FI RST DI VI SI ON

BA RNES, P. J.

, M C M I LLI A N and M ERCI 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.

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

October 19, 2017



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 7 A1 10 3 . SURE, INC. v . PREM IER PETROLEUM , INC.

M C M ILLI A N , J u dg e.

Su re, In c. (“ Su re”) ap p eal s fro m t he t ri al co u rt ’ s g ran t o f s um m ary ju d g m en t

o n i t s cl ai m s ag ai n s t Prem i er Pet ro l eu m

, In c. (“ Prem i er”) ari s i n g o u t o f a p et ro l eu m

s u p p ly co n t ract an d l o an d o cu m en t s ex ecu t ed b y t h e p art i es

. Fo r t h e reas o ns s et fo rt h

b el o w, we rev ers e t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s gran t o f s u m m ary j u d g m e n t o n Su re’ s cl ai m fo r

b reach o f co n tr a c t

, a f

fi rm t h e g ran t o f s u m

m ary ju d g m en t o n Su re’ s cl ai m fo r

wro ng fu l fo recl o s u re, an d affi rm i n p a r t a n d rev ers e i n p art t h e g ran t o f s u m m ary

ju d g m en t o n Su re’ s cl ai m o f frau d

.

It is wel l s et t l ed t h at

[ s ] u m m ary ju d g m en t s en

jo y n o p res u m

p t i o n o f co rrect n es s o n ap p eal

,

an d an ap p el l at e co urt m

u s t s at i s fy i ts el f d e n ov o t h at t h e req ui rem en t s

o f OCGA § 9 -1 1 -5 6 (c) h av e b een m e t

. I n o u r de n o v o rev i ew o f th eg ran t o f a m ot io n fo r s u m m ary ju d g m en t

, we m

u st v i ew t h e ev i d e n c e,

an d al l reas on ab l e i n feren ces d rawn th er e f r o m

, i n t h e l i g h t m o s t

fav o rab le t o th e n on m o v an t

.

(C i t a t i o n s an d pu nct u at io n o m i t t ed .) Co wa r t v. W id en er

, 2 8 7 Ga. 6 2 2

, 6 2 4 (1 ) (a)

(6 9 7 SE2 d 7 7 9 ) (2 0 1 0 ).

So v iewed

, t he ev id en ce o f reco rd s h ows t h at at t h e p ert i n en t t i m e, Su re o wn ed

an d o p erat ed a co n v en i en ce st o re an d g as s t at io n i n Su wan ee, Geo rg i a (t he “ St at i o n ”).

Nat t Nwo k o lo i s th e p res i d en t

, s ecret ary

, an d m ajo ri t y s hareh o l d er o f Su re. 1 Prem i er

i s a Geo rg i a p et ro leu m s u p p l i er/ d i s t ributor

, a nd A z iz D h an an i is i t s pres i d en t. Prem i er

co n du ct s i t s b u s i n es s b y pu rch as i n g g as o l i n e fro m a b ran d ed o i l co m p an y at

wh o l es al e an d t h en p ro v i di n g t h e gas o l i n e t o v ari o u s ret ai l g a s s t a t i o n s an d

co n ven i en ce s t o res

.

S up p l y Ag r eemen t

In Decem b er 2 0 0 9

, Nwo k o l o deci d ed t o reb ran d t h e St at i o n fro m a CITGO to

a Sh el l O i l s t at io n. In co n ju n ct i o n wi t h th at d eci si o n

, Nwo k o l o s p ok e wi th

rep res en t at i v es o f Prem i er, an d o n Decem b er 11

, 2 00 9

, Su re an d Prem i er en t ered i n to

1 Nwo k o lo t es t i fi ed i n h i s Feb ru ary 2 0 16 d ep o s i t i on t hat h e was t h e s o l e

s h areh o ld er o f Su re, b u t he av erred i n hi s O c t o b er 2 0 16 affi d av i t t h at h e was t h e

“ m ajo ri t y s h areh o l d er.”

2a Co n t ract Su p pl y Ag reem en t (t h e “ Su p p ly Ag reem en t ”), wh i ch p ro vi d ed t h at

Prem ier wo u l d b e t h e ex cl us i ve s u pp l i er of p et ro l eu m p ro d uct s t o t h e St at i o n an d t h at

Su re wo u l d p u rch as e a m in im u m o f 6 0 ,0 0 0 g al l o n s o f s u ch p ro du ct s p er m o n t h

.

Un d er t h e term s o f t h e Su p p l y Ag reem en t

, Prem i er ag reed t o as s i s t Su re by

p ro ces s i n g i t s cred i t card p ay m en t s

, an d Su re was req u i red t o pay fo r g as o l i n e

d el i v eri es at t h e t i m e o f d el i v ery . Ad d i t i o nal l y , Prem i er ag reed t o p ay Su re a reb at e

o f $ .0 2 p er g al l o n fo r a p eri od o f t h ree y ears b eg i n n i ng a f t e r t h e St at i o n was

co m p l et el y reb ran d ed an d accep t ed b y Sh el l

.

Lo a n f ro m Pr emi er

t o S ur e

Cert ai n ren o v at i o n s were req u i red as part o f t h e re-b ran d i n g o f t h e St at i o n

, an d

Nwo k o lo al s o d eci d ed t o u p d at e t h e St at i o n ’ s g as p um p s. Prem i er ag reed t o l en d Su re

m o ney t o h el p acco m

pl i s h t h es e ch an g es (t h e “ Lo an ”), an d t h e part i es ex ecu t ed l o an

d o cu m en t s

, i n cl u d i n g a $5 6 ,0 0 0 p ro m i s s o ry no t e (t h e “ No t e”) an d a “ Deed to Secu re

Deb t, As s i g n m en t o f Leas es an d Ren t s an d Secu ri t y A g reem en t ” (t h e “ Deed t o Secu re

Deb t”), bo th s ig ned b y Su re, as wel l as a p ers o n al g uaran t y s i g n ed b y Nwo ko l o

. Th e

Deed t o Secu re Deb t g ran ted Prem i er a s ecu ri t y i n t eres t i n a on e-acre l o t o wn ed by

Su re ad jacen t t o t h e St at i o n (t h e “ Ad jacen t Pro p ert y ”).

