro m J.D. T h e p a rtie s a g re e d a t th e h e a rin g to

p re se nt c lo sin g a rg um e n ts a n d m o tio ns fo r a tto rn e y fe e s b y b rie fs, wh ic h t h e

p a rtie s th e n file d o n Ju n e 1 5 . OnJu ly 1 , 2 0 1 5 , th e tria l c o urt e n te re d a n o rd e r

g ra n tin g Mo th e r’s c o m

p la in t fo r m o d ific a tio n o f v isita tio n ; o n Ju ly 6, th e c o urt

e n te re d a n o rd e r a wa rd in g Mo th e r $ 4 6 ,5 9 3.0 5 i n at t o rn e y fe e s; a n d o n Ju ly 7

,

th e c o u rt e n te re d an o rd e r d e n y in g F a th e r’s m otio n to d ism iss Mo th e r’s

c o m p la in t. 1

In th e m o d ific a tio n ord e r, th e tria l c o u rt fo u n d th a t J.D. wa s liv in g “ a life

f u ll o f stre ss, a n x ie ty a n d tu rm o il” a s a re su lt o f th e in c o n v e n ie n t v i s i t a t i o n

a rra n ge m e n t e sta b lish e d b y th e d iv o rc e d e c re e

. Th e c o u rt n ote d its o p p o rtu n ity

to o b se rv e F a th e r’s d e m e a n o r a n d fo u n d th a t h e wa s “ c o n v in c e d th a t h e c o u ld

h a v e a ‘fa th e r-d a

u g h te r re la tio n sh ip ’ b y fo rc e ” a n d wa s “ ou t o f to u c h with th e

d e p th a n d se v e rity o f his d a u g h te r’s a n g e r a n d re se n tm e n t.” In th e a tto rn e y fe e s

1 On J uly 1, the trial court also entered a n order on F a ther ’ s contempt petitions, finding

Mother in contempt in several respects related to visitation, a nd on J uly 6, the court entered an order

g ranting F a ther $5,732.80 in attorney fees related to his c ontempt petition resolved by the F ebruary

12, 2015 contempt order.

1 3o rd e r, th e c o u rt re je c t e d F a th e r’s c la im th a t Mo th e r wa s “ sy ste m a tic a lly

a lie n a tin g ” J.D. fro m h im

, fin d in g in ste a d th a t “ F a th e r’s b e h a v io r wa s a h u g e

c o n trib u to r” to th e b re a kd o wn o f h is re la tio n sh ip with J.D., th a t h e h a d “ wie ld e d

h is ‘I’m th e b oss o f y o u ’ fa th e r c a rd o v e r th e c hild lik e a sle d ge h a m m e r in sp ite

o f h is fra g ile re la tio n sh ip with h e r,” a n d th a t “th ro u g h o ut F a th e r’s te stim o n y

, h e

wa s c le ar th a t h is su p p o rt, lo v e

, a tte n tio n

, g u id a n c e a n d re a rin g o f J.D. a n d h e r

sib lin g s wo u ld b e o n h is te rm s a n d th a t wo uld b e re v ok e d if h is c h ild re n d id n o t

b e h a v e e x a c tly as h e d e ma n d s.” T h e c o urt a lso fo u n d th a t, d e sp ite h is

re c o g n itio n th a t h is re la tio n sh ip s with a ll th re e o f his c h ild re n we re stra in e d

,

F a th e r “ n o n e t h e l e ss still tra v e l[e d ] th e p a th to re c o n c ilia tio n v ia th re a ts,

n u m e ro u s c o u rt filin g s, a n d re p e a te d p o lic e in v o lv e m e nt.”

Th e c ou rt n o te d th a t it h a d “ se rio usly c o n sid e re d ” ord e rin g re u n ific a tio n

th e ra p y fo r F a th e r a n d J.D. u n til “ it b e c a m e o b v io u s” th a t su c h a re q uir e m e n t

“ wo u ld lik e ly b e a wa ste of tim e a n d m o ne y a n d a so u rc e o f m o re fru stra tio n ”

g iv e n th e le ve l o f J.D.’s a n g e r to wa rd s F a t he r. T h e c o u rt th e re fo re g ra n te d

Mo th e r’s re qu e st to m o d ify th e p a re n tin g pla n to re q u ire J.D. to v isit F a th e r o n ly

a t tim e s th e y m

u tu a lly a g re e o n

, th e re by e lim in a tin g th e v isita tio n b y “ fo rc e a n d

in tim id a tio n ” th a t wa s d riv in g F a th e r a n d J.D. fu rth e r a n d fu rth e r a p a rt.

1 4On th e issu e of a tto rn e y fe e s, th e tria l c o u rt fo u n d th a t F a t h e r “ tu rn e d a

sim p le litig a tio n in to a

c o m p le x o n e ” with n um e ro u s c o u rt filin g s an d a b u siv e

d isc o v e ry re q ue sts a nd by th re a te n in g Mo th e r with c rim in al p ro se c u tio n fo r

m isd e m e a n o r in te rfe re n c e with c h i l d c u sto d y a nd a rre st fro m he r jo b in

c o n n e c tio n with a se ttle m e nt p ro p o sa l th a t wo u ld h a v e re qu ire d h e r to p a y h is

a tto rn e y $ 55 ,0 0 0

. T h e c o u rt o rd e re d F a th e r to p a y Mo th e r $ 4 6 ,5 9 3 .0 5 in fe e s,

in m o n th ly in c re m e nts o f $ 5 ,0 0 0

.

On Ju ly 28

, 2 0 1 5

, F a th e r file d a tim e ly n o t i ce o f a p p e a l to th is Co u rt,

sp e c ify in g th a t h e wa s c h a lle n g in g th e o rd e rs gra n tin g Mo th e r’s m o d ific a tio n

c o m p la in t, a wa rd in g Mo th e r a tto rn e y fe e s, a n d d e n y in g his m o tio n to dism iss. 2

2

. Be fo re w e c o n sid e r F a th e r’s e n u m e ra tio ns o f e rro r, we a d d re ss th is

Co u rt’s ju risd ic tio n to d e c id e th is a p pe a l. S e e L a y v

. S ta te

, 2 8 9 Ga

. 2 1 0

, 2 1 1

2 F ather’s notice of appeal directed the trial c ourt clerk to omit from the appellate record “all

portions of the transcribed hearing on J anuary 27, 2015” and “all portions o f the h e aring on J une 4,

2015 after arg ument of the motions to dismiss

. . . up until the few final minutes of the hearing when

attorney ’s f

ees were d iscussed.” The record on appeal does not contain a transcript of the J anuary

27 hearing

, althoug h it contains a full transcript of the J u ne 4 h earing

. The notice of appeal, which

Fa t h e r a l s o filed in his d ivorce contempt action ag ainst Mother, contained the c ase sty le and tri a l

court case number of both h is divorce contempt action and Mother’s modification action. Records

in each a ction were forwarded to this Court, where the two appeals w ere initially docketed as a sing le

Case No. S16A1210. On A pril 2 1, 2016, this Court entered an order splitting out F a ther’s appeal

in his contempt a ction, which w as then docketed as Case No. S16A1354, leaving this appeal from

the modification action as Case No. S16A1210. Oral arg ument was held on J uly

11, 2016.

