FOURTH D I VI SI ON

DI L LA RD, P. J.

, RI C KM A N and BROWN, 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.

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. ga a ppe a ls .us /r ule s

D E A D LIN E S A R E N O LO N G E R TO LLE D IN T

H I S

C O U R T. A LL FILIN G S M U ST B E S U B M I TTE D WITH IN

TH E TIM E S S E T B Y

O U R C O U R T R U LE S

.

D ecem ber 9, 2020



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A2 0 A1 86 7

. PREM IER PAVING G P, INC. et al

. v

. IOU CENTRAL,

INC.

D I LLA R D , Pres i d i n g J u d g e.

Prem i er Pav i n g GP, In c. ap peal s fro m th e t ri al co u rt ’ s den i al o f i t s m o t i o n fo r

cl as s cert i fi cat i o n an d t h e d i s m i s s al o f i t s cl as s -act i o n co u nt ercl ai m i n IOU Cen t ral

,

In c.’ s l aws u i t ag ai n s t i t fo r breach o f a p ro m i ss o ry n o t e. Prem i er Pav i n g arg u es t h at

t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s o rd er was b as ed o n t wo erro n eo u s co n cl u s i o n s : (1 ) OCGA § 7 -4 -1 8

o n l y ap p l i es t o l o an s o f l es s t h an $ 2 5 0 ,0 0 0 ; a n d ( 2 ) b ecau s e t h e l o an at i ss u e co u ld

h av e been fo r 1 2 m o nt hs

, al l i n t eres t ch arg es s ho u l d b e sp read o v er a 1 2

- m o n th

p eri o d

. Bu t we n eed n o t reach t h e m eri t s o f t h es e i s s u es b ecau se t h e t ri al co u rt

s k i p p ed a c r u ci al s t ep —i t neg l ect ed t o ad d res s, as a t h res h o l d m at ter, w h et h er t h e

cl as s -act i o n prereq ui si t es req u ired b y OCGA § 9-1 1 -2 3 (a) (1 )-(4 ) were s at i s fi ed

. So

,fo r t h i s reas o n , we rev ers e i n p art

, v acat e i n p art

, an d rem an d fo r fu rt h er p ro ceed i ng s

co n si s t en t wi t h t h e o pi n i o n

.

IOU Cen t ral fi led s u i t ag ai n s t Prem ier Pav i n g t o co l l ect u p o n a p ro m i s so ry n o t e

i n t h e p ri n ci p al am ou n t o f $ 2 7 7 ,5 0 0 .0 0

, t o b e pai d ov er a 1 2 -m o n t h p eri o d.

Sp eci fi cal l y , IOU Cen t ral al l eg ed t h at Prem i er Pav i n g fai l ed t o m ak e t h e ag reed u p o n

p ay m en t s as t h ey cam e d u e, r e s ul t i n g i n defau l t an d Prem i er Pav i n g o wi n g

$ 1 3 2 ,6 6 8 .5 1 in pri n ci p al

, i n t eres t at 1 4

. 2 5 p ercen t

, an d d ifferen t fees i n t h e am o u n t s

o f $ 1 8,7 0 8 .4 0 an d $ 7 5 .0 0

.

Prem i er Pav i n g an s wered IOU Cen t ral ’ s co m p l ai n t an d as s ert ed a cl as s -act i o n

c o un t ercl ai m

. In do i n g so , Prem i er Pav i n g s o ug h t t o s u e IOU Cen t ral o n b eh al f o f

i t sel f an d “ [a] l l b o rro wers wh o t o o k o u t a l o an fro m Pl ai n t i ff fro m 2 0 y ears p ri o r to

t h e fi l in g o f t h i s co un t ercl ai m u n t i l su ch t i m e as th e cl as s i s cert i fi ed wh ere t h e

av erag e m o n t h l y rat e o f i nt eres t o n t h e u s eab l e m o n ey fo r bo rro wers ex ceed ed 5 % p er

m o nt h i n an y m o n t h o f t he l oan ’ s p eri o d

. ” An d as a d efen s e t o IOU Cen t ral ’ s act i o n,

Prem ier Pav i n g as s ert ed t h at t h e l o an at i s s u e was “ u s u ri o u s, i l l eg al [,] an d

u n co ll ect i b l e u n d er OCGA § 7 -4 -1 8 an d OCGA § 7 -4 -3 .”

