FOURTH D I VI SI ON
DI LLA R D, C. 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 ar ch 7, 2018



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 7 A1 50 0 . BLACKM ON et al . v . PENA. SE-0 5 7

S E LF , J u d g e.

In t h i s co n t ract d i s p u te, res t au ran t eu r Irm a Pen a su ed co n t ract o r K i rk

Bl ack m o n d/ b/ a At lan t a Co n cret e Creat i o ns an d Ki rk Bl ack m o n , In c. d / b / a Geo rg i a

Su n ro o m (c o l l ect i v el y , “ Bl ack m o n ”) fo r d am ag es rel at ed t o wo rk Bl ack m o n

p erfo rm ed d u ri n g t h e co n s t ru ct i o n o f an e x t eri o r p at i o an d su n ro om ad di t i o n at Pen a’ s

r es t au ran t

. Fo l l owi n g a b en ch t ri al

, t he Su p eri or Co u rt o f Sp al d in g Co u n t y en t e r e d

a fi n al j u d g m en t i n Pen a’ s fav o r fo r b re a c h o f co n t ract an d n eg l i gen t co n s t ru ct i o n,

an d Bl ack m o n ap p eal s . Fo r t h e reas o n s t h at fo l lo w, we affi rm

.

Ev i d en ce ad d u ced at tri al rev eal ed t h at Pen a had p l an ned fo r s o m e t im e t o ad d

a p at i o an d s u n ro o m to th e M ex i can res t au ran t s h e an d h er h u s b an d o wn ed i n Fo rs y t h.Pen a’ s ni ece l o cat ed Bl ack m o n d uri n g an In t ern et s earch

, t el ep ho n ed h i m , an d Pen a

u l t i m at el y m et wi th h i m at t h e res t au ran t

. On e t o t wo week s aft er m eet i n g wi t h h i m ,

Pen a si g n ed t wo co n t ract s wi t h Bl ack m o n o n M ay 9

, 2 0 1 3

, fo r t h e co n s tru ct i o n o f an

ex t eri o r p at i o an d a fo u r-s eas o n s u n ro o m

. 1 Th e co n tract pri ces fo r t h e s u n ro o m an d

t h e e x t e ri o r pat i o were $ 5 3

, 9 9 7 an d $ 1 3

, 0 00

, res pect i v el y , an d co n st ru ct io n was t o

b eg in “ i n 4 -5 week s ” fro m M ay 9

, 2 0 1 3

, an d b e co m p l et ed in “ 3 -5 week s ” (s u n ro o m )

an d “ 1 -2 week s” (ex t eri o r p at i o ). Pen a g av e Bl ack m o n a d ep o s i t o f $ 2 8 ,0 0 0 wh en s h e

s i gn ed t he co n t ract s fo r th e pro j ect

, b u t di d n o t h ear fro m h i m fo r s ix t o s ev en week s

t h ereaft er. In fact

, Bl ack m o n d i d n o t o b t ai n a b u i l d i n g p erm i t u n t i l J u l y 1

, 2 0 1 3

–

m o re t h an t wo week s aft er co ns t ru ct i on was s l at ed to beg i n a n d

, i n th e cas e o f t h e

p at i o , aft er t he p at i o s h o ul d h av e b een co m p l et ed

.

1 T h e s u n ro o m co n t ract i s s i l en t as t o wh et her t h e ro o f w o u ld b e a gab l ed o r

“ s t u di o ” (wh i ch i s a m o r e f l a t d es i g n ) ro of. Al t h o u g h t h e co n t ract refers t o an

en g in eered ro o f, Bl ack m o n t es t i fi ed t h at an “ en g i n eered ro o f can b e g ab l ed [o r i ] t can b e s t u d i o

. ” In d eed

, al t h ou g h Bl ack m o n’ s st at em en t o f fact s in h i s o p en in g b ri ef s t at es
t h e s u nro o m co n t ract req u i red a “ s t u d i o-s t yl e ” ro o f, t h ere is n o s uch term i n t h e

co n tract

.

2A c c or ding t o Pen a, aft er v i ewi ng ph o to g rap h s of Bl ack m o n’ s w o r k, 2 B la c km on

t o l d h er t h a t t h e s u n ro o m ad d i t i o n “ w as g oi ng t o b l en d i n wi t h t h e ex i s t i n g

b u i l d i n g ...[a] n d t h at ’ s wh a t I ex p ect ed

. ” As a res u l t

, Pen a b el iev ed t h at Bl ack m o n

wo u l d i n s t al l a g ab l ed ro o f o n t h e s un ro o m , as dep ict ed i n h is m ark et i n g m at eri al s ,

