FI RST DI VI SI ON

BA RNES, P. J.

, M CM I LLI A N and R EESE, JJ.

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

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

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

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

Jul y 31, 2018



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 8 A0 83 3

. VALLEY v

. SOUTH ATLANTIC CONFERENCE OF

SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST.

B A R N E S , Pres i d i n g J ud g e.

In 2 0 1 1

, t h e t ri al co u rt en t ered d efau l t j u d g m e nt i n fav o r of Pl ai n t iff Cl i n t o n

Val l ey i n h i s d ecl arat o ry j u d g m en t act i o n ag ai n st Defen d a n t So u t h At l an t i c

Co n feren ce o f Sev en t h -d ay Ad v en t i s t (t h e “ So u t h At l an ti c Co n feren ce”), ru l i n g t h at

t h e So u th At l an t i c Co n feren ce o wed cert ai n o b li gat i o n s t o Val l ey u n d er i t s ret i rem en t

b en efi t s p l an b as ed o n verb al an d wri t t en as s u ran ces th at it h ad m ad e t o h i m

. In 2 0 1 6,

Val l ey fi l ed a m o ti o n fo r co n t em p t s an ct i o n s ag ai n s t t h e So u t h At lan t i c Co n feren ce,

arg u i n g t h at i t h ad fai l ed t o fu l fi l l th o s e ob l i g at i on s

. T h e t ri al co urt d en i ed Val l ey ’ s

m o ti o n

, res u l t i n g i n t h i s ap p ea l

. F o r t h e reas o n s d i s cu s s bel o w, we rev ers e t h e t ri alco u rt ’ s ru l i n g o n Val l ey ’ s m o t i o n fo r co n t em p t an d rem an d fo r act i o n co n s is ten t wi th

t h i s o p i n i o n.

Th e reco rd refl ect s t h at t h e g l o b al m i n i s try o f t h e Sev en t h-d ay A d v en t i s t

Ch u rch i s co o rd i n at ed an d g ov ern e d b y i t s Gen eral Co n feren ce an d i s fu rt h er

o rg an i zed i n t o s ev eral reg i o n al d i v i s i o n s an d co n feren ces

. Th e So u t h At l an t i c

Co n feren ce i s a m em

b er o f t h e No rt h Am eri can Di v i s io n of t h e Gen eral Co n feren ce

(t he “ No rt h Am eri can Di v i s i o n ”).

Befo re J an u ary 1, 2 0 0 0

, t h e No rt h Am eri can Di v i s i o n h ad a d efi n ed b en efi t

ret i rem en t p lan th at was t he p ri m ary s ou rce of ret irem en t b en efi t s fo r t h e em p l o y ees

o f it s reg i o n al co n f

e r e n ces

, i n cl ud i n g t h e So u t h At lan t i c Co n feren ce (t h e “ NAD

Ret i rem en t Pl an ”). Aft er t h at d at e, t h e No rt h At l an t ic Di v i si o n ad o p t ed a n ew d efi n ed

co n tri b u t i o n ret i rem en t p l an

, lead i n g t h e So u t h A t lan t i c Co n feren ce an d s ev eral o t h er

reg i o n al co n feren ces t o es t ab l i sh t h ei r o wn d efi n ed b en efi t ret i rem en t p l an fo r t h ei r

em pl o yees

, t he Reg io nal Co n feren ce Ret irem en t Pl an (t he “ Reg i o n al Ret i rem en t

Pl an ”). An em

pl o y ee co u l d ves t i n th e Reg i o nal Ret irem en t Pl an b y, a m o n g o t h er

t h i n g s , co m

p l et i n g fi ve y ears o f q u al i fy i n g s erv i ce.

Val l ey s erv ed as a p as t o r i n t he So u t h At l an t i c Co n feren ce fo r ap p ro x i m at el y

fo u r y ears

, fro m J u n e 1 9 99 t h ro u g h J u l y 2 0 0 3

. Befo re h i s s erv i ce i n t h at co n feren ce,

2Val l ey serv ed i n t he Sev en th -d ay Ad v en t i s t Ch u rch ou t s i d e o f t h e Un i t ed St at es fo r

o v er 2 4 y ears

.

Fo l l owi n g Va l l e y’s s erv i ce as a p as t o r i n t h e So ut h At l an t i c Co n feren ce, a

d i s p u t e aro s e b et ween t h e p art ies as t o wh et h er Val l ey ’ s p ri o r y ears o f s erv i ce i n t h e

Sev en t h-d ay Ad v en t i s t Ch u rch o u t s i d e o f t h e Un i ted St at es wo u l d b e cred i t ed t o ward

t h e Reg i o n al Ret i rem e n t P l an wh en h e s ou g h t t o co l l ect ret i rem en t b en efi t s

. As a

res u l t o f t h e d i s p u t e, i n March 2 0 1 1

, V al l ey b ro u g h t a d e c l arat o ry ju dg m en t act i o n

ag ai n s t th e So u th At lan t i c Co n feren ce i n t h e St at e Co u rt o f Fu l t o n Co u n t y

. Val l ey

s o u g ht a d ecl arat i o n th at t h e So u t h At l an t ic Co n feren ce w as o b l i g at e d t o cred i t h i s

p ri o r y ears o f serv i ce t o ward i t s Reg i o n al Ret i r e m e n t P r o g ram an d h ad a d u t y to

p ro v id e h i m

ret i rem en t b en efi t s

.

Val l ey ’ s co m

p l ai n t al l eg ed t h at b as e d on h i s pri o r y ears o f s erv i ce i n t h e

Sev en t h-d ay Ad v en t i s t Ch u rch o u t si d e o f t he Un i t ed St at es

, h e q u al i fi ed fo r

ret i rem en t ben efi t s u nd er t h e NAD Ret i rem en t Pl an wh en he t ran s ferred t o t h e So u th

At l an t i c Co n feren ce. A cco rd i n g t o t h e co m pl ai nt

, h ow e ve r

, V a lle y was ad v i s ed b y t h e

So u t h At l an ti c Co n feren ce t o wai v e hi s r i g h t s t o r ecei v e an y b en efi t s i n t h e NAD

Ret i rem en t Pl an so th at h e co u l d p art i ci p at e i n t he So ut h At lan t i c Co n feren ce’ s n ewl y

es t ab l i s h ed Reg i o n al Ret i rem e n t Pl an

. In t h i s reg ard

, t h e co m p lai n t al l eg ed t h at

3Val l ey recei ved as s u ran ces fro m t h e So u t h At l an t i c Co nferen ce t h at h i s “ p ri o r y ears

o f s erv ice t o t h e ch urch wo u l d b e h o n ored i n t h e

. . . Reg i o nal Ret i rem en t

. . . Pl an ,”

an d t h at i n rel i an ce on th o s e as s u ran ces

, h e s ig n ed a w ri t t en wai v er rel i n q ui s h i n g h i s

ri g h t s t o recei ve an y b en efi t s in t h e NAD Ret i rem en t Pl an an d jo i n ed t h e Reg i o n al

