FOURTH D I VI SI ON

DI L LA RD, P. J.

, M A RKLE, J.

, and SENI OR A PPELLA TE JUDGE PHI PPS

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.

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. ga a ppe a ls .us /r ule s

June 23, 2022



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A2 2 A0 53 1 . M cDONALD & CODY v . STATE OF GEORGIA.

P H I P P S , Sen i o r Ap p el l at e J u d g e.

In t h i s fo rfei t u re cas e, l aw fi rm M cDo n al d & Co d y ap p eal s fro m a t ri al co u rt

o rd er fi n di n g t hat t h e fi rm an d at t orn ey s Sam

Sl ig er an d St ev e M ap l es d id n o t h av e

a v a l i d a n d en fo rceab l e at t o rn ey s ’ l i en as a m at t er of l aw u n d er O CGA § 1 5 -1 9 -1 4

(c). 1 On ap p eal , M cDo n al d & Co d y co nt en d s t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred b y (a) s et t i n g

as i d e a pri o r o rd er d i sm i s s i n g t h e u n d erl y i n g fo rfei t u re co m p l ai n t en t ered on J u n e 2 4,

2 0 1 9

, an d (b ) fi nd i n g t h at M cDo n al d & Co d y , Sl i ger, an d M ap les h ad no v al i d an d

en fo rceab l e at t o rn ey s ’ l i en as t o t h e p ro p ert y t h a t w a s t h e s u b ject o f th e fo rfei t u re

act i on . Fo r t he fo ll o wi ng reas o n s , we rev ers e.

1 Al t h ou gh M cDo nal d & Co d y , Sl i g er, an d M ap l es fi led a “ n ot ice o f at t o rn ey s ’

l i en ” t og et h er, o n l y

M cDo n al d & Co d y ap p eal s fro m t he t ri al co u rt ’ s o rd er.In No v em b er 2 0 1 8, t h e St at e fi l ed a co m p l ai n t fo r fo rfei t u re b as ed o n al l eg ed

v i o l at i o n s o f t h e Geo rg i a Co nt ro l l ed Su bs t an ces A ct by J i g n es h k u m ar Pat el an d h i s

wi fe To ral Pat el (t h e “ Pat el s”). Th e co m p l ai n t fo r fo rfei t u re l i s ted a n u m b er o f b an k

acco u n t s b el o n g i n g t o t h e Pat el s t h at t h e St at e h ad s ei zed i n Sep t em b er an d Oct o b er

2 0 1 8

. Th e Pat el s h i red M cDo n al d & Co d y t o res o l v e al l cl ai m s rel at i ng t o th e s ei zed

acco u n t s an d s i g n e d c o n t in gen cy fee ag reem en t s i n Feb ru ary 2 0 1 9

. Sl i g er, wh o

wo rk ed at M cDo n al d & Co d y , rep res en t ed t h e Pat el s i n b o t h t h e ci v il fo rfei t u re cas e

an d t h e u n d erl y i ng cri m i n al cas e. M ap l es al s o rep res en t ed J i g n es h k u m ar Pat el i n t h e

ci v i l fo rfei tu re cas e. In ad d i t i o n , at t o rn ey St ev en Sad o w rep res en t ed J i g n es h k u m ar

Pat el i n b o th t he ci vi l cas e an d t h e u n d erl y i ng cri m i n al cas e.

M cDo n al d & Co d y fi l ed an s wers on beh al f o f t h e Pat el s in t h e fo rfei t u re act i o n,

s eek i n g , i n ter al ia, t h e ret u rn of t h e s ei zed p ro pert y

. Th en , M cDo n al d & Co d y m o v ed

t o d i s m i s s t h e fo rfei t u re co m pl ai n t b as ed o n th e St at e’ s fai l u re t o s ch ed ul e an d b eg in

a ben ch t ri al wi t h i n 6 0 d ay s aft er t h e l as t cl ai m an t w as s erv ed wi th t h e co m p l ai n t as

req u i red b y OCGA § 9

- 1 6

- 12 (f). 2 Map l es fi led a bri ef i n s u p p o rt o f t h e m o t i o n to

2 OCGA § 9 -1 6 -1 2 (f) p ro v i d es , i n p ert i n en t part : “ If an an s wer i s fi l ed

, a b en ch

t ri al sh al l b e h el d wi t h i n 6 0 d ay s aft er t h e las t cl ai m a n t w as s erv ed wi t h t h e

co m p l ai n t ; p ro v i d ed

, h owev er, t h at s u ch t ri al m ay b e co n t in u ed b y t h e co u rt fo r g o o d

cau s e s h own .”