Th ereaft er, IOU Cen t ral m o v ed to d i s m i s s Prem i er Pav i n g ’ s cl as s -act i o n

co u nt ercl ai m , arg u in g t h at b ecau s e OCGA § 7-4 -3 d id n o t ap p l y t o t h e l o an at i s s ue,

2t h e cl as s -act io n co u n t ercl ai m s h o u l d b e d i s m i s s ed . Fu rt h er, IOU Cen tral co n t en d ed

t h at even i

f t h e st at u te ap pl i ed

, t h e l o a n was s t i l l n o t u s u ri o u s u nd er G eo rg i a l aw.

Prem ier Pav i n g p ro ceed ed b y fi l i n g a m o t i o n fo r cl as s cert i fi cat i o n

.

Th e t ri al co u rt ru l ed u p o n t h e co m p et i n g m o t i o n s i n a s i ng l e ord er, co n cl u d i n g

t h at t h e p ri n ci p al am o u n t o f t he l o an ex ceed ed $ 2 5 0 ,0 00 an d

, t h u s , OCGA § 7 -4 -1 8

(a) d i d n o t ap pl y

. In s t ead

, t h e co u rt d et erm i n ed t h at OCGA § 7 -4 -2 (a) (1 ) (B) ap p l i ed

t o th e l o an

. Th e co u rt al s o no t ed t h at ev en if OCGA § 7 -4 -1 8 (a) ap p l i ed

, t h e rel ev an t

i n t eres t rat e was s t i l l un der 5 p ercen t

. A s a res ul t

, th e co u rt g ran ted IOU Cen t ral ’ s

m o ti o n t o d i sm i ss th e cl as s -act i o n co un t ercl ai m an d d en i ed Prem i er Pav i n g ’ s m o t i o n

fo r cl as s cert i fi cat i o n

. IOU Cen t ral t hen m o ved fo r s u m m ary ju d g m en t, an d t h at

m o ti o n rem ai n s p en d in g aft er Prem i er Pav i n g fi l ed i t s n o t i ce o f ap p eal

. 1 Th i s ap p eal

fo l l o w s

.

Prem i er Pav i ng arg u es t h at t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s o rd er— d i s m i s s i n g i t s cl as s -act i o n

co u nt ercl ai m an d d en y i n g i t s m o t io n fo r cl as s cert ifi cat i o n

— i s b as ed o n t w o

erro neo u s co n cl u s io ns : (1 ) OCGA § 7 -4 -1 8 o n ly a p p l i e s t o l o an s of l es s t h an

1 W e h av e ju ri s d i ct i o n o ver t h i s ap p eal b ecau s e OCGA § 9 -1 1 -2 3 (g ) p ro v i d es

t h a t “ [a] co u rt ’ s o rd er cert i fy i n g a cl as s o r refu s i n g t o cert i fy a cl as s s h a l l b e

ap p eal ab l e i n t h e s am e m an n er as a fi n al o r d e r t o t h e ap pel l at e co u rt wh i ch wo u ld

o t h erwi s e h av e ju ri s d i ct i o n o v er t h e ap p eal fro m a fi n al o rd er i n t h e act io n .”

