In th e S u p re m e Co u rt o f Ge o rg ia

De c id e d: Ma rc h 2 5, 2 0 1 6

S 1 5 A1 9 2 7 . JONES v

. JONES

. S 1 5 A1 9 2 8 . JONES v

. JONES

.

HUNS T EIN, Ju stic e

.

Th e se a pp e a ls, re la te d to th e e n fo rc e m e n t o f a 1 9 98 Co b b Co un ty d iv orc e

d e c re e

, a rise fro m a n Oc to b e r 2 0 0 9 o rd e r o n a p e titio n fo r c o n te m p t file d b y

De n ita Jo n e s (“ Wife ” ). In th e Oc to b e r 2 0 0 9 o rd e r, th e tria l c o u rt fo u nd No la n

Jo n e s (“ Hu sb a n d ” ) in willfu l c o n te m p t re g a rd in g h is c h ild su p po rt o b lig a tio n s,

c a lc u la tin g h is a

rre a ra ge a t ov e r $ 1 1 9 ,0 0 0

. We g ra n te d bo th pa rtie s’ re sp e c tiv e

a p p lic a tio n s fo r disc re tio n a ry a p p e a l to a d d re ss v a rio u s a sp e c ts o f th is o rd e r. 1

Th o u g h we a ffirm th e tria l c ou rt’s g e n e ra l fin d in g o f c on te m p t, w e c o n c lu d e th a t

th e tria l c o u rt e rre d in re v isitin g p re v io u sly a d ju d ic a te d a rre a ra g e s an d re v e rse

th e o rd e r to th e e x te n t it d id so

. We a lso c o n c lu d e th a t th e c o u rt e rre d in

c a lc u la tin g th e m o st re c e n tly a c c ru e d a rre a ra g e

, a n d we re v e rse th a t p o rtio n o f

1 Th o u gh t h e p art i es ’ ap p l i cat i o n s were g ran t ed on N o v em b er 1 8

, 2 0 0 9, t h e t ri al

co u rt reco rd was no t t ran s m i t t ed t o t h i s Co u rt fo r d ock et i n g u n ti l Au gu s t 2 0 1 5

. Th e

reco rd i s s i l en t reg ard i n g t h e reas o n fo r t h i s ex t rao rd i n ary d el ay

.th e o rd e r a n d re m a n d fo r a re -d e te rm in a tio n o f th a t a rre a ra g e c o n siste n t with th e

te rm s o f th e p a rtie s’ d iv o rc e d e c re e

. In lig h t o f t h e s e d isp o sitio n s, we a lso

re v e rse th e o rd e r to th e e xte n t it d ire c te d Hu sb a n d to p u rc h a se a life in su ra n c e

p o lic y

. Fin a lly

, we c o nc lu d e th a t th e tria l c ou rt’s a tto rn e y fe e aw a r d wa s n o t

e x c e ssiv e a nd th e re fo re a ffirm th a t p ortio n o f th e o rd e r.

Un d e r th e 1 9 9 8 d iv orc e d e c re e

, wh ic h in c o rp o ra te d a se ttle m e n t

a g r e e me n t b e twe e n th e p a rtie s, Wife wa s a wa rd e d p rim a ry c u sto d y o f th e

p a rtie s’ th re e m in or c h ild re n

, a n d H u s b a n d wa s re q u ire d to pa y a b a se su m o f

$ 9 8 6 p e r m on th in c h i l d su p p o rt, wh ic h c o n stitu te d 2 8 % o f H u sb a n d ’s th e n

c u rre nt a n n u a l in c o m e o f $4 2 ,0 0 0

, p lu s th a t sa m e p e rc e n ta g e of a n y a n n u a l

in c o m e H u sb a nd e a rn e d in e x c e ss o f $4 2 ,0 0 0

, u p to $ 8 5

, 0 0 0

. 2 An y in c re a se in

2 In p ert in en t p art , t h e ch i l d s u p p o rt p ro v i s i o ns p ro v i d e:

[T] h e Hu s b an d s h al l b e r e s p o n s i b l e t o t h e W i fe fo r t h e s u m o f $ 9 8 6 .0 0 p er

m o n t h fo r th e s u p p ort o f t h e ch i l d ren

. Th i s ch i l d s u p p o rt has b een cal cu l at ed

i n co n s i d erat i o n o f t h e Hu s b an d’ s p res en t i n co m e o f $ 42 ,0 0 0 .0 0 p er y ear. In

ad d i ti o n t o th i s s um

, t h e Hu s b an d s h al l p ay 2 8 % o f an y m on i es o v er

$ 4 2 ,0 00

. 0 0 u p t o $ 8 5 ,0 0 0 .0 0 p er an n u m as ch i l d s u p p o rt

.

In ad d i ti o n

, t h e ap p l i cab l e p ercen t ag e us ed i n cal cu l at in g t h e s u p p o rt p ay m en t was

t o d ecreas e u p o n th e em an ci p at i o n o r ag in g o ut o f each ch i l d :

Th e p ercen t ag e o f ch i ld s u p p o rt wi l l be

. . . 2 8 % wh i l e it i s p a i d fo r t h ree

ch i l d ren

, 2 5 % at s u ch t i m e i t i s p ai d fo r two ch il d ren

, an d 20 % at s uch t i m e i t

2th e a m o u n t o f m o n th ly c h il d s u p p o rt in a c c o rd a n c e with th is p ro v isio n wa s to

b e se lf-e x e c u tin g, a n d Hu sb a n d wa s re q u ire d to pro v id e h is t a x re tu rn s a n d

re la te d d o c u m e n ta tio n fo r v e rific a tio n o f h is in c o m e

.

I n 2 0 0 2

, Hu sb a n d file d a p e titio n fo r m o dific a tio n o f c u sto d y a n d c h il d

su p p o rt, a n d Wife c o un te rc la im e d fo r c on te m p t. In an o rd e r issu e d in Oc to b e r

2 0 0 4, th e tria l c o u r t, in te r a lia

, de c lin e d to m o d ify c hild su p p o rt an d fo u n d

Hu sb a nd i n co n te m

p t fo r fa ilin g to m a k e th e re q u ire d c h ild su p p o rt p a y m e n ts

a n d fa ilin g to pro v id e th e in fo rm a tio n ne c e ssa ry to c a lc u la te th e a m ou nts o we d

.

