FI FTH DI VI SI ON

M C FA DDEN, C. J.

, M CM ILLI A N, 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.

http://w w w .ga a ppe a l s .us /r ule s

Januar y 28, 2020



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 9 A2 47 5 . W ILSON v . GUERRERO.

M C M ILLI A N , Pres i d i n g J u d g e.

Fo l l owi n g ou r g ran t o f h i s ap p l i cat i o n fo r d i s cret i on ary rev i ew, W es l ey W ad e

W i ls o n ap p eal s fro m t h e d en ial o f h i s m o t io n fo r n ew t ri al in t hi s ch i l d s u p p o rt cas e,

co n ten d in g t h at th e t ri al co u rt fai l ed t o co m p ly wi t h OCGA § 1 9 -6 -1 5 i n cal cu l at i n g

t h e ch i l d s u p p ort award an d th at t h e co u rt erred b y award in g at to rn ey fees

. As m o re

fu l l y s et fo rt h b el o w, we n o w v acat e th e award of ch i l d s u p p o rt an d at t orn ey fees an d

rem an d fo r fu rt her p ro ceed i n gs

.

T h e reco rd sh o w s t h at ap p el l an t W i l s o n an d ap p el l ee Beren i ce Gu err e r o

(h ereaft er “ Fat h er” an d “ M ot h er”) are t he un m arri ed p aren t s o f a d au gh t er, wh o was

b o rn i n Decem

b er 2 0 0 7

. In No v em

b er 2 0 0 9

, t h e p art i es en t ered i n to a Fi n al Co n s en t

O r d er (“ Co n s en t Ord er”), p u rs u an t t o wh i ch t h e Fat h er leg i t i m at ed t h e ch i l d ; t h eco n sen t ord er fu rt her es t ab l i s h ed p ri m ary p h y s i cal cu s t o d y i n t h e M o th e r wi th

v i s i t at i o n g ran t ed t o t h e Fat h er an d s et th e am o u n t o f ch i l d s up p ort t he Fat h er was to

p ay t o t h e M o t h er o n a m o n t h l y b as is

. In 2 01 6

, t h e F a t h er fi l ed a p et i t i o n fo r

m o di fi cat i o n o f t h e co n s en t o rd er s eek i ng t o m o d ify t h e p ro v is i on o f t h e Co n s en t

Ord er th at p ro hi b i t ed ei t h er pare n t f r o m hav in g u n rel at ed m em b ers o f t h e o p p o si t e

s ex s t ay o v ern ig h t wh il e t h e ch i l d was i n t h ei r cu s t o d y . Th e M ot h er, wh o h ad s i nce

m arri ed

, fi l ed a n a n s w er t o t h e p et i ti o n i n w h i ch s h e o p p o s ed t he ch an g e t o t h e

o v ern i g h t g u es t p ro vi s io n

, n o t i ng t h at t h e Fat h er’ s v io l at i o n o f t h e p ro v is i on h ad b een

t h e su b ject o f p rev i o u s co urt pro ceed i n g s t h at he d i d no t m en t i o n i n h is p et it i o n ; t h e

M o t h er al s o fi l ed a co u nt ercl ai m s eek i n g an i n creas e i n ch i l d s u p p o rt

.

Fo l l owi n g an ev i d en ti ary h eari n g

, t h e t ri al co u rt en t ered a fi n al o rd er o n Ap ri l

3

, 2 0 1 7

, i n wh i ch i t d en i ed t he Fat h er’ s r e q u es t t o rem o v e th e p ro v i s i o n o f t h e

Co n s en t reg ard i n g o v ern i g h t v i s i t at i o n. 1 Ad di t i o n al ly

, th e t r i a l co u rt g ran t ed t h e

M o t h er’ s req u es t fo r an i n creas e i n ch i l d s u p p ort fro m $ 9 0 0 p er m o n th t o $ 1 1 4 2 p er

m o nt h an d h er req u es t fo r at t o rn ey fees i n t h e am o u n t o f $ 5

, 0 00

.