1 5(7 1 0 S E2 d 1 4 1 ) (2 0 11 ) (“ ‘[I] t is th e d u ty o f th is Co u rt to in q u ire in to its

ju risd ic tio n in a n y c a se in wh ic h th e re m a y b e a d ou bt a b o u t th e e x iste n c e o f

su c h ju risd ic tio n

. ’” (c ita tio n o m itte d )). Un de r th e c u rre n t sc h e m e o f a p p e lla te

c o u rt ju risd ic tio n

, th is Co u rt ha s su b je c t m a tte r ju risd ic tio n o v e r a p p e a ls in “ [a ] ll

d iv o rc e a n d a lim on y c a se s.” Ga

. Co n st. o f 19 83 , Art. VI, S e c

. VI, P a r. III (6 ).

An a p p e a l fro m a n y ju d g m e n t o th e r th a n a fin a l ju d g m e n t an d d e c re e o f d iv orc e

th a t in v o lv e s o n ly issu e s o f c h ild c u sto d y ( i n c lu d in g visita tio n rig h ts) fa lls

with in th e ju risd ic tio n o f th e Co u rt o f Ap p e a ls. S e e Ca rt e r v

. F o ste r, 2 4 7 Ga

.

2 6

, 2 6 (2 7 3 S E 2 d 6 1 4 ) (1 98 1 ); Mu nd ay v

. Mu n d a y

, 2 4 3 Ga

. 8 6 3, 86 4 (2 5 7

S E2 d 2 82 ) (1 9 7 9 ).

Ho we v e r, a n a wa rd of a tto rn e y fe e s u n d e r O CGA § 19 -6 -2 is an “ in trin sic

p a rt o f te m

p o ra ry a lim o n y

, ” a s i t s p u rp o se is to e n a b le th e re c ip ie n t p a rty to

c o n te st a ll issu e s in th e p e nd in g a c tio n fo r a lim o n y

, d iv o rc e a n d a lim o n y

, o r

c o n te m pt o f c o u rt a

risin g o u t o f a n a l i mo n y o r a d iv o rc e a n d a lim o n y c a se

.

S c o tt v

. S c ott, 2 5 1 Ga

. 6 1 9

, 6 2 0 (3 0 8 S E 2 d 17 7) (1 9 8 3 ). T hu s, a n a p p e a l

c h a lle ng in g a n a w a rd o f a tto rn e y fe e s u n d e r § 1 9-6 -2 q u a lifie s a s a “ d iv o rc e a n d

a lim o n y c a se [] ” th a t fa lls with in th is Co u rt’s c urre n t su b je c t m a tte r ju risd ic tio n

.

S e e Tu c k e r v

. Tu c k e r, 1 6 4 G a

. Ap p

. 4 7 7

, 4 77 (2 9 8 S E2 d 1 5 9 ) (1 9 8 2 ) (p h y sic a l

1 6p re c e de n t o n ly ). Se e a lso

, e

. g

., Ha im v

. Ha im

, 2 5 1 Ga

. 61 8, 6 1 8 ( 3 0 8 S E2 d

1 7 9 ) (1 98 3 ). Alth o u gh we u ltim a te ly a g re e with Mo th e r’s a r g u m e n t th a t th e

tria l c o u rt’s re fe re n c e to § 1 9 -6 -2 wa s a m e re sc riv e n e r’s e rro r a n d th a t th e c o urt

a c tu a lly b a se d th e a

wa rd o n OC G A § 9

- 1 5 -1 4

, se e D iv isio n 5 b e lo w, th a t

a rg u m e n t g oe s to th e m e rits o f F a th e r’s c la im a n d d o e s no t a lte r o u r

ju risd ic tio n a l a na ly sis. Ac c o rd in g ly

, th is a pp e a l in v o k e s

– if on ly b a re ly

– th is

Co u rt’s su b

je c t m a tte r ju risd ic tio n

.

We n o te

, h o we v e r, th a t d u rin g th is y e ar’s le g isla tiv e se ssio n

, th e Ge n e ra l

Asse m bly p a ss e d

, a nd th e Go ve rn o r th e n sig n e d in to la w, th e A p p e lla te

Ju risd ic tio n Re fo rm Ac t o f 20 1 6

, G a

. L. 2 0 1 6, p

. 8 8 3

, wh ic h g iv e s th e Co u rt o f

Ap p e a ls su bje c t m a tte r j u r i sd ic tio n o v e r “ [a ] ll d iv o rc e a nd a lim o n y c a se s” in

wh ic h a n o tic e o f a

p p e a l o r a p p lic a tio n to a

p p e a l is file d o n o r a fte r Ja n u a ry 1

,

2 0 1 7. Id

. § 3 -1 (c o d ifie d a t OCGA § 1 5 -3 -3 .1 (a ) (5 )). Th u s, a p pe a ls in fu tu re

c a se s of th is so rt will g o to th e Co u rt o f Ap pe a ls in ste a d o f th is Co u r t

. S e e

Willifo rd v

. Bro wn

, 2 99 Ga

. 1 5

, 1 6 -1 7 & n

. 1 ( 7 8 5 S E2 d 8 6 4) (2 0 1 6 )

(re c o gn iz in g th a t th e ne e d fo r Ge org ia ’s a p p e lla te c o u rts a n d litig a nts to e n g a g e

in m a n y in tric a te ju risd ic tio na l a n a ly se s o f th is so rt will so on b e gin to d issip a te ).

We c a n n o w tu rn to F a th e r’s e n u m e ra tio n s.