t o m at ch t h e ro o f o f t h e o ri g in al res t au ran t

. Ho wev er, wh en wo rk on t h e p ro ject

co m m en ced

, Pen a rep o rt ed bei n g d i s s at i s fi ed w i t h Bl ack m o n ’ s wo rk

. W i t h reg ard to

t h e p at i o , Pen a ci t ed Bl ack m o n ’ s u s e o f warp ed wo o d o n t h e p erg o la an d t h e l ack o f

an y s u pp o rt fo r co n cret e pav ers o n t h e p at i o res u l t i n g i n u n ev e n f l o o ri n g an d

p u d d l i n g

. Co ncern i n g th e s u n ro o m , Pen a s t at ed t h at Bl ack m on u s ed re side ntia l d o o rs ,

rat h er t h an co m

m erci al d oo rs wi t h a pu s h b ar, fo r t h e em erg en cy ex i t s , an d

co m p l ai n ed t h at t h e p ai nt i n g was “ b ad ,” th e cei l i n g was t o o l o w , t h e fl o o ri n g was

“ real l y bad ,” an d t h e ex t eri o r s t u cco d i d n o t m at ch th e s tu cco on t h e ori g i n al b u i l d i n g

as p ro m i s ed

. A t on e p o i n t

, P e n a as k ed Bl ack m o n an d h i s s u b co n t ract o r, Hi ram

“ S h a n e” St o n e, t o reb ui l d t he pat i o ; t h ey decl i ned

. Des pi t e t h es e co n cer n s ,

p art i cu l arl y wi t h t h e i n s t al l at i o n o f a f l a t ro o f rat h er t h an a g ab l ed ro o f as s h e

2 Bl ack m o n ack n owl ed g ed t h at cert ai n s t at em en t s i n h i s b ro ch ure, in c l u d i n g
t h at h e w as b o n d ed an d i n s u red

, were n o t e n t i r e l y accu rat e, s t at i n g t h at h e “ h ad
i n s u ran ce i n t h e p as t ” an d t h at h e h ad o n l y b een b o n d ed fo r wo rk i n Co b b Co u n t y

.

3en v is i o n ed

, 3 Pen a n ei t h er as k ed Bl ack m o n to s t o p wo rk o n t h e ro of n o r p ro v i d ed an y

co n cern s i n wri t i n g

. In fact

, Bl ack m o n al w ay s t o ld h er t h at h e h ad n o t fi n i s h ed an d

t h at “ [i ] t’ s g oi n g t o b e g o rg eo u s , i t ’ s g o i ng t o l o o k b eau t i fu l , y o u n eed t o wai t .”

On Sep t em

b er 2 3

, 2 0 1 3

, Pen a s en t Bl ack m o n a l et t er i n s t ru ct i n g h i m t o s t o p

wo rk o n th e pro

ject

. 4 At t h at p o i n t

, s o m e t en w eek s aft er co n s t ru ct i o n w as d u e t o b e

co m p l et ed

, Pen a t e s t i fi ed t h at n ei t h er t h e ex t eri o r pat i o n o r t h e s u n ro o m were

fu n ct i o n al fo r s erv i n g cu s to m ers . Pen a ret ai n ed a n ew co n t ract o r, Bo bb y Iv ey , wh o

rem o v ed an d rep l aced th e p erg o l a an d co m p l et ed wo rk o n t h e ex t eri o r p at i o an d t h e

s u n ro o m

. In d o in g s o , Iv ey rem o v ed t he res i d en t i al d oo rs Bl ack m o n i n s t al l ed an d

rep l aced th em wi t h em erg en cy ex i t d o ors an d rep l aced t he s t ucco

. Iv ey al s o rem o v ed

an d rep l aced t he fl at ro o f o f t h e s u n ro o m wi t h a g ab l ed ro o f. 5

3 A fri en d o f Pen a’ s al so rep o rt ed co n cern s wi t h t h e wo rk m an s h i p o n t h e ro o f,
i n cl u d i n g a l ack o f s crews t o k eep t h e ro o f i n p l ace d u ri n g h i g h w i n d s an d l eak s in

t h e ro o f.

4 Of t h e t o t al $ 6 6

, 9 9 7 co n t ract p ri ce, Pen a p ai d Bl ack m o n $ 4 4 ,2 9 7

, l eav i n g a b al an ce d u e o f $ 2 2 ,7 0 0

.

5 Pen a p ai d Iv ey a t ot al o f $ 6 0

, 7 4 8 .0 8 fo r h i s wo rk

, o f w h i ch $ 2 0 ,8 1 9 .3 5

co m p ri s ed wo rk o n t h e ro o f. By s u b t ract i n g t h e a m ount o u t s t an di n g i n Pen a’ s co n t ract wi t h Bl ack m o n ($ 2 2 ,7 0 0 ) fro m t h e am o u n t Pen a p ai d Iv ey ( $ 6 0 ,7 4 8 .0 8), t h e t ri al

co u rt co n cl u ded t h at Pen a “ p ai d $ 3 8

, 0 8 4 [.8 0 ] m o re t h an w h at y o u b arg ai n ed fo r wi th

M r. Bl ack m o n .”