Fat h er fi led a “ M o t i o n fo r New T ri al an d M o t i o n fo r Reco n s i d erat i o n,”

ch al l en g i n g t h e award o f at t o rn ey fees o n s ev eral g ro u n ds an d ch a l l e n g i n g t h e

1 Th i s p o rt i o n o f t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s o rd er i s n o t ch al l en g ed o n ap p eal

.

2ev i d en ce p res en ted t o su p po rt th e fi n d i n g by t h e t ri al co u rt th at t h e Mo t h er h ad p ai d

$ 4 ,1 9 5 a y ear fo r ex t racu rri cu l ar act i v it i es fo r t h e ch i l d

. Th e t ri al co u rt d e n i e d t h e

m o ti o n fo r reco n si d erat i o n o n M a y 1 0

, 2 0 17

, an d fo ll o wi n g a heari n g

, d en i ed t h e

m o ti o n fo r n ew t ri al o n M ay 1 5

, 2 0 1 8

. Th e Fat h er fi l ed an ap p l i cat i o n fo r

d i s cret i o n ary

rev i ew, wh i ch we g ran t ed

, an d t hen a t i m el y n o t i ce o f ap p eal

. 2

1

. In t wo rel at e d en u m erat i o n s o f erro r, W i l s o n ch al l en g es t h e at t orn ey fee

award

, co n t en d i n g t h a t th e t ri al co u rt erred i n award in g at t o rn ey fees b as ed o n t h e

co u rt ’ s i nh eren t p o wer to award fees

. W e ag ree t h at rev ers al o f t h e at t o rn ey fee award

i s req u i red an d t h at t h e cas e m us t b e rem an d ed fo r fu rt h er pro ceed i n gs o n t h i s i s s ue.

Th e reco rd s h o ws t hat t h e M o t h er m ad e a req u es t fo r at t o rn ey fees i n h er

an s wer an d co un t ercl ai m

, b u t d i d n o t s p eci fy a b as i s fo r t he award o t her t h an s h e h ad

b een fo rced t o h i re co un s el t o d efen d ag ai n st t h e m o d i fi cat i o n p et i t io n

. Sh e d i d n ot

s u b s eq u en t l y fi l e a s ep arat e m o t i o n req u es t i ng a fee award

, an d al t ho u g h t h e M o t h er

was q u es t i o n ed co n cern i n g t h e am o u n t sh e p ai d t o ret ai n co u n s el at t h e h eari n g o n t h e

m o di fi cat i o n p et i t i o n an d her co u n s el al l eg ed t he Fa the r

, wh o is an at t o rn ey p ract i ci n g

fam i l y l aw, h ad en g ag ed i n cert ai n d i s co v ery ab u s es

, t h e M o th er n ev er m en t i o n ed a

2 W e d i s m i s s ed t h e Fat her’ s ori g i n al ap peal

, w hi ch was d ock et ed i n t h i s Co u rt

as Cas e No

. A1 8 A0 5 4 6, o n t h e b as i s t h at t h e ju d g m en t was n o t y et fi n al b ecau s e t h e

t ri al co u rt h ad n o t y et ru l ed o n t h e p en d i n g m ot i o n fo r n ew t ri al

.

3s t at u to ry b as i s fo r t h e award

. Th e Fat h er’ s at t o rn ey o p p o s ed th e award

, po i nt i n g o ut

t h at t h e M o t h er had n ev er fi l ed a m o ti o n t o co m p el o r req u es t fo r san ct i o n s du e t o t h e

al l eg ed d i s co v ery

ab u s es

.

