SECOND DI VI SI ON

M I LLER, P. J.

, M ERCI ER and C OOM ER, 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.

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

.

June 30, 2020



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A2 0 A0 33 6 . SUM M ERS v . THE STATE.

M I LLE R , Pres i d i n g J u d g e.

M ary El i zab et h Su m

m ers ap p eal s fro m t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s res ti t u t i on o rd er

i m p o s ed aft er sh e p l e d g u i lt y t o t wo co u n t s o f b urg l ary an d t wo co u n ts of t h eft by

t ak i n g

. On ap p eal

, s h e arg u es t h at t h e St at e fai l ed t o p r e s en t s uffi ci en t ev i d en ce to

s u p p ort t h e en t ire res t i tu t i o n award an d t h at t h e t ri a l co urt erred by i m p o s i n g a

res t it u t i o n am o u n t ab o v e $ 2 5,0 0 0 wh en s h e was co nv i c t ed o n l y o f th eft b y t ak i n g

b et ween $ 5

, 0 0 0 an d $2 5 ,0 0 0

. W e co n cl ud e t hat t h e St at e p r e s e n ted su ffi ci en t

ev i d en ce t o s u p p o rt t h e am o u n t o f th e res t i t ut i o n award a n d t h a t Su m m ers h as n ot

d em o n s t rat ed t h at th e am o u n t o f res ti t u t i o n s h o ul d b e cap p ed at $ 2 5,0 0 0 p er v i ct i m

i n t hi s p art i cu l ar cas e. W e t h erefo re affi rm t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s res t it u t i o n o rd er.[A] t ri al co u rt d et erm i n es t h e p ro p er am o u n t an d t y pe o f res t i t u t i o n b y

a p rep o nd eran ce o f t h e ev i d en ce. Th e St at e b ears t h e b u rd en o f

d em o ns trat in g t h e am o u nt o f t h e l o ss s u s t ai n ed b y a v i ct i m as a res u l t o f

t h e o ffen s e, an d t h e am o u n t of res t i t u t io n o rd ered b y t h e t ri al co u rt m ay

b e eq u al t o o r l es s t h an

, b u t n o t m o re th an

, t h e v i ct i m ’ s d am ag es

. . . . On

a p p eal fro m an o rd er o f res t i t u t i o n

, we rev i ew t h e reco rd t o d et erm in e

wh et h er each part y h as m et h i s o r h er s p eci fi ed b urd en an d wh et h er a

res t i tu t i o n award was s u p p o rt ed b y t h e p rep o nd eran ce o f t h e ev id en ce.

(Ci t at i o n s an d pu n ctu at i on o m it t ed .) Over b y v. S ta t e

, 3 1 5 Ga. Ap p

. 7 3 5

, 7 3 6 -7 3 7 (7 2 8

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

A g ran d ju ry i n d ict ed Su m m ers o n t wo co u n ts o f fi rs t -d eg ree b u rg lary (OCGA

§ 1 6

- 7 -1 (b )) an d t wo co u n t s of t h eft b y t ak i n g (OCGA § 1 6 -8 -2 ). Th e i n d i ct m en t

a l l eg ed t hat

, b et ween 2 0 1 6 an d 2 0 1 7

, Su m m ers b ro k e i n t o two of h er n ei g h b o r s ’

h o u s es an d s t o le v ari o u s p i eces o f jewel ry an d t h at

, fo r each t h eft by tak i ng co u n t

, t h e

v al u e o f th e s t o l en pro pert y was b et ween $ 5 ,0 0 0 an d $2 5

, 0 0 0

. Su m m ers p led g ui l t y

t o al l co u n t s p urs u an t t o a p l ea ag reem en t

. Th e t ri al co urt m erg ed t h e t w o t h eft by

t a k i n g co u n t s i nt o th e t wo bu rg l ary co u n t s

, s en t en ced Su m m ers t o 10 y ears ’

p ro b at i o n , an d i m

p o s ed a $ 1

, 0 0 0 fi n e.

