FOURTH D I VI SI ON

DI L LA RD, P. J.

, RA Y and SELF, 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

M ay 31, 2017



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 7 A0 39 1

. L YNCHAR, INC. et al

. v

. COLONIAL OIL INDUSTRIES, INC.

S E LF , J u d g e.

Co l o n i al Oi l In d u s t ri es , In c. (“ Co l o n ial ” ) fi l ed t h e i n s t an t s u i t o n an acco u nt

ag ai n s t Ly

n c h a r , I n c. d /b / a T&W Oi l Co m pan y (“ Ly

n ch ar”) an d t wo o f i t s

s h areh o ld ers , Lawren ce M

. Derb y , Sr. an d Ch arl es G. Th o m p s o n , Jr. (co l l ect i v el y ,

“ ap p el l an t s ”), al leg i n g t h at ap p el l an t s o wed $ 1,4 0 6 ,1 9 4.6 1 in p ri n ci p al

, p l u s i n t eres t

,

o n an o p en acco u n t fo r t h e sal e an d del i v ery o f f uel p ro d u ct s an d o t her g o o d s by

Co l on i al

. Co l o n i al al leg ed t h at Derb y an d Th o m p s o n s i g n ed p ers o n al gu aran t i es fo r

t h e d eb t s o f Ly

n ch ar an d were t h erefo re l i ab le fo r t h e s am e. Th e t ri al co u rt en t e r e d

an o rd er g ran t i n g Co lo ni al ’ s m o t i o n fo r p art i al s u m m ary ju d g m e n t a n d d en y i n gap p el l an t s ’ m otion fo r p art i al s u m m ary ju d g m en t

. Ap p el l an ts ap p eal b o th ru l i n g s

. Fo r

t h e reas o n s t h at fo l l o w, we rev ers e.

S u m m a r y ju d g m en t i s p ro p er w h en t h ere is n o g en u i n e i s s u e o f

m at eri al fact an d t h e m o van t i s en t i t l ed to ju dg m en t as a m at t er o f l aw.

A d e n o v o s t an d ard o f r e v i ew ap p li es t o an ap p eal fro m a g ran t o f

s u m m ary ju d g m en t

, a n d we v i ew t h e ev i d en ce, an d al l reas o n ab l e

co n cl u s i o n s an d i nferen ces drawn fro m i t

, i n t h e l i g h t m o s t fav o rab l e t o

t h e n o n m ov an t

.

(Fo o tn o te o m i tt e d

. ) C o m m u n i t y Ma ga z i n e v. Co l o r

Xp r es s , 32 6 Ga. Ap p

. 3 3 0 (7 5 6

SE2 d 5 6 4) (2 0 1 4). S o v i e w e d

, t h e r ec o r d r e f l e c t s t h a t C o l o n i a l e n t e r e d i n t o a n

acco u n t ag reem en t wi t h Ly n ch ar wh ereb y Co l o n i al wo ul d s el l an d d el i v er fu el

p ro d uct s an d o t her g o o ds

. A “ New Acco u n t Dat a Sh eet ” s i g ned Decem b er 1 0

, 1 9 8 6,

l i st s “ Ly n ch ar In c. d / b / a T&W Oi l C o

. ” a s t h e b i ll i n g n am e o n t h e acco u n t

. An

u p d at ed “ Acco u n t Dat a Sh eet an d Ag reem en t” s i g n ed Au g u s t 1 8

, 1 9 9 7

, li s t s “ T&W

Oi l Co

. ” as t he bi l l i n g n am e o n t h e acco u n t

. Th e s i gn at u re b l o ck o f t h e 1 9 9 7

ag reem en t l i s t s th e “ Co m p an y Nam e” as “ T &W Oi l .” In 2 00 7 an d 2 00 8

, Th o m p so n

an d Derb y ex ecu t ed p ers on al g u aran t i es

. Bo t h g u aran t i es i d en t ify Co l on i al as t h e

“ Ho l d er” an d T&W O i l

, I n c

. a s t h e “ Deb t o r,” an d Derb y ’ s g u aran t y p ro v i d es as

fo l l o w s :

2On t h i s th e 2 3 [rd ] d ay o f A p ri l

, 2 00 8 [,] i n co n s i d erat i o n o f an d as

i n d u cem en t fo r Co l o n i al Oi l In d u s t ri es , In c. (h erei n aft er, “ Co lo n i al ” o r

“ Ho l d er”) t o s el l p ro du ct t o T&W Oi l

, In c. (“ D eb t o r” or “ Bo rro wer”) o n

c red it o r d el ay ed p ay m en t t erm s , t o ex t en d t o Deb t o r ex i s t i n g or n e w

c r e d i t o r i n d eb t ed n es s , an d / o r t o o th erwi se as su m e a cred i t ri s k wi t h

res p ect to Deb t o r wh ereb y Deb t o r wi ll o we t o Co l o n i al m o n ey , each o f

t h e u n d ers i g n ed g u aran t ors (h erei n aft er, co l l ect i v el y an d in d i v i du al l y a

“ Gu aran t o r”) d o h ereb y

ag ree, jo in t l y

an d s ev eral l y , as fo ll o ws :

1

. Gu aran t o r h er e b y u n co n d i t i o n al l y an d ab s ol u t el y gu aran t ees to th e

Ho l d er t h e fu l l an d p ro m p t p ay m e n t

, wh en d ue, o f al l o f th e

“ Ob l i gat i o n s .” “ Ob l i g at io n s ” s h al l m ean an d in cl ud e al l in de b t ed n es s

an d l i ab i l i t y o f wh at s o ev er n at u re o f t h e Bo r r o w er t o t h e H ol d er.

