FI FTH DI VI SI ON

M CFA DDEN, P. J.

, BRA NCH and BETHEL, 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

October 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 A1 25 6

, A1 7 A1 4 0 2

. ROGERS v. DEUTSC H E BANK

NATIONAL TRUST COM PANY et al

.

M C F A D D E N , Pres id i n g J u d g e.

Th es e rel at ed ap p eal s ari s e fro m a t ri al co u rt o rd er d en y i n g a m o t i o n t o v acat e

an o rd er s u b s t i t u ti n g a n ew p l ai n t i ff an d g ran ti n g su m m a ry ju d g m en t t o t h e n ew

p l ai n t i ff, an d an o th er o rd er req u i ri n g t h e d efen d an t to po s t a s u p ers ed eas b o n d as a

co n di t i o n fo r t h e s t ay o f en fo rcem en t o f t h e s u m m ary ju dg m en t o rd er. Th e t ri al co u rt

m ad e an erro r of law an d fai l ed t o ex erci s e i t s d i s cret i o n i n s ub s ti t ut i n g a n ew

p l ai n t i ff, s o t h at o rd er m

u s t b e v acat ed

. W e t h erefo re rev ers e t h e d en ial o f t h e m o t i o n

t o v acat e t h at s u bs t i t u t i o n ord er an d rem an d th e cas e wi t h d i rect i o n t h at t h e t ri al co u rt

ap p ly t h e co rrect law an d ex erci s e i t s d i s cret i o n i n d et erm i n i n g wh et h er t o s ub s t i t u t e

a n ew p l ai n t i ff. Becau s e t h e d en i al o f t h e m o t i o n t o v acat e th at p rel i m i n ary o rd ers u b s t i t u t i n g a n e w p l ai n t iff i s rev ers ed

, t he s u b s eq uen t o rd ers g ran t i n g s u m m ary

ju d g m en t i n fav o r o f t h e su b st i t u t ed p l ai n t i ff an d req ui ri ng t he d efen d an t to p o st a

s u p ers ed eas b o n d m

u s t b e v acat ed

.

1

. Fa ct s a n d p r o ced

ur a l p o s t u r e.

On M ay 3 1

, 2 0 1 1, Am eri q u es t M o rt g ag e Co m pan y fi led a co m

p lai n t ag ai n s t

Ri ck ie Ro g ers s eek in g refo rm at i o n o f a s ecu ri ty d eed

. Th e co m p l ai n t al l eg ed t h at in

2 0 0 5

, Ro g ers h ad ex ecu t ed a p r o m i s s o ry n ot e an d a s ecu ri t y d eed i n fav o r o f

Am eri qu es t as to cert ai n real pro p ert y ; t h at Ro g ers h ad d efau l t ed un d er t he n o t e; t h at

b y m u t u al m i s t a k e o f t h e p art i es a p ower o f s al e pro v i s i on was o m i t t ed fro m t h e

s ecu ri t y d eed ; an d t h at t h e s ecu ri t y d eed n eed ed to b e refo rm ed t o i n cl u d e th e o m i t t ed

p o wer of s al e p ro v i s i o n i n o rd er t o al l o w Am eri qu es t t o co n d u c t a n o n -ju d i ci al

fo recl o s ure s al e o f t h e p ro p ert y

. Ro g ers an s wered t he co m pl ai n t, as s ert i ng

, am o n g s t

o t h er t h i n g s

, t h at t h ere h ad been n o m u t u a l m i s t ak e an d t h at th e act i o n s h o u l d b e

d i s m i s s ed b ecau s e Am eri q u es t h ad no s tan d i n g an d was n ot t h e p ro p er p art y t o b ri n g

t h e act io n

. On Ap ri l 1 6

, 2 0 1 2

, Am eri q u es t fi l ed a m o t i o n fo r s um m ary ju d g m en t

. On

M ay 9

, 2 0 1 2

, Ro g ers r e s p o n ded t o t h e m o t i o n

, req u es t in g i n t h e i n t ro d u ct o ry

p arag rap h an d i n th e p ray er fo r rel i ef t h at a h eari n g b e h el d o n t h e m o t i o n

.