1 73

. F a th e r c o n te n d s first th a t OCGA § § 1 9 -9 -2 3 an d 19 -9 -2 4 re q u ire d

th e tria l c o u rt to d ism iss Mo th e r’s Oc to b e r 2 0 1 4 c o m p la in t fo r m o d ific a tio n o f

h is v isita tio n rig h ts. We d isa g re e

. 3

(a ) In 1 9 7 7 , th is Co u rt n o te d its c o n c e rn a b o u t

th e n u m b e r o f c a se s in wh ic h c h ild re n a re ille g a lly se i z e d o r

i l l e g a lly d e ta in e d a t th e e n d o f v isita tio n p e rio d s b y th e ir

n o n c u sto d ia l p a re n ts, a s we ll a s th o se wh e re a p a re n t is p e rso n a lly

se rv e d with a pe titio n wh e n h e a rriv e s to re tu rn h is c h ild re n ho m e

,

a s in th is c a se

. We b e lie v e th a t b y d e n y in g th e se p a re n ts a

c o n v e n ie n t fo ru m in wh ic h to re litig a te c usto d y

, th e se p ra c tic e s m a y

b e re d u c e d o r sto p p e d a lto ge th e r. It is th u s in th e p ub lic in te re st to

d isc ou ra g e su c h c on d u c t with o u t a n y pre ju d i c e w h a tso e v e r to th e

n o n c u sto d ia l p a re n t’s rig h t to b rin g su c h a pe titio n w h e re th e le g a l

c u sto dia n , a

n d th e c h ild re n , re sid e

.

Ma tth e ws v

. Ma tth e ws, 2 3 8 G a

. 2 0 1

, 20 3 (2 3 2 S E2 d 7 6 ) (1 9 7 7 ). Th e fo llo win g

y e a r, th e Ge n e ra l Asse m

b ly re sp o n d e d to th is p ro b le m b y e n a c tin g th e Ge o rg ia

Ch ild C u sto d y I n t r a s t a te Ju risd ic tio n Ac t o f 19 7 8

, Ga

. L. 1 9 7 8

, p

. 1 9 5 7

(“ CCIJA” ), a n d Ge o rg ia ’s v e rsio n of t h e Un ifo rm Ch ild Cu sto d y Ju risd ic tio n

Ac t, Ga . L. 1 9 7 8 , p

. 2 5 8 (“ U CCJA” ). S e e Swe e n e y v

. Swe e n e y

, 24 1 Ga . 3 7 2

,

3 F ath e r a l s o c o ntends that the trial court erred in deny ing his motion to dismiss because

Mother “did n o t timely oppose” the motion. F ather cites no authority in support of this contention.

I n fact, there is no requirement tha t a m otion to dismiss be g ranted, without reg ard to its merits,

simply because no response was filed. See Cog land v. H osp. Auth. of B ainbridg e

, 2 90 Ga. App. 73,

76 (658 S E 2d 769) (2008) ( “ ‘ [ T] h ere is no such thing as a d efault judg ment on the pleading s.’”

(citation omitted)).

1 83 7 4 -3 7 5 (2 4 5 S E2 d 6 4 8 ) (1 9 7 8 ) (p lu ra lity o p in io n ). T h e C CIJA is c o d ifie d a t

OCGA § § 1 9 -9 -2 0 to 1 9 -9 -2 4

. 4

(b ) We first c o n sid e r OCGA § 1 9 -9 -2 3

. 5 S ub se c tio n (a ) re q u ire s

th a t a n y c o m

p la in t se e k in g to c h a n ge wh ic h p a re n t h a s th e m a jo rity o f p are n tin g

tim e m u st b e bro u g h t a s a se p a ra te a c tio n in th a t p rim ary ph y sic a l c u sto d ia n ’s

c o u n ty o f re sid e n c e

. 6 S u b se c tio n (b ) re q uire s th a t a n y c o m p la in t b y th e p rim a ry

4 I n 2001, the General Assembly replaced the UCCJ A with Georg ia’s version of the Uniform

C hild Custody J urisdiction and Enforcement Act o r UCCJ EA, Ga. L

. 2001, p. 129 (codifie d a t

OCGA §§ 19-9-40 to 19-9-104).

5 OCGA § 19-9-23 say s in full:

(a) Ex cept as otherwise provided in this Code se ct i o n

, after a court has

determined who is to be the leg a l custodian of a child, any complaint seeking

to obtain a chang e of leg al c ustody of the child shall be broug h t a s a separate

action in the county

of residence of the leg al custodian of the child.

(b) A complaint by the leg al custodian seeking a chang e of lega l c u stody or

v i s i t a t ion r ig hts shall be broug ht as a separate action in compliance wi t h

Article VI , Section I I , Parag r aph VI of the Constitution of this state.

(c) No c o mplaint specified in subsection (a) or (b) of this Code section shall be

made:

(1) As a counterclaim or in any other manner in r e sponse to a petition for

a writ of habeas corpus seeking to enforce a child custody order; or

(2) I n response to any other action o r motion seeking to e nforce a child

custody order.

(d) The use of a complaint in the nature o f habeas c o r p u s s e e k ing a chang e of

child custody is prohibited.

6 The term “leg al c ustodian” as used in the CCI J A m e ans, “[ w ] here custody of a child is

shared b y two or more persons or where the time of visitation ex ceeds the time of c ust o d y

, t h a t

person w ho has the majority o f time of custody or v i s i t a t i o n

. ” OCGA § 19-9-22 (2). To avoid

confusion with the term “leg al custodian” as u sed in o ther a reas of family law, we will refer to the

CCI J A leg al custodian as the “primary phy sical custodian.”

1 9p h y sic a l c u sto d ia n se e k in g a c h a n g e in c u sto d y o r a c ha n g e o f th e o th e r p a re n t’s

v isita tio n rig h ts a lso m

ust b e b ro u g h t a s a se p a ra te a c tio n

, b u t in th e o t h e r

p a re n t’s c o u n ty o f re sid e n c e

. S u b se c tio n s (c ) a n d (d ) th e n p re v e nt litig a n ts fro m

e v a d in g th e p le a d in g a nd v e n u e stric tu re s o f su bse c tio n s (a ) an d (b ) th ro u g h th e

p ro c e d u re s fo r h a

b e a s c o rp u s, se e O CGA § § 9 -1 4 -1 to 9 -1 4 -2 3

, o r b y in v o k in g

p ro v isio ns o f th e Civ il P ra c tic e Ac t th a t a llo w o r re q u ire a g g re g a tio n of c la im s

in v o lv in g th e sa m e p a rtie s o r g e n e ra l su b je c t m a tte r, se e

, e .g

. , O CGA § 9 -1 1 -1 3

(c o u nte rc la im s).

F a th e r re lie s o n § 19 -9 -2 3 (c ) (2 ), wh ic h p ro h ib its a c o m pla in t se e k in g to

o b ta in a c h a n g e o f v isita tio n rig h ts fro m b e in g m a d e “ [i] n re sp o n se to a ny [n o n

h a b e a s c o rp u s] a c tio n o r m otio n se e k in g t o en f o r c e a c h ild c u sto d y o rd e r.”