2d i s m i s s

. A ft er a heari n g , t h e t ri al co u rt d i s m i s s ed t h e St at e’ s co m p l ai n t

. At t h e s am e

h eari n g , aft er t h e t ri al co u rt an n o u nced i t s d eci s io n t o d i sm i s s t h e co m p l ai n t

, Sl i g er

as k ed w h et h er t he St at e was req u i red t o ret u rn t he p r o p e r t y o r p o s t a s u p ers ed eas

b o nd

. Th e tri al co u rt ’ s J u n e 2 4

, 2 0 1 9 wri t t en o rd er d i s m i ss i n g t h e co m p l ai n t

co n cl u d ed as fo l l o ws :

It i s t h erefo re t h e o rd er o f t h e co u rt t h at t he cl ai m an t s ’ m o ti o n t o d i s m i s s

t h e co m pl ai n t fo r fo rfei t u re b e g ran ted

. It i s fu rt h er th e o rd er o f t he co u rt

t h at t h e as s et s h el d b y t he St at e be p a id i n t o t h e reg i s t ry o f t h e co u rt

u n t i l s u ch t im e as t h e d ead l i ne fo r ap p eal h as ex p i red o r t h i s ju d g m en t

h as been affi rm ed

. Up o n s at i s fact i o n o f t h e afo rem en t i on ed co n di t i o n s

p r eced en t

, al l o f t h e p ro p ert y d es cri b ed an d l i s t ed i n t h e co m p lai n t f o r

fo rfei t u re s hal l b e ret u rn ed t o t h e cl ai m an t s

.

(Cap it al i zat io n o m i t t ed .)

Aft er o b t ai n i n g a cert i fi cat e o f i m m ed i at e rev i ew, t h e St at e fi led an ap p l i cat i o n

fo r i n t erl o cu t o ry ap peal

, wh i ch we gran t ed o n t h e b as i s t h at “ th e t ri al co urt ’ s J u n e 2 4

o rd er i s a fi n al o rd er t h at d i s m is s ed t h e co m p l ai n t an d an n o u n ced t h e ret u rn o f al l o f

t h e p ro p ert y id en t i fi ed i n t h e co m p l ai n t t o [t h e Pat el s ]

, p en d i n g an y ap p eal

. ” Cas e No

.

3A1 9 I0 2 8 4

. 3 Th e S t a t e ’s en s u i n g ap p eal was d o ck et ed i n t h i s Co u rt as Cas e No

.

A2 0 A0 35 1

.

W h i l e th e St at e’ s ap p eal o f th e J u n e 2 4

, 2 01 9 o rd er was p en di n g , J i g n es h k u m ar

Pat el en tered i n to a p l ea ag reem en t

, wh i ch was n eg o t i at ed wi t h t he St at e b y Sad o w,

t o res o l v e h i s cri m in al cas e. Un d e r t h e t e r m s o f th e p l ea ag reem en t

, J i g n es h k u m ar

Pat el en t ered an Al

f o r d 4 p l e a t o a s i n g l e co u n t o f v i o l at i n g t h e Geo rg i a Rack et eer

In fl uen ced an d Co rru p t Org an i zat i o n s Act (“ Geo rg i a RICO Act ”) an d was g i v en an

ei g h t -y ear p ro b at ed s en t en ce. As p art o f t h e p l ea ag reem en t

, t h e Pat el s ag reed to

fo rfei t th e as s et s i n t h e fo rfei t u re co m p l ai n t

, an d th e St at e ag reed t o u n freeze cert ai n

b an k acco u n t s an d t o d i s m i s s al l ch arg es ag ai ns t To ral Pat el

. Th ereaft er, o n M ay 2 1,

2 0 2 0

, t h e Pat el s wi t h d rew t h ei r an s w ers i n t he fo rfei t ure cas e an d co n s en t ed to

fo rfei t u re o f al l o f t h e as s et s i n th e fo rfei t u re co m p l ai nt

. Th e nex t d ay , th e St at e fi l ed

a m o t i o n i n t h i s Co u rt t o wi t h d raw i t s ap p eal i n Cas e No

. A2 0 A0 3 5 1

, wh i ch we

g ran t ed o n M ay

2 9

, 2 0 20

.

3 Th e St at e al s o fi l ed an ap p l i cat io n fo r d i s cret i o n ary ap p e a l

, wh i ch we d i s m i s s ed as s u p erfl u o u s . Cas e No . A2 0 D0 01 2

.

4 No r t h Ca r o l i na v. Al

f o r d , 4 0 0 U. S. 2 5 (9 1 SCt 1 6 0 , 2 7 LE2 d 1 6 2 ) (1 9 7 0).

