THI RD DI VI SI ON

M I LLER, P. J.

, M CFA DDEN and M CM I LLI A N, 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 30, 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 12 2

, A1 6 A 0 27 7

. SUM M ERS v

. W ASDIN et al

. (t wo cas es ).

M C F A D D E N , J u d g e.

In t h es e rel at ed ap p eal s, we gran t ed in t erl o cu t o ry rev i ew o f two ord ers ari s i n g

fro m t h e p l ai n t i ff’ s co n t en ti o n t h at t h e d efen d an ts w ere i n d efau l t

. A s d et ai l ed b el o w,

t h e t ri al co u rt c o rrect l y h el d t h at t h e d efen d an t s t im el y fi l ed t h ei r an s wer.

A c c o rd i n g l y , th ey w ere n o t i n d efau l t

. W e t herefo re v acat e t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s o r d e r

p erm i t t in g t h e defen d an ts t o o p en d efau l t i n Cas e No

. A1 6 A0 1 2 2

, an d we affi rm t h e

t ri al co urt ’ s o rd er den y i n g t h e p l ai n ti ff’ s m ot i o n fo r en t ry o f defau l t ju d g m en t i n Cas e

No . A1 6 A0 2 7 7.

1

. Fa ct s a n d p r o ced

ur a l h i s to r y.

On J u n e 2

, 2 0 1 4

, th e p l ai n t i ff fi l ed a co m p l ai n t s eek i n g i n

ju n ct i v e an d o t h er

rel i ef i n co n n ect io n wi t h a di s pu t e o v er th e i rri g at i o n o f farm l an d t h at w as th e s u b jecto f an ag reem en t b et ween t he p art ies

. Th e pl ai n t i ff al s o req ues t ed a te m p o r a r y

res t rai n i n g o r d e r ( TRO). On J u n e 1 7

, 2 0 1 4

, t h e t ri al co u rt en t ered a t em p o rary

co n sen t ord er o n i s s u es rai s ed i n t h e TRO req u es t

, an d o n t hat sam e d ay t h e

d efen d an t s ’ at t o rn ey

s i g ned an ack n o wl ed g m en t o f s erv i ce o f t h e co m p l ai n t , wh i ch

t h e p l ai n t i ff fi l ed wi t h t h e t ri al co u rt o n J u n e 2 5

, 2 01 4

. On Ju l y 2 3, 20 1 4

, t h e

d efen d an t s fi l ed t h ei r an s we r

. T h e r e aft er, t h e p l ai n t i ff m o ved fo r p art i al s u m m ary

ju d g m en t , wh i ch t h e t ri al co u rt d en i ed o n Oct o b er 1 7 , 2 0 1 4.

Aft er t h e t ri al co u rt d en i ed t h e p lai n t iff’ s m o tio n fo r p art i al s u m m ary ju d g m en t

,

t h e p l ai n t i ff m o v ed th e t ri al co u rt t o s tri k e t h e d efen dan t s ’ an s we r a n d t o en ter a

d efau l t j udgm e nt, a r guing tha t t h e an s wer h ad b een u n t i m el y

. T he d efen dan t s o p p o s ed

t h i s m o t i o n , arg u i n g th at t h ei r an s wer had b een t i m el y , a n d t h e y fi l ed a s ep arat e

“ M ot i o n fo r Leav e to Op en Po t en t i al Defau l t ” rei t erat in g t h e t i m e l i n e s s o f t h ei r

an s wer b u t as k i n g t h at

, i f t he tri al co urt fo un d th em i n d efau lt

, h e perm it t h em t o o p en

t h e d efau l t

.

Th e t ri al co u rt en t ered s ep arat e o rd ers o n t h es e m o t i o n s

. He d en i ed t h e

p l ai n t i ff’ s m o t i o n t o st ri k e t h e an s wer an d t o en t er a d efau l t ju d g m en t, h ol d i n g t h at

t h e a n s we r w as t i m el y b ecau s e i t was fi l ed 2 9 d ay s aft er t h e fi li n g o f t h e

ack n owl ed gm en t o f serv i ce wi t h t h e co u rt

. He g ran t ed t he d efen d an ts ’ “ M o t i o n fo r

2Leav e t o Op en Po ten t i al Defau l t ,” n o t in g t h at t h e m o t i o n w as p rem i s ed o n t h e

p l ai n t i ff’ s al l eg at i o n t h at t h e an s wer was u n t i m el y , fi n di n g t h at OCGA § 9 -1 1 -5 5

p erm i t t ed t h e o p en i n g o f a d efau l t

, an d req u iri n g t h e d efen d an ts t o p ay co u rt co s t s by

a s p eci fi ed d at e o r t h e an s wer “ s h al l s t an d d i s m is sed

. ” T h e d e f e n d an t s t h en t i m el y

p ai d co u rt co s t s

.