2Ov er th ree y ears l at er, o n Au g u s t 2 0

, 2 01 5

, A m er i q u e s t f il ed an am en d ed

co m p l ai n t fo r refo rm at i o n an d a m o t i o n to s u bs t i t u t e Deu t sch e Ban k Nat i o nal Tru s t

Co m p an y as t h e p l ai n t i ff. In t h e m o t i o n t o s u b s t i t u t e, Am eri qu es t s t at ed th at i t h ad n o

i n t eres t in t h e s ecu ri t y d eed b ecau s e i t had as s i g n ed i t s i n t eres t to Deu t s ch e Ban k o n

J an u ary 2 0

, 2 00 9

, m o re th an t w o y ears b efo re i t fi l ed i ts co m p l ai n t

, an d t h us Deu t s ch e

Ban k ret ai ned “ al l ben efi ci ary i n t eres t i n t h e [d ] eed as wel l as t he [co rres p o n d i n g ]

p ro m i s s o ry n o te[.] ” On Au g us t 3 1

, 2 0 1 5

, b efo re Ro g ers h ad res p on d ed t o t h e m o t i o n,

t h e tri a l c o u r t g ran t ed t h e m o t i o n t o s ub s ti t ut e, o rd eri n g t h at Deu t s ch e Ban k b e

s u b s t i t u t ed as th e p lai n t i ff i n p l ace o f Am eri q ues t p urs u an t t o OCGA § 9 -1 1 -2 5

. On

Sep tem b er 2 4, 2 0 1 5

, Ro g ers fi l ed hi s an s wer t o t h e a m en d ed co m p l ai n t an d h i s

res p o n s e t o t h e m o t i o n t o s u b s t i t u te. O n M a y 2 3

, 2 0 1 6

, Deu ts ch e Ban k fi l ed an

am en d ed m o t i o n fo r s u m m ary ju d g m en t

.

On J u n e 10

, 2 0 1 6

, t h e co u rt h el d a heari n g t o ad d res s t h e is s u es of w h et h er i t

h ad i m p ro p erl y gran t ed t h e m o t i o n t o s ub s ti t ut e b efo re t h e ex p i rat i o n o f t i m e fo r a

res p o n s e an d wh et h er Ro g ers ’ res p o n s e t o t h e m o t i o n was u n t i m el y

. Du ri n g t h e

h eari n g

, th e t ri al j u d ge l earn ed t h at t h e o ri g i n al m o t i o n fo r s u m m ary ju d g m en t h ad

b een pen d i n g s i nce 2 0 1 2 an d t h at an am en d ed m o ti o n fo r s u m m ary h ad a l s o b een

fi led

. At t h e co n cl u s i o n o f t h e h eari n g

, t h e ju dg e as k ed t h e at t o r n e ys fo r b o t h s i d es

3i f t h ey wan t ed a h eari n g o n t h e s u m m ary ju d g m en t m o t i o n s

. Co u n s el fo r Deu t s ch e

Ban k s ai d t h at h e d id n o t wan t a h eari n g

, wh il e co u n s el fo r Ro g ers st at ed t h at t h ey d id

wan t a h eari n g an d h ad “ req u es t ed t h at t h ro u g ho u t t h e p ro ces s .” Fo u r d ay s l at er, o n

J u n e 1 4

, 2 0 1 6, Ro g ers fi l ed a m o ti o n t o v acat e th e Au g us t 2 0 1 5 o rd er s u b s t i t u t i n g

Deu ts ch e Ban k as t he p lai n t i ff.

Ap p ro x im at el y si x m o n t h s a ft er t h at

, o n Decem b er 2 8

, 2 0 1 6, t h e t ri al co u rt

fi led an o rd er s u m

m ari l y den y i n g Ro g ers ’ m ot i o n t o vacat e an d g ran t i n g Deu t s ch e

Ban k’ s m o t i o n fo r s u m

m ary ju d g m en t. Ro g ers fi led a n o t i ce o f ap p e a l f r o m t h at

o rd er. Ap p ro xi m at el y t h ree week s l at er, o n m o ti o n b y Deu t s ch e Ban k