P o in tin g to th e c o n te m

p t p e titio n th a t h e file d i n th e div o rc e a c tio n in Au g u st

2 0 1 4, se e k i n g t o e n fo rc e th e p a rtie s’ c h ild c u sto dy o rd e r

– in p a rtic ula r, th e

m in im u m v isita tio n sc h e d u le in th e p a re n tin g p la n

– F a th e r a rg u e s th a t Mo th e r’s

c o m p la in t fo r m o d ific a tio n o f h is visita tio n rig h ts, wh ic h sh e file d two m o n th s

la te r, wa s im

p e rm issib ly m a d e “ [i] n re sp o n se to ” h is c on te m p t a c tio n

. Mo th e r’s

m o d ific a tio n c o m

pla in t m a y h a v e b e e n p ro m p te d

, a t le a st in p a rt, by Fa th e r’s

filin g o f h is c o n t e m

p t p e titio n a g a in st h e r, bu t OCGA § 1 9-9 -2 3 is n o t

2 0c o n c e rn e d with th e m o tiv a tio n s b e h in d th e p ro c e e d in g s it a d d re sse s.

Ra th e r, th e sta tu te re g u la te s ho w an d wh e re c o m p la in ts to c h a n g e c u sto d y

(a n d visita tio n ) m a y b e p ursu e d

, a n d M o th e r d id n ot file h e r m o dific a tio n a c tio n

a s a re sp o n siv e p le a d in g o r c o u n te rc la im in F at h e r ’ s d iv o rc e c o n te m p t a c tio n

.

In ste a d

, sh e d id e x a c tly wh a t § 1 9 -9 -2 3 (b ) re q u i r e d h e r to d o to o b ta in

m o d ific a tio n o f F a th e r’s v isita tio n rig hts: sh e file d a “ c o m p la in t

. . . se e k in g a

c h a n g e o f

. . . [h is] v isita tio n rig h ts

. . . a s a se p ara te a c tio n ” in F a th e r’s c o u n ty

o f re sid e n c e “ in c om

p lia n c e with A r tic le VI, S e c tio n II, P ara g ra p h VI o f th e

Co n stitu tio n,” wh ic h g e n e ra lly re q u ire s c iv il c a se s to b e v e n ue d “ in th e c o u n ty

wh e re th e d e fe n d a n t re sid e s.” S e e Jo n e s v. Jo n e s, 2 5 6 Ga

. 7 4 2

, 7 43 (3 5 2 S E2 d

7 5 4 ) (1 98 7 ) (“ Th e c u sto d ia l p a re n t, in th is c a se th e m oth e r, so u g h t to h a v e th e

fa th e r’s v isita tio n rig h ts m o d ifie d an d b ro u g h t a se p ara te a c tio n in th e c o u n ty o f

re sid e n c e o f th e fa th e r, th e n o n c u sto d ia l p a re n t. Th is wa s pro p e r u n d e r OCGA

§ 1 9 -9 -2 3 (a ).” 7 ); Alb e rti v

. Alb e rti, 3 2 0 Ga

. Ap p

. 7 24

, 7 2 8 (7 41 S E 2 d 1 7 9 )

(2 0 1 3 ) (h o ld in g th a t a fa th e r’s p e titi o n t o c h a n ge c u sto d y wa s n o t b a rre d b y

§ 1 9 -9 -2 3 (c ) (1 ) e v e n th o u g h i t w as “ p re d ic a te d o n th e [m ] o th e r’s su c c e ssfu l

7 W h i l e J o n es r e f

ers to § 19-9-23 (a), the mother in that case was clearly the primary

phy sical c ustodian, so the reference should have been to subsection ( b ). L ike trial courts, see

Division 5 below, this Court makes the occasional scrivener’s error.

2 1p e titio n fo r h a b e a s c o rp u s,” b e c a

u se it w a s p ro p e rly file d a s a se p a ra te a c tio n in

th e m o th e r’s c ou n ty o f re sid e n c e ).

In d e e d, n o t lo n g a fte r th e CCI J A wa s e n a c te d

, th is Co u rt e n c o u ra g e d

p a re n ts to fo llo w th e c o u rse th a t Mo th e r pu rsu e d in o rd e r to ob ta in a c h a n g e o f

p rim a ry p h y sic a l c u sto d y or v isita tio n rig h ts fo llo win g e ffo rt s b y th e o th e r

p a re n t to e n fo rc e th e e x istin g c h ild c usto d y o rd e r. Se e Hu tto v

. Hu tto

, 2 5 0 Ga

.

1 1 6

, 1 1 8 (2 9 6 S E2 d 5 4 9 ) (1 9 8 2 ) (e x p la in in g th a t a fa th e r w ith v isita tio n rig h ts

wh o wa s p re v e nte d b y wh a t is n o w § 1 9 -9 -2 3 (c ) (1 ) fro m filin g a c o u n te rc la im

se e k in g a c ha n ge o f c u sto d y in re sp o n se to th e m o th e r’s p e titio n fo r h a b e a s

c o rp us file d i n fa th e r’s c o u n ty of re sid e n c e wa s n o t with o u t re c o u rse

, a s h e

c o u ld file a se p a ra te c om p la in t se e k in g a c h a n ge of c u sto d y in th e m o th e r’s

c o u n ty o f re sid e n ce )

. In sh o rt, OCGA § 1 9 -9 -2 3 g o v e rn s h o w a n d wh e re a n

a c tio n se e k in g a c h a n g e o f p rim a ry p h y sic a l c u sto d y or v isita tio n rig h ts m u st b e

file d

, n o t wh e th e r su c h a n a c tio n c a n be file d a t a ll w h e n a c h ild c u sto d y

e n fo rc e m e n t a c tio n b y th e o th e r p a r e n t is p e n d in g

. Th u s, § 1 9 -9 -2 3 d id n o t

re q u ire th e tria l c o u rt to g ra n t F a th e r’s m o tio n to d ism iss.

