FI FTH DI VI SI ON

PHI PPS, P. J.

, DI LLA RD and PETERSON, 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

June 8, 2016



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 6 A0 28 9

. HUM PHREY v

. J P M ORGAN CHASE BANK, N. A

. et al

.

P H I P P S , Pres i d i n g J u dg e.

Vi rg i l Hu m

p hrey s u ed J P M o r g a n Ch as e Ban k

, N. A. (“ Ch as e”) an d t h e l aw

fi rm o f M art i n & Bru nav s (“ M &B”) fo r d am ag es al l eg ed l y ari s in g fro m t h e i n i t i at i o n

of f or e c losur e pr o c eed i n g s o n cert ai n p ro p ert y

. Th e t ri al co u rt g ran t ed Ch as e’ s m o t i o n

t o d is m is s an d en t ered s u m m ary ju d g m en t fo r M &B. Hu m p hrey ap peal s b o t h ru l i n g s

.

Fo r reas o n s t h a t f

o l l o w , we affi rm t h e g ran t o f s um m ary ju d g m en t t o M &B, b ut

rev ers e t he d i s m i s s al o f Hu m p h rey ’ s cl ai m s ag ai n s t Ch as e.

1

. W e wi l l fi rs t ad d res s t h e s u m m ary ju d g m en t ru l i n g . Su m

m ary ju d g m en t i s

ap p ro p ri at e wh en “ t h e p l ead i n g s , d ep os i t i o n s , an swers t o i n t erro gat o ri es , an d

ad m i s s i o n s o n fi l e, t o g et h er wi t h t h e affi d av i t s , i f an y , s h o w th at t h ere is n o g en u i n e

i s su e as t o an y m at eri al fact an d t h at t h e m o v i n g p art y i s en ti t l ed t o a ju d g m en t as am at t er of l aw.” 1 W e rev i ew t he g ran t o f s u m m ary ju d g m en t d e n o v o, co n s t ru i n g t h e

ev i d en ce an d al l reas o n ab l e in feren ces an d c o n c l u s i o n s d rawn fro m i t i n t h e l i g ht

m o st fav o rab le t o t h e n o n -m o v an t

. 2

So v i ewed

, t h e reco rd s h o ws t h at W as h in g t o n M u t ual Ban k l o an ed Hu m p h rey

$ 1 3 6 ,0 0 0 i n 2 0 0 5

. To s ecu re t h e l o an , Hu m p hrey g ran ted W as h in g t on M u t u al a

s ecu r i t y i n t eres t i n a p arcel o f pro p ert y h e o wn ed in Pau l d i n g Co u n t y

. W as h i n g t o n

M u t u al was s u b s eq uen t l y cl o s ed

, an d

, i n 2 00 8

, Ch a se pu rch as ed i t s as s et s

. Ch as e l at er

as s i g n ed t h e s ecu ri t y deed rel at i n g t o Hu m p h rey ’ s p ro pert y t o W el ls Far g o Ban k,

N. A., b ut rem ai ned as s erv i cer o f t h e i n deb t ed nes s

.

In 2 0 1 2

, H u m

ph rey s u ed Ch a s e , Wa s h i n g t on M u t u al

, an d an o t h er en t i t y in

fed eral co u rt

, al l eg in g t h a t (1 ) t h e s ecu ri t y d eed h e h ad o ri g i n al l y g ran t ed to

W as h i n g t o n M u t u al was i n v al i d; (2 ) t h e defen d an t s en jo y ed no ri g h t s u n d er t h e d eed

an d u n d erl y i ng p ro m i s s o ry n ot e; (3 ) g i v en t h e i nv al i d i ty o f th e d eed

, an y fo recl o s u re

p ro ceed in g s co m

m en ced p u rs u an t t o i t wo u l d be wro ng fu l ; an d (4 ) t h e defen d an t s h ad

frau du l en t ly d em an d ed an d co l l ect ed p ay m en t s o n t h e i n d eb t ed n es s fro m Hu m p h rey

.