. .

t o g et h er wi th a n y a n d al l co s t s an d ex p en s es o f an d i n ci den t al t o th e

co l l ect i o n an y o f t he fo reg o i n g o r t h e en fo rcem en t o f t h i s Gu aran t y , i n cl u d i n g , bu t n ot l i m it ed t o , reas o n ab l e [at t o rn ey ] fees an d co s t s an d

ex p en s es o f l i t i g at i o n g en eral l y

.

. . .

1 6

. . . . In t h e ev en t Gu aran t o r b reach es t h is G u a r a n t y , t h en Gu aran t o r

s h al l p ay t o Ho l d er al l co s t s o f t h e Ho l d er i n en fo rci n g t h i s Gu aran t y an d

co l l e c t i o n o f th e Li ab i l i t i es , i n cl ud i n g bu t n o t l i m i t ed t o reas o n ab l e
[at t o rn ey ] fees an d t he co s t s an d ex pen s es o f l i ti g at i o n

. . . .

Th o m p s o n an d Derb y are s h areh o l d ers i n Ly n ch ar, In c., an d b o th av er th at t h ey h av e

n ev er b een as s o ci at ed wi t h an en ti t y k n o w n as “ T&W Oi l , In c.”

3W h en Ly nch ar fai l ed to m eet i t s o b l i g at i o n s u n d er t h e ag r e e m e n t s , Co l o n i al

s u ed ap p el lan t s as s ert i n g cl ai m s fo r b reach o f t h e acco un t ag reem en t

, p ro m i s s o ry

e s t o p p e l

, b reach o f b o t h g u aran ti es , an d at t o rn ey fees

. Th e co m pl ai n t al l eg ed a s

fo l l o w s :

Pu rs ua n t t o an ag reem en t wi t h Defen d an t T&W Oi l an d p ers o nal

g u aran t y ag r e em en t s wi t h Defen dan t L awren ce M

. Derb y , Sr. an d

Defen d an t Ch arl es G. Th o m p s o n , J r., Pl ai n t i ff s o ld a n d d el iv ered fu el

p r o d u ct s an d o t h er go o d s t o Defen dan t T&W Oi l on acco u n t. T he

o u t s t an d i n g bal an ce o n th i s acco u n t fo r p ro d u ct so l d i s $1 ,4 0 6

, 1 9 4 .6 1

p l u s i nt eres t.

Defen d an t

. . . Derb y

. . . s i g n ed a G uaran t y Ag reem en t th ro u g h w hi ch he

b o u n d h im s el f to b e p ers on al l y l i ab l e fo r an y am o u n t s o wed Pl ai n t i ff b y

Defen d an t T&W Oi l

. . . .

Defen d an t

. . . Th o m

p s o n

. . . s i g n ed a Gu aran t y A g reem en t t h r o u g h

wh i ch h e b ou n d h i m s el f t o b e p ers o n al l y l i ab le fo r a n y am o un t s o w ed

Pl ai n t i ff b y

Defen d an t T&W Oi l

. . . .

Ap p el l an t s fi l ed an an s wer, ad m i t t i n g t h es e al l eg at i o ns , b u t di s p u t i n g th e am o u nt

o wed

. . In an am en ded an swer, ap p el l an t s l at er d en i ed t h es e al leg at i on s an d rai s ed a

n ew affi rm at i v e defen s e b as ed o n t h e St at u t e of Frau d s

. Th ereaft er, ap p el l an t s m o v ed

fo r p art i al s u m

m ary ju dg m en t o n Co l o n i al ’ s cl ai m s fo r b reach o f t he g u aran t i es an d

4at t o rn ey fees

, arg u i ng t h at t h e g u aran t i es were no t en fo rceab l e b ecau s e t h ey fai l ed to

i d en t i fy t h e co rrect p ri nci p al d eb t o r, Ly n ch ar, In c.

