SECOND DI VI SI ON

A NDREWS, P. J.

, M I LLER and BRA NCH, 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 21, 2015



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 5 A1 06 2

. BILBO v

. F IVE STAR ATHLETE M ANAGEM ENT,

INC.

M I LLE R , J u d ge.

Dam ari u s Bi l b o fi l ed a p e t i ti o n t o co n fi rm an arb i t rat i o n award h e o b t ai n ed

ag ai n s t Fi v e St ar At h l e t e M a n a g em en t (“ Fi v e St ar”) an d t o arb i t rat e t h e i s s u e o f

al l eg ed l y u n p ai d at t o rn ey fees

. Fi v e St ar fi l ed an u n t i m el y an s wer an d m o v ed to

d i s m i s s Bi l b o ’ s p et i t i on an d t o s t ay arb i t rat i o n

. A ft er Fi v e St ar’ s ab i l i t y t o o p en

d efau l t as a m a t t e r of ri g h t ex t in g u i s h ed

, Bi lb o m o v ed fo r a d efau l t ju d g m en t

. Fi v e

St ar s u bs e q u e n t l y m ov ed t o o p en t h e d efau l t. Fo l l owi n g a heari ng

, t h e t ri al co u rt

g ran t ed Fi v e St ar ’s m o t io n t o o p en d efau l t

, den i ed Bi l b o ’ s m o t i o n fo r d efau l t

ju d g m en t , an d g ran ted Fi v e St ar’ s m o t io nt o d is m i s s an d s t ay arb i t rat i o n. Bi l b o ap p eal s, co nt en d in g t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred in

d en y i n g h i s m o t i o n fo r defau l t ju d g m en t an d g ran ti n g Fi v e St ar’ s m o t i o n t o o p en

d efau l t an d i n d is m i s s i ng h i s p et i t io n

. Fo r th e reas on s t h at fo ll o w, we co ncl u d e t h at

t h e t ri al co urt was co rrect i n o p en i n g t h e d efau lt

. Th e t ri al co u rt erred in gran t i n g Fi v e

St ar’ s m ot i o n to d i s m i s s Bi l b o ’ s p et i t i o n t o t h e e x t e n t B i l bo so u g h t t o co n fi rm t h e

arb i t rat i on award

, h o wev er, t h e t ri al co u rt di d n o t err i n g ran t i n g Fi v e St ar’ s m o t i o n

t o d i s m i ss t o th e ex t en t Bi l b o so u g h t ad di t i o n al at t o rn ey fees b ecau s e t h e ad d i t i o n al

fees were n o t award ed b y t h e arb i t rat o r. Co n s eq u en t l y

, we affi rm i n p art an d rev ers e

i n p art

.

“ In ru l i n g on a m ot io n t o d i s m i s s

, t h e t ri al co u rt m u st accep t as t ru e al l w e l l

p l ed m at eri al al l eg at i o ns i n t h e co m p l ai n t an d m

u s t res ol v e an y d ou b ts in fav o r o f t h e

p l ai n t i ff. W e rev i ew t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s ru l i ng d e n o v o .” (Ci tat i on s o m i t t ed .) Ro b er so n

v. No r t hr u

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

So v i ewed , t h e p et i t i o n s h o ws t h at Bi l b o an d Fi v e St ar, h i s fo rm er em p l o y er,

h ad a di s p u t e ab o u t a no n -co m p et e ag reem en t ex ecu t ed by Bi l b o

. T h e p art i es en t ered

i n t o a s et t l em en t ag re e m e n t (t h e “ Ag reem en t ”), wh i ch co nt ai ned a p ro v i s i o n

(“ Parag rap h 3”) t h at req u i red Bi l b o t o

, am o n g o t h er t h i n g s

, n o t m ak e d i s p a r a g i n g

rem ark s ab o u t Fi v e St ar an d t o k eep t h e t erm s o f t h e Ag reem en t co nfi d en t i al

. Th e

2p art i es ag reed t h at t h e s o l e an d ex cl u s i v e m et ho d fo r res o l v i n g an y d i s p u t e u n d e r

Parag rap h 3 wo u l d b e t h ro u g h an al t ern at i v e d is pu t e p ro ced u re.