At Hu m ph rey ’ s req u es t

, t h e fed eral co u rt d i sm i s s ed t he s u i t wi t h ou t p reju d i ce o n J u n e

1 OCGA § 9 -1 1 -5 6 (c).

2 See Mo r r o w v. An g

ka wi j a n a , LLC , 3 2 7 Ga. Ap p . 1 (7 5 5 SE2 d 5 6 1 ) (2 0 14 ).

26

, 2 01 3

. A few m on th s l at er, H u m p h r e y f i l ed a n ew l aws ui t ag ai n s t W as h i n g t o n

M u t u al

, a Ch as e en t i t y , an d o t h e r d e f en dan t s i n t h e Su p eri o r Co u rt o f Pau l d i n g

Co u n t y , ag ai n al l eg i n g t h at t h e d efen d an t s lack e d a v a l i d s ecu ri t y i n t eres t i n t h e

p ro p ert y an d t h u s h ad n o s t an d in g t o fo recl os e. It ap p ears t h at t h e s eco n d l aws u i t was

rem o v e d t o f

ed eral co u rt

, an d Hu m

p h rey v ol u nt ari l y co n s en t ed t o i t s d i s m i s s al in

M arch 2 0 1 4

.

On J u l y 2 4

, 20 1 4

, M &B, as co u n s el fo r Ch as e, s e n t H u m p h rey a N o t i ce o f

Accel erat i o n an d Fo recl os u re, i n fo rm i ng Hu m p h rey t h at h i s i n d eb t ed n es s h ad b een

d ecl ared d u e i n fu l l fo r fai l ure t o p ay , t h at Ch as e had ret ai n e d M & B t o c o m m en ce

f o r e c l o su re p ro ceed i n g s ag ai n s t t h e pro p ert y , an d t h at a fo recl o s u re s al e wo u l d b e

co n du ct ed o n Sep tem

b er 2

, 2 0 1 4

. Les s t h an a week b efo re t h e s ch ed u led fo recl o s u re

s al e, Hu m

p h rey fi l ed t h is l aws ui t ag ai ns t Ch as e an d M &B. Th e co m p lai n t fo cu s ed

p ri m ari l y o n t h e s u ffi ci en cy o f t h e J u ly 2 4 fo recl o s u re n o ti ce, as s ert in g t h at t h e n o t i ce

fai l ed t o m eet ap p l i cab l e s t a t u t o ry an d s ecu ri t y d eed req u i rem en t s

. Bas ed o n t h es e

al l eg ed fai l i n g s , Hu m

p h rey cl ai m ed t h at t h e d efen d an t s h a d (1 ) wro n g fu l l y

co m m en ced fo recl os u re p ro ceed i n g s ; (2 ) i n t erfered w i t h h i s p ro p ert y ri g h t s ; (3 )

co m m i t t e d a Geo rg i a RICO v i o l at i o n; (4 ) d efrau d ed hi m ; an d (5 ) co nv ert ed h i s

3p ers o n al p r o p e r t y. He fu rt h er cl ai m ed t h at Ch as e h ad breach ed t h e s ecu ri t y d eed ’ s

co n tract ual t erm s g o v ern i n g n o t i ce an d d eb t accel erat i o n

.

M &B m o v ed fo r su m

m ary ju d g m e n t a s t o al l cl ai m s ag ai n s t i t

. In s up p o rt

, i t

p ro v id ed co p i es o f t h e J u l y 2 4

, 2 0 1 4 No t i ce o f Accel erat io n an d Fo recl o su re, as wel l

as t h e No t i ce o f Sal e U n d e r P o w e r t h at M &B h ad s u b m i t t ed fo r pu b l i cat i o n in

an t i c i p a t i o n o f t h e fo recl o s u re s al e. M &B al s o offered ev id en ce t h at i t h ad n ev er

co m p l et ed a fo recl o s ure o n t he p ro p ert y an d d i d n o t h av e a co n t ract u al rel at i o n s h ip

wi t h Hu m

p h rey

.