3At o r aro u n d t h e t i m e o f t h e cl o si n g o n t h e Lo an

, Prem i er is s ued a ch eck d at ed

J an u ary 2 8

, 2 0 1 0

, in th e am o u n t o f $ 6 ,0 0 0 t o Su re. Th en

, o n Feb ru ary 8

, 2 0 1 0,

Prem ier i s s u ed a ch eck o n b eh al f o f Su re i n t he am o u nt o f $ 1 4 ,0 0 0 t o a t h i rd -p art y

,

B & B Pet ro l eu m Sy s t em Serv i ces

, In c. (“ B&B”), t o ward t h e rep l acem en t o r

refu rb i sh m en t o f t he g as o l i n e p u m p s

. Al t h o ug h Prem i er p ro d u ced wri t t en

d o cu m en t at i o n s h o w i n g Nwo k o l o ’ s au t ho ri zat i o n fo r Prem i er t o p ay $ 5 0 ,0 0 0 o f t h e

Lo an p ro ceed s t o B & B (t h e “ A u t h o r izat i o n ”), Nwo ko l o as sert s t h at he n ev er

au t h o ri zed t h at an y o f t h e Lo an p r o c e e d s b e p ai d t o B&B, h e n ev er s i g n ed t h e

Au t ho ri zat io n

, an d t h e s ig n at u re o n t hat do cu m en t i s a fo rg ery

. Rat h er, h e b el i ev ed

t h at al l t h e Lo an p ro ceed s wo u l d b e p ai d t o Su re d i rect l y

.

Nwo k o l o w ro t e Prem i er a l et t er d at ed Feb ru ary 2 5, 2 0 1 0

, t o i nfo rm t h e

co m p an y t h at Su re had d eci d ed n o t t o accep t t h e $ 5 6 ,0 0 0 L oan

, n o ti n g th at Su re h ad

o n l y recei v ed $ 6 ,0 0 0 o f t h e Lo an p ro ceed s as o f t hat d at e. Nwo k o l o rep res en t ed t h at

h e h ad as k ed B&B, an d it h ad ag reed

, t o refu n d t h e $ 1 4

, 0 00 pay m en t b ack to Prem i er,

an d h e s tat ed t h at h e i n t en d ed to refu n d t h e $6 ,0 0 0 p ai d t o Su re. H o wev er, t h e l et t er

was n ot m ai led u n t il M arch 1 7 , 2 0 1 0

.

Prem i er res p on d ed b y l et t er d at ed M arch 1 9

, 2 0 1 0

, n o t i ng t h at t he fi r s t p ay m en t

u n d er t h e No t e, d ue o n M arch 1

, 20 1 0

, h ad n o t b een pai d

. Th e March 19 l et t er g av e

4Su re fi v e d ay s i n wh i ch t o p ay t h e $ 2 0 ,0 0 0 i n Lo an p ro ceed s th at Prem i e r h ad p ai d

o u t

. Prem i er ag ai n w ro t e N wo k o l o an d Su re o n A p r i l 1 4

, 20 1 0

, t o gi v e n o t i ce t h at

Su re was i n d efau lt u n d er t h e t erm s o f th e No te an d t h at t h e co m p an y co u l d cu re t h e

d efau l t b y p ay i n g t h e su m o f $ 4 ,5 1 5 .2 7

, rep res en t i n g t h e ou t s tan d i n g Lo an p ay m en t s

fo r M arch an d Ap ri l 20 1 0

, i n cl ud i n g i n t eres t

. Prem ier n ex t w ro t e Su re an d Nwo k o lo

o n Oct o b er 1 3

, 2 0 1 0

, dem an d in g p ay m en t o f al l am o u n t s d u e a n d o wi n g u n d er t h e

No t e an d i n fo rm i n g th em t hat

, i n t h e ab sen ce o f s uch p a ym en t w i t hi n t h e n ex t t en

d ay s

, Prem i er i n ten d ed t o p u rs ue l eg al act io n

, i n cl u d i n g fo recl o su re u n der t h e Deed

t o Secu re Deb t

. Nei th er Su re n o r Nwo k o l o h as ev er ret u rn ed t h e $6 ,0 0 0 Su re recei v ed

i n J an u ary 2 01 0 n or h av e th ey ev er p ai d Prem i er an y am o u n t s u n der th e t erm s o f t h e

Lo an d ocu m en t s

. Prem i er s ub s eq u en t l y fo recl os ed o n t h e Ad jacen t Pro p ert y

, an d as

t h e h i gh es t b i d der at t h e fo recl o s u re s al e

, P r e m i er acq u i red t h at p ro p ert y (t h e

“ Fo recl o s u re”).

Des p i t e t hi s Lo an d i s p u t e, Prem i er an d Su re co n t i n u ed t o op erat e u n d e r t h e

t e r m s of t h e Su p pl y Co n t ract

, wi t h Prem i er co n t in u i n g to s u p p l y Su re w it h S h e l l

g as o li n e. At s o m e p o in t

, Prem ier ad o p t ed t h e p ract i ce of w i t hh o ld i n g t h e cred i t card

p ay m en t s i t was s erv i ci n g fo r Su re an d n et ti n g t h em ag ai ns t t h e co s t of Su re’ s

g as o li n e p u rch as es , m ai n tai n i n g a ru n n i n g cred i t b al an ce o n Su re’ s b eh al f.

5Ba n kr u p t cy Pr o ceed i n g

s

On J u n e 3

, 2 0 1 1

, aft er th e Fo recl os u re, Su re fi l ed fo r b an kr u p t c y i n f ed eral

co u rt to s t o p Prem i er fro m p ro ceed i n g ag ai ns t i t s b us i n es s as wel l

. Th at b an k ru p t cy

act i on was d i s m i s s ed on Sep t em b er 2 1

, 2 01 2

, an d Su re was n o t d i s c h a r g e d i n t h at

p ro ceed in g

.

Su re fi l ed a s eco n d b an k ru p t cy act io n o n N o v e m b e r 5

, 2 0 1 2 (t h e “ Seco n d

Ban kru p t cy

Act i o n ”). D u ri n g th e co u rs e o f t h at pro ceed in g

, Su re fi l ed a “ No t i ce o f

Reject i on an d M o ti o n t o Ap p ro v e Reject i o n o f t he Ex ecu t o ry Co n t ract Bet w een Su re,

In c. an d Prem i er Pet ro l eu m

, In c.” (“ M o t i o n t o Reject ”), s eek i n g t o rel i ev e i t s el f o f i t s

fu t u re ob l i g at i on s un d er t h e Su p p l y Ag reem en t

, an d th e b an k ru p t cy co u rt gran t ed t h at

m o ti o n

, ap p ro vi n g S u re’ s reject i o n o f t hat ag reem en t o n Ap ri l 2 9

, 2 0 1 3

. Su re

s u b s eq u en t l y fi l ed a m o ti o n i n t h e b an k ru p t cy co u rt t o co m

p el Prem i er t o t u rn o v er

cred i t card recei p t s i t cl ai m ed Prem i er was wro n gfu l l y wi t h ho l di n g u n der t h e Su p p l y