4Fo r h i s p art

, B l a c k m o n den i ed t h at Pen a as k ed fo r a g ab l ed ro of. In s t ead

, h e

cl ai m ed Pen a as k ed ab o u t a g ab l ed ro of b u t b al k ed at t he pri ce. Reg ard i n g t he q u al i t y

o f t h e wo rk

, Bl ack m o n t es t i fi ed t h at

, wh i l e an i n sp ect o r req u i red th at h e m ak e cert ai n

ch an ges t o t h e el ect ri cal s y s t em , i t an d al l o t her facet s o f hi s wo rk u l t i m at el y p as s ed

i n s p ect i on

. Bl ack m o n ’ s s u b co n t ract o r, St o n e, t es t i fi ed th at h e b eg an wo rk i n g o n t h e

p ro ject i n J u l y 2 01 3

. 6 B l a c k m o n g av e St o n e a s co p e o f wo rk

, w h i ch i n cl u d ed

b l u ep ri n t s an d drawi n g s , a n d S tone use d pr e

- e ngine e r e d m a t e r ia ls or de r e d s peci fi cal l y

for th e p ro ject

. Th e p re-en g i n eered m at eri al s are d es ig n ed t o b e wat erp ro o f, an d St o n e

n ev er recei v ed an y co m

pl ai n t co n cern in g l eak s at t he p ro ject

. No o n e co m

p l ai n ed to

St o n e co ncern i n g t h e ki n d o f ro o f b ei ng i n s t al l e d o r a t t em p t ed to s t o p hi m fro m

p erfo rm i n g wo rk

. 7 W hen h e was ev en t u al l y in s t ru ct ed t o l eav e t he p ro ject i n

Sep tem b er 2 0 13

, St o n e es ti m at ed t h at h i s wo rk was “ 9 8 p e r cen t ” co m pl et e an d

fu rt her t es t i fi ed t h at t h e p ro ject was s u b s t an t i al l y co m p l et e, in cl u di n g co m

p l et i o n o f

t h e ro o f, wi n d ows , do o rs , t ri m , s t u cco , el ect ri cal s y s t em , an d HVAC s y s t em

. In fact

,

St o n e t e s t i f

i e d t h at th e on l y wo rk rem ai n i n g t o b e d on e was co s m et i c w o rk t o t h e

6 In 1 8 y ears as a s u b co n t ract o r fo r Bl ack m o n , St o ne h a d b u i l t h u nd red s o f

s u n ro o m s , ab o u t fi ve o f wh i ch were s u n ro o m ad di t i o n s t o res t au ran t s

.

7 Th e o n l y co m

p l ai nt n o t ed b y St o n e was t h e l ack o f cem en t bet ween s ect i on s

o f co n cret e p av ers o n t h e p at i o

.

5co n cret e fl o o r. W hi le t h e ro o f h e b u il t was a fl at ro o f, St o n e o bs erv ed t h at t h e ro o f o n

t h e ad jacen t o ri g i n al res tau ran t was a g ab l ed ro o f.

Nei t her Bl ack m o n n o r Pen a req u es ted t h at t h e t ri al co urt en t er fi n d i n g s o f fact

an d c o n cl u s i o n s o f l aw i n acco rd an ce wi t h OCGA § 9 -1 1 -5 2 (a). As a res u l t

, at t h e

co n cl u s i o n o f t h e ben ch tri al on No v em b er 4

, 2 0 1 6

, t h e t ri al co u rt fi l ed a h an d wri t t en

fi nal ju d g m en t i n fav o r o f Pen a “ ag ai n s t [Bl ack m o n ] fo r b r e a c h o f c o n t ract s an d

n eg li g en t co ns tru ct i o n i n t he su m o f $ 38 ,0 8 4

. 0 8 p l u s co s t s.” Becau s e i t co n cl u d ed n o

frau d h ad b een s h o wn , t h e t ri al co u rt d ecl i n ed t o award p un i t i v e d am ag es

.