, t h e t ri al co u rt

o rd ered Ro g ers to p o s t a s u p ers ed eas “ b on d wi t h g o o d s ecu ri t y as a co n d i t i o n fo r t h e

s t ay o f en fo rcem en t o f [t h e] o rd er g ran t i n g s u m m ary ju d g m en t ag ai n s t h i m o n

Decem b er [2 8 ]

, 2 0 1 6 .” Ro g ers fi l ed a sep arat e ap p eal fro m th at o rd er. See No r t h s i d e

Ba n k v. Mo u n t ai n b r o o k of Ba rt o w Co u n t

y Ho meo wn er

s As s n

. , 3 38 G a. Ap p

. 1 2 6

, 1 3 3

(4 ) (a) (7 8 9 SE2 d 3 7 8 ) (2 0 1 6 ) (t ri al co u rt m ay ru l e o n m o t io n fo r s u pers ed eas b o n d

ev en i f fi l ed aft er t h e n ot i ce o f ap p eal h as b een fi l ed ); Ra p p s v. Co o ke

, 2 3 4 G a. Ap p.

1 3 1 (5 05 SE2 d 5 6 6 ) (1 9 9 8 ) ( i n v o l v i n g s ep arat e ap p eal fro m o rd er req u i ri n g

s u p ers ed eas b o n d ). In Cas e No

. A1 7 A1 2 5 6

, Ro g ers ch al l en g es t h e d en i a l o f h i s

4m o ti o n t o v acat e an d t he g ran t o f s u m m ary ju d g m en t t o D eu t s ch e Ban k ; an d i n Cas e

No . A1 7 A1 4 0 2, h e ch al l en g es t h e o rd er req u iri n g h i m t o p o s t a s u p ers ed eas b o n d

.

Ca s e No . A1 7

A1 2 5 6

2

. Mo t i o n t o va ca t e o r d

er s ub s t i t ut i n g p l a in t i

f f

.

(a) Ti m e l i n es o f m ot i o n t o v acat e.

At t he o u t s et

, w e n o t e t h at Deu t s ch e Ban k arg u es t h at t h e t ri al co u rt h ad n o

p o wer t o v acat e it s Au g u s t 2 0 1 5 o rd er s u b st i t u t i n g D eu t s ch e Ban k as t h e p l ai n t i ff

b ecau s e R o g e r s ’ m o t i o n to v acat e was fi l ed b ey o nd t h e t erm o f co u rt i n wh i ch t h e

s u b s t i t u t io n o rd er was ren d ered

. Bu t, D eu t s ch e Ban k i s rel y i n g o n l aw p ert ai n i n g to

fi nal ju d g m en t s

, n o t i n t erl o cu t ory o rd ers su ch as t h e s u b s t it u t i o n o rd er i n t h i s cas e,

s o t h at rel i an ce i s m i sp l aced . “ W h i l e fi n al ju d g m en t s m ay n o t b e m o d i fi ed aft er t h e

t erm in wh i ch t hey were ren d ered

, an i n t erl o cu to ry ru li n g d o es n o t p a s s fro m t h e

co n tro l o f t h e co u rt at t h e en d o f t h e t erm i f t h e cau s e rem ai n s p en d in g

. Su ch ru l i ng s

are s u b j ect t o rev is i o n at an y t im e b efo re fi n al ju d g m e n t u n l es s t h e co u rt i s s u es an

o rd er u p on ex p res s di rect i o n u n d er OCGA § 9-1 1

- 5 4 ( b )

. ” Lo t t v. Ar ri n g t o n &

Ho l lo wel l

, 2 5 8 Ga. Ap p

. 5 1

, 5 6 (3 ) (5 7 2 SE2 d 6 64 ) (2 0 0 2 ) (ci t at i on s an d pu n ct u at i o n

o m i t t e d )

. Acco rd Mo o n v. S ta te

, 2 8 7 Ga. 3 0 4 (6 9 6 SE2 d 5 5 ) (2 0 1 0 ) (i n ci v i l cas es

,

an i n t erl o cu t o ry ru l in g d oes n o t p as s fro m t h e co n t ro l o f t h e co u rt at en d of t h e t erm

5wh i le t h e cas e i s s ti l l p en d i n g). Th e s u b s t i t u t i o n o rd er h ere was n o t i s s u e d u p o n

ex p res s d i rect io n; t h erefo re, co n t ra r y t o Deu t s ch e Ban k’ s cl ai m

, t h e t ri al co u rt was

au t h o ri zed t o v acat e t h e o rd er at an y t i m e b efo re fi n al ju d g m en t

.