2 2(c ) We tu rn n e x t to OC G A § 1 9

- 9-2 4

. 8 Fa th e r re lie s o n

su b se c tio n (b ), w h ic h sa y s th a t th e p r i ma ry p h y sic a l c u sto d ia n sh a ll n o t b e

a llo w e d to “ m a in ta in ” a c iv il a c tio n fo r, a m o ng o th e r th in g s, c h an g e o f v isita tio n

rig h ts fo r “ so lo n g a s v isita tio n rig h ts a re with he ld in v io la tio n o f th e c u sto d y

o rd e r.” (Em

p h a sis a d d e d .) S u b se c tio n (a ) c on ta in s a re c ip ro c a l b a r pre v e n tin g

a p a re n t with v i s i t a t i o n rig h ts fro m m a in ta in in g a c iv il a c tio n fo r c h a n g e o f

c u sto d y fo r “ so lo n g a s c u sto d y o f th e c h ild is with h e ld fro m [th e p rim a ry

p h y sic a l c u sto d ia n ] in v i o l at i o n o f th e c usto d y o rd e r.” S e e Hu tto

, 2 50 Ga

. a t

1 1 7 (h o ld in g th a t it wa s e rro r to a llo w a fa th e r to m a in ta in a n a c tio n fo r c h a n g e

o f c u s t o d y “ e v e n th o u g h h e wa s with h old in g c u sto d y o f th e c h ild fro m th e

m o th e r . . . in v io la tio n o f th e c u sto d y o rd e r” ).

In h is brie f to th is Co u rt, F a th e r a ss e r t s th a t th e tria l c o u rt fo un d th a t

8 OCGA § 19-9-24 say s in full:

(a) A phy sical custodian shall n ot be allowed to maintain ag ainst the leg al

custodian any action f

or divorce, alimony

, child custody

, chang e of alimony

, chang e of child custody

, or chang e of visitation rig hts or any application for

contempt of court so long as custody of the child is withheld from the leg al

custodian in violation of the custody order.

(b) A leg al custodian shall not be allowed to maintain any action for divorce,

alimony

, child custody

, chang e of alimony

, c h a ng e of child c ustody

, or

chang e of visitation rig hts or any application for contempt of court so long as

visitation rig hts are withheld in violation of the custody order.

2 3Mo th e r h a d “ with h e ld visita tio n ,” re fe rrin g to th e c o u rt’s F e b ru a ry 1 2 a n d Ju ly

1

, 2 01 5 c o n te m

p t o rd e rs. Th a t i s n o t tru e

. In its F e b ru a ry 1 2 c o n te m p t o rd e r,

th e tria l c o u rt sp e c ific a lly d e c li n e d to fin d th a t M o th e r v io la te d th e d iv orc e

d e c re e with re sp e c t to Fa th e r’s v isita tio n with J.D. An d in its Ju ly1 c o n te m p t

o rd e r, th e c o u rt fo u n d th a t Mo t h e r v io la te d th e d iv o rc e d e c re e b y in te rfe rin g

with F a th e r’s v i s i t a tio n on a fe w o c c a sio n s, n o t th a t sh e wa s with h o ld in g

v isita tio n fro m h im a lto g e th e r. F a th e r’s n o t re c e iv in g h is fu ll sc h e d u le d

v isita tio n o n a p a rtic ula r o c c a sio n d o e s n o t e q u a te to a fin d in g th a t Mo th e r wa s

a ffirm a tiv e ly p re c lu d in g h im fro m v isita tio n with J.D. In d e e d

, M o th e r te stifie d

a t th e Ju n e 4

, 2 01 5 h e a rin g th a t sh e ha d n e v e r with he ld v isita ti o n f ro m F a th e r

a n d o ffe re d te x t m e ssa g e s fro m J.D. sta tin g th a t Mo th e r d i d n ot p re v e n t a n y

v isits w i t h F a th e r, a n d th e tria l c o u rt wa s e ntitle d to c re d it th a t e vid e n c e

.

Co m p a re Av re n v

. Ga rte n, 2 8 9 Ga

. 1 8 6

, 1 8 7 (7 10 S E2 d 1 3 0 ) (2 0 1 1 ). 9 T h u s, th e

tria l c o u rt a lso d id n o t e rr in d e c lin in g to d ism iss Mo th e r’s m o d ific a tio n

9 W e have some doubt ab o u t o u r i n dication in A vren that past instances of withholding

, rather than withholdin g of custody o r visitation at the time that the trial court is deciding how to

proceed in the newly filed action, would bar the new a ction under O C GA § 19-9-24 (b). B ut w e

need not resolve that issue to decide this case, as the record evidence here is factually quite distinct

from the record in Avren, where the evidence showed that the father’s scheduled v isitation with a

child under ag e 14 had not taken place on over 100 dates in an eig ht-month period, the mother

admitted impeding visitation, a nd “the trial court found at the hearing that [ the mother] had withheld

visitation.” Avren, 289 Ga. at 187.

2 4c o m

p la in t p u rsu a n t to OCGA § 1 9 -9 -2 4 (b ).

4

. F a th e r c la im s th a t th e tria l c o u rt e rre d in m o d i f y i n g his v isita tio n

rig h ts to re q uire h im to a rra n g e v isita tio n with J.D. a t tim e s th at a re m u tu a lly

a g re e a b le . In a d isp u te b e twe e n two fit p a re n ts,

“ [a ] tria l c ou rt fa c e d with a p e titio n fo r m o d ific a tio n o f c h i ld

c u sto dy is c h a rg e d with e x e rc isin g its d isc re tio n to d e te rm in e wh a t

is in th e c h ild re n ’s b e st in te re st. A tria l c o u rt’s d e c isio n re g a rd in g

a c h a n g e in c u sto d y /v isita tio n w ill b e u p h e ld o n a p p e a l u n le ss it is

sh o wn th a t th e c ou rt c le a rly a b u se d its d isc re tio n

. Wh e re th e re is

a n y e v id e n c e to su p p ort th e tria l c o u rt’s ru lin g

, a re vie win g c o u rt

c a n n o t sa y th e re wa s a n a b u se o f d isc re tio n .”

Co p p e d g e v

. C o p p ed g e

, 2 9 8 Ga

. 4 94

, 4 9 9 (7 8 3 SE2 d 9 4) (2 0 16 ) (c ita tio n

o m itte d ).

F a th e r first se e ks to a v o i d t h i s d a u n tin g sta n da rd o f a

p p e lla te re v ie w b y

d e m a n din g a d o -o v e r in th e tria l c o u rt, c la im in g th a t h is d u e p ro c e ss rig h ts we re

v io la te d b e c a

u se “ th e re wa s n o tria l o n [Mo th e r’s c o m pla in t] fo r m o d ific a tio n .”