Ret i rem en t Pl an

. Th e co m p l ai n t al l eg ed t h at V al l ey t h u s “ rel i ed o n [t h e So u th

At l an t i c Co n feren ce’s ] as s u ran ces an d co v en an t t o cred i t h i s pri o r s erv i ce y ears

t o ward s th e Reg io n al Ret i rem en t Pro g ram t o h i s d et ri m en t .” Val l ey ’ s wri tt en wai v er

o f b en efi t s i n t h e NAD Ret irem en t Pl an was at tach ed as an ex h i b i t t o t h e co m p l ai n t

.

Al s o at t ach ed as an ex h i b i t wa s a l e t t er wri tt en b y t h e Ex ecu t i v e Secret ary o f t h e

So u t h At l an t i c Co n feren ce m em o ri al i zi n g t h e v erb al as s u ran ces m ad e t o Val l ey an d

co n fi rm i n g t h at t h e Ex ecu t i ve Co m m i t tee o f t h e So u t h At l an t i c Co n feren ce h ad v o t ed

t o cred i t h i s pri or y ears o f s er v i c e o u t s i d e t h e Un i t ed St at es to ward th e Reg i o n al

Ret i rem en t Pl an

, s u ch t h at Val l ey h ad 2 4 y ears an d 1 1 m o n th s o f cred i t ed s erv i ce.

T h e co m p lai n t fu rt h er al l eg ed t h at d es p i t e Val l ey ’ s rel i an ce o n t h o s e

as s u ran ces

, t he Ex e c u t i v e Secret ary o f t h e So u t h At l an t i c Co nferen ce l at er s en t a

l et t er to Val l ey i n March 2 0 0 5 s t at i n g th at t h e Reg i o nal Ret i rem en t Pl an wo u l d “ o n l y

co v er [h i s] act u al t i m e s pen t at o u r co nferen ce” an d wo ul d n o t cred i t hi s p ri o r y ears

o f s erv i ce i n t h e Sev en th -d ay Ad v en t i s t Ch urch o u t s i d e o f t h e Un i t ed St at es

. A co py

4o f t h e l et t er was at t ach ed t o t h e co m p lai n t

. Acco rd i n g t o t h e co m p l ai n t

, al l s u b s eq u en t

effo rt s b y Val ley t o h av e t h e So u t h A t l an t i c Co n feren ce “ h o n o r i t s ag reem en t were

reb u ffed ,” su ch t h at an act u al an d ju s t i ci ab le co n t ro v ers y ex i s t ed bet ween t he p art i es

as t o w h e t h er t h e So u t h At l an t i c Co n feren ce wo u l d be o b l i g at ed to cred i t Val l ey ’ s

p ri o r s e rv ice y ears t o ward t h e Reg i o n al Ret irem en t Pl an wh en he ap p l i ed fo r

ret i rem en t ben efi t s

. Co n s eq u en t l y

, t h e co m p l ai nt s o ug h t a d ecl arat i o n fro m t h e t ri al

co u rt t h at t h e S o ut h At lan t i c Co n feren ce was o b li g at ed

, b as ed o n i t s v erb al an d

wr i t t en as s u ran ces

, to cred i t Val l ey ’ s p ri o r y ears of s erv i ce t o ward s i t s Reg i o n al

Ret i rem en t Pro g ram an d t o p ro v i d e h i m w i th ret irem en t b en efi t s b as ed o n t he p art i es ’

u n d ers t an d i n g an d t h e as s u ran ces t h at h ad b een g i v en

. 1

1 See OCGA § 1 3-3 -4 4 (a) (“ A pro m i s e w hi ch t h e p ro m i s o r s h o u l d reas o n ab l y

ex p ect t o i n d u ce act io n or fo rb earan ce o n t h e p art o f t h e p ro m i s ee o r a t h i rd p ers o n

an d wh i ch d o es i n d u ce s u ch act i o n o r fo rb earan ce i s b i n d in g i f i n j u s t i ce can b e

av o id ed o n l y b y en fo rcem en t o f t h e p ro m i se. Th e rem ed y gran t ed fo r b reach m ay b e

l i m i ted as ju s ti ce req u i res .”); Th o mp s o n v. Fl o yd

, 3 1 0 Ga. Ap p

. 6 7 4

, 68 2 -6 8 3 (3 ) (7 1 3

SE2 d 8 8 3 ) (2 01 1 ) (p ro m i s so ry es t o p p el cl ai m s u p p ort ed b y ev i d en ce t h at d efen d an t ’ s

p ro m i s e i n d u ced p l ai n t i ff, am on g o t h er t h i n g s

, t o rel i n q u is h ri g ht t o fu t u re s t o ck

o p t i o n s fro m fo rm er em

pl o y er); Ka ma t v. Al l a t o o n a Fed

. Sa v. Ba nk

, 2 3 1 Ga. Ap p.

2 5 9

, 2 6 3 (3 ) (4 9 8 SE2 d 1 5 2 ) (1 9 9 8 ) (“ To p rev ai l o n a p ro m i s s o ry es t o p p el cl ai m

,

p l ai n t i ffs m

u s t s ho w t h at (1 ) d efen dan t m ad e cert ai n p ro m i s es

, (2 ) d efen d an t s h o u ld

h av e ex p ect ed th at p l ai nt i ffs wo u l d rel y o n s u ch pro m i s es

, (3 ) t h e p l ai n t i ffs di d i n fact

rel y on s u ch p ro m is es to h i s det ri m en t, a n d (4 ) i n ju s t i ce can b e av o i d ed o n l y by

en fo rcem en t o f t h e p ro m i s e.”).

5In M arch 2 01 1

, th e So u th At lan t i c Co n feren ce was s erv ed wi t h t h e s u m m on s

an d co m p l ai n t seek i n g decl arat o ry rel i ef. Becau se t h e So u t h At l an t i c Co n feren ce d id

n o t t i m el y fi l e an an s wer t o th e co m p l ai nt

, 2 t h e d ecl arat o ry ju d g m en t act i on wen t i n to

au t o m at i c d efau l t u nd er OCGA § 9 -1 1 -5 5 (a). 3 Th e So u th A t l an t i c Co n feren ce d i d n ot

2 O CGA § 9 -1 1 -1 2 (a) pro v id es i n part : “ A d efen dan t s h al l s erv e h is an s we r

wi t h i n 30 d ay s aft er t h e serv i ce o f t h e s u m m o n s an d co m

p l ai nt u p o n h i m

, u n l es s

o t h erwi s e p ro v i d ed b y

s t at u t e. . . .”