Th e t ri al co u rt t h en h el d a h ear i n g o n t h e i s s u e o f res t i t u ti o n

. At t he h eari n g,

t h e St at e p res en t ed ev i d en ce t h ro u g h t h e tes t im on y o f t h e t wo v i ct i m s

, T racy Beeg an

2an d Sh erri n Pi t t m an

, wh i l e Su m m e r s t e s t i fi ed i n h er d efen s e. Beeg an an d Pi t t m an

b o t h t es t i fi ed as t o t h e v al u e o f each p i ece o f s t o len jewel ry

, wh e r e a s S u m m ers

t es t i fi ed as t o h er fi n an ci al s i tu at i o n an d d i d n o t t es t i fy o r p res en t ev i d en ce as t o t h e

v al u e o f t h e jewel ry

. Fo l l o w i n g t h e h eari n g, t h e t ri al co u rt fo u n d t h at t h e t o t al fai r

m ark et v al ue o f t h e s to l en jewel ry was $ 7 6

, 5 3 8

, an d i t ord ered Su m m ers t o p ay t h at

am ou n t i n res t i t u t i o n

, w i t h $ 1

, 6 8 8 t o b e p ai d t o Beeg an an d $ 7 4

, 8 5 0 t o b e p ai d to

Pi t t m an . Th i s ap p eal fo l l o wed

.

1

. Su m m ers fi rs t arg ues t h at t h e St at e fai led to p re s e n t s uffi ci en t ev i d en ce to

es t ab l i s h t h e fai r m ar k et v al u e o f each p i ece of jewel ry

. W e co n cl u d e t h at t h e St at e

p res en t ed s u ffi ci en t ev id en ce t o s up p o rt t he res t i t u t io n award

.

“ Th e co rrect det erm i n at i on fo r t h e am o u n t o f res t i t u t i o n i s t h e fai r m ark et v al u e

o f t h e p ro p ert y rat h er th an t h e rep l acem en t co s t ,” an d t h e f a i r m a r k et v al u e o f t h e

p ro p ert y t ak en “ m

u s t b e d et erm i n ed ex act l y .” (Ci t at i o n s o m i t ted .) Gr a y v. S ta t e

, 2 7 3

Ga. Ap p . 7 4 7 , 7 4 9 (2 ) (6 1 5 SE2 d 8 3 4 ) (2 0 0 5 ).

In m eet i n g i t s b u rd en

, t h e St at e m ay p res en t t es t i m o n y fro m t h e v i ct i m

,

wh o i s fam il i ar wi t h t h e affect ed i t em s . Ho wev er, t h e v i ct i m ’ s o p i n i o n

as t o t h ei r v al ue m

u st b e fact -s u p p ort ed

. . . . It has lo n g b een t h e ru l e t hat

an o wn er o f p ro p ert y m ay n o t t es t i fy as t o h is o p i n i o n o f th e v al ue o f th e

p ro p ert y wi t h o u t g i v i n g h i s reas o ns t h erefo r, an d an o pi n i o n as t o v al ue

b as e d s o l e l y o n co s t p ri ce i s i nad m i s s i b l e i n ev i d en ce as i t h as n o

3p ro b at iv e v al u e. To be ad m i ss i bl e, t es t i m o n y as t o co s t p ri ce m us t be

co u p l ed wi t h o t her e vi d en ce s u ch as a s ho wi ng o f th e co n d it i on o f th e

i t em b o t h at t h e t i m e o f p u rch as e an d at t he t i m e i ts v al ue i s i n i s s u e.

(Ci t at i o n s o m i t t ed .) Id . at 7 49 -7 5 0 (2 ).