Ag reem en t . Th e b an kru pt cy co u rt d en i ed t h e m o t i o n , i n s t ead d et erm i n i n g t h at Su re

s h o u ld s eek rel ief in t h e fo rm o f an ad v ers ary p ro ceed i n g

. On J u n e 17

, 2 0 1 3

, t h e

t ru s t ee i n t h e Seco n d Ban k ru p t cy Act io n f i l ed a m o t i o n t o d i sm i s s o r co n v ert t h e

act i on o n th e g ro u n ds t h at Su re h ad fai led t o fi l e m o n t hl y o p erat i n g r e p o r t s as

req u i red an d h ad al so fai l ed t o p ay ad m i ni s t rat i ve fees t h at were d u e an d o wi n g

. Th e

6b an kru p t cy co u rt g ran t ed t h e t ru s t ee’ s m o ti o n an d d is m is s ed t h e Seco n d Ban k ru p t cy

Act i o n o n Oct o b er 2 , 2 0 1 3 , wi t h o u t g ran t i n g Su re a d i sch arg e. 2

Cu r r en t La ws u i t

On Feb ru ary 2, 2 0 15

, Su re fi l ed t h e co m p l ai nt i n t h i s act io n an d s eek s reco v ery

ag ai n s t Prem i er fo r b reach of co n t ract

, frau d

, an d wro n gfu l fo recl o su re. Su re cl ai m s

i t i s en ti t l ed t o reco v er cred i t card p ro ceed s t h at Prem i er has wro n g fu l l y w i th h el d ; to

reco v er a $ .0 2 p er g al l o n reb at e o n t h e g as o l i n e i t p u rc h a s e d f ro m Prem i er; an d to

h av e t h e fo recl o s u re o n t h e A d jacen t Pro p ert y d ecl ared nu l l an d v o i d

. Prem i er

an s wered d en y i ng l i ab i l i t y an d m o v ed fo r s u m

m ary ju d g m en t o n Su re’ s cl ai m s

.

Th e t ri al co u rt g ran t ed Prem i er’ s m ot i o n fi n d i n g th at Su re (1 ) co u l d n o t s u e

Prem ier fo r b reach o f co n t ract b e c a u s e Su re reject ed t he Su p p l y A g reem en t i n t h e

Seco n d Ban k ru pt cy Act i o n ; (2 ) is ju d i ci al l y es t o p p ed fro m cl ai m i n g t he $ .0 2 p er

g al l o n reb at e b ecau s e i t n ev er l is t ed t h i s cl ai m as an as s et o f i t s b an k ru p tcy es t at e; (3 )

i s co l lat eral l y es t o p p ed fro m re-l i t i g at i n g t he i s s u e o f an y cred it card m o ni es b ecau s e

t h e i s s u e was al read y d eci d ed ad v ers el y t o Su re i n t h e Seco n d Ban k ru p tcy A ct i o n ; (4 )

i s n o t e n t i t l e d t o a cl ai m fo r w ro n g fu l fo recl o s u re b ecau s e i t n ev er pai d t h e m o n i es

2 Ad d i t io n al fact s wi l l b e d i s cu s s ed as n eces s ary t o ad d res s t h e p a r t i e s ’

ap p el l at e arg u m en t s.

7d u e an d o wi n g u n d er t h e No t e an d b ecau se i t n ev er t en d ered t h e am o u n t d u e; an d (5 )

i s n o t en t i t l ed t o rel i ef o n i t s frau d cl ai m s b ecau s e i t f a i l e d t o p l ead frau d wi th

p art i cu l ari ty

, fai l ed to p r o v id e ev i d en ce o f an y fal se rep res en t at i o ns b y Prem i er,

s i gn ed d o cu m en t s co n t ai n in g m erg er cl au s es

, a n d fai l ed t o p ro v i d e ev i den ce o f

reas on ab l e rel i an ce. Th i s ap p eal fo l lo wed

.

1

. B r ea ch o

f Co n t r a c t

– S u r e fi rs t as s ert s t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n fi n d i n g

t h at i t s breach o f co n t ract cl ai m i s barred b y th e p ro ceed i n g s i n t h e Seco n d

Ban kru p t cy

Act i o n

. W e ag ree.

(a) Su re fi l ed i t s Mo t i o n t o Reject p urs u an t t o 11 U.S.C. § 3 6 5

, an d t h e

b an kru p t cy co u rt ap p ro v ed Su re’ s reject i o n o f t h e Su p p l y Co n t ract

, as an ex ecu t o ry

co n tract

. Prem i er arg ued b el o w, an d t h e tri al co urt fo u nd

, th at Su re’ s reject i o n

am ou n t ed t o a res ci s s i o n o r d i s s o l u t i o n o f t he Su pp l y Co n tract i n i t s en ti ret y

, l eav i n g

Su re wi t h o u t s t an d in g t o s u e fo r b reach o f co n t ract

.

It i s wel l s et t l ed t hat “ [r] eject i o n o f an ex ecu t o ry c o n t r a ct u n der § 3 65 o f t h e

Ban kru p t cy Co d e co n s t i t u t es a b rea c h a n d t he i n ju red p art y is en t i t led t o as s ert a

cl ai m b as ed t h ereo n .” Pu et t v. M cCa n n o n

, 1 8 3 Ga. Ap p

. 1 5 2

, 1 54 (1 ) (3 5 8 SE2 d 3 0 0 )

(1 9 8 7). Ho wev er,

8reject i o n d o es n o t em b o d y t h e co nt r act -v ap o ri zi n g p ro p ert ies s o

co m m o n l y as cri b ed t o i t

. Reject i o n m erel y frees t h e [b an kru p t cy ] es t at e

fro m t h e o b l i gat i o n t o p erfo rm ; i t d oes n o t m ak e t h e co n t ract d is ap p ear.

M o re s p eci fi cal ly

, reject io n h as ab so l u tel y n o effect u p o n t h e co n t ract ’ s

co n t in u ed ex i s t en ce; t h e co n t rac t is n o t can cel l ed

, rep u d i at ed

, res ci n d ed

,

o r i n an y o t h er fas h i o n t erm i n at ed

.

(Ci t at i o n s an d p u nct u a t i o n o m i t t ed .) Th omp ki n s v. Li l’ Jo e Reco rd s

, In c.