Th e t ri al co urt g ran ted s um m ary j u d gm en t t o M&B. Hu m ph rey n o w ap p eal s ,

arg u i n g t h at is s u es o f fact rem ai n as t o wro ng fu l fo recl o s u re an d b reach o f co n t ract

. 3

W e d i s ag ree.

3 Th e t ri al co u rt g ran t ed s u m m ary ju d g m en t t o M &B o n al l cl ai m s , i n cl u d i n g Hu m p hrey ’ s cl ai m s fo r frau d

, RICO v io l at io n , i n t erferen ce wi t h p ro p ert y ri gh t s , an d

co n vers io n

. Hu m

ph rey ’ s ap p el l at e b ri ef, h owev er, pres en t s arg u m en t an d ci t at i o n o f

au t h o ri t y o nl y wi t h res p ect t o t h e wro n g fu l fo recl o s u re an d breach o f co nt ract cl ai m s

. To t h e ex t en t Hu m

p h rey ’ s en u m erat ed erro r al l eg es t h at t h e t ri a l c o u rt erred in

g ran t i n g s u m

m ary ju dg m en t on h i s o t h er cl ai m s , th at al l eg at i o n h as b een ab an d o n ed

. See Ha r r i s In s

. Ag en cy v. Ta r en e Fa r ms , 29 3 Ga. Ap p

. 4 3 0

, 4 3 1

, n .1 (6 67 SE2 d 2 0 0 ) ( 2 0 0 8 ); Ud

o i n yi o n v. Re/

Ma x o f At la n ta

, 28 9 G a. Ap p

. 5 8 0

, 5 8 4 (6 5 7 SE2 d 6 4 4 ) (2 0 0 8); s ee al s o Ct

. Ap p

. R. 2 5 (c) (2 ) (“ A n y en u m erat i o n o f erro r wh ich i s n ot

s u p p ort ed i n t h e b ri ef b y ci t at i o n o f au t h o ri t y o r arg um en t m ay b e d e e m ed

ab an do n ed .”).

4(a) W

r on g f u l Fo r ecl os u r e

. To s u p p o rt an act i o n fo r wro ng fu l fo recl o s u r e, a

cl ai m an t “ m

u s t es t ab l i s h a l eg al d u t y o wed t o i t b y th e fo recl o s i n g p art y , a b reach o f

t h at du t y , a cau s a l co n n ect i o n b et ween t h e breach o f th at d u t y an d t h e i n ju ry i t

s u s t ai n ed

, an d d am ag es .” 4 Th e cl ai m an t m u s t al so s h ow th at a f

o r e c l o s u re s al e

o ccu rred

. A s w e r e c en t l y n ot ed

, “ as a m at t er o f l aw, a p l ai n t iff can n o t s t at e a cl ai m

fo r wro n gfu l fo recl o su re wh en n o fo recl o s ure s al e h as t ak en p lace.” 5

M &B p res en t ed ev id en ce t h at it n ev er h el d a fo recl o s u re sal e o n th e p ro p ert y ,

u n d erm i n i n g t h e wr on g fu l fo recl o s u re cl ai m

. 6 H u m p h rey do es n o t d i s p u t e t h i s

ev i d en ce o r co n t en d t h at t h e s al e t oo k p l ace. In s t ead

, h e n o w arg u es t h at h i s

al l eg at i o n s s h o u l d b e v i ewed as a cl ai m fo r wro n g fu l a t t emp t ed fo recl o s u re. It i s t ru e

t h at Geo rg i a law reco g n i zes s ep arat e cau s es o f act io n fo r wro ng fu l fo recl o s u re an d

wro n g fu l at t em

pt ed fo recl o s u re. 7 Bu t Hu m ph rey ’ s co m

p l ai n t cl earl y referen ced

4 S p a r r a v. D eu t

s ch e Ba n k Na t

. Tr u s t Co

. ,

_ _ _ Ga. Ap p

.