4On M ay 2 6

, 2 0 2 0

, McDo n al d & Co d y , Sl i g er, an d M a p l e s f i l e d a “ n o t i ce o f

at t o rn ey s ’ l i en ” an d a “ m o t i o n t o v acat e t h e wi t h d rawal of cl ai m an t s ’ an s wers an d

co n sen t s t o fo rfei t u re fo r t h e p u rp o s e o f p ro s ecu t i n g t h e at t o rn ey s ’ co n t i n g en cy fee

co n tract ” i n t h e ci v i l fo rfei t ure cas e. Th ereaft er, t h e St at e fi l ed a m o t io n to s et as i d e

t h e ju d g m en t d i s m i ss i n g t h e fo rfei t u re co m p l ai n t en tered o n J u n e 2 4

, 2 0 1 9.

M cDo n al d & Co d y , Sl i g er, an d M ap l es o p p o s ed t he St at e’ s m o t i on t o s et as i d e. On

Decem b er 8

, 2 0 2 0, t h e tri al co u rt en t ered two o rd ers — o n e g ran t i n g t h e St at e’ s

m o ti o n t o set as i d e t h e J u ne 2 4

, 2 0 1 9 ju d g m en t

, a n d t h e ot h er d en y i n g t he “ m o t i o n

t o v acat e t h e wi t h drawal o f cl ai m an t s ’ an s wers an d co n s en t s t o fo rfei t u re fo r t h e

p u rp os e o f pro s ecu t in g t h e at t o rn ey s ’ co nt i n g en cy fee co n t ract .” In th e o rd er g ran t i n g

t h e St at e’ s m o t i on t o s et as i de t h e ju d g m en t en t ered o n J un e 2 4

, 2 0 1 9

, t he t ri al co u rt

d i rect ed th e p art i es t o b ri ef t h e c o u r t “ o n w h et h er t he at t o rn ey [s ’ ] l i en fi l ed u n d er

OCGA § 1 5 -1 9 -1 4 i s v al i d an d en fo rceab l e.” Fo l l o wi n g b ri efi n g , t h e t r i al co u rt

e n t ered an o rd er on Sep t em b er 1

, 2 0 21

, fi n d i n g t h at t h ere was n o v a l i d a n d

en fo rceab l e at t o rn ey s ’ l ien . Th i s ap p eal fo l l o w ed

.

1

. M cDo n al d & Co d y c o n t e n ds t h at t he t ri al co u rt erred in s et t i n g as i d e t h e

fi nal j u d gm en t en t ered o n J u n e 2 4 , 2 01 9 . W e ag ree.

5“ A t ri al co u rt ’ s d eci s i o n reg ard i n g a m o ti o n t o s et as i d e a ju d g m en t wi l l n o t b e

rev ers ed ab s en t a s ho wi n g o f m an ifes t a b u s e o f d i s cret i o n

. ” W i l l i a ms v.

Co n t emp o r a r

y S vcs . Co rp

. , 3 2 5 Ga. Ap p . 2 99 , 3 0 0 (7 5 0 SE2 d 4 6 0 ) (2 0 1 3 ).

Here, t h e St at e m ov ed t o s et as id e th e Ju n e 2 4

, 2 0 1 9 j u d g m e n t u n d er OCGA

§ 9 -1 1 -6 0 (d ) (2 ), w h ich p ro v i d es : “ A m o t i o n t o s et as id e m ay b e b ro ug h t t o s et as i d e

a ju d g m en t b as ed u p o n

. . . [f] rau d

, acc i d e n t

, o r m i s t ak e o r t h e act s of th e ad v ers e

p art y u n m i x ed wi t h t h e n eg l i gen ce o r fau l t o f t h e m o v an t

. ” Th e St at e arg u ed t h at t h e

Pat el s ’ act s o f wi t h d rawi n g t h ei r an s wers an d c o n s en t in g t o t h e fo rfei tu re o f t h e

p ro p ert y o n M ay 21

, 2 0 20

, fel l “ s q u arel y w i t hi n t h e act s co n t em p l at ed b y OCGA §

9 -1 1 -6 0 (d ) (2 ), as a ct

s o f t h e a d ver s e p a r ty u n m i

xed wi t h an

y n eg l i g en ce o r f

a u l t of

t h e mo va n t

. ” (Em

p h as i s i n o ri g i nal .) Th e t ri al co u rt g ran ted t h e St at e’ s m o t i o n,

ex p lai n i n g t h at t h e Pat el s , “ t he ad v ers e part i es , w i s h t o w i t h d raw t h ei r an s wer an d

fo reg o an y cl ai m

t o t h e fo rfei t ed fu n d s as p art o f t h ei r n eg o t i at ed p lea ag reem en t in

t h e co m p a n i o n cri m i nal cas e” an d t h at “ [t ] h e St at e, t he m o vi n g p art y , h as n o t b een

n eg li g e n t [ ]o r

. . . s h o wn an y fau l t [,] ” wh i ch “ pro v i des t h e n eces s ary b as i s fo r t h e