In Au g u s t 2 0 1 3

, Fi v e St ar i n i t iat ed an arb i t rat i o n

, cl ai m i ng Bi l b o h ad b reach ed

t h e co n fi d en t i al i ty an d no n -d i s p arag em en t p ro v i s io ns o f t h e Ag reem en t

. Th e

arb i t rat o r h el d a h eari n g an d as k ed b o t h part i es t o s ub m i t affi d av i t s r e g a r d i n g t h ei r

at t o rn ey fees

. Bi l b o ’ s at to rn ey av erred th at Bi l b o h ad i n cu rred a t ot al o f $ 1 2 1 ,9 2 7 in

at t o rn ey fees a n d a p p r o x i m at el y $ 8 ,8 0 7 i n o t h er l eg al co s t s

, an d t h at h e ex p ect ed

ad d it i o n al ex p en s es b efo re arb i t rat i o n was co m p l et e.

Th e r e a f t er, o n Decem

b er 1 2

, 2 0 1 3

, t h e arb it rat o r en t ered a fi nal arb i t rat i o n

o rd er, ru li n g i n Bi l b o ’ s fav o r an d o rd eri n g Fi v e St ar t o p ay am o u n t s du e un d er t h e

Ag reem en t

, as wel l as t h e at t o rn ey fees an d l it i g at i on co st s i n t h e a m o u n t l i s t ed in

Bi l b o ’ s co u n s el ’ s affi d av i t

.

On J an u ary 6

, 2 0 1 4

, Fi v e St ar s en t a l et t er t o t h e arb i t rat o r as k i n g h im t o s t ay

t h e arb i t rat io n award bas ed o n newl y d i s co vered ev i d en ce an d t o recu s e fro m t h e cas e

b ecau s e o f al leg ed bi as (“ M o t i on t o St ay A rb i t rat i o n A ward ”). Th e arb i trat o r d en i ed

Fi v e St ar’ s M o t i o n t o St ay Arb i t rat i o n Award

, b u t g ran t ed i t s req ues t t h at h e recu s e.

Th ereaft er, i n Ap ri l 2 0 1 4

, Bi l b o as k ed t he arb i t rat o r t o o rd er Fi v e St ar t o p ay at t o rn ey

fees h e i n cu rred b y res p on d i n g t o Fi v e St ar’ s M o t i o n t o St ay Arb i t rat i o n Award an d

3fo r at t orn ey fees he in cu rred d u ri n g arb i t rat i on t h a t w ere no t prev i o u s l y award ed

.

Ci t i n g hi s recu s al

, t h e arb i t rat o r d ecl i n ed t o ru l e o n Bi lb o’ s m o t i o n fo r ad d i t i o n al

at t o rn ey fees

.

Bi l b o t hen fi l ed t h e cu rren t p et i t i o n in t h e t r i al co urt o n May 2

, 20 1 4

, an d

s erv ed th e pet i t i o n on Fi v e St ar o n M ay 5, 2 0 1 4. In h i s pet i ti o n

, Bi l b o co n ced ed t h at

Fi v e St ar m ad e t h e fi n al p ay m en t un d er t he Ag reem en t an d p a i d “ m os t ” o f h i s

at t o rn ey fees

. Bi l b o

, h o wev er, cl ai m ed t h at h e w as en t i t l ed t o reco v er ad d i t i o n al

at t o rn ey fees h e i n cu rred i n res p o n d i n g t o Fi v e S t a r ’s Mo ti o n to St ay A rb i t rat i o n

Award an d fees in cu rred du ri n g arb i t rat i o n th at h ad been co n t em p lat ed i n co u n sel ’ s

affi d av i t. Bi l bo as k ed t h e t ri al co u rt t o co n fi rm t h e arb i t rat i o n award an d t o co m p el

arb i t rat i on o n t h e u n p ai d at t o rn ey fees i n cu rred d u ri n g arb it rat i o n

.