In t h e fi n al o rd er on th e m o d i fi cat i o n p et i t i o n

, t h e tri al co u rt o u t l i n ed t h e

Fat h er’ s al l eg ed d is co v ery ab u ses

, wh ich it su m m ari zed as h i s fai l u re t o fu l ly res p o n d

t o o r s uppl em en t d i s co v ery req u es t s d es p i t e rep eat ed req u es t s an d co n tro l li n g l aw an d

h i s fai l ure t o p ro v id e a s i g n ed an d n o t ari zed Do m es t i c Rel at i on s Fi nan ci al Affi d av i t

(“ DRFA”) to t he t ri al co u rt o r t h e M o th er as req u i red b y t h e g ov ern i ng s tat u t e. No t i n g

i t s “ b ro ad d i s cret i o n ” an d “ i n h eren t p o wer” t o award fees wh en a m o t io n i s m ad e by

ei t h er p art y o r o n i ts o w n i n i ti at i v e, t he t ri al co u rt co n cl u d ed t h at “ [g ] i v en t h e fact t h at

t h e Fat h er i s a l i cen s ed at t o rn ey p ract ici n g fam i l y law, t h e Co urt fi n d s h i s b eh av i o r

i n ap p ro p ri at e” an d o rd ered h i m t o p ay $ 5 ,0 00 t o th e M ot h er’ s co u n sel wi t h i n 3 0 d ay s

.

Th e Fat her ch a l l e n ged t h e fee award in h is m o t i o n fo r n ew t ri al / m o t i o n fo r

reco n s i d erat i on

, arg u i n g a s h e d o es o n ap p eal t h at t h e ev i d en ce was i n s uffi ci en t to

s u p p ort t h e fee award ; t h at t h e M o t h er’ s co u n s el d id n o t i den t i fy wi t h p a r t i cu l ari t y

wh at co n du ct h e was b ei ng s an ct i o n ed fo r; t h e tri al co u rt fai led t o p ro v i d e a st at u t o ry

b as i s fo r t h e awar d ; an d h e was n o t p u t o n n o t ice as t o t h e s t at u t o ry b as is fo r t h e

award

. In i t s o rd er d en y i n g t h e Fat h er’ s m o t i o n fo r n ew t ri al

, th e t ri al co u rt st at ed t h at

4t h e at t o rn ey fee award “ refl ect s b o t h t h e rel at i v e fi nan ci al p o si ti o n o f t h e p art i es an d

was refl ect i v e o f Pl ai n t i ff’ s in ap p ro p ri at e l i ti g at i o n tact i cs d u ri ng t h e cas e [

, ]” b ut

ag ai n d i d n o t referen ce an y p art i cu l ar s t at u t o ry

b as i s au t h o ri zi n g t h e award

.

“ Gen eral l y

, an award o f at t o rn ey fees i s n o t av ai l ab l e i n Geo rg i a u n l es s

au t h o ri zed b y s t at u t e o r co n tract .” (Ci t at i on an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed .) W a r d v. W a r d

,

2 8 9 Ga. 2 5 0

, 2 5 1 (2 ) (7 1 0 SE2 d 5 5 5 ) (2 0 1 1 ). Here, t h e M o t h er req u es t ed fees i n h er

co u nt ercl ai m b ecau s e sh e h ad b een fo rced t o h i re an at t o r n e y to d efen d ag ai n s t t h e

m o di fi cat i o n p et i t i o n

, b u t sh e h as n ev er referen ced an y p art i cu l a r st at u t e as

au t h o ri zi n g at to rn e y fees i n t h i s cas e. Th e t ri al co u rt al s o d i d n o t ci t e t o an y s t at u t e

au t h o ri zi n g t h e award i n ei t h er t h e i n i t i al o rd er o n t h e m o d i fi cat io n p et i t i o n o r i n t h e

o rd er d en y in g t h e Fat her’ s m ot io n fo r n ew t ri al ; i n fact

, t h e o n l y referen ce to a s t at u t e

i n rel at i o n t o t h e fee award was t h e Fat h er’ s at t orn ey ’ s p as s i n g referen ce t o OCGA

§ 9 -1 5-1 4 i n arg u i n g ag ai ns t t h e award at t h e m o d i fi cat i o n p et i t i o n h eari n g

.