3 OCGA § 9 -1 1 -5 5 (a) p ro v i d es :

If i n an y cas e an an s wer h as n o t b een fi l ed wi t h i n th e t i m e req ui red b y

t h i s ch ap t er, t h e cas e s h al l au t o m at ical l y b eco m e i n defau l t u n l e s s th e

t i m e fo r fi l i n g t he a n s w e r h a s been ex t en ded as p ro vi d ed b y l aw. T he

d efau l t m ay b e o p en ed as a m at t er o f ri gh t by t h e fi li n g o f s uch d efen ses

wi t h in 1 5 d ay s o f t h e d ay o f d efau l t, u p on t h e p a y m en t o f co s t s. If th e

cas e i s s t i l l i n d e f

a u l t aft er t h e ex p i rat i o n o f t he p eri o d o f 1 5 d ay s

, th e

p l ai n t i ff at an y t i m e t h ereaft er s h al l b e en t i t l ed t o v erd i ct an d ju d g m en t

b y d efau l t, in o p en co u rt o r i n ch am b ers

, as i f ev ery it em an d p arag rap h

o f t h e co m

pl ai n t or o t h er o ri g i n al p l ead i n g were s u p po rt ed b y p ro p er

ev i d en ce, wi t h ou t t he in t erv en ti o n o f a ju ry

, u n l es s t h e act io n i s on e ex

d el i ct o o r i n v o l v es u n l i q u i d at ed d am ag es

, i n wh i ch ev en t t he p l ai n ti ff

s h al l b e req u i red t o i nt ro d u ce ev i d en ce a n d es t ab l i s h t h e am o u n t o f

d am ag es befo re t h e co u rt wi t ho u t a ju ry

, wi t h t h e ri gh t o f t h e d efen d an t

t o in t ro d u ce ev i d en ce as t o d am ag es an d th e ri g h t o f ei t h er t o m o v e fo r

a n ew t ri al i n res p ect of su ch d am ag es ; p ro v i d ed

, h o w ev er, i n t h e ev en t

a d efen d an t , t h o u g h i n d efau l t , h as p l aced d am ag es in i s su e b y fi l i n g a

p l ead i n g rai s i n g s uch i s s u e, ei t her part y s h al l b e en t it l ed

, up o n d em an d

,

t o a ju ry tri al o f t h e i s s ue as t o d am ag es

. An act i on b as ed u p on o p en

acco u n t s h al l n o t b e co n s i d ered o n e fo r u n l i q u i d at ed d am ag es wi t h i n th e

m ean i n g o f t h i s Co de s ect i o n

. See Bel l S o u t h Tel eco mmu n ica t i o n s v. Fu t u re C o m m u n i ca t io n s

, 2 9 3 Ga. Ap p

. 2 4 7,

2 4 8 (6 6 6 SE2 d 69 9) (2 0 0 8 ) (cas e au t o m at i cal l y i n d efau lt

, wh ere n o an s wer fi l ed

6m o ve t o o p en th e d efau l t as a m at t er of ri g h t wi th i n 15 d ay s o f t h e au t o m at i c d efau l t

.

See i d

. Su b s eq uen t l y

, i n M ay 2 0 1 1

, V a ll ey fi l ed a m o t io n fo r en t ry o f d efau l t

ju d g m en t ag ai ns t t h e So u t h A t l an t i c Co n feren ce pu rs u a n t t o O CGA § 9 -1 1 -5 5 (a).

Th at s am e m o n th

, aft er t h e So u t h A t l a n ti c Co n feren ce d i d n o t res p o n d to Val l ey ’ s

m o ti o n

, th e t ri al co urt en tered d efau l t ju dg m en t i n f a v o r o f Val l ey an d ag ai n s t t h e

So u t h At l an ti c Co n feren ce. Th e t ri al co u rt s t at ed i n t h e d efau l t ju d g m en t o rd er t h at

each an d ev ery i t e m an d p arag rap h o f Val ley ’ s co m p l ai n t was s u p po rt ed b y p ro p er

ev i d en ce, an d th e t ri al co u rt d ecl ared t h at th e So u t h At l an t i c C o n f e ren ce was

“ o b l i g at ed

, b as ed o n i t s v erb al an d wri t ten as s u ran ces

, t o cred i t

. . . Val l ey ’ s p ri o r

s erv i ce y ears t o ward s t h e Reg i o n al Ret i rem en t Pro gram ” an d “ h a[d ] a d u t y t o p ro v i d e

[Val l ey ] w i t h ret i rem en t b en efi t s b as ed on t h e part i es ’ u n d ers t an d i n g an d [t he So u th

At l an t i c Co n feren ce’ s ] as s u ran ces .” No t hi n g i n t h e reco rd s h o ws t h at t h e So u th

A t l an ti c Co n feren ce ev er fi l ed a m o t i o n to s et as i d 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 ), an d th e So u t h At l an t i c Co n feren ce d o es n o t co n t en d o t h erwi s e

o n ap p eal

. 4

wi t h i n s t at u t o ry

p eri o d an d t im e fo r res p o nd i n g was n o t ex t en d ed b y t ri al co u rt ).

4 OCGA § 9 -1 1 -6 0 p ro v i d es i n rel ev an t p art :

(d ) Mo t io n t o set a s id

e. A m ot i o n t o s e t a s i d e m ay b e b ro ug h t to s et

as i d e a ju d gm en t b as ed u p o n :

7In 2 0 13

, Val l ey co n t act e d t h e S ou t h At l an t ic Co n feren ce an d so u g h t to

co m m en ce t h e p a ym en t o f h i s ret i rem en t p en s io n b en efi t s

. Th e So u th At l an t i c

Co n feren ce res p o n d ed b y s eek i n g i n fo rm at i o n an d d at a fro m Val l ey t hat it co n t en d ed

was n eces s ary t o p ro p erl y d et erm i ne an d cal cu l at e th e am o u n t of h i s ret i rem en t

b en efi t s

, b u t u l t i m at el y

, i n J u n e 2 0 16

, t h e So u t h At l an t i c Co n feren ce d en i ed b en efi t s

t o Val l ey o n t h e g ro u n d t h a t h e d id n o t m eet t h e el i g i b i l it y req u i rem en t s o f t h e

R e gion al Ret i rem en t Pl an

. Sp eci fi cal l y

, t h e So u t h At lan t i c Co nf e r e nc e c onte nde d tha t

b ecau s e Val ley h ad o n l y s erv ed fo r 4 3 m o nt h s wi t h t he So u t h At l an t i c Co n feren ce,

h e fel l s h o rt o f t h e fi v e y ears o f q u al i fy i n g s erv i ce n eces s ary t o v es t i n t h e Reg i o n al

Ret i rem en t Pl an

.

