FOURTH D I VI SI ON

REESE, P. J.

, M A RKLE, J.

, and SENI OR A PPELLA TE JUDGE PHI PPS

N O T IC E : M otions for r e c ons i de r a tion m us t be

ph y sic a l ly r e ce iv ed i n our c le r k ’s offic e w ithin te n

da y s of the da te of de c is ion to be de e m ed tim e ly file d.

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

.

A pr i l 13, 2021



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A2 1 A0 12 2 . BROW

N v . BROW

N.

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

Pam el a Gad am s Bro w n (t h e “ m ot h er”) a p p eal s fro m t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s o rd er

d en y i n g h er req u es t fo r d ecl arat o ry ju d g m en t an d a w a r d i n g Bren t M u rd ock Bro wn

(t he “ fat h er”) at t o rn ey fees u n der b o t h OCGA § § 9 -1 5 -1 4 an d 1 9 -9 -3 (g ). 1 Becau s e

t h e t r i al co u rt erred i n d en y i n g t h e m o t h er’ s req u es t fo r d ecl arat o ry ju dg m en t

, w e

rev ers e t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s o rd er i n t h at reg ard

, an d we rev ers e t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s award o f

OCGA § 9 -1 5 -1 4 (b ) at t o rn ey fees b as ed o n t he m o t h er’ s p u rs ui t o f t h e d ecl arat o ry

ju d g m en t act i o n

. W e fu rt h er fi n d t hat t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n i ts award o f at to rn ey fees

1 Th e m o t h er i ni ti al l y fi led an ap p li cat i o n fo r d i scret i o nary ap p eal

, wh i ch t h i s

Co u rt g ran t ed . See Br o wn v. Br o wn , Cas e No

. A2 0D0 4 3 9 (g ran t ed Au g. 3 , 2 0 2 0 ).u n d er O CGA § 19 -9 -3 (g ), an d we v acat e th at award an d rem an d t h e cas e f o r t h e

co u rt t o re-co n s i d er i ts at t o rn ey fee award u n d er t h at s t at u t e.

Th e reco rd s ho ws t h at t h e m o t h er an d t h e fat h er were p rev i o us l y m arri ed an d

h av e t wo ch i l d ren t o g et h er, wh o were b orn in 2 0 0 8 an d 2 0 1 1 . Th e p art i es d i v o rced

i n 2 0 1 5 pu rs u an t t o a fi nal ju d g m en t an d d ecree o f d i v o r c e

. T h e d i v o rce d ecree

award ed jo i n t l eg al an d ph y s i cal cu s t o d y o f t h e ch il d ren t o t h e p art i es

, an d p ro v i d ed

t h at t h ey wo u l d sh are p aren t i n g t i m e u n d er a p aren ti n g p l an

, wh i ch was in co rp o rat ed

i n t o t h e d ecree. Th e p aren t i n g p l an in cl u d ed a p ro vi s i o n fo r “ SUM M ER V ACATION

W EEKS” wh i ch s t at ed :

Each p aren t s h al l b e en t i t l ed t o t wo co n s ecu t i v e w eek s o f u n i n t erru p ted

p aren t i n g t i m e wi t h t h e m in o r ch il d ren d uri n g th e ch i l d ren ’ s s u m m er

v acat i o n fro m s ch o o l

. Fat h er s h al l h av e t h e fi rs t ch o i ce o f d at es fo r h i s

s u m m er v acat i o n wi t h t h e ch i l d ren i n al l o d d

- n um b ered y ears

, w i t h

M o t her hav i n g t he fi rs t ch o i ce o f d at es i n al l ev en -n um b ered y ears

. T he

p art y wi t h t he fi rs t ch o i ce o f d at es s hal l n o t i fy t he o t h er p art y o f h i s o r

h er s el ect i o n o f d at es b y Ap ri l 1 s t o f each y ear, wh i le t h e p art y wi th th e

s eco nd ch o i ce o f d at es s h al l n o t i fy t h e o t h er p art y o f h i s o r h er s el ect i o n

o f d at es b y Ap ri l 1 5 t h o f each y ear.

Th e m o t h er ad m i t s t h at th e p art ies

– b y m u t u al ag reem en t

– dev i at ed fro m t h e

p aren t i n g pl an b y t ak i ng no n -co n s ecu t iv e s u m m er ti m e fro m 2 0 1 5 t h r o u g h 2 0 1 8.

Ho wev er, i n earl y 2 01 9

, t h e m o t h er t o l d t h e fat h er t h at s h e i n t en d ed t o t ak e t h e

2ch i l d ren o n a s u m m er t ri p t o Afri ca an d req u es t ed t h at h e s el ect hi s t wo week s

p u rs u an t t o t h e p aren t i n g p l an fo r pl an n i n g p u r p o s es

. W h en t h e p art i es co u l d n ot

res o l ve t h e i ss ue, t h e m ot her fi l ed a “ p et i t i o n fo r m o d ifi cat i o n of ch il d cu s t o d y an d

v i s i t at i o n [,] an d m o t i on fo r d ecl arat o ry ju d g m e n t .” 2 Reg ard i n g t h e m o t i o n fo r

d ecl arat ory ju d g m en t

, t h e m o t h er as s ert ed th at in 2 0 1 7

, t h e l as t t i m e t h e fat h er

s el ect ed h i s su m

m er v acat i o n week s b efo re her u n d er t h e p aren t in g p lan

, h e s el ect ed

s i x s ep arat e o r n o n -co n s ecu ti v e d ay s t h ro u g ho u t th e su m m er, wh i ch was i n co n s i s t en t

wi t h t h e p aren ti n g p l an d irect i ve fo r each p a r t y t o s el ect t wo co ns ecu t i v e week s o f

u n i n t erru p t ed p aren t i ng t i m e. Th e m o th er req u es t ed th at t h e t ri al co urt (a) “ ad m o n i s h

Fat h er t hat h e m

u s t p ick w e ek s

, n o t d ay s

, wh i ch i s co ns i s t en t wi t h t h e s pi ri t an d

l an g u ag e o f t h e Paren t i ng Pl an ,” an d (b ) “ i n t erp ret an d em ph as i ze t h at t h e Su m

m er

Vaca t i o n W eek s o f t h e Paren t i n g Pl an b e tak en i n week l y i ncrem en t s

, n o t d ai l y

i n crem en t s .” Th e m o th er al s o req u es t ed at to rn ey fees

.

Th e fat h er fi l ed an an s wer o p p o s i n g al l o f t h e m o th er’ s req ues t s fo r rel i ef. In

res p o n s e t o t h e m o t h er’ s m o t i o n fo r d ecl arat ory ju d g m en t

, t h e fat h er as s ert ed t h at t h e

p aren t i n g p l an o ffers th e p art i es “ t w o co n s ecu t iv e week s ” wi t h t h e ch i l d ren d u ri n g

2 Th e m o t h e r s u b s e q u en t l y wi t h d rew h er req u es t t o m o di fy t h e cu s t o dy

p ro v is i o n s o f t h e d i v o rce d ecree.