(b ) M eri t s o f m o t i o n t o v acat e.

In t h at Au gust 201 5 o rd er g ran t i n g Am eri q u es t ’ s m o t io n t o s ub s ti t ut e Deu t s ch e

Ban k as t h e pl ai n t iff, t h e t ri al co u rt b as ed i t s ru l i n g ex cl u s iv el y o n OCGA § 9 -1 1 -2 5.

In d eed

, as av erred b y Am eri q u es t i n i t s m o t io n t o s u b s t i tu t e, t h at co de s ect i o n al l o ws

fo r s u ch a s ub s t i t u t i o n u p o n t h e t ran s fer o f an i n t eres t : “ In cas e o f an y t ran s fer o f

i n t eres t

, t h e act i on m ay b e co n t i n u ed b y or ag ai n st t h e o ri g i n al p art y u n les s t h e co u rt

,

u p o n m o t i o n

, d i rect s t h e p ers o n t o wh o m t h e i n t eres t i s t ran s ferred t o b e s u bs t i t u t ed

i n th e act i o n [.] ” OCGA § 9 -1 1 -2 5 (c). Bu t

, t h at co d e s ect i o n

, “ p ro v i d i n g fo r a

s u b s t i t u t io n o f t h e t ran s feree of i n t eres t i n t h e act i o n

, ap p l i es o n l y w h ere t h e t ran s fer

i s m ad e

. . . d

u r i n g t h e co ur

s e o f t h e l i t i g at i o n .” Emp l o

yer s ’ Li a b i l i t y As s u ra n ce Co r

p.

v

. K e e l i n

, 1 3 2 Ga. Ap p

. 4 5 9, 4 6 2 -4 6 3 (2 ) (2 0 8 SE2 d 3 2 8) (1 9 74 ) (em p h as i s i n

o ri g i nal ). “ OCGA § 9 -1 1 -2 5 (c) co n t em p lat es a t ran s fer o f in t ere s t

, d u r i n g t h e

l i ti g a t i o n

, fro m on e wh o is a p art y t o t h e cas e t o o n e wh o i s n o t .” Gen e Th o mp so n

Lu mb er Co

. v. Da vi s Pa r mer Lu mb er Co

. , 18 9 Ga. A p p

. 5 7 3, 5 7 5 (3 ) (a) (3 7 7 SE2 d

1 5 ) (1 9 8 8 ) (ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ; em p h as i s s u p p l i ed ).

6Here, th e al l eg ed t ran sfer o f Am eri q u e s t ’s i n t eres t i n t h e s ecu ri t y d eed to

Deu ts ch e Ban k d i d no t o ccu r d u ri n g t h e co urs e o f t he i n s tan t li t ig at io n

, wh i ch b eg an

wi t h t h e fi l i n g o f t h e co m p l ai n t i n 20 1 1

. Rat h er, t h e al l eg ed tran s fer o f t h e in t eres t in

t h e s ecu ri t y d eed o ccu rred s o m e t wo y ears earl i er i n 2 0 09

. Th u s

, co n t rary t o th e ru l i n g

o f t h e t ri al co u rt , OCGA § 9 -1 1 -2 5 d o es n o t ap pl y t o t h i s cas e.