2

. M o t io n t o s t r i ke a n s wer a n d en t er d ef a u l t j u d g m en t (Ca s e No

. A1 6A0 2 7 7 ).

(a.) Th e pl ai n t i ff co n t en d s t h at t h e d efen d an t s ’ an s wer was u n t i m el y an d

co n seq u e n t l y t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n d en y in g h is m o ti on t o en t er a d efau l t

ju d g m en t . Th at an s w er, h o w ev er, was t i m el y

.

“ A d efen d an t s h al l s erv e h is an s wer wi t h i n 30 d ay s aft er th e s erv i ce o f t h e

s u m m o n s an d co m

p l ai n t u p o n hi m , u n l es s o t h er wi s e pr o vi d ed b y s t a t u t e .” OCGA §

9 -1 1 -1 2 (a) (em

p has i s s u p p l i ed ). W h ere t h e p ers on s erv i n g t h e p ro ces s fi l es p ro o f o f

s erv i ce wi t h t h e co u rt m o re t h an fi v e b u si n es s d ay s aft er t h e s e r v i ce d at e, OCGA §

9 -1 1 -4 (h ) p ro v i des t hat “ t h e t i m e fo r t h e p art y serv ed t o an s wer t h e pro ces s s h al l n ot

b eg in t o ru n u n t i l s u ch p ro o f o f s erv i ce i s fi l ed .” Pro o f o f s erv i ce i n c l u d es “ [t ] h e

wri t ten ad m i s s i o n o r ack n o w l ed g m en t o f s erv i ce b y th e d efen d an t .” OCGA § 9 -1 1 -4

(h ) (4 ). In t h i s cas e, al t h o u gh t h e d efen d an t s ’ wri t t en ack no wl ed g m en t o f s erv i ce was

d at ed J u n e 1 7

, 2 0 1 4, it w as n o t fi l ed wi t h t h e tri al c o u rt u nt i l J u ne 2 6

, 20 1 4

, m o re

3t h an fi v e b u s i n es s d ay s l at er. Acco rd i n g l y , v i ewi n g t he d efen d an t s ’ ack n o w l ed g m en t

o f s erv i ce as t he p ro o f o f s erv ice i n t h i s cas e, O CGA § 9 -1 1 -4 (h ) p ro v id es t h at t h e

t i m e fo r t h e d efen d an t s t o an s wer b eg an t o ru n o n J u ne 2 6 , 2 01 4

, m ak in g t h ei r J u l y

2 3

, 2 0 1 4 an s wer t i m el y

. (Ou r d eci s i o n i n Ber kl i t e v. B i l l Hea r d Ch evr o l et Co

. , 2 3 9

Ga. Ap p

. 7 9 1

, 7 91 -7 9 2 (1 ) (5 2 2 SE2 d 2 4 6 ) (1 9 9 9 ), h o l d in g th at t h e dat e o f ex ecu t i o n

o f an ack no wl ed g m en t

, an d n o t t h e d at e o f i ts fi l i n g, t ri g g ered th e defen d an t ’ s 3 0 -d ay

p eri o d fo r fi l i n g an an s wer, i s i n ap p os i te; i t co n s t ru ed an earl ier vers i on o f OCGA §

9 -1 1 -4 th at d i d n o t co n t ai n t h e pro v i s i on g o v ern i n g i n s tan ces w h ere pro o f o f s erv i ce

was fi l ed m o re t h an fi v e b us i n es s day s aft er t h e s erv i ce d at e. Co m p are O CGA § 9 -1 1

-

4 (h ) wi t h fo rm er OCGA § 9 -1 1 -4 (g ) (1 9 9 9 ).)

