FI FTH DI VI SI ON

RI CKM A N, C. J.

, M CFA DDEN, P. 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.

https ://w w w

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

D E A D LIN E S A R E N O LO N G E R TO LLE D IN T

H I S

C O U R T. A LL FILIN G S M U ST B E S U B M I TTE D WITH IN

TH E TIM E S S E T B Y

O U R C O U R T R U LE S

.

Jul y 2, 2021



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R I C K M A N , Ch i ef J u d ge.

In t h i s in t erloc uto ry ap p eal

, Ut i l i co m Su p pl y As s o ci at es

, LLC ap peal s fro m t h e

t ri al co u rt ’ s o rd er s et t i ng as i d e a d efau l t ju d g m en t i n U t i li co m ’ s act io n ag ai n s t Terra

Tech

, In c. Th e t ri al c o u rt o ffered t w o g ro u n d s fo r it s d eci s i o n: i t co n cl ud ed t h at

s erv i ce of p ro ces s u p o n Terra Tech was i n s u ffi ci en t u n d er O CGA § 9 -1 1 -4 ( e ) ( 1 )

an d

, al tern at i v el y

, i t ex erci s ed i t s d i s cret i o n t o s et as i d e t h e ju dg m en t wi t h i n t h e s am e

t e r m o f c o u rt t h at i t h ad b een en t ered

. Becau se t h e t ri al co u rt had t h e i n h ere n t

au t h o ri t y i n i t s d i scret i o n t o s et as i d e t h e d efau l t ju d g m en t , we affi rm

.

Un d er Geo rg i a l aw, a t ri al co u rt ’ s p o w er to s et as id e i t s own j u d gm en t s d u ri n g

t h e s am e t erm

o f co u rt i s ex t en s i v e:A co u rt h as p l en ary co n t ro l o f i t s ju d g m en t s, ord ers

, an d decrees du ri n g

t h e t erm at wh i ch t h ey are ren d ered

, an d m ay am en d

, co rrect

, m o di fy

, o r

s u p p l em en t t h em

, fo r cau s e ap peari n g

, o r m ay

, t o p ro m o t e j u s t i ce,

rev i s e, s u pers ed e, rev o k e, o r vacat e th em

, as m ay

, i n i t s d is cret i o n s eem

n eces s ary

.

(Ci t at i o n an d pu n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed

. ) Lemco n US A Co r p or a ti o n v

. I

c o n Tech n o l o g

y

Co n s u l t in g

, In c

., 3 0 1 Ga. 88 8

, 8 9 1 (8 0 4 SE2 d 3 4 7) (2 0 17 ); s ee Po pe v. Po p e

, 2 7 7 Ga.

3 3 3 , 3 3 4 (5 8 8 SE2 d 73 6 ) (2 0 0 3 ) (“ Du ri n g t h e t erm i n wh ich a ju d g m en t i s en t ered

,

a t ri al co u rt h as p l en ary co n tro l o v er i t an d h as t h e di s cret io n t o s et as i d e t h e ju d g m en t

. . . fo r t h e p urp os e o f p ro m o t i n g j u s t i ce.”) (ci t at i o n s an d p un ct u at i o n o m i t t e d ) ; s ee

al s o O CGA § 15 -1 -3 (6 ). W h i le t h e d i s cret i o n t o s et as i d e a ju d g m en t i s no t wi t h o ut

l i m i ts an d s h o ul d b e ex erci s ed “ fo r s o m e m e r i t o ri ou s reas o n ,” i t i s wi t h i n t h e t ri al

co u rt ’ s di s cre t i o n t o d et erm i n e wh at am o u nt s t o “ a m eri t o ri o u s reas o n ” fo r t h at

p u rp o s e. Po

pe

, 3 2 7 Ga. A p p. at 3 3 4 ; s ee al s o Ho l co mb v. Tr a x, In c

. , 13 8 Ga

. A p p

.

1 0 5

, 1 0 7 (2 2 5 SE2 d 4 6 8 ) (1 9 7 6 ) (n o t i n g fu rt her t h at t h e q u es ti o n is n o t wh et h er t h e

o rd er co n t ai n s a “ m eri t o ri o u s reas o n,” b u t wh et h er an y “ m eri t o ri o u s reas o n” i s s h o wn

i n t h e reco rd ). Th i s Co u rt m ay rev ers e th at d is cret i o n o nl y if it i s m an i fes t ly ab u s ed

.

See Po p e , 3 2 7 Ga. Ap p . at 3 3 4 ; Ho l co mb , 1 3 8 Ga. Ap p . at 1 0 7

.

2Th e reco rd s h o ws th at Ut i l i co m i s a Geo rg i a co m p an y i n t h e b u s in es s o f s el l i n g

co m m u n icat io n an d ut il i t y rel at ed p ro d u ct s

. In M arch 2 0 1 8, Terra Tech s ub m i t t ed a

cred i t ap p l i cat i o n fo rm t o es t ab l i s h an acco u n t wi t h Ut i l i c o m

. T h e fo rm was

co m p l et ed b y Terra Tech ’ s o wn er an d i n cl u d ed an em ai l ad d res s, p h o n e n um b er, an d

s p eci fi c ad d res s in Co n co rd

, No rt h Caro l i n a. Th ro u g h o u t t h e du rat i o n o f th e p art i es ’

rel at i o n s h i p

, U t i li co m s h i p p ed m at eri al s t o an d b il l ed Terra Tech u si n g t h e Co n co rd

,

No rt h Caro l i n a ad d res s.

On J u n e 1 1

, 2 0 1 9

, Ut i l i co m fi l ed a co m p l ai n t ag ai n s t Terra T ech as s ert i n g an

act i on o n o p en acco u nt an d cl ai m s fo r b reach o f co n t ract

, u n ju s t en ri ch m en t

, 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

. Th e co m p l ai n t i n v ol ved t h e s am e m at eri al s

an d i nv o i ces th at h ad been s en t t o Terra Tech at t he Co n co rd

, No rt h Caro l i n a ad d res s

.

At t h e t i m e th e co m

p l ai n t was fi led

, Terra T ech ’ s m o s t recen t an n u al fi l i n g wi th

t h e Secret ary o f St at e o f Geo rg i a l i s t ed a s p eci fi c ad dres s i n Cu m m in g

, Geo rg i a as t h e

l o cat io n o f b o t h i t s reg is t ered ag en t an d i t s pri n ci p al o ffi ce. Bu t n ei t h er T erra Tech ’ s

reg i s tered ag en t n o r i t s p ri n ci p al o ffi ce was l o cat ed at t h at ad dres s i n 2 0 1 9

.