W e ag ree wi t h t he Fat h er t h at t he at t o rn ey fee award can n o t s t an d un d er t h es e

ci rcu m s t an ces

. Al t h o u g h i n t h e m o d ifi cat i on o rd er t he t ri al co u rt m ad e referen ces to

fact ors t h at i n d i cat e t h at t h e award was b ei n g m ad e u n d er OCGA § 9 -1 5 -1 4 (b ) d u e

t o s an ct i o n ab l e co n d u ct

, t h e co u rt al s o referred t o t h e rel at i ve fi nan ci al p o s i t i o n o f t h e

p art i es i n t h e o rd er d en y i n g t h e Fat h er’ s m o t i o n fo r n ew t ri al

, wh i ch wo u l d i n d i cat e

5t h e award was b ei n g m ad e u n d er O CGA § 1 9-6 -2

. Ho wev er, an award un d er OCGA

§ 1 9 -6 -2 b as ed o n t h e fi n an ci al ci rcu m st an ces o f t h e p art i e s i s n o t ap p l i cab l e h ere

b ecau s e i t o n l y ap p l i es t o p ro ceed i n g s fo r al i m o n y

, d i vo rce an d al i m o n y

, o r co n t em pt

o f act io n s ari s i n g ou t o f s am e, in cl u d i ng co n t em pt act i o ns i n v o l v i n g ch il d cu s t o d y o r

v i s i t at i o n ri g h ts i n d i v o rce an d al i m o n y cas es

. S u a r ez v. Ha lb er t

, 2 4 6 Ga. Ap p

. 8 2 2,

8 2 5 (1 ) (5 4 3 SE2 d 7 3 3) (2 0 0 0 ) (OCGA § 1 9 -6 -2 “ ap pl i es ex c l u s i v e l y t o l i t i g at i o n

d eri v ed fro m d i vo rce an d al i m o n y d i s p u t es [.] ”). 3 Acco rd i n g l y

, t h e fee award m u s t b e

v acat ed an d t h e cas e rem an d ed fo r fu rt h er p ro ceed i n g s o n th e i s s u e o f at t o rn ey fees

.

Id

.

2

. Th e Fat her n ex t arg u es t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred b y i n cl u d i n g $ 4 ,1 9 5 i n ch i ld

care ex p en s es o n Sch ed u l e D o f t h e ch i l d s u p p ort wo rk s h eet b ecau s e t h e M o t h er d id

n o t p res en t an y do cu men t a r y ev i d en ce wh i ch w o u l d s u pp o rt an award o f wo rk rel at ed

ch i l d care ex p en s es

. Th e Fat h er al s o arg u es t h at t h o s e ex p en ses

, i f an y

, s h o u l d h av e

b een l i s t ed as ex tracu rri cu l ar ex p en s es on Sch ed u l e E o f t h e ch il d s u p p ort wo rk s h eet

i n s t ead an d t h at b ecau s e t h e ex p en s es s h o u l d h av e b een treat ed a s e x p e n s e s fo r

3 Al t h o ug h O CGA § 1 9 -6 -1 5 (k ) (5 ) au t h o ri zes an award o f fees i n cas es

i n v o l v i n g m o d i fi cat i o n o f ch i l d s u p po rt

, n ei t h er p art y m ak es an y arg u m en t t h at fees

were award ed u n d er t h at s ect i o n, an d t h e t ri al co u rt g av e n o in d i cat i o n t h e award was

m ad e p u rs uan t t o t h at s ect i on

.

6e x tracu rri cu l ar act i v i t ies

, t h e t ri al co u rt was req u i red t o en t er fi n d in g s o f fa c t t o

s u p p ort a d ev i at i o n fro m t h e b as i c ch il d s up p o rt o bl i g at i o n as m an d a t ed b y OCGA

§ 1 9-6 -1 5 (c).