In th e m ean t i m e, Co l o n i al am en d ed i t s co m p l ai n t to i n cl u d e a cl ai m fo r frau d

. 1

Co l on i al al so m o v ed fo r p art i al s u m m ary j u d gm en t o n al l o f i t s rem ai ni ng cl ai m s wi th

t h e ex cep t i o n of i ts cl ai m fo r p ro m i s s o ry es t o p p el

. In s up p o rt o f i ts c o n t en t i o n t h at

s u m m ary ju d g m en t was p ro p er, Co l o n i al p o i n ted t o ap p el lan t s’ ad m i ss i o n s i n t h ei r

o ri g i nal an s wer as wel l as v ari o u s em ai l s b et ween D erb y as “ Pres i d en t o f T&W Oi l

Co m p an y ” an d Co l on i al ’ s cred i t m an ag er ev in ci n g Ly n ch ar’ s i n ab i l i t y t o s at i s fy i t s

p ay m en t o b l i gat i o n s as wel l as it s des i re t o co n t in u e d o i n g b u s i n es s wi t h Co l o n i al an d

p ay o ff i t s acco u n t “ i n fu l l .” Co l o n i al al s o p o i n t ed t o Derb y ’ s dep o s i t i o n t es t i m o ny

an d Ly nch ar’ s fed eral t ax ret u rn i n s u p p ort o f it s m o t i o n

. D u ri n g h i s d ep o s i t i o n,

Derb y co n fi rm ed t h at th e 2 0 11 fed eral t ax ret urn l i s t ed t h e co rp o rat e n am e as

“ LYNCHA R

, I NC. D/ B/ A T&W OIL COM PANY, INC.” Reg ard in g t h e g u aran t y ,

Derb y tes t ifi ed as fo l l o ws :

1 As am en d ed

, t h e co m

p l ai n t al l eg ed t h e fo l l o w i n g cl ai m s : b reach o f t h e

acco u n t ag re e m en t (co u nt I); p ro m i s s ory es t op p el (co u n t II); b reach of Derb y

g u aran ty (co u n t III); b reach o f T h o m ps o n g u aran t y (co u n t IV); frau d (co u n t V); an d

at t o rn ey fees (co u n t VI). A ft er Co l o n i al am en d ed i t s co m p l ai n t

, ap p el lan t s am en d ed

t h ei r m ot i o n fo r p art i al s um m ary ju d g m en t t o i n cl ud e Co l on i al ’ s cl ai m fo r frau d

. Th e

t ri al co u rt g ran t ed s u m

m ary ju d g m en t t o ap p el l an t s o n t h e frau d cl ai m

.

5Q: W h at was y o u r u n d ers t an d i n g o f wh at t h is d o cu m en t , t hi s g u aran t y , was

s u p p o s ed t o d o ?

A: Pers o n al g u aran t y , y o u k n o w, fo r t h e d eb t

. Q: An d wh at d o es t h at m ean ?

A: Th at I’ d b e h el d res p o n s i b le. Q: An d wh at d eb t were y o u g o i n g t o b e p ers o n al l y res p o n s ib le fo r?

A: Fro m Co l o n ial

. Q: W h o s e d eb t were y o u co v eri n g p ers on al l y ?

A: It wo ul d b e Ly n ch ar. Q: Ok ay . Ly

nch ar d o i n g b u s i n es s as – A: T&W Oi l

. Q: Ok ay . Th e d o cu m en t refers t o T&W Oi l , In c. Do y o u s ee t hat ?

A: [. . . ] Ok ay , I s ee i t n o w. Q: W h y i s t h at n am e i n t h ere?

A: I’ m n o t s u re. Q: W el l, i s t h at a co rrect n am e o f wh o s e d eb t y o u were g o i n g t o g u aran t y ?

A: No , m a’ am . W e d o n ’ t g o b y t h at n am e. Q: Ok ay . Di d y o u t el l Co l o n i al t h at t h at was n o t t h e p ro per n am e?

A: No , m a’ am

. Q: W as i t y o u r i nt en t t o d ecei v e Co l o n i al at t h at p oi n t ?

A: No m a’ am

. Q: Ok ay . So i n fact , y o u wan t ed Co l o n i al t o rel y u p o n t h i s [g u aran t y ] i n

p ro v i d in g y o u fu el p ro d u ct s ?

A: Ri g h t . Yes m a’ am

.

Derb y fu rt h er t es t ifi ed t h a t h e u n d ers t o o d t hat t h e g u aran t y h e si g n ed “ was to

g u aran ty t h e deb t o f T &W Oi l Co m p an y to Co l o n i a l Oi l ” an d t h at h e w o u l d b e

“ p ers o n al l y

res p o n si b l e” fo r t h at d eb t

.

Ap p el l an t s o bject ed t o Co l o n i al ’ s rel i an ce o n p aro l ev i d en ce t o co n s t r u e t h e

u n am b i g u o u s g u aran t i es

. Fo l l o wi n g a h eari ng on th e cro s s -m o t i o n s fo r p art i al

6s u m

m ary ju dg m en t

, t he t ri al co u rt o v erru l ed ap p el l an t s ’ o b ject i o n an d g r a n t e d