On Au g us t 2 3

, 2 0 19

, Ut i l i co m fi led a p ro o f of serv i ce o f p ro ces s wi t h t h e t ri al

co u rt

, as s ert i n g t h at i t had effect ed su b st i t u t e s erv i ce o f p ro ces s o n T erra T ech v i a

Geo rg i a’ s Secret ary o f St at e p u rs u an t t o OCGA § 9 -1 1 -4 (e) (1 ). Th e p ro of o f s erv i ce

3i n cl u d ed an affi d av i t fro m Ut i l ico m ’ s co u n s el

, wh o av erred

, am o n g o th er t h i n g s

, t h at

h e h ad b een u n ab l e t o l o cat e an d effect s erv i ce o n a reg i st ered ag en t at t h e Cu m m i n g,

Geo rg i a ad d res s l i s t ed i n Terra Tech ’ s an n u al fi l i n g, b u t th at h e h ad sen t t h e s u m m on s

an d co m p l ai n t v i a s t at u t o ry o v ern i g h t d el i very t o t h at ad dres s

. Co u ns el fu rt h er

as s ert ed t h at h e was “ n o t aware o f a l as t k no wn ad dres s o f a k n o wn offi cer o f Terra

Tech , In c.”

Terra Tech d id n o t an s wer t h e co m p lai n t , an d o n Oct o b er 2 3 , 2 0 1 9, Ut i l i co m

m o ved fo r t h e en t ry o f a d efau l t ju d g m en t ag ai ns t i t

. Th e t ri al co u rt en t ered a d efau l t

ju d g m en t o n Decem

b er 1 2 , 2 0 1 9

.

On J an u ary 2 7

, 2 0 20

, Terra Tech m o v ed t o s et as id e t h e d efau l t ju d g m en t u n d er

OCGA § 9 -1 1 -6 0 (d ) (1 ), arg u i n g t h at t h e t ri al co u rt l ack ed ju ri s d ict i o n o v er i t

b ecau s e Ut i l i co m h ad n o t p erfect ed s erv i ce o f pro ces s

. In t h e al t ern at i v e, Terra Tech

as s ert ed th at t he t ri al co u rt h ad t h e d i s cret i o n w i t h i n t h e s am e t erm o f co u rt t o s et

as i d e t h e ju d g m en t. Terra Tech m ai n t ai n ed th at U t i li co m ’ s at t em p t t o serv e i t t h ro u g h

t h e Secret ary o f St at e was prem at u re becau s e Ut i l i co m h ad n o t at t em p t ed s erv i ce at

Terra Tech ’ s l as t k n o wn ad d res s i n Co n co rd

, No rt h Caro l in a. W i t h i t s m o t io n

, Terra

Tech i ncl u d ed an a f

fi d av i t fro m i t s o wn er t h at i n cl u d ed t he cred i t ap pl i cat i o n fo rm

i t h ad su b m i tt ed t o U t i li co m wi t h t h e Co nco rd

, No rt h Caro l i n a ad d res s

, an d each o f

4t h e i n v o i ces fo rm in g t h e b as i s o f t h e co m p l ai n t th at l i s t ed t h e No rt h Caro l in a ad d res s

as t h e “ Bi l l To ” an d “ Sh i p To ” ad d res s

. Ad d i t i o n al l y

, t h e affi d av i t i ncl u d ed a d em an d

l et t er th at Ut i l i co m ’ s co un s el h ad s en t t o Terra Tech ’ s o wn er at t h e Co n co rd

, No rt h

Caro l i n a ad d res s i n May 2 0 1 9

, p ri o r t o Ut i l i co m ’ s fi l i n g o f t h e l aws u i t

. Terra Tech

s t at ed t h at i t h ad n o k no wl ed ge o f t h e l aws u i t or t h e d efau lt ju d g m en t un t il i t recei v ed

a l e t t er fro m i ts b an k at t h e Co n co rd

, No rt h Caro l i na ad d res s i n fo rm i n g i t t h a t t h e

b an k h ad b een serv ed wi t h l eg al p ap ers req u i ri n g i t t o res t ri ct T erra T ech ’ s acco u nt s

.

Ut i l i co m o p p o sed t he m o t i o n, arg u i n g t h at b ecau s e T erra Tech d i d n o t h av e a

reg i s tered ag en t t o s erv e i n G e o r g i a

, Ut il i co m h ad effect ed s u bs t i t u ted s erv i ce o n

Terra Tech t h ro u g h t he o ffi ce o f t h e Secret ary o f St at e, OCGA § 9 -1 1 -4 (e) (1 ) (A).

Ut i l i co m fu rt h er as sert ed t h at ev en i f s u bs t i t u ted s erv i ce of p ro ces s was i ns u ffi ci en t

,

i t e f f e ct i v el y s erv ed Terra Tech u n d er t h e Geo rg ia Bu s i n es s Co rp orat i o n Co de,

OCGA § 1 4 -2 -5 0 4

. 1

Th e tri al co u rt g ran t ed Terra T ech ’ s m o t io n t o s et as i de t h e d efau l t ju d g m en t

.

In i t s o rd er, t h e co u rt co n cl ud ed t h a t b e cau s e Ut il i co m “ h ad act u al k no wl ed g e o f a

1 OCGA § 1 4 -2 -5 0 4 (b ) p ro v i d es

, i n p ert i n en t p art

, t h at

, “ [i ] f a co rp o rat i o n h as

n o re g i st ered ag en t o r t h e ag en t can no t wi t h reas o n ab l e d i l i g en ce b e serv ed

, t h e

co rp o rat i o n m ay b e s erv ed by reg i s t ered o r cert i fi ed m ai l o r s t a t u t o r y o v ern i g ht

d el i v ery

, ret u rn recei p t req u es t ed

, ad d res s ed t o t h e s ecret ary of th e co rp o rat i o n at i t s

p ri n ci p al o ffi ce.”