Th e tria l c ou rt d e te rm in e d th a t Hu sb a n d wa s in a rre a rs in th e p rin c ip a l a m o u n t

o f $ 8 5

, 6 7 6 ; to g e th e r with in te re st a c c ru in g a t th e ra te o f 1 % p e r m o n th

,

Hu sb a nd ’s to ta l a rre a ra g e wa s se t a t $ 1 2 1 ,5 73 .7 6

. Th o u g h a fo llo w -u p h e a rin g

wa s h e ld in No v e m

be r 2 0 0 4

, a t wh ic h th e c o u rt a pp are n tly m a d e o ra l ru lin g s

re g a rd in g a p urg e sc h e d ule

, su c h ru lin gs we re n e v e r m e m o ria liz e d in a writte n

o rd e r. 3 No fu rth e r p ro c e e d in gs we re h e ld with re sp e c t to th is c o n te m p t p e titio n

.

i s p ai d fo r o ne ch i l d.

3 Th o u gh i t is ap p aren t t hat s u ch a h eari n g d i d t ak e p l ac e, t h e t ran scri p t fro m

s u ch heari n g d o es n o t ap p ear i n t h e reco rd

.

3In Ju n e 2 0 06

, Wife in itia te d a n e w c o n te m p t p ro c e e d in g

, 4 in w h ic h sh e

c la im e d th a t Hu sb a n d h a d fa ile d to p a y h is p re v io u sly a d ju d ic a te d a rre a ra g e a n d

,

with th e e x c e p t i o n o f a sin g le p a y m e n t of $ 9 8 6

, h a d m a d e n o c h ild su p p ort

p a y m e n ts fo r th e m on th s sin c e th e n

. Th e tria l c o u rt u ltim a te ly e nte re d a n o rd e r

in Ju ly 2 0 0 7 in wh ic h it (1 ) re a ffirm e d th e $ 8 5 ,6 7 6 arre a ra g e a s se t fo rth in th e

Oc to b e r 2 0 0 4 o rd e r; (2 ) fo u n d Hu sb a n d in a rre a rs in a n a dd itio n a l a m o u n t o f

$ 6 6

, 4 5 6

, a c c ru in g fro m th e Oc to b e r 2 0 0 4 ord e r th ro u g h Ju n e 2 0 0 7 ; a n d (3 )

a wa rd e d in te re st i n th e a m o u n t o f 7 % p e r a n n u m o n b o th of th e se a rre a ra g e

a m o u n ts, b e g in n in g 3 0 d a y s th e n c e fo rth

. 5 Th is o rd e r th u s, in e ffe c t, v a c a te d th e

Oc to b e r 2 0 0 4 o rd e r to th e e x te n t it h a d a wa rd e d in te re st o n th e in itia l arre a ra g e

. 6

4 Th i s act i o n was as s i g n ed t o a d i fferen t tri al ju d g e th an t h e earl ier m o d i fi cat i o n

an d co n t em

p t p ro ceed i n g.

5 Th e st at u t e g o vern i n g award s o f in t eres t o n p as t -d ue ch i l d su p p o r t was

am en d ed

, effect iv e J u l y 1

, 2 0 0 6

, t o ch an g e t h e ap p l i cab l e i n teres t r a t e fro m 1 2

p ercen t p er an n u m

t o 7 p ercen t p er an n u m . Ga. L. 2 0 0 5 , p . 2 2 4 , § § 3 , 1 3

.

6 W h i l e t he reco rd refl ect s t h at H u s b an d fi led a t i m el y m ot i o n t o s et as id e o r fo r

n e w t ri al

, t h ere is n o i n d icat i o n as t o i t s d is p o s i ti o n

. Gi v en t h e h i s t o ry o f t h e cas e

s i nce t h en

, we as s u m e t h at th i s m o t i on was ei th er d en ied o r ab an d on ed

. In ad d i t i o n,

t h e reco rd r e f

l ect s t h at W i fe s o u g h t an d was g ran ted a d i s cret i o n ary ap p eal i n t h e

Co u rt o f Ap p eal s an d t h ereaft er fi l ed a t i m el y n o t i ce of ap p eal in th e t ri al co u rt

. Set t i ng as i d e t h e is s u e o f wh et h e r t h e C o u rt o f Ap p eal s had ju ri s d ict i o n t o g ran t

W i fe’ s ap p l i cat io n i n t h e fi rs t p l ace, s ee Ga. Co n s t

. o f 1 9 8 3

, Art

. 6

, Sec. 6

, Par. 3 (6 )

(a p p el l at e ju ri s d ict i o n o v er d i v o rce an d al im o n y cas es l i es i n Su p rem e Co u rt ), i t i s

cl ear fro m t h e reco rd t h at

, as o f Sep t em b er 2 00 9

, W i fe h ad ab an d o n ed t h e ap p eal

, an d

4In De c e m b e r 20 0 7

, a s a re su lt o f c o n tin u in g n o n

- c om p lia nc e

, Hu sb a n d

wa s i n c a rc e ra te d ; h e w a s re le a se d in F e b ru a ry 2 0 08

, su bje c t to v a rio u s

c o n d itio n s, a fte r p a y in g a p urg e a m o u n t o f $ 6 ,4 86

. Wife su b se q ue n tly m o v e d

to h a ve Hu sb a

n d in c a rc e ra te d a g a in fo r n o n -c o m p lia n c e

, a nd in Oc to be r 2 0 0 9

,

th e t r i a l c o u rt, fo llo win g a h e a rin g

, e n te re d th e o rd e r th a t is th e su bje c t o f th is

a p p e a l. In th e O c t o b e r 2 0 0 9 o rd e r, th e tria l c o u rt u nd e rto o k a re v ie w o f

Hu sb a nd ’s c h ild su p p o rt o b lig a tio n s a n d p ay m e n ts fro m 1 9 9 8 fo rwa rd