Co l on i al ’ s p art i al m o t i o n fo r s u m m ary ju dg m en t ; t h e t ri al co u rt co n tem p o ran eo u s l y

d en ied ap p el l an ts ’ part i al m o t i o n fo r s u m m ary ju d g m en t

. Th e t ri al co u rt ru l ed t h at

ap p e l l an t s ad m i t t ed t h e d eb t an d t h at Co l o n i al es tab l i s h ed a p ri m a faci e ri g h t to

ju d g m en t o n it s b reach o f co n t ract cl ai m

. Bas ed o n t h e ev i d en ce reco un t ed ab o v e, t h e

t ri al co u rt al so ru l ed t h at t h e g u aran t i es were en fo rceab le ev en t h o u g h t h ey i d en t i fi ed

t h e d eb t or as “ T&W Oi l

, In c.” i n s t ead o f “ Ly nch ar” o r “ T &W Oi l Co m p an y ” b ecau s e

Derb y an d Th o m

ps o n ad m i t ted t h e i n t e r c h an g eab le nat u re o f th e n am es an d t h at

u n d er L. Hen r

y En ter pr i ses v. V

e r i f o n e

, In c ., 27 3 Ga. Ap p

. 1 9 5 (6 14 SE2 d 8 4 1 )

(2 0 0 5), p aro l ev i d en ce was ad m i s s i b l e t o ex p l ai n am b i g u i t i es i n d es cri p t io n s

. Fi ndi n g

t h at t h e acco u n t ag reem en t an d g u aran ti es p ro v id ed fo r at t o rn ey fees

, th e t ri al co u rt

al s o g ran t ed s u m

m ary j u d gm en t t o Co l o n i al on i t s cl ai m fo r at to rn ey fees

. In i t s o rd er,

t h e tri al co u rt res erv ed fo r l at er d et e r m i n a t i o n t he i s s u e o f d am ag es

. Ap p el l an t s

ap p eal t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s ru l i n g s as t o Co l on i al ’ s cl ai m s fo r b reach o f t h e g u aran t i es an d

at t o rn ey fees

. 2

2 Ap pel l an t s h av e n ot ap p eal ed t h e t ri al co urt ’ s g ran t o f s um m ary ju d g m en t to
Co l on i al o n i ts cl ai m

fo r b reach o f t he acco u n t ag reem en t.

71

. In fi v e s o m ewh at o v erl ap p i n g en u m erat i o n s , ap pel l an t s co n t en d t h at t h e t ri al

co u rt erred i n g ran t i n g p art i al s u m m ary t o Co l o n i al o n t h e g u aran t i es b ecau s e (1 ) t h e

g u aran ti es are un am

b i gu o u s an d (2 ) p aro l ev id en ce i s n o t ad m i s s i b l e t o i n t erp ret an

u n am b i g u o u s co n t ract

. Acco rd in g t o ap p el l an t s , th e g u aran ti es i d en t i fy t h e p ri n ci p al

d eb to r as “ T &W O i l

, In c.,” wh i ch i s n o t a l eg al l y ex i s t i n g en t i ty

. Ap p el l an t s co n t en d

t h at t h e g u aran ti es here are i den t i cal t o t h e o n e i n Pl a y N a t i o n Pl a y S ys t ems v.

Ja cks o n , 3 12 Ga. Ap p . 3 4 0 (7 18 SE2 d 5 68 ) (2 0 1 1), wh i ch we fo u n d u n en fo rceab l e

b ecau s e it fai led t o referen ce th e co rp o rat e d eb t o r. Ap p el lan t s as s ert t h at Pl a yNa t i o n

req u i res t h at we rev ers e t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s o rd er. Co l o ni al d i s a g r e e s , co nt en d i n g t h at

Pl a yNa t i o n i s d i s t i n g u is h ab l e an d t h at t h i s cas e i s co n t ro l l ed b y L. Hen r y , s u p ra. W e

ag ree wi t h ap p el l an t s

.

“ Th e co n t ract o f s u ret y s h i p o r g u aran t y is o n e wh ereb y a p ers o n o b l i g at es

h i m s el f t o p ay t h e d eb t o f an o t h er.

. . . “ OCGA § 1 0-7 -1

. M o r e o v e r , “ [a] p ers o n al

co n tract o f g u aran t y m

u s t b e i n wri t i n g an d m

u s t s at i s fy al l o f t h e req u i s i t e s o f t h e

[S] tat u t e o f [F] rau d s , OCGA § 1 3 -5 -3 0 (2 ).” S ys co Fo o d S

vcs

. v. Co l ema n , 2 2 7 Ga.

Ap p

. 4 6 0

, 4 6 1 (4 8 9 S E2 d 5 6 8 ) (1 9 9 7 ). As w e rei t erat ed i n Co m mu n it y Ma g a z i ne ,

s u p ra,

8u n d er t h e St at u t e o f Frau d s an d cas es ap p ly i n g t h e St at u t e, a p ro m i s e t o

an s wer fo r an o t h er’ s d eb t i s o n l y en fo rceab l e ag ai n st t h e p ro m i s o r i f i t

i d en ti fi es t h e d eb t

, t h e p ri n ci p al d eb t o r, t he p ro m is o r, an d t h e pro m i s ee.