(1 ) Lack o f ju ri s di ct i o n o v er t he p ers o n o r t h e s u b ject m at t er;

(2 ) Frau d

, a cci d en t

, o r m i s t ak e o r t he act s o f t h e ad v ers e p art y

u nm ix ed wi t h t h e n eg l i g en ce o r fau lt o f t h e m o v an t ; o r

(3 ) A n o n am en d ab l e d efect wh i ch ap p ears u po n th e face o f th e

reco rd o r pl ead i ng s

. Un d er t h i s p arag rap h

, i t i s n ot su ffi ci en t t hat

t h e co m p l ai n t o r o t h er p l ead i n g fai l s t o s t at e a cl ai m u p o n wh ich

rel i ef can b e g ran t ed , b ut t h e p l ead i n g s m u s t affi rm at i v el y s h o w

n o cl ai m i n fact ex i s t ed

. . . . (f) Pr o ced

ur e; t ime o

f r el i ef

. . . . A ju dg m en t vo i d b e c a u s e o f l ack o f

ju ri s di ct i o n o f th e p ers o n o r s u b ject m at t er m ay b e at t ack ed at an y t i m e.

M o t io n s fo r n ew t ri al m

u s t b e b ro u g ht wi t h i n t he t i m e p res cri b ed b y l aw.

In al l o t h er i n s t an ces

, al l m o t i o n s t o s et as id e j u d gm en ts s h al l b e b ro u g h t

wi t h in t h ree y ears fro m

en t ry o f t he ju d gm en t co m

pl ai n ed o f.

8In J u l y 2 0 1 6, Val l ey fi l ed a m o t i o n f o r co nt em

p t ag ai n s t t h e So u t h At l an t i c

Co n feren ce in t h e St a t e Co u rt o f Fu l t o n Co u nt y

, as s ert i n g th at t h e So u t h At l an t i c

Co n feren ce h ad refu s ed t o fu l fi l l it s ob l i g at i o n s u n d er t h e d efau l t ju d g m en t t o cred i t

h i s pri o r y ears o f s erv i ce w i t h t h e Sev en t h -d ay Ad v en t i s t Ch u r c h o ut si d e o f t h e

Un i ted St at es t o w ard t h e Reg i o n al Ret i rem en t Pl an

. Val l ey co n t en ded t h at t h e So u th

At l an t i c Co n feren ce had wi l l fu l l y fai led t o p ay h im an y ret i rem en t b en efi t s

, d es p i t e

t h e d i rect i v es co n t ai n ed i n t h e d efau l t ju d g m en t o rd er, a n d ev en t h o u g h h e h ad

p ro v id ed t h e So u th At l an ti c Co n feren ce wi t h al l o f t he d o cu m en ts i t h ad req u es t ed to

cal cu l at e h i s b en efi t s

. Val l ey req u es t ed t h at t h e tri al co u rt h o l d t h e S o u t h At l an t i c

Co n feren ce in wi l l fu l co n t em pt o f t h e d efau l t j u d g m en t an d s o u g h t san ct i o n s an d

at t o rn ey fees

.

Th e So u th A t l an t i c Co n feren ce o p p os ed t h e m o t i o n fo r co n t em pt

, co n t en d i n g

t h at Val l ey was n o t en t i t l ed t o ret i rem en t b en efi t s becau s e h e d i d n o t h av e fi v e y ears

o f q u a l i f yi n g serv i ce t o v es t i n t h e Reg i o n al Ret i rem en t Pl an

. In J ul y 20 1 7

, aft er

co n du ct in g a h eari n g wh ere t h e Ex ecu t i v e Di rect o r o f t h e Reg i o n al Ret i rem en t Pl an

an d t h e fo rm er Ex ecu t i v e Secret ary o f t h e So ut h At l an t ic Co n fe r e n c e t es t i fi ed

, t h e

t ri al co u rt d en i ed Val l ey ’ s m o t i o n fo r co n t em p t

. T h e t ri al co urt ru l ed t h at v es t i n g in

t h e Reg i o n al Ret i rem en t Pl an co u l d o ccu r u p o n th e co m pl et i o n o f fi v e y ears o f

9q u al i fy in g s erv i ce wi t h a p art i ci p at i n g em p l o y er, b u t t h at Val l ey

h ad o n l y 4 .2 y ears

o f s erv ice wi t h t h e So u th At l an t ic Co n feren ce, an d t h e Reg i o n al Ret i r e m e n t Pl an

“ d o es n ot g i v e s e r v i ce cred i t fo r y ears wo rk ed o u ts i de t h e Un i t ed St at es .”

Co n s eq u en t l y

, t he t ri al co u rt ru l e d t h a t V al l ey h ad nev er v es t ed i n th e Reg i o n al

Ret i rem en t Pl an an d was n o t en ti t l ed t o recei v e an y ret i rem en t b en e f i t s f r o m t h e

So u t h At lan t i c Co n feren ce. On t h at b as i s

, t h e t ri al co u rt d en i ed Val l ey ’ s m o t i o n fo r

co n tem p t

. Th e t ri al co u rt m ad e n o referen ce t o t he defau l t ju d g m en t i t h ad prev i o u s l y

en t ered

.

Val l ey n o w d i rect l y ap p eal s fro m t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s o rd er den y i n g h i s m o t i o n fo r

co n tem p t

.

1

. As an in i t i al m at t er, t h e So u t h At l an t i c Co n feren ce h as m o ved t o d i s m i s s

Val l ey ’ s d i rect ap p eal

, co n t en d i n g t h at an ap p eal fro m an o rd er d en y i n g a m o t i o n fo r

co n tem p t can n o t b e d irect l y ap peal ed as a “ co n t em p t cas e” un d er OCGA § 5 -6 -3 4 (a)

(2 ) 5 an d i n st ead m

u st be t ak en b y

ap p l i cat io n fo r i n t erl o cu t o ry ap p eal u n d er OCGA

5 OCGA § 5 -6 -3 4 (a) (2 ) au t h o ri zes d i r e ct ap peal s fro m “ [a] l l ju d g m en t s

i n v o l v i n g ap p l i cat i on s fo r d i sch arg e i n b ai l tro v er an d co n t em p t cas es .” See Ra ms ey

v. R a ms ey

, 2 3 1 Ga. 3 3 4

, 3 3 7 (1 ) (2 0 1 SE2 d 42 9 ) (1 9 7 3) (co n s t r u i n g t h e

afo rem en t i o n ed s tat u t o ry l an g u ag e t o “ au t h ori ze t h e ap peal o f a t ri al co urt ju d g m en t

ad ju d i cat i n g co n t em

p t wi t h o ut fi rs t m ak i n g an ap p l i cat i o n fo r d i s ch arg e”).