5v al i d ad d r e s s

, o r at l eas t a l as t k n o wn ad d res s

, fo r [Terra Tech ] an d o n e o f i t s

o ffi cers ”

– n a m el y th e Co n co rd

, No rt h Caro l i n a o ffi ce – b u t fai l ed t o s en d t h e

s u m m o n s an d a co p y o f t h e co m p l ai n t t o t h at ad d res s, s erv ice was i ns u ffi ci en t u n d er

OCGA § 9 -1 1 -4 (e) (1 ). 2 As an al t e r n at i v e b as i s fo r it s h o l di n g

, t h e t ri al co u rt

ex p res s l y s t at ed : “ Th e Co u rt fu rt h er n o t es t h at i t h as t h e p o wer wi t h i n th e s am e t erm

o f co u rt d u ri n g wh i ch t h e Ju d gm en t was en t ered t o s et as i d e t h e J u d g m en t i n t h e

ex erci s e o f i t s di s cret io n

. . . . In t h e ex erci s e of i t s di s cret i o n

, t h e Co u rt fu rt h er fi nd s

t h at t h e J u dg m en t s h ou l d b e v acat ed an d s et as i d e.”

Ut i l i c o m arg u es th e t ri al co u rt erred i n h o l d in g t h at s erv ice o f p ro ces s was

i n s u ffi ci en t

. W e n eed n o t reach t h at i s s u e, h o w e v er, b ecau s e t h e t ri al co u rt h ad t h e

i n h eren t p o wer wi t h i n i t s d i s cret i o n t o s et as i d e th e defau l t ju d g m en t en t ered i n t h e

s am e t erm

o f co u rt . See Po

p e , 2 7 7 Ga. at 3 3 4 ; Ho lco mb

, 1 3 8 Ga. Ap p . at 1 0 7

.

In i t s o rd er, t h e t ri al co u rt ex p res s l y fo u n d th at Ut i l i co m “ h ad act u al k n o wl ed g e

o f a v al i d ad d res s

, o r at l eas t a l as t k n o wn ad d r e s s f o r [ T e r r a Tech ] an d on e o f i t s

o ffi ce r s ” a n d ye t fai l ed t o s en d t h e s u m m on s an d a co p y o f t h e co m p l ai n t t o t h at

ad d res s

. T h e reco rd fu l l y s u pp o rt s t hat fi n d i n g

, an d th e t ri al co u rt d i d no t m an i fes t l y

2 Th e t ri al co u rt d i d n ot ad d res s wh et h er s erv i ce of p ro ces s was effect ed u n d er

t h e Geo rg i a Bu s i n es s Co rp o rat i o n Co d e.

6ab u se it s d i s cret i o n by co ncl u d i n g t h at t h o se fact s p res en t ed a m eri to ri o u s reas o n fo r

s et t i n g as i d e t h e d efau l t ju d g m en t . See P.H.L. Devel o p men t Co r p

. , 1 7 4 Ga. Ap p . at

3 2 8 (1 ) (h o ld in g t h at i m pl i c i t i n t h e tri al co urt ’ s ru l i ng was “ [t h e] fi n d i n g o f a

m eri t o ri o u s reas o n

, t he pro m o ti o n of ju s ti ce, fo r ex erci s in g it s i n h eren t po wer t o s et

as i d e t h e d efau l t ju d g m en t ”); s ee al s o Po p e

, 2 7 7 Ga. at 3 3 4 ; Ho l co m b

, 1 3 8 G a. Ap p.

at 1 07

. T h i s i s p art i cu larl y t ru e i n l i g h t o f t h e p ol i cy o f o u r s t at e t h at

, “ wh en ev er

p o s s i b l e[,] cas es s h o u ld b e d eci d ed o n t h ei r m eri t s [,] f o r d e f au lt ju d g m en t i s n ot

fav o red i n l aw.” (Ci t at i o n an d pu n ct u at i o n om i t t ed .) Gi l l i a m v. Lo ve , 2 7 5 Ga. Ap p.

6 8 7

, 6 8 8 (6 2 1 SE2 d 8 0 5 ) (2 0 0 5 ) (reco g n i zi ng

, wh il e d is cu s s i n g t h e o pen i n g o f a

d efau l t ju d g m en t u n d er O CGA § 9 -1 1 -5 5

, t h at “ [o ] u r co u rt s h av e ex p res s ed a p o l i cy

o f li b eral i t y t o w ard m o t i o ns fo r rel i ef fro m en t ry o f d efau l t an d h av e res o l v ed d o u b t s

i n fav o r o f t h e p art y s eek i ng rel i ef s o t hat t h e cas e can b e h e a r d o n th e m eri t s .”)

(ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at i o n om it t ed ); s ee al s o Bo wen v. S a vo y

, 3 0 8 Ga. 2 04

, 20 9 (8 3 9

SE2 d 5 4 6) (2 0 2 0).

W e s i m p l y d o n o t ag ree wi t h t h e d i ss en t ’ s po s i ti o n t h at n o “ m eri t o ri o u s reas o n ”

ex i s t s t o j u s t ify t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s ex erci se o f it s d is cret i o n

, p art i cu larl y wh en Geo rg i a

l aw al s o g i ves t h e t ri al co u rt t h e d i s cret i on t o d et erm i n e wh at c o n s t i t u t es a

“ m eri to ri o u s reas o n” i n th i s co n t ex t

. See P op e

, 2 77 Ga. at 3 3 4 ; s ee al s o P.H.L.

7Devel o

pmen t Co r

p

. , 17 4 Ga. Ap p

. at 3 2 8 (1 ) (“ Th e p ro m o t i o n o f j u s t i ce i s a

m eri t o ri o u s reas o n w h ich wi l l su p p o rt t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s ex erci se o f i t s i nh eren t p o wer

t o s et as id e a ju d g m en t .”).

Ju d g men t a f fi r med

. S

en i o r Ap p el l a t e Ju d

g e Her ber t E. Ph i

p p s co n cu r

s

,

McFa d den , P. J., d i s s en t

s

.

8

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.

Ci t i n g t h e t ri al co urt ’ s i n heren t p o wer t o set as id e o rd ers du ri n g t h e s am e t erm

o f co urt

, t h e m ajo ri ty affi rm s t h e s et as i de o f t h e d efau l t ju d g m en t w i t ho u t ad d res s i n g

wh et h er o r n o t Terra T ech recei v ed s erv ice of p ro ces s an d is cu rren t l y i n d efau l t

. Bu t

Terra Te c h i s i n d efau l t

, b ecau s e Ut i li co m effect ed s erv i ce o f p ro ces s u n d er t h e

Geo rg i a Bu s i n es s Co rp o rat i o n Co d e. M o r e o v e r, Terra Tech h as n o t as ked t h e t ri al

9co u rt t o o p e n t h e defau l t o r m ad e a s ho wi n g t h at wo u ld perm it t he t ri al co u rt to

ex erci s e hi s d is cret i on t o o p en t h e d e fau l t

. Co n s eq u en tl y

, U t i li co m i s en t i t l ed t o a

d efau l t ju d gm en t

. Un d er t h es e ci rcu m s t an ces

, Terra Tech h as s h o wn n o m eri t o ri ou s

reas on u p o n w h ich t h e t ri al co u rt co u ld ex erci s e hi s i n h eren t p o wer t o s et as i d e t h e

d efau l t ju d g m en t, s o I res p ect fu l l y d i s s en t

.