I t i s wel l s et t l ed t h at a g u aran t y m us t i d en t i fy t h e p ri n ci p al d eb t o r b y

n am e. If a g u aran t y o m i t s t h e n am e o f t h e p ri n ci p al deb t o r, o f th e

p ro m i s ee, o r o f t h e p ro m i s o r, t h e g u aran ty i s u nen fo rceab l e as a m at t er

o f l aw. Ev en wh ere t h e i n t en t o f t h e p art i es i s m an i fes t l y o b v io u s , wh ere

an y of t h es e n am es i s o m i t t ed fro m t h e d o cu m en t, t h e ag reem en t is n o t

en fo rceab l e b ecau s e i t f

ai l s t o s at i s fy t h e St at u t e o f Frau d s

. M o reo v er,

a co u rt m u s t s t ri ct ly co n s tru e an al l eg ed g u aran t y co n t ract i n fav o r of th e

g u aran t o r. T h e g uaran t o r’ s l i ab i l it y m ay n o t b e ex t en d ed by i m p l i cat i o n

o r i n t erp ret at i o n

. An d p aro l ev i d en ce i s n o t ad m i s s ib l e t o s up p ly an y

m i s s i n g es s en t i al el em en t s o f a co n t ract req u i red t o be i n wri t in g b y o u r

St at u t e o f Frau d s

. Th u s , t h i s Co u rt i s n ot au th o ri zed t o d et erm i n e th e

i d en ti t y o f t h e p r i n ci p al d eb t o r, o f t h e p ro m i see, o r of t h e p ro m i s o r b y

i n feren ce as t h is wo u ld en t ai l co n s i d erat i o n o f i m perm is s i b l e p aro l

ev i d en ce.

(Pu n ct u at i on an d fo o tn o t es o m i t t ed .) 3 2 6 Ga. Ap p

. at 3 3 2 (1 ). S e e L eg acy

Co mmu n i t i es Gr o u

p v. Br a n ch Ba n ki n g & Tr u s t

, 3 1 6 Ga. Ap p

. 4 9 6, 4 9 7 (7 2 9 SE2 d

6 1 2 ) (2 0 1 2 ) (“ It i s wel l s et t l ed t h at a g u aran ty m u s t i d en t i fy

t h e p ri n ci p al d eb t o r b

y

n a me. ” ) (em ph as i s i n o ri g i n al ). See al s o Bu i ld er ’s S u p p l y Co r p

. v

. T a yl o r , 1 6 4 Ga.

Ap p

. 1 2 7

, 1 2 8 (2 9 6 SE2 d 41 7 ) (1 9 82 ) (g u aran ty wh i ch o m i t te d n am e o f p ri n ci p al

d eb to r, b u t wh i ch defen d an t s ad m i t t ed t o ex ecu t i n g , d i d n ot s at i s fy th e St at u t e o f

9Frau d s an d was , t h erefo re, u n en fo rceab l e; paro l ev i d en ce i n ad m i s si b l e t o “ s u p p l y

. .

. d e s cri p ti o n wh i ch i s en t i rel y wan ti n g i n t h e wri t i n g”) (ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at i o n

o m it t ed ).

In Pl a yNa t i o n , t h e o wn er o f Th e Bo tt o m Li n e, a l i m it ed l i ab i l i t y co rp o rat i o n,

i n t h e b u s i n es s o f s e l l i n g an d i ns t al li n g ch i l d ren ’ s s wi n g s et s , en t ered i n t o a

d eal ers h i p ag reem en t wi t h a s wi n g set m an u fact u rer. On e m o n t h aft er s ig n i n g t h e

ag reem en t

, t h e o w n e r s i g n ed a g uaran ty fo r th e d eb ts o f “ Swi ng Set Pl an et .” Th e

g u aran ty n am ed o n l y “ Swi n g Set Pl an et ,” Th e Bo t t o m Li n e’ s fi ct i t i o u s n am e o r d / b / a

d es i g n at i o n , wi t h o u t an y refer e n c e t o T h e Bo t t o m Li n e o r o t h er l eg al en t i t y i t was

d es cri b i ng

. Th e o w n er s u b s eq u en t l y ch an g ed Th e B o t t o m Li n e’ s fi ct i t i o us n am e to

“ Pl ay N at i o n Part i es an d Pl ay g r o u n d s ” an d t h en fai l ed t o m ak e p ay m en t s o n

o u t s t an d i n g i n v oi ces

. Th e m an u fact u rer s u ed fo r b reach o f t h e g u aran ty an d t h e t ri al

co u rt g ran t ed t he o wn er’ s m o t i on fo r s u m m ary ju dg m en t

, ru l i n g th at he co u l d n o t b e

h el d res p o n s i b l e fo r t h e d eb t o f Pl ay Nat i o n Part i e s b ecau s e t h e d eb t o r l i s t ed o n t h e

g u aran ty was Swi n g Set Pl an et

. W e affi rm ed

, reject i ng t h e m an u fact u rer’ s arg u m en t

t h at t h e o wn er p ro m i s ed t o p ay t h e d eb t s o f Th e Bo t t o m Li n e , an d fi n di n g t h at t h e

g u aran ty n am ed o n l y t h e fi ct it i ou s n am e o r d / b / a d es i gn at i o n , wi t h o u t an y referen ce

t o a co rp o rat i o n o r o th er l eg al e n t i t y

. Becau s e t h e g u aran t y n am ed o n l y Swi n g Set

10Pl an et

, we co n cl u d ed t h at th e o wn er was , t h erefo re, n o t o b l i g at ed t o g u aran t ee t h e

d eb t o f Th e Bo t t o m Li n e or Pl ay Nat i o n Part i es : “ To h ol d o t h erwi s e wo u l d ex t en d a

g u aran to r’ s l i ab il i t y b y i m p l i cat i o n o r i n terp ret at i o n

– an act fo rb i dd en to th e co u rt s .”