10§ 5 -6 -3 4 (b ). 6 So u t h At l an t i c Co n feren ce rel i es o n au th o ri t y d i s m i s s i n g d i rect ap p eal s

fro m o rd ers d e n yi n g m o t i on s fo r co n tem p t o n t h e g ro u n d t hat t h e o rd ers d i d n ot

co n st i t u t e fi n al ju d g m en ts an d s h o u ld h av e b een ap p eal ed t h ro u g h t h i s Co urt ’ s

i n t erl o cu t o ry ap p eal p ro c e d u re. See, e.g

., Kl ei n v. S t an d ar d F i r e In s

. Co

. , 1 9 1 Ga.

Ap p

. 4 1 7

, 4 1 8 (3 8 2 SE2 d 1 5 8) (1 9 8 9 ); Co mmer ci a l Ba n k v. S i mmo ns

, 1 5 7 G a. Ap p.

3 9 1

, 3 9 1 (2 7 8 SE2 d 5 3 ) (1 9 8 1 ). Co m p are Ha mi l t o n Ca

p i t a l Gr o up v. Eq u i

f ax Cr ed i t

In f o r ma ti o n S

vcs

. , 26 6 Ga. Ap p

. 1

, 2 -3 (1 ) (5 9 6 SE2 d 6 56 ) (2 0 0 4 ) (OCGA § 5 -6 -3 4

(a) (2 ) p erm i t s a d i rect ap peal fro m an i n t erl o cu t ory o rd er h o l d i n g a p art y in

co n tem p t ).

Bu t

, wh et her a t ri al co u rt ’ s o rd er d en y in g a m o t i on fo r co n t em p t is co n s i d ered

fi nal o r in t erl ocu t o ry t urn s o n t h e p art i cu l ar fact s an d ci rcu m st an ces o f th e cas e. See

Ro b er t s v. Ro b er t

s

, 2 06 Ga. Ap p

. 42 3

, 4 2 3 (1 ) (4 2 5 SE2 d 4 1 4) (1 9 9 2 ) (ap p el l an t

p ro p erl y fi l ed di rect ap p eal fro m t ri al co urt ’ s p o s t ju d g m en t ord er d en y i n g m o t i o n fo r

6 OCGA § 5 -6 -3 4 (b ) p ro v i d es i n p art :

W h ere t h e t ri al ju d ge i n ren d eri n g an o rd er, d eci s io n, o r ju d g m en t

, n o t

o t h erwi se s u b

ject t o d i rect ap peal

. . . cert ifi es wi t h i n t en d ay s o f en t ry

t h ereo f t h at t h e o rd er, deci s i o n

, o r j u d gm en t i s o f s u ch i m p o rt an ce to th e

cas e t h at im

m ed i a t e r e v i ew s ho u l d b e h ad

, t he Su prem e Co u rt o r th e

Co u rt o f Ap p eal s m ay t h ereu po n

, i n t h ei r res p ect i v e d i s cret i o n s

, p erm i t

an ap p eal t o b e tak en fro m t h e o rd er, d e c i s i o n

, o r ju d g m en t i f

ap p l icat i o n i s m a d e t h eret o w i t hi n ten day s aft er s u ch cert ifi cat e i s

g ran ted

. . . .

11co n tem

p t

, w h ere “ no t h i n g in t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s ord er refl ect s i t is o t h er t h an a f i n al

ju d g m en t ”). An d

, we c o n cl u d e t h at u n d er th e ci rcu m s t an ces o f t h is cas e, t h e t ri al

co u rt ’ s o rd er d en y i n g Val l ey ’ s m o t i o n fo r co n t em pt co ns t i t u ted a fi n al ju d g m en t t h at

was d irect l y

ap p eal ab l e u nd er OCGA § 5 -6 -3 4 (a) (1 ).

OCGA § 5 -6 -3 4 (a) (1 ) au t h ori zes a d i rect ap p eal fro m “ [a] l l fi nal ju d g m en t s

,

t h at i s to s ay

, wh ere t h e cas e i s n o lo n ger p en di n g i n t h e co u rt b el ow, ex cep t as

p ro v id ed i n Co d e Sect i o n 5 -6 -3 5 .”

Ev en if an ord er d o es n o t s p eci fy t h at i t i s a g ra n t o f fi n al ju d g m en t, i t

n ev ert h el es s co n s t i tu t es a fi n al ju d gm en t wi t h i n t h e m ean i ng o f OCGA

§ 5-6 -3 4 (a) (1 ) wh ere i t l eav es no i s s u es rem ai n in g t o b e res o l v ed

,

co n s t i t ut es th e co urt ’ s fi n al ru l i n g o n t h e m eri t s o f t h e act i o n, an d leav es

t h e p art i es wi t h n o fu rt h er reco u rs e i n t h e t ri al co u rt

.

(Ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i tt ed .) Tyr o n es v. Tyr o n es

, 30 0 Ga. 3 67

, 3 6 9

, n

. 2 (7 9 2

SE2 d 3 9 8 ) (2 0 1 6 ). See, e.g

. , R. J. Reyn o ld s To b a cco Co

. v. Fi s ch er

, 2 0 7 G a. Ap p.

2 9 2

, 29 3 ( 1 ) ( 4 2 7 SE2 d 8 1 0 ) (1 9 9 3 ) (g ran t o f p ro t ect i v e ord er co n s t i t u t ed fi n al

ju d g m en t s u b

ject t o d i rect ap p eal u n d er OCGA § 5 -6 -3 4 (a) (1 )).

In t h e p res en t cas e, t h e o n l y p en d i n g i s s ue t o be res o l v ed b y t h e t ri al co u rt was

wh et h er t h e So u t h At lan t i c Co n feren ce s h o u l d b e h el d i n co n t em p t fo r fai l i n g to

c o m p l y w i t h t h e d i rect i v es o f t h e d efau l t ju d g m en t

. On ce t h e t ri al co u rt d en i e d

12Val l ey ’ s m o ti o n fo r co n tem pt

, t h ere were no fu rt h er i s su es t o res o l v e i n t he cas e, an d

Val l ey h ad n o fu rt h er reco urs e in t h e co u rt b el ow. Un d er th es e ci rcu m s t an ces

, t h e t ri al

co u rt ’ s o rd er was fi n al an d s u b ject t o d i rect ap p eal u n d er OCGA § 5 -6 -3 4 (a) (1 ),

i rres p ect i v e o f wh et h er i t co u l d b e d i rect l y ap peal ed u n d er O CGA § 5-6 -3 4 (a) (2 ).