1

. S er vi ce o f p r o ces s u n d

er t h e Geo r g i a Bu si n es s Co r

p o r at io n Co d

e.

Th e u n d i s p u t ed e v i d en ce s ho ws th at Ut i l i co m perfect ed s erv ice o f p ro ces s

u n d er OCGA § 1 4 -2 -5 0 4 (b ) o f t h e Geo rg ia Bu s i n es s C o r p o r a t i o n Co d e. As t h e

m ajo ri ty no t es

, at th e t i m e U t i li co m fi l ed i t s co m p l ai n t o n J u n e 1 1

, 2 0 1 9, Terra Tech ’ s

an n ual fi li n g wi t h t h e Secret ary o f St at e of Geo rg i a l i st ed a p art i cu l ar ad d res s as t h e

l o cat io n o f b o t h i t s reg i s t ered ag en t an d i t s p ri nci p al offi ce, b u t n ei t h er t he ag en t n o r

t h e o ffi ce were, i n fact

, l o cat ed at t h at ad dres s

. In d eed

, i n i t s arg u m en t b efo re t h e t ri al

co u rt

, Terra Tech co n ced ed t hat at t h e rel ev an t t im e i t d i d no t hav e a reg i s t ered ag en t

i n Geo rg ia wh o co u l d accep t s erv i ce o f p ro ces s o n Terra Tech ’ s b eh al f.

On Au g u s t 2 3

, 2 0 1 9, Ut il i co m fi led wi t h t he t ri al co u rt a p ro o f o f s erv i ce o f

p ro ces s

. It in cl u d ed wi t h th e pro o f o f s erv i ce t h e affi d av i t o f i t s co u n s el

, wh o am o n g

o t h er th i n g s av erred t h at h e had b een u n ab l e t o l o cat e an d effect s e r v i c e o n a

reg i s tered ag en t at t h e Cu m m i n g

, Geo rg i a ad d res s l i s t ed i n Terra Tech ’ s an n ual fi l i n g

10b u t t h at h e h ad s en t t h e s u m m o n s an d co m

p l ai nt v i a s t at u t o ry o v ern ig h t d el i v ery to

t h at ad d res s

.

Ut i l i co m arg u es o n ap p eal t h at i t p erfect ed s erv i ce o f p ro ces s u p o n T erra Tech

u n d er OCGA § 14 -2 -5 04 o f t h e G eo rg i a Bu s i nes s Co rp o rat io n C o d e

. I ag ree.

Al t h o u g h t h e tri al co u rt d i d n o t ex p res s l y ad d res s s erv i ce un d er t h at Co d e s ect i o n in

h i s o rd er, Ut i l ico m arg u ed to t h e t ri al co urt t hat i t p erfect ed s erv i ce o f p ro ces s u p o n

Terra Tech u n d er OCGA § 1 4 -2 -5 0 4 i n ad d i t i o n t o t he Ci v il Pract i ce Act , OCGA §

9 -1 1 -4

. Th e t ri al co u rt reject ed t h at arg u m en t wh en h e h el d in h i s o rd er t h at Terra

Tech “ was n o t p ro p erl y s erv ed wi t h p ro ces s u n der OCGA § 9

- 1 1

- 4 (e) (1 ) (A) a n d

h a s n o t ot h er wi se b een s er ved wi th p r o ces s i n t h is a ct io n

. ” (Em p h as i s s u p p l i ed .) So

t h e i ss u e i s p ro p erl y b efo re t hi s co u rt

. A n d I wo u l d h o ld t h at Ut i l ico m p ro p erl y s erv ed

Terra Tech u n d er t h e Geo rg i a Bu s i n es s Co rp orat i o n Co d e.

Un d er t he Geo rg i a Bu s in es s Co rp o rat i o n Co d e, “ [i ] f a co rp o rat i o n h as n o

reg i s tered ag e n t o r t h e ag en t can n o t w i t h reas o n ab l e di l i g en ce b e serv ed

, t h e

co rp o r a t i o n m ay b e s erv ed b y reg i s t ered or cert i fi ed m ai l o r st at ut o ry o v ern i g ht

d el i v ery

, ret u rn recei p t req u es t ed

, ad d res s ed t o t h e s ecret ary of th e co rp o rat i o n at i t s

p r i n ci p al o ffi ce.” OCGA § 1 4 -2 -5 0 4 (b ). Th e t erm “ p ri n ci p al o ffi ce” is d efi n ed t o

m ean “ t h e o ffi ce i n o r o u t o f t h e s t at e s o des i g n at ed i n t h e an n u al reg i s t rat i o n wh ere

11t h e p ri n ci p al ex ecu t i ve o ffi ces o f a d o m es t i c o r fo r e i g n c o rp o rat io n are lo cat ed .”

OCGA § 1 4 -2 -1 4 0 (2 2 ). Th e “ an n u al reg i s t rat i o n ” i s t h e co rp o rat i o n ’ s an nu al fi l i n g

wi t h t he Secret ary o f St at e s et t i n g fo rt h v ari o us i n fo rm at i o n

, i n cl u d i n g “ [t ] h e m ai l i n g

ad d res s o f i t s p ri n ci p al o ffi ce[.] ” OCGA § 1 4 -2 -1 6 2 2 (a) (3 ).