(a ) Th e Res ti t u t i o n Awa rd

t o Beeg a n

At t h e res t i t u t i o n h eari n g, Beeg an t es t i fi ed t h at s he “ h a[d ] p urch as ed jewel ry

a l o t i n h er l i fe.” Beeg an t es t i fi ed t h at Su m m ers s t o l e n u m ero us p i eces o f jewel ry each

wi t h v ary i n g v al uat i o n s u p t o $ 10 ,0 0 0

. Si n ce t h e t ri al co u rt award ed res t i t u ti o n i n t h e

am ou n t o f $ 1

, 6 8 8

, i t ap p ears t h at t h e res t i t ut i o n award was b as ed o n o n ly t wo p i eces

o f jewel ry : (1 ) a d i am o n d ri n g wi t h fo rt y s m al l s t o n es

, wh i ch Beeg an h ad o b t ai n ed

i n 2 0 0 4 fo r $ 1 ,5 0 0 an d was i n “ p erfect co n d i t i o n ; ” an d (2 ) a d iam on d an d g o l d b an d,

wh i ch Beeg an h ad p u rch as ed i n 2 0 0 2 fo r $ 18 8 .8 6 an d was i n “ g oo d co n d i t i o n .”

W e co n cl u d e t hat t h i s ev i d en ce was su ffi ci en t t o s u p po rt t h e res t i t u t i o n award

t o Beeg an . In i t i al l y

, we n o t e t h at i t ap p ears t h at Beeg an d i d n o t o ffer an y p art i cu l ar

s p eci fi c o p i n i o n as t o t h e fai r m ark et v al u e o f t h es e t w o i t em s o f jewel ry at t h e t i m e

o f t h e t heft

. Ho wev er, we h av e reco g n i zed th at

, “ [a] s t o ev ery d ay o bject s

, s u ch as

au t o m ob i l es

, th e [fact fi n d er] m ay d r a w fro m th ei r own ex p eri en ce i n fo rm i n g

es t i m at es o f m ark et v al u e.” (Ci t at i o n o m i t t ed

. ) Ch a mp io n v. Do d s o n

, 2 6 3 Ga. Ap p.

42 8 6

, 2 9 1 (5 8 7 SE2 d 4 0 2 ) (2 0 03 ). 1 W e read il y co n cl u d e t h at ty p i cal i tem s o f jewel ry

,

s u ch as t he o n es at i s s ue i n t h i s cas e, fal l wi t h i n t h i s cat eg o ry o f ev ery d ay co m m o n

i t em s wi t h wh i ch t h e av erag e p ers o n h as s o m e k n o wl ed ge an d ex peri en ce i n t erm s o f

t h ei r v al u e an d m ark et ch aract eri s t i cs

. Th u s

, “ t h e [St at e] n eed n ot o ffer an y o p i n i o n

ev i d en ce as t o v al u e an d s o l o n g as t h e ev id en ce co n t a i n s f a c t s u p o n wh i ch t h e

[fact fi n d er] m ay l eg i ti m at el y e x erci s e t h ei r o w n kn o wl ed g e an d i d eas

, t h e q u es t i o n

o f v al u e i s p ro perl y

l eft t o t h e [fact fi n d er] .” (Ci t at i o n o m i t t ed .) Id

.

In ad d i t i o n t o t h e co s t p ri ce, Beeg an t es ti fi ed as t o t h e ag e an d co n d i t i o n o f

t h e s e t wo p i eces of jewel ry

. Fro m t h es e ci rcu m s tan ces

, t h e t ri al co u rt co u ld

l eg i t i m at el y co m e t o i t s o wn co n cl u s i o n as t o t h e fai r m ark et v al u e o f t h e j ewel ry at

t h e t i m e of t h e t heft

, an d i t ap p aren tl y co n cl u ded t h at t h e jewel ry h ad n o t d ep reci at ed

i n v al ue fro m t h e t i m e o f p u rch as e. See Au s t i n v. S ta t e

, 31 5 Ga. Ap p

. 7 13

, 71 5 (7 2 7

SE2 d 5 3 5 ) (2 0 12 ) (“ [T] he fai r m ark et val u e m ay b e es t ab l i s h ed b y t es t i m o ny

1 Becau s e Geo rg i a l aw d efi n es t h e am o u n t o f d am ag es th at a v i ct i m can reco v er

t h ro u g h res t i t u t i on as “ al l s peci al d am ag es wh i ch a v i ct im co u l d reco v er ag ai n s t an

o ffen d er i n a ci v i l act i o n

. . . b as ed o n t he s am e act o r act s fo r wh i ch t he o ffen d er i s

s en t en ced ,” OCGA § 1 7 -1 4 -2 ( 2 )

, we hav e o ft en ci t ed t o o u r ci v i l cas e l aw o n

d am ag es t o i nt erp ret h o w we ev al u at e t h e am o u n t t o b e award ed i n res t i t u t io n o r h o w

we s h ou l d cal cu l at e an i t em ’ s fai r m ark et val u e. See, e.g

., Ja cks o n v. S t a t e

, 1 5 0 Ga.