Pl a yNa t i o n , s u p ra, 3 1 2 Ga. Ap p

. at 3 4 2

. Co m p are Amer i ca n Exp r es s Tr a vel Rel a t ed

S vcs

. v. Ber l

ye , 2 0 2 Ga. Ap p. 3 5 8

, 3 6 0 (1 ) (4 1 4 SE2 d 4 9 9) (1 9 9 1 ) (g u aran t y

en fo rceab l e w h ere ch an ge i n d/ b / a d es i g n at io n di d n o t al t er fact t h at gu aran t y n am ed

t h e co rp o rat io n as t h e ag en t ).

W e f i n d t h e rat i o n al e i n Pl ayNa t i o n t o b e d i s po s it i ve o f t h e i s s u e h ere. In

Pl a yNa t i o n , th e g u aran t y was u n en fo rceab l e n o t b ecau s e t he d / b / a n am e ch an g ed

, b ut

b ecau s e t h e g u aran t y fai l ed t o d es i g n at e th e co rp o rat e d eb t o r. In th i s cas e, as in

Pl a yNa t i o n , t h e g u aran t ies d o n o t referen ce t h e co rp o rat e d e b t o r, b u t

, rat h er,

referen ce Ly

n ch ar’ s d / b / a d es ig n at io n , T&W Oi l

, In c. “ Th e u s e o f d / b / a o r ‘ d o i n g

b u s i n es s as ’ t o as s o ci at e a t rad en am e wi th t he co rp orat i o n u s i n g i t do es n o t creat e a

l eg al en t i t y sep arat e fro m t he co rp o rat io n b u t i s m erel y d es cri p t iv e o f t h e

co rp o rat i o n.” Ber l

ye , s u pra, 2 0 2 Ga. Ap p

. at 3 6 0 (1 ). W e d i d n o t fi n d an y am b i g u i t y

i n th e d efect at i s s ue i n Pl a yNa t i o n , an d we fi n d si m i l arl y i n th is cas e. W here a d efect

can n ot b e t reat ed as an am b ig u i t y , ju d i ci al co n s t ru ct i o n o f t h e co n t ract o f g u aran t y i s

i m p ro p er an d p aro l ev i d en ce i s i n a d m is s i b l e t o cu re t h e d efect

. See S ys co Fo o d

,

11s u p ra, 2 2 7 Ga. Ap p

. at 4 6 2

. St ri ct l y co n st ru i n g t h e g u aran t i es h ere, we can n ot

co n cl u d e t hat D erb y an d Th o m p s o n were ob l i g at ed to g u aran t ee t h e deb t o f t h e

co rp o rat i o n, Ly

n ch ar, In c. A cco rd i n g l y , t h e t ri al co u r t erred i n g ran t i n g s u m m ary

ju d g m en t t o Co l o ni al o n i t s cl ai m s u n d er t he g u aran ti es

.

Co l o n i al ’ s as s ert i o n th at t h e g u aran t ies h ere are am bi g u o u s an d t h at L. Hen r

y ,

s u p ra, an d n o t Pl a

yNa t i o n , co n t ro l s t h i s cas e i s i n co rrect

. In L. Hen r y , t h e co rp o rat e

m ak er’ s n am e o n t h e n o t e an d g u aran t y d i ffered sl i g h t ly an d we affi rm ed t h e t ri al

co u rt ’ s co n s i d erat i o n o f p aro l ev i d en ce t o ex p lai n t h e am b i g u i t y

. Becau s e t h e

d efen d an t i n L. Hen ry si g ned t h e g u aran t y co n t em p o ran eo u s l y wi t h a n o te wh i ch h ad

t h e co rre c t c or

por a te na m e, o u r d eci s i o n was b as ed on t h e “ co n t em p o ran eo u s wri t i n g ”

ru l e. L. Hen r

y , s up ra, 2 73 Ga. Ap p

. at 1 98 (2 ). See OCGA § 2 4 -3 -3 (a). See al s o Du ke

v. KHD Deu tz o

f Amer i ca Co r

p. , 2 2 1 Ga. A pp

. 45 2 (4 7 1 SE2 d 5 3 7 ) ( 1 9 9 6 ) (wh ere

g u aran ty was ex ecu t ed at th e s am e t i m e an d i n th e co u rs e o f t h e sam e t ran s act i o n as

a l oan an d s ecu ri t y ag reem en t an d a s t o c k p l e d g e ag reem en t

, t h e t hree d o cu m en t s

co u ld b e read an d co n st ru ed t o g et h er u n d er t h e co n t em po ran eo u s wri ti n g ru le, OCGA

§ 2 4 -3 -3 (a), fo rm erl y OCGA § 2 4 -6 -3 (a), t o d et erm i ne t h e i d en ti t y o f t he p ri n ci p al

d eb to r). Becau s e t h e acco u n t ag reem en t i n t h i s cas e h ad b een i n effect y ears b efo re

12t h e g uaran t i es were ex ecu t ed

, t h e “ co n t em p o ran eo u s wri t i n g” ru l e d oes n o t ap p l y an d

L. Hen r y i s i n ap p o s i t e.

2

. Rel y i ng o n Ci tr u s To wer Bo u l eva r d Ima g i n g Cen t er v. Owen s , 3 2 5 Ga. Ap p.