, re ly in g

b o th o n fin d in gs a n d e v id e n c e p re se n te d i n c o n n e c tio n with th e p re v io u s

c o n te m pt p e ti t i o n s a n d o n n e w e v id e n c e a s to Hu sb a n d ’s in c o m e a n d h is

p a y m e n t h isto ry fro m th e da te o f th e d iv o r c e

. Th e c o u rt th e n re v ie we d its

p re v io u s a rre a ra ge c a lc u la tio n s, p u rp o rtin g to d o so un d e r O CGA § 9-1 1 -6 0 (g )

(a u th o riz in g tria l c o u rts to c o rre c t c le ric a l e rro rs). B a se d on e v id e n c e th a t th e

a rre a ra g e c a lc u la tio n in th e Oc to b e r 2 0 0 4 o rd e r ($ 8 5 ,6 7 6) h a d be e n g ro u n d e d

o n in c o r r e c t i n f o r m a t i o n r e g a r d in g Hu sb an d ’s p a y m e n t h isto ry

, th e c o urt re v ise d

th a t c a lc u la tio n

. In a d d itio n

, th e c o urt fo u n d t h a t th e su b se q u e nt a rre a ra g e

a m o u n t e sta b lish e d in th e Ju ly 2 0 0 7 o rd e r ($ 6 6 ,4 5 6 ) h a d b e e n c a lc u la te d b a se d

t h e Co u rt o f Ap p eal s h as n ev er co n s i d ered i t

.

5o n in c orre c t in fo rm a tio n a b o u t Hu sb a n d ’s a n n u a l in c o m e fo r th e a p p lic a b le tim e

p e rio d , an d th e c o u rt th u s m o d ifie d its c a lc u la tio n o f th a t a rre a ra g e a s we ll.

In th e e n d

, h a v in g re c a lc u la te d th e two p re v io u sly a d ju d ic a te d a rre a ra ge s

a n d c a lc u la te d in th e first in sta n c e th e a rre a ra g e da tin g fro m th e Ju ly 2 0 0 7 o rd e r,

th e tria l c o u rt a rriv e d a t a to ta l a rre a ra g e o f $ 1 1 9 ,9 2 4

. 3 8

. F in d in g Hu sb a n d in

willfu l c o n te m

pt, th e c o u rt o rd e re d h im

to p ay $ 5,2 5 0 i mme d ia te ly a s a p u rg e

a m o u n t a n d $5 ,0 0 0 q u a rte rly th e re a fte r un til th e a rre a ra ge wa s p a id in fu ll. Th e

c o u rt fu rth e r o rd e re d H u sb a n d to p urc ha se a life in su ra n c e p o lic y “ wo rth n o le ss

th a n $ 1 0 0

, 0 0 0 ” with in 4 5 d a y s, listin g Wife a s th e p rim a ry b e n e fic ia ry a n d th e

m in o r c h ild re n a s se c o n d a ry b e n e fic ia rie s. F in a lly

, th e c o u rt ord e re d Hu sb a n d

to p ay Wife $ 1 4 ,0 0 0 in a tto rn e y fe e s, un de r a p a y m e nt sc h e d u le se t fo rth in th e

o rd e r.

In g ra n tin g th e p a

rtie s’ a p p lic a tio ns fo r d isc re tio n a ry a p p e a l, we d ire c te d

th e pa rtie s to fo c u s o n th re e issu e s: (1 ) wh e th e r th e tria l c ou rt e rre d in a m e n d in g

th e p rio r c on te m

p t o rd e rs; (2 ) wh e th e r th e tria l c o u rt e rre d in o rd e rin g Hu sb a n d

to p u rc h a se a life in su ra n c e p o lic y ; a n d ( 3 ) w h e th e r th e tria l c o urt’s awa rd o f

a tto rn e y fe e s wa s e x c e ssiv e . We a d d re ss th e se issu e s se ria tim

.

61

. A r u l in g o n a c o n te m p t p e titio n

, m a d e in writin g b y a c o u rt o f

c o m p e te n t ju risd ic tio n a n d e n te re d in a c c o rd a nc e with OCGA § 9

- 1 1 -5 8

, is a

c o n c lu siv e ju d g m e n t a s to th e a c ts o f th e c o n te mn o r th a t we re th e su b je c t o f th e

c o n te m pt a c tio n

. S e e Ra m se y v

. Ra m se y

, 2 31 G a

. 3 34

, 3 3 6 (1 ) (2 0 1 S E 2 d 4 2 9 )

(1 9 7 3 ) (a n “o rd e r a d

ju dg in g a p e rso n in c o n te m p t m e a n s th e tria l c o u rt ha s

p a sse d u p o n th e m e rits o f th e c a se a n d th e o rd e r, in e ffe c t, is a fin a l d isp o sitio n

o f th e c o n te m

pt m a tte r b y th a t c o u rt” ); se e a lso M a sse y v

. M a sse y

, 2 9 4 Ga

. 1 6 3

(2 ) (7 5 1 SE2 d 3 3 0 ) (2 0 13 ) (o rd e r a d ju d ic a tin g c o n te m

p t is su b je c t to im m e d ia te

a p p e l l a t e r e v i e w ). Afte r th e e n try o f su c h ju d gm e n t a n d th e e x p ira tio n o f th e

te rm o f c o u rt in wh ic h it wa s e n te re d , th e re n d e rin g tria l c ou rt is a u th o riz e d to

a m e n d su c h ju d g m e n t on ly in a c c o rd an c e with OCGA § 9 -1 1-6 0

. S e e Ric h a rd

C. Ru sk e ll, Ga

. Pra c tic e & P r o c e d u re

, § 2 3 :2 1 (2 0 1 5 -2 0 16 e d .); Tre m b le v

.

Tre m b le , 2 8 8 Ga . 6 6 6 , 6 6 8 (1 ) (7 0 6 S E2 d 4 5 3 ) (2 0 11 ).