3$ 2 5 0 ,0 0 0 ; an d (2 ) b ecau s e t h e l o an at i s s u e co u l d h a v e b e e n fo r 1 2 m o n t h s , al l

i n t eres t ch arg es s h o u l d b e sp read o v er a 1 2 -m o n t h p eri od

. Bu t as p rev io u s ly n o t ed

,

we n eed n o t reach t hes e is s u es b ecau s e t h e tri al co u r t n eg l ect ed t o ad d res s , as a

t h res ho l d m at t er, wh et h er t h e cl as s -act i o n p rereq u i si tes req ui red b y OCGA § 9 -1 1 -2 3

(a) (1 )-(4 ) were s at i s fi ed

.

W h et h er t o cert i fy

a cl as s i s “ a m at t er co m

m i t t ed t o t h e d i scret i o n o f t h e t ri al

co u rt

, b u t an y ex erci s e o f t h at d i s cret i o n m u s t co m p o rt wi t h t h e s t at u t o ry

req u i rem en t s .” 2 So , t h e cert i fi cat i o n o f a cl as s i s “ ap p ro p ri at e o n l y to th e ex t en t t h e

t ri al co u rt is s at i s fi ed

, aft er ri g o ro u s an al y s i s , t h at th e s tat u t o ry req u i rem en t s h av e

b een s at i s fi ed .” 3 An d h ere, i t i s cl ear fro m bo t h t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s o rd er— as wel l as t h e

p art i es ’ b ri efs

— t h at t h e co u rt d i s m i s s ed Prem i er Pav i n g ’ s cl as s -act io n co u n t ercl ai m

a n d d en i ed i t s m o t io n fo r cl as s cert i fi cat i o n s o l el y on t h e m e r i t s o f IOU Cen t ral ’ s

2 Ga .-Pa c. Co n s

. Pr o d

s., LP v. Ra t n er , 29 5 Ga. 5 24

, 52 6 (1 ) (7 6 2 SE2 d 4 1 9 ) (2 0 1 4) (ci t at io n o m i t t ed ); s ee Gl yn n Cn t y. v. Co l ema n , 3 3 4 Ga. Ap p . 5 5 9 , 5 5 9 (7 7 9

SE2 d 7 5 3) (2 0 1 5) (“ [O] n ap p el l at e rev i ew o f a t ri al co u rt ’ s d eci s io n o n a m o t i o n t o

cert ify a cl as s , t h e d i scret i o n o f t h e t r i a l j u d g e i n cert i fy i n g o r refu si n g t o cert ify a cl as s act i o n i s t o b e res pect ed i n al l cas es wh ere no t ab u s ed .” (p u n ct uat i o n o m i t t ed )).

3 Ra t n er , 2 9 5 Ga. at 5 2 6 (1 ) (cl ean ed u p ); s ee a l s o Gen

. Tel

. Co

. o

f t h e S o u t h wes t v. F

a l co n , 4 5 7 U. S. 1 4 7

, 1 61 (III) (1 0 2 SCt 2 3 6 4

, 7 2 LEd 2 d 7 4 0 ) (1 9 8 2 ).

4m o ti o n t o d i s m i s s fo r fai l u re t o s t at e a cl ai m u po n wh i ch rel i ef can b e g ran t ed

. Bu t as

we h av e p rev i o u s l y

ex p l ai n ed , u n d er OCGA § 9 -1 1 -2 3 (f) (3 ),

[w] h en d eci d i n g wh et h er a req u es t ed cl as s i s t o b e cert i fi ed

, t h e [t ri al ]

co u rt sh al l en t er a wri t t en o rd er ad dres s i n g wh et h er t h e fact o rs req u i red

b y t h is Co de sect i on fo r cert i fi cat i o n o f a cl as s h av e been m et an d

s p eci fy i ng t h e fi n di ng s o f fact an d co n cl us i o ns o f law on w h i ch t h e co u rt

h as b as ed i ts d eci si o n wi t h reg ard t o wh et h er each s u ch fact o r h as b een

es t ab l i sh ed

. 4

An d t ho s e fact o rs are as fo l l o ws :

(1 ) [t ] h e cl as s i s s o n u m ero u s th at j o i n d er o f al l m em b ers i s

i m p ract icab l e;