1 (7 5 2 SE2 d 7 4) (2 0 1 3 ), a p p e l l a n t s co n ten d i n t hei r t h i rd en u m erat io n o f erro r t h at

t h e t ri al co urt erred i n co ns i d eri n g t h ei r wi t h d rawn ad m i s si on s

. W e ag ree.

O C G A § 2 4 -8 -8 2 1 p ro v i d es th at “ [w] i t h o u t o fferi n g th e s am e i n ev i d en c e ,

ei t h er part y m ay av ai l h i m s el f o r h ers el f of al l eg at i o n s o r a d m i s s i o n s m ad e i n t h e

p l ead i n g s o f t h e o th er.”

Un d er OCGA § [2 4 -8 -8 2 1

, fo rm erl y 2 4 -3 -3 0 ]

, ad m is si o n s i n ju d i ci o i n

a p art y ’ s p l e a d i n g s b i n d t h e p art y s o t h at t hey can n o t p u t u p ev i d en ce

o v er o b ject i o n t o co n trad i ct s u ch ad m i s s io n s

. Ho wev er, i f t h e p art y

am en d s i t s p l ead i n g s t o w i t h draw t h e ad m i s s io n s , it m ay t h en in t ro d u ce

ev i d en ce co n t rav en in g t h e ad m i ss i o ns

. If su ch co n t rad i ct o ry ev i d en ce i s

ad m i t t ed

, ev en ov er t h e o b ject i on o f t h e o th er p art y , t hen u n d er OCGA

§ 9 -1 1 -1 5 (b ), s u ch ev i den ce m ay b e d eem ed t o am en d t h e p l ead i n g s t o

wi t h draw t h e ad m i s s i o n s.

(Pu n ct u at i on an d fo o t n o t es o m i t t ed .) S A KS As s o c. v. S

o u t h ea s t Cu l ver t

, 2 8 2 Ga. Ap p.

3 5 9

, 3 6 4 (2 ) (6 3 8 SE2 d 7 99 ) (2 0 0 6 ). “ Ev en s o , t h e o t h er p a r t y m a y r e l y o n t h e

o ri g i nal ad m i s s i o n as ev i d en ce.” Ci t r u s To wer , s u p ra, 3 2 5 Ga. Ap p. at 4 (1 ). As we

n o t ed i n Ci t r u s To wer ,

13[i ] n o t h er wo rd s , al t h ou g h a p art y m ay wi th d raw o r s t ri ke fro m th e

p l ead i n g s an ad m i s si o n in ju di ci o by am en dm en t an d t en d er ev id en ce t o

co n t rav en e su ch ad m i s s i o n , t h e o p p os i t e p art y can t en d er i n ev i d en ce th e

o ri g in al ad m i s si o n in ju d i ci o ag ai n s t s u ch p art y as an ad m i s s i o n ag ai n s t

i n t eres t . Ev en aft er i t s wi t h d rawal

, an o p p o si n g part y u n d en i ab l y

h as a

ri gh t t o u se i t as ev i d en ce.

(Pu n ct u at i on an d fo o t n o t e o m i tt ed .) Id

. Ci t r u s To wer m ak es i t cl ear, h o wev er, t h at

an ad m i s s i o n i n ju d i ci o ap p l i es o n l y t o t h e ad m i s s i o n o f fact an d d o es

n o t ap p ly wh ere t h e ad m i s s i o n i s m erel y t h e op i n i on or co n cl u s i o n of th e

p l ead er as t o l aw o r fact

. Th u s , wh ere t h e ad m i s s i o n i s s i m p l y an o p i n i o n

o n t he p art o f t h e p ar t y m a k i n g i t as t o t h e leg al effect of a p ap er, th e

wi t h drawn ad m is s i o n i s n o t a fact t h at can b e t ak en ad v an t ag e o f b y th e

o p p o s i ng p art y

.

(Pu n ct u at i on an d fo o t n o t es o m i t t ed .) Id

.