Th is c la im is b e lie d b y th e re c o rd

. On Ju n e 4

, 2 0 1 5

, th e t r ia l c o u rt h e ld a n

e v id e n tia ry h e a rin g o n “ e v e ry th in g ” p e n d in g in b oth th e m o d ific a tio n a n d

c o n te m pt c a se s, wh ic h in c lu d e d Mo th e r’s Oc to b e r 2 01 4 c o m p la in t fo r

m o d ific a tio n of F a t h e r ’ s v i sita tio n rig hts; th e c o urt h a d se n t c o u nse l fo r b o th

p a rtie s a n e m a il, listin g b o th th e m o d ific a tio n a n d c o nte m pt c a se n um

b e rs, “ to

2 5c o n firm th a t th e fin a l tria l in b o th o f th e se c a se s h a s b e e n sp e c ia lly se t fo r Ju n e

4

, 20 1 5

, ” a n d F a th e r re fe re n c e d th e Ju n e 4 tria l d a te in bo th h is p re -h e a rin g a n d

p o st-h e a rin g filin g s in th e m o d ifi c a t i o n a c tio n

. Mo re o v e r, a t th e h e a rin g th e

p a rtie s p re se n te d n o t on ly e v id e n c e o n th e sp e c ific c o n te m pt c la im s th a t F a th e r

h a d ra ise d b u t a lso e xte n siv e e v id e n c e o n th e n e e d f o r m od ific a tio n o f th e

e x istin g pa re n tin g p la n

, in c lu d in g th e te stim on y o f b o th p a rtie s an d v o lu m in o u s

writte n c o m m

u n ic a tio n s a m o n g F a th e r, Mo th e r, a n d J.D.

Tu rn in g to th e m e rits o f th e m o d ific a tio n ru lin g, F a th e r c o nte n d s th a t th e

tria l c ou rt fa ile d to c o n sid e r wh e th e r m o d ific a tio n w a s in J.D.’s b e st in te re sts

a n d wh e th e r so m e re m e d y oth e r th a n re q u irin g F a th e r to a rra n ge v isita tio n with

h is th e n-a lm o st-1 6 -y e a r-o ld d a u g h te r a t mu t u a lly c on v e n ie n t tim e s wo u ld b e

m o re a p pro p ria te

. In p a rtic u la r, F a th e r p o in ts to h is re q u e st fo r ma n d a to ry

r e u n ific a tio n th e ra

p y w ith J.D., b u t th e c ou rt e xp la in e d in its ord e r th a t i t

“ se rio u sly c o nsid e re d ” th a t re q u e st u n til “ it b e c a m e ob vio u s to th e C o u rt th a t,

g iv e n th e le v e l o f J.D.’s a n g e r, th is wo u ld lik e ly b e a w a ste o f tim e a n d m o n e y

a n d a so u rc e o f m o re fru stra ti o n .” F a th e r d isp u te s th e tria l c ou rt’s fa c tu a l

fin d in g s a n d a sse rts

– with n o a p pa re n t b a sis o th e r th a n h is d isp le a su re with th e

c o u rt’s ru lin g

– th a t “ th e c o u rt ig no re d e vid e n c e ” in h is fa v o r th a t wa s p re se n te d

2 6a t th e h e a rin g

.

F a th e r c la im s th a t th e “ c o u rt fo u n d [Mo th e r] e n g a g e d in a n in c e ssa n t

p a tte rn o f c o n te m

p tu o u s in te rfe re n c e with visita tio n e v e n a fte r th e c o u rt to ld h e r

to sto p .” In re a lity

, wh ile re c o g n iz in g th a t Mo th e r is “ n o t with o u t fa u lt,” th e

c o u rt fo u n d th a t th e a c ts sh e h a d c o m m itte d in c o n te m p t o f th e c o u rt’s o rd e rs

we re d o n e “ in o rd e r to a ssist th e c h ild in na v ig a tin g th is d iffic u lt situ a tio n [with

F a th e r] ” a n d th a t sh e “ ha s b e e n try in g u n su c c e ssfu lly to fin d w a y s to su p p o rt a

tro u b le d c hild w h ile a t th e sa m e tim e a v o id in g c o n te m p t o f th e Co u rt’s Ord e rs.”

F a th e r a lso re p e a te dly m isc h a ra c te riz e s th e tria l c o u rt’s ru lin g th a t h e m u st

a rra n ge his v isita tio n with h is n o w-1 7 -y e a r-o ld d a u g h te r a t m

u tu a lly c on v e n ie n t

tim e s a s a “ te rm in a tio n of [h is] p a re n tin g tim e .” In ste a d

, F a th e r m a y a c t u a lly

sp e n d m o re tim e with J.D. th a n h e d id u n d e r th e p re v io u s p la n

– if h e tre a ts h e r

with su ffic ie n t re sp e c t a n d k in d n e ss th a t sh e i s wi l l in g to be with h im a n d

th e re b y a lle v ia te s w h a t th e c o u rt “ sa d ly ” fo u n d to b e J.D.’s “ sig n ific a n t stre ss

a n d e m o tio n a l h a rd sh ip re su ltin g fro m t h e [ p re vio u s] in c o n v e nie n t v isita tio n

a rra n ge m e n t.” Th e re c o rd sh o ws th a t th e tria l c o u rt d id n o t se e k to e n d J.D.’s

re la tio nsh ip with h e r fa th e r, b u t ra th e r to re ju v e na te it b y m od ify in g a v isita tio n

sc h e m e th a t th e c ou rt fo u n d J.D. p e rc e iv e d to b e b a se d o n Fa th e r’s “ fo rc e a n d

2 7in tim id a tio n .”

Am p le e v id e n c e su p p o rte d th e c o u rt’s m o d ific a tio n o f F a th e r’s v isita tio n

rig h ts to c h a n g e h is tim e with J.D. to m utu a lly a g re e d d a te s a n d tim e s. S e e

An d e rse n v

. F a rrin g to n

, 2 9 1 Ga

. 7 7 5

, 77 7 (7 3 1 S E2 d 3 5 1 ) (2 0 1 2 ) (re c o g n iz in g

th e d isc re tio n o f a tria l c o u rt to “ im p o se re a so n a

ble re stric tio n s u p o n v isita tio n

a s th e c irc u m sta n c e s m a y re q u ire ,” in c lu d in g p re c o n d i t i o n s to e x e rc isin g

v isita tio n ). In d e e d

, th e m od ifie d v isita t i o n a r r a n g e m e n t a s to J.D. is th e sa m e

“ m u tu a lly a g re e a

b le ” tim e s a rra ng e m e n t to wh ic h F a th e r a g re e d in th e o rig in a l

p a re n tin g p la n a s to h e r bro th e r Eric w h e n he wa s a b o u t J.D.’s c u rre nt a g e

. S e e

Do ritis v

. D o r i t is, 2 9 4 G a

. 4 2 1

, 4 2 5 (7 54 SE2 d 5 3 ) (2 0 1 4 ) (u p h o ld in g a tria l

c o u rt’s e x e rc ise o f d isc re tio n in d e te rmi n i n g th a t c o m p e lle d c o un se lin g o r

v isita tio n with a fa th e r wo u l d n o t b e in th e b e st in te re sts o f h is 1 7 -y e a r-o ld

c h ild ).