(2 ) [t ] h ere are q u es t i o n s o f l aw o r fact co m m o n t o t h e cl as s ;

(3 ) [t ] h e cl ai m s o r defen s es o f th e rep res e n t a t i v e part i es are t y pi cal o f

t h e cl ai m s o r d efen s es o f t h e cl as s ; an d

4 Peck v. La n i er Go l

f Cl u b

, In c. , 29 8 Ga. Ap p

. 5 5 5

, 5 5 7 -5 8 ( 6 8 0 SE2 d 5 9 5 ) (2 0 0 9) (p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ); a cco r d Ga y v. B.H. Tr an s

f er Co

. , 2 8 7 Ga. Ap p

. 6 1 0,

6 1 3 (6 5 2 SE2 d 2 0 0 ) (2 0 0 7 ) (p h y s i cal p reced e n t o n l y ); s ee McDo n a l d Oi l Co

. v. Ci a no cch i

, 2 8 5 Ga. Ap p

. 8 2 9

, 8 2 9 (1 ) (6 4 8 SE2 d 1 5 4) (2 0 0 7 ) (“ OCGA § 9 -1 1 -2 3 (f) (1 ) req u ires t h e co u rt t o h o l d a h ear i n g o n t h e i ss u e o f cl as s cert i fi cat i o n , an d

s u b s ect i o n (f) (3 ) req u ires t h e co u rt t o ‘ en t er a wri tt en o rd er ad dres s i n g wh et h er t h e fact ors req u i r e d b y t h i s Co d e sect i o n fo r cert i fi cat i o n o f a cl as s h av e b een m et an d

s p eci fy in g t h e fi n d i n gs o f fact an d co n cl u s i o n s o f l aw o n wh i ch th e co urt h as b as ed

i t s d eci s i o n wi t h reg ard t o wh et h er each s u ch fact o r h as b een es t ab l i s hed .’ ”).

5(4 ) [t ] h e rep res en tat i v e p art i es wi l l fai rl y an d a d e q u at el y p ro t ect th e

i n t eres t s o f t he cl as s

. 5

W h i l e i t i s cert ai n l y ap p ro p ri at e t o “ co n s i d er t h e m eri t s o f t h e act i on s o u g h t to

b e cert i fi ed t o th e d eg ree n eces sary t o d et erm i n e wh et h er t h e req ui rem en t s o f OCGA

§ 9 -1 1-2 3 hav e b een s a t i s f i e d

, ” 6 t h es e m eri t s q u es t i o n s “ m ay b e co n si d ered t o t h e

ex t en t

— b u t o nl y t o t h e ex ten t

— t h at t h ey are r e l e v an t t o d et erm i n i n g wh et h er t h e

5 O CGA § 9 -1 1 -2 3 (a) (1 )-(4 ). Sh o u l d t h es e i n i t i al req ui rem en t s b e s at i s fi e d

, t h e t ri al co u rt t h en m

u st co n s id er wh et h er o n e o r m o re o f t h e ad d it io n al req ui rem en t s d el i n eat ed i n OCGA § 9 -1 1 -2 3 (b ) (1 )-(3 ) h av e b een m et

. S ee O CGA § 9 -1 1 -2 3 (b ) (p ro v i d i n g t h at “ [a] n act i o n m ay b e m ai n tai n ed as a cl as s act i o n i f t h e p rereq u i s it es

o f s u b sect i o n (a) o f t h i s Co d e s ect io n are s at i s fi ed

, a n d

, i n a d d i t i o n ” at l eas t o n e o f

t h ree o th er p rereq u i s i t es i s m et ); Do ct o r s Ho s p

. S u r g er y Ct r

., L.P. v. W

eb b

, 3 0 7 Ga. Ap p

. 4 4

, (7 0 4 SE2 d 1 8 5 ) (2 0 1 0 ) ( “ T h u s , t o o b t ai n cl as s act i on cert i fi cat i o n , t h e

n am ed i n d i v id ual s are req u ired t o s at i s fy al l fo u r p rereq u i s i t es o f OCGA § 9 -1 1 -2 3 (a), an d at l eas t o n e of t h e req u i rem en t s s et fo rt h i n OCGA § 9 -1 1