In s t ead

, i n th i s s i t u at i o n , wh ere t h e t ran s fer o f an i n t eres t t ak es p l ace p ri o r t o

t h e co m m en cem en t o f an act i o n

, OCGA § 9 -1 1-1 7 (a) co n t r o l s

. It req u i res t h at t h e

act i on be p ro s ecu t e d i n t h e n am e o f t h e real p art y i n i n teres t

. See Emp l o yer s ’

Li a b il i t y

, s up ra (d i s cu s s i n g Geo rg ia s t at u t es an d an al o go u s fed eral p ro v i s io n s ). See

al s o S mi t h v. 6 5 9 5 R R C o r

p

. , 2 6 9 Ga. Ap p

. 6 51

, 6 5 2 (6 0 5 SE2 d 5 8 ) (2 00 4 ) (wh ere

p l ai n t i ff as s i g n ed co n t ract ri g h t s b efo re fi l i n g l aws u it

, O CGA § 9 -1 1-1 7 (a) ap p l i ed

t o d et erm i n e real p art y i n i n t eres t ); acco rd Al l ma n v. Ho p e , 2 0 0 Ga. Ap p

. 1 3 7 , 1 3 8

-

1 3 9 (1 ) (4 0 7 SE2 d 10 7 ) (1 9 9 1 ) (v acat i n g ju d g m en t fo r pl ai nt i ff an d rem an d i n g cas e

fo r tr i a l c o u r t t o ap pl y O CGA § 9 -1 1 -1 7 (a) wh ere p l ai nt i ff’ s i n t eres t i n co n t ract

ri gh t s h ad b een t ran s ferred ).

W h i l e OCGA § 9-1 1 -1 7 (a) m an d at es t h at “ [e] v ery act io n sh al l be p ro s ecu t ed

i n t he n am e o f t h e real p art y i n i n t eres t [,] ” i t fu rt h er p ro v id es t h at

7[n ] o act io n s h al l b e d i s m i s s ed o n t h e gro u n d th at i t i s n o t p ro secu t ed i n

t h e n am e o f th e real p art y i n i n t eres t u n t i l a reas o n ab l e t i m e h a s b een

al l o wed aft er o b

ject i on fo r rat i fi cat i o n o f co m m en cem en t o f t h e act i o n

b y

, o r jo i n der o r s ub s t i tu t i o n o f, t h e real p art y i n i n teres t ; an d s u ch

rat i fi cat i o n, jo i n d er, o r s u b s ti t u t i on s h al l h av e t h e s am e e ffect as i f th e

act i o n h ad b een co m

m en ced i n t h e n am e o f t h e real p art y i n i n t eres t

.

T h i s p ro v i s i o n i s co n si s t en t wi t h O CGA § 9 -1 1 -2 1

, wh i ch st at es : “ Mi s jo i n d e r o f

p art i es is n o t g ro u n d s fo r d i s m i s s al o f an act i o n

. Part i es m ay b e d ro pp ed o r ad d ed by

o rd er o f t h e co u rt o n m o t i o n o f an y part y o r o f i ts o wn in i t i at i v e at an y s t ag e o f t h e

act i on an d o n s u ch t erm s as are ju s t .”

In o rd er t o ad d o r d r o p p a r t i es

, “ t h e t ri al co u rt m u s t ex erci se i t s d i scret i o n in

d et erm i n i n g t h e ch an g e o f s t at u s o f p art i es .” Fo s key v. Vi d a li a Ci ty Sch o o l

, 2 5 8 Ga.

Ap p

. 2 98

, 3 0 3 (c) (5 7 4 SE2 d 3 6 7 ) ( 2 0 0 2 ) ( ci t at i o n s o m it t ed ). Acco rd S mi t h v.

Ven ca r e, In c.

, 23 8 Ga. A p p. 6 2 1

, 6 2 9 (3 ) (a) (5 19 SE2 d 73 5 ) (1 9 9 9 ) (“ t ri al co u rt m u s t

ex erci s e i t s s o u n d d i scret i o n i n al l o wi n g t h e ad d i t i o n o f p art i es ”). See al s o Ho d g s ki n

v. Ma r ka t r o n

, 1 8 5 Ga. Ap p

. 7 5 0, 7 5 2 (3 ) (3 6 5 SE2 d 7 5 0 ) (1 9 8 8) (t ri al co u rt co rrect l y

ex erci s ed i t s d i s c r e t i o n i n d en y i n g m o t i o n t o s u b s t i t u t e part y b as ed on al l eg ed

as s i g n m en t o f i n teres t ); Fl emi n g v. Ca ra s

, 1 7 0 Ga. A p p

. 57 9

, 5 80 (2 ) (3 1 7 SE2 d 6 0 0 )