, 4 7 6 F3 d

1 2 9 4

, 1 3 06 (1 ) (1 1 t h Ci r. 2 0 07 ). Th erefo re, w h i l e reject io n u n d er § 3 6 5 affect s t h e

p art i es ’ fu tu re perfo rm an ce u n d er an ex ecu t o ry co n t ract

, i t d o es n o t affect t h e

p ro v is i o n s o f t he ag reem en t t hat h av e b een fu l l y ex ecu t ed

. See i d. at 1 30 7 (1 ) (wh ere

t ran s fer o f art i s t ’ s co py ri g h t s co m p let ed at ti m e s al es co n t ract ex ecu t ed

, s u ch ri g h t s

d i d n o t rev ert to art i s t u p o n p u rch as er ’s r e j ect i o n o f t h e part i es ’ ag reem en t );

L a wr en ce v. Co m mo n wea lt h o f Ken t u cky Tr a n s

. Ca b i n et (In re S hel b yvi l l e Ro a d

S h o p p es

, LLC)

, 7 7 5 F3 d 7 8 9

, 7 9 7 (6 th Ci r. 2 0 1 5 ) (“ Sect i o n 3 6 5

, i n c l u d i n g i t s

p ro v is i o n fo r reject io n, ad d res se s only f utur e pe r f or m a nc e ob l i g at i o n s o f th e part i es .”)

(ci t at i o n an d p un ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ); M u r p hy v. C & W Lt d

. Co rp

. (In r e Mu r

p h y)

, 6 9 4

F2 d 1 7 2

, 1 7 4 (8 t h Ci r.1 9 8 2). (“ [R] eject i o n o f an ex e c u t o r y c o n t ract

. . . is n o t t h e

eq u iv al en t o f res ci s s io n

. ” ) ; In r e Exec. Tech n i ca l Da t a S ys t ems

, 7 9 BR 2 7 6

, 2 8 2

(Ban k r. E.D. M ich

. 1 9 87 ) (A reject i o n i n ban k ru p t cy do es n o t req ui re “ t h e rev ers al

9o r u n d o i n g o f al read y ex ecu t ed p ro v i s i o n s ” b ecau s e § 36 5 “ d o es no t h av e an y i m p act

u p o n t he ex ecu t ed p o rt i o n s o f a co n tract .”).

Su re as s ert s t wo b reach of co n t ract cl ai m s: (1 ) fo r n o n-p ay m en t o f t h e $ .0 2 p er

g al l o n reb at e an d (2 ) fo r r e t u r n o f t h e cred i t card p ro ceed s i t as sert s Prem i er h as

wro ng fu l l y wi th h el d

. Th es e cl ai m s d o n o t ad d res s i s s u es o f fu t u re p erfo rm an ce.

Rat h er, Su re i s t ak i n g t h e po si t i o n t h at i t c o m p l et el y reb ran d ed t h e s t at i o n an d t h e

reb ran d i n g was accep t ed b y Sh el l an d t h at Prem i er b reach ed t h e co n t ract b y fai l i n g

t o pay th e $ .0 2 reb at e d u ri n g t h e en s u i n g th ree y ears

. W e fi n d th at t h e reject i o n o f t h e

Su p p l y Ag reem en t i n ban k ru p t cy d o es n o t b ar s u ch a cl ai m

. Li kewi s e, Su re’ s cl ai m

t h at Prem i er has wro n g fu l l y wi t h h el d cred i t card p ro ceed s

, o ver an d ab o v e an y

am ou n t s Su re o wed Prem i er, al s o rel at es t o an ex ecu ted p o rt i o n o f t h e co n t ract

. It

ap p ears th at Prem i er h as p ro ces s ed t h e cred it card s al es

, a n d Su re h as p ai d fo r i t s

g as o li n e p u rch as es

. Su re si m p l y s eek s t o reco v er an y ov erag es ret ai n ed b y Prem i er.

Th e reject i o n i n b an k ru p t cy d o es n o t b ar s uch a cl ai m

.

Th e cas e o f S

p ei r v. Ni ch o l

s o n

, 2 0 2 Ga. Ap p. 4 0 5 (4 1 4 SE2 d 53 3 ) (1 9 9 2 ), u p o n

wh i ch th e t ri al co u rt rel ied i n ho l d i n g o t h e r w i s e

, i s read i ly d i s t i n g u i s h ab l e. In t h at

cas e, t he p art i es cl o s ed on t h e s al e o f a b u si n es s, wh i ch fi l ed fo r b an k ru p tcy s h o rt l y

t h ereaft er, b efo re t h e t erm s o f t h e sal e were co m p let ed b y ei t h er p art y

. Th e b u s i n es s ’ s

10as s et s were n ev er t ran sferred t o t h e pu rch as er, an d t he p u rch as er n ev er co m p l et ed

p ay m en t

. A t h ird -p art y ben efi ci ary u n d er t h e co n t ract s u ed t o co m p el t h e p u rch as er

t o co m p l et e p ay m en t fo r t h e b u s i n es s as s et s

. Ho wev er, t h e ban kru p t cy tru s t ee h a d

al read y s o l d t h o se as set s t o an o t h er b u y er, an d th e S p ei r co u rt fo un d t h at th i s act i o n

was a rep u di at i o n o f t h e co n t ract (eq u i v al en t to a fo rm al reject i o n u n d er § 3 6 5 ) “ to

t h e ex t en t t h at it was ex ecu t o ry

, t h ereb y d i sch arg i n g t h e p u rch a s e r s f ro m fu rt h er

p erfo rm an ce” u n d er i ts t erm s

. 2 0 2 Ga. Ap p

. at 4 06 -0 7 (1 )

. T h e r efo re, t h e S p ei r

co u rt ’ s ru l in g s u p po rt s o u r fi nd i n g th at a reject i o n i n b an k ru pt cy affect s o n l y fu t u re

p erfo rm an ce. T h e Co u rt fu rt h er h el d

, u n d er t h e fact s o f t h at cas e, t h at b ecau se n ei t h er

p art y h ad co m

p l et ed p e r f

o rm an ce u n d er t h e co nt ract

, th ere was a fai l u re o f i t s

u n d erl y i n g co ns i d erat i on

, wh i ch b arred t h e t h i rd -p art y b en efi ci ary ’ s cl ai m

. Id

. at 4 0 8

(2 ). H ere, i n co n t ras t

, Su re co n t en d s t h at i t f u l l y p erfo rm ed b y co m

p l et i n g t h e

reb ran d i n g o f t h e s t at i o n an d m ak i n g p ay m en t fo r g as o l i n e d el i v eri es ; t h erefo re, n o

fai l u re o f co n s i d erat i o n o ccu rred

, an d th e n o n -ex ecu t o ry p ro v i s i o n s o f t h e Su p p l y

Ag reem en t rem ai n en fo rceab le. Acco rd in g l y

, t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n fi n d i n g t h at t h e

reject i o n i n b an k ru p t cy

d ep ri v ed Su re o f i t s cl ai m s fo r b reach o f co n t ract

.