See Ro b e r t

s

, 2 0 6 Ga. Ap p

. at 4 2 3 (1 ) (p o st j u d gm en t o rd er den y i n g m o t i o n fo r

co n tem p t co n s t i t u t ed fi n al ju d g m en t ). Acco rd Ed en v. Ed en

, 34 4 Ga. Ap p

. 86 4 (8 1 2

SE2 d 3 1 7 ) (2 0 1 8 ); Lu

p o v. Lo n g

, 1 4 5 Ga. Ap p

. 8 7 6 (2 4 5 SE2 d 73 ) (1 9 7 8 ). Becau s e

Va l ley was en t i t l ed to fi l e a d i rect ap p eal

, So u t h At l an t ic Co n feren ce’ s m o t i o n to

d i s m i s s i s d en ied

.

2

. Val l ey co nt en d 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 d en y i n g h i s

m o ti o n fo r co n t em

pt becau se t h e co u rt erro n eo u s l y p red i cat ed i t s d en i al o n i t s

d et erm i n at i o n t h at Val l ey d id n o t h av e en o u g h y ears o f s erv i ce t o ves t i n t h e Reg i o n al

Ret i rem en t Pl an an d t h u s was n o t en t it l ed t o ret i rem en t b en efi t s

. Acco rd i n g t o Val l ey

,

t h e t ri al co u r t

, i n s o ru li n g

, i m p ro p erl y reco n s i d ered is s u es th at were s et t l ed b y t h e

d efau l t ju d g m en t. W e ag ree.

As a g en eral ru l e, wh ere an o rd er [g ran ti ng o r d en y in g a m o t i o n

fo r] ci v i l co n t em

p t i s s u pp o rt ed b y at l eas t so m e ev i d en ce, we wi ll n o t

d i s t u rb t hat o rd er ab s en t an ab u s e o f d i s cret i o n b y t he t ri al co u rt . Su ch

an ab u s e of d i scret i o n o ccu rs wh ere t h e t ri al co u rt ei t h e r f a i l s t o ap p l y

13o r m i s ap p l ies t h e rel ev an t l aw. A d d i t i o n al l y

, t o t h e ex t en t t h at th e

q u es t i o n o f t h e v al i d i t y o f a co nt em p t o rd er i nv o lv es a q u es ti o n of l aw,

we rev iew t h at q u es t i o n d e n o v o

.

(Ci t at i o n s an d p u n ct uat i o n o m it t ed

. ) R o cker v. Fi r s t Ba n k o f Da l t o n

, 3 4 3 Ga. Ap p.

5 0 1 , 5 0 1 -5 0 2 (8 0 6 SE2 d 8 8 4 ) (2 0 1 7 ).

“ Th e d efen s es t o a ci v i l co n t em p t are t h at th e o rd er was no t s u ffi ci en t l y d efi n i t e

an d cert ai n

, was n ot v i o l at ed

, o r t h at t h e v i o lat i o n was n o t wi l fu l .” (Ci t a t i o n a n d

p u n ct u at i o n o m it t ed .) Ro b er t s

, 2 0 6 Ga. Ap p . at 4 2 4 (2 ).

In a co n tem

p t p ro ceed i n g , a co u rt m ay in t erp ret an d cl ari fy an ex i s t i n g

o rd er b u t m ay n o t m o d i fy t h e t erm s an d o b l ig at i o n s al read y set fo rt h

. To

d et erm i ne wh et h er an o rd er h as b een cl ari fi ed

, as op p o s ed t o b ei n g

m o d i fi ed

, t h e t es t i s wh et h er t h e n ew o rd er i s a reas o n ab l e cl ari fi cat i o n

o r so co n t rary to t h e ap p aren t in t en t o f t h e o ri gi n al o rd er as t o co n s t i t ut e

a m o d i fi cat i o n

. Th e i nt en t i s fo u n d b y l o o k i n g at t h e co n t en t o f t h e o rd er

an d t h e co n t ex t i n wh i ch i t was creat ed

.

(Ci t at i o n s an d p u n ct uat i o n o m i t t e d .) E d e n

, 3 4 4 Ga. Ap p

. at 86 6 (1 ). See Pi n er es v.

Geo rg e

, 2 8 4 Ga. 4 8 3

, 4 8 3 (1 ) (6 6 8 SE2 d 7 2 7) (2 0 08 ); Ga l l i t v. Bu ckl ey

, 2 4 0 Ga. 6 2 1,

6 2 6 (3 ) (2 4 2 SE2 d 8 9) (1 9 7 8 ); Ha r vey v. Li nd s ey

, 2 5 1 Ga

. A pp

. 3 8 7

, 39 0 (1 ) (5 5 4

SE2 d 5 2 3) (2 0 0 1).

14Here, as p rev i o u s ly n o t ed , Val l ey ’ s o ri g i nal co m p l ai n t al l eg ed t hat t h e So u th

At l an t i c Co n feren ce p ro m i sed Val l ey v erb al l y an d i n wri t i n g th at h i s ov er 2 4 y ears

o f p ri o r serv i ce i n t he Sev en t h -d ay Ad v en t is t Ch urch wo ul d b e h o n o red an d cred i t ed

t o ward t h e Reg i o n al Ret i rem en t Pl an i f he rel i nq u i s h ed h i s ri g h t t o r e c ei v e an y

b en efi t s in t h e NAD Ret i rem en t Pl an an d jo i n ed th e Reg io n al Ret i rem en t Pl an ; t h at

b as ed o n t h at p ro m i se, Val l ey wai v ed h i s ri g h t t o recei v e h i s v es t ed ret i rem en t

b en efi t s fro m t h e NAD Ret i rem en t Pl an an d jo in ed th e Reg io n al Ret i rem en t Pl an ; an d

t h at

, d es p i t e th at p ro m i s e an d V al l ey ’ s rel i n q u is h m en t o f h i s o t h er ret irem en t b en efi t s

b as ed o n t h at p ro m is e, t h e So u t h At l an t i c Co nferen ce l at er in fo rm ed Val l ey t h at i t

wo u l d n o t cred it h i s p ri o r y ears o f ch u rch s erv i ce t oward th e Reg i o n al Ret i rem en t

Pl an

. V al l ey ’ s co m

p l ai n t s o ug h t a d ecl arat i o n t h at th e So u t h At l an t i c Co n feren ce was

o b l i g at ed t o cred i t h i s p ri o r y ears o f serv ice t o ward i ts Reg i on al Ret irem en t Pro g ram

b as ed o n t h e a s s u r a n c e s t h at h ad b een g iv en t o h i m an d t o p ro v i d e h i m wi th

ret i rem en t b en efi t s b as ed o n t h e p art i es ’ u n d ers t an di n g an d t h o s e as s u ran ces

.