Th e affi dav i t o f Ut il i co m ’ s co u n s el

, wh i ch w as a p art o f i t s p ro o f o f s erv i ce,

i n d i cat ed t h at co u n s e l h a d s e n t t h e s u m m o ns an d co m

pl ai n t b y st at u t o ry o v ern i g ht

d el i v ery to t h e Cu m

m i ng

, Geo rg i a ad dres s

. See OCGA § 9

- 1 1

- 4 ( h ) (2 ) (l i s t i n g t h e

affi d av i t o f a “ p ro p er p ers o n ” as a fo rm o f pro o f, o r ret urn

, o f s erv i ce). An d un d er t h e

s t a t u t o ry d efi n i t i o n o f “ p ri nci p al o ffi ce” u n d er t h e Geo rg i a Bu si n es s Co rp o r a t i o n

Co d e, t h e Cu m

m i n g

, Geo rg ia ad d res s was T erra Tech ’ s p ri n ci p al o ffi ce fo r p u rp o s es

o f s erv i ce u n der OCGA § 1 4 -2 -5 0 4 (b ). See OCGA § 14 -2 -1 40 (2 2 ). Co n s eq u en t l y

,

Ut i l i co m ’ s p ro of o f s erv i ce was p ri m a faci e p ro o f t h at it m ad e s erv i ce o f pro ces s u p o n

Terra Tech u n d er OCGA § 1 4 -2 -5 0 4 (b ) by s en d i n g t h e s um m o n s an d co m p l ai n t v i a

s t at u to ry o v ern i g h t d el i very t o Terra Tech ’ s p ri m ary offi ce. See Ra f a c 3 5 7 G a. Ap p.

at 5 5 4 (“ Th e ret u rn o f s erv i ce co n s t i t u t es p ri m a faci e p ro o f as t o t h e fact s reci t ed

t h erei n .”) (ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ). Al t h o u g h Terra T ech

, as t h e d efen d an t

,

“ b o re t he h eav y b u rd en o f s h o wi ng i m pro p er s erv ice[,] ” Ra

f a c

, s up r a a t 5 5 5

, i t

p res en t ed n o ev i d en ce t o d i s p u t e t h es e p art i cu lar fact s

.

12Nev ert h el es s

, T erra Tech as s ert s t h at Ut i l i co m d i d n o t at t em p t t o s erv e i t u n d er

OCGA § 1 4 -2 -5 0 4 o r t o p ro v e serv i ce u n der t h at Co d e s ect i o n becau s e Ut i l i co m d id

n o t m en ti o n t h at Co d e s ec t i o n i n t h e n o t i ce o f fi l i n g acco m p an y in g i ts p ro o f o f

s erv i ce. Bu t Terra Tech po i n t s to n o au t h o ri ty fo r t h e p ro p os i t i o n t hat t h e ab s en ce o f

s u ch a referen ce i n t h e n o t i ce o f fi l in g n eg at es an o th erwi se s u ffi ci en t p ro o f o f

s erv i ce.

Terra Tech al s o as s ert s t h at t h e s t at u t ory d efi n it i o n o f “ p ri n ci p al o ffi ce” in

OCGA § 1 4 -2 -1 4 0 (2 2) “ s h ou l d n o t b e c o n t ro l l i ng ” b ecau s e Ut i l i co m h ad act u al

k n o wl ed g e t h at T er

r a Tech ’ s p ri n ci pal o ffi ce was lo cat ed el s ewh ere (i n an o t h er s t at e).

Bu t

, ag ai n

, i t p o i nt s t o n o au t h o ri t y p erm i t t i n g t h i s co u rt t o “ i gn o re t h e p lai n l an g u ag e

o f [ t h e st at ut ory d efi ni t i o n ] an d wri t e i n t o t he s tat u t e an ex cep t i o n fo r [i n s t an ces i n

wh i ch a p lai nt i ff k n o w s t h e i nfo rm at i o n co n t a i n e d i n t h e an n u al fi l i n g wi t h t h e

Secret ary o f St at e is i n co rrect ] .” Jo h n s v. S u z uki Mo t o r o

f Amer ica

, 3 1 0 Ga. 1 5 9

, 1 7 0

(5 ) (8 50 SE2 d 5 9) (2 02 0 ).

To d i s reg ard t h e st at u t ory d efi n i t i o n o f “ p r i n ci p al o ffi ce,” as Terra Tech

p ro p os es

, al s o co n fl i ct s wi t h o n e o f t h e p u rp o s es o f t h e Geo rg i a Bu s i n es s Co rp o rat i o n

Co d e. Th e Geo rg i a Bu s i n es s Co rp o rat i o n Co d e co n tai n s req u i re m e n t s fo r

co rp o rat i o ns d o i n g b u s i n es s i n G e o rg i a t h at are “ des i g ned t o m ak e i t s i m p l e fo r a

13p l ai n t i ff t o ach iev e s erv i ce o n a d o m es t i c co rp o rat i on ” an d “ v i rt u al l y t o el i m i n at e t h e

p o s s i b i l i ty o f a d o m es t i c co rp o rat i o n ’ s ev ad i n g s erv i ce of p ro ces s .” O’Nea l Co n s t r

.

Co

. v. Lexi n g t o n Devel o

p er s

, 2 4 0 Ga. 3 7 6

, 3 78 (2 4 0 SE2 d 85 6 ) (1 9 7 7 ) (ci t at i o n an d

p u n ct u at i o n o m i t ted ) (c o n s t r u i n g fo rm er v ers io n o f OCGA § 14 -2 -5 04 ). As a

co n di t i o n o f d oi n g b u s i n es s i n Geo rg ia, Te r r a Tech h ad t o ab id e b y t h o s e

req u i rem en t s

, O’Nea l Co n s t r

. Co

. , s up ra, i ncl u d i n g t h e req u i rem en t t h at Terra Tech

m ai n t ai n cu rren t i n fo rm at i o n in i t s an n u al reg i s t rat i o n wi t h t h e S e c ret ary o f St at e.

OCGA § 1 4 -2 -1 6 2 2 (b ). Ou r Su p rem e Co urt h el d t h at i t “ wo rk [ed ] n o h ard s h i p ” o n

a co rp o rat i o n t o reco gn i ze s erv i ce o f p ro ces s u p o n i t u nd er th e m et ho d s s et fo rt h i n

t h e Geo rg i a Bu s i n es s Co rp o r at i o ns Co d e i n ci rcu m st an ces wh ere, as h ere, t h e

co rp o rat i o n fai l e d b ot h t o m ai n t ai n a reg i s t ered ag en t i n t h e s t at e an d to u p d at e i t s

ad d r e s s w i t h t he o ffi ce of t h e Secret ary o f St at e. O’Nea l Co n s t r. Co

. , s up ra at 3 7 7

-

3 7 8

. In d eed

, OCGA § 14 -2 -5 0 4 (b ) “ ex p l i ci t l y co n t em p l at es t h e p o s s i b i l i t y t h at

s erv i ce m ay b e deem ed p erfect ed ev en i f t h ere i s n o ev i d en ce t h at t h e c o r p o r at i o n

ev er recei v ed t h e co m

pl ai n t [.] ” B&

B Qu i ck Lu b e v. G&

K S v c s

. C o

. , 2 8 3 Ga. Ap p.