( b

. ) T h e pl ai n t i ff arg u es , h o wev er, t hat we s h o u l d n o t v i ew t h e d efen d an t s ’

ack n owl ed gm en t of s erv i ce as t h e p ro o f of serv i ce in t h is cas e. In s t ead

, t h e p l ai n t i ff

arg u es t h at t h e d efen d an t s m ad e g en eral ap p earan ces in t h e cas e t h at wai ved t h ei r

ri gh t t o s erv i ce an d t ri g g ered t h e ru n n i n g o f t h e 3 0-d ay p eri o d b efo re J un e 2 6

, 2 0 1 4.

See Ro b er t

s v. Bi en er t

, 1 8 3 G a. Ap p

. 75 1

, 7 5 3 (2 ) (3 60 SE2 d 25 ) (1 9 8 7) (ap p earan ce

a n d p l ead i n g i n wri t i n g t o t h e m eri t s wi l l wai v e s erv ice, i f w an t of serv i ce i s n o t

p l ead ed at t h e s am e t i m e). T h e p l ai nt i ff p o i nt s t o th e d efen dan t s ’ al l eg ed p art i ci p at i o n

4i n a J u n e 3

, 2 01 4 heari n g o n th e p l ai n t i ff’ s req u es t fo r a t em p o rary res t rai n i n g o rd er

an d t o th e res u l t i n g J u n e 1 7 , 2 0 1 4 t em p o rary co n s en t o rd er. W e are n o t p ers u ad ed

.

Fi rs t

, as t o th e J u n e 3

, 2 0 1 4 h eari n g , t h e ap p el l at e reco rd d oes n o t s u p p o rt t h e

p l ai n t i ff’ s as s ert io n t h a t t he d efen d an t s m ad e a g en eral ap pearan ce at a h eari n g o n

t h at d at e. “ An ap p earan ce si g ni fi es an o v ert act b y wh i ch a p ers on ag ai ns t wh o m s u i t

h as co m m en ced s u b m it s h i m s el f t o t h e ju ri s d i ct io n o f t he co u rt

, ” Dyer v. S u rr a t t

, 2 6 6

Ga. 2 2 0

, 2 2 2 (4 ) (4 6 6 SE2 d 5 8 4 ) (1 9 9 6 ) (ci t at i o n an d pu n ct u at i o n o m it ted ), bu t i f t h e

p ers o n ex cep t s t o t h e serv i ce o r rai s es t h e d efen s e o f l ack o f ju ri s d i ct i o n , n o wai v er

o f s erv i ce i s effect ed

. Ro b er t s , 1 8 3 Ga. A p p

. at 7 5 3 (2 ). W e can n o t t el l fro m t h e

reco rd in t h i s cas e wh et h er, at t h e J u n e 3 heari ng , th e d efen d an t s act ed i n a way t h at

co n st i t u t ed a s ub m i s si o n t o th e t ri al co u rt ’ s ju ri s d ict i o n , o n t h e o n e h an d

, o r t o o k

ex cep t i o n t o t h e s erv i ce or t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s ju ri s di ct i o n , o n t h e ot h er h an d

. Th e reco rd

co n tai n s n o t ran s cri p t o f a h eari n g or o t h er ev i d en ce ad d res s i n g th i s i ss u e. Referri n g

t o t h e h eari n g i n p refat o ry l an gu ag e i n t he t em p o r a r y c o n s en t o rd er, t h e t ri al co u rt

s t at es m erel y

t h at t h e “ m at t er h a [

d ] b een s ch ed

u l ed fo r an em erg en cy

h eari n g ” an d

t h at “ t h e p art i es h a[d ] en g ag ed i n s et t l em en t n eg o t i at i o n s an d res o l v ed al l m at t ers to

b e ad d res s ed at t h e heari n g o n a t em p o rary b as i s wi t h o ut p res en t i n g e v i d e n c e o r

a r g u m en t [.] ” (Em

p h as i s s u p p l i ed

. ) I n t h e ab s en ce o f ev i d en ce s h o wi ng t h at t h e

5d efen d an t s h ad

, i n fact

, m ad e a g en eral ap p earan ce b efo re th e t ri al co u rt at t h at t i m e,

we m u s t as s um e t h at wh at o ccu rred b efo re t h e t ri al co u rt s u p p o rt ed t h e t ri al co urt ’ s

u l t i m at e d et erm i n at i o n

. See Gr i f f i n v. Tr a vel er

s In s

. Co

. , 2 3 0 Ga. Ap p

. 6 6 5, 6 6 6 (4 9 7

SE2 d 2 57 ) (1 9 9 8 ) (ap p el l an t h as b u rd en o f s h o wi n g erro r b y t h e r e co rd an d wh ere

reco rd d o es n o t i n cl u de p ro o f n eces s ary t o d et erm i n e i s su es o n ap p eal

, ap p el l at e co u rt

m u st as s u m e ju d g m en t b el o w was co rrect ).