Ap p

. 61 7

, 6 2 0 (5 5 2 SE2 d 5 4 6 ) (2 0 0 1 ) (ci t i n g t o S i s k v. Ca r n e y

, 1 2 1 Ga. Ap p

. 5 6 0

(1 7 4 SE2 d 4 5 6 ) (1 9 7 0 )); Ga ski n v. S t a te

, 2 2 1 G a. Ap p. 1 4 2

, 1 5 3 (3 ) (b ) (4 7 0 SE2 d

5 3 1 ) (1 9 9 6 ) (ci t i n g t o H

o ar d v. W i l ey , 1 1 3 Ga. Ap p . 3 2 8 (1 47 SE2 d 7 8 2 ) (1 9 6 6 )).

5reg ard i n g t h e o ri g i n al p ri ce, co u p l ed wi t h t h e ag e o f t h e i t em an d i t s co n d it i o n at t h e

t i m e o f th e cri m e.”) (ci t at i o n o m i t t e d )

. Si n ce t h ere was n o co n t rary ev i d en ce i n t h e

reco rd s h o wi n g t h a t i t em s o f jewel ry d o d ep reci at e i n v al ue o v er ti m e, t h e

p rep o n d eran ce o f t h e ev i d en ce s u p p o r t s t h e am o u nt o f res t it u ti o n t h e t ri al co u rt

o rd ered , an d s o we affi rm t h e o rd er g ran t i n g res t i t u ti o n t o Beeg an

.

(b ) Th e Res ti t u t i o n Awa rd

t o Pi t t ma n

Pi t t m an t es t i fi ed t h at s h e v i s i t ed a jewel ry st o re, Bro wn an d Co m p an y

, t o as s i s t

w i t h th e v al u at i o n of h er st o len jewel ry

. Pi t t m an tes t i fi ed t hat sh e wen t “ [t ] h ro u g h

t h ei r es tat e jewel ry wh at m at ch ed

— y o u k no w, cam e cl o s e t o t h e s i ze o f t h e p i ece, as

wel l as i f i t was wh i t e, g o l d, p l at i nu m

, or y el l o w g o l d

. T h e p i e c e s t h a t t h ey were

u n aware o f o r u n s u re of, I wen t t h ro u g h an es t at e— es tat e j ewel er” s o as t o co m e u p

wi t h a v al u e fo r each p i ece o f jewel ry

. Sh e t es t i fi ed t h at Su m m ers s to l e t h e fo l l o wi n g

p i eces o f jewel ry

fro m h er: 2

- a g o l d m acaro n i b racel et i n “ g o o d co nd i ti o n ,” wh i ch s h e recei v ed i n 1 9 8 6 an d

wh i ch Bro wn an d Co m

p an y v al u ed at $ 1 ,1 0 0 b as ed o n a s i m i l ar p i ece;

2 Pi t t m an t es t i fi ed t h at s h e l o s t at l eas t fi v e o t h er p i ec e s ( a p e a rl n eck l ace,

aq u am ari n e earri n g s

, an aq u am ari n e s t o n e, d i am o n d earri n g s

, an d a p an d a n eck l ace),

b u t s h e d i d n o t p ro v i d e an o p i n i o n as t o t h ei r v al u e.