Fi v e St ar fi l ed i t s an s wer o n J u n e 5

, 2 0 14

, o n e d ay l at e, au t o m at i cal l y p l aci n g

t h e cas e i n d efau lt

. Th at s am e d ay

, Fi v e S tar fi l ed i t s m o t i o n t o d i s m i s s Bi l b o ’ s

p et i t i o n an d t o s t ay arb i t rat i o n

. Bi l b o s u b s eq u en tl y fi l ed h i s m ot i o n f o r d efau l t

ju d g m en t aft er Fi v e St ar’ s t i m e t o o p en d efau l t as a m at t er o f ri g h t ex p i red

, an d Fi v e

St ar res p o n d ed b y m o v i n g to o p en d efau l t

. Fo l l o wi n g a heari ng

, t h e tri al co u rt g ran t ed

Fi v e St ar’ s m o t i o n t o o p en d efau l t

, d en i ed Bi l b o ’ s m o ti o n fo r d efau lt ju d g m en t an d

g ran t ed Fi v e St ar’ s m o t i o n t o d i s m i s s Bi l b o ’ s p et i t i o n

.

41

. On ap p eal

, Bi l b o co n t en d s t hat t h e t ri al co urt erred i n d en y in g h i s m o t i o n fo r

d efau l t ju d g m en t an d i n g ran t i n g Fi v e St ar’ s m ot i o n t o o pen d efau l t . W e di s cern n o

erro r.

OCGA § 9 -1 1 -5 5 (b ) au t h o ri zes a t ri al co u rt

, i n i t s d i scret i o n, t o

o p en a p reju d g m en t d efau l t at an y t i m e b efo re fi nal ju d g m en t o n o n e o f

t h ree g ro un ds

, so l o n g as fo u r co n d i ti o n s are m et

. Th e t h ree g ro u n ds are

p ro v i d e n t ial cau s e, ex cu s ab l e n eg l ect

, an d p ro p er cas e. Th e fo u r

req u ired co nd i t i o ns are (a) a s h o wi n g m ad e u nd er oat h ; (b ) a n o f f e r t o

p l ead i ns t an t er; (c) an an no u n cem en t o f read y to pro ceed t o tri al ; an d (d )

t h e s et t i n g u p o f a m eri t o ri o u s d efen se.

( C i t at io n s an d p u nct u at io n o m i t t ed .) ABA 2 4 1 Pea ch t ree, LLC v. B r o o ken &

Mc G l o t h e n

, LLC

, 3 0 2 Ga. A p p. 2 0 8, 2 1 0 (1 ) (6 9 0 SE2 d 5 1 4 ) (2 0 1 0 ). “ Co m p l i an ce

wi t h t h e fo u r co n d i t i on s

, i ncl u d i n g t h e n eces s i t y o f s et ti n g u p a m eri t o ri o u s d efen s e,

h o wev er, i s a co n d i t i o n p reced en t ; ab s en t t he s h owi n g o f a m eri t o ri o u s d efen s e, a t ri al

co u rt h as n o d i scret i o n t o o p en a d efau l t .” (Ci t at i o n s o m i t t ed .) B ut t er wo r t h v. S a f el i t e

Gl a ss Co r

p

. , 2 8 7 G a. Ap p

. 8 4 8

, 8 4 9 (1 ) (6 5 2 SE2 d 8 7 7 ) (2 0 0 7 ). On ap p eal

, t h i s

Co u rt ’ s s o l e fu nct i o n i n rev i ewi n g a t ri al co urt ’ s g ran t o f a m o ti on t o o p en d efau l t i s

t o d et erm i n e wh et h er al l t he co n di t i o n s s et fo rt h in OCG A § 9 -1 1-5 5 hav e b een

s at i s fi ed an d

, i f s o

, wh et h er t h e t ri al co u rt ab u s ed it s d i s cret i o n b as ed o n t h e fact s in

t h e cas e. See ABA 2 4 1 Pea ch t r ee , s u pra, 3 0 2 Ga. Ap p

. at 2 1 0 (1 ).