2 9 9

, 3 01 -3 0 2 (6 41 SE2 d 1 9 8) (2 0 0 7 ) (d i s cu s s i n g OCGA § 14 -2 -5 04 (b ) (3 )),

o v erru l ed i n p art o n o t h er g ro u nd s i n Gi l es v. S t a te Fa r m M u t

. In s

. Co

. , 3 3 0 Ga. Ap p.

3 1 4

, 3 1 7 -3 2 1 (2 ) & 3 1 9 (2 ) n

. 2 ( 7 6 5 S E 2 d 41 3 ) (2 0 1 4 ). Co m pare S t o n e Exch a n g e

14v. S

u r f a ce Tech n o l o g

y Co r p

. o f Ga

. , 2 6 9 Ga. Ap p

. 77 0

, 7 7 3 (6 0 5 SE2 d 40 4 ) (2 0 0 4 )

(s u b s t i t u ted s erv i ce up on t h e Secret ary o f St at e u n der OCGA § 9 -1 1 -4 (e) (1 ) i s n ot

s u ffi ci en t wh ere p l ai n ti ff has act u al k n o wl ed g e o f t he co r p o r a t i o n ’ s cu rren t co rrect

ad d res s

, b ecau s e t h e l an gu ag e o f t h at Co d e s ect i on fi rs t req u i r e s a n a t tem p t to

p ers o n al l y s erv e t h e o ffi cers o f t h e co rp o rat i o n ). T h e reco g n i t i o n o f s erv ice o f p ro ces s

u n d er t hes e ci rcu m st an ces d o es n o t i m p l icat e d u e p ro ces s co n cern s

. See B& B Qu i ck

Lu b e , s up ra at 3 0 2.

Si m p l y p u t

, t he p l ai n l an g u ag e o f O CGA § 1 4 -2 -1 4 0 (2 2) an d OCGA § 1 4 -2

-

5 0 4 (b ) p ro vi de t h at T erra T ech ’ s “ pri n ci p a l o ffi ce,” fo r p u rp o s es o f s erv i ce o f

p ro ces s , was l o cat ed at t h e Cu m m i n g , Geo rg i a ad d res s

. Becau s e Terra Tech h ad n o

reg i s tered ag en t u p o n wh o m s erv i ce o f p ro ces s co u l d

, wi t h reas o n ab le d i l i g en ce, b e

m ad e i n G e o rg i a, t h e Geo rg i a Bu s i n es s Co rp orat i o n s Co d e p erm i t t ed Ut i l i co m to

s erv e Terra Tech b y s en d i n g t h e s u m m o n s an d co m

p l a i n t v i a s tat u t o ry o v ern i g ht

d el i v ery t o t h at Cu m

m i n g

, G e o r g i a ad d res s

. T he fact s th at Terra Tech co u l d n ot

act u al l y recei v e t h o s e i t em s at t h at ad d res s

, an d th at Ut i l i co m k new i t c o u l d n o t d o

s o

, d o no t au t h o ri ze t hi s co u rt t o d i s reg ard t he s t at u t o ry l an g uag e p erm i t t i n g s erv i ce

o f p ro ces s i n t h i s m an ner. Un d er t h e Geo rg i a Bu s i n es s Co rp o rat i o n s Co d e, i t was

15i n cu m

ben t u p o n Terra Tech t o pro v i d e t o t h e offi ce o f th e Secret ary o f St at e cu rren t

i n fo rm at i o n reg ard i n g i t s p ri n ci p al o ffi ce.

2

. Au t h o r i t

y o f t h e t r i a l co u r t t o s et as i d e t h e d ef a ul t j u d g men t d u r i n g th e s a me

t er m o f co u r t

.

Th e m ajo ri t y h o l d s th at

, wh et her o r n o t s erv i ce o f p ro ces s was effect ed i n t h i s

cas e, i t was wi t h i n t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s d i s cret i o n t o s et as id e t h e d efau l t ju d g m en t wi t h in

t h e s am e t erm of co urt

. It i s t ru e t h at a “ t ri al co u rt m ay ex erci s e d i s cret io n in s et t i n g

as i d e a d efau l t ju d g m en t wi t h i n t h e s am e t erm o f co u rt .” Ga

. Recei va b l es v. Mu r r ay

,

2 4 0 Ga. Ap p

. 6 7 6 (5 2 4 SE2 d 5 1 8 ) (1 9 9 9 ). Bu t a t ri al co u rt ’ s i n h eren t p o wer t o d o s o

i s m erel y an i n s tan ce o f t h e t ri al co urt ’ s ab il i t y to reco n s i d er d eci s i o ns d u ri n g t h e

t erm

. See Bel l v. Co ch r a n

, 2 4 4 G a. Ap p

. 5 10

, 5 1 1 (5 3 6 SE2 d 1 87 ) (2 0 0 0 ) (ex p l ai n i n g

t h at a d i s cret i o n ary m o t i o n t o s et as i d e, cal l i n g fo r t h e t ri al co u rt t o s et as i d e a

ju d g m en t p u rs u an t t o i t s i n h eren t p o w er t o m o d i fy ju d g m en t s d u r i n g t h e t erm o f

co u rt

, “ i s s im

p ly a req u es t fo r t h e t ri al co u rt to reco n si d er t h e d eci si o n ”) (ci t at i o n an d

p u n ct u at i o n om i t t ed ). It no t i t sel f a g ro u n d fo r set t in g as i d e a j u d gm en t

. An d i t i s n o t

,

as Terra Tech as s ert s, ab s ol u t e.

“ Un d er o u r l aw, a j u d gm en t n o t b as ed u po n a ju ry v erd i ct is co n s i d ered wi t h in

t h e breas t o f th e co u rt d u ri n g t h e t erm o f co u rt in wh i ch i t i s en t ered an d a co u rt m ay

16ex erci s e i t s d i s cret i o n f o r mer i t o r i o u s r ea s o ns t o set as i d e a ju d g m en t w it hi n t h e s am e

t erm o f co u rt .” Br i d

g es t o n e/ Fi r es t o n e N. A mer i ca n Ti r e v. Jen ki ns

, 2 6 1 Ga. Ap p

. 2 0,

2 1 (2 ) (5 8 2 SE2 d 9 ) (2 0 0 3 ) (ci t at i o n s an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i tt ed ; em p h as i s s u p p l i ed ).