6- a d i am o n d fl ower ri n g t h at s he recei v ed i n 2 0 0 4 o r 2 0 0 5 , an d wh i ch Bro wn

an d Co m p an y es t i m at ed t o b e $ 2 ,4 0 0 b as ed o n “ a v ery s im il ar p i ece” at Bro wn an d

Co m p an y t h at was s m al ler t h an h er ri n g ;

- a d i am o nd h al f-h o o p ed earri n g

, wh i ch was in “ go o d ” co n d i t i on an d h ad b een

p u rch as ed b efo re 2 00 3 fo r $ 8 0 0 ;

- a d i am o n d y el l o w g ol d x -ri n g

, wh i ch h a d b e en p u rch as ed fo r $ 6 0 0

, b ut

Pi t t m an co u l d n o t rem em b er wh en i t was p u rch as ed ;

- a s h el l d o m e ri ng wi t h d i am o n d s th at s he recei v ed d u ri n g t h e 1 9 8 0 s

, wh i ch

s h e v al u ed at $ 5 0 0 b as ed o n a si m i l ar ri ng at Bro wn an d Co m pan y t hat d id n o t h av e

d i am o nd s ;

- a o n e-carat di am o n d ri n g t h at s h e h ad recei ved fro m h er g ran d p aren t s i n 2 0 0 9,

wh i ch was i n “ g o o d t o fai r co n d i ti o n ,” an d wh i ch Bro wn an d Co m p a n y v al u ed at

$ 8 ,5 0 0 b as ed o n a s i m il ar ri n g wi th a s li g h t l y d i fferen t d es ig n ;

- a p earl b racel et wi th a b ro k en cl as p

, w h i ch s h e h ad recei v ed i n 1 9 8 9

, f o r

wh i ch Bro wn an d Co m

p an y h ad a co m

p arab l e b racel et i n t h ei r es t at e s el ect i o n s el l i n g

fo r $ 90 0

, b u t d u e t o t he bro ken cl as p

, t he val u e wo u l d h av e go n e d own “ a co u p l e o f

h u n d red d o l l ars ; ”

7- a p ai r o f g o l d

, p earl

, an d d i am o n d earri n g s, wh i ch were i n “ g reat s h ap e” an d

wh i ch Pi t t m an h ad recei v ed i n 1 9 8 9

, an d wh i ch Bro wn an d Co m p an y es t i m at ed t o b e

wo rt h $ 1 ,6 00 b as ed o n a s i m i l ar p ai r o f earri n g s wi t h s om e s t y le d ifferen ces ;

- a M ik im o t o p earl ri n g

, wh i ch Bro wn an d Co m p an y es t i m a t e d t o be wo rt h

$ 9 0 0 ;

- an aq u am ari n e ri ng i n “ al m o s t perfect co n di t i o n ,” wh ic h B r ow n a n d Co m p an y

v al u ed at “ $ 7 ,8 0 0 u p ” b as ed o n a s i m i l ar ri n g b u t wi t h a d i fferen t carat ;

- an o t h er aq u am ari n e ri n g

, wh i ch Bro wn an d Co m p an y es t i m at ed t o be wo rt h

$ 4 ,0 0 0 b as ed o n a v ery

s i m i lar ri n g t h at “ m i g h t h av e b een s l i g h t l y l arg er i n s i ze; ”

- a Bu rm es e ap p l e jad e ri n g , wh i ch a s ep arat e es tat e jewel er es t i m at ed wo u ld

b e wo rt h $ 17 ,0 0 0 ;

- wh i t e an d go l d h o o p earri n g s

, wh i ch Pi tt m an ’ s ex -h u s b an d p u rch as ed fo r

$ 3 0 0 i n 2 0 0 2 an d were i n t h e s am e co n d i t i o n as wh en s h e recei v ed t h em ;

- a d iam on d h o rs es h o e ri n g

, wh i ch was i n “ g reat ” co n d it i on

, fo r wh i ch Pi t t m an

o b t ai n ed an “ ex act s am e” rep l acem en t fro m an an t i q u e an d es t at e j ewel er fo r $ 9 6 0;

- a b u ck l e ri n g t h at P i t t m an h ad i n h eri ted fro m h er g ran d m o t h er, fo r wh i ch

Pi t t m an fo u n d an ex act rep li ca fro m an an t i q u e an d es t at e jewel er fo r $ 1 ,4 1 0 ;