_

_ _ (1 ) (a) (Cas e No

. A1 5 A2 10 3 , d eci d ed M arch 2 5

, 2 0 16 ).

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

6 See i d

.

7 See i d . at 1 (a) & 1 (c).

5wro ng fu l f

o recl o s u re, rat h er t h an an at t em p t ed fo recl o s u re. 8 An d al t h o u g h M &B

as s ert ed b el o w t h at t h e wro n g fu l fo recl o s u re al l eg at i o n co u l d n ot s u cceed becau s e n o

fo recl o s ure h ad o ccu rred

, Hu m p h rey d i d n o t res p o nd t o M &B’ s s u m m ary ju d g m en t

m o ti o n or o th erwi s e arg u e b efo re t h e t ri al co urt t h a t h e w a s al l eg i ng a wro n g fu l

at t em p t ed fo recl os u re cl ai m

.

“ It i s wel l s et t led [t h at ] ap p el l a t e c o u rt s wi l l no t co n s i d er n ew arg u m en t s in

o p p o s i t i o n t o a m o t i o n fo r s um m ary ju d g m en t rai s ed fo r t he fi rs t t im e o n ap p eal .” 9 As

ex p lai n ed b y ou r Su p rem e Co u rt

, “ [t ] o co n si d er t h e cas e o n a co m p l e t el y d i fferen t

b as i s fro m

t h at p res en t ed b el o w wo u l d b e co n t rary t o t h e l in e o f cas es h o l d i n g , ‘ He

m u st s t an d o r fal l u p o n t h e p o s i t i o n t ak en i n th e t ri al co u rt .’ ” 1 0 W e wi l l n ot

, t herefo re,

c onside r H um

p h rey ’ s as s ertions r e ga

r d ing w r ongf

ul atte m pte d f or e c losur e

. M or e ove r ,

give n t h e u n d i s p ut ed ev i d en ce t h at t h e fo recl o s u re o ri g i n ally sc he dule d f or S e pte m be r

8 Hi s c l a i m f

or rel ief, fo r ex am

p l e, s et fo rt h t h e el em en t s o f wro n g fu l

fo recl o s ure. An d h e as s ert ed t h at Ch as e an d M &B i m pro p erl y “ exer ci s ed t h e p o wer

o f s al e co n t ai n ed i n t h e

. . . secu ri t y d eed ” an d co n d u c t ed an i n v al id “ n o n -ju d i ci al

fo recl o s ure u p on ” h i s p ro p ert y . (em p h as i s s u pp l i ed ).

9 M o r r o w , s u p ra at 4 (1 ), n. 2 (ci t at i o n s an d p u n ct u at i o n o m it ted ). See al s o Jo n es v. Eq u i

p

. Ki n g In t l

. , 2 8 7 Ga. Ap p

. 8 67

, 8 6 9 (1 ) (6 5 2 SE2 d 8 1 1) (2 00 7 ) (“ W e wi l l n o t rev ers e an award o f s u m m ary ju d g m en t b as ed o n an arg um en t rai s ed fo r t h e fi rs t t i m e o n ap p eal .”).

1 0 Pf ei f f er v. Dep t

. of Tr a n s

p

. , 2 7 5 Ga. 82 7

, 8 29 ( 2 ) (5 73 SE2 d 3 8 9 ) (2 0 0 2 ) (p u n ct u at i o n an d fo o t n o t e o m i t t ed ).