Gi v en th e al l eg at i on s an d p ray er fo r rel ief i n Val l ey ’ s co m p l ai nt an d t he So u th

At l an t i c Co n feren ce’ s s u b seq u en t d efau l t

, t h e t ri al co u rt en t e red d efau l t ju d g m en t

d ecl ari ng t h at th e So u t h At l an ti c Co n feren ce was ob l ig at ed

, b as ed o n it s v erb al an d

wri t ten p ro m i s e, t o cred i t Val l ey ’ s p ri o r y ears of s erv i ce t o ward t h e Reg i o n al

15Ret i rem en t Pl an an d p ro v i d e hi m wi t h ret i rem en t ben efi t s. No t h i n g i n t h e reco rd

i n d i c a t es t h at So u t h At l an t ic Co n feren ce s u bs eq u en t l y m o v ed fo r t h e t ri al co u rt t o

reco n s i d er i t s d efau l t ju d g m en t o rd er o r m o v ed t o s e t a s i d e t h e ju d g m en t u n d er

OCGA § 9 -1 1 -6 0 (d ).

Th e t ri al co urt

, i n l at er ad d res s i n g Val l ey ’ s m ot i o n fo r co n tem pt

, d i d n o t h av e

au t h o ri t y t o m o d i fy th e term s an d o b l ig at i o n s s et fo rt h i n t h e d efau l t j u d gm en t . See

Ed en

, 3 4 4 Ga. A p p. at 86 6 -8 6 8 (1 ). See al s o Pi ner es

, 2 8 4 G a. at 4 83 (1 ); Ga l l i t

, 2 4 0

Ga. at 62 6 (3 ); Ha r vey

, 2 5 1 Ga. Ap p

. at 3 9 0 (1 ). No n et hel es s

, i n d en y i n g t he m o t i o n,

t h e t ri al co u rt h el d t h at t h e So ut h At l an t i c Co n feren ce d i d n ot h av e t o cred i t Val l ey ’ s

p ri o r y ears o f serv i ce o u t s i d e t h e Un i t ed St at es i n d et erm i n i n g wh et h er h e ves t ed in

t h e Reg i o n al Ret i rem en t Pl an an d t h u s ru l ed t h at t h e So u t h At l an t i c Co n feren ce was

n o t o b l i g a t e d t o p ro v i d e Val l ey wi t h an y ret irem en t b en efi t s

. In s o d o i n g

, t h e t ri al

co u rt d id n o t m erel y cl ari fy p ro v i s i o n s of th e d efau l t ju d g m e n t

, b u t i n s tead act ed

co n trary to t h e ex p res s d i rect iv es co n t ai n ed i n th e d efau lt ju dg m en t tha t Val ley ’ s p ri o r

y ears o f s erv i ce be cred i t ed t oward s t h e Reg i o n al Ret i rem en t Pl an an d t h at t h e So u th

At l an t i c Co n feren ce p ro v i d e Val l ey ret i r em en t ben efi t s co n s i s ten t w i t h i t s p ri o r

as s u ran ces

. Acco rd in g l y

, t h e t ri al co u rt i m p erm i s s i b l y m o d i fi ed t h e d efau l t ju d g m en t

t h ro u g h i t s o rd er d en y i n g Val ley ’ s m o ti o n fo r co n t em p t . See i d

.

16Fu rt herm o re, i n d en y i n g Val l ey ’ s m o t i o n fo r co n t em p t

, t h e tri al co urt fai l ed to

t ak e i n t o acco u n t t h at i t s p ri o r o rd er was a d efau l t ju d g m en t un d er wh i ch t h e So u th

At l an t i c Co nferen ce “ ad m i t t ed t h e fact s al l eg ed i n th e p et i t i o n fo r d ecl arat o ry

ju d g m en t an d wai v ed an y d efen s es t heret o .” Ta va ko l ia n v. Ag i o Co r p

. , 3 0 4 Ga. Ap p.

6 6 0

, 6 6 3 (2 ) (6 97 SE2 d 2 3 3 ) (2 0 1 0 ). See R o u n dt r ee v. Ever es t S ecu r i t y In s. Co

. , 3 0 4

Ga. Ap p

. 7 42

, 74 3 (6 9 7 SE2 d 3 1 5 ) (2 0 1 0 ) (t h ro u g h d efau l t, defen d an t was p ro p erl y

d eem ed t o h av e “ ad m i t t ed each an d ev ery m at eri al al l eg at i o n o f [t h e] co m p l ai n t fo r

a decl arat o ry ju d g m en t ” an d was es t o p p ed fro m rai s i n g d efen s e t hat p lai n ti ff was n ot

co v ered b y i n s u ran ce co n t ract ) (p u n ct u at i o n an d fo o t n o t e o m i t t ed ); A z ar a t Ma r ket i n g

Gr o up v. Dep t

. o

f A d mi n i st r at i ve Af

f a i r s

, 2 4 5 Ga. Ap p. 2 56

, 2 5 7 (5 3 7 SE2 d 9 9 )

(2 0 0 0) (“ [A] d efau l t co n cl ud es t h e d efen d an t ’ s l i ab il i t y

, an d es t o ps h i m fro m o fferi n g

an y defen s es wh i ch wo u l d defeat t h e ri g ht o f reco v ery .”) (ci tat i on s an d pu n ct u at i o n

o m it t ed ). It is t ru e t h at “ [a] t ri al co urt m ay ex erci s e d i scret i o n i n s et t i n g as i d e a

d efau l t ju d gm en t w i t hi n t h e s am e t erm o f co u rt

. Bu t aft er ex pi rat i o n o f th e t erm o f

co u rt i n wh i ch a defau l t j u d gm en t i s en t ered

, t h e tri al co urt ’ s d i s cret i o n i n s et t i n g

as i d e th e d efau l t ju d g m en t i s l i m i t ed t o t h e cri teri a s et fo rt h i n OCGA § 9 -1 1 -6 0 (d ).”