Th i s ru le “ refl ect s a b al an ce b et ween t h e need fo r fi n al it y o f ju di ci al d eci si o n s an d t h e

u n d ers t an d i n g th at t ri al co u rt s s h o u l d h av e t h e o pp o rt un i t y t o reach t h e co r r ect

d eci s i o n s .” Lemco n US

A Co r p. v. Ico n Tech n ol o g

y Co n s u l ti n g

, 3 0 1 G a

. 888, 8 9 1 (8 0 4

SE2 d 3 4 7 ) (2 0 17 ) (ci t at i o n, p u n ct u at i o n an d s o m e em p h as i s o m i tt ed ; o t her em

p h as i s

i n o ri g i n al ). Bu t t h i s ru l e “ was n ev er i n te n d ed t o au th o ri ze t h e ju dg e t o s et as i d e a

ju d g m en t d ul y an d reg u larl y en t ered u nl es s s o m e m eri t o ri o u s reas o n i s g i v en

t h erefo r.” Hi cks v. H

i cks

, 2 26 Ga. 7 9 8

, 7 99 (1 7 7 SE2 d 6 9 0 ) (1 9 70 ). T h e t ri al co urt ’ s

d i s cret i o n i n t h i s co n t ex t “ i s a leg al d i s cret i on

, t o b e ex erci s ed up o n l eg al p ri n ci p l es

.

It i s n o t an arb it rary d i s cret i o n , i n t h e ex erci s e o f wh i ch t h e co u rt m ay at i t s wi l l s et

as i d e a ju d g m en t o r o rd er g ran t ed at t h e s am e t erm .” Fl or i d a Cen t r al R. Co

. v. Lu ke

,

1 1 Ga. Ap p. 2 9 0 , 2 9 4 (7 5 SE 2 7 0 ) (1 9 1 2 ).

Co n seq u en t l y

, wh ere “ n o g ro u nd s fo r s et t i n g a s i d e t h e ju d g m en t [ex i s t ]

, i t

fo l l o w s t h at [a] tri al ju d g e ab u s e[s ] h i s d i s c r e t i o n i n v acat i n g an d s et ti ng as i d e t h e

ju d g m en t [,] ” ev en i f th e t ri al j u d g e d o es s o wi t h i n t h e sam e term o f co u rt

. H i cks

, 2 2 6

Ga. at 8 0 0

. In d i s cu ss in g wh at co n s t i t u t es g ro u n d s fo r s et t i n g as i de a ju d g m en t d u ri n g

17t h e s am e t erm o f co u rt

, Geo rg i a c a s e s h a v e u s ed t erm s su ch as a “ s o u n d an d g o o d

l eg al reas o n

, ” Da vi so n -Pa xo n Co . v. Bu r ka rt

, 9 2 Ga. 80

, 8 3 (8 8 SE2 d 39 ) (1 9 5 5 ), a

“ l eg al an d sat i s fact o ry reas o n ,” Co o ley v. Tyb ee B ea ch Co

. , 9 9 G a. 2 9 0 (2 5 SE 6 9 1 )

(1 8 9 6), an d “ s u ffi ci en t cau s e s h o wn .” Ca ho o n v. W i l l i s

, 1 7 9 Ga. 19 5

, 1 9 7 (1 7 5 SE2 d

5 6 3 ) (1 9 3 4 ).

Geo rg i a co urt s h a v e f

o u n d t h at t ri al co urt s d i d n o t h av e t he d i s cret i o n t o s et

as i d e ju d g m en t s

, ev en i n t h e s am e t erm o f co u rt

, wh ere t h ere w a s n o e v i d e nce

au t h o ri zi n g a ru l i n g i n t h e fav o r o f t h e p art y s eek i n g a s et as i d e. See G l en n v. Gl en n

,

1 5 2 Ga. 7 9 3 ( 1 1 1 3 7 8 ) (1 9 2 2); Da n i el s v. Bu r so n

, 25 7 G a. Ap p

. 3 1 8, 3 20 (1 ) (5 7 1

SE2 d 1 84 ) (2 0 0 2 ). Geo rg i a co u rt h av e al s o fo un d t h at t ri al c o u r t s d i d n o t h av e t h e

d i s cret i o n t o s et as i d e a ju d g m en t

, ev en i n t h e s am e t erm of co u rt

, wh ere t h e p art y

s eek i n g a s et as i d e h ad no l eg al ex cu s e fo r th e b eh av i o r t h a t l e d t o th e en t ry o f a

d efau l t ju d g m en t

. See D a vi s o n -Pa xo n Co

. , 9 2 Ga. at 8 3 ; Tr o y v. Ci t y o f At l a n t a

, 1 5 8

Ga. Ap p . 4 9 6 , 4 9 7-4 98 (2 ) (2 8 0 SE2 d 8 9 2 ) (1 9 8 1).

Fo r ex am

p l e, i n Tr o

y

, s u p ra, t h i s co u rt h el d t h at th e d e f e n d a n t c i t y ’ s

ex p lan at i o n t h at i t s c i t y at to rn ey ’ s o ffi ce h ad ad m i n i s t rat i ve pro b l em s was a

“ s i n gu l arl y u n m eri t o ri o u s reas on fo r ex cu s i n g t h e ci t y fro m i t s o b l i g at i o n t o res p o n d

t o d i s co v ery

, ” an d so t h e t ri al co u rt ab u s ed i t s d i s cret i o n i n set t in g as i d e a d e f a u l t

18ju d g m en t t h at i t h ad en tered as a d i s c o v e r y s an ct i on

, ev en t ho u g h t h e ord er s et t i n g

as i d e th e d efau l t ju d g m en t was wi t h i n t h e s am e t erm o f co u rt

. 1 5 8 Ga. Ap p. at 4 9 7

-

4 9 8 (2 ).

Si m i l arl y

, i n Da vi so n -Pa xo n Co

. , su p ra, o u r Su p rem e Co u rt h el d t h at t h e t ri al

co u rt co rrect l y d i s m is s ed t h e defen d an t ’ s m o t io n t o s et as i d e a d e f a u l t ju d g m en t

b ecau s e t h e d efen d an t h ad n o t p ro v i d ed a “ s o un d an d l eg al reas o n ” fo r o p en i n g t h e

d efau l t

, h o l d i n g t h at “ [w] h en ev er a m o t i o n i s m ad e to vacat e a ju d g m en t, even d u r i n g

t h e t er m o f co u r t a t wh ich t he s ame wa s r en d er ed

, t h e m o v an t m

u s t al l eg e an d p ro v e

s o m e reas o n g o od i n law wh y h e h ad fai l ed t o m ak e h is d efen se at t h e t im e req u i red .”

9 2 Ga. at 8 3 (ci t at i on s an d pu n ct u at i o n o m it t ed ).