Seco n d

, as t o t h e d efen d an t s ’ co n s en t t o t h e t em p o rary co n s en t o rd er o n i s s u es

rai s ed b y t h e T RO req u es t

, i t i s t ru e t h at p l ead i n g i n wri t i ng t o t h e m eri t s o f a cas e can

wai v e s erv i ce. Ro b er t

s , 1 8 3 Ga. Ap p

. at 7 5 3 (2 ). Fo r p u rp o s es o f o ur an al y s i s we wi l l

as s u m e wi t h ou t d eci d i n g th a t a d efen d an t ’ s co n s en t t o a t em p o rary o rd er res o l v i n g

i s su es rai s ed i n a TRO req ues t i s s u ch a p lead i n g t o t h e m eri ts an d c a n c o n s t i t u te a

wai v er o f s erv ice.

Hav i n g m ad e t hat as s um

pt i o n , we are faced wi t h an u n u s ual ci rcu m st an ce: t wo

d i fferen t wai v ers o f s erv i ce b y t h e d efen dan t s

– o n e i m p l i ed

, i n t h e fo rm o f t h e

co n sen t t o t h e t em

p o rary o rd er, t h e o t h er ex p res s , i n t h e fo rm o f t h e wri t t en

ack n owl ed gm en t o f s erv i ce – t h at o c c u r r ed o n t h e sam e day b u t t h at g av e ri s e to

d i fferen t d e a d l i n es fo r an s weri n g th e co m p lai n t. See g en eral l y Jo n es v. Jo n es , 2 0 9

Ga. 8 61

, 8 6 5 (1 ) (7 6 SE2 d 8 0 1 ) (1 9 5 3 ) (ack n o w l e d g m en t co n s t i t u t es wai v er o f

6s erv i ce). Th e pla i n tif f a c c e pte d the defen dan ts ’ ack n o wl ed g m en t o f serv i ce, an d wh en

t h e d efen d an ts fi l ed t h ei r an s wer b as ed o n t h e t i m e p eri o d t ri g g ered b y t h at ex p res s

wai v er, t h e p l ai n t iff d id n o t at t h at t i m e ch al l en g e t h e t i m e l i n e s s o f th e an s wer o r

co n ten d t h at t h e defen dan t s w ere i n d efau l t ; i n s t ead t h e pl ai n t i ff fi l ed a m o t i o n fo r

p art i a l s u m m a r y ju d g m en t

, an act i o n t h at co u l d b e v i ewed as a wai v er o f t h e

p l ai n t i f f ’s ri g h t t o a d efau l t ju d g m en t. See g en eral l y La vi a n o v. Tr a vel er s In s

. Co

. ,

2 7 6 Ga. Ap p

. 6 1 1

, 6 1 3 (6 2 4 SE2 d 1 8 9 ) (2 0 0 5) (p l ai nt i ff m ay wai v e st at ut o ry ri g h t to

ju d g m en t f

o l l o wi ng d efau l t b y

p ro ceed i n g wi t h act i o n w it ho u t t ak in g ad v an t ag e o f

h i s ri g h t t o ju d g m en t i n t i m e l y a n d p ro p er m an n er). On l y a f t er t h e t ri al co u rt ru l ed

ag ai n s t hi m o n th at m o ti o n d i d t h e p l ai n ti ff s e e k t o h o l d t h e d efen d an t s i n d efau l t

.