Un d e r OCGA § 9 -1 1 -6 0, a ju d g m e n t, un le ss v o id o n its fa c e

, is su b je c t to

c h a lle ng e in th e tria l c o u rt o n ly b y d ire c t a tta c k

, in th e fo rm o f a m o tio n fo r n e w

tria l o r a m o tio n to se t a sid e

. OCGA § 9 -1 1 -6 0 (a ), (b ); se e a lso F a c e y v

. F a c e y

,

2 8 1 Ga

. 3 67 ( 6 ) (6 3 8 S E2 d 2 7 3 ) (2 0 06 ). Mo tio ns fo r n e w tria l a re a v a ilab le

7o n ly to c h a lle n g e so m e “ in trin sic d e fe c t” th a t do e s n o t a p pe a r o n th e fa c e o f th e

re c o rd o r p le a d in g s, id

. a t (c ), a n d m u st g e ne ra lly b e m a d e with in 3 0 d ay s o f th e

ju d g m e n t be in g c h a lle ng e d, OCGA § 5 -5 -4 0 (a ). Mo tio n s to se t a sid e m a y b e

p re m ise d o n a la c k o f ju risd ic tio n ; so m e a lle ga tio n o f fra u d

, a c c id e n t, m ista k e

,

o r “ a c ts o f t h e a d v e r se p a rty un m ix e d with th e n e g lig e n c e o r fa u lt o f th e

m o v an t” ; o r a “ n o n a m e n d a b le d e fe c t” a

p p e a rin g o n th e fa c e of th e ple a d in g s o r

re c o r d

. OCGA § 9 -1 1 -6 0 (d ). E x c e pt fo r th o se a lle g in g la c k of ju risd ic tio n

,

s u ch mo tio ns m

u st b e m a d e with in th re e y e a rs o f th e e n try o f th e c h a lle n g e d

ju d g m e n t. Id

. a t (f). In a d ditio n to th e se m o de s of re vie w, th e tria l c o u rt re ta in s

th e a u th o rity to c orre c t “ c le ric a l m ista k e s” a n d e rro rs “ a risin g fro m o ve rsig h t o r

o m issio n ” a t a ny tim e , e ith e r su a sp o nte o r b y m o tio n . Id . a t (g ).

We a sse ss th e tria l co u rt’s o rd e rs h e re u n d e r th e se b a sic p rin c ip le s. We

first fin d

, c o n tra ry to Hu sb a nd ’s lo n g -sta n d in g c o n t e n t i o n

, t h at t h e O c t o b e r 2 0 0 4

o rd e r c o n stitu te d a fin a l ju dg m e nt o f c o nte m pt, su b je c t to m o dific a tio n b y th e

tria l c o u rt o n ly in a c c ord a n c e with OCGA § 9-1 1 -6 0

. H u sb a n d a sse rts th a t th e

c o u rt’s o rd e r w a s in fi rm

, a n d th e re fo re n o t fin a l an d su b je c t to m o d ific a tio n

,

b e c a u se its fin d in g s a s to th e a rre a ra g e a nd in te re st a m o un ts a re e xp re sse d in th e

8n a rra tiv e p o rtio n o f th e o rd e r’s fin d in g s o f fa c t a nd c o nc lu sio n s o f la w ra th e r

th a n in its p ro n o u n c e m e n t o f ju d g m e nt

, in w h ic h th e ju d g m e n t a m o un t is le ft

b la n k. H o w ev e r

, t h e ord e r o n its fa c e le a v e s n o d o u b t th a t th e c o u rt wa s

e n te rin g ju d g m e nt o n Wife ’s c o u n te rc la im fo r c o nte m pt a g a in st H u sb a n d in th e

a m o u n t o f $ 8 5,6 76 in u n p a id c h ild su pp ort a n d $ 3 5 ,8 9 7 .7 6 in in te re st. At m o st,

th e b la n k sp a c e le ft fo r th e ju d g m e n t a m o u n t c o n stitu te d a “c le ric a l e rro r” th a t

wo u ld b e su b

je c t to c orre c tio n u n d e r OCGA § 9 -1 1 -6 0 (g ), n o t a n o m issio n th a t

re n d e re d th e ord e r in va lid o r in te rlo c u to ry

. S e e Tre m ble

, 2 8 8 Ga

. at 6 6 8 -6 6 9

(“ c le ric a l m ista k e ” re fe rs to ty p o gra ph ic a l e r r o r s

, th e o m issio n o f wo rd s,

se n te nc e s, o r p a ra g ra

p h s, a n d th e lik e ); Ca gle v. Dix o n

, 2 3 4 Ga

. 6 9 8 (2 1 7 S E2 d

5 9 8 ) (1 9 7 5 ) (“ c le ric a l m ista k e ” re fe rs t o a n o v e rsig h t o r o m issio n

, e ith e r

o b v io u s o n th e fa c e o f th e re c o rd o r p la in ly d e m o n stra te d b y th e e v id e n c e ). S e e

a lso P o rte r-Ma rtin v

. Ma rtin

, 2 8 0 Ga

. 1 5 0 (6 2 5 S E2 d 7 4 3 ) (2 0 0 6) (c o n tra stin g

th e c o rre c tio n o f c le ric a l m ista k e s p u rs u a n t to OCGA § 9 -1 1 -6 0 (g ) with th e

m o d ific a tio n o f su b sta n t iv e pro v isio n s). S im ila rly

, th e fa c t th a t th e tria l c o urt

re se rv e d th e issu e o f a p u rg e me t h o d o l o g y u n til a la te r da te

– a n d th a t su c h

p u rg e m e th o d o lo g y wa s ne ve r u l t i m a te ly re d uc e d to a w ritte n ju d gm e n t

– ha s

n o e ffe c t o n th e f

in a lity o f th e d e te rm in a tio n o f Hu sb a n d’s a rre a ra g e

. S e e

9Ha m ilto n Ca

p ita l Gro u p

, In c

. v

. Eq u ifa x Cre d it In fo rm a tio n S e rv ic e s, In c

., 2 6 6

Ga

. Ap p

. 1 (1 ) (5 9 6 S E2 d 6 5 6 ) (2 0 0 4 ) (e v e n wh e re c o nte m pt o r d e r g iv e s th e

c o n te m no r th e o p p o rtu nity to p u rg e b e fo re p u n ish m e n t is im p o se d

, su c h o rd e r

c o n sid e re d fin a l fo r p u rp o se s o f a p p e a l). T h u s

, t h e O c to b e r 2 0 0 4 o rd e r wa s a

fin a l a d ju d ic a tio n o f H u sb a n d ’s to ta l a rre a ra g e

, in c lu d in g in te re st, fro m Ja n u a ry

1 9 9 8 th ro u g h Au g u st 2 0 0 4

.