- 2 3 (b ).” (p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed )); s ee a l s o Amo s v. Ad

va n ced Fu n d i n g

, In c. , Ci v i l Act i o n No

. 1 : 0 4 -CV-2 91 1 -CCH, 2 0 0 7 W L 9 7 0 1 5 5 1

, * 1 0 (IV) (N.D. Ga. 20 0 7) (“ [T] h e Co u rt

co n cl u d es t h at Pl ai n t i ffs h av e n o t m et t hei r b u rd en t o es t ab l i s h al l o f t he Ru l e 2 3 (a)

req u i rem en t s

. Acco rd i ng l y , i t i s n o t n eces s ary t o ex am i n e Pl ai n t i ffs cl ai m s t h at t h ey

s at i s fy t h e req u i s i t es o f . . . Ru l e 2 3 (b ).”).

6 P eck

, 2 9 8 Ga. A p p. at 5 5 8 ; s ee Ra t n er , 2 95 Ga. at 5 2 7 (1 ) (“ ‘ Th e cl as s d et erm i n at i o n g en eral l y i nv ol v es co n s i d erat i o ns t h at are en m es hed i n t he fact u al an d

l eg al i ss u es c o m

p ri si n g t h e p l ai n t i ff’ s cau s e o f act io n

. ’ ” (q u o t in g W al -Ma r t S t o r es

, In c. v. Du kes

, 5 6 4 US 3 3 8

, 3 5 1 (II) (A) (1 31 SCt 2 54 1

, 1 80 LE2 d 3 74 ) (2 0 1 1 )); Ri t e Ai d o f Ga

., In c. v. Pea co ck

, 3 1 5 Ga. Ap p

. 5 7 3, 5 75 (1 ) (7 2 6 SE2 d 5 7 7 ) (2 0 1 2 ) (s am e).

6p rereq u i s i t es fo r cl as s cert i fi cat i o n are sat i sfi ed .” 7 As a res u l t, an y as s ert i on t h at t h e

n am ed p l ai n t i ff “ can n o t prev ai l o n h er cl ai m s d o es n ot co m p ri s e an ap pro p ri at e b as i s

fo r d en y i n g cl as s cert i fi cat i on .” 8 An d h ere, t h at is p reci s el y wh at o ccu rred wh en t h e

t ri al co u rt fo u n d

, in effect

, t h at t h e OCGA § 9 -1 1 -2 3 req ui rem en t s were m o o t b ecau s e

t h ere was n o m eri t t o t h e act i on

. 9 T h u s , b ecau s e t h e t ri al co u rt d id n ot m ak e t h e

7 Mi ll er v. Dea l

, 2 95 Ga. 5 0 4

, 5 1 1 (2 ) n .1 2 (7 6 1 SE2 d 2 7 4 ) (2 0 14 ) (p u n ct u at i o n

o m it t ed ), q u o t i n g Amg en v. Co n n

. Ret i r emen t Pl a n s & Tr u s t Fu n d s ,

_ _ U.S._

_ ,

_ _ (II) (A) (1 3 3 SCt 1 18 4

, 11 9 5 (II) (A), 1 8 5 LE2 d 3 0 8 ) (2 0 13 ) (ci t at i o ns o m i t t ed ); s ee W a l

M a r t S t o r es

, In c. v. D u kes

, 5 64 US 3 3 8

, 35 1 (II) (A) n .6 (1 3 1 SCt 25 4 1

, 1 8 0 L E2 d

3 7 4 ) (2 0 1 1) (ex p l ai n in g th at a d i s tri ct co u rt h as n o “ au t h o ri t y to co n d u ct a

p rel i m i n a r y i n q u i r y i nt o t he m eri t s o f a s u i t ” at cl as s cert i fi cat i o n u n l es s i t i s

n eces s ary “ t o d et erm i n e t h e p ro p ri et y o f cert i fi cat i o n ”).