3t h e s u m

m er wi t h ou t an y fu rt h er d efi n it i on o f ho w t h os e week s are al l o c a t ed o r

e x e r c i s ed

, wh i ch w as d em o n s t rat ed b y t h e fact t hat t h e p art i es h ad n ev er ex erci s e d

t wo “ co n s ecu t iv e” week s. Th e fat h er co un t ercl ai m ed fo r at to rn ey fees an d l i t i g at i o n

ex p en s es p urs u an t t o OCGA § § 9 -1 5 -1 4 an d 1 9-9 -3

, as s ert in g t h at wh il e h e h ad m ad e

effo rt s t o res ol v e t h e is s u e wi t h t h e m o t her, s h e h ad en g ag ed i n ab u s i v e l i t i g at i o n

t act ics

, p u rs u ed u n reas on ab l e p o s i t i o n s i n l i t i g at i o n

, an d refu s ed t o p art i ci p at e in

co o perat i v e co -p aren t i n g effo rt s an d s et t l em en t d i s cu s s io n s

.

Th e m ot her fi l ed a req u es t fo r em erg en cy rel i ef s eek in g a t em p o rary

m o di fi cat i o n o f s um m er vi si t at i o n t o en ab l e h er t o t ak e th e ch il d re n o n t h e t r i p to

A f r i c a

, b u t t h e t ri al co u rt d en i ed t h e m o ti on

. Th e M ay 16

, 2 0 19 ord er, wh i ch w a s

p rep ared b y t h e fat h er’ s at t o rn ey

, s peci fi cal l y n ot ed t h at t h e s u m m er v acat i o n

p ro v is i o n o f t h e p aren t i ng p l an was “ cu rren t l y i n d i s pu t e.”

On Ap ri l 2 9

, 2 02 0

, t h e t ri al co u rt h el d a fi n al h eari n g o n t h e m o t h er’ s req u es t

fo r d ecl arat o ry ju d g m en t

. At t h e h eari ng

, th e m o t h er’ s co u n s el s tat ed t hat s h e wo u ld

b e i n t ro d u ci n g ev i d en ce re g a r d i n g t h e d ecl arat ory j u d gm en t, t o wh ich t h e co u rt

res p o n d ed

, “ [m ] y u nd ers t an d i n g i s t h at [t h e fat h er i s ] n o t o p p o s i ng t h at

. Es s en t i al l y

co n sen t t o i t ? Is n ’ t t hat ri gh t [? ] ” Th e m o t h er’ s co u ns el ag reed

, b u t s t at ed t h at s h e was

4g o i n g t o p ut up ev i d en ce “ t o s ho w t h e ju d g e wh at t h e i s s u e i s wi t h t he d ecl arat o ry

ju d g m en t [,] ” i n d efen s e o f t he fat h er’ s req u es t fo r at t o rn ey fees

, an d i n s up p o rt o f t h e

m o th er’ s req u es t fo r at t o rn ey fees

.

Acco rd i ng t o t he m o t h er, al t h ou g h t he fat h er s a i d t h a t h e d i d n o t d i s p u t e t h e

l an g u ag e o f t h e p aren t i n g pl an

, h i s act i o n s s h o wed o t h erwi s e, an d s h e s t i l l n eed ed t h e

t ri al co urt t o ru l e o n her d e c l arat o ry ju dg m en t act i o n an d cl ari fy t h at t he s u m m er

v acat i o n week s paren t i n g p l an l an g uag e req u i r e d t h e part i es t o s el ect t wo

co n secu ti v e, un i n t erru p t ed week s d u ri ng t h e s u m m e r. Th e m o th er t es t i fi ed t h at s h e

s o u g ht dec l a r a t o r y ju d g m en t b ecau s e s h e was u n ab l e t o p l an s um m er tri p s b ecau s e

t h e fat h er was n o t b ei n g fl ex i b l e; h e b el i ev ed t h at h e d i d n o t h av e t o t ak e t wo

co n secu ti v e s u m

m er week s , an d h e w an t ed t h e ch i l d ren t o p art i ci p at e i n s wi m m i n g

fo r fi v e week s ev ery su m

m er. Th e m ot h er t o l d th e t ri al co u rt

, “ I’ m real l y afrai d t o b e

fl ex i bl e an d d o t h e week s part b ecau s e we wi l l wal k away

, an d t h i s wi l l h ap p en ag ai n,

an d I t h i n k we are b ot h real ly t i red o f l i t i g at i on

. . . . I was fl ex i b le b efo re, a w eek h ere

an d a week t h ere, b ut I t h in k t hat we n eed t o fo l l o w t he l et ter o f t h e l aw.”

Th e fat h er an d h is co u n s el as s ert ed t h at t hey d i d n o t co n t es t th e paren t i n g p l an

l an g u ag e, h ad to l d t h e m o t h er rep eat ed l y t h at t h ey d i d n o t co nt es t t h e l an g uag e, an d

y et t h e m o t h er st i l l pu rs u ed her act i o n

. Th e fat h er’ s co u n s el s p eci fi cal l y s t at ed

, “ [w] e

5are n o t co n t es t i n g wh at t h e p aren t i n g p l an s ay s

. It s ay s t wo co n s ecu t i v e week s .”

Ho wev er, bo t h t he fat h er an d h i s co u n s el arg u ed t h at t h e p art i es h ad n ev er fo l l o wed

t h e p a r e n t i ng pl an l an gu ag e u n t i l th e m o th er fi l ed h er d ecl arat o ry ju d g m en t act i o n.

An d

, t h e fat h er rep eat ed l y t es t i fi ed t h at h e sel ect ed h is s um m er d at es so t he ch i l d ren

co u ld p art i ci p at e i n s wi m m i n g an d o t h er act i v i ti es

.

Ev i d en ce p res en t ed at t h e h eari n g s h o wed t h at i n M arch 20 1 7, aft er t h e fat h er

s el ect ed s i x s ep arat e d ay s th ro u g h o u t t h e s u m m er an d s t at ed t h at h e w o u l d s el ect h i s

rem ai n i n g ei g h t d ay s aft er th e m o t her s el ect ed h er day s

, t h e m o t h er i n si s ted t h at t h e

“ s u m m er v a c a ti o n w eek s ” p ro v i si o n o f t h e paren t i n g p l an req u i red th e p art i es to

s el ect t wo week s o f co n s ecu t i v e t i m e w i t h t he ch i l d ren ; t h e p lan di d n o t al l o w t h e

p art i es t o ch o o s e ran d o m d ay s

. Sh e req u es t ed th at t h e fat h er “ p leas e p ick y o u r week s

,

an d I wi ll s t i l l t ak e J u ly 2 2 n d-2 9 t h an d t h en aft er y o u p i ck y ou r t w o w eek s

, I wi l l p i ck

an o th er.” Th e fat h er rep l i ed t h at h e d i s ag reed wi t h t h e m o th er’ s v iew of t h e p l an

, an d

h e wo u l d n o t ch an g e h is s el ect i o n s. 3 On Ap ri l 9

, 2 0 1 8, th e fat h er s en t an em ai l t o t h e

m o th er s t at i n g t h at h e had n o t recei v ed t h e m o t h er’ s s u m m er dat es

, wh i ch had b een

d u e o n Ap ri l 1

, an d s el ect in g s i x s ep arat e su m m er d ay s an d a week i n earl y Au g us t

.