To res o l v e t h es e i ss u es an d ad d res s th e M o th er’ s co n ten t io n o n ap p eal t h at at

l eas t s o m e o f t h es e i s s ues h av e b een wai v ed

, we m u s t s et o ut t h e rel ev an t t es t i m o ny

an d arg u m en t fro m t h e h eari n g o n t he m o d i fi cat i o n p et i t i o n

, t he m o t i o n fo r n ew t ri al

,

an d t h e h eari n g o n t h e m o t i o n fo r n ew t ri al

. Tu rn i n g f i r s t t o t h e h eari n g o n t h e

m o d i fi cat i on p et i ti o n

, t he t ran s cri p t s h o ws t h at t h e M o t h er t es t i fi ed t h at s h e was

s eek i n g an i n creas e in ch i l d s u p p o rt b ecau se th e Fat h er’ s i n co m e h ad i n creas ed an d

b ecau s e sh e b el i ev ed t h at t h e Fat h er s h o u l d p ay fo r p art o f t h e ch i l d ’ s ex t racu rri cu l ar

a c t i v i t ies

. On cro s s -ex am in at i o n

, t h e M o t h er ad m i t t ed th at s h e d i d n o t h av e

d o cu m en t ary ev i d en ce o f t h e s p eci fi c co s t s of th e ex t racu rri cu l ar act i v it i es wi t h h er

a t t h e h eari n g

, an d o n red i rect ex am i nat i o n s h e t es t i fi ed t h at s h e h ad pro v i d ed t h e

Fat h er pro o f t hat t h e co s t s o f t h e ch i l d ’ s ex tracu rri cu l ar act i v i t i es

, su m m er care, an d

s ch o ol care am ou n t ed t o ap p ro x i m at el y $ 4 ,1 9 5

. At t h e co n cl u s i on of t h e ev i d en ce, t h e

Fat h er o b ject ed o n t h e b as i s t h at t h e M o t her d i d n o t p res en t an y ev i d en ce reg ard i n g

t h e ch i l d ’ s ex t racu rri cu l ar act i v i t i es o r ch i l d care co s t s. In t he m o d i fi cat i o n o rd er, t h e

t ri al co u rt ap p eared t o reject t hi s co n t en ti o n

, fi n di n g t hat t h e M o t her t es t i fi ed wi t h o ut

7o b

ject i on t h at s h e i n cu rred $ 4 ,1 9 5 i n ex p en ses fo r ex t racu rri cu l ar act i v i t i es an d

an n ot at ed t h o s e co s t s i n h er t i m el y fi l ed DRFA.

Th e F a t h e r ch al len g ed th i s fi n d i n g i n h is m ot i o n fo r new tri al

, arg ui n g ag ai n

t h at t h e o n l y ev i d en ce p res en ted as t o t h e co s t s was t h e M o t h e r ’ s tes t im on y at t h e

h eari n g

, an d t hat t h e M o t h er d id n ot s p eci fy w h at act i vi t i es t h e ch i ld p art i ci p at ed in

o r h o w m u ch each act i v i t y co s t

. At t h e h eari n g o n t h e m ot io n

, t h e Fat h er el ab o rat ed

o n t hes e arg u m en t s an d al s o as s ert ed t h at th ere w as n o e v i d e n c e p res en t ed at t h e

h eari n g to d et erm in e th e b reak d o wn o f t h e am o u nt s p en t o n ex t racu rri cu lar act i v i t i es

,

aft er s ch o o l act i v i t ies

, an d s u m m er p ro g ram s ; t h e M o th er h ad p laced t he act i v i ti es

u n d er Sch e d u l e D ch i ld care, no t Sch ed ul e E ex t racu rri cu l ar act i v i ti es o n t h e ch i ld

s u p p ort w o rk s h eet ; an d ex t racu rri cu l ar act i v i t i es wo u l d req ui re a d ev i at i o n fro m t h e

ch i l d s u p p o rt g u i d el i n es wh il e ch i l d care ex p en s es wo ul d n o t