(a ) Co ndi ti o ns Precedent

5W i t h res p ect t o t h e fo ur co n di t i o n s p reced en t

, Bi l b o arg u es o n ly t h at Fi v e St ar

fai l ed t o as s ert a m eri t o ri o u s defen s e t o h i s p et it i on t o co nfi rm th e arb i t rat i o n award

b ecau s e a t ri al co u rt m

u s t co n fi rm an arb i t rat i on award u po n ap p l icat i o n fi l ed wi t h in

o n e y ear o f t h e award u nl es s t h e award i s v acat ed o f m o d i fi ed . W e d i sag ree.

A d efen d an t can es t ab l is h a m eri t o ri o u s d efen s e “ b y s h owi n g t h at i f rel i ef fro m

d efau l t is gran t ed

, t h e o u t co m e o f th e s u it m ay b e d i fferen t fro m th e res u l t i f t h e

d efau l t s tan d s .” Exxo n Co r p

. v. Th oma s o n

, 2 69 Ga. 7 61 (5 0 4 SE2 d 6 7 6 ) (1 9 9 8 ). Th i s

t es t d o es no t req u i re a s h o wi n g t h at th e d efen d an t wi l l co m p l et e l y d e feat t h e

p l ai n t i ff’ s cl ai m an d i s co n s i s t en t wi t h t h e s tro n g p u b l i c p ol icy o f d eci d in g cas es o n

t h ei r m eri t s

. See Leg a cy Hi ll s R es i den t i a l As s n

. In c. v. Co l o n i a l Ba n k

, 2 5 5 G a. Ap p.

1 4 4 , 1 4 5 (5 6 4 SE2 d 55 0 ) (2 0 0 2 ).

Here, i n s u p p o rt o f i t s m o t i o n t o o p en d efau l t

, Fi v e St ar as s ert ed t hat Bi l b o ’ s

p e t i t i o n t o co n fi rm t h e award w as real l y a p et i t i o n t o m o di fy th e arb i t rat i o n award

b ecau s e Bi lb o was s eek i n g ad d i t i o nal at t o rn ey fees no t award ed b y t h e arb i t rat o r; an d

h i s p et i t io n t o m o di fy w as u n t i m el y

. In d eed

, i n h i s p et i t i o n

, Bi l b o n ot o n ly s o u g h t to

co n fi rm t h e arb i t rat i on award

, b u t al s o s o u g h t ad d i t i o nal at t o rn ey fees u n d er t h e

Ag reem en t

. As co rrect l y d et erm i n ed b y t h e t ri al co u rt

, Bi l b o was at t em p ti ng

, at l eas t

i n p art

, t o m o d ify th e arb i t rat i o n award

, an d h is p et i t i o n i n t h i s res p ect w as u n t i m el y

6b ecau s e i t was f i l e d n earl y fi v e m o n t h s aft er t h e arb i t rat io n award w as d el i v ered to

h i m

. OCGA § 9 -9 -1 4 (“ An ap p l i cat i o n t o m o d i fy t h e award s hal l be m ad e to th e co u rt

wi t h i n th ree m o nt hs aft er del i v ery of a co p y o f t he award t o t he ap p l i can t”); s ee al s o

Fu l t o n Co u n t

y v. Lo r d

, 3 2 3 Ga. Ap p

. 38 4

, 3 9 1 (2 ) (7 4 6 SE2 d 1 8 8 ) (2 0 13 ). T h u s

, t h e

t ri al co u rt d i d n o t err i n fi n d i n g t h at Fi v e St ar es tab l i s h ed a m eri t o ri o u s d efen s e t o t h e

p et i t i o n

.