On No v em

ber 2 3, 2 0 1 6, Bl ack m o n fi led a “ M o ti o n fo r Mo re Defi n i t e Ord er”

p u rs u an t t o OCGA § 9 -1 1 -5 2 (c) i n wh i ch Bl ack m o n as k ed t h e t ri al co urt t o “ am en d

an d cl ari fy ” it s j u d gm en t

. Bu t b efo re t h e t ri al co u rt ru l e d on Bl ack m o n ’ s m o t i o n,

Bl ack m o n fi l ed a n ot ice of ap p eal o n No v em b er 2 9

, 2 0 1 6

. On D ecem

b er 1

, 2 0 1 6

, t h e

t ri al co u rt p urp ort ed ly vacat ed i t s No v em b er 4

, 2 01 6 ju d g m en t a n d

, f o l l o wi n g a

h eari n g , en t ered a n ew fi n al ju d g m en t co n t ai n i ng fi n d i ng s of fact an d co n cl u s i o n s o f

6l aw o n Decem b er 1 2

, 2 0 1 6

, n u n c p ro t u n c t o N o v em b er 4

, 2 0 16

. 8 Bl ack m o n d i d n ot

ap p eal fro m

t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s Decem

ber 1 2, 2 0 1 6 o rd er.

1

. A s a t h r e s h o ld m at t er, i t i s p l ai n t h at th e t ri al co u rt ’ s No vem b er 4

, 2 0 1 6

ju d g m en t co n s t i tu t es a “ fi nal ju d g m en t .” OCGA § 5 -6 -3 4 (a) (1 ) (“ Ap p eal s m ay b e

t ak en t o t h e . . . Co u rt o f Ap p eal s fro m t he fo l l o wi n g ju d g m en ts an d ru l i n g s o f t h e

s u p eri o r co u rt s

. . .: [a] l l fi n al ju d g m en t s , t h at i s t o say , wh ere t h e cas e i s n o l o n g er

p en di n g i n t h e co u rt b el o w.

. . .”). M o reo v er, “ [t ] h e fi l i n g o f a n ot i ce of ap p eal s erv es

t o s u p ers ed e a ju d g m en t an d wh i l e on ap p eal

, t h e t ri al co u rt is wi t h o ut au t h o ri t y to

m o di fy s u ch ju d gm en t .” Aet n a Ca s

. & S ur et y Co

. v. B ul li n g to n , 2 2 7 Ga. 4 8 5 (1 ) (1 8 1

SE2 d 4 9 5 ) (1 9 7 1 ); BJL En ter pr i s es v. Level On e C

o n t a c t

, 3 1 4 G a. Ap p

. 4 2

, 4 5 (1 )

(7 2 2 SE2 d 8 7 7 ) (2 0 1 2 )

. A s a res u lt

, th e t ri al co u rt ’ s Decem b er 1

, 2 0 1 6 o rd er

“ at t em p t in g t o vacat e t h e p ri o r [No v em b er 4

, 2 0 1 6 ] ju d g m en t, though r e nde r e d d u ri n g

t h e s am e t erm o f co u rt

, was a nu l l i t y , ev en as s u m in g t h at t h e p ri o r ju d g m en t co u l d b e

8 W e n o t e t h at t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s D ecem b er 1 2

, 2 0 1 6 ju d g m en t d em on s t rat ed an i m p ro p er u s e o f a “ n u n c p ro t u n c” en t ry . “ [T] h e p u rp o s e o f a n u n c p ro t un c en t ry i s
t o reco rd s o m e p rev i o u sl y u n reco rd ed act i o n act u al ly t ak en o r ju d g m en t act u al l y

ren d ered

. It m ay n o t b e u s ed t o s u p p l y an o rd er n o t y et m ad e b y th e co u rt .” (Ci t at i o n

an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed .) In t h e In ter es t o f H. L. W

. , 2 4 4 Ga. Ap p

. 4 9 8 (5 3 5 SE2 d
8 3 4 ) (2 0 0 0 ) (n u nc pro t u nc en t ry “ d i d m o re t h an co rrect m ere ‘ cl eri cal erro rs ’ o r

reco rd s o m e p rev i o u s l y

u n reco rd ed act i o n an d was , t h erefo re, an i m p ro per u s e o f a

n u n c p ro t u n c en t ry ”). Id

.

7s et as i d e wi t h o u t an y m eri t o ri o u s reas on b ei n g g i v en t h erefo r.” 9 Bu l l i n g t o n , 2 2 7 Ga.

at 4 8 5 (1 ). See al s o Level On e , 31 4 Ga. Ap p

. at 4 5 (1 ). It neces s ari l y fo l l o ws t h at t h e

t ri al co u rt ’ s Decem

b er 1 2, 2 0 1 6 o rd er i s , li k ewi s e, a n u l l i t y

. See Bu l l i n g to n , 2 2 7 Ga.

at 4 8 5 (1 ).

H ow e ve r, t hes e s u bs eq u en t o rd ers do n o t n eces sa r ily r e n de r B la c km on’ s a

ppe a l

f r o m t he No v em

b er 4

, 2 01 6 fi n al ju d g m en t m o o t

, s ee, e.g

. , In t he In t er es t o f R

. W.