F in a lly

, wh ile th e tria l c o u rt’s ord e r d o e s n o t u se th e te rm “ b e st in te re sts

o f th e c h ild ,” OCGA § 1 9 -9 -3 (a ) (3 ), (5 ), th e re is n o in d ic a tio n in th e re c o rd

th a t th e tria l ju d g e

– wh o h a s e x t e n siv e e xp e rie nc e with c h ild c usto d y m a tte rs

– a p p lie d a n y o th e r sta n d a rd

. In d e e d

, th e c o u rt’s o rd e r is sq u a re ly fo c u se d o n

wh a t v isita tio n a rra n g e m e nt is in J.D.’s

– ra th e r th a n he r F a th e r’s

– b e st

2 8in te re sts. S e e Da v is v

. B u sh n e ll, 2 4 5 Ga

. Ap p

. 2 2 1

, 2 2 3 (5 37 S E2 d 4 7 7 ) (2 0 0 0 )

(“ ‘In th e a b se n c e o f a c o n tra ry sh o win g

, th e tria l c o u rt will b e p re su m e d to h a v e

fo llo we d th e la w .’” (c ita tio n o m itte d)).

5

. F a th e r c o n te n d s th a t th e tria l c o u rt d e n ie d h im d u e p ro c e ss in

a wa rd in g Mo th e r a tto rn e y fe e s in th e Ju ly 6, 2 0 1 5 o rd e r be c a use th e a wa rd wa s

m a d e un d e r a n in ap p l i ca b l e sta tu te

. T h e th re e -p a g e ord e r sa id in c on c lu sio n

,

“ P u rsu a n t to OCGA S e c

. 1 9 -6 -2

, th e Co u rt h e re b y a wa rd s fe e s to th e Mo th e r fo r

t h is m o d ific a tio n a c tio n in th e a m o u n t o f $ 4 6 ,5 9 3 .0 5 .” As F a th e r c o rre c tly

p o i n t s o u t, th is a wa rd wa s n o t p ro p e r u n d e r th e sta tu te c ite d

, b e c a use O C G A

§ 1 9 -6 -2 a u th o riz e s a

n a wa rd o f a tto rn e y fe e s o n ly in a n “ a c tio n

. . . fo r a lim o n y

,

d iv o rc e a n d a lim o n y

, o r c o n te m p t o f c o u rt a risin g o u t o f e ith e r a n a lim o n y c a se

o r a d iv o r ce a n d a lim o n y c a se

, in c lu d in g b u t no t lim ite d to c o n te m p t o f c o urt

o rd e rs in v o lv in g p ro p e rty d iv isio n

, c h ild c u st o d y

, a n d c h ild v isita tio n rig h ts.”

OCGA § 1 9 -6 -2 (a ). Mo th e r’s se p a r a t e a c tio n to m o d ify F a th e r’s v isita tio n

rig h ts w a s n o t su c h a p ro c e e d in g

. Mo th e r c o n c e d e s th is po in t, bu t sh e a rg ue s

th a t th e awa rd sh o u ld be a ffirm e d b e c a u se th e tria l c ou rt c le arly m e a nt to m a k e

th e a wa rd p u rsu a

n t to OCGA § 9

- 1 5-1 4 (b ) a n d th e re fe re n c e in th e o rd e r to

§ 1 9 -6 -2 wa s ju st a sc riv e n e r’s e rro r. We a g re e

.

2 9O C GA § 9 -1 5 -1 4 (b ) a u th o riz e s th e a sse ssm e nt o f “ re a so n a b l e a n d

n e c e ssa ry ” a tto rn e y fe e s a nd litig a tio n c o sts in c iv il c a se s a g a in st a p a rty th a t ha s

“ u n ne c e ssa rily e x p a n d e d th e p ro c e e d in g b y

. . . im p ro p e r c o nd u c t, in c lu d in g

. . .

a b u s e s o f d isc ov e ry p ro c e d u re s.” Mo th e r re q u e ste d a n a wa rd p u rsu a n t t o

OCGA § 9 -1 5 -1 4 (b ) in m

u ltip le c o u rt filin gs in h e r m o d ific a tio n c a se

, in c lu d in g

h e r p o st-h e a rin g brie f o n a tto rn e y fe e s; sh e d id no t re q u e st fe e s u n d e r § 1 9 -6 -2

.

F u rth e rm o re

, th e o r d e r m a k in g th e a w a rd c o n ta in e d fin d in g s th a t o ne wo u ld

e x p e c t to se e in a n a wa rd m a d e p u rsu a nt to § 9 -1 5 -1 4 (b ). S p e c ific a lly

, th e tria l

c o u rt fo u n d th a t F a th e r “ tu rn e d a sim p le litig a tio n in to a c o m p le x o n e ” b y

,

a m o n g o th e r th in gs, filin g fiv e m otio ns to d ism iss Mo th e r’s c o m p la in t fo r

m o d ific a tio n; se n d in g Mo th e r 5 1 7 re q u e sts to a dm it in th is c a se a n d Fa th e r’s

d iv o rc e c o n te m

p t c a se ; re q u e stin g th e a

p p o in tm e n t o f a g u a rd ia n a d l i t e m six

we e k s b e fo re th e t ria l wa s sc he d u le d to sta rt; th re a te n in g Mo th e r with

p ro se c u tio n fo r c rim in a l in te rfe re n c e with c u sto d y a n d with a rre st fro m h e r jo b ;

a n d m a kin g th e se th re a ts in c o n n e c tio n w i t h a se ttle m e n t p ro p osa l th a t wo u ld

h a v e re q u ire d Mo th e r to p a y F a th e r’s la wy e r $ 55 ,0 0 0

.

Th u s, wh ile th e tria l c o u rt e rro n e o u sly c ite d OCGA § 1 9 -6 -2

, th is c le ric a l

e rro r d o e s n o t re q u ire re v e rsa l o f th e a tto rn e y fe e s a wa rd

. Se e Willia m s v

.