8- a wh i t e g ol d cro ss in “ p erfect ” c o n d i t i o n w h ich Pi t t m an h ad pu rch as ed fo r

$ 6 0 0 i n 2 0 0 9 ;

- an Eb el wat ch

, wh i ch Pi t t m an h ad p u rch as ed fo r $ 2 ,8 0 0 i n 1 9 9 8 , b ut wh i ch

co u ld n ’ t b e rep l aced b y

Bro wn an d Co m

p an y “ fo r l es s t han $ 4 ,0 0 0.0 0 ; ”

- a s q u are-cu t em eral d ri n g

, wh i ch was ap p r a i s e d b y a jewel er i n 2 0 0 5 at a

v al u e o f $ 9 ,4 5 0;

- a Pat ek Ph i l i p p e b racel et wat ch wh i ch was ap p rai s ed b y a jewel er i n 2 0 0 5 at

a v al u e o f $ 1 2

, 7 5 0 ;

- an o t h er s qu are-cu t em eral d

, wh i ch was ap p rai sed b y a jewel er in 2 0 0 5 at a

v al u e o f $ 8 ,5 6 0; an d

- a p an d a ri ng

, wh i ch was i n g o o d co n d i t i o n

, wi t h Pi t tm an i n d i cat i n g t h at s h e

s aw an ot h er ri n g “ t hat l o o k ed ex act l y t h e s am e” fo r s al e fro m an an t i q ue jewel er fo r

$ 1 ,1 0 0

.

A s a n i n i t i al m at t er, we h av e ad d ed u p t h e t o t al v al ue o f s t o l en jewel ry t o

wh i ch Pi t t m an t es t i fi ed

, an d we arri v ed at a s u m o f $ 84 ,0 3 0

, wh i ch i s a d i fferen ce o f

$ 9 ,1 8 0 fro m t h e $ 7 4 ,8 5 0 t h at t h e St at e arg u ed fo r b el o w (an d w h i ch am o un t t h e t ri al

co u rt accep t ed ). Th e St at e d i d n o t ex p l ai n i n d et ai l h o w i t arri ved at i t s to t al s u m

, n o r

d i d i t ex p l ai n wh i ch p i eces o f jewel ry were i n cl u ded o r ex cl u d ed fro m i ts cal cu l at i o n.

9Un l ik e t he d i screp an cy n o t ed ab o v e b et ween t h e t ot a l v al u e o f jewel ry to wh i ch

Beeg an t es t i fi ed an d t h e fi n al am o u n t t he t r i a l c o u r t o rd ered

, t h e b as i s o f t h i s

d i f f e ren ce i s n o t ap paren t t o us fro m a rev i ew o f t he reco rd

. 3 Fro m th i s reco r d

,

t h erefo re, w e s i m

p l y can n ot t el l h o w t h e St at e an d t he t r i al co u rt arri v ed at t h at

n u m b er

. B e c a u s e t h i s d i s crep an cy i s i n Su m m ers ’ fav o r, h owev er, i t do es n ot

au t o m at i cal l y req u ire u s t o v acat e o r rev ers e t h e res t i t u t io n o rd er. Cf. OCGA § 1 7 -1 4

-

9 (“ Th e am o u n t o f res t i t ut i o n o rd ered s h al l n o t ex ceed t he v i ct i m ’ s d am ag es .”). W e

wi l l t h us p ro ceed to an al y ze th e ev id en ce p res en ted o f th e v al u e o f Pi t t m an ’ s jewel ry

t o s ee i f i t was s uffi ci en t t o s u pp o rt at l eas t t h e am o u n t t hat t h e t ri al co urt o rd ered

.

W e fi rs t co ncl u d e t h at t he p rep o n d eran ce o f t h e ev i d en ce s up p o rt ed t h e v al u e

o f t h e jewel ry fo r wh i ch Pi t tm an o b t ai n ed

, an d tes t ifi ed t o

, an ex p res s es t i m at e fro m

Bro w n an d Co m

p an y o r t h e s e p arat e es t at e jewel er, as su ch es t im at e co ns t i t u t ed

o p i n i o n ev i d en ce fro m a s ou rce t h at d eal t in t h e t rad e o f b uy i n g an d s el l i n g jewel ry

.