[co u rt ] t o set as i d e” th e J un e 2 4

, 2 0 1 9 ju d g m en t

. Th e t ri al co u rt reas o n ed t h at

“ [s ] et t in g as i de t h e p rev io u s ord er wo u l d al l o w t h e part i es to en fo rce a co m p ro m i s e

6t h at t h ey each neg o t i at ed at arm ’ s l en g th

, an d w o u l d p r o m o t e t h e ad m i n i st rat i o n o f

ju s t ice, n o t o b s cu re i t .”

To d eci d e wh et h er a t ri al co u rt p ro p erl y s et as i d e a ju dg m en t u n der OCGA §

9 -1 1 -6 0 (d ) (2 ), we m

u st fi rs t det erm i n e wh et her t hat ju d g m en t w as bas ed u p o n frau d,

acci den t

, m i s t ak e, o r t h e act s o f t h e ad v ers e p art y

. Pr i n ci p a l Li en S

vcs

., LLC v. NAH

Co r p

. , 34 6 Ga. Ap p

. 2 7 7

, 2 8 2 -2 8 3 (3 ) (8 1 4 SE2 d 4 ) (2 0 1 8); Ch eu vr o n t v. Ca r t er , 2 6 3

Ga. Ap p

. 8 37

, 83 8 (5 8 9 SE2 d 6 0 9 ) (2 0 0 3 ). If so , we m us t al s o co n s i d er wh et h er t h e

frau d, acci d en t

, m i s t ak e, o r act o f t h e ad vers e p art y was u n m i x ed wi t h an y n eg l i g en ce

o n th e part of th e St at e. Pr i n c i p a l Li en Svcs

., LLC

, 3 4 6 Ga. A p p

. at 2 8 3 (3 );

Ch eu vr o n t , 2 6 3 Ga. Ap p . at 8 3 8

.

Ap p l yi n g th es e s t an d ard s , we fi rs t co n si d er wh et h er t h e J u ne 2 4

, 2 0 1 9

ju d g m en t

, w h i ch d i s m i s sed th e fo rfei t u re co m pl ai nt o n t h e b as i s th at t h e t ri al req u i red

u n d er OCGA § 9 -1 6

- 1 2 (f) w as n o t h el d o r co n t i nu ed w i t hi n 60 d ay s aft er t h e las t

cl ai m an t was s erv ed

, w as b as ed u p o n frau d

, acci d en t

, m i s t ak e, o r t he act s o f t h e

Pat el s

. See Pr i n ci

p al Li en S

vcs

., LLC

, 34 6 Ga. Ap p. at 28 2 -2 8 3 (3 ); Ch eu vr o n t

, 2 6 3

Ga. Ap p

. at 83 8

. Th e St at e arg u es t h at t he wi t h d ra w al s o f an s wers an d co n s en t s to

fo rfei t u re en t ered b y t h e Pat el s i n May 2 0 2 0 were g ro un d s fo r set t in g as i d e t h e J u n e

2 4

, 2 0 1 9 ju d g m en t un d er O CGA § 9 -1 1

- 6 0 (d ) (2 ) as act s o f t h e ad vers e p art y

.

7Ho wev er, t h e St at e do es n o t co n t en d t h at t h e J u n e 2 4

, 2 0 1 9 j u d gm en t was b a s ed u p o n

frau d, acci d en t

, m i s t ak e, o r t h e act s o f t h e Pat el s , an d we hav e fo u n d n o ev i d en ce in

t h e reco rd t h at wo u l d s u pp o rt su ch a co n cl u s i o n

. O n t h e fa c t s o f t hi s cas e, t h e J u n e

2 4

, 2 0 1 9 ju d g m en t co u l d n ot h av e b een b as ed u p o n t h e act s b y t h e P a t e l s o f

wi t h d rawi n g t h ei r an s wers an d co n s en t i n g t o fo rfei t u re i n M ay 2 0 20

, b ecau s e t h o s e

act s h ad n o t y et o ccu rred wh en t h e J u n e 2 4

, 2 0 1 9 j u d gm en t was en t ered

. 5 Gi v en t h es e

ci rcu m s t an ces , t h e Pat el s’ act s i n M ay 2 0 2 0 are n o t g ro un d s fo r s et t i n g as i d e t h e J u n e