3 T h e fat h er’ s em ai l read s : “ It d o es n ot s t at e t h at i t s t a t e s w e can h av e t wo

co n secu ti v e week s d o n ’ t l i k e i t fi l e a c o m p l ai nt o t h erwi s e I’ m n o t ch an g i n g t h e

t h i n g [.] ”

6Th e fat h er’ s co u n sel no t ed i n a Feb ru ary 2 0 19 l et t er t h at t h e fat h er wo u l d ag ree

t o lan gu ag e t h at t h e s u m

m er p aren t i ng p l an m

u s t b e ex erci sed i n s ev en -d ay p eri od s

i f th e m o t h er ag reed t o r e m o v e l an g u ag e fro m th e p lan t h at t h e fat h er co u l d n ot

s c h e d u l e ex t racu rri cu l ar act i v i t i es d u ri n g h er p aren t i ng t i m e. In M arch 2 0 1 9

, t h e

fat h er n o t i fi ed t h e m ot her t h at h e was s el ect i n g t h ree d ay s i n May

, fo u r d ay s i n J u l y

,

an d a week in Au g u s t

. Th e m o th er’ s co u n sel i n fo rm ed t h e fat h er’ s c o u n s e l t h at t h e

fat h er’ s s el ec t i o ns were “ NOT accep t ab l e” u n d er t h e p aren t i n g p l an

, an d req u es t ed

t h at t h e fat h er s el ect t wo co n s ecu t i v e week s o f s u m m er p aren t in g t im e. Th e fat h er’ s

co u ns el rep li ed : “ W e d i s ag ree wi t h y o u r in t erp ret at i o n o f t h e s u m m er s ch ed u l e

o u t l i ned i n t h e Paren t i n g Pl an

, as t h e p art i es h av e nev er ex erci s e[d ] t wo co ns ecu t i v e

week s i n a ro w wi t h t h e ch i ld ren .” Th e em ai l n o t ed o n ce ag ai n t h at al t h o u g h t h e

fat h er d i d n o t ag ree wi t h t h e m ot h er’ s i n t erp ret at i o n of t h e Paren t i n g Pl an

, h e wo u ld

s e l e ct a s ev en co n s ecu t i ve day p eri o d i f t h e m o t h er ag reed t o al lo w t h e ch i l d ren to

p art i ci p at e i n s wi m

m eet s

.

In Ap ri l 2 0 1 9

, th e m o th er s en t t h e fat h er an em ai l i n wh i ch s h e o ffered J u l y 2 2

-

Au g u s t 5 o r J u l y 5 -1 8 as h er t wo co n s ecu ti v e su m m er week s w i t h t h e ch i l dren

. Th e

m o th er’ s at t o rn ey al s o sen t a l et ter at tem p t i ng to s et t l e t h e i s s ues

, b u t th e part i es co u ld

n o t ag ree o n t erm s

. In fact

, t h e fat h er was o n l y wi l l i n g t o ag ree t h at t h e s u m m er

7v acat i o n week s wo u l d b e ex erci s ed in s ev en -d ay p eri o ds

. Th e fat h er’ s at t o rn ey s en t

a l et t er p ro p o si n g t h at each p art y h av e an ad d i t i o n al week of su m m er v acat i o n

, rai s i n g

each part y ’ s u n i n terru p te d s u m m e r week s fro m two week s t o t h ree week s, an d t h at

each p art y co u l d ex erci s e t w o o f t h e week s co n s ecu t i v el y

. Th e l et t er fu rt h er s t at ed

t h at t h e fat h er was wi ll i n g t o l et t h e m o th er hav e fi rs t ch o i ce of week s ev ery s u m m er

as l o n g as t h e m ot h er ag reed th at t h e ch i l d ren co u l d p art i ci pat e wi t h t h e fat h er i n t h e

fi ve s wi m m eet s d u ri n g t h e s u m

m er.

On A u g u s t 2 7

, 2 0 1 9, t h e m o t h er’ s co u n sel s en t t h e fat h er’ s co u n sel an em ai l

s t at i n g t h at

, acco rd i ng t o th e m o t h er, t h e p art i es “ h av e ag reed t o can cel t o d ay ’ s

m ed i at i o n an d t h at ev ery o n e i s g o i ng t o d i s m i s s t hei r act io n s an d k i ck th e can d o wn

t h e ro ad

. Pl eas e co n fi rm [.] ” Th e fat h er’ s co u n s el res p o n d ed t h at t h e fat h er ag reed to

fo reg o m ed i at i o n, bu t h e res erv e d h i s r i g h t t o req u es t at to rn ey fees

. To wh i ch t h e

m o th er’ s co u n s el rep l i ed t hat i f t h e fat her was res erv i n g h is req u es t fo r at t o rn ey fees

,

t h en s o was t h e m o t h er, an d s h e wan t ed t o b e h eard o n h er req u es t fo r d e c l a r a t o ry

ju d g m en t reg ard i n g s u m

m er v acat i o n week s

.

On Oct o b er 1

, 2 0 1 9, t h e m o t h er’ s co u n s el sen t t h e fat h er’ s co u n s el an em ai l

s t at i n g t h at i t was co un s el ’s “ u n d ers t an d i n g t h at [t h e p art i es ] wan t to m u t u al l y

8d i s m i s s

. Pl eas e co n fi rm .” On Oct o b er 2

, 2 0 1 9, t h e fat h er’ s co u n s el res p o n d ed t h at t h e

fat h er was fo rced t o s p en d n earl y $ 2 5

, 0 0 0 o n an “ em erg en cy i s s u e” t h at w as d en i ed

b y t h e co u rt an d s ti l l wan ted t o p u rs u e at t o rn ey fees

. As fo r t h e m o t h er’ s i n ten t i o n to

p u rs u e d ecl arat ory

ju dg m en t , t h e l et t er s t at ed

,

W e are n o t di s pu t i n g th e Paren t i n g Pl an s ay s wh at i t s ay s

. [Th e fat h er’ s ]

o n l y i s s u e i s t h at n ei t h er p art y h as ev er req u es t ed 2 co n secu t i v e week s

d u ri ng t h e s u m

m er, b u t th at ’ s i rrel ev an t to y o u r req u es t fo r d ecl arat o ry

ju d g m en t

. Yo u can cert ai n ly m o v e fo rward o n t he M ot i o n fo r

Decl arat o ry

J u d g m en t , b u t we are n o t co n t es t i n g i t

.

Th e l et t er al s o i n d i cat ed t h at t h e fat h er w o u l d d i s m i s s h i s co u n tercl ai m in ex ch an g e

fo r $ 1 5

, 0 0 0 i n at to rn ey fees

. T h e fat h er, h owev er, s ub s eq uen t l y w i t hd rew h i s o ffer

o f s et t lem en t

.

On Ap ri l 9

, 2 02 0

, t h e fat h er’ s co u n s el sen t a l et ter t o t h e m o t her’ s co u n s el

rei t erat i ng t h at t h e fat h er was n o t d i s p u t i n g t he d ecl arat o ry ju d g m en t:

As I to l d y o u i n A ug u s t o f 2 0 1 9

, [t h e fat h er] i s no t d i s p u t in g th e

l an g uag e o f t he paren t i n g p l an

. Th ere i s n o n eed fo r d ecl arat o ry rel ief o n

t h at s u b ject ; y et [t h e m o t h er] h a s n o t wi t h d rawn h er p et i t i o n

. . . . Fran k l y

, we are co n fu s ed as t o wh y [t h e m o t h er] i s p ro ceed i n g wi t h t h i s

cas e an d wh at s h e h o p es t o acco m p li s h

. . . . W e are h ap p y t o en t er i n t o

a co n s en t o rd er o n th e d ecl arat o ry ju d g m en t i s s u e t o red uce co s t s

.