62

, 2 01 4

, d i d n o t t ak e p l ace, t h e t ri al co u rt p ro p erl y g ran t ed M &B s u m m ary ju d g m en t

o n t h e wro ng fu l fo recl o s u re cl ai m

. 1 1

(b ) Br ea ch o

f Co n t r a ct

. Hu m

p h rey al s o arg ues t h at q u es t i o n s of fact rem ai n as

t o b reach o f co n t ract

. Hu m p hrey ’ s co m

p l ai n t

, h owev er , d i d n o t as s ert a b reach o f

co n tract cl ai m ag ai n s t M&B. On t h e co n t rary , th e co m p l ai n t al leg ed t hat Hu m

p h rey

h ad a c o n t r a ct ual rel at i o n s hi p wi t h Ch as e an d t h at Ch as e b reach ed t h e co n t ract by

“ fai l i n g t o ab i d e b y t h e t erm s o f t h e s ecu ri t y d eed

. ” Al l o f t h e co n t ract u al as s ert i on s

rel at ed t o Ch as e, rat h er t h an M &B.

Fu rt herm o re, M &B p res en t ed ev i d en ce

– n o t di s p u t ed b y Hu m p h rey b el o w o r

o n a p p e a l

– t h at i t n ev er en t ered i n t o a co n t ract wi t h Hu m p h rey

. To t h e ex t en t t h e

co m p l ai n t co u ld b e co n s t ru ed as al leg i n g a breach o f co nt ract cl ai m ag ai ns t M &B,

t h erefo re, t h e t ri al co u rt p ro p erl y g ran t ed s u m

m ary ju dg m en t t o t h e l aw fi rm

. 1 2

2

. Th e t ri al co u rt erred

, h o w e v e r , i n d i s m i s s i n g Hu m p h rey ’ s cl ai m s ag ai n s t

Ch as e. Th e reco rd sh o w s t h at Ch as e m ov ed t o d i s m i s s t h e co m p l ai n t , as s ert i n g t h at

1 1 See S p a r r a , s u p ra (b ecau s e ho m e w as n ev er fo recl o s ed u p o n , p lai n t i f f ’s

cl ai m fo r wro n g fu l fo recl o s u re fai l ed as a m at t er o f l aw).

1 2 See W i n t er ch a s e To wn h o me s v

. K o et her

, 1 9 3 Ga. Ap p

. 1 6 1, 16 4 (4 ) (3 8 7

SE2 d 36 1 ) (1 9 8 9 ) (d efen d an t wh o w as n o t a p a r t y t o co n t ract i s n o t l i ab l e fo r i t s b reach ).

7i t was b arred b y res ju d i cat a an d fai l e d t o s t a t e a cl ai m u p o n wh ich rel ief co u l d b e

g ran t ed

. Th e t ri al co u rt reject ed t h e fai l u re t o s t at e a cl ai m arg u m en t

, b u t ag reed wi th

Ch as e th at res ju d i c a t a p r ecl u d ed Hu m p h rey ’ s cl ai m s. W e rev i ew t h i s ru l i n g d e

n o v o

. 1 3

Th e do ct ri n e o f res ju di cat a “ p rev en t s t h e re-l i t i g at i o n o f al l cl ai m s wh i ch h av e

al re a d y b een ad

ju d i cat ed

, o r wh i ch co u l d h av e b een ad ju d i cat ed

, b et w een i d en t i cal

p art i es o r t h ei r p ri v i es i n i d en ti cal cau s es o f act i o n .” 1 4 Bef o r e r e s j u d i cat a ap p l i es ,

t h erefo re, t h ree prereq ui s it es m u st b e m et : “ (1 ) i d en t i t y o f t h e cau s e o f a c t i o n , (2 )

i d en t i t y o f th e p art i es o r t h ei r p ri v i es , an d (3 ) p rev i o u s ad ju d i cat i o n on t he m eri t s by

a co urt o f co m

p et en t ju ri s d ict i o n .” 1 5 Hu m p h rey a r g u e s t h at Ch as e d i d n o t m eet t h e

fi rs t req u i rem en t –

i d en t i t y o f cau se o f act i o n . W e ag ree.