,

1 8 6 Ga. Ap p

. 88 5 (1 ) (3 6 8 SE2 d 8 2 4 ) (1 9 88 ); D. P. v. S ta t e , 1 2 9 Ga. Ap p

. 6 8 0

, 6 8 1

(1 ) (2 0 0 SE2 d 4 9 9 ) (1 9 7 3), al t h o u g h t h e ab s en ce o f w r i t t e n f i n di n g s o f fact an d

co n cl u s i o n s o f l aw “ i s g ro u n d fo r affi rm an ce wh en t h ey are n eces s ary fo r res o l u t i o n

o f t h e is s u e o n ap p eal .” Beeks v. Co n s ul t ech

, In c. , 2 22 Ga. Ap p

. 4 7 3

, 4 74 (4 7 4 SE2 d

6 7 5 ) (1 9 9 6 ). Bl ack m o n ’ s o p en i n g b ri ef t o t hi s Co u rt co n t a i n s f i v e en u m erat i o n s o f

erro r. To t h e ex t en t t h e reco rd p erm i t s, we wi l l ad d res s each i n t u rn

.

2

. En u m erat io n s 1, 2

, a n d 4 c h al l en g e cert ai n s peci fi c fi n di n gs o f fact an d

co n cl u s i o n s o f l aw i n t he t ri al co u rt ’s Decem b er 1 2

, 2 0 1 6 o rd er. In v i ew o f o u r

9 Sp a l d i n g Co u n t y has t wo t erm s o f co u rt an n u al l y , b eg i n n i ng t he “ [s ] eco n d

M o n day i n M arch an d [t h e] s eco n d M o n d ay i n Sep t em b er.” OCGA § 1 5 -6 -3 (1 9 ) (C).
As a res u l t

, each o f t h e rel ev an t fi l i n gs in t h i s cas e o ccu rred d ur i n g t h e S e p t em b er
t erm o f co u rt

.

8d i s cu s s i o n i n Di v i s i o n 1

, s up ra, t h es e en u m erat i o n s p res en t n o t h in g fo r ou r rev i ew. 1 0

See Beeks , 2 2 2 Ga. Ap p . at 4 7 4.

3 . In h i s t hi rd en u m erat i o n , Bl ack m o n co n t en d s t h at t h e t ri al co urt “ i g n o red ”

Pen a’ s fai l u re t o p ro v i d e a wri t t en o b ject i o n t o h i s wo rk

, as req u i red b y t h e p art i es ’

co n tract s, an d in s tead al l o wed Bl ack m o n t o co nt i n u e wo rk i n g o n a ro o f Pen a d i d n ot

wan t. Si m i l arl y , Bl ack m o n’ s fi ft h en u m erat i o n co nt en d s t h at h e “ i s en t it l ed t o h av e

t h i s cas e d eci d ed b y t hi s [C] o u rt d e n o vo .” It ap p ears t h a t t h e s u b s t an ce o f t h es e

arg u m en t s i s th at t hi s cas e i n v ol v ed co n tr act en fo rcem en t fo r wh i ch Bl ack m o n s h o u ld

h av e p rev ai l ed

, an d t hat t h e en fo rcem en t o f co n t ract s i s a q u es t i on o f l aw s ub ject to

d e n o vo rev i ew on ap p eal

. 1 1 H o wev er, Bl ack m o n n ev er p res en t ed t o t h e t ri al c o u r t

an y arg um en t co n cern i n g t h e need fo r co n s t ru ct i o n o f t h e p art i es ’ co n t ract s

. 1 2 Rat h er,

1 0 W e fu rt h er n o t e t hat En u m erat io n 4 i s n o t s u p po rt ed b y a s i n g le ci t at i o n o f

au t h o ri t y . See Co u rt o f Ap p eal s Ru les 2 5 (a) (3 ) an d 2 5 (c) (2 ).

1 1 Becau s e t h i s en u m erat i o n d o es n o t ad d res s t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s j u d gm en t i n fav o r

o f Pen a fo r n eg l ig en t co n s t ru ct i o n , we d o n ot reach t hat p o rt i o n o f t h e ju d g m en t

.

1 2 Th e t ri al co u rt ’ s s t at em en t s co n cern i ng am bi g ui t y i n t h e p art i es ’ co n t ract s ,

m ad e du ri n g a Decem

b er 1 2

, 2 0 1 6 h eari n g o n Bl ack m o n ’ s “ M o t i o n fo r M o re Defi n i t e Ord er,” were n o t m em o ri al i zed i n i t s Decem ber 12

, 2 0 1 6 ju d g m en t. See Beeks , 2 2 2
Ga. A p p. at 4 7 4 (“ Oral fi n d i n g s are n o t s u ffi ci en t .”). In an y cas e, t h e rem ark s are n ot rel ev an t to o u r d e c i s i o n b ecau s e t h e t ri al co u rt w as wi th o u t au th o ri t y t o v acat e i t s No v em b er 4

, 2 0 16 o rd er, t o co nd u ct t he Decem b er 12

, 2 0 1 6 h eari n g , o r t o en t er t h e Decem b er 1 2 , 2 0 16 ju d g m en t. See g en eral ly Bu ll i ng t o n , 2 2 7 Ga. at 4 85 (1 ).