. T he M ot h er’ s at t o rn ey

arg u ed th at t h e ex pen s es were p ro p erl y l i s t ed as ch i l d care ex pen s es b ecau s e t h e ch i ld

en g ag e d i n t h es e act i v it i es wh i l e t h e M o t h er i s at wo rk

, an d t h at n o d ev i at i o n was

req u i red b ecau s e t he ex p en s es d i d n o t m eet t h e t h res h o l d am ou n t at wh i ch a d ev i at i o n

i s req u i red

. Th e t ri al co urt d en i ed t h e m o t io n fo r n ew tri al

, fi n di n g t h at t h e ch i ld

s u p p ort cal cu l at i o n was b as ed o n t h e ev i den ce p res en t ed at t h e h ea r i n g a n d was

ap p ro p ri at e.

8Tu rn i n g t o th e Fat h er’ s co n t en t i o n s on ap p eal

, we fi rs t n o t e t h at o u r Su p rem e

Co u rt h as fo u n d t h at t es t i m o n y al o n e ab o u t t h e am o un t i n cu rred fo r ch i l d care

ex p en s es m ay b e su ffi ci en t p ro o f o f t h o s e ex p en s es u n d er t h e “ an y ev i d en ce”

s t an d ard o f rev i ew o f th e t ri al co u rt ’ s fi n d i n g s o f fact

. See Ta yl o r v. Ta yl o r

, 2 9 3 Ga.

6 1 5

, 6 17 (2 ) (7 4 8 SE2 d 8 73 ) (2 0 1 3 ). Bu t s ee OCGA § 1 9 -6 -1 5 (h ) (1 ) (D) (“ If ch i ld

care i s o r wi l l b e pro v id ed by a p ers o n w h o i s p ai d fo r h i s or h er serv i ces

, p ro o f o f

act u al co s t o r p a ym e n t s h al l b e s h o wn t o th e co u rt b efo re t h e co u rt in cl u d es s u ch

p ay m en t i n it s co n s id erat i o n

. ”). Ho wev er, ev en i f t h e M o t h er’ s tes t im on y was

s u ffi ci en t t o p ro v e t h at t h e ex pen s es were in cu rred an d p ai d

, we b el i ev e th e rem ai n d er

o f t h e Fat h er’ s co nt en t i o n s hav e m eri t

. Al t h o u g h t h e Mo t h er arg u ed at t h e h eari n g o n

t h e m ot i o n fo r n ew t ri al an d n ow arg ues o n ap p eal th at t h e e x p e n s e s w ere i n cu rred

t o p ro v i d e act i v i ti es fo r t h e ch i l d wh il e t h e M o t her was at wo rk

, an d t h u s were

p ro p erl y cat eg o ri zed as ch i l d care, t h e M o t h er’ s t es t i m o n y d o es n o t fu l l y s u p p o rt t h at

co n ten t i o n

. At t h e h eari n g

, s h e t es ti fi ed th at t h e $4 ,1 9 5 was t h e am o u n t ex p en d ed fo r

s u m m er care, s ch o ol care, an d ex t racu rri cu l ar act iv i ti es

, d rawi n g n o d i st i n ct i o n

b et ween ex p en s es t h at were n eces s ary fo r t h e ch i l d ’ s “ care” an d h er ex t racu rri cu l ar

act i vi t i e s

. B e c a u s e i t i s n o t al t o g et h er cl ear fro m t h e reco rd wh i ch cat eg o ri es o f