Ho wev er, o n Ap ri l 1 5

, 2 0 2 0

, t h e fat h er s en t an em ai l t o t h e m o t h er sel ect i n g h i s

s u m m er d at es : (a) Ju l y 2 7 -Au g u s t 4 i f cam p i s can cel l ed ; o r (b ) J u l y 2 2 an d J u l y

2 3

9i f cam

p i s NOT can cel l ed

. In an Ap ri l 2 1

, 2 0 2 0 l et t er fro m t h e m o t h er’ s co u n sel t o t h e

fat h er’ s co u n s el

, t h e m o t her s t at ed t h at s h e h ad wai t ed t o res p o nd t o t h e fat her’ s l et t er

i n h o p e t h at t h e i s s u es wo u l d b e res ol v ed at m ed i at i o n an d t o s ee i f [t he

fat h er] wo u ld s el ect t wo co n s ecu t i v e week s fo r t h i s s u m m er b y h is Ap ri l

1 5 t h d ead l i n e. He d i d n o t

, l e a d i n g m e t o b el i ev e he s t i l l d oes n o t

u n d ers t an d an d d i s p u t es t h e cl ear m ean i n g of t h e Pare n t i n g Pl an

. D e s p i t e y o u r c l a i m t h a t y o u c o n c e d e d t h e d e c l a r a t o r y

ju d g m en t / Paren t i n g P l an l an g u ag e i s s u e fo r t h e fi rs t t i m e o n Oct ob er

2 n d , i t i s o b v io u s t o m e t h at t h ere i s s t i l l a d i s p u t e.

Fo l l owi n g t h e heari n g

, t h e t ri al co u rt is s u ed an o rd er (a) d en y i n g t h e m o t h er’ s

req u es t fo r d ecl arat ory ju d g m en t

, an d (b ) award i n g t h e fat h er at to rn ey fees p u rs u an t

t o OCG A § § 9

- 1 5

- 1 4 (b ) an d 1 9 -9 -3 (g ). In d en y in g t h e m o t h er’ s req u es t fo r

d ecl arat ory

ju d g m en t , t h e co u rt co n cl u d ed t h at

[ t ]h e Paren ti n g Pl an p erm it s each p art y “ u p t o” 4 t wo (2 ) co n secu t iv e

week s o f p aren t i n g t i m e wi t h t h e ch i l d ren d u ri n g t h e s um m er, b u t t h ere

i s n o req u i rem en t t h at each p art y ex erci s e t wo (2 ) fu l l co n s ecu t i v e an d

u n i n t erru pt ed week s o f s u m m er paren t i n g t i m e. Fu rt h er, t h e r e i s n o

req u irem en t i n t h e Paren t i n g Pl an t h at ei t h er p art y m u s t s el ect h i s or h er

s u m m er p aren t i n g t i m e i n week s

, rat h er t h an d ay s. Pet i ti o n er tes t ifi ed at

t h e fi n al h eari n g t hat s he wan t ed t h e d ecl arat ory ju d g m en t t o s t at e t hat

each p art y i s req ui red to s el ect h i s o r h er s u m m er week s i n t w o (2 ) w eek

4 W h i l e t h e t ri al co u rt q u o t ed t h e wo rd s “ u p t o ” as i f t h ey are i n t he t ex t o f t h e

p aren t i n g p l an

, t h es e wo rd s are n o t i n t h e pl an

. Th e p l an i n di cat es t h at “ [e] ach p aren t

s h al l b e en t i tl ed t o t wo co ns ecu t i v e week s o f u n i n t erru p ted paren t i n g t i m e wi t h t h e

m i n o r ch i l d ren d u ri n g t h e ch il d ren ’ s s u m m er v acat i on fro m

s ch o o l .”

10co n s ecu t i v e an d u n in terru p t ed bl o ck s

, wh i ch i s n o t req u i red b y th e

Paren t i n g Pl an an d th u s n o t s o m et h i ng t h e Co urt can t h erefo re ord er as

a d ecl arat o ry j u d gm en t

. Acco rd i n g ly

, [t h e m o t h er’ s ] req u es t fo r

d ecl arat o ry

ju d g m en t i s DENIED.

Th e m o t h er ap p eal s t hi s ru l i ng

.

1

. Th e m o t h er co nt e n d s t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n d en y in g h er m o t i o n fo r

d ecl arat ory ju d g m en t. Sp eci fi cal l y

, s h e arg u es t h at t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s i n terp ret at i o n o f

t h e p aren t i n g p l an “ s u m

m er v acat i on week s” l an g u ag e n o t o n l y co n t rad i ct s t h e p l ai n

l an g u ag e o f t h e p aren t i n g p l an an d ef f e c t u at es a m od i fi cat i o n o f t he p l an

, b ut

p o t en t i al ly

s t ri p s th e p aren t s el ect i ng s eco n d o f h er r i g h t t o t wo co n s ecu t i ve week s

d ep en d i ng o n t h e d ay s s el ect ed b y t h e p aren t ch o o s i n g fi rs t

. W e ag ree.

Th e St at e Dec l a rat o ry J u d g m en t Act g i v es s u p eri o r co u rt s th e

p o wer t o decl are ri gh t s an d o t h er leg al rel at i o n s of an y i n t eres ted p art y

i n “ cas es o f act u al co n t ro v ers y” u n d er OCGA § 9-4 -2 (a) an d “ i n an y

ci v i l cas e i n wh i ch i t ap p ears t o t h e co urt t h at t he en ds o f ju s t i ce req u i re

t h at t h e d ecl arat io n s h o u l d b e m ad e.” OCGA § 9 -4 -2 (b ).

W a l ker v. Owen s

, 2 9 8 Ga. 51 6

, 5 1 8 (7 8 3 SE2 d 1 1 4 ) (2 0 1 6 ) (c i t a t i o n o m i tt ed ). Th e

Act i s des i g n ed “ t o s et t l e an d affo rd rel i ef fro m u n cert ai n t y an d i n s ecu ri t y wi th

res p ect t o ri g h t s , s t at u s , an d o t her l eg al rel at i o n s [.] ” OCGA § 9 -4 -1

.

Th e p ro p er s co p e o f d ecl arat o r y ju d g m en t i s t o ad j u d ge t h o s e ri g h t s

am o n g p art i es u p on wh i ch t hei r fu t u re co n d u ct d ep en ds

. Su ch rel ief i s

a u t h o ri zed wh en t h ere are ci rcu m s t an ces s h owi n g a n eces si t y f o r a

d et erm i nat i o n o f t h e di s p u t e t o g u i d e an d p ro tect t he p l ai n t iff fro m

11u n cert ai n t y an d in secu ri ty wi t h reg ard t o t h e p ro p ri et y o f s o m e fu t u re act

o r co n d u ct

, wh i ch i s p ro perl y i n ci d en t to hi s al l eg ed ri g h t s an d w h i ch i f

t ak en wi t ho u t d irect i o n m i gh t reas o n ab l y jeo p ard i ze h i s i nt eres t

.