9h e arg u ed t h at Pen a recei v ed th e ro o f req u i red u n d er t h e p art i es ’ co n t ract an d t h at s h e

s i m p l y “ ju s t ch an g ed h er m i n d ab o u t wh at s h e wan t ed .”

Nev ert h el es s , th e p ro p er i n q u i ry i n t hi s cas e i s w h et h er t h ere was a n y evi d en ce

t o su p p o rt th e t ri al co u rt ’ s co n cl u s io n t h at Pen a was en t i t l ed to reco v er fo r a b reach

o f t h e p art i es ’ co n t ract s. See In f i n it e En er g y v. Co t t r el l

, 2 9 5 G a. Ap p

. 3 0 6

, 3 0 7 (6 7 1

SE2 d 2 9 4 ) (2 00 8 ) (“ On ap p eal fro m a b en ch t ri al

, we co n s t ru e t h e ev i d en ce fav o rab l y

t o t h e t ri al c o u rt ’ s ju d g m en t an d affi rm if a n y evi d en ce s u pp o rt s i t .”) (em

p h as i s

s u p p li ed ); Da b d

o u b v. Gl o b a l Ho me Ima g e , 2 9 1 G a. Ap p. 2 9 8

, 2 9 9 (6 6 1 SE2 d 6 6 9 )

(2 0 0 8). To t h at en d

,

[o ] n ap p eal

, t hi s co u rt m

u s t n o t s u b st i t u t e i t s ju d g m en t fo r t h at ex erci s ed

b y t h e tri al co u rt wh en t h ere i s s o m e s u p p o rt fo r t h e tri al co u rt ’s

co n cl u s i o n

. Ou r d u t y i s n o t t o wei g h ev i d e n c e d e n ov o , b u t t o m erel y

d et erm i ne i f th ere i s a n

y evi d en ce wh i ch s u p p o rt s t h e ju d g m en t b el ow.

Even i n t h e f

a ce o f co n f l i ct i n g evi d

en ce, t he t r i a l co u rt ’s j u d g men t wi l l

b e u p hel d a s l o n g

a s t h er e i s a n

y evi d en ce t o u p h o l d t h e l ower

co ur t ’s

d et er mi na t i o n

.

(Ci t at i o n s 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 .) E

dwa r ds v. W

i l s o n , 1 8 5 Ga.

Ap p

. 5 1 4

, 5 1 5 (1 ) (3 64 SE2 d 64 2 ) (1 98 8 ) (ci t i n g Ces s na Fi n a n ce Co r p

. v. Des i g n

En g

. & Co n st r

. In t l.

, 1 7 6 Ga. Ap p

. 2 0 6

, 2 0 8 (3 3 5 SE2 d 6 2 5 ) ( 1 9 8 5 ) ). In t h at v ei n,

ev i d e n c e r ev eal ed t h at Pen a an d Bl ack m o n ex ecu t ed t wo co n t ract s fo r t h e

10co n st ru ct i o n o f an ex t eri o r p at i o an d s u n ro om , res p ect i v el y ; th at t h e s u n ro o m co n t ract

was s il en t as t o t he t y

p e o f ro of t o b e i n s t al l ed ; t h at

, aft er d i s cu s s i o n s wi t h Bl ack m o n

a nd r e vie w ing B l a c k m o n ’ s m ark et i n g m at eri al s , Pen a e xpe c te d B la c km on to c onstr uc t

a g ab l ed ro o f f

o r th e s u n ro o m t h at m at ch ed t h e ro o f o f th e ex i st i ng res t au ran t

b u i l d i n g ; t h at Pen a n ev er recei v ed co n t rary d rawi n g s o r s p eci fi cat i on s fo r t h e

s u n ro o m fro m Bl ack m o n ; t h a t an en g i n eered ro o f as s t at ed i n t h e p art i es ’ s u n ro o m

co n tract co u l d refer t o a g ab l ed o r “ s t u d i o ” ro o f; t h at Bl ack m o n fai l ed to co m m en ce

wo rk wi t h i n a cert ai n t i m e fram e as req u ired b y t h e co nt ract s ; an d t h at Bl ack m o n