ex p en s es were i ncl u d ed i n t he $ 4 ,1 9 5

, o r wh e t h e r a l l o f th e ch i l d ’ s ex t racu rri cu l ar

9act i vi t i es t h at were i n cl ud ed as ch i l d care o n t h e wo rk s h eet o ccu rred wh i l e t h e M o t h er

was wo rk i n g an d t h us were p ro p erl y i ncl u d ed as ch i ld care ex p en s es o n Sch ed u l e D,

i n s t ead o f ex t racu rri cu l ar act i v i t y ex pen s es o n Sch ed u l e E, t h e t ri al co urt ’ s

m o di fi cat i o n o f ch i ld s u p p o rt m u s t al s o b e vacat ed an d t h is cas e rem an ded fo r fu rt h er

p ro ceed in g s co n s is t en t wi th t h i s o p i n i o n

. Fu rt h er, ev en if t h e Fat her d i d n o t m ak e t h e

s am e p reci s e arg u m e n t t h a t h e n o w m ak es on ap p eal co n cern i ng t he t ri al co urt ’ s

co m p l ian ce wi t h t he wri t t en fi nd i n g s req u i rem en t of OCGA § 1 9 -6 -1 5

, 4 b ecau s e t h i s

cas e m u s t b e rem an d ed fo r fu rt h er p ro ceed i n g s an d a new o rd er i s s u ed

, t h is d efi ci en cy

can b e rem ed i ed as n eces s ary d e p en d i n g o n t h e o u t co m e o f th e p ro ceed i n g s u p o n

rem an d. See Ken n ed

y v. Ken n ed

y

, 3 0 9 Ga. Ap p

. 5 9 0, 5 9 2 -9 3 (1 ) (a) & (b ) (7 1 1 SE2 d

1 0 3 ) (2 0 11 ) (co n cern i n g t h e n eed fo r wri tt en fi n d i n g s wh en a d ev i at i o n i s o rd ered ).

3

. Las t l y

, t h e Fat h er co n ten d s t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred b y fi nd i n g t h at h e fai l ed

t o fi le an an s wer t o t h e M ot her’ s co u n t ercl ai m b ecau s e h e was n o t req u i red t o fi l e an

an s wer u n l es s th e co u rt fi rs t o rd ered hi m t o d o so

. Th e Fat h er i s co rrect t h at OCGA

§ 9 -1 1 -1 2 s p eci fi cal l y p ro v id es t h at an an s w er t o a co u n t ercl ai m is n o t req u ired u n l es s

4 See W i n ch el l v. W

i n ch el l

, 2 0 1 9 G a

. A p p

. LEXIS 5 6 4

, * 6 -7 (1 ) (Cas e No

. A1 9 A1 53 1

, d eci d ed Oct o b er 1 6

, 2 0 1 9 ) (d i s cu s s i n g wai v er o f co m p l ian ce wi t h t h e

wri t ten fi n d i n g s req u i rem en t o f OCGA § 1 9 -6 -1 5 ).

10o rd ered b y t h e t ri al co urt

. Th e Fat h er i s al s o co rrect t h at i n i t s fi n al o rd er o n

m o di fi cat i o n

, th e tri al co u rt n o t ed t h at “ [t ] h e Fat h er fai led to t i m el y fi l e a n A n s wer

o r Ob ject i o n o n [t h e] co u n ter-cl ai m [.] ” Ho w ev er, i t d o es no t ap p ear t h at th e t ri al co u rt

i m p o s ed an y p en al t y o r o t h erwi s e ru led ag ai n s t t he Fat h er o n t h e b as i s th at h e fai l ed

t o an swer t h e co u n t e r cl ai m

. Acco rd i n gl y

, t h i s en u m erat i o n p ro v i d es n o b as i s fo r

rev ers al

.

Ju d g men t va ca t ed an d ca s e r ema n d ed wi th d ir ect io n

. McFa d d en

, C. J., a n d

S en io r Ap p el l a t e Ju d

g e Her b er t

E. Ph i p p s co n cu r

.

11