2 4

, 2 0 1 9 ju d g m en t u n d e r O C G A § 9 -1 1 -6 0 (d ) (2 ). See Pr i n ci p al Li en S

vcs

., LLC

,

3 4 6 Ga. Ap p

. at 2 8 2 -2 8 3 (3 ); Ch eu vr o n t

, 2 6 3 Ga. Ap p

. at 8 3 8. Co ns eq u en t l y , t h e t ri al

co u rt ab u s ed i t s d is cret i on wh en i t g ran t ed t h e St at e’ s m o t i o n t o s et as i d e t h e

ju d g m en t o n t h i s b as i s . See W i l l i a ms , 3 2 5 Ga. Ap p . at 3 0 0

.

2

. M c D o n a l d & Co d y co n t en d s t hat t he t ri al co u rt erred i n h o l d i n g t h at

M cDo n al d & Co d y , Sl ig er, an d M ap l es h ad n o v al id an d en fo rceab le at t o rn ey s ’ l i en

u n d er OCGA § 1 5 -1 9 -1 4 (c) as a m at t er o f l aw b ecau se t here w as n o p r o p ert y

reco v ered b y t h e Pat el s

. Acco rd i n g t o M cDo n al d & Co dy

, t h e l i e n was p erfect ed

5 Becau se we co n cl u de t h at t h e J u n e 2 4

, 2 01 9 ju d g m en t was n o t b as ed u p o n frau d, acci d en t

, m i s t ak e, o r t h e act s o f t h e ad v ers e part y , w e d o no t reach t h e q u es t i o n

o f wh et h er an y frau d

, acci d en t

, m i s t ak e, o r act o f th e ad vers e p art y was u n m i x ed wi th

an y n eg l i g en ce o n t h e part o f t h e St at e. See Pr i n ci pa l Li en S

vcs

., LLC

, 3 4 6 G a. Ap p.

at 2 8 3 (3 ); Ch eu vr on t , 2 63 Ga. Ap p . at 8 3 8.

8wh en th e at t o rn ey s o b t ai n ed a fi nal ju d g m en t fo r t h e ret u rn o f t h e pro p ert y t o t h e

Pat el s . W e ag ree.

OCGA § 1 5 -1 9 -1 4 (c) p ro v i d es :

Up o n al l act i on s fo r t h e reco v ery o f real o r pers o n al pro p ert y an d u p o n

al l ju d g m en t s o r d ecrees fo r th e reco v ery of t h e s am e, at to rn ey s at l aw

s h al l h av e a l i en fo r t h ei r fees o n t h e p ro p ert y reco v ered s u peri o r t o al l

l i en s ex cep t l i en s fo r tax es , wh i ch m ay b e en fo rce d b y m o rt g ag e an d

fo recl o s u re b y t h e a t t o rn ey s at l aw o r t h ei r lawfu l rep res en t at i ves as

l i en s o n p ers o n al p ro p ert y an d rea l e s t a t e are en fo rced

. Th e pro p ert y

reco vered s h al l rem a i n s u b ject t o t he l i en s un l es s t ran sferred t o b o na

fi de p urch as ers w it ho u t n o t i ce.

“ Th e v al i d i t y an d en fo rceab i l it y o f an at t orn ey ’ s l ien , an d t h e am o un t o f fees

t o award t h e at to rn ey en fo rci n g t h e l i en , are m at t ers fo r t h e t r i a l co urt t o d eci d e.”

To l s o n v. S i s t r u n k , 3 32 Ga. Ap p

. 3 2 4

, 3 2 5 (7 7 2 SE2 d 4 16 ) (2 0 1 5 ). “ W here t h e t ri al

co u rt i s t h e fact fi n d er, we co n s t ru e th e ev id en ce i n t h e l ig h t m o s t fav o rab le t o s u p p o rt

t h e co u r t ’s j u d g m en t an d wi ll u p h o l d t h e co u rt ’ s fact u al fi n d i n g s o n ap p eal i f t h ere

i s an y ev i d en ce to s u p p o rt t hem .” Id

. “ W i th res p ect to q u es t io n s of l aw, h owev er, we

em pl o y a d e no v o s t an d ard o f rev i ew.” McW a y v. McKen n ey’s

, I

n c

. , 3 5 9 Ga. Ap p.

5 4 7 , 5 4 8 (8 5 9 SE2 d 52 3 ) (2 0 2 1 ).