(b) Gro unds to Open Prejudg m ent Defa ul t

As ex pl ai n ed ab o v e, i f t h e fo u r co n d i ti o n s p reced en t are m et

, a t ri al co u rt m ay

o p en a p reju d g m en t d efau l t fo r p ro vi d en t i al cau s e o r ex cu s ab l e n eg l ect

, o r i n a p ro p er

cas e. OCGA § 9 -1 1 -5 5 (b ). Bi l b o co n t en d s th at t h e t ri al co u rt erred b ecau s e i t d i d n ot

s p eci fi cal l y d et erm i n e wh et h er Fi v e St ar es t ab l i s h ed ex cu sab l e n eg l ect or a p ro p er

cas e.

It is t ru e t h at t h e tri al co u rt ’ s o r d e r d o es n o t s p eci fy t h e gro u n d o n wh i ch

o p en ed t h e d efau l t

. Co n t rary t o Bi l b o ’ s as s ert io n

, t h is o m i s s i on d o es n o t req u i re

rev ers al

. Geo rg i a ap p el l at e co u rt s wi l l affi rm a t ri a l c o u rt ’ s d eci s i o n t o o p en t h e

d efau l t i f t h e reco rd s u s t ai n s t h at d eci s i o n u n d er an y o f t h e t h ree s t at u t o ry

g ro u n d s

.

See Hen d er so n v. Qu a d

r a med Co r

p

. , 2 6 0 Ga. Ap p. 68 0

, 6 8 2 (2 ) (5 8 0 SE2 d 5 4 2 )

(2 0 0 3). W h ere t h e tri al co u rt ’ s o rd er is s i l en t o n t h e i s s u e, we m ay p res u m e t h at t h e

7t ri al co u rt ’ s d eci s io n t o o p en d efau l t was b as ed o n t h e “ p ro p er cas e” g ro u nd

, wh i ch

i s t h e b ro ad es t of t h e t hree g ro u n d s

. Jo h n so n v. Amer i ca n Na t

. Red Cr os s

, 2 5 3 Ga.

Ap p

. 5 8 7, 5 9 0 (1 ) (5 6 9 SE2 d 24 2 ) (2 0 0 2 ). Th is gro u n d i s des i g ned t o “ reach [] o u t to

t ak e i n ev ery co n cei v ab le c a s e wh ere i n ju s t i ce m i g h t res u lt i f t h e d efau l t were n ot

o p en ed [.] ” (Ci t at i on o m i t ted .) Hen d er s o n , s u p ra, 2 6 0 Ga. Ap p . at 6 8 2 (2 ).

Here, t h e reco rd s h o w s, an d t h e t ri al co u rt s p eci fi cal l y fo u n d

, t h at Fi v e St ar

fi led i t s an swer on e d ay l at e, an d p ro m p tl y m ov ed t o op en t h e d efau l t aft er

d i s co v er i n g i t s erro r i n cal cu l at i n g t h e d u e d at e. Un d er th es e ci rcu m s t an ces

, we

can n ot s ay t h at t he t ri al co u rt ab u s ed i t s d i s cret i o n b y o pen i n g t h e d efau l t an d

al l o wi n g t h e cas e t o p ro ceed o n t h e m eri t s . See ABA 2 4 1 Pea ch t r ee , s u p ra, 3 0 2 Ga.

Ap p

. at 2 1 1 (1 ) (t ri al co u rt d i d n o t ab u s e it s d i s cret i o n i n o p en i n g d efau l t b as ed o n

p ro p er cas e g ro u n d wh ere, l i k e h ere, t h e d efau l t was t he res u l t , n o t o f fai l in g t o fi l e

an an s w er, b u t o f a o n e-d ay m is cal cu l at i o n o f t h e d ue d at e); Al b ee v. Kr a s no f f