W a l ker

, 2 9 8 Ga. at 5 1 8 -5 1 9 (ci t at i o n s an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i tt ed ). See W ea ver v. Jo n es

,

2 6 0 Ga. 4 93

, 4 9 3 (1 ) (3 9 6 SE2 d 8 9 0 ) (1 9 9 0 ) (“ A decl arat o ry ju d g m en t i s an

ap p ro p ri at e m ean s o f as cert ai n i n g o n e’ s ri g h t s an d d u t i es un d er a co nt ract an d d ecree

o f d i v o rce.”) (c i t a t i o n an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ). “ An act i o n fo r a d ecl arat o ry

ju d g m en t

. . . m ay b e us ed t o cl ari fy th e m ean i n g o r a p p l i cat i o n o f a prev i o u s l y

ex i s t in g co u rt o rd er.” Mer ch a n t La w Fi r m, P

. C. v. Emer s o n

, 3 0 1 Ga. 6 0 9

, 6 1 6 (2 ) (b )

(8 0 0 SE2 d 5 5 7 ) (2 0 1 7 ) (ci tat io n an d p u n ct u at io n o m i tt ed ).

“ A tri a l c o u rt ’ s fi n d i n g s o f fact aft er a d ecl arat o ry ju d g m en t h eari n g are

an al o g o us t o a ju ry v erd i ct an d wi l l n ot b e i n t erfered wi t h i f t h ere i s an y ev i d en ce to

s u p p ort t h em

. Ho wev er, we rev i ew t h e t ri al c o u rt ’ s co n cl u s io n s of law d e n o v o.”

S t r a n g e v. To wn s

, 3 30 G a

. A p p

. 8 7 6

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

p u n ct u at i o n o m it t ed ).

Here, t h e m ot h er s o u g h t a d ecl arat o ry ju d g m en t ru l i n g t h a t t h e “ s u m m er

v acat i o n week s ” paren t i n g p lan l an g u ag e req u i red t h e f a t her t o s el ect co ns ecu t i v e

week s

, n o t d ai l y in crem en t s

, fo r h i s s u m m er v acat i o n p aren t i n g t i m e. T h e fat h er

arg u es t h at a d ecl arat o ry

ju dg m en t was n o t a p ro p er rem ed y i n t h i s cas e b ecau s e n o

12act u al co n t ro v ers y ex i s t ed

. Acco rd i n g t o t he fat h er, t h e lan g u ag e o f t he p aren t i n g p l an

was no t i n d i s p ut e

– “ i t s ay s wh at i t s ay s

. ” H o wev er, as d et ai l ed ab ov e, t he fat h er

i n i t i al l y co n t en d ed t h at th e l an g u ag e i n t h e “ s u m m er v acat i o n week s ” p ro v i s i o n d id

n o t req u i re h i m t o s el ect h is s u m m er v i s it at io n in a co ns ecu t i v e t w o -week b l o ck

, b u t

,

rat h er, i t p erm i t t ed h im t o s el ect u p t o 1 4 ran d o m d ay s d u ri n g t h e s u m m er. A l t h o u g h

t h e fat h er l at er ag r e e d wi t h t h e m o t h er’ s i n terp ret at i o n o f t h e “ s u m m er v acat i o n

week s ” l an g u ag e req u i ri n g h im t o s el ect t wo co n s ecu ti v e week s a n d rep eat ed l y

i n d i cat ed h e d i d n o t co n t es t t h e m o t h er’ s m o t io n fo r d ecl arat o ry ju d g m en t

, ev en aft er

t h at co n ces s i o n

, t h e fat her s el ect ed n i n e d a ys o r t wo d ay s (d ep en d in g on wh et h er

cam p w as can cel l ed ) rat h er th an a t wo -week

, co n s ecu t iv e, un i n t erru p t ed b lo ck fo r t h e

s u m m er o f 2 0 20

. He al s o co n t in u ed t o e m p h a s i z e t o t h e t ri al co u rt th e fact t h at t h e

m o th er h ad n o t al way s s el ect ed co n s ecu t i v e week s d u ri n g t he s u m m er.

In l i g h t o f t h e fat h er’ s act i o n s d em o ns t rat i n g th at h e d i d n o t ag ree wi t h t h e

m o th er’ s i n t erp ret at i o n o f t h e “ s u m m er vacat io n w eek s ” l an g u ag e i n th e paren t i n g

p l an

, an act u al co n t ro v ers y ex i st ed

, an d t h e m ot h er was en t i t l ed t o seek a d ecl arat o ry

ju d g m en t t o as cert ai n h er ri g h t s u n d er t h e d iv o rce d ecree an d th e “ s u m m er v acat i o n

week s ” p ro v i s i o n o f t h e p aren t i n g p l an i n co rp o rat ed i n t hat decree

. H a r d ma n v.

Ha r dma n , 2 9 5 Ga. 7 3 2 , 7 3 6 (3 ) (a) (7 6 3 SE2 d 8 6 1 ) (2 0 1 4 ).

13In ad d i t i o n

, t h e t r i al co u rt ’ s u lt i m at e co ncl u s io n t h at t h e “ s u m m er v acat i o n

week s ” p ro v i s i o n req u ires s om et h in g c o m p l et el y d i fferen t t h an wh at th e m o t h er

as s ert ed (an d t h e fat h er cl ai m ed n o t t o co n t es t) i s ev i d en ce t h at t h e m o t h er’ s act i o n

p res en t ed a ju s t i ci ab l e c o n t r o v ers y

. Des p i t e th e fat h er’ s ad m i s s i o n t h at h e d i d n ot

co n tes t t he m ot her’ s m o t i o n fo r decl arat o ry ju dg m en t

, t h e t ri al co u rt d en i ed t h e

m o th er’ s m o t i o n an d r u l e d t h at t h e p aren t i n g p l an lan g u ag e p erm i t s each p art y to

s el ect “ u p t o ” two co ns ecu t i v e week s o f p aren t i n g t i m e wi t h t h e ch i ld ren d uri n g t h e

s u m m er, wi t h n o o b l i g at i o n t hat a p aren t sel ect p aren t i n g t i m e i n week s rat h er t h an

d ay s

. W e co n cl u d e t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erro n eo u s l y i n t erp ret ed t he p lai n an d

u n am b i g u o u s l an gu ag e o f t h e “ s u m m er v acat i o n week s” p ro v i s io n i n t h e paren t i n g

p l an

.

Th e m e a n i ng of [an ag reem en t o r p aren t i n g p l an ] in co rp orat ed

i n t o a d i v o rce d ecree i s d et erm i n ed a c c o r d in g t o th e us u al ru l es o f

co n t ract co ns t r u c t i o n

, an d t h e card in al ru l e t h ereo f i s t o d et erm i n e th e

i n t en t o f t h e p a r t i es

. Co n s t ru ct i o n o f a co n t ract b y t h e co u rt i n vo l v es

t h ree s t ep s

. Fi rs t, i f no am b i gu i t y ap pears

, t h e t ri al co u rt en fo rces th e

co n t ract acco rd i n g to i ts t erm s irres p ect i v e o f al l t ech n ic a l o r arb i trary

ru l es o f co n s t ru ct io n

. Seco n d l y

, i f am b i g u i t y d o es ap p ear, t h e ex i st en ce

o r n on ex is t en ce o f an am b ig u i t y i s a q u es t i o n o f law f o r t h e co u rt

. Fi n a l l y

, a ju ry q u es t i o n ari s es o n l y wh en t h ere ap p ears to b e an

am b i g u i t y in t h e c o nt ract wh i ch can no t b e n eg at ed b y t h e co u rt ’ s

ap p l icat i o n o f t h e s t at u t ory ru l es o f co n s t ru ct i on

.

Fr i er v. Fr i er , 3 0 3 Ga. Ap p . 2 0 , 2 1 (6 9 2 SE2 d 6 6 7 ) (2 0 1 0 ) (ci t at i on o m i t ted ).