9“ It i s wel l es t ab li s h ed t hat t h e at t orn ey ’ s l i en creat ed u n d er OCGA § 1 5 -1 9 -1 4

(c) at t ach es t o t he fru i t s o f t h e l ab o r an d s k il l o f t he at t o rn ey , wh et h er rea l i zed by

ju d g m en t o r d ecree, o r b y v i rt u e o f an award

, or i n an y o t her way , as l o ng as t h ey are

t h e res ul t o f hi s ex ert i on s

. ” S mi t h

, Ba s s et t

, Pu r c e l l & Ko en i

g v. W o r d o f Go d

Mi n is t r i es

, In c. , 23 4 Ga. A p p. 2 6 3

, 2 6 4 (5 0 6 SE2 d 4 2 7 ) (1 9 9 8 ) (ci t at i o n , p u n ct u at i o n,

an d em p has i s o m i t t ed ). “ An at t o rn ey [‘ s ] l i en ari s es u p o n th e at t o rn ey ’ s em p l o y m en t

an d i s p erfect ed at t h e t i m e o f t h e u l t i m at e reco v ery of t h e ju dg m en t b y t h e cl i en t .”

J o n e s v

. W

el l o n , 2 37 Ga. Ap p

. 6 2

, 6 4 (5 1 4 SE2 d 8 8 0 ) (1 9 9 9) (ci t at i o n an d

p u n ct u at i o n om i t t ed ). “ T h e m o m e n t a ju d g m en t o f reco very i s ren dered t h e l i en

b eco m es p erfect as ag ai n s t t h e cl i en t [.] ” Ho d n et t v. Bo n n er , 10 7 Ga. 45 2

, 4 5 5 (3 3 SE

4 1 6 ) (1 8 9 9 ). “ A p art y t o l i t i g a t i o n i s ch arg ed wi t h n o t i ce of t he l i en wh i ch t h e

at t o rn ey fo r t h e o p p o s i t e p art y wi l l h av e o n th e p ro p ert y reco v ered fo r h i s cl i en t fo r

p ro fes s i on al serv i ces ren d ered hi m i n s u ch l i t i g at i o n [.] ” Ho dn et t v. S t ewa r t

, 1 3 1 Ga.

6 7 , 6 8 (a) (6 1 SE 1 1 2 4 ) (1 9 0 8).

In it s Sep t em

b er 1

, 2 0 2 1 o rd er, t h e t ri al co u rt fo u nd t h at OCGA § 15 -1 9 -1 4 (c)

ap p li es b ecau s e t h e cas e i s a fo rfei t u re act i on an d i n vo l ves t h e reco v ery o f p ers o n al

10p ro p ert y

. 6 Ho wev er, ci t i ng Mo l l o y v. Hu b b a r d , 4 8 Ga. Ap p . 8 2 0 , 8 2 1 (1 7 3 SE 8 7 7 )

(1 9 3 4), as s u pp o rt fo r t h e p ro p o s i t i o n t h at “ [a] n at t o rn ey ’ s l i en u nd er OCGA § 1 5 -1 9

-

1 4 (c) ari s es u p on t h e at t o rn ey ’ s em p l o y m en t an d i s p erfect ed by t he u l t i m at e

reco v ery i n fav o r o f h i s cl i en t [,] ” (p u n ct u at i o n an d em p h as is o m i tt ed ) t h e t ri al co u rt

co n cl u d ed t h at t h ere was n o “ u l t i m at e reco v ery ” fo r t h e Pat el s u nd er th e m ean i n g o f

OCGA § 1 5 -1 9 -1 4 (c) b ecau s e “ [t ] o h av e reco v ered u n d er t h e m ean in g o f t h e s t at u t e,

t h e [Pat el s ] wo u l d h av e h ad t o recei v e s o m e o r al l o f t h e p ro p ert y cl ai m ed i n t h e

fo rfei t u re s u i t .” Th e t ri al co urt ci t ed n o au t h o ri t y fo r t h is co n cl u s i o n , an d we h av e

fo u n d no n e. O n t h e co n t rary , i n Mo l l o y , we h el d t h at an at t o rn ey h ad a l i en fo r h i s fee

o n p ro p ert y h e reco v ered fo r h is cl i en t ev en th o u g h t h e cl i en t d i d no t recei v e an y o f

t h e p ro p ert y . See 4 8 Ga. Ap p . at 8 2 1

.