Acco rd i ng t o Ch as e, Hu m p h rey ’ s d eci s i o n t o v o l un t ari l y d i s m is s h i s t wo p ri o r

fed eral -co u rt cas es re l a t i n g t o th e s ecu ri t y d eed b ars t h is l aws u it

. 1 6 Th e al l eg at i on s

1 3 See Bu r r owes v. Ten et Hea l t h s ys t em GB

, 3 1 9 Ga. A p p

. 3 8 9

, 39 0 (7 3 5 SE2 d

1 3 1 ) (2 0 1 2 ).

1 4 McKi ss ick v. Ayd el o tt

, 3 0 7 Ga. Ap p . 6 8 8, 6 9 2 (2 ) (7 05 SE2 d 8 9 7 ) (2 0 1 1).

1 5 Id . (fo o tn o t e o m i t t ed ).

1 6 See Fed

. R. Ci v

. P. 4 1 (a) (1 ) (B) (“ Un l es s th e n o t ice o r s t i p u l at i o n [o f

v o l u n t ary d i s m i s s al ] s t at es ot h erwi s e, t h e d i s m is s al i s wi t h o u t p reju d i ce. Bu t i f t h e

p l ai n t i ff p rev io u s l y d i s m i s s ed an y fed eral

- o r s t at e-co u rt act i o n b as ed o n o r i n cl u d i n g

8as s ert ed i n t he cu rren t co m p l ai n t

, h o wev er, p ri m ari l y aro se fro m ev en t s o ccu rri n g

a f t er Hu m p h rey di s m is s ed t h e p rev i o u s act io n s i n J u n e 2 0 1 3 an d M arch 2 0 1 4.

Sp eci fi cal l y , h e al leg ed t h at t h e J u l y 2 0 1 4 fo recl o s u re n o t i ce an d res u l t ing f o r e c l o s u re

p ro ceed in g s were leg al l y i n s u ffi c i en t an d d i d n o t m eet t h e req u irem en ts o f t h e

s ecu ri t y d eed

. Th es e cl ai m s co u l d n o t h av e b een rai s ed i n t h e p ri o r l aws u i t s b ecau s e

t h e un d erl y i n g ci rcu m s t an ces h ad n o t y et o ccu rred

. Res ju di cat a, t h erefo re, d o es n ot

p recl u d e t h e cl ai m s , an d t h e t ri al co u rt erred in g ran ti n g Ch as e’ s m o t i on t o d i s m i ss

. 1 7

On ap p eal

, Ch as e arg ues t h at ev en i f res j u d icat a d oes n ot ap pl y , t h e t ri al co u rt

p ro p erl y d i s m i s s ed Hu m p h rey ’ s cl ai m s b ecau s e t h e ev i d en ce s u p p ort i ng M &B’ s

s u m m ary ju d g m en t m o t i o n al s o au t h ori zed d is m i ss al

. In es s en ce, Ch a s e a s k s u s to

co n si d er ev i d en ce o u t s i d e t h e pl ead i n g s , co n vert i t s m o t i o n to d i s m i s s i n t o a req u es t

t h e s am e cl ai m , a n o t i ce o f d i s m i s s al o p erat es as an a d j u d i c at i o n o n t h e m eri t s .”);

OCGA § 9 -1 1 -4 1 (a) (3 ) (A v o l u n t ary d i sm i s s al “ i s wi t h o u t preju d ice, ex cep t t h at t h e fi li n g o f a s eco n d n o ti ce o f d i s m i s s al o p erat es as an ad ju d i cat i o n u p o n t h e m eri t s .”).