Pret erm i t t i n g wh et h er an i m p l i ed wai v er o f s erv i ce co u l d ev e r t ru m p an ex p res s

wai v er o f s erv i ce, u n d er t h e ci rcu m s tan ces o f th i s cas e an d i n l i g ht o f G eo rg i a’ s

p o l i cy fav o ri ng d eci s i o n s o n t h e m eri t s o f cas es o ver d efau l t ju d gm en t s , s ee Pl ea t s

,

In c. v. OMS

A, In c. , 2 1 1 G a. Ap p . 6 4 3 , 6 4 4 (1 ) (4 4 0 SE2 d 2 1 4 ) (1 9 9 3 ), we v i ew t h e

ex p res s wai v er o f s erv i ce rat her t h an th e i m p l i ed wai v er o f s erv i ce t o h av e t ri g g ered

t h e 3 0 -d ay

an s w er p eri o d , m ak i n g t h e d efen d an t s ’ an s wer t i m el y u n der OCGA § 9

-

1 1 -4 (h ).

3

. “Mo t io n f

or Lea ve t o Op en Po t en t i a l Def a u l t ”(Ca s e No . A1 6

A0 1 2 2 ).

7Th e p l ai n t i ff arg u es t h at t h e t ri al c o u r t e r red i n g ran t i n g t h e d efen d an t s ’

“ M ot i o n fo r L eav e t o Op en Po ten t i al Defau l t .” In t hat m o t io n , t h e d efen d an ts arg u ed

t h at

, i f th ey were in defau l t

, t h ey s h o u l d b e p erm i tt ed t o o p en t h e d efau l t

. Becau s e t h e

d efen d an t s were n o t i n d efau lt

, t h e m o t i o n was m o o t

. See Ri ch a r ds v. W el l s Fa rg o

Ba n k

, 32 5 Ga. Ap p

. 7 22

, 7 2 6 (5 ) (b ) (7 5 4 SE2 d 7 7 0) (2 01 4 ) (“ A m o t i o n i s m o o t wh en

a d et erm i n at i o n i s s o u g h t o n a m at t er wh i ch

, wh en ren d e r e d

, c a n n ot h av e an y

p ract i cal effect o n th e ex i st i n g co n t ro v ers y .”) (ci t at i on an d pu n ct uat i o n o m i t t ed ). So

i t was d u e t o b e d e n i e d as m o o t

. Cf. Ba ez v. Mi l l er , 2 6 6 Ga. 2 1 1 (4 6 5 SE2 d 6 7 1 )

(1 9 9 6) (affi rm i n g t ri al co u rt ’s o rd er d en y i n g as m o o t ap p el l an t’ s req u es t fo r

m an d am u s wh ere ap p el l ee h ad p erfo rm ed d u ty th at ap p el l an t s o u g h t t o co m p el ). W e

h ereb y v acat e th e t ri al co u rt ’ s ru l i n g o n th i s m o ti o n an d rem an d t h i s cas e fo r en t ry o f

a ju d g m en t n o t i nco n s i s ten t wi t h o u r o p in i o n

.

Ju d g men t va ca t ed an d ca s e rema n ded wi t h d ir ect i on i n Ca s e No

. A1 6 A0 1 2 2.

Ju d gmen t a f f i r med i n Ca s e N

o

. A1 6 A0 2 7 7

, Mi ll er

, P. J., co n cu r

s

. McMi l l i a n

, J.,

co n cu r s f u l l y i n D i vi s i on s 1, 2 (a

), an d 3 a n d

i n t h e j u d

gmen t o n l y a s t o Di v i s i o n 2

(b )

.

8A1 6 A0 12 2

, A1 6 A0 2 7 7

. SUM M ERS v

. W ASDIN et al (t wo cas es ).

M C M ILLI A N , J u dg e, co n cu rri n g s p eci al l y

.

I co n cu r fu l l y i n D i vi s i on s 1

, 2 (a), an d 3 o f th e m ajo ri t y ’ s o p in i on

. I co n cu r in

ju d g m en t o n l y as t o Di vi s io n 2 (b ) b ecau s e I do n o t ag ree wi t h al l th at i s s ai d i n t h at

d i v i s i on o f th e m ajo ri ty op i n i o n

. Th u s , t he m ajo ri t y ’ s o p i n i o n i n Di v i s i o n 2 (b )

d eci d es o n l y t he i s su es p res en t ed i n t h at di v i s i o n an d m ay n o t be ci t ed as b i n d i n g

p reced en t i n fu t u re cas es

. See Co u rt o f Ap p eal s Ru l e 3 3 (a).