Here, Co l o ni al arg u ed

, an d t h e t ri al co u rt ag reed

, th at Co lo n i al was en t i t l ed to

reco v er u n d er t h e g u aran t i es b ecau s e bo t h Derb y an d T h o m p so n ad m i t t ed i n t h e

o ri g i nal an s wer t o en t eri ng i nt o p ers o n al gu aran t i e s w i t h Co l o n i al m ak i n g t h em

p e r s o n a l ly l i ab le fo r an y am o u n t s o wed Co l o n i al b y “ T &W Oi l .” Ap p el l an t s

s u b s eq u en t l y w i t hd rew th i s an s wer, h o wev er, an d ad m i t t e d t h at “ Co l o n i al h ad an

ag reem en t wi t h

, an d s o l d an d d el i v ered fu el p ro d u ct s an d o t h er g o o d s t o , Defen d an t

Ly n ch ar, In c. d / b/ a T&W Oi l Co m p an y o n acco u n t.” Ap p el l an t s d en i ed th e am o u nt

14o wed an d al s o d en i ed t h at Derb y an d Th om p s on “ s i g n ed

. . . Gu aran ty Ag reem en t [s ]

t h ro u g h wh i ch [t hey ] bo u n d [t h em s el v es ] t o b e p ers o n al l y l i ab l e fo r an y am o u n t s

o wed Pl ai n t i ff b y Defen d an t T&W Oi l .” Ap p el l an t s u rg e u s t o fo l l o w o u r reas o n i n g

i n Ci t ru s To wer an d fi n d t h at t he wi t h d rawn ad m i s s i o n s g o t o t h e l eg al effect o f t h e

g u aran ti es

– n o t t o an y fact u al i ss u e

– wh i ch Co l o n i al can n o t u s e t o it s ad v an t ag e. W e

ag ree t h at Ci t r u s To wer co n t ro l s t h e i s s u e h ere.

In Ci t r us To wer , t h e p l ai n t iff su ed fo r b reach o f a l eas e an d s o u g h t t o reco v er

ag ai n s t t h e d efen d an t i n hi s p ers o n al cap aci ty to reco v er ren t an d o th er am o u n t s u n d er

a g u aran ty s i g n ed b y th e d efen dan t

. Th e defen d an t ad m i t t ed i n h i s ori g i n al an s wer to

ex ecu t i n g th e g u aran t y wh ereb y h e g u aran t eed p ay m en t o f al l s u m s o wi n g u n d er a

l eas e. In an am en d ed an s wer, t h e d efen d an t l at er d en i ed t h o s e al l eg at i o n s . Th e t ri al

co u rt gran t ed s um m ary ju dg m en t t o th e d efen d an t, p res u m ab l y fi n d i n g t h at t h e

d efen d an t h ad ex ecu t ed t h e g u aran t y as a rep res en t at iv e of h i s p ro fes s i o n al

co rp o rat i o n an d n o t i n h i s p ers o nal c ap aci t y

. Th i s Co u rt affi rm ed

, fi n d i n g t h at

“ [d efe n d a n t ’s ] ad m i s s i o n t hat he ‘ ex ecu t ed ’ th e Gu aran t y m ay d em o n s trat e t h at h e

s i gn ed t h e Gu aran t y , b u t t hat fact i s u n d i s p u t ed an d i n i t s el f d o es n o t creat e a g en u i n e

i s su e of m at eri al fact as t o wh et h er [d efen d an t ] was p ers o n al l y b o u n d b y i t .” Ci t r u s

To wer , s u p ra 3 2 5 Ga. Ap p

. at 5 (1 ). Si m i l arl y , i n t hi s cas e, t h e t r i a l co u rt erred in

15rel y i n g on t h e wi t h d rawn ad m i s s i o n s b ecau se t h o s e a d m i s si o n s wen t t o t h e l eg al

effect o f t h e g u aran t i es an d were n o t ev i den ce o f wh et h er th e wri t ten g u aran ti es

co m p l ied wi t h t h e St at u te o f Frau d s o r t h e req u i rem en t th at t h e deb t o r b e i den t i fi ed

.

3

. Fi n al l y , ap p el l an t s co n t en d t h at b ecau s e t h e g u aran t i es are u nen fo rceab l e,

t h e t ri al co u rt erre d i n g ran ti n g s u m m ary ju d g m en t t o Co l o ni al o n i t s cl ai m fo r

at t o rn ey fees

. Gi ven o u r fi n d in g t h at t h e gu aran t i es are u n en fo rceab l e, i t fo l l o ws t h at

t h e t ri al co u rt e rred i n g ran ti n g s u m m ary ju d g m en t t o Co l o ni al o n i t s cl ai m fo r

at t o rn ey fees u nd er t h e g u aran ti es

. 3

Gi v en t he fo reg o i n g , we co n cl u d e t hat t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n g ran t i n g

Co l on i al ’ s m o t i on fo r p art i al s u m m ary ju d g m en t o n co u n t s III, IV, an d VI, an d i n

d en y i n g ap p el l an t s ’ m o t io n fo r p art i al s u m m ary ju d g m en t o n t h o s e s am e co u n t s

.

Ju d g men t r ever sed . Di l l a r d

, P. J., a n d

Ra y, J., co n cu r

.

3 W e ren d er n o o pi n i o n as t o wh et h er Co lo n i al i s en t i t led t o at to rn ey fees u n d er

an y o t h er t h eo ry

o r cl ai m fo r rel i ef.

16