(1 9 8 4) (t ri al co u rt co rrect l y ex erci sed i t s d i s cret i o n i n co n s i d eri n g wh et h er act i o n o n

p ro m i s s o ry n o t es h ad b een b ro u g h t b y real p art y

i n i n t eres t as req u i red b y OCGA §

89 -1 1 -1 7 (a)). In ex erci s i ng s u ch d i s cret i o n

, “ [a] m on g t h e fact o r s t h at t h e t ri al co u rt

m u st co n s i d er i n al l o wi ng s u ch am en d m en t ad d i n g a n ew p art y fo r an o t h er p art y i s

t h e p reju di ce t o t he [p art i es ] an d t h e reas o ns an d ju st ifi cat i o n s fo r fai l u re t o i n cl u d e

t h es e part i es i n t h e o ri g i n al su i t.” Smi t h v. Ven ca r e

, su p ra (ci t at i on o m i t t ed ). See al s o

Fr a nkl yn Ges n er Fi n e P a i n t i ng s v. Ket ch a m

, 2 5 2 G a

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

(1 9 8 4) (d efen d an t wa s n o t m i s l ed or d ecei v ed b y su b st it u t i o n o f p art y p l ai n t iff,

wh et h er th at “ ch an g e b e co n s i d ered a ‘ s ub s t it u t i on ’ u n d e r OCGA § 9 -1 1-1 7 o r an

‘ ad d i t i o n o r d el et i o n ’ u n d er OCGA § 9 -1 1 -2 1 ”).

In t h e i n st an t cas e, b ecau s e t h e t ri al co u rt erro n eo u s l y b as ed i t s o rd er

s u b s t i t u t in g Deu ts ch e Ban k as th e p l ai n ti ff s ol el y o n OCGA § 9 -1 1 -2 5 an d s u m m ari l y

d en ied th e m o t i o n t o vacat e t h at o rd er, it d oes n o t ap p ear t h at t h e t ri al co u rt p ro p erl y

ex erci s ed i t s d is cret i on u nd er O CGA § § 9 -1 1 -1 7 an d 9-1 1 -2 1 t o d et erm i n e wh et h er

s u ch a ch an g e i n t h e s t at u s o f t he p art i es was ap p ro pri at e.

If t h e ap p el l at e co u rt i s u n ab l e t o as cert ai n wh et h er t he l o wer co u rt h as

ex erci s ed i t s d i s cret i o n

, t h e ap p ro p ri at e co u rs e fo r t h e ap p el lat e co urt i s

n o t t o p erfo rm a d e n o v o r e v i e w o f t h e ev i d en ce in t h e g ui s e o f a

h arm l es s e r r o r an al y s i s

, b u t i ns t ead i s t o v acat e t h e ju d g m en t an d

rem an d t h e cas e t o t h e l o wer co u rt fo r fu rt h er p ro ceed i n g s co n s i st en t

wi t h i ts s t at u t o ry du t y

.

9Pa d il l a v. Mel en d ez

, 2 2 8 Ga. Ap p

. 4 6 0, 4 6 3 (2 ) (4 9 1 SE2 d 9 0 5) (1 9 9 7 ) (ci t at i o n an d

p u n ct u at i o n om i tt ed ). Acco rd i n g l y

, t h e t ri al co urt ’ s den i al o f th e m o ti o n t o v acat e t h e

Au g u s t 20 15 o rd er s u b s t i t u t i n g Deu t s ch e Ban k as th e p l ai nt iff m us t b e rev ers ed an d

t h e cas e rem an d ed wi t h di rect i o n t h at t h e t ri al co u rt v acat e t h e s ub s t i t ut i o n o rd er an d

t h en ex erci s e i t s d i s cret i o n u n der t h e ap p l i cab l e l aw t o d et erm i n e wh et h er Deu t s ch e

Ban k m ay

b e s ub s t i t u t ed as t h e p l ai n t iff. See Al l ma n , s u p ra.

3

. S u mma r y j u d g men t

.