11(b ) Su re al s o as s ert s t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n f i n d i n g t h at it s cl ai m fo r t h e

reb at e i s ju d i ci al l y es t o pp ed b y i t s fai l u re t o li s t t h e cl ai m i n i ts p et i t i o n i n t h e Seco n d

Ban kru p t cy . On ce ag ai n , we ag ree.

“ Th e fed eral d o ct ri n e o f ju d i ci al es to p pel p recl u d es a p art y fro m as s ert i n g a

p o s i t i on i n o n e ju d i ci al p ro ceed i n g aft er h av i n g s ucces s fu l l y as s ert ed a co n t rary

p o s i t i on i n a p ri o r p ro ceed i ng .” Per i o d Ho mes v. W a ll ick

, 2 7 5 Ga. 4 8 6

, 4 8 8 (2 ) (5 6 9

SE2 d 5 0 2 ) (2 0 0 2 ). “ It i s m o s t co m m o n l y i n vo k ed t o p rev en t b an k ru p t cy d eb t o rs fro m

co n ceal i n g a p os s i b l e cau s e o f act i o n

, as s ert i n g t he cl ai m fo l l o wi n g th e d i sch arg e o f

t h e b an k ru p t cy an d ex cl u d in g res o u rces fro m t he b an k ru p tcy es t at e t h at m ig h t h av e

o t h erwi s e s at i s fi ed cred i to rs .” Id

. See al s o Amer i ca n Na t

. Ba n k o f Ja cks o n vi ll e v. Fed

.

Dep os i t In s . Co rp

. , 7 1 0 F2 d 15 2 8

, 1 5 3 6 (1 1 t h Ci r.1 98 3 ) (“ Th e d o ct ri n e i s d es i g n ed

t o p rev en t p art i es fro m m ak i n g a m o ck ery o f ju s t i ce b y in co n si s t e n t p l e ad i n g s .”)

(ci t at i o n o m i tt ed ).

Geo r g i a c o urt s co n s i der t h ree fact o rs t o det erm in e wh et her t h e d o ct ri n e b ars

a cl ai m :

(1 ) t h e p art y ’ s l at er p o s i t i o n m u s t b e “ cl earl y i n c o n s is t en t ” wi t h i t s

earl i er p o si t i on ; (2 ) t h e p art y m u s t h av e su cceed ed i n p ers u ad i n g a co u rt

t o accep t t he p art y ’ s earl i er p os i t i o n;

. . . ab s en t s u cc es s i n a p ri o r

p ro ceed i n g

, a part y ’ s l at er i n co n s i s t en t p o s i t i o n i n t ro du ces n o ri s k o f

12i n co ns is t en t co u rt d et erm i n at i o n s, an d t hu s p o s es l i t t l e t h reat t o ju d i ci al

i n t eg ri ty ; an d (3 ) wh et h er t h e p art y s eek i n g t o as s ert an i n c o n s i st en t

p o s i t i o n wo u l d d eri ve an u n fai r ad van t ag e o r i m p o s e an un fai r d et ri m en t

o n t h e o p p o s i n g p art y

i f n o t es to p ped

.

(Pu n ct u at i on o m i t ted .) IBF Pa rt i ci p a t i n g I nc om e F u nd v. Di l l a r d

-W i n eco f f

, LLC

, 2 7 5

Ga. 7 6 5 , 7 6 6 -6 7 (5 7 3 SE2 d 5 8 ) (2 00 2 ).

Ap p ly i n g t h i s au t h o ri t y

, we fi n d t hat t h e t ri al co u rt ab u s ed it s di s cret i o n in

ap p ly i n g ju d i ci al es t o p p el t o b ar Su re’ s reb at e cl ai m b ecau s e th e Seco nd Ban k ru p t cy

Act i o n was d i s m i s sed wi t h o u t a d i s ch arg e. Ou r Su p rem e Co u rt h as hel d t h at n o

b en efi t o r u n fai r ad v an t ag e ari s es fro m a b an kru p t cy deb t o r’ s fai l u re t o l i s t a cl ai m

wh en t he b an k ru ptc y a c ti on u lt i m at el y i s d i s m i s s ed p ri o r t o a d i s ch arg e i n ban k ru p t cy

.

Di l l a r d -W i n eco f f

, 2 7 5 Ga. at 7 6 6

. See al s o Kl ar d i e v. Kl a r di e

, 28 7 Ga. 4 9 9

, 5 0 2 (2 )

(6 9 7 SE2 d 2 0 7 ) (2 0 1 0 ) (ap p el lat e co u rt s rev i ew t ri al co u rt ’ s ap pl i cat io n o f j u d i ci al

es t o p p el fo r an ab u s e o f d i s cret i o n ). As t h e C o u rt ex p l ai n ed

, “ [t ] o h ol d o t h erwi s e

wo u l d g i v e a wi n d fal l t o t h e d efen d an t i n [a] s t at e co u r t co n t ract / t o rt act i o n by

d i s m i s s i n g t h at act i o n wi t h o u t a d et erm i n at io n o f i t s m eri t s [.] ” Di ll a r d -W in eco f f

, 2 7 5

Ga. at 7 6 7

. M o reo v er, as in Di l l a r d-W i n eco ff

, th e defen d an t i n t hi s cas e ap p aren t l y

h as b een p ai d i n fu ll

. Prem i er h as fo recl o sed o n th e Lo an co ll at eral an d fu rt h er

wi t h h el d cred i t card r e c e i p t s t o n et ag ai n s t Su re’ s g as p u rch as es

, an d t h ere i s n o

13ev i d en ce o r as s ert i o n t h at i t h as n o t b een rep ai d fo r wh at Su re o wed . Th erefo re, we

fi nd t h at “ t h e b al an ce o f eq u i t i es i s t i p p ed i n fav o r o f p erm i t ti n g ” Su re t o p u rs u e i t s

reb at e cl ai m

ag ai n s t Prem i er. Id

.

(c) W e al s o ag ree wi th Su re’ s arg u m en t t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n fi n d i n g t h at

Su re’ s cl ai m

fo r t h e cred i t card recei p t s was b arred b y co l l at eral es to p p el

.