14As n o t ed ab o v e, t h e rel ev an t l an g u ag e o f t h e p aren t i n g p lan “ su m m er v acat i o n

week s ” p ro v i s io n i s as fo l l o ws : “ Each p aren t s h al l b e en t i t led t o t wo co ns ecu t i v e

week s o f u n i n terru p t ed paren t i n g t i m e wi t h t h e m i no r ch i l d ren d u ri n g t h e ch i l d ren ’ s

s u m m er v acat i o n fr o m s ch o o l .” W e d i scern n o am b i g ui t y in t h i s l an g u ag e.

“ Am bi g u i t y in a co n t ract i s d efi n ed as du p l i ci t y

, i n d i s t i n ct n es s

, o r an u ncert ai n t y o f

m ean i n g o r ex p res s i o n .” F r ier

, 3 0 3 Ga. Ap p. at 2 1 (ci t at io n an d p u n ct u at io n o m i t t ed ).

Gi v in g effect t o t h e p l ai n m ean i n g o f t h e “ s um m er v acat io n week s ” l an g u ag e i n t h e

p aren t i n g p l an

, we co n cl u d e t h at t h e p ro v i s i on p ro v i d es t hat each p aren t m ay s el ect

t wo co n s ecu t i ve week s o f un i n t er r u p t ed p aren t i n g t im e d u ri n g t h e ch i l d ren ’ s s u m m er

v acat i o n

. Th e q u es t i o n i n t hi s cas e i s wh et h e r t h e l an g u ag e i n t h e p aren t in g p l an i s

s u ffi c i e n t l y b r o ad t o g i v e each p aren t

, as fo u n d b y t h e t ri al co u rt

, “ u p t o ” 1 4

ad d it i o n al d ay s o f v i s i t at i o n i n th e s u m m er, w h i ch can be s el ect ed n o n -co n s ecu t i v el y

.

W e co n cl u d e t h at i t i s n o t

.

T he p aren t in g p l an p ro v i d es fo r jo i n t cu s t o d y an d v is i t at i on t hro u g h o u t t h e

y ear. Th e p l an d o es n o t a l ter t h e cu s t o d y an d v i s i t at i o n p ro v is i o n s i n t h e s u m m er

m o nt h s

, ex cep t fo r p ro v i d i n g t h a t a p art y m ay s el ect “ t wo co n secu t i v e week s o f

u n i n t erru p t ed p aren t in g ti m e wi t h t h e m i n o r ch i ld ren du ri n g th e ch i l dren ’ s s u m m er

v acat i o n fro m s ch o o l .” No t h i n g i n t h e p aren t i n g p l an o r t h e “ s u m m er v acat i o n week s ”

15p ro v is i o n o b l i g at es each paren t t o t ak e t h ei r t wo co n s ecu ti v e, u n i n t erru p ted week s

,

b u t n ei t her d oes an y t h i n g i n t he p ar e n tin g p l an o r “ s um m er v acat i o n week s” p ro v i s i o n

en t i t l e each p aren t

, as fo u n d b y t h e t ri al co u rt

, “ u p t o ” 1 4 ad d i t i o n al d ay s o f paren t i n g

t i m e d u ri ng s u m

m er v acat i o n o v er an d ab o v e t h e n o rm al p aren ti n g s ch ed u le, i n s t ead

o f two co n s ecu t i v e w eek s o f u ni n t erru p t ed p aren t i n g t i m e. W e ag ree wi t h t h e m o t h er

t h at th e tri al co u rt ’ s i n t erp ret at i o n

– e s s e n t i al l y p erm i t t i n g t h e fat h er t o t ak e 1 4

ad d it i o n al d ay s o f p arenting t i m e s p read t h ro ug h o u t t h e s u m m er

– n ot o nl y p ot en t i al l y

fo recl o s es t h e m o th er’ s o p p o rt u n i t y t o s el ect t wo co n s ecu t i ve week s o f u n i n t erru p t ed

t i m e d u ri n g t h e ch i l d ren ’ s s u m m er vacat i o n

, b u t al so d efea t s t h e i nt en t o f t h e

p aren t i n g p l an : t o al l ow each p aren t t wo week s o f u n in t erru pt ed t i m e d u ri n g wh i ch

t o t ak e a v acat i o n o r o t h erwi s e s p en d t i m e wi t h t h e ch il d ren an d no t wo rry ab o u t t h e

n o rm al cu s t o d y

an d v i s i t at i o n s ch ed u l e.

M o reo v er, i f we were t o read t h e “ s u m m er v acat i o n week s ” l an g u a g e i n t h e

p aren t i n g p l an as t he fat h er an d t h e t ri al co u rt s u gg es t

, i t wo u l d ren d e r t h e p h ras e

“ t wo co n s ecu t iv e week s ” an d t h e wo rd “ un i n t erru p ted ” m ean i n g l es s

. “ It i s a card i n al

ru l e o f co n tract co n s t ru ct i o n th at a co u rt s h ou l d, i f p o s s i bl e, co n s t ru e a co n tract s o as

n o t t o ren d er an y o f it s p ro v i s i o n s m ean i n g l es s an d i n a m a n n er t h at g i v es effect to

16al l o f t h e co n t ract u al t erm s .” Fo r s yt h Co u nt y v. W at er s p a ce S vcs

., LLC

, 3 0 3 Ga. Ap p.

6 2 3 , 6 3 1 (2 ) (a) (6 9 4 SE2 d 1 02 ) (2 0 1 0 ) (ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ).

In f a ct

, th i s Co u rt p rev i o u s ly h as fo un d s i m i l ar lan g u ag e i n a p aren t i n g p l an

cl ear an d u n am

b i g u o u s

. See Pa r

k-Po a p s v. Po a p s

, 3 5 1 Ga. Ap p

. 8 5 6

, 8 6 0 (1 ) (8 3 3

SE2 d 5 5 4 ) (2 0 1 9). In Pa r k-Po a p s

, t h e m o t h er i nfo rm ed t he fat her th at sh e wan t ed to

t ak e t h e ch i l d ren ou t o f t h e co u n t ry d u ri ng a t wo -week p e r i o d

, an d t h e fat h er

res p o n d ed t h at h e was ex erci s i ng h is ri g h t u n der t h e p aren t i n g p l an t o s el ect t h e s am e

t wo -week peri o d as h i s t wo w eek s o f p aren t i n g t i m e d u ri n g t h e s um m er. Id . at 8 5 9

-

8 6 0 (1 ). Th i s Co u rt hel d t h at “ t h e fat h er was en t i tl ed t o s el ect t wo co n s ecu t i v e week s

o f s u m m er v acat i o n wi t h t h e ch i l d ren

. . . an d a p art y i s en t i t l ed t o rel y o n t h e p l ai n

t erm s o f a co u r t o r d e r u n t i l s uch p ro v i si on s are m o d i fi ed b y t he co u rt [.] ” Id

. at 8 6 0

(1 ) (ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ).