In Mo l l o y , a co m m o n l aw fi

. fa. was l ev i ed u p o n cert ai n m ul es , an d t hey were

s o l d b y t h e s h eri ff i n a q u i ck -o rd er sal e. 48 Ga. Ap p

. at 8 2 0

. An at t o rn ey rep res en t i n g

a cl i e n t wh o h ad a ch at tel m o rt g ag e o n t h e m u l es fo recl o s ed t h e m ort g ag e an d

6 W e n ot e t h at OCGA § 1 5 -1 9 -1 4 (e) p ro v i d es th at “ Th e s am e li en s an d m o d es

o f en fo rcem en t t h ereo f w h ich a r e al l o wed t o at to rn ey s at l aw wh o are em p l o y ed to
b r i n g a n act i o n fo r an y pro pert y , u p o n th e pro p ert y reco v ered

, s h al l b e eq u al l y al l o wed t o at to rn ey s at l aw em p l o y ed an d s erv i n g i n d efen s e ag ai ns t s u ch act i o n s in

cas e t he d efen s e i s s u cces s fu l .” Nei th er p art y arg u es on a p p eal t h at s u b s ect i o n (e)

ap p li es t o t h i s cas e.

11i n i t i at ed a p ro ceed i n g ag ai n s t t h e s h eri ff t o h av e th e fu nd s fro m t h e s al e o f t h e m u l es

t u rn ed o v er t o h i s cl ien t

. Id

. W h i l e t h i s p ro ceed i n g was p e n d i n g , a cred i to r o f t h e

cl i en t i n s t i t u t ed g arn is h m en t p ro ceed i n g s

. Id

. W e h el d t h at t h e at t o rn ey was en t i t l ed

t o h a v e h i s l i en fo r s erv ices p erfo rm ed i n t h e fo recl o s u re o f t h e m ort g ag e s at i s f i e d

f r o m t h e p ro ceed s o f t h e sh eri ff’ s s al e of t h e m u l es befo re t h e rem ai n i ng p ro ceed s

were t u rn ed o v er t o t h e g arn i sh i n g cred it o r. Id

. at 8 21

. Al t h o ug h n o n e o f t h e p ro ceed s

o f t h e s al e were p ai d to th e cl i en t

, we affi rm ed t h e award of t h e at t orn ey ’ s fee o u t o f

t h e p ro ceed s o f t h e s heri ff’ s sal e. Id

. Th u s , Mo l l o y d oes n o t s u p p o rt t h e t ri al co urt ’ s

co n cl u s i o n t h at t o reco v er wi t h i n t h e m ean i ng of OCGA § 1 5 -1 9 -1 4 (c), t h e Pat el s

h ad t o recei v e s om e o r al l o f t h e p ro p ert y cl ai m ed i n t h e fo rfei tu re s u i t

.

Th e St at e rel i es o n O ut l a w v. Rye

, 3 1 2 Ga. Ap p

. 5 7 9, 5 82 (2 ) (7 1 8 SE2 d 9 0 5 )

(2 0 1 1), t o arg u e t h at McDo n al d & Co d y , Sl i ger, an d M ap l es d i d n o t reco v er p ro p ert y

o n beh al f o f t hei r cl i en ts

. Th e St at e’ s rel i an ce o n Ou t l a w i s m i s p l aced

. In O u t l a w , an

at t o rn ey at t em

p ted t o p u t an at t o rn ey ’ s l ien un d er OCGA § 1 5 -1 9 -1 4 (c ) o n c e rt ai n

real p ro p ert y o wn ed b y h er fo rm er cl i en t. Id

. at 57 9 -5 80

. Th e at to rn ey h ad rep res en t ed

t h e fo rm er cl i en t i n a cu st o d y d i s p u t e, an d t h e real p ro p ert y was n o t reco vered i n t h e

cu s t o d y p ro ceed i n g s . Id

. at 5 8 0. W e ex p l ai n ed t h at

12Ou r Su p rem e Co u rt h as l o n g h el d t h at

, b ecau s e t h e s t at u t e co n cern i n g

at t o rn ey ’ s l i en s is i n d ero g at i o n of t h e co m m o n law, i t m

u s t b e s t ri ct l y

co n s t ru ed

. Fo r t hi s reas o n , Geo rg i a co u rt s h av e s t ead fas t ly refu sed t o

ap p l y t h e s t at u t e t o an y fact u al s i t u at i o n n o t s tri ct l y wi t h i n i t s w o rd i n g

. By i t s cl e a r a n d un am

b i g u o u s t erm s , t h e s t at u t e p erm i t s a l awy er t o

as s ert a s t at u t o ry l i en o n ly ag ai n s t p ro p ert y reco v ered b y t h e l awy er fo r

h er cl i en t

. Pu t an o th er way , t h e l ien t h at i s au t ho ri zed b y th e st a t u t e

at t ach es t o t h e fru i t s o f t h e l ab o r an d s k il l o f t h e at t o rn ey , an d i t pro p erl y

can b e d i rect ed o n l y

t o p ro p ert i es t h at are am o n g t h o s e fru i t s.