See Gr a y

, su pra, 27 3 Ga. Ap p

. at 7 5 0 (2 ) (“ Op i n i o n ev i d en ce as t o t he v al u e o f an

3 T h e d i fferen ce b et ween t h e t o t al v al u e of s t o len jewel ry t o wh ich Beeg an

t es t i fi ed an d t h e fi n al am o u n t o f res t it u t i o n award ed t o h er can b e at l eas t p art i al l y

ex p lai n ed b y t h e fact s t h at sh e h ad recei v ed s o m e co m p en s at i o n fro m h er i n s u ran ce

an d t h at s h e h ad reco v ered at l eas t o n e p i ece. By co nt ras t

, Pi t t m an t es t i fi ed t h at s h e

d i d n o t fi l e an y in s u ran ce cl ai m s

, n o r h as s h e o t h erwi s e recei v ed an y i n s u ran ce

p ay o u t s t h at co u l d o ffs et t h e am o u n t o f res t i t u ti o n

.

10i t em

, i n o r d e r t o hav e p ro b at i ve v al u e, m u s t be bas ed u p o n a fo u n d at i o n t h at t h e

wi t n es s h as s o m e kn o wl ed g e, ex p eri en ce o r fam il iari t y wi t h t h e v al u e o f t h e p ro p ert y

o r s i m i lar p ro p ert y an d [s h e] m u s t g iv e reas o n s fo r t h e v al u e as ses s ed an d al s o m u s t

h av e h ad an o p p o rt u n i t y fo r fo rm i n g a co rrect o p i n i on .”) (ci t at i o n o m i t t ed ). Fro m o u r

rev i ew o f t h e reco rd

, Pi t t m an p ro v i d ed an es ti m at e fro m Bro wn an d Co m p an y fo r t h e

g o l d m acaro n i b racel e t

, t he d i am o n d fl o wer ri n g

, t h e o n e-carat d i am o nd ri n g

, t h e

g o l d

, pearl

, an d d i am o n d earri n gs

, t h e M i k i m o t o p earl ri n g

, t h e t wo aq u am ari n e ri n g s

,

an d t he jad e ri n g

. In each o f t h es e cas es

, t h e es t i m at ed v al u e f r o m B ro wn an d

Co m p an y was s u p p o rt ed b y Pi tt m an ’ s t es ti m o n y as t o th e b as is fo r t h e v al u at i o n

, an d

t h e ci rcu m s t an ces d em o n s t rat e t h at t h e v al u at io n was b as ed o n t h e val u e at t h e t i m e

t h e jewel ry was s t o l en

. W e co n cl u d e t h at p ro p er o p i n io n ev i d en ce s upp o rt ed t h e v al u e

g i v en fo r t hes e i t em s

.

W e fu rt h er co n cl u d e t h at a p rep on d eran ce o f t h e ev i d en ce s u p p ort ed t h e v al u e

o f th e t h ree p i eces o f jewel ry fo r wh i ch Pi t t m an pro v i ded ap p rai s al v al u es fro m 2 0 0 5

(t he t wo s q u are-cu t em eral d s an d t h e Pat ek Ph i l l i p e wat ch ), as Pi tt m an acco m p an i ed

s u ch v al u es w i t h d es cri pt i o n s o f t h e i t em s an d h ow t h e co n d it io n o f th es e i t em s

affect ed t h e v al u e

. B a s e d o n t h i s ev i den ce ab o u t t h e jewel ry ’ s co nd i t i o n, t h e t ri al

co u r t, a s f a c tf i n de r

, co u l d d et erm i n e fro m t h i s t es t i m o n y ab o u t t h e jewel ry ’ s co n d i t i o n

11wh et h er t h e val u e h ad m at eri al l y ch an g ed b et ween t he 2 00 5 ap p rai s al an d t h e t h eft

.