co n st ru ct ed a “ s t u d i o ” (i .e., m ore fl at ) ro of. 1 3

M o reo v er, t h e t ri al co u rt fo u n d t h at Pen a p ai d Iv ey , t h e s eco n d co n tract o r, a

t o t al o f $ 6 0 ,7 4 8 .0 8 fo r h i s w o rk

. By su b t ract in g t h e am o un t o u t s t an d i n g i n Pen a’ s

co n tract wi t h Bl ack m o n ($ 2 2 ,7 0 0 ) fro m t h e am o u n t Pen a p ai d Iv ey ($ 6 0,7 4 8 .0 8 ), t h e

t ri al co u rt co ncl u d ed t h at Pen a “ p ai d $ 3 8 ,0 8 4 [.0 8 ] m o re t h an wh at [s he] b arg ai n ed fo r

wi t h M r. Bl ack m o n ” an d a wa r d e d P e n a $ 3 8,0 8 4 .0 8

. As a res u l t

, b ecau s e t h ere was

1 3 As t he tri er of fact

, t h e t ri al co u rt ap p aren t ly d e t e r m i n e d t h at Bl ack m o n ’ s

co n fl i ct i n g t es t im o ny t hat Pen a o rd e r e d a fl at ro o f an d t h at h e g av e h er p l an s d em o n s t rat i n g a fl at ro o f was no t cred i bl e. See Ri ce v. Lo s t Mo u n t a i n Ho meo wn er

s As s n

. , 2 6 9 Ga. Ap p. 3 5 1

, 3 5 7 (7 ) (6 0 4 SE2 d 21 5 ) (2 0 0 4 ) (“ W h ere t h e t ri al co u rt i s t h e fi nd er o f fact

, i t d et erm i n e s w e i g h t

, cred i b i l i t y , o p in io n ev i d en ce, s u ffi ci en cy , an d
ad m i s s i b i l i t y o f al l ev i d en ce; if t h ere i s an y ev i d en ce t o s u p p ort t h e ju d g m en t

, i t m u s t b e affi rm ed .”).

11s o m e ev i d en ce to s u p p ort t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s co n cl u s i o n , w e a f f i rm t h e tri al co urt ’ s

ju d g m en t i n fav o r o f Pen a on her cl ai m o f b reach o f co n t ract

. See In f i n i t e En er g y , 2 9 5

Ga. Ap p

. at 3 0 7; Da b d

ou b

, 2 9 1 Ga. Ap p

. at 2 99 ; Ra f f er z ed er v. Zel l ner , 2 7 2 Ga. Ap p.

7 2 8

, 7 3 1 (2 ) (6 1 3 SE2 d 2 2 9 ) (2 0 0 5 ) (“ t h e m eas u re o f an o wn er’ s d am ag es fo r a

co n st ru ct i o n co n t ract o r’ s b reach i s t h e co s t o f co m p l et i n g t h e co nt ract o r co rrect i n g

t h e d efect i v e w ork

, m i n u s t h e u n p ai d part o f th e co n tract p ri ce.”) (p u n ct u at i o n,

fo o t n o t e, an d em

p h as i s o m i t t ed ).

Ju d g men t a f f i r m ed . Di l l ar d

, C. J., a n d Ra

y, J., co n cu r

.

12SELF, J ud g e, co n cu rri n g s p eci al ly

.

Fo r m ore t h an el ev en y ears , I h av e h ad t h e g o od fo rt u ne an d d i s t i n ct p ri v i l eg e

t o s erv e m

y fel lo w Geo rg i a n s a s a t ri al an d ap p el l at e ju dg e. W i t h o u t a d ou b t

, t h i s

u n i q u e an d u n paral l el ed o p p o rt u n i ty has b een t he h i g h l i g h t o f m y l eg al career. W i th

t h e fi l i n g o f t h i s o p i n i o n , m y s erv i ce o n t h i s d i s ti n gu i sh ed Co u rt an d i n G eo rg i a’ s

j u d i c i a l s y s t em co m es t o an en d

. As o t h ers h av e o ccas i on al l y d on e, I am t ak i n g a

p o i n t o f p ers o n al p ri v i l eg e i n m y l as t o p i n io n t o t han k s o m e o f t h e m an y p eo p l e wh o

h av e m ean t s o m

u ch al o n g t h i s jo u rn ey

. 1

1 See, e.g ., McCa i n v. S t a t e, 3 0 0 Ga. 4 0 0

, n .3

, (7 9 4 SE 2 d 5 8 )(2 0 16 ) (Th o m p s o n, C.J .); Gwi n n et t C t

y

. v

. Y a t es
, 2 6 5 Ga. 50 4

, 50 9 (4 5 8 SE 2 d 7 91

, 7 9 5 )(1 9 9 5 ) (Hu n t

, C .J .); D a vi s v. Ci t

y o f Ma co n, 2 6 2 Ga. 4 0 7 (4 2 1 SE 2 d 2 7 8 )(1 9 9 2 ) (W el tn er, C. J

. ,I wi s h t o t h an k t h e v o ters o f th e Maco n J u d i ci al Ci rcu i t wh o fi rs t el e c t e d m e

i n 2 0 0 6 ; wi t h o u t t h ei r co n fi d en ce an d su p po rt

, I wo u l d n o t h av e a ju d i ci al career.