Id

. at 5 8 1 (1 ) (ci t at i o n s an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ). Co ns eq u en t l y , we h el d t h at b ecau s e

t h e p ro p ert y at i s s ue i n Ou t l a w w as n o t “ am o n g t h e fru i t s o f t h e l ab o r an d s k i l l ” o f t h e

at t o rn ey , t h e l i en w a s n o t au t h o ri zed by OCGA § 1 5 -1 9 -1 4 (c) an d w as , t herefo re,

i n v a l i d

. Id

. at 5 8 1 -5 8 2 (1 ). Here, b y co n tras t

, M cDo nal d & Co d y p ro p erl y s eek s t o

en fo rc e a s t a t u t o ry l i en p urs u an t t o OCGA § 1 5-1 9 -1 4 (c) o n pro p ert y t h at was at

i s su e i n t h e fo rfei t u re cas e.

Th e St at e al s o as s ert s t h at i t was n o t aware o f t h e co n t i n g en cy fee ag reem en t

“ u n t i l wel l aft er t h e cri m i n al p l ea h ad been en t ered ,” bu t d o es n o t ex p l ai n h o w i t s l ack

o f k n o wl ed g e wo u l d affect t h e v al i d i t y o f t h e at t o rn ey s ’ l i e n

. E v e n i f t h e St at e was

n o t aware o f t h e co n t i n g en cy ag reem en t, it i s “ ch arg ed wi t h n o t i ce o f t h e l i en wh i ch

13t h e at t o rn ey fo r th e o pp o s i t e p art y wi ll h av e o n t h e pro p ert y reco v ered fo r h i s cl i en t

fo r pro fes s i o n al s erv i ces ren d ered h i m i n s uch li t i g at io n [.] ” S t ewa r t

, 1 3 1 Ga. at 6 8 (a).

Fi n al l y , th e St at e arg u es t h at “ t h e p ro p ert y at i s s u e i n t he ci v i l fo rfei t u re act i o n

. . . i s in fact p ro p ert y an d p ro ceed s d eri v ed fro m v i o l at io n s o f t h e Geo rg i a [R I C O ]

Act .” Ho w ev er, t h e St at e ci t es n o au t h o ri ty

, an d we h av e fo un d n on e, t o s u pp o rt t h e

St at e’ s i m

p l ici t arg u m en t t h at OCGA § 15 -1 9 -1 4 (c) d o e s n ot ap p l y to p ro p ert y

reco v ered i n a ci v i l fo rfei tu re act io n

.

In s h o rt

, M cDo n al d & Co d y , Sl i g er, an d M ap l es s ou g h t th e ret urn o f t he Pat el s ’

p ro p ert y s ei zed b y t he St at e an d d i s m i s s al o f t h e St at e’ s fo rfei t u re co m p l ai n t, an d t h e

t ri al co u rt ’ s J un e 2 4, 2 0 1 9 o rd er d i s m i s s i n g th e St at e’ s co m pl ai n t i s a fi n al o rd er

an n ou n ci n g t h e ret u rn o f al l of t he Pat el s ’ p ro p ert y i d en t i fi ed i n t h e co m p l ai n t

,

p en di n g an y ap p eal . Th u s , t h e J u n e 24

, 2 0 1 9 o rd er i s a “ ju d g m en t o f reco v ery ,” s ee

Bo n ner , 1 0 7 G a. at 4 5 5, an d th e p ro p ert y i d en t i fi ed i n th e co m pl ai n t co n st i t u t ed t h e

“ fru i t s o f t h e l ab o r an d s k i l l o f t h e at t o rn ey , . . . real i zed b y ju d g m en t [.] ” See S mi t h,

Ba s set t

, Pu r cel l & Ko en ig

, 2 3 4 Ga. Ap p

. at 26 4

. As a m at t er o f law, at t h e m o m en t

t h e J u n e 2 4

, 2 0 1 9 o rd er was en t ered , t h e at t o rn ey s’ l i en was p erfect ed . See Bo n n er ,

1 0 7 Ga. at 4 5 5

. Co n s e q u e n t l y, u nd er t h e ci rcu m s t an ces o f t h i s cas e, t h e t ri al co u rt

14erred i n co n cl u d i n g t hat t h ere was n o v al id an d en fo rceab l e l i en u n d er OCGA § 1 5

-

1 9 -1 4 (c) o n t h e g ro un d t h at t h ere was n o “ u l ti m at e reco v ery ” fo r t h e Pat el s

.

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

, P. J., a n d

Ma r kl e, J., co n cu r

.

15