“ Th e d o ct ri ne o f co l l at eral es t o p p el

, al s o k n o wn as is s u e precl u s i o n

, p rev en t s

t h e re-l i t i g at i o n of an i s su e act u al ly l i t i g at ed an d ad ju d i cat ed o n t h e m eri t s b et ween

t h e s am e p art i es or t h ei r p ri v i es .” (Ci t at i o n an d p un ct u at io n o m i t t ed .) Y or k v. RES

-GA

LJY

, LLC

, 3 0 0 Ga. 8 6 9

, 8 7 7 (3 ) (7 9 9 SE2 d 23 5 ) (2 0 1 7 ). Al t h o u g h t he b an k ru p t cy

co u rt decl i n ed t o co m

pel Prem i er t o t u rn o v er t h e cred i t card recei p t s i n res p o n s e to

Su re’ s m ot i o n fo r s uch rel ief, t hat ru l i n g was no t an ad ju d i cat i o n o f t h e m eri t s o f t h e

cl ai m

. Rat h er, th e b an k ru p t cy co u rt d et erm i n ed t h at Su re was req ui red t o p u rs u e t h at

cl ai m i n an ad v ers ary p ro ceed i n g

, an d

, i n deed

, Ru l e 7 0 0 1 (1 ) o f th e Fed eral Ru l es o f

Ban kru p t cy Pro ced ure pro v i d es t h at an ad v ers ary p ro ceed i ng i n cl u d es “ a pro ceed i n g

t o reco v er m o n ey o r p ro p ert y [.] ” Th erefo re, t h e b an k ru p t cy co u rt ’ s o rd er refl ect s o n l y

t h e co u rt ’ s d et erm i n at io n t h at t h e i s s u e o f th e cr e d i t c a rd recei p ts co u ld n o t b e

res o l ved b y m o t io n b u t i n st ead req ui red a s ep arat e ad v ers ary p ro ceed i n g

. Dz i ko ws ki

v. B o o mer ’s S

p o r t ’s & Recr ea t i o n Ct r

. , In c. (In r e Bo ca Ar en a, In c.)

, 1 8 4 F3 d 1 2 8 5,

141 2 8 6 (1 1 th Ci r. 1 9 9 9 ) (“ In b an k ru p t cy

, ad v ers ary pro ceed in g s gen eral l y are v i ewed

as ‘ s t an d -al o n e l aws u i t s [.] ’ ”). See al so A n t ho n y v. Ocwen Lo a n S

er vi ci n g

, LLC (In r e

An t h on y)

, 5 5 0 BR 57 7

, 5 8 0 (M .D. Fl a. 2 0 16 ) ( T h e b an k ru p tcy ru l es g i v e “ an

a d v e rs ary pro ceed i n g al l t h e t rap p i ng s o f t rad i t i o n al ci v il l i t i gat i o n .”) (ci t at i o n a n d

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

No t h i n g i n t h e reco rd befo re u s i n d icat es t h at an ad v ers ary p ro ceed i n g was ev er

i n i t i at ed , m

u ch l es s co m

p l et ed

, i n co n

ju n ct i o n wi t h t h e Seco nd Ban k ru p tcy Act i o n,

an d t h e reco rd co n t ai n s n o ot h er ev i d en ce s ho wi ng t h at Su re’ s cl ai m fo r cred i t card

recei p t s h as ev er b een ad

ju d i cat ed o n t h e m eri t s

. Th erefo re, t h e d o ct ri n e o f co l l at eral

es t o p p el d o es n o t ap p l y t o b ar Su re fro m p u rs u i n g t h at cl ai m i n t h i s l i t i g at i o n

.

2

. W ro n g fu l fo r ecl o s u r e

– Su re as s ert s t h at t h e tri al co u rt erred i n g ran t i n g t h e

m o ti o n fo r s u m

m ary ju d g m en t as t o i t s w ro n g fu l fo recl o s u re cl ai m becau s e g en u i n e

i s su es o f m at eri al fact ex i s t o n t h e i ss u e o f wh et h er Prem i er p ai d a g ro s s l y i n ad eq u at e

p ri ce fo r t he Ad

jacen t Pro p ert y at t he Fo recl os u re s a l e

. T h e t ri al co urt g ran t ed

s u m m ary ju d g m en t o n Su re’ s cl ai m fo r wro n g fu l fo recl o s u re o n a n u m b er o f g ro u n d s

,

i n cl u d i n g t h at Su re fai l ed t o t en d er t h e am o u n t d u e as req u i red t o o b t ai n eq u i t a b l e

rel i ef o n i t s cl ai m

fo r wro ng fu l fo recl o s u re.

15Un d er Geo rg i a l aw, “ [h ] e wh o wo u l d hav e eq u i t y m u s t d o eq u i ty an d m

u s t g i v e

effect t o al l eq u i t ab l e ri gh t s of t h e o t h er part y res pect i n g t h e s u b ject m at t e r o f t h e

act i on .” OCGA § 2 3 -1 -1 0

. An d “ [u ] nd er ap p l i cat i o n o f t h i s m ax i m [t o a wro n g fu l

fo recl o s ure act i o n ]

, b efo re th e co m p l ai nan t wo u l d b e en t i t l ed t o eq u i t ab l e rel i ef, s h e

m u st d o eq u i t y

an d t en d er t h e am o u n t d u e u n d er t he s ecu ri t y d eed an d n o te.” Ber r

y

v. Go vt

. Na t

. Mt

g. As s n

. , 2 3 1 Ga. 5 03

, 5 0 3 (2 0 2 SE2 d 4 5 0 ) (1 9 7 3 ). Gen eral l y

, wh ere

a p l ai n t iff fai l s t o m ak e s u ch t en d er, i t i s no t en ti t l ed to s et as i d e t h e fo recl o s u re s al e.

See S mi th v. Ci t iz en s & S

ou t h er n Fi n an ci a l

Co r p

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

1 5 7 ) (1 9 8 0 ) ; S t e w a r t v. S u n t ru s t Mt

g e, In c.

, 3 3 1 Ga. Ap p

. 63 5

, 64 0 -4 1 (7 7 0 SE2 d

8 9 2 ) (2 0 1 5 )

. H e r e

, i t i s u nd i s p u t ed t h at Su re accep t ed an d fai l ed t o rep ay at l eas t

$ 6 ,0 0 0 o f t h e Lo an p ro ceed s

, y et i t fai l ed t o t en d er an y am o u n t i n co nn ect i o n wi t h i t s

cl ai m o f wro n g fu l fo recl o su re. Th erefo re, Su re i s n o t en t i t l ed t o t h e eq ui t ab l e rel i ef

i t seek s t o s et as id e t he Fo recl o s u re s al e.