In its Ju ly 2 0 0 7 o rd e r o n Wife ’s se c o n d c o n te m p t p e titio n

, th e tria l c o urt

p u rp o rte d b o th to a d

ju d ic a te th e a rre a ra g e a c c ru in g sin c e th e Oc to b e r 2 00 4 o rd e r

a n d to re v ie w th e Oc to b e r 20 0 4 o rd e r itse lf. Th o u g h c le a rly e m p owe re d to

a d ju dic a te th e a rre a ra g e n e wly a c c ru in g sin c e its prio r c o n te m p t d e te rm in a tio n

,

th e tria l c o u rt la c k e d th e a u th o rity to r e v isit its e a rlie r ru lin g

, a s th e re we re n o

g ro u n d s e ith e r a lle g e d o r e sta b lish e d up o n wh ic h to se t it a sid e

. S e e O CGA §

9 -1 1 -6 0 (d ). W h ile th e c o u rt u ltim a te ly re a ffirm e d th e O c to b e r 20 04 o rd e r a s

to th e p rin c ip a l a m o u n t of Hu sb a n d ’s a rre a ra g e fo r Ja n u a ry 1 9 9 8 th ro u g h

Au g ust 2 0 0 4

, th e c ou rt, in e ffe c t, v a c a t e d th e in te re st p o rtio n o f th e Oc to b e r

2 0 0 4 o rd e r. Th is el i mi n a tio n o f Hu sb an d ’s in te re st o b lig a tio n wa s oste n sib ly

b a se d o n re p re se nta tio ns m a d e a t th e N o v e m b e r 2 0 04 h e a rin g; ho we ve r,

10wh a te ve r tra n sp ire d a t th a t h e a rin g wa s n e v e r re d u c e d to a ny fo rm of writte n

ju d g m e n t a n d th u s h a d n o b in d in g e ffe c t. S e e Willia m s v

. W illia m s, 2 9 5 Ga

.

1 1 3 (1 ) ( 7 5 7 S E2 d 8 5 9 ) (2 0 1 4 ) (a n ora l p ro no u n c e m e n t o f a tria l c o u rt is n o t

b in d in g u n til re d u c e d to writin g a n d e n te re d a s a ju d g m e n t). Ac c o rd in g ly

, to th e

e x te n t th e Ju ly 2 0 0 7 o r d e r p u rp o rte d to m o d ify th e su b sta n c e o f th e Oc to b e r

2 0 0 4 o rd e r b y e lim i n a t i n g Hu sb a nd ’s o blig a tio n to p ay th e $ 3 5 ,8 9 7 .7 6 in

in te re st o n th e o rig in a l a rre a ra g e , th is o rd e r wa s in e rro r.

Ne v e rth e le ss, we h a v e h e ld th a t a ju d g m e n t, th o u g h e rro n e o u s, is e n title d

to e n fo rc e m e n t so lo n g a s it wa s e n te re d b y a c o u rt o f c om p e te n t ju risd ic tio n a n d

h a s n o t b e e n a

p p e a le d o r se t a sid e

. S e e Co llin s v

. Billo w, 2 7 7 Ga

. 6 0 4 (2 ) (5 9 2

S E2 d 8 4 3 ) (2 0 0 4 ) (e n fo rc in g c o n te m p t o rd e r, d e sp i te fa c t th a t it im p ro p e rly

m o d ifie d c h ild su p p o rt o b lig a tio n, w h e re it wa s e n te re d b y c o u rt o f c o m p e te n t

ju risd ic tio n a n d h a d n ot be e n re v e rse d o r se t a sid e ); Sta te e x re l. H a rre ll v

.

Ha rre ll, 2 6 0 Ga

. 2 0 2

, 2 0 2 ( 3 9 1 S E2 d 6 4 1 ) (1 9 9 0 ) (“ [a ] ju d gm e n t wh ic h is

e rro n e ou s b u t n o t vo id m a y b e a tta c k e d o n ly b y dire c t a p pe a l or b y a m o tio n to

se t a sid e ” a n d m

u st b e e nfo rc e d if i t h a s n o t b e e n so a tta c k e d). As th e re is n o

q u e stio n th a t th e tria l c o u rt h e re h a d ju risd ic tio n ov e r th e su bje c t m a tte r a n d th e

11p a rtie s, th e Ju ly 2 0 0 7 o rd e r, th o u g h im p ro p e r t o t h e e x te n t it m od ifie d th e

Oc to b e r 2 0 0 4 o rd e r b y e lim in a tin g Hu sb a n d ’s in te re st o blig a tio n

, is e n title d to

b e e n f o rc e d in its e ntire ty

, u n le ss th e Oc to b e r 20 09 o rd e r is d e e m e d to h a v e

p ro p e rly se t it a sid e

.