Du ri n g m y t i m e o n th e s u p e r i o r c o u rt b en ch

, I s erv ed wi t h s o m e of t h e fi n es t t ri al

ju d g es i n o u r g reat s t at e an d l earn ed m an y v al u ab l e l es s on s fro m

each o f t h em

.

I o we Go v ern o r Nat h an Deal an i m m eas u rab l e d eb t fo r t h e t ru s t an d co n fi d en ce

h e s h o wed wh en h e ap p o i n t ed m e t o t hi s Co u rt

. No g o v ern o r h as i m p act ed t h e

ju d i ci al b ran ch m o re t h an Go v ern o r Deal an d i t was an h o n o r an d p ri v i l eg e t o b e

am on g h i s ap p el l at e ap p o i n t ees

.

I w i sh t o t h an k th e m em

b ers o f t h i s Co u rt wh o h av e t reat ed m e s o k i n d l y an d

b eco m e l i k e fam i l y

. Th es e t al en t ed an d g ift ed ju d g es , at t o rn ey s , an d s t aff s erv e o u r

g reat st at e wi t h ho n o r an d i n teg ri t y ev ery d ay t o i ns u re t h is p o rt i o n o f o u r ap p el l at e

l eg al s y s tem

wo rk s ex t rao rd i nari l y

wel l , an d i t was an h on o r t o s erv e wi th t h em

.

I h av e al way s b el iev ed i t wi s e t o su rro u n d on es el f w i t h t h o s e s m art er an d m o re

t al en ted

. Fo r t h e l as t y ear, I had t h at pl eas u re b y s erv i n g o n t h i s p an el wi th m y fel l o w

m i d d l e Geo rg ian s , Ch i ef Ju d g e St ep h en Di ll ard an d Pres id i ng J u d g e B i l l y Ray

. I

co u ld n o t h av e as k ed fo r a b et ter t eam an d I t h an k t h em fo r t h e i r h a r d w o rk

, s h arp

co n cu rri n g ); Gr an t h a m v. S t a t e, 2 44 Ga. 7 7 5

, 77 6 (2 6 2 SE 2 d 7 7 7) (1 97 9 ) (Hal l

, J

.,
co n cu rri n g ).

2p en s, an d g reat wi s do m

. Th ey m ad e m y o pi n io n s b et ter an d s av ed m e fro m m a n y a

p i t fal l . Th ey

h av e m ad e m e a b et t er ju d g e an d a b et ter p ers o n

.

Fi n al l y , I w i s h t o t h an k m y l o n g t i m e as s i s t an t

, Ch ery l Co l l i n s , an d m y

u n m at ch ed s t aff at t orn ey s J u li an n e Wh i s n an t

, J es s ica W ri g h t

, an d Ch ad Jaco b s fo r

t h ei r ex cel l en t wo rk

. T h ey d es erv e al l o f t h e cred i t fo r ou r ex cep t i o n al o p in i o n s an d

I al o n e t ak e th e bl am e fo r an y m i s t ak es

. E ach wo rk t i rel es s l y b eh i n d t h e s cen es wi th

l i tt l e reco g ni ti o n an d o u r Co u rt i s l u ck y to h av e t h em

. L i k e Ku n z, on e of t h e m an y

h ero es i n Si r T h o m as Carl y l e’ s S a r t o r Res ar t u s , t h ey h av e co n s i s ten t ly t u rn ed ch ao s

i n t o o rd er, an d d o n e s o wi th am azi n g s k i l l, J o b-l i k e p at i en ce, an d l i m it l es s g race. 2

Th ey t ru l y ex em p l i fy t he m ax i m : “ s i c vo s n o n vo b i s .” 3

I wi l l al way s ch eri s h m

y t i m e o n t h is m o s t h o n o rab le Co u rt

.

Go d b les s t h e g reat St at e o f Geo rg i a; m ay s h e fo rev er en du re as t h e g reat es t o f

al l s t at es

.

2 S ar t o r Res a r t u s , Si r Th o m as Carl y l e 9 3 (Od y s s ey Pres s 1 9 3 7 ).

3 “ T h u s y e l ab o u r, b u t n ot fo r y o u rs el v es .” Id ., p . 2 3 5

.

34