(Ci t at i o n s an d p u nct u at i on o m it t ed .) Ga

. Recei va b les v. Mu r r a y

, 24 0 Ga. Ap p

. 6 7 6,

6 7 6 -6 7 7 (5 2 4 SE2 d 51 8 ) (1 9 9 9). A t ri al co u rt ’ s d i s cret i o n i n s et t i n g as i d e a d efau l t

17ju d g m en t i s fu rt h er ci rcu m scri b ed b y t h e t i m e l im it at i o n s s et fo rt h i n OCGA § 9 -1 1

-

6 0 (f). See Myl es v. Myl es , 3 0 0 Ga. 2 6 1 , 2 6 2-2 6 3 (7 9 4 SE2 d 5 6 ) (2 0 1 6).

Here, t h e defau l t ju d g m en t was en t ered i n M ay 2 01 1

, an d t h u s t h e t erm o f co u rt

fo r t h at ju d g m en t h ad lo ng s i n ce p a s s e d b y t h e t im e o f t h e co u rt ’ s ru l in g o n t h e

m o ti o n fo r co n tem

pt i n J u l y 20 1 7

. See O CGA § 15 -7 -4 0 (t erm s o f s t at e co u rt s

p res cri bed b y l o cal l aw); Ga. Laws 1 9 8 3

, § 1

, p p

. 4 5 01

, 4 5 02 (“ T h e S t a t e Co u rt o f

Fu l t o n Co u n t y s h al l h av e s i x t erm s each y ear beg i n n i n g o n t h e fi rs t M o n d ay s in

J an u ary

, M arch

, M ay

, Ju l y

, Sep t e m b er, an d No vem

b er.”). No t h in g i n t h e reco rd

i n d i cat es t h at So u t h At l an ti c Co n feren ce ev er m o v ed t o s et as i d e t h e defau l t ju d g m en t

u n d er an y o f t h e cri t eri a s et fo rt h i n OCGA § 9 -1 1 -6 0 (d ), an d t h e th ree-y ear d ead l i n e

fo r fi l i n g s u ch a m ot i o n u n d er OCGA § 9-1 1 -6 0 (f) h ad ex p i red

. 7 Gi v en t he ex p i rat i o n

7 Ou r Su p rem e Co u rt h as ex p l ai n ed

, OCGA § 9 -1 1 -6 0 (f) es t ab l i s h es t h e ex cl u s i v e t i m e l i m it at io n fo r wh en

a ju d g m en t i s at tack ed b y a m o t i o n t o s e t a s i d e

. It p ro v i des t h at a

ju d g m en t vo i d fo r l ack o f s u b ject m at t er o r pers o n al ju ri s d ict i o n m ay be

at t ack ed at an y t i m e, an d fu rt h er p ro v i d es t h at i n “ al l ot h er i n s t an ces ,”

a m o t i o n t o s et as i de a ju d g m en t m u s t b e fi l ed wi t h i n t h ree y ears o f en t ry

o f th e ju d g m en t

. Th i s l an g u ag e i s s u s cep t i b l e t o on l y o n e i n t erp ret at i o n

. It pl ai nl y p ro v i d es t h at t h e o n l y ju d g m en t s s u bject t o at t ack aft er m o re

t h an t h r e e y ears are t ho s e wh i ch l ack su b j ect m at t er o r p ers o nal

ju ri s di ct i o n

. (Ci t at i o n s an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed .) Myl es

, 3 0 0 Ga. at 2 6 2

. In t h e p res en t cas e, t h e

So u t h At l an t i c Co nferen ce h as n ev er co n t en d e d t hat t h e t ri al co u rt l ack ed s u b ject

m at t er o r p ers o n al ju r i s d i ct i o n wh en i t en t ered t h e defau l t ju d g m en t

, an d t h u s t h e

18o f t h at ti m e peri o d

, th e t r i a l co u rt d i d n o t h av e t h e au t ho ri t y t o set as i d e i t s d efau l t

ju d g m en t

, w h i ch co n cl u d ed t h e So u th A t l an t i c Co nferen ce’ s l i ab i l i t y an d es t o p p ed

i t f r o m r ai s i n g an y d efen s es

. See Myl es

, 3 0 0 Ga. at 2 62 -2 6 3 ; Ta va ko l i a n

, 3 0 4 Ga

.

Ap p

. at 6 6 3 (2 ); Ro u n dt ree

, 3 0 4 Ga. Ap p

. at 74 3 ; Az a r a t M a r ket i n g Gr o u

p

, 2 4 5 Ga.

Ap p

. at 2 5 7 ; G a

. Rec e i v a b l es

, 2 4 0 Ga. Ap p

. at 6 7 6 -6 7 7

. Ho wev er, t h e t ri al co u rt

e f fect i v el y s et as i d e i t s p ri o r d efau l t ju d g m en t wh en it d en i ed t h e co n tem p t m o t i o n

o n th e g ro u n d s t h at Val l ey had i n s u ffi ci en t y ears o f q u al i fy i n g s erv i ce an d t h e So u th

At l an t i c Co n feren ce was n o t o bl i g at ed t o p ro v i d e h im wi t h ret i rem en t b en efi t s

.

Acco rd i ng l y

, b ecau s e t h e t ri al co u rt m i s ap p l i ed t h e l aw pert ai n in g t o co n t em pt

m o ti o n s an d t o d efau l t ju d g m en t s wh en i t d en i ed Val l ey ’ s m o ti o n fo r co n t em p t o n t h e

g ro u nd s t h at h e d i d n o t h a v e e n o u g h y ears of serv i ce t o ves t i n t h e Reg i o n al

Ret i rem e n t P l a n an d was no t en t i t l ed t o ret irem en t ben efi t s

, t h e co u rt ab u s ed i t s

d i s cret i o n

. See Ro cker

, 3 4 3 Ga. Ap p

. at 5 0 1-5 0 2 (t ri al co u rt ab u s es it s d i s cret i o n by

m i s ap p ly i n g rel ev an t l aw i n ru l i n g o n co n tem pt m o t i o n )

. W e t h erefo re rev ers e t h e

t ri al co u rt ’ s ord er d en y i ng Val l ey ’ s m o t i o n fo r co nt em p t an d rem an d fo r

co n si d erat io n o f t h e m ot i o n co n s i s t en t wi t h t h i s o p i n i o n.

t h ree-y ear t i m e l i m it at i o n ap p l ied . See i d . at 2 6 2 -2 6 3

.

19Ju d

g men t r ever

sed a nd ca s e r ema n d

ed wi t h di rect i o n

. McMi l l i a n a n d Rees e,

JJ., co n cu r

.

20