Th e Oc to b e r 2 00 9 o rd e r, issu e d in re sp o n se to th e la te st in a se rie s o f

m o tio ns f ile d b y Wife du e to Hu sb a n d ’s re p e a te d n o n -c o m p lia n c e

, in e ffe c t

v a c a te d b o th e a rlie r o rd e rs a n d b e ga n c a lc u la tin g a n e w Hu sb a n d’s a rre a ra g e

fro m 19 9 8 fo rwa rd

. Th o u g h th e c o u rt pu rp o rte d to do so u n d e r OCGA § 9 -1 1

-

6 0 (g ), its ru lin g h e re w e nt fa r b e y o n d th e c o rre c tio n o f a “ c le ric a l m ista k e ” su c h

a s is c o u n te n a n c e d by th a t sta tu to ry su bse c tio n

. S e e P o rte r-Ma rtin

, 2 8 0 Ga

. a t

1 5 1

- 1 5 2 ( c o u rt c a n n o t m o d ify su b sta n tiv e p ro v isio n s o f p rio r o rd e r u n d e r

OCGA § 9 -1 1 -6 0 (g )); se e a lso Tre m b le

, 2 8 8 Ga

. a t 6 68 -6 6 9 ; Ca g le

, 2 3 4 Ga

. a t

6 9 9

. Ra th e r, th e c ou rt in e ffe c t re o p e n e d t h e e v id e n c e re g ard in g H u sb a n d ’s

p a y m e n t h isto ry a n d in c o m e d a t in g b a c k to 1 9 9 8

, th us e sse n tia lly re try in g

Wife ’s p re v io u s c o n te m

p t a c t i o n s fa r b e y o n d th e tim e p e rio d in w h ic h su c h a

p ro c e e d in g wa s a

u th o riz e d

. S e e OC G A § 5-5 -4 0 (a ), (h ). T h is wa s e rro r.

Ne ith e r c a n th is re -a d

ju d ic a tio n o f p a st a rre a ra ge s qu a lify a s a p ro p e r o rd e r

12se ttin g a sid e th e Ju ly 2 0 0 7 o r d e r

, a s th e re is n o in d ic a tio n th a t th e tria l c o urt

fo u n d th e e x iste n c e of a ny o f th e lim ite d g ro u n d s to se t a sid e a ju d g m e n t

e n u m e ra te d in OCGA § 9-1 1 -6 0 (d ). W e m u s t th e re fo re re v e rse th e Oc to b e r

2 0 0 9 o rd e r in so fa r a s it p u rp o rts to re

- a d j u d i ca t e th e a rre ara g e s a s e sta b lish e d

in th e Ju ly 2 0 0 7 o rd e r.

As to th e a rre a ra ge a c c ru in g su b se q u e n t to th e Ju ly 2 0 0 7 o rd e r, th is issu e

wa s p ro p e rly b e fo re th e c o u rt fo r d isp o sitio n in th e O c to b e r 2 0 0 9 o rd e r, a n d th e

m e rits o f th is d e te rm in a tio n a re th u s rip e fo r a p pe lla te re v ie w. On re v ie w, we

m u st a ffirm a tria l c o u rt’s a dju d ic a tio n o f c o n te m p t so lo n g a s th e re is “ a n y

e v id e n c e ” to su p p o rt it. F a c e y

, 2 8 1 Ga

. a t 3 7 0 ; P a t e v

. P a te

, 2 8 0 Ga

. 7 9 6 (3 )

(6 3 1 S E2 d 1 0 3 ) (2 0 0 6 ). As th e re is a m p le e v id e n c e

– a n d

, in de e d

, little d isp u te

– th a t Hu sb a nd is se rio u sly de lin q u e n t o n h is c h ild su p p o rt p a y m e n ts, we a ffirm

th e O c to b e r 2 0 0 9 ord e r in so fa r a s it fo u n d th a t Hu sb an d wa s in willfu l v io la tio n

o f h is o blig a tio n s u n d e r th e p a rtie s’ d iv o rc e de c re e

. In so fa r a s th e c o u rt m a d e

fin d in g s a s to th e sp e c i f i c a mo u n t o f th e m o st re c e n tly a c c ru e d arre a ra g e

,

h o we v e r, we h o ld th a t t h o s e fin d in g s re st o n a n e rro n e o u s c o n stru c tio n o f th e

p a rt i e s ’ d i v o rc e d e c re e a n d

, th e re fo re

, c a n no t sta n d

. S e e Ha rd ig re e v

. S m ith

,

132 9 1 Ga

. 2 39 (7 2 8 S E2 d 6 3 3 ) ( 2 0 1 2 ) (re v e rsin g c o n te m p t ru lin g p re m ise d o n

e rro n e ou s c o n stru c tio n o f h u sb a n d ’s a lim o ny o b lig a tio n ).

I n a d j ud ic a tin g th e a rre a

ra g e a c c ru in g fro m Ju ly 2 0 0 7 th ro u g h th e Oc to b e r

2 0 0 9 o rd e r, th e t r ia l c o u rt m a d e fin d in gs re ga rd in g Hu sb a n d ’s in c o m e d u rin g

th a t in te rv a l, o n th e b a sis o f wh ic h th e c o u rt c a lc u la te d H u sb a n d ’s c h ild su p p ort

o b lig a tio n s on a m o n th ly b a sis. Th is ta sk wa s ma d e d iffic u lt d u e to th e

in c o m p le te a n d ha

p h a z a rd e v id e n c e Hu sb a nd o ffe re d a n d th e a p p a re n t

v a ria b ility o f Hu sb a n d ’s in c o m e fro m m o nth to m o nth

– ra n gin g fro m $ 0 d u rin g

p e rio d s of u n e m

plo y m e n t to o v e r $ 1 0 ,0 00 p e r m o n th d urin g on e six -m o n th

p e rio d

. Th o u g h it is c le a r th a t th e tria l c o u rt la b ore d d ili g e n t l y in m a k in g its

c a lc u la tio n s, we a re c o n stra in e d to re v e rse its d e te rm in a tio n o f th is la st a rre a ra g e

a m o u n t, b e c a

u se it do e s no t c o n fo rm to th e p la in la n g u a g e o f th e c h ild su p p ort

p ro v isio ns o f th e d iv o rc e d e c re e

. F or e x a m p le

, fo r c e rta in in te rv a ls with in th e

re le v a n t tim e p e rio d

, th e tria l c o u rt fix e d Hu sb an d ’s m on th ly o b lig a tio n a t $ 0

,

b a se d o n Hu sb a

n d ’s u n e m

p lo y m e n t o r in c a rc e ra tio n

. Ho w e v e r, n o th in g in th e

d iv o rc e d e c re e p e rm its a re d u c t i o n o f H u sb a nd ’s m o n th ly ob lig a tio n to $ 0 ;

ra th e r, th e a

p p lic a b le p ro v isio n s re q u ire Hu sb a nd to p ay a t le a st th e e sta b lish e d