, 2 5 5

Ga. Ap p

. 7 3 8

, 7 40 -7 4 1 (1 ) ( 5 6 6 S E 2 d 4 5 5 ) (2 0 0 2 ) (t ri al co u rt d i d n o t ab u s e i t s

d i s cret i o n i n o p en in g d efau l t wh ere d efen d an t p ro m p tl y fi l ed m at eri al s n eces s ary to

o p en def a u l t

, p l ai n ti ff fai l ed to rai s e d efau l t i s s u e un t i l d efen d an t ’ s t i m e t o o p en

d efau l t as a m at ter o f ri gh t ex pi red

, an d d efen dan t h ad a reas o nab l e ex cu s e fo r fai l i n g

8t o fi le an s wer). Th erefo re, t h e t ri al co urt d i d n o t err i n gran t i ng Fi v e St ar’ s m o t i o n to

o p en d efau l t an d d en y i n g Bi l b o ’ s m o t i o n fo r d efau l t ju d g m en t

.

2

. Bi l bo al s o co n t en d s t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n d en y i n g h is p et i t i o n to

co n fi rm an d in g ran t in g Fi v e St ar’ s m ot i o n t o d i s m i s s an d s t ay arb i t rat io n

. W e ag ree,

i n p art

.

Un d er t h e Geo rg i a Arb i t rat i o n Co d e (“ GAC”), OCGA § 9 -9 -1 et s eq

., a

rev i ewi n g co u rt “ s h al l co n fi rm an award up o n ap p l i cat i o n o f a p art y m ad e wi t h i n o n e

y e a r a f t e r i t s d el i very to [t h e p art y ]

, u n l es s th e award i s v acat ed or m o di fi ed b y t h e

co u rt as pro vi d ed i n [t h e GAC] .” OCGA § 9 -9 -1 2

. Th u s

, a t ri al co u rt i s b o u n d to

c o n fi rm an arb i t rat i o n award u n l es s o n e o f t h e s t at u t o ry g ro un d s fo r v acat i n g a n

award as s et fo rt h i n OCGA § 9 -9 -1 3 (b ) i s fo u nd t o ex i s t

. 1 See Gr een e v. Hu n d l ey

,

1 Th e g ro un d s fo r v acat i n g an arb i t rat i o n award are:

(1 ) Co rru p t i o n

, frau d

, o r m i s co n du ct i n p ro cu ri n g t h e award ; (2 )

Part i al i ty o f an arb i t rat o r ap p o i n t ed as a n eu tral ; (3 ) A n o v ers t ep p i n g b y

t h e arb i t rat o rs o f t h ei r au t h o ri ty o r s u ch i m p erfect ex ecu t i o n o f i t t hat a

fi nal an d d efi n i t e award u p o n t h e su b j ect m at ter s u b m i t t ed was n o t

m ad e; (4 ) A fai l u re t o fo l l o w t h e p ro ced u re o f t h i s p art

, u n l es s t h e p art y

ap p l y i n g t o v acat e t h e award co n t i n u ed wi t h t h e arb i trat i o n w i t h n o t i ce

o f t h i s fai l ure an d wi th ou t o bject i o n ; or (5 ) T h e arb i t rat o r’ s m an i fes t

d i s reg ard o f t h e l aw.

OCGA § 9 -9 -1 3 (b ).

92 6 6 Ga. 5 9 2

, 5 9 6 (3 ) (4 6 8 SE2 d 3 5 0 ) (1 9 9 6 ); Br o o kf iel d Co u n t r

y Cl u b, In c. v. S t

.

Ja mes -Br o o kf

iel d

, LLC

, 2 9 9 Ga. Ap p

. 61 4

, 6 1 9 (1 ) (6 8 3 SE2 d 4 0 ) (2 00 9 ) (“ Th ere i s

n o t h i n g m al leab l e ab o ut t he t ri al co u rt ’ s ob l i gat i on t o co n f i rm an arb i t rat i on award

ab s en t a s t at u t o ry

g ro u n d t o v acat e i t

. ”).