Gi v en t h e ru l i n g ab o v e rev ers i ng t h e d en i al o f t he m o t i o n t o v acat e t h e o rd er

s u b s t i t u t in g Deu ts ch e Ban k as th e p l ai n ti ff, t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s s u m m ary ju d g m en t ru l i n g

i n fav o r of Deu ts ch e Ban k m u s t al s o b e v acat ed

. S ee g en eral l y To wn & Co u n t r y

Do d g e v. W o r l d Omn i Fi n a n ci al Co r p

. , 2 6 1 Ga. Ap p . 5 03

, 50 5 (1 ) (5 8 3 SE2 d 1 8 2 )

(2 0 0 3) (v acat i ng su m

m ary ju d g m en t ru l i n g i n fav o r o f p l ai n ti ff wh o was no t t h e real

p art y i n in t eres t ). O n rem an d

, aft er th e t ri al co u rt h as p ro perl y ex erci s ed i t s d i s cret i o n

t o d et e r m i ne wh et h er Deu t s ch e Ban k m ay b e s u bs t i t u t ed as t h e p l ai n ti ff, an y o f t h e

p art i es m ay m o v e fo r s um m ary j u d g m en t i f t h ey so d es i re. In t h at reg ard

, we n o t e t h at

[ p ]u r s u an t t o U n ifo rm Su p eri o r Co u rt Ru l e 6 .3

, o ral arg u m en t o n a

m o t i o n fo r s u m

m ary j u d gm en t s h al l b e p erm i t t ed u po n wri t t en req u es t

m ad e in a s ep arat e p lead i n g b eari n g t h e cap t i o n o f th e cas e an d en t i t led

“ Req u es t fo r Oral H eari n g ,” pro v i d ed t h at s u ch p l ead in g i s fi led wi t h th e

m o t i o n fo r s u m

m ary ju d g m en t o r fi l ed n ot l at er t h an fi v e (5 ) d ay s aft er

10t h e t i m e fo r res p on s e. Un d er t hi s ru l e, wh et h er o ral arg u m en t i s h eard i s

wi t h i n t he po wer o f t h e p art i es

, an d i s n ot left t o t h e d i scret i o n o f th e

t ri al co u rt

. A l l a p art y n eed d o i s m ak e a w ri t t en req u es t fo r o ral

arg u m en t an d i t s h al l b e h el d

.

S o u t h er n Emp i r e H

o m e s v

. Og n i o Gr a d i n g

, In c.

, 2 77 Ga. Ap p

. 2 1 5

, 2 1 5 -2 1 6 (6 2 6

SE2 d 1 73 ) (2 0 0 6 ) (ci t at i o ns an d p u n ct u at i o n om i t t ed ). See al so Gr o t v. Ca p i t a l On e

B a n k ( U S A )

, N. A.

, 3 1 7 Ga. A pp

. 7 8 6

, 7 92 (5 ) (7 3 2 SE2 d 3 0 5 ) (2 0 1 2 ) (req u es t fo r

o ral arg u m en t m

u s t b e i n a s ep arat e an d d i s t i n ct p l ead i n g

, n o t i n t h e res p o n s e t o t h e

m o ti o n fo r s u m

m ary ju d g m en t ).

Ca s e No . A1 7

A1 4 0 2

4

. S u p er s ed ea s b o n d

.

As reco u nt ed ab o v e, o n m o t i o n b y Deu t s ch e Ban k, t h e t ri al co urt o rd ered

Ro g ers t o p o s t a s u pers ed eas b o n d as a co n d i t i o n o f t h e s t a y o f e n f o r c em en t o f t h e

o rd er g ran ti n g s um m ary ju d g m en t i n fav o r o f Deu ts ch e Ban k. Si n ce t hat s u m m ary

ju d g m en t ru li n g h as b een vacat ed

, t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s s u p ers ed eas b o n d o rd er p rem i s ed

o n t h at ru l in g m

us t al s o b e v acat ed

.

Ju d g men t r ever

s ed in p a r t

, va ca t ed i n p a r t

, a n d ca s e r ema n d

ed wi t h d i r ect i o n

i n Ca s e No

. A1 7

A1 2 5 6

. Ju d

g men t va ca t ed i n Ca s e No

. A1 7 A1 40 2

. B r a n ch a n d

Bet h el , JJ., co n cu r

.

11