14b a se su m a n d m a ke n o a llo w a n c e fo r a n y r e d u c t i o n t o th a t su m b a se d o n a

d e c re a se in Hu sb a n d ’s in c o m e

. T h u s

, t o th e e x te n t th e tria l c o u rt c a lc u la te d a

$ 0 ob lig a tio n fo r a n y g iv e n m o n th

, th e c ou rt’s d e te rm in a tio n wa s in e rro r. We

th e re fo re re v e rse th a t p ortio n o f th e Oc to b e r 2 0 0 9 o rd e r w h i c h a d ju d ic a te s

Hu sb a nd ’s a rre a ra ge fo r th e p e rio d b e twe e n Ju ly 2 0 0 7 a n d Oc to b e r 20 0 9

, a n d

we re m a n d th e c a se to th e tria l c o u rt to re c a lc u la te Hu sb a n d ’s a rre a ra g e fo r th is

la tte r p e rio d in c o m

plia n c e with th e la n gu a g e o f th e p a rtie s’ d iv o rc e d e c re e

.

In n e t e ffe c t, th e a

b o v e d e te rm in a tio n s o p e ra te to (1 ) a ffirm th e a rre a ra g e

a n d in te re st d e te rm in a tio n s in th e Ju ly 2 0 0 7 o rd e r a s c o nc lu siv e re g ar d i n g th e

a m o u n ts o we d u p u n til Ju ly 2 0 0 7 ; a n d ( 2 ) r e v e r se a n d re m a n d b a c k fo r a re

c a lc u la tio n

, in c o m

p lia n c e with th e la n gu a g e o f th e p a rtie s’ d iv o rc e d e c re e

, o f

th e a rre a ra g e a n d a n y in te re st th e re o n a c c ru in g b e twe e n th a t tim e a n d Oc to b e r

2 0 0 9.

2

. We n o w tu rn to th e life in su ra n c e p ro v isio n o f th e Oc to b e r 2 00 9 o rd e r,

wh ic h re q uire s Hu sb a n d to o b ta in a $ 1 00

, 0 0 0 m in im u m life in su ra n c e p o lic y

with in 4 5 d a y s o f th e o rd e r. A s is c le a r fro m th e tra n sc rip t fro m th e la st o f th e

h e a ri n g s le a d in g up to th e Oc to b e r 2 0 0 9 o rd e r, th e tria l c ou rt in te nd e d th e

15in su ra n c e p o lic y p ro v isio n to fu n c tio n a s a re m e d y fo r Hu sb a n d ’ s mo re th a n

$ 1 0 0,0 0 0 a rre a ra g e

. T h o u g h it is we ll-e sta b lish e d th a t a tria l c o u rt c a n n o t

m o d ify th e te rm s o f a d iv orc e d e c re e in a c o n te m p t pro c e e d in g , a

tria l c o u rt is

a u th oriz e d to “ ‘e x e rc ise its d isc re tio n to c ra ft a re m e d y fo r c o n te m p t.’” Go o c h

v

. Go o c h

, 2 9 7 G a

. 1 8 9 (7 7 3 S E2 d 2 4 7 ) (2 0 1 5 ). S e e OC GA § 2 3 -4 -3 1 (“ [a ]

su p e rio r c o u rt sh a ll h a v e fu ll po we r to m o ld its d e c r e e s s o as to m e e t th e

e x i g e n c ie s o f e a c h c a se a n d sh a ll h a v e fu ll po we r to e n fo rc e its d e c re e s wh e n

re n d e re d ” ). Wh e th e r a tria l c o u rt’s dire c tiv e is a v a lid re m e d y fo r c o n te m p t a s

o p p ose d to a

n im p ro p e r m od ific a tio n is a fa c t-in te n siv e in q u iry

. Co m pa re

F ro e h lic h v

. F ro e h lic h

, 2 9 7 Ga

. 5 5 1 (4 ) (7 7 5 S E2 d 5 3 4 ) (2 01 5) (tria l c o urt

p ro p e rly im

p o se d a c c o u n tin g a n d tra n sfe r re q u ire m e n ts o n c o n te mn o r wh o h a d

v io la te d h is o b lig a tio n u n d e r a d iv o rc e d e c re e to “ m a k e a v a ila ble ” to h is e x -wife

o n e -h a lf o f h is a c c u m

u la te d h o te l lo y a lty pro g ra m p o in ts); Ziy a d v

. El-Am in

,

2 9 3 G a

. 8 71 (7 5 0 SE2 d 3 3 7 ) (2 0 1 3 ) (tria l c o u rt p ro p e rly ord e re d c o n te mn o r to

p a y d o w n p rin c ip a l o n p ro p e rty p e n d in g its sa le

, wh e re c o nte mn o r h a d

p re v io u sly ig n o re d h is o b lig a tio n to list th e p r o p e rty fo r sa le a n d th e p ro p e rty

wo u ld n o t b e sa la

b le with o u t su c h p a y m e nts); S m ith v

. S m ith

, 29 3 Ga

. 5 6 3 (1 )

(7 4 8 SE2 d 4 5 6 ) (2 0 1 3 ) (tria l c o u rt p ro pe rly o rd e re d c o n te mn o r to p a y h is e x

16wife th e m o n e ta ry v a lu e o f pe rso n a l p ro p e rty h e h a d d isp o se d of in v io la tio n o f

d iv o rc e d e c re e ), with F lo y d v

. F lo y d

, 2 9 1 Ga

. 6 0 5 (1 ) (7 3 2 S E 2 d 2 5 8 ) (2 0 1 2 )