8 Co l ema n , 33 4 Ga. Ap p

. at 5 59 -6 0 (p u nct u at i o n o m i tt ed ); a cco r d Vi l la g e Au to

In s

. Co

. , In c. v. Ru s h

, 2 8 6 G a. Ap p

. 6 8 8

, 6 9 2 (2 ) (6 4 9 SE2 d 8 6 2 ) (2 0 0 7); Ta yl o r Au to
Gr p

. , In c. v. Jes si e , 2 4 1 Ga. Ap p . 6 0 2 , 6 0 3 (2 ) (5 2 7 SE2 d 2 5 6 ) (1 9 9 9); s ee Ei s en v. Ca r l is l e & Ja cq u el i n , 41 7 US 1 5 6

, 1 7 8 (III) (B) (9 4 SCt 2 1 40

, 4 0 LE2 d 7 3 2 ) (1 9 7 4 ) (“ In d e t e r m i n i n g t h e p ro p ri et y o f a cl as s act i o n, t h e q ues t i o n is n o t wh et h er t h e

p l ai n t i ff o r p l ai nt iffs h av e s t at ed a cau s e o f act i o n o r wi l l p rev ai l o n t h e m e r i t s , b ut

rat h er wh et h er t h e req u i rem en t s o f Ru l e 2 3 are m et .” (p u nct u at i o n o m it t ed )); S t a

Po wer In d

u s

., In c. v. Ava n t

, 13 4 G a. Ap p

. 95 2

, 9 5 4 (1 ) (2 16 SE2 d 8 9 7 ) (1 9 7 5 ) (s am e).

9 S ee Peck

, 2 98 Ga. Ap p

. at 5 5 8 (“ [T] h e t ri al co u rt i n th i s cas e fo u n d

, i n effect

, t h at t h o s e req u i rem en t s were m o o t b ecau s e t h ere was n o m eri t to t h e act i o n .”). Cf

. P e r e z v. At l a n t a Ch eck Ca s h i er s

, In c. , 3 02 Ga. Ap p

. 86 4

, 8 7 0 n .8 (6 9 2 SE2 d 6 7 0 ) ( 2 0 1 0 ) (“ Becau s e t he tri al co u rt co ns i d ered t h e m eri t s of [t h e] cl ai m s o n l y t o t h e

ex t en t n eces s ary t o co n d u ct t h e p red o m i n a n ce i n q ui ry [o f t h e cl as s -cert i fi cat i o n

an al y s i s] , t h e co urt co m

m i tt ed n o erro r.”).

7n eces s ary fi n d in g s o f fact an d co n cl u s i o n s o f l aw, th ere i s n o t h in g i n t he o rd er fo r u s

t o ev al u at e. 1 0

Acco rd i ng l y , fo r al l t h es e r e a s o n s , t h e ju dg m en t o f t h e t ri al co u rt i s rev ers ed

t o t h e ex t en t i t d en i ed t he m o t i o n fo r cl as s -act i o n cert i fi cat i o n b y l o o k i n g s o l el y t o t h e

m e r i t s o f th e co un tercl ai m

. 1 1 An d t o t h e ex t en t th e t ri al co u rt fai l ed t o p ro p erl y

1 0 S ee P eck

, 29 8 Ga. Ap p

. at 5 5 8 (“ [I] n d et er m i n i ng t h e p ro p ri et y o f a cl as s

act i on , th e fi rs t i s su e t o be res o l v ed i s n o t wh et h er t h e p l ai nt i ffs hav e s tat ed a cau s e

o f act i on o r m ