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

Nov em ber 20, 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 37 6 . HAW KINS et al

. v . BLAIR et al

.

B R A N C H , J u d g e.

Ch arl es J ord an Hawk in s a n d J aco b N at h an i el Hawk in s

, res i d en t s o f So u th

Caro l i n a, fi l ed s u i t i n Fu l to n Co u n t y ag ai n st J am es A. Bl ai r, III, a res i d en t o f So u th

Caro l i n a an d an at t o rn ey wi th Nex s en Pru et

, LLC, w h i ch i s lo cat ed in So u t h Caro l i na,

al l eg in g t h at Bl ai r il l eg al ly t ran s ferred m o n ey fro m th ei r p ers o n al ban k acco u n t s at

M o rg an St an l ey i n At l an t a t o Nex sen P ru et ’ s b an k acco u nt s in Green v i l l e, So u th

Caro l i n a, al l eg ed l y

fo r l eg al fees ari si n g o u t o f a p rev i o u s act io n

. J o rd an an d J aco b

ap p eal t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s d is m i s s al o f th ei r co m p l ai n t o n t h e g r o u n d o f fo ru m n o n

co n ven i en s. Fo r t h e reas o ns s h own b el o w, we affi rm

.

W e rev i ew t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s d eci s i o n t o g ran t a m o t i o n t o d i s m i s s o n t h e b as i s

o f fo ru m n o n co n ven i en s fo r ab us e of d i scret i o n. G o wd y v. Sch l ey

, 3 1 7 Ga. Ap p

. 6 9 3,6 9 5 (2 ) (7 3 2 SE2 d 7 7 4 ) (2 0 1 2); Co l l i er v. W eh emei er , 3 13 Ga. Ap p . 4 2 1 , 4 2 2 (7 2 1

SE2 d 9 1 9 ) (2 0 1 1 ). “ Th at s ai d

, t h e d i s cret i o n o f t h e t ri al c o u r t i s n o t wi th o u t s o m e

l i m i ts

, an d wh en an ap p eal p ro p erl y i s t ak en fro m

t h e g ran t o r d en i al o f a m o t i o n to

d i s m i s s u n d er t h e do ct ri n e o f fo r u m n o n co n v en i en s, t h e ap p el l an t i s en t i t l ed to

m ean i n g fu l ap p el l at e rev i ew, ev en i f t h at rev i ew i s o n l y fo r an ab us e o f d i s cret i o n.”

W a n g v. Li u

, 2 9 2 Ga. 5 6 8

, 5 69 -5 7 0 (1 ) (7 4 0 SE2 d 1 36 ) (2 0 1 3 ) ( f o o t n o t e o m i t t ed ).

Al s o

, “ w e wi ll affi rm t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s fi nd i n g s o n d i s p u ted fact u al q ues t i o n s rel at i n g

t o v en u e i f th ere i s a n y e v i d en ce t o s u p p o rt t hem .” Ki l lea r n

, In c. v. S o u t h er n

S t r u ct u r a l , 3 0 8 Ga. Ap p . 4 9 4, 4 9 5 (7 0 7 SE2 d 8 8 2 ) (2 0 1 1).

Th e al l eg at i o n s i n t h e co m p l ai nt an d o t h er p art s of t h e reco rd s h ow t h at i n J u l y

2 0 0 7

, Jo rd an an d J aco b ’ s fat h er, a S o u t h C aro l i n a res i den t

, co nt act ed Bl ai r, al s o a

So u t h Caro l i n a res id en t , t o rep res en t hi s s o ns i n a cas e al l eg i n g m i s m an ag em en t o f

a t ru s t i n t en d ed i n p art t o b en efi t J o rd an an d J aco b

, wh o were l es s t h an 1 8 y ears o ld

at t h e t i m e. Th e ap p el l an t s ’ fat h er p ai d Bl ai r $2 0

, 0 0 0 i n l eg al fees

, an d i n J u l y 2 0 0 8,

Bl ai r, act i n g p ro h ac v i ce, fi l ed s u i t i n St ep h en s Co u n t y

, Geo rg i a, wh ere t h e t ru s t h ad

b een es t ab li s hed an d wh ere th e t ru s tees l i v ed

. (As t h e t ri al co u rt n o t ed

, St ep h en s

Co u n t y b o rd ers So u t h Caro l i n a.) Du ri n g t h e co u rs e o f t h e l i t i g at i o n an d t h ereaft er, t h e

ap p el l an t s ’ fat h er p ai d Bl ai r o v er $ 3 9 ,0 0 0 in ad d i t i o n al fees an d ex pen s es as s o ci at ed

2wi t h t h e l i t i g at i o n

. Th e cas e was t ri ed i n Sep t em b er an d Oct o b er o f 20 0 9

, J o rd an an d

J aco b p rev ai l ed

, an d t h e St ep h en s Co u n t y co u r t e n t ered a fi n al ju dg m en t award i n g

t h em $ 4 6 ,3 2 3 i n d am ag es an d $ 1 6 3 ,5 6 0 i n at t orn ey fee s an d ex p en s es ag ai n s t t h e

d efen d an t t ru s tees

. T h ereaft er, t h e ap p el lan t s ’ fat her recei v ed an i n vo i ce fro m Bl ai r

fo r $ 1 6 6 ,8 65

. 0 5

.

Th e co m p l ai n t fu rt h er al leg es t h at o n e y ear l at er, o n Oct o b er 8

, 2 0 10

, t h e t ri al

co u rt ord ered t h a t t h e cu s t o d i al acco u n t s fro m t h e t ru s t

, w h i ch were l o cat ed at

M o rg an St an l ey in A t l an t a, b e d i st ri b ut ed t o J o rd an an d Jaco b b ecau s e t h ey h ad

at t ai n ed ei g h t een y ear s o f ag e. Th e co urt ’ s o rd er s t at ed t h at th e cu s t o di al acco u n t s

s h o u ld be d i s t ri b u ted “ pu rs ua n t to wri t t en i ns t ru ct i o ns of co u n s el fo r t he [Ap pel l an t s ]

,

N e x s e n Pru et

, LLC.” Beg i n n i n g o n Oct o b er 19

, 2 0 1 0

, an d co n t i n u i n g fo r ei g h t

m o nt h s

, Bl ai r, wi t h o u t n o t i fy in g h i s cl i en t s o r recei v i n g t h ei r au t h o ri zat i o n

, d i rect ed

M o rg an St an l ey t o m ak e s i x wi re t ran s fers t ot al in g b et ween $ 11 7 ,0 0 0 an d $ 1 2 0 ,0 0 0

fro m t h e cu s t o d i al acco u nt s t o a Nex s en Pru et acco u n t i n Green v il l e, So u th Caro l i na.

In Sep tem

b er 2 0 1 2

, J o rd an an d J aco b req u es t e d t h a t B l ai r p ro v i d e “ a s i m p l e

acco u n t in g o f ex act l y wh en t h ei r m o n ey was rem o v ed fro m Mo rg an St an l ey an d h o w

m u ch w as m o v ed .” Acco rd i n g t o t h e ap p el l an t s

, Bl ai r h as n ot r e s p o n d ed

s at i s fact o ri l y

.

3Acco rd i ng l y

, i n Sep t em ber 2 0 13

, J o rd an an d J aco b fi l ed s ui t i n Fu l t o n Co u n t y

ag ai n s t Bl ai r an d Nex s en Pru et fo r p ro fes s i o n al m al p ract i ce, co n vers i o n

, an d l arcen y

b y a fi d u ci ary

, an d t h ey d em an d ed p u n i t i v e d am ag es

. Th ey av erred t hat v en u e was

p ro p er in Fu l t o n Co u n t y b ecau s e t h e c o nd u ct gi v i n g ri s e t o t h ei r cl ai m s– t h e wi re

t ran s fers

– o ccu rred at M o rg an St an l ey i n At lan t a. On No v em b er 26

, 2 0 1 3, Bl ai r an d

Nex sen Pru et an s w ered an d m o v ed t o d i s m is s b as ed o n l ack of p ers o nal j u ri s d i ct i o n

an d fo ru m n o n co n v en i e n s

. Th e m o ti o n tri g g ered an au t o m at i c s t ay of d i s co v ery

t h ro u g h Feb ru ary 2 4, 20 1 4

. Nev ert hel es s

, J o rd an an d J aco b s erv ed d i s co very o n Bl ai r

an d Nex s en Pru et i n Decem b er 2 0 1 3 an d J an u ary 20 1 4, pro m p t in g t h e d efen d an t s to

m o ve fo r a p ro t ect i v e ord e r

. I n F e b r u a ry 2 0 14

, J o rd an an d J aco b fi l ed a m o t i o n to

al l o w ju ri s d i ct i o n al d i s co v ery p u rs u an t O CGA § 9 -1 1 -1 2 (j) (4 ) an d

, l at er, a m o t i o n

t o co m p el an s wers t o th e earl i er d i s co v ery req u es t s

. Th e d efen d a n t s t h en ren ewed

t h ei r m o ti o n t o s t ay di sco very wh i l e t h e m o t i o n t o d i s m i ss was p en d i n g

. In Au g u s t

2 0 1 4

, t h e t ri al co u rt en t ered a fi n al o rd er u p h o l d i n g p e rs on al ju ri s d i ct i o n o v er t h e

d efen d an t s b u t g ran t i n g th e d efen d an t s ’ m o t i o n t o d i s m i s s o n t h e b as i s of fo ru m n o n

co n ven i en s. Th e p res en t ap p eal en s u ed

. 1

1 Th e ap p el l an t s ap p aren t l y hav e refi l ed t h ei r cas e i n Ch arl es t o n Co u nt y

, So u th

Caro l i n a.

4J o rd an an d J aco b co n t en d t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred b y fai l i n g t o t i m el y ru l e o n

t h e m o t i on t o d i s m i s s ; by fai l in g t o ad d res s t h ei r d i s co very req u es ts p ri o r t o ru l i n g o n

t h e m o t i o n t o d i s m is s ; an d b y g ran t in g t h e m o t i o n t o d i s m i s s

.

1

. Becau s e t h e d efen d an t s fi l ed a m o ti o n t o d i s m i s s w i t h t h e i r an s wer,

d i s co v ery w as s t ay ed fo r 9 0 d ay s u n d er OCGA § 9 -1 1 -1 2 (j) (1 ). Th at Co d e s ect i o n

fu rt her p ro v i d es t hat u nd er t h o s e ci rcu m s t an ces

, “ [t ] h e co u rt s h al l d eci d e t h e m o t i o n

t o d i s m i s s wi t h i n t h e 9 0 d ay s p ro v i ded in t h i s p arag rap h .” Id

. Jo rd an an d J aco b ap p ear

t o co nt en d t h at t h e t ri al co u rt was n o t au t h ori zed t o g ran t t h e m o t i o n to d i s m i s s aft er

t h at t i m e. W e di s ag ree an d fi nd n o erro r. See Ch a r l es H. W es ley Ed

. Fo u n d a t i o n v.

S t a t e El ect i on Bd

. , 2 8 2 G a

. 7 0 7

, 7 0 9 (2 ) (6 5 4 SE2 d 1 27 ) (2 00 7 ) (“ [L] an g u ag e

co n tai n ed i n a s t at u t e w h ich

, g iv en i t s o rd i n ary m ean i n g, co m m an d s t h e d o i n g o f a

t h i n g w i t hi n a cert ai n t im e, wh en n o t acco m p an ied b y an y neg at i v e wo rd s res t rai n i n g

t h e d o i ng o f t h e t h i n g aft erward

, wi ll g en eral l y b e co n s t ru ed as m erel y d i rect o ry an d

n o t as a li m i t at i o n o f au t h o ri t y

, an d t h i s is es p eci al l y s o wh ere n o in ju ry ap p eared to

h av e res u l t ed fro m th e fact t h at t h e t h i n g was d on e aft er t h e t i m e l i m i t ed b y t h e p l ai n

wo rd i n g of t he Act .”) (ci tat i o n s an d p u n ct u at io n o m i t t ed ). H ere, OCGA § 9 -1 1 -1 2 (j)

d o es n o t pro v i d e a rem ed y o r p en al t y fo r a t ri al co u rt ’ s fai l u re t o d eci d e s uch a m o t i o n

wi t h i n t h e s tat ed t i m e, an d al t h o u g h J o rd an an d J aco b cl ai m d el ay as a h arm

, t h ey

5h av e n o t s h o wn an y s p eci fi c h arm t h at res u lt ed fro m t h e t ri al co u rt d is m i ss i n g t h e

act i on at a l at er p oi nt i n t i m e.

2

. J o rd an an d J aco b co n t en d t h e t r i a l c o u rt erred b y ru l in g o n th e m o t i o n to

d i s m i s s wi t h o u t al l owi ng t h em t o o b t ai n d i s co v ery rel at ed t o th e i s s u e o f fo ru m n o n

co n ven i en s. Bu t J o rd an an d J aco b h av e n o t art i cu l at ed an y ev i d en ce w h i ch t h ey h o p e

s u ch d is co v ery wo u l d u nco v er t h at wo u l d b e rel ev an t to t h at i s s u e. W e th erefo re fi n d

n o ab u s e o f d i scret i o n b y t h e tri al co u rt b y fai l i ng t o ru l e o n t h e ap p el l an ts ’ d i s co v ery

m o ti o n

. See S

et t l e s B r i d

g e Fa r m v. Ma s i n o

, 3 1 8 Ga. Ap p

. 5 7 6

, 5 8 1 (4 ) (7 3 4 SE2 d

4 5 6 ) (2 0 12 ) (t ri al co u rt d id n o t ab us e d i s cret i o n i n refu s i ng t o l i f t s t ay an d ex t en d

d i s co v ery wh ere pl ai n t i ff d id n o t m ak e “ a g o od cau s e s h o wi n g t h at t h ere was o t h er

ev i d en ce n eces s ary

fo r res o l u t i o n o f t h e m o t i o n t o d is m i s s ”).

3

. J o rd an an d Jaco b co n t en d t h e t ri al co u rt erred b y di s m i s s i ng th ei r co m p l ai nt

u n d er t h e d o ct ri n e o f fo ru m n o n co nv en i en s . W e d i sag ree.

A Geo rg i a co u rt wi l l d i s m i s s an act i o n i f “ i n t h e in t eres t o f ju st i ce an d fo r t h e

co n ven i en ce o f th e p a r t i e s an d wi t n es s es a cl ai m o r act i o n wo u l d b e m o re p ro p erl y

h eard i n a fo ru m o u ts i d e t h i s s t at e.” OCGA § 9 -1 0 -3 1 .1 (a). W h en ad d res s i n g a

m o ti o n t o d i s m i s s o n t h is g ro u nd , a t ri al co urt m u s t co n s i der s ev en fact ors :

6(1 ) Rel at i v e eas e o f acces s t o s o u rces o f p ro o f; (2 ) A v ai l ab i l i t y an d co s t

o f co m p u l so ry p ro ces s fo r at t en d an ce o f u n w i l l i n g wi t n es s es ; (3 )

Po s s i b il i t y o f v i ewi n g o f t h e p rem is es

, i f v i ewi ng wo u l d b e ap p ro p ri at e

t o t h e act i o n ; (4 ) Un n eces s ary ex p en s e o r t ro u b l e t o t h e d efen d a n t n o t

n eces s ary t o t he ap p el l an t ’ s o wn ri g h t t o p u rs u e h i s o r h er rem ed y ; (5 )

Ad m i ni st rat i v e di ffi cu l t ies fo r th e fo ru m co u rt s ; (6 ) Ex is t en ce o f l o c al

i n t eres t s i n d eci d i n g t h e cas e l o cal l y ; an d (7 ) Th e trad it io n al d eferen ce

g i v en t o a ap p el l an t ’ s ch o i ce o f fo ru m

.

Id

. Th e d efen d an t s b o re t h e b u rd en o f s h o w i ng t hat t h e f a c t o r s s u p p o rt d is m i s s al

.

Co l li er v. W

eh mei er

, 3 1 3 Ga. Ap p

. 4 2 1

, 42 2 (7 2 1 SE2 d 9 1 9 ) (2 0 11 ). Al t h ou g h t h e

s t at u te do es n o t req u i re i t

, t h e “ b et t er p ract i ce” is fo r t he t ri al co u rt t o m ak e “ s p eci fi c

fi nd i ng s o n each o f t h e en u m erat ed s t at u to ry fact o rs .” W

a n g , 2 9 2 Ga. at 5 70 (1 ).

In th i s cas e, th e t ri al co u rt m ad e fi n d i n g s o n each o f t h e s ev en fact o rs

. Th e t ri al

co u rt fo u n d t h at t h e fi rs t

, fo u rt h

, fi ft h an d si x t h fact o rs wei g h ed in fav o r o f d is m i s s al

,

wi t h t h e fi ft h b ei n g t h e m o st p ers u as i v e, an d t h at o nl y t h e s ev en th fact o r wei g h ed in

fav o r of J o rd an an d J aco b

. Th e s eco n d an d t h i rd fact o rs d i d no t fav or ei t her part y

. As

s h o wn b el o w, th ere was s o m e s u p p o rt fo r each o f t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s fi n di n g s

, a n d w e

t h erefo re fi n d n o ab u s e o f d i s cret i o n

.

(a) Th e t ri al co u rt fo u n d t h at t h e fi rs t fact or— rel at i v e eas e o f acces s t o s o u rces

o f p ro o f— fav o red d is m i s s al

, b ecau s e ev ery p art y t o t h e s u i t w as a res i d en t o f So u th

7Caro l i n a an d t h e Nex sen Pru et l aw o ffi ces were l ocat ed i n So u t h Caro l i n a. Th e co u rt

n o t ed t h at “ as i de fro m t h e b an k an d i t s em p l oy ees i n At lan t a, n o o t h er p ro o f wo u ld

n eed to b e acces s ed in Fu l t o n C o u n t y .” On ap peal

, J o rd an an d J aco b co n t en d t h i s

co n cl u s i o n i s fact u al ly erro neo u s b ecau s e, t hey arg u e, t h e b an k an d i t s em p lo y ees are

t h e m o s t cri t i cal no n p art y w it nes s es i n t h e act i o n i n t h at th ey h av e k no wl ed g e o f wh at

Bl ai r t ol d t h em

t o g ai n acces s t o t h e ap p el l an t s ’ m o n ey

.

Bu t t h e ap p el l an t s ’ cas e t u rn s m o re o n wh et h er Bl ai r was au th o ri zed t o o b t ai n

t h e m o n ey t h an o n h o w h e d i d s o

, an d m o s t o f t h o s e f a c t s t u rn o n t h e p ro fes s i o n al

rel at i o n s h i p b et ween Bl ai r an d t h e Hawk i n s fam i l y ; o n th e fi n an ci al d et ai l s o f t h e

fat h er’ s p ay m en t s t o Bl ai r; an d o n a reck on i n g o f at t o rn ey fees i n cu rred an d recei v ed

i n co n n ect i o n wi t h t h e St ep hen s Co u n t y laws ui t

. Al l o f t h e s e fact s are l o cat ed in

So u t h Caro l i n a. Jo rd an an d J aco b al s o co n t en d t he t ri al co u rt o v erl o o k ed t h e fact t h at

s ev eral wi t nes s es co n n ect ed wi t h t h e St ep h en s Co u n t y act i on l i v e i n Geo rg i a. Bu t t h e

ap p el l an t s d i d n o t b ri n g an y o f t h es e p o ten t i al wi t n es s es t o th e at t en t io n o f t h e t ri al

c o urt b efo re t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s d eci s i on

, no r d i d i t ex p l ai n wh at ev i d en ce t h e s e

wi t n es s es p o s s es s ed

. “ An arg u m en t n o t rai s ed i n t h e t ri al co u rt i s wai v ed an d can n ot

b e rai se d f

o r t h e f i rs t t i m e o n ap p eal .” Lo cke’s Gr a p h i c & Vi n

yl S i g n s v. Ci t i co r

p

Ven do r Fi n a n ce

, 2 8 5 Ga. Ap p

. 8 2 6

, 8 2 8 (2 ) (a) (6 4 8 SE2 d 1 5 6 ) (2 0 0 7 ) (fo o t n o t e

8o m it t ed ). Acco rd i n g l y

, t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s fi n d i n g o n t he fi rs t fact o r i s s u pp o rt ed b y t h e

i n fo rm at i o n av ai l ab l e t o t h e t ri al co u rt at t h e t i m e o f i ts d eci s i o n

.

(b ) J o rd an an d J aco b co n t en d t h e t r i al co urt fai l ed t o p ro p erl y co n si d er t h e

s eco n d fact o r— th e av ai l ab i li t y an d co s t o f co m pu l s o ry p ro ces s f

o r a t t en d an ce o f

u n wi l l i n g wi t n es s es

. Th ey arg u e t h at “ t h ere i s no reas o n t o b el i ev e th at an y M o rg an

St an l ey wi t n es s wo u ld h av e an y i n t eres t i n v o l u n tari l y t rav el i n g t o So u t h Caro l i n a to

t es t i fy ,” an d t h at t h ey wi l l be u n ab l e t o o b t ai n d o cu m en t s fro m t h e A t l an t a b an k

. Bu t

,

as t h e t ri al co u rt h el d

, t he ap p el l an t s h a v e n o t s h o w n t h at t h ere are an y u n wi l l i n g

wi t n es s es

. Mo reo v er, b o t h So u t h Caro l in a an d Geo rg i a hav e en act ed a v ers i o n o f t h e

Un i fo rm Fo rei gn Dep o s i t i o ns an d Di s co v ery Act

. See OCGA § 2 4 -1 3 -1 1 0 et s eq

. an d

S. C. Co d e An n. § 1 5 -4 7 -1 0 0 et s eq

. , wh i ch al l o ws d is co v ery as i n d i cat ed i n t h e t i t l e

o f t h e Act

.

(c) As t h e t ri al co u rt h el d , t h e t h i rd fact o r i s n o t rel ev an t t o t hi s cas e b ecau s e

i t is n o t n eces s ary

t o v i ew an y

p rem is es

.

(d ) W i t h reg ard t o th e fo u rt h fact or— u n neces s a r y e x p en s e o r t ro ub l e t o t h e

d efen d an t n o t n eces s ary t o t h e pl ai n t i ff’ s o wn ri gh t t o p urs u e h is o r her rem ed y

— t h e

t ri al co u rt s t at ed t h at th e “ P l a i n t i ffs ’ ri g h t t o p u rs ue t h ei r rem ed y [wo u ld ] n o t b e

ad v ers el y affect ed i f t h e ca s e i s d i s m i s s ed fro m Fu l t o n Co u n t y .” Th e co u rt ag ai n

9n o t ed t h at b o t h p art i es were So u t h Caro l i n a res i den t s an d th at t h e al le g e d i n j u ry

o ccu rred i n So u th Caro l i n a wh ere t h e m on ey t ak en fro m

t h e acco u n t s was recei v ed

b y Bl ai r’ s fi rm

. Th e co u rt al s o p o i n t ed ou t t h at St ep h en s Co u n t y

, Geo rg i a– wh ere t h e

p rev i o u s l i t i g at i o n t o o k p l ace– b o rd ers So ut h Caro l i n a. Th e co u r t c o n cl u d ed t h at

h eari n g t h e cas e in Fu l t o n Co u n t y

, Geo rg i a, was n o t n eces s ary t o t h e ap p el l an t s ’

ri gh t s t o p u rs u e t h ei r rem ed y

, an d t h at t h e ex pen s es an d t ro u bl e t h at t h e d efen d an t s

m i g h t i ncu r i n co m in g t o Fu lt o n Co u n ty fav o red d i s m i s s al

. W e al s o no t e, as s t at ed

ab o ve, t hat t he ap p el l an t s ’ cas e t u rn s m o re o n wh et h er Bl ai r was au t h o ri zed t o t ak e

t h e m o ney t h an on h ow h e co nv i n ced an At lan t a ban k t o sen d h i m t h e a p p el l an t s ’

m o ney . Th u s t he t ri al co u rt ’ s co n cl u s i o n t h at a So u t h Caro l i n a fo ru m wo u l d b e l es s

ex p en s i v e an d t ro u b l es o m e an d n o t ad v ers e t o t h e p l ai n t i ff’ s rem ed y i s s u p p o rt ed by

t h e reco rd

.

(e) Th e t ri al co u rt h el d t h at t h e fi ft h fact o r— ad m i n i s t rat i v e d i ffi cu l t i es o f t h e

fo ru m co u rt

— i

. e., t he Fu l t on Co u n t y co u rt

, w ei g h ed m o s t h eav i l y i n fav o r o f

d i s m i s s al

. Th e t ri al co urt ex p l ai n ed t h at a t o rt act i on i s g o v ern ed b y t he s u b s t an t i v e

l aw of t h e s t at e wh ere t h e t ort w as co m m i tt ed

, i.e., wh ere t h e i n

ju ry o ccu rred o r wh ere

t h e las t e v en t m ak i n g t h e to rt feas o r l i ab le occu rred

. Th e co u rt co n cl u d ed t h at t h e

al l eg ed in ju ry w o ul d h av e b een s u ffe r e d i n So u t h Caro l i n a, an d th at t h e ap p el l ee’ s

10“ l as t act s ” t o m ak e t h em li ab l e al s o w o u l d h av e o ccu rred i n So u t h Caro l in a. Th u s

, t h e

co u rt co n cl u d ed t hat i t w o ul d n eed t o ap p l y So u t h Caro l i n a t o rt law, wh ich wo u l d b e

an ad m i ni s t rat i v e d i ffi cu l t y fo r a Geo rg i a Co u rt

.

W e fi n d n o err o r w i t h t h i s an al y s i s

. In Geo rg i a, “ a t o rt act i o n i s go v ern ed by

t h e s u bs t an t i v e l aw o f t h e s t at e wh ere t h e t o r t w a s c o m m it t ed .” Do wi s v. M

u d

S l i n g er s

, In c.

, 27 9 Ga. 80 8

, 80 9 (6 2 1 SE2 d 4 1 3 ) (2 0 0 5 ) (ci t at i o n om i t t ed ). “ Th e p l ace

wh ere th e t o rt was co m

m i t t ed

, o r, t h e l o cu s d el i ct i, i s t h e p l a c e w h ere t h e i n ju ry

s u s t ai n ed was s u ffered rat h er t h an t he p l ace wh ere t h e act was co m m i t t ed

, o r, as i t i s

s o m et i m es m o re gen eral l y pu t

, i t i s th e p l ace wh ere t h e l as t ev en t n eces s ary t o m ak e

an act or l i ab l e fo r an al leg ed t o rt t ak es p l ace.” B u l l a r d v. M RA Ho ld i n g

, 2 9 2 Ga. 7 4 8,

7 5 0 -7 5 1 (1 ) (7 4 0 SE2 d 6 2 2 ) (2 0 1 3 ) (ci t at i o n an d pu n ct uat i on o m it t ed .) H ere, t h e las t

ev en t t h at l ed t o t h e al l eg ed to rt o ccu rred wh en Bl ai r al l eg ed ly cau s ed t h e ap p el l an t s ’

m o ney t o b e d ep o s i t ed i n t o Nex s en Pru et ’ s So u t h Caro l i n a acco u n t wi th n o i n t en t to

acco u n t fo r t he m o n ey p ro p erl y i n acco rd an ce wi t h t h e at to rn ey cl i en t rel at i o n s h ip

es t ab l i s h ed b et ween So u t h Caro l i n a res i den t s an d a So u t h Caro l i n a at t o rn ey

.

(f) W i th reg ard t o t h e s i x t h fact o r— wh et h er t h ere are l o cal i nt eres t s i n d eci d i n g

t h e cas e l o cal l y

— th e co u rt fo u n d n o l o cal i n t eres t s fav o ri n g v en u e i n Fu l to n Co u n t y

.

Th e co u rt n o t ed t h at t h e p rev io u s l i t i g at i o n t o o k p l ace i n St ep hen s Co un t y

, G eo rg i a,

11t h at b o t h p art i es are res i d en t s o f So u t h Caro l i n a, an d t h at “ [a] So u t h Caro l in a fo ru m

,

wh ere al l p art i es res id e an d wh ere t h e al l eg ed i n ju ri es wo ul d h av e b een s u ffered

,

wo u l d h av e a s t ro n g er i n t eres t i n d eci d i n g t h i s cas e.”

Th e ap p el l an t s arg u e t h at t h e fact t h at Bl ai r ap p eared p ro h ac v i c e i n t h e

St ep h en s Co u nt y act i o n i s a l ocal f a c t or “ o f u t m o s t co n cern ” i n th at h e s u b m i t t ed

h i m s el f t o t h e au th o ri t y of t he St at e Bar o f Geo rg i a. Bu t t h e ap p el l an t s d i d no t fi l e t h i s

s u i t i n St ep h en s Co un t y

, wh i ch m ay h av e had m o re i n t eres t i n t h i s act i on th an Fu l t o n

Co u n t y

, g i v en t h at t h e t ru s t l aws u i t w as f i l e d t h e r e

. An d w e are n o t p ers u ad ed t h at

Bl ai r’ s p ro h ac vi ce st at u s an d t h e rel at ed o b l i g at i o ns im po s ed o n h im o v erri d e t h e

fact ors rel i ed o n b y t h e t ri al co urt

. Th e ap p el l an t s al s o arg u e t h at Fu l to n Co u n t y h as

an i n t eres t i n ad d res s i n g p o t en t ial cri m i n al co n d u ct carri ed o ut in Fu l t o n Co u n t y

. Bu t

t h e p res en t m at t er i s ci v i l

, an d we h av e n o ev i den ce t h at an y su ch cri m i n al act i o n h as

b een fi l ed

.

(g ) Th e t ri al co u rt fo u nd th at o n l y t h e s ev en t h fact o r wei g h ed ag ai n s t d is m i s s al

.

Th e t r i a l co u rt ack n o wl ed g ed t h e “ i m p o rt an ce o f d eferen ce g i v en to a ap p el l an t ’ s

ch o ice o f fo ru m ” bu t h el d th at i n l i g ht o f t h e t o tal i t y o f t h e ci rcu m s t an ces

, t h at fact o r

was n ot en ou g h t o warran t v en u e i n Fu lt o n Co un t y

, Geo rg ia. W e ag ree.

12In s h o rt

, t h e reco rd s h o ws t h at “ t h e co urt s p eci fi cal l y ad d res s ed an d b al an ced

t h e fact o rs t h at are p art o f t he fo ru m n o n co n ven i en s an al y s i s ,” Hewet t v. R a yt h eo n

Ai r cr a f t Co

. , 2 73 Ga. Ap p . 2 4 2, 2 4 8 (2 ) (6 14 SE2 d 8 7 5 ) (2 0 0 5) (ci t at i o n s o m i t t ed ),

o v erru l ed o n o t h er gro u n d s b y W a n g

, 29 2 G a. at 5 7 0 (1 ), an d th e reco rd s up p o rt s t h e

t ri al co u rt ’ s fact u al fi n d i n g s

. W e t h erefo re fi n d no ab u se o f d is cret i o n b y t h e t ri al

co u rt i n d i s m i s s in g th i s act i o n fo r fo ru m n o n co n v en i en s

. 2 See Go wd y

, 3 1 7 G a. Ap p.

at 69 5 -6 96 (2 ) (n o ab u s e o f d i s cret i o n wh ere t ri al co u rt ev al u at ed n on co n v en i en s

fact ors an d i s s u ed a wri tt en o rd er d en y i n g m ot io n b as ed o n t h o se fact o rs ).

Ju d g men t a f f i r m ed . An d

r ews , P. J., a n d

Mi l l er

, J., co n cu r

.

2 In a s u p pl em en t al b ri ef, t h e ap p el l an t s arg u e t h at t hey m i g h t b e ab l e t o o b t ai n

p u ni t iv e d am ag es in a Geo rg i a co u rt b u t t h at cert ai n cas e l aw in So u t h Caro l i n a

s u g g es t s t h at s u ch d am ag es m ay n o t b e av ai l ab l e i n a So u th Caro l i na co u rt

. Th i s

arg u m en t was n o t rai s ed in t h e tri al c o urt an d i s t h erefo re wai v ed

. See Lo cke’s

Gr a ph i c , 2 85 Ga. Ap p . at 8 28 (2 ) (a).

13