Nev ert h el es s

, Su re arg ues o n ap p eal t h at i t s h ou l d be ex em p t ed fro m t h e t en d er

req u i r e m e n t b ecau s e Prem i er’ s i m p ro p er co n du ct i n wi t h h ol d i n g Su re’ s cred i t card

recei p t s, i n t er al i a, cau s ed Su re’ s d efau l t o n t h e Lo an res ul t i n g i n th e Fo recl o s u re,

ci t i n g Met r o At l a nt a Ta sk Fo r ce f o r t h e Ho mel es s

, In c. v. Ich t h u s Co m mu n it y Tr us t

,

2 9 8 Ga. 2 2 1

, 2 3 6 (4 ) (a) (7 8 0 SE2 d 3 1 1 ) ( 2 0 1 5 ) ( “ [T] en der i s n ot an ab s o l u t e ru l e,

16es p eci al ly wh ere i t i s al l eg ed t h at th e fo recl os i n g p a r t y p r o cu red t h e s al e o f t h e

p ro p ert y t h ro u gh i ts o wn i m p ro p er co n d u ct [.] ”) (ci t at i o n o m i tt ed ). Ho wev er, Su re d id

n o t rai se t h i s arg u m en t i n t h e t ri al co u rt b el o w

, an d “ [i ] t i s wel l s et t l ed t h at ap p el l at e

c o u r t s w i l l no t co n s i d er n ew arg um en ts i n o p p os i t i o n t o a m o t i o n fo r s u m m ary

ju d g m en t rai s ed fo r t h e fi rs t t i m e o n ap p eal

. ” (Ci tat i on s an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed .)

Hu mp h rey v. JP M

o r g a n Ch a s e Ba n k, N.A.

, 3 3 7 Ga. Ap p

. 3 31

, 3 3 3 (1 ) (a) (7 8 7 SE2 d

3 0 3 ) (2 0 1 6 ) (d ecl i n in g t o co ns i d er n ew arg u m en t o n wro ng fu l fo recl o s u re cl ai m ).

Each p art y has a d u t y t o p res en t h i s b es t cas e o n a m o t io n fo r s u m m ary

ju d g m en t

. [Ou r Su p rem e] Co u rt h as s p eci fi cal l y h el d t h at

, i n res po n d i n g

t o a m o t io n fo r s u m

m ary ju d g m en t

, p l ai n ti ffs h av e a s t at u t o ry d u ty “ t o

p ro d u ce wh at ev er vi ab l e t h eo ry o f reco v ery t h ey m i g h t h av e o r ru n th e

ri sk o f an ad

j u d icat i o n o n t h e m eri t s o f t h ei r cas e.”

(Ci t at i o n o m i t t ed .) Pf

ei f fer v. Ga

. Dep t

. o

f Tr a n s p

. , 27 5 Ga. 8 2 7

, 8 2 8 (2 ) (5 7 3 SE2 d

3 8 9 ) (2 0 0 2 ).

Acco rd i ng l y

, we fi n d t h e t ri al co u r t p ro perl y g ran t ed s u m m ary j u d gm en t o n

Su re’ s wro n g fu l fo recl os u re cl ai m o n t h e g r ou n d t h at Su re fai l ed t o t en d er t h e

am ou n t s i t o wed u n der t h e t erm s o f t h e No t e an d t h e Deed t o Secu re Deb t

. Th erefo re,

we n eed n o t ad d res s th e part i es ’ arg u m en ts reg ard i n g t h e o t h er g ro u n ds ci t ed b y t h e

t ri al co u rt i n s up p o rt o f t h i s ru li n g

.

173

. Fr a u d

– Su re al so as s ert s t h at t h e t r i a l co u rt erred i n g ran t in g s u m m ary

ju d g m en t o n i t s frau d cl ai m

. Al t h o ug h Su re rai s es a n u m b er o f arg u m en t s o n ap p eal

i n s u pp o rt o f t h i s as s ert i o n

, t h e o n l y arg u m en t i t rai sed b el o w w as it s co n t en t i o n t h at

a t t h e t i m e Prem i er m ad e t h e Lo an

, i t h ad n o p res en t in t en t t o fu rn i s h Su re t h e f u l l

$ 5 6 ,0 0 0 t o m ak e ren o v at i o n s t o t h e St at i o n

. Rat h er, i t s i n t en t was t o fo rce Su re i n to

d efau l t i n o rd er t o o b t ai n t h e A d jacen t Pro p ert y t hro u g h fo recl os u re. Acco rd i n g l y

,

t h i s i s t h e o n l y

arg u m en t we m ay

co n s i der o n ap p eal

. Pf

ei f fer , 2 7 5 Ga. at 8 2 8 (2 ).

In o rd er t o es t ab l i sh a cl ai m fo r frau d , Su re m

u s t p ro v e:

a fal se rep res en t at i on b y a d efen d an t

, s ci en t er, in t en t i o n t o i nd u ce th e

p l ai n t i ff t o act o r refrai n fro m act i n g

, j u s t i fi ab l e rel i an ce b y pl ai nt i ff, an d

d am ag e t o p l ai n t i ff. Fo r an act i o n fo r frau d t o s u rv i v e a m o t io n fo r

s u m m ary ju d g m en t

, t here m

u s t b e s o m e e v i d e n c e fro m wh i ch a ju ry

co u l d fi n d each el em en t o f t h e t o rt

.

(Ci t at i o n o m i t t ed .) R o b er t s v. Nes s i m

, 2 9 7 Ga. Ap p

. 2 7 8

, 2 8 4 (1 ) (6 7 6 SE2 d 7 3 4 )

(2 0 0 9). “ Frau d m ay b e pro v ed b y s li g h t ci rcu m s t an ces

, a n d wh et h er a

m i s rep res en t at i o n i s frau d u l en t an d i n t en d ed t o d ecei v e i s gen eral l y a ju ry q u es t i o n.”

(Ci t at i o n s an d p un ct u at i o n o m i t t ed .) JTH Ta x, In c. v. Fl o wer s

, 3 0 2 Ga. Ap p. 7 1 9

, 7 2 6

(2 ) (6 9 1 SE2 d 63 7 ) (2 0 1 0). Nev ert h el es s

, a cl ai m of frau d g en eral l y “ can n o t b e

p re d i c a t ed o n a p ro m i s e co n tai n ed i n a co n t ract b ecau s e frau d g en eral l y can n o t b e

18p red i cat ed o n st at em en t s th at are i n t h e nat u re o f p ro m i s es as t o fu tu re ev en t s

, an d to

h o l d o t h erwi s e, an y b reach o f a co n t ract wo u l d a m o u n t t o frau d

. ” Id

. at 7 2 5 (2 ).