Here, B i l b o fi l ed h i s p et i t i o n i n M ay 2 01 4

, wi t h i n o n e y ear o f t h e Decem b er

2 0 1 3 arb i t rat i o n award

. In h i s p et i t i o n , Bi l b o n o t o n ly s o u g h t t o co n fi rm

t h e award

,

b u t al so so u gh t ad d i ti o nal at t orn ey fees

. To t he ex t en t Bi l b o was s eek i n g t o co n fi rm

t h e award , t h e t ri al co u rt was req u ired t o co n fi rm i t

. Th e t ri al co u rt ru l ed t h at Bi l b o

was n o t en t i t led t o co n fi rm t he award b ecau s e Fi ve St ar h ad al read y co m p l i ed wi th

i t s t erm s

. Th at Fi v e St ar m ay h av e s at i sfi ed t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s o rd er, h o wev er, i s n o t a

s t at u to ry g ro u n d fo u n d wi t h in OCGA § 9 -9 -1 3 t h at p recl u d es co n fi rm at i o n.

Th erefo re, t h e t ri al co u rt was r e q u i r e d t o g ran t Bi l b o ’ s p et i t i o n t o t he ex t en t h e

wan ted t o co n fi rm t he award

. See Gr een e

, s u p ra, 2 6 6 Ga. at 5 9 6 ( 3 ) ; B r o o kf i el d

Co u n t r y Cl u b , s u pra, 2 9 9 Ga. Ap p . at 6 1 9 (1 ).

As n o ted ab o v e, h o wev er, Bi l b o al s o s o u g h t t o m od i fy t h e award b y s eek i n g

at t o rn ey fees t h at w ere n ot i n cl u d ed i n t h e award

. Si n ce Bi l b o ’ s p et it i on was fi l ed in

M ay 2 0 1 4

, m o re t h an th ree m o n t h s aft er t h e Decem b er 20 1 3 arb i trat i o n a w a r d

, h i s

p et i t i o n was u n t i m el y

t o t h e ex t en t h e at tem

pt ed t o m o di fy

t h e award

.

10No t o n l y was Bi l b o p recl u d ed fro m m o di fy in g th e award t o i ncl u d e ad d i t i o n al

at t o rn ey fees

, h e al s o co u l d no t co m p el arb i t rat i o n o n t h e i s s ue. Un der Parag rap h 3

o f th e Ag reem en t

, t he p art i es ag reed to arb i t rat e o nl y an y di s p ut e as t o wh et her Bi l b o

v i o l at ed th e co n fi d en ti al i t y an d n o n-d i s p arag em en t req u i rem en t s o f t h e Ag reem en t

.

Th ere i s n o ag reem en t t o arb it rat e an y d i sp u ted at t o rn ey

fees

.

Th erefo re, t h e t ri al co u rt co rrect l y d i s m i ss ed t h e p o rt i o n o f Bi l b o ’ s pet i ti o n s eek i n g

t o m o di fy t h e award fo r ad d it i on al at t o rn ey fees an d co rrect l y s t a yed arb i t rat i o n o n

t h e is s u e. See Kr u t v. W

h i t eca p Ho u s i n g Gr o u

p

, LLC

, 2 68 Ga. Ap p

. 4 36

, 44 2 (2 ) (c)

(6 0 2 SE2 d 2 0 1 ) (2 00 4 ) (“ Arb i t rat i o n i s a m at t er o f co n t ract an d a p art y can n o t b e

req u i red t o s u b m i t t o arb i t rat i o n an y d i s p u t e wh i ch h e has n o t ag reed s o t o s u b m i t .”)

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

Acco rd i ng l y

, we affi rm t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s g ran t o f Fi v e St ar’ s m o t i on t o o p en

d efau l t an d d en i al o f Bi l b o ’ s m o t i o n fo r d efau l t ju d g m en t

. W e affi rm in p art an d

rev ers e i n p art it s gran t o f Fi v e St ar’ s m o t i o n t o d i s m i s s an d st ay arb i t rat i o n

, rev ers i n g

o n l y as to t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s refu s al t o co n fi rm t he Decem ber 2 01 3 arb i t r a t io n award

.

Ju d g men t a f f i r m ed i n p a r t a n d r ever

s ed i n p a r t

. An d

rews

, P. J., a nd Br a n ch

,

J., co n cu r

.

1112