In t h i s cas e, t h e o nl y

g ro u n d fo r s et t i n g as i d e t h e d efau l t ju d g m en t t h at Terra

Tech as s ert ed t o t h e t ri al co u rt w a s t h at th ere had b een n o s erv i ce o f p ro ces s an d

co n seq u en t l y t hat t h e d efau lt ju d g m en t was vo i d. So Terra Tech d i d n o t s eek t o o p en

d efa u l t u n d er OCGA § 9 -1 1 -5 5 (b ), arg u e t o t h e t ri al co u rt th at t h e ev i d en ce

s u p p ort ed op en i n g t h e d efau l t u n d er t hat Co d e s ect i o n

, o r m ak e an y o f t h e sh o wi ng s

t h at are req u i red b y t h at Co d e s ect i o n fo r th e t ri al co urt t o ex erci s e h i s d i s cret i o n t o

o p e n d efau l t

. See B r a z el l v. J. K. B o a t wr i g h t & Co

. , 32 4 Ga. Ap p

. 5 02

, 5 0 3 ( 7 5 1

SE2 d 1 3 3 ) (2 0 1 3 ) (t ri al co u rt h as n o di s cre t i o n t o o p en t h e d efau l t u n l es s t h e fo u r

19co n di t i o n s p reced en t s et fo rt h i n OCGA § 9 -1 1 -5 5 (b ) are m et ). Cf. Al l i so n v. Ga r b er

,

5 0 G a. Ap p

. 3 3 3

, 3 3 5 (1 7 8 SE 1 5 8 ) (1 9 3 5 ) (t ri al co u rt d i d no t ab us e i t s d i s cret i o n by

u s i n g p l en ary p ower t o v acat e a ju d g m en t ag ai n s t a d e f e n d a n t w h o h ad fai l ed to

ap p ear fo r t ri al

, wh ere t h e d efen d an t s h o wed : t h at h e a n d h i s co u n s el d i d n o t k n o w

t h e cas e was o n t h e cal en d ar; t h e ev i d en ce was i n s u ffi ci en t t o s u p po rt th e ju d g m en t ;

an d t h e d efen d an t h ad a m eri to ri o u s d efen s e).

Si m i l arl y

, i n h i s ord er, th e o n l y l eg al reas o n g i v en b y th e t ri al co urt i n h i s o rd er

fo r s et ti n g as id e t he d efau lt ju d g m en t was t h e p u rp o rt ed l ack o f s erv i ce. No t h i n g i n

t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s o rd er s ug g es t ed t h at h e ex erci sed h i s d i s cret i o n t o set as i d e t h e d efau l t

ju d g m en t fo r an y

o t h er l eg al reas o n

.

Fo r t h i s reas o n , u n l i ke t h e m ajo ri t y , I fi n d n o m eri t i n Terra Tech ’ s arg u m en t

o n ap p eal t h at

, ev en i f s erv ice was p ro p er u p o n i t, th e t ri al co u rt ’ s fi n d i n g t h at

Ut i l i co m d el i b erat el y d i s reg ard ed T e rra Tech ’ s act u al wh ereab o ut s co u l d h av e

s u p p ort ed a s et as id e. Becau s e Terra Tech was s erv ed

, i t i s i n d efau l t. See OCGA §

9 -1 1 -5 5 (a) (“ If i n an y cas e an an s wer h as n o t b een fi l ed wi th i n t h e t im e req u i red by

t h i s ch ap t er, t h e cas e s h al l au to m at i cal l y b eco m e i n d efau lt u nl es s t h e t i m e fo r fi l i n g

t h e an s w er h as b een ex ten d ed as p ro v i d ed b y l aw.”). An d becau s e Terra Tech i s in

d efau l t

, Ut i l i co m is en t i tl ed t o a d efau l t ju d g m en t

. See OCGA § 9-1 1 -5 5 (a) (“ If t h e

20cas e i s st i l l i n d efau lt a f t e r t h e ex p i rat i o n o f th e p eri o d o f 1 5 d ay s [aft er t h e d ay o f

d efau l t ]

, th e p l ai n ti ff at an y t i m e t h ereaft er s h a l l b e en t i t l ed t o v erd ict an d ju d g m en t

b y d efau l t [.] ”) (em

p h as i s s u pp l i ed ). Nei t h er Terra Tech n o r t h e m ajo ri t y o ffer an y

au t h o ri t y fo r t h e p ro p o s it i o n t h a t t h e tri al co u rt ’ s i n h eren t p o wer t o s et as i d e

ju d g m en t s d uri n g t he s am e t erm o f co urt p erm i t s a t ri al co u rt t o wi t h h o l d a ju d g m en t

fro m a p art y ev en t ho u g h t h e l aw req u ires ju d g m en t i n t hat p art y ’ s fav o r.

By affi rm i n g t he g ran t o f t h e m o t i o n to s et as i d e t h e d efau l t j u d g m en t

, ev en

t h o u g h Terra Tech recei v ed s erv i ce of p ro ces s an d cu rren t l y rem ai n s i n d efau l t

, t h i s

co u rt is g i v i n g Terra Tech a “ s eco n d b it e at t h e ap p l e,” p erm i tt i ng i t on rem i t t i t u r to

rai s e wi t h t h e t ri al co u rt fo r t he fi rs t t i m e arg u m en ts t h at th e t ri al co u rt s h o u l d o p en

d efau l t

. Bu t ev en i f t h e t ri al co u r t i n t e n d ed t o g i v e Terra Tech a s eco n d ch an ce to

m ak e i t s cas e, t h at i s n o t a m eri t o r i o u s reas on fo r t h e ex erci s e o f t h e t ri al co urt ’ s

ju d g m en t

. See Do u gh er t

y-Li tt l e-Red

wi n e Co

. v. Ha t ch er

, 1 6 9 Ga. 8 5 8

, 8 6 3 (1 5 1 SE

7 9 6 (1 93 0 ) (a “ co urt can n ot s us p en d o r v acat e [a] j u d gm en t m erel y t o l et in a d efen s e

wh i ch s h ou l d h av e been o ffered b efo re j u d gm en t ”); s ee al s o Ca h oo n

, 1 7 9 Ga. at 9 7

(cl ari fy i n g t h at t h e Do u g h er t y-Li t tl e-Red

wi ne Co

. d eci s i o n ap pl i ed t h e ru l e t h at a t ri al

co u rt h as p l en ary

p ower t o m o di fy

a ju d g m en t d uri n g t h e s am e t erm ).

Fo r t h es e reas o n s I wo u l d rev ers e t he o rd er s et t i n g as i d e t h e d efau l t ju d g m en t

.

21