“ Ho wev er, an ex cep t io n t o t hi s ru l e ex i s t s wh ere a pro m i s e as to fu t u re ev en ts i s m ad e

wi t h a p res en t in ten t n o t t o p erfo rm o r wh ere t h e p ro m i s or k n o ws t hat th e fu tu re ev en t

wi l l n o t t ak e p l ace.” Id

. “ Frau d u l en t i n t en t at t h e t im e of co n t ract i n g can b e i n ferred

b as ed on su b s eq u e n t co n d uct o f t h e d efen d an t t hat i s u nu s ual

, s u s p i ci o u s

, o r

i n co n s i s t en t wi t h wh at w o ul d b e ex p ect ed fro m a co n t ract i ng p art y wh o h ad b een

act i ng i n g o od fai t h

. [Ci t s .] ” BTL COM Lt d

. v. Va ch o n

, 2 78 G a. A p p

. 25 6

, 2 6 1 (1 )

(6 2 8 SE2 d 6 9 0 ) (2 0 0 6 ).

Su re as s ert s t h at Prem i er s i g n ed t h e Lo an d o cu m en t s wi t h n o p res en t i n t en t to

act u al l y l o an i t t h e $ 56 ,0 00 referen ced i n t h e p ro m i s s o ry n o t e as p art o f i t s p l an to

i n d u ce Su re to p u t u p as co l l at eral t h e A djacen t Pro pert y

, w h i ch N wo k ol o as s ert s i s

wo rt h far m o re t h an $ 5 6 ,0 00

. Nwo k o lo t es t i fi ed i n h i s d ep o s i t i o n t h at t h e fai r m ark et

v al u e o f t h e Ad

jacen t Pro p ert y was $ 1.5 m i l l i o n b as ed o n recen t s al es o f s i m i larl y

u n d ev el op ed p ro p ert i es i n t h e area. 3 Su re co n t en d ed t h at Prem i er wo rk ed t o in s u re i t s

3 Un d er Geo rg i a l aw, “ [a] wi t n es s n eed n o t be an ex p ert or d eal er i n an art i cl e

o r p ro pert y t o t es t i fy as t o i t s v al u e i f h e o r s h e h as h ad an o p po rt u n i ty to fo rm a

reas on ed o pi n i o n.” OCGA § 2 4-7 -7 0 1 (b ). Th is p ro vi s i o n “ cry s t al l i zes p ri nci p l es o f

p ri o r Geo rg i a l aw rel at i ng t o v al u e o f p ro p ert y .” Ro n al d L. Carl s on & M ich ael Sco t t

Carl s o n

, Carl s o n o n Ev i d e n ce 3 6 9 (5 th ed

. 2 01 6 ). Un d er p ri o r l aw, an o wn er o f

19d efau l t o n t h e Lo an b y fai l i n g t o g i v e i t t h e fu l l Lo an p ro ceed s an d i n s t ead fo rward i n g

$ 1 4 ,0 0 0 t o B & B w i t h o u t i t s co n s en t

. Nwo k o lo t es t i fi ed t h at h e nev er s i g n ed t h e

A u t h o ri zat i o n fo r t hi s p ay m en t an d t h at

, i n fact

, h i s si g n at u re o n t h at d o cu m en t i s

fo rg ed

. Su re arg u es t h at t h es e p o s t -co n t ract act i on s wo ul d al l o w a ju ry t o i n fer t h at

Prem ier h ad frau d u l en t i n t en t at t h e t i m e t h e Lo an d o cu m en t s were s ig ned

.

W e fi n d t h at t h i s ev id en ce i s s u ffi ci en t t o creat e gen u i n e i ss u es o f m at eri al fact

o n i t s frau d cl ai m

, i n cl ud i n g wh et her Prem i er ev er in t en d ed t o l o an Su re th e am o u nt

ag reed

, w h et h er Nwo k o l o au t h o ri zed th e p ay m en t o f m o n ey t o B&B, an d wh et h er i t

fo rg ed h i s s i g nat u re on t h e Au t h o ri zat i o n

. A c co rd i ng l y

, th e t ri al co u rt erred in

g ran t i n g Prem i er’ s m o ti o n fo r s u m m ary ju d g m en t as t o t hi s al l eg at i o n o f frau d

. See

g en eral l y Va ch o n

, 2 7 8 Ga. Ap p

. at 2 6 1 (1 ); Ad es v. W er t h er

, 2 5 6 Ga. Ap p

. 8

, 1 1 (2 )

p ro p ert y m

u s t g i v e t h e fact s u p o n w h i ch h e bas es h i s o p i ni o n of v al u e, an d “ [a]

s h o wi n g t h at t h e w it nes s h a d s o m e k n o wl ed g e, ex p eri en ce, o r fam i l i ari ty as t o t h e

v al u e o f t h e i t em is t he req u i s i t e fo u n d a t i o n

. ” Di cken s v. Ca l h o u n Fi r s t Na t

. Ba nk

, 2 1 4 Ga. Ap p

. 4 9 0

, 4 9 1 (2 ) ( 4 4 8 SE2 d 23 7 ) (1 9 9 4 ). A det erm i n at io n o f wh et h er t h e

p ro p er fo u n d at i o n h as b een l ai d i s wi t h i n t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s di s cret i on

. Dep t

. o f Tr a n s p.

v. In t o

, 2 1 9 Ga. A p p. 3 1 1, 3 1 1 (1 ) (4 6 4 SE2 d 8 8 6 ) (1 9 9 5 ). Becau se t h e t ri al co u rt in

t h i s cas e h as n o t ru led t h at Nwo k o l o ’ s v al u at i o n t es ti m o n y i s i n co m p et en t

, we wi l l

co n si d er i t fo r p urp os es o f su m m ary ju d g m e n t

. Da l t o n v. Ci t y o f Ma ri et ta

, 2 8 0 Ga.

Ap p

. 2 0 2

, 2 0 4 (1 ) (6 3 3 SE2 d 5 5 2 ) (2 0 06 ) (On s u m m ary j u d gm en t

, a co u rt “ m ay

co n si d er a n

y ma t er i a l

wh ich wo u l d b e a d

mi s s i b l e o r u sa b l e a t t ri al

. ”) (ci t at i o n an d

p u n ct u at i o n o m it t ed ; em

p h as i s i n o ri g i n al ).

20(a) (5 6 7 SE2 d 3 4 0 ) ( 2 0 0 2 ). Ho wev er, to t h e ex t en t t h at Su re rai s es arg u m en t s

reg ard i n g o t h er al leg ed m is rep res en t at i on s an d frau du l en t act io n s on ap p eal

, we m u s t

affi rm t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s g ran t o f s u m m ary ju d g m en t as t o an y s u ch cl ai m s b ecau s e Su re

fai l ed t o rai s e t h es e arg um en t s b el o w. P f ei f f er , 2 7 5 Ga. at 8 2 8 (2 ).

Ju d g men t a f f i r med in pa rt a n d r ever

s ed i n p a rt

. Ba r n es

, P. J., a n d Mer ci er

, J.,

co n cu r

.

21