(re v e rsin g c o n te m

p t o rd e r to th e e x te n t it d ire c te d e x -h u sb a n d to e x e c u te a

q u itc la im d e e d t o m a r ita l re sid e n c e a s re m e d y fo r fa ilin g to re fin a nc e o r list it

fo r sa le ); Je tt v

. Je tt, 2 9 1 G a

. 5 6 (7 2 7 S E 2 d 4 7 0 ) (2 0 1 2 ) (re ve rsin g c o n te m p t

o rd e r to th e e x te nt it d ire c te d th e e x-h u sb a n d, in te r a lia

, to liq u id a te h is a c c o u n ts

to p a y d o wn d e b t o n m a rita l re sid e n c e so a s to e n a ble h im t o f

u l f i l l h is

o b lig a tio n to re fi n a

n c e th e m o rtg a ge th e re o n ). In a re c e n t c a se

, we h a v e

sig na le d o ur a

p p ro v a l, in a

p p ro p ria te c irc u m sta nc e s, o f a tria l c o urt’s d ire c tiv e

th a t a life in su ra n c e p o lic y b e p u rc ha se d a s a m e a ns o f g u a ra n te e i n g a p a rty ’s

re c ei p t o f b e n e fits o f w h ic h sh e h a d b e e n de p riv e d be c a u se o f a c tio ns o f th e

c o n te m no r. Go oc h

, 2 97 Ga

. a t 1 9 0 -1 9 1 (tria l c o u rt a b u s e d its d isc re tio n in

fa ilin g to de vise a re m e dy fo r c on te m pt, in th e fo rm of a dire c tiv e to pu rc h a se

life in su ra n c e o r a n a n n u ity

, wh e re th e re wa s e v id e n c e th a t su c h m e a su re s wo u ld

c o n stitu te a su ffic ie n t re m e d y ). In a n o th e r re c e n t c a se

, h o we v e r, we re v e rse d a

tria l c o u rt’s o rd e r d ire c tin g th e e x -wife to p u r c h a s e a life in su ra n c e p o lic y o r

e sta b lish a

b a n k a c c o un t p a y a

b le up on h e r de a th

, a s a m e a n s o f re m e d y in g h e r

fa ilu re to n a m e th e e x -h u s b a n d a s th e su rv iv o r be n e fic ia ry o f h e r p e n sio n

.

17P o lla rd v

. P o lla rd

, 2 9 7 Ga

. 2 1 (7 7 1 S E2 d 8 7 5 ) ( 2 0 1 5 ). Th is ou tc o m e wa s

re q u ire d

, we he ld

, b e c a

u se th e re wa s n o e v id e n c e th a t th e life in su ra n c e p o lic y

o r b a nk a c c o u n t wo u ld b e “ e qu iv a le n t to ” th e v a lu e o f th e su rv iv o r b e ne fic ia ry

d e sig n a tio n . Id . a t 2 4

.

Un d e r th e a

bo v e a u th o ritie s, we c o n c lu d e th a t th e tria l c ou rt’s e ffo rt to

c ra ft a m e a ns to e n su re th e p a y m e nt of Hu sb an d ’ s p a s t a rre a ra ge m ig h t b e

p e rm issib le u n d e r th e p a rtic u la r c irc u m sta n c e s o f th is c a se

. H o we v e r, b e c a use

we a re re v e rsin g th e Oc to be r 2 0 0 9 o rd e r fo r a re c a lc u la tio n o f Hu sb a n d ’s to ta l

a rre a ra g e

, w e h e r e b y re ve rse a s to th e life in su ra nc e p ro visio n a s we ll. On

re m a n d

, we n ote

, a n y sim ila r re m e d ia l p ro v isio n m u st b e su pp orte d b y e v id e n c e

e sta b lish in g t h a t th e sp e c ifie d re m e d y is o f e q u iv a le n t m o n e ta ry v a lu e a s th e

a rre a ra g e it is in te nd e d to re m e d y a n d is c le arly d e sig n e d to se c ure p re -e x istin g

o b lig a tio n s. Co m

p a re G o o c h

, 2 9 7 Ga

. a t 1 9 0 -1 9 1

, with P olla rd

, 2 9 7 Ga

. a t 2 4

.

In a d d itio n , a

n y p ro v isio n re q u irin g th e p u rc h a se o f life in su ra n c e wo u ld h a v e

to m a k e c le a r th a t Hu sb a n d ’s re sp o n sib ility to m a in ta in su c h p olic y wo u ld la st

o n ly so lo n g a s h e fa ile d to p a y o ff h is a r r e a ra g e ; so stru c tu re d

, a p ro visio n o f

18th is k in d c o u ld c o n stitu te a p ro p e r re m e d y fo r Hu sb a n d ’s c o n te m p t ra th e r th a n

a n im p ro p e r m o d ific a tio n o f th e p artie s’ d iv o rc e d e c re e

.

3

. F in a lly

, a s to th e tria l c o u rt’s a wa rd o f OCGA § 1 9-6 -2 a tto rn e y fe e s,

we c o n c lu d e th a t th e a w a rd o f $ 1 4 ,0 0 0

– le ss th a n h a lf o f wh a t W i fe so u g h t

–

wa s no t e x c e ssiv e in lig h t of th e su b sta n tia l le ga l wo rk p e rfo rm e d in c on n e c tio n

with th e la te st c o n te m

p t a c tio n, wh ic h wa s n e c e ssita te d b y Hu sb a n d ’s p e rsiste n t

n o n -c o m p lia n c e w ith h is c le a

r o b lig a tio n s to m a ke c h ild su p p o rt p a y m e n ts a n d

p ro v id e th e in fo rm a tio n ne c e ssa ry to d e te rm in e th e a m o u n ts o we d. T h e t r i a l

c o u rt d id n o t a

b u se its d isc re tio n in th is re ga rd

. Se e V in e s v

. Vin e s, 29 2 Ga

. 5 5 0

(4 ) (7 3 9 S E2 d 37 4 ) (2 0 1 3 ) (a ffirm in g a w a rd o f a tto rn e y f e e s in c urre d in

c o n n e c tio n with su c c e ssfu l c o n te m p t m o tio n ).

Ju d g m e n t a ffirm e d in p a rt a nd re v e rse d in p a rt, a n d c a se re m a n d e d with

d ire c tio n . All th e Ju stic e s c on c u r.

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