3 0Be c k e r, 2 9 4 Ga

. 4 1 1

, 4 1 3 n .1 (7 5 4 S E2 d 11 ) (2 0 1 4 ) (re je c tin g th e a rg u m e n t th a t

re v e rsa l wa s re q u i r ed w h e re th e tria l c o u rt p u rp o rte d to a w a rd a tto rn e y fe e s

p u rsu a n t to “ OCGA § 1 9 -1 5-1 4 ”

– a n on e x iste n t sta tu te

– b e c a use a re v ie w o f

th e re c o rd

, in c lu d in g th e tria l c o u rt’s o rd e r, sh o we d th a t “ th e re fe re n c e to OCGA

§ 1 9 -1 5 -1 4 wa s a sc riv e n e r’s e rro r” and th a t “ th e c o u rt c le a rly m e a n t to c ite

OCGA § 9 -1 5 -1 4 ” ). S e e a lso Visk u p v

. Visk u p

, 29 1 Ga

. 1 03

, 1 0 6 (7 2 7 S E2 d

9 7 ) ( 2 0 1 2 ) (e x p la in in g th a t th is Co u rt m a y re v ie w th e re c o rd to d e te rm in e th e

sta tu to ry b a sis o f a n a tto rn e y fe e s o rd e r).

F a th e r a lso a sse rts t h a t h i s d u e p ro c e ss rig h ts we re v io la te d b e c a u se th e

a wa rd wa s m a d e with o u t a w ritte n m otio n

, with o u t a h e a rin g

, a n d w ith o u t a n y

su p p o rtin g e v id e n c e

. Ho we v e r, th e re c o rd sh ows th a t Mo th e r re p e a te d ly a sk e d

th e tria l c o u rt in writte n filin g s fo r a n o rd e r a wa rd in g h e r a tto rn e y fe e s u n d e r

OCGA § 9 -1 5 -1 4 a n d a lso m a d e a n o ra l re q u e st fo r fe e s a t th e Ju n e 4

, 2 0 1 5

h e a rin g . S e e OCGA § 9 -1 1 -7 (b ) (d e sc rib in g a “ m o tio n ” a s a n “ a p p lic a tio n to

th e c o u rt fo r a n o rd e r

. . . wh ic h

, u n le ss m a d e d u rin g a h e a rin g o r tria l, sh a ll b e

m a d e in writin g ” ). An d a t th e e n d o f t h a t h e a rin g

, d u rin g a d isc u ssio n o f th e

p a rtie s’ d u e lin g re q ue sts fo r a tto rn e y fe e s, th e c o u rt a sk e d : “ Th e first q u e stio n

is, are we wa iv in g a fe e h e a rin g ? If n o t, we m ig ht a s we ll go a h e a d a n d se t th a t

3 1a n d th e n if y o u wa n t to do y o u r c lo sin g s o n b rie f

– I d o n ’t re a lly c a re h o w y o u

wa n t to d o it.” F a th e r’s c o u nse l re p lie d, “ I p re fe r c lo sin g o n b rie f.

. . . We ’ll d o

[a ] b rie f o n fe e s a s we ll,” a n d Mo th e r’s c o u n se l sa id

, “ I’m fin e with th a t.” Th e

p a rtie s th e n su b m itte d brie fs th a t in c lu d e d th e ir arg u m e nts o n th e fe e s re q u e sts,

a n d Mo th e r’s b rie f a tta c he d a n a f f id a v it b y he r a tto rn e y sh owin g th e a tto rn e y

fe e s th a t Mo th e r in c urre d su p p orte d b y de ta ile d b illin g re c o rd s a n d a sse rtin g

th e ir re a so n a

b le n e ss. 10 Th e c o u rt re fe re n c e d th o se su b m issio n s in its fe e s o rd e r.

W e s ee n o e rro r. S e e E llis v

. Ca ld w e ll, 2 9 0 Ga

. 3 3 6

, 3 4 0 (7 2 0 S E 2 d 6 2 8 )

(2 0 1 2 ) (“ [A] p a

rty m a y wa iv e a n e v id e n tia ry h e a rin g o n a m o tio n fo r a tto rn e y

fe e s

. ” ). S e e a lso Win d h a m v. Ara y a

, 2 8 6 Ga

. 5 0 1

, 5 0 3 -5 0 4 (6 9 0 S E2 d 1 6 8 )

(2 0 1 0 ) (re c o g n iz in g t

h a t e v e n a n u n tim e ly a ffid a v it m a y p ro v id e su ffic ie n t p ro o f

to su p p o rt a n a wa rd o f a tt o r n e y f e e s a s lo n g a s th e o p p osin g p a rty h a d a n

o p p ortu n ity to re sp o n d b e fo re th e o rd e r a wa rd in g fe e s wa s e nte re d ).

6

. On Ju ly 7

, 2 0 1 6

, m o re th a n two m o nth s a fte r F a th e r file d h is in itia l

b rie f o n Ap ril 2 0

, ra isin g th e e n u m e ra tio n s o f e rro r a dd re sse d a b o v e

, h e file d a

“ Re p la c e m e nt Brie f” a tte m p tin g to ra ise th re e a dd itio n a l e nu m e ra tio n s o f e rro r.

1 0 F ather’s counsel a lso submitted an affidavit reg arding her f ees, but as a separate

document.

3 2Re m a rk a

b ly

, F a th e r file d th is b rie f o n th e Th u rsd ay b e fo re th e ora l a rg u m e n t o n

Mo n d a y

, Ju ly 1 1

, a n d he d id so d e sp ite th is Co u rt’s e n try o f a n o rd e r o n Ju ly 5

d e n y in g th e re qu e st h e m a d e e a rlie r th a t da y fo r p e rm issio n to file a

su p p le m e n ta l b rie f. Th is Co urt’s ru le s r eq u i r e a n a p p e lla n t’s b rie f to b e file d

with in 2 0 d a y s a fte r th e c a se is d o c ke te d , u n le ss th e Co u rt g ra n ts a n e x te n sio n

o f tim e (wh ic h F a th e r d id n o t se e k ), an d e n u m e ra tio n s of e rro r m ust b e file d a s

a pa rt of th a t b rie f. Se e S u p re m e Co urt Ru le s 1 0 and 1 9. S e e a lso OCGA § 5 -6

-

4 0

. Ru le 2 4 p e rm its th e filin g o f a su p p le m e n ta l b rie f if a p a rty is n o t se e k in g

o n ly to c irc u m v e n t th e p a g e lim its o f Ru le 2 0

, b ut R u l e 2 4 “ i s n o t a m e a n s b y

wh ic h a p a rty m a

y c irc u m v e n t th e re q u ire m e n t th a t e n um e ra tio n s o f e rro r b e

tim e ly su b m itte d .” Willis v

. Willis, 2 88 Ga

. 5 77

, 5 8 2 (7 07 S E2 d 3 4 4 ) (2 0 1 1 ).

Ac c o rd in g ly

, we will no t c o n sid e r th e a d d itio n a l e n u m e ra tio n s o f e rr o r f i rst

ra ise d b y F a th e r in h is “ Re p la c e m e n t Brie f.” S e e id

.

Ju d g m e n t a ffirm e d . All th e Ju stic e s c o nc u r.

3 3