Th e fat h er as s ert s t hat t h i s Co u rt sh o u l d affi rm t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s den i al o f t h e

m o th er’ s m o t i o n fo r d ecl arat o ry ju d g m en t as “ ri g h t fo r an y reas o n ” b ecau s e t h e fat h er

s t at ed h e d i d n o t co n t es t t h e m o t i o n

. A cco rd i n g t o t h e fat h er, t h e t ri al co u rt was

o b l i g at ed t o d en y th e m o t i o n

, as i t d i d

, an d t h e reas o n fo r i t s d en i al i s i rrel ev an t

. No t

o n l y d o e s t h i s arg u m en t fai l b ecau s e, as s t at ed ab o v e, we fi n d t h at a ju s t i ci ab l e

co n tro v ers y ex i s t ed reg ard i n g t h e p aren t i n g p l an l an g u ag e, bu t t h e fat h er’ s arg u m en t

17n eg lect s t h e fact t h at t h e t ri al co u rt i s su ed a ru li n g erro n eo us l y i n t erp ret i n g t h e

“ s u m m er v acat i o n week s ” l an g uag e. It i s wel l es t ab l i sh ed t h at t he ri g h t fo r an y reas o n

ru l e d o es n ot ap p l y b ecau s e “ [w] h ere i t i s ap p aren t t h at a t ri al co u rt ’ s ju d g m en t res t s

o n an erro n eo u s l eg al t h eo ry

, an ap p el l at e co u r t c a n n o t affi rm .” Ni s s a n No r th

Amer i ca

, In c. v. W

a l ker -Jo n es Ni s s a n

, LLC

, 3 4 5 Ga. Ap p

. 4 4 7

, 4 5 5 (1 ) (8 1 2 SE2 d

1 3 0 ) (2 0 1 8 ) (ci t at i o n o m i t t ed ).

Th e fat h er al so ap p ears t o arg ue t h at t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s ord er can b e co n s t ru ed as

a m o d i fi cat i o n o f t h e p aren t i n g p l an

. Acco rd i n g to t h e fat h er, t h e t ri al co u rt p o s s es s ed

au t h o ri t y t o m o di fy th e p aren t i n g p l an b ec a u s e t h e m o t h er b ro u g h t h er m o t i o n fo r

d ecl arat ory ju d g m en t at t h e s am e t i m e sh e fi l ed a m o d i fi cat i o n act i o n. Pret erm i t t i n g

wh et h er t h e t ri al co u rt co u l d p ro p erl y m o di fy t h e p aren t i n g p l a n u n d er t h e

ci rcu m s t an ces p res en t ed in t h i s cas e, i t i s cl ear fro m t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s o rd er t h at t h e

c our t w a s m e r e l y inte r

pr e ting, no t m o di fy i n g

, t h e “ s u m m er vacat i o n week s ” l an g u ag e.

Th e t r i al co u rt ’ s d en i al o f t h e m o t h er’ s req u es t fo r d ecl arat o ry ju d g m en t i s

h ereb y rev ers ed

.

2

. Th e m o t h er n ex t as s ert s t h at 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 award i n g

at t o rn ey fees t o t h e fat h er un d er b o t h OCGA § § 9 -1 5 -1 4 (b ) an d 19 -9 -3 (g ) bas ed o n

i t s erro n eo u s ru li n g reg ard i ng t h e m o t i o n fo r d ecl arat o ry ju d g m en t . W e ag ree.

18“ As a g en eral ru le, Geo rg i a l aw d o es n o t p ro v id e fo r t h e award o f at to rn ey fees

ev en t o a p rev ai l i ng p art y u n l es s au t h o ri zed b y s t at u t e o r b y c o n t r act .” Co t h r a n v.

Meh o s ky

, 2 8 6 Ga. Ap p

. 6 4 0

, 6 4 1 (6 4 9 SE2 d 8 3 8 ) (2 00 7 ) (ci t at i o n o m it t ed ). H ere, t h e

fat h er so u g h t

, an d t h e t ri al co u rt award ed

, at t o rn ey fees u n d er b o th OCGA § § 9 -1 5 -1 4

(b ) an d 1 9 -9 -3 (g ). W e t urn fi rs t t o t h e award u n d er OCGA § 9 -1 5 -1 4 (b ).

(a) OCGA § 9 -1 5 -1 4 (b

)

. Pu rs u an t t o OCGA § 9 -1 5 -1 4 (b ), a t r i a l c o u rt m ay

award at t o rn ey fees i f a p art y “ b ro u g h t o r d efen ded an act io n

, or an y p art t h ereo f, t h at

l ack ed s u b s t an t i al ju s t i fi cat i o n ” o r “ was i n t erp o s ed fo r del ay o r h aras s m en t ,” o r i f a

p a r t y “ u n n eces s ari l y ex p an d ed t h e p ro ceed i n g by o t h er i m p ro p er co n d u ct .” Th e

s t at u te d efi n es “ l ack ed su b s t an t i al ju s t i fi c a t i o n” t o m ean “ s ub s t an t i al l y fri v o l o u s

,

s u b s t an t i al l y g ro un d l es s

, o r s u b s t an t i al l y v ex at i o u s

. ” OCGA § 9 -1 5 -1 4 (b ). W e

rev i ew a fee award u nd er O CGA § 9 -1 5 -1 4 (b ) fo r an ab u se o f d i s cret i o n

. Co h en v.

Ro g er s

, 3 4 1 Ga. Ap p

. 1 4 6

, 1 4 8 (2 ) (7 9 8 SE2 d 7 0 1) (2 0 1 7 ). “ Un d er an ab u s e o f

d i s cret i o n st an d ard o f rev i e w

, w e a r e t o rev iew t he t ri al co u rt ’ s l eg al h ol d i n g s d e

n o v o

, an d we up h o l d t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s fact u al fi n d i n g s as l o n g as t h ey are n o t cl earl y

erro neo u s

, wh i ch m ean s t h ere i s s o m e ev i d en ce in t h e r eco rd to s u p p ort t h em .” Id

.

(ci t at i o n an d p u nct u at io n o m i t ted ).

19T h e t ri al co u rt i n t h i s cas e award ed $9 ,0 2 4

. 5 0 in at t o rn ey fees t o t h e f a t h e r

p u rs u an t t o OCGA § 9 -1 5 -1 4 (b ), b as ed o n a fi n di n g t h at t h e m o t h er’ s pu rs u i t o f t h e

d ecl arat ory j u d gm en t was “ s u b s t an t i al ly vex at i o u s an d / o r lack i n g i n s u b s t an t i al

j ustif ic a tion. ” T h e co u rt ex p l ai n ed t h at t he fat h er p res en t ed ev i d en ce t h at fro m August

2 8

, 2 0 1 9

, t h ro u g h t h e f

i n a l h eari n g

, h e in cu rred $ 9 ,0 24 .5 0 i n fees i n d efen s e o f t h e

m o th er’ s req u es t fo r d ecl arat ory ju d gm en t, wh i ch s h e refu s ed t o d is m i s s d es p i t e h i s

rep eat ed s t at e m en t s t h at h e was n o t co nt es t i n g t h e d ecl arat o ry j u d gm en t

. H o wev er,

as o u r d i s cu s s i o n i n Di v is i o n 1 s h o w s

, t h e m o t h er’ s d ecl arat o ry ju d g m en t act i o n was

n o t s u b st an t i al l y v e x a t i o u s

, it d i d no t l ack s u bs t an t i al ju s t ifi cat i o n

, an d t h e fat h er’ s

s u m m er v acat i on s el ect i o n s i n d i c a ted h e di d n o t ag ree wi th t h e m o t h er’ s

i n t er p r e t a t i o n o f th e s u m m er v acat i o n w eek s l an g uag e i n th e p aren t i n g p l an

. Ou r

rev ers al o f t he t ri al co u rt ’ s i n t erp ret at i o n o f th e “ s u m m er v acat i o n week s ” l an g u ag e

i n t h e paren t i ng p l a n s h o ws t h at t he m o t h er’ s pu rs u i t o f cl ari t y was l eg i t i m at e.

Acco rd i n g l y, 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 award in g at t o rn ey fees u n d er

OCGA § 9 -1 5 -1 4 (b ), an d i t s award u n d er t hat s t at u t e i s rev ers ed

. See Ha r d ma n

, 2 9 5

Ga. at 7 39 (4 ) (at t o r n e y f e e s award ed u n der OCGA § 9 -1 5-1 4 rev ers ed b ecau s e

d ecl arat ory

ju d g m en t act i o n di d n o t l ack s u b s tan t i al ju s t i fi cat i o n ).

20(b ) OCGA § 19 -9 -3 (g )

. Un der OCGA § 1 9 -9 -3 (g ), a t ri al co urt m ay award

reas on ab l e at t orn ey fees

, ex p en s es o f l i t i g at i o n

, an d o th e r c o s t s as s o ci at ed wi t h a

c h i l d c u s t o d y act i o n

. O CGA § 1 9 -9 -3 (g ) “ affo rd s w i de d is cret i o n t o t h e t ri al co u rt

t o award reas o nab l e at t o rn ey fees an d ex p en s es i n ch i l d cu s t o d y act i o ns t o be p ai d by

t h e p art i es i n p ro p o rt i o n s an d at t i m es d e t e r m i n ed b y th e ju d g e.” M o o r e v.

Mo o r e-McKi n ney

, 29 7 G a. Ap p

. 7 0 3

, 7 1 2 (4 ) (6 7 8 SE2 d 15 2 ) ( 2 0 0 9 ) (ci t at i o n an d

p u n ct u at i o n o m it t ed ).

Th e t ri al co u rt i n t h i s cas e award ed t h e fat her $ 1 9 ,2 6 0

. 0 0 i n at t o rn ey fees an d

l i ti g at i o n ex p en s es pu rs u an t to OCGA § 19 -9 -3 (g ), fi n di n g t hat su ch fees were

reas on ab l y an d n eces s ari l y i n cu rred b y t h e fat h er t h ro u g h Au gu s t 2 7

, 20 1 9

, in

d efen d in g ag ai n s t th e m ot h er’ s “ ch i l d cu s to d y an d p aren t i n g t i m e cl ai m s

, pri m ari l y

i n d efe n s e o f t h e em erg en cy h eari n g

, an d d ecl arat o ry ju d g m en t .” Th e co u rt ’ s o rd er

i n d i cat es t h at t h e fees w ere warran t ed b ecau s e th e m o t h er “ p u r s u e d h er req u es t fo r

m o di fi cat i o n o f cu s to d y

, pa r e ntin g t i m e an d d ecl arat o ry ju d g m en t t h ro u g h Au g u s t 2 7,

2 0 1 9 wh en s h e n o t i fi ed [t h e fat h er] t h at s he wan t ed to d i sm i s s t h e cas e”; t h e m o t h er

d i d n ot w i t h d raw h er req u es t fo r m o di fi cat io n o f c u s t o dy

, t h o u g h s h e al s o d i d n ot

p u rs u e i t, wh en t h e fat h er d ecl in ed t o di s m i s s h is co u n t ercl ai m fo r at t o rn ey fees ; t h e

m o th er fi l ed an em erg en cy m o t i o n f o r m od i fi cat i o n o f s u m

m er p aren ti n g t i m e t h at

21was d en i ed ; th e m o t her refu s ed to wi th d raw h er req u es t fo r decl arat o ry ju d g m en t ; an d

t h e co u rt h ad d en i ed o r was d en y i n g al l o f t h e m o t h er’ s req u es t s fo r rel i ef.

Th e m o t h er arg u es t h at OCGA § 1 9 -9 -3 (g ) at t orn ey f e e a w a r d s are n ot

au t h o ri zed i n a d ecl arat o ry ju d g m en t act i o n. Th e fat h er d o es n ot di s p u t e t h i s

as s ert i o n

, h e m erel y a r g u es t h at t h e m o t h er h as wai ved t h e arg um en t b ecau s e s h e

i n d u ced t h e al l eg ed erro r wh en h er co u n s el d raft ed t h e o rd er.

Co n trary t o t h e fat h er’ s arg u m e n t

, t h e o rd er at i s s u e i n d i cat es t h at i t was

“ [p ] rep ared an d p res en t ed b y ” t h e fat h er’ s t ri al co un s el

. W h i le t h e m o t h er’ s co u n s el

m ay h av e red l in ed

, rev i ewed

, or ev en s u gg es t ed l an g u ag e fo r a p ro p o s ed o rd er, t h at

d o es n o t t ran s fo rm an ad v ers e ru l i n g in t o a co n s en t ju d g m en t

. See gen eral l y Ru d e v.

Ru d e

, 2 4 1 G a. 4 5 4

, 4 5 5 (1 ) (2 4 6 SE2 d 3 1 1 ) (1 9 7 8). In Ru de

, t h e Geo rg i a Su p rem e

Co u rt n o t ed t h at

[w] h ere a fi nal o rd er i s “ ap p ro v ed b y ” co u ns el fo r b o th part i es i n wri t i n g

. . . [i ] t i s n o t ap p ro v al o f t h e s u b s t an ce (res u l t ) o f t he o rd er (i f i t were,

t h e ri g h t o f ap p eal wo u ld b e wai v ed ), bu t a sh o w i n g t h at co u n s el h as

s een t he p ro p os ed o rd er an d ag rees t h at it co n t ai n s wh at t h e co u rt o ral l y

d i rect ed b e in cl u d ed i n i t

. Co u n s el ’ s “ ap p ro v al ” t h u s i s an in d icat i o n o f

ap p ro v al o f t he co n t en t o r fo rm o f t h e o rd er rat h er t h an i t s s u b s t an ce.

22Id

. at 4 5 5 (1 ). Acco rd i n g l y

, we can n o t co n s tru e th e t ri al co u rt ’ s i n cl u si on o f t h e

p h ras e “ d ecl arat o ry ju d g m en t ” wi t h res p ect t o O C GA § 19 -9 -3 (g ) at t o rn ey fees as

i n d u ced erro r, “ s u rp l u s ag e” o r “ h arm l es s erro r” as arg u ed b y t h e fat h er.

Becau s e t he tri al co u rt ’ s o rd er d oes n o t l i m i t i t s award o f OCGA § 1 9 -9 -3 (g )

at t o rn ey fees t o fees i n cu rred b y t h e fat h er rel at e d t o s an ct i on ab l e co n du ct b y t h e

m o th er wi t h res p ect t o t h e ch i l d cu s t o d y act i o n , i t i s h ereb y vacat ed

, an d t he cas e i s

rem an ded fo r t h e t r i a l co u rt t o d et erm i n e t h e am o u n t o f at t o rn ey fees

, if an y

, t h at

s h o u ld b e award ed to t h e fat h er b as ed s o lel y o n an y s a n ct i o n ab l e co n d uct b y t h e

m o th er i n p u rs u i n g h er ch i l d cu s t o d y cl ai m s . See Ha r d

ma n , 2 95 Ga. at 7 4 0 (4 ).

Ju d g men t r ever

s ed i n p a r t

, va ca t ed i n p ar t , a n d ca s e rema n ded

. Rees e, P. J.,

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

.

23