1 7 See Gl en Oa k v. Hen d

er s o n , 2 5 8 Ga. 4 5 5

, 45 8 (2 ) (c) (3 6 9 SE2 d 7 3 6 ) (1 9 8 8 ) (a j u d g m e n t c a nn o t b e res ju d i cat a as t o l i ab i l i t i es ari s i n g aft er t h e ju d g m en t );

S i mmo n s v. R eg i o n s Ba n k , 2 5 5 Ga. Ap p . 8 2 4 , 8 2 8 (3 ) (5 6 7 SE2 d 4 9 ) (2 0 0 2 ) (cl ai m

reg ard i n g b an k ’ s al l eg ed to rt io u s co n d u ct d u ri n g 2 0 0 1 fo recl os u re p ro ceed i n g s n ot
b arred b y p ri o r s u i t t h at was res o l v ed b efo re th e fo recl o su re). W e ex p res s n o o p i n i o n

o n wh et her co l l at eral es t o p pel bars re-l i t i g at io n o f an y p art icu l ar i s s u es rai sed i n t h e fed eral l aws u i t s

. See Co s t Mg mt

. Gr o up v. Bo mmer , 3 2 7 Ga. Ap p

. 1 6 4

, 1 6 8 (1 ) (7 5 5

S E 2d 53 7 ) (2 0 1 4) (d i s cu s s i n g d i fferen ce b et ween res ju d i ca ta a nd c olla t e r a l e stoppe l)

.

9fo r s u m

m ary ad j u d icat i o n , an d en ter ju d g m en t i n i t s fav o r

. 1 8 T h i s we d ecl i n e t o d o.

Ch as e d i d n o t fi l e

– an d t h e t r i a l c o u r t n ev er ru l ed o n

– a m o t i o n fo r s u m m ary

ju d g m en t as t o t h e cl ai m s ag ai n s t i t

. W e can n o t s u a s p on t e g ran t s u m m ary ju d g m en t

t o Ch as e o n ap p eal

. 1 9

Ju d g men t a f f i r med i n p ar t a n d r ever

s ed in p a r t

. Di l l a r d a n d Pet er s o n

, JJ.,

co n cu r

.

1 8 See Tr o p

, In c. v. Ci t

y o f Br o o kh a ven , 2 9 6 Ga. 8 5

, 8 9 (2 ) (7 6 4 SE2 d 3 9 8 ) (2 0 1 4 ) (“ [I] f m at t ers o u t s id e t h e p l ead i ng s were p res en t ed t o t h e t ri al co u rt

, wh i ch

t h en co n si d ered th es e m at t ers as i t r es o l ved t h e cas e, t h en a rev i ewi ng co u rt i s

req u i red t o t reat t h e res u l t i n g t ri al co u rt ’ s o rd er as a ru l i n g o n a m o t i o n fo r s u m m ary ju d g m en t .”).

1 9 See Po s t Rea l t

y As s o c. v. DS

L As s o c. , 2 2 8 Ga. A p p

. 6 7 8

, 6 8 1 (2 ) (4 9 2 SE2 d

6 0 0 ) (1 9 97 ) (“ Th i s is a co u rt fo r co rrect i o n o f erro rs bel o w. In t h e ab s en ce o f a ru l i n g b y t h e t ri al co u rt

, t h i s Co u rt h as n o t h i n g t o rev i ew.”). W e reco g n i ze t h at t h e t ri al co u rt

co n si d ered v ari o u s fed eral p l ead i n g s an d o t h er d o cu m en ts wh en ru l i n g o n Ch as e’ s

m o ti o n t o d i s m i s s

. Ch as e, ho wev er, at t ach ed t h es e d o cu m en t s to i t s am en d ed an s wer,

an d t h ey b ecam e p art o f t h e p l ead i n g s

. See OCGA § 9 -1 1 -1 0 (c) (“ A co p y o f an y

w r i t t e n i n s t ru m en t wh i ch i s an ex h i b i t to a p l ead i n g i s a part t h ereo f fo r a l l

p u rp os es .”); Tr o

p , s u p ra (d o cu m en ts at t ach ed t o an s w er were p art o f t h e p l ead i n g ).

“ Co n s id erat i o n of th es e ex h i b i t s t o t h e p l ead i n g s d i d n o t co n v ert t h e m o t i o n to
d i s m i s s i nt o a m o t i on fo r s u m m ary ju d g m en t .” Id

.

10