Ch a mp io n

, s u p ra, 2 6 3 G a. Ap p

. at 29 1

. Ad di t i o n al l y

, Pi t t m an p ro v i d ed t h e p u rch as e

p r i ce, ag e, an d co n d it i o n o f t h e d i am o n d h al f-h o o p ed earri ng

, t h e wh i t e an d g o l d

h o o p e a r r i n g s

, an d t h e w h i te g o l d cro s s

. As n o t ed ab o v e i n o u r d is cu s s i o n o f

Beeg an ’ s jewel ry

, t h es e ci rcu m s t an ces were s u ffi ci en t fo r t h e t ri al co u rt to co m e to

a l eg i t i m at e co n cl u s i o n as t o t h e i r v al u e. See Au s t in

, s u pra, 3 1 5 Ga. Ap p

. at 7 1 5;

Ch a mp io n

, s u p ra, 2 6 3 Ga. Ap p . at 2 9 1

.

By o u r cal cu l at i o ns

, t h e t o t al v al u e o f t h es e i t em s i s $ 7 5,7 6 0

, w h i ch i s m o re

t h an t h e $ 7 4 ,8 5 0 t h e t ri al co u rt o rd ered d u e t o Pi t t m an

. W e t h erefo re n eed n o t g o

fu rt her an d an al y ze t h e ev i d e n ce reg ard i n g t he rem ai n i n g p i eces

. W e co n cl u d e t h at

a p rep o nd eran ce o f t h e ev i d en ce s u p po rt ed t h e am ou n t o f res t it u t i o n ord ered t o b o th

Beeg an an d Pi tt m an

.

2

. Su m m ers fu rt h er arg u es t h at t h e tri al co u rt erred b y i m p o si n g a r e s t i t u t i o n

award t o Pi t t m an i n ex ces s o f $ 2 5 ,0 0 0 wh en sh e was i n d i ct ed o n

, an d co n vi ct ed o f,

t h eft b y t ak i n g b et ween $ 5 ,0 0 0 an d $ 2 5 ,0 0 0

. Pret erm it t in g wh et h er t h i s arg u m en t in

an d o f it s el f i s m eri t ori o u s

, t h e t ri al co urt h ere m erg ed each o f t h e th eft b y t ak i n g

c o n v i ct i o n s in to t h e t wo b u rg l ary co n v i ct io n s

, an d “ a co n v ict i o n t h at m erg es as a

m at t er of l aw o r fact wi th an o t h er co n v i ct i o n i s v o i d [.] ” Na z ar i o v. S t a t e

, 2 9 3 Ga.

124 8 0

, 4 85 (2 ) (b ) (7 4 6 SE2 d 1 09 ) (2 0 13 ). Th e t ri al co u rt di d no t m en t i o n t h e t h eft by

t ak i n g co n v i ct io ns i n i ts res t i t u t i o n o rd er, an d t h e tri al co u rt ’ s res ti t u t i o n o rd er i n s t ead

cl earl y in d i cat es t h at t h e tri al co u rt i m po s ed res t i t u t i o n b as ed o n th e b u rg l a r y

co n vi ct i o n s

, n o t t h e t h eft b y t ak i n g co n v i ct io ns

. 4 Th e r e f o r e

, b ecau se t h e t h eft by

t ak i n g co n v i ct i o n s are v o id

, an d b ecau s e t h ey d i d n ot p ro v i d e t h e ev en t u al b as i s fo r

t h e res ti t u t i o n ord er, th i s arg u m en t d o es n o t p res en t a m eri t o ri o u s reas o n fo r cap p i n g

t h e am o un t o f res t i t u t i o n at $ 2 5 ,0 0 0 p er v ict i m

.

Fo r t h es e reas on s , we affi rm t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s res t i t u t i on o rd er.

Ju d g men t a f f i r m ed . Mer ci er

a n d Co omer

, JJ., co n cu r

.

4 We fu rt h er n ot e t hat Su m m ers d i d n o t arg u e bel o w, no r d oes s h e arg u e o n

ap p eal

, t h at th e i n d ict m en t cau sed h er t o b e u n d u ly s u rp ri s ed b y t h e ev en t u al am o u nt

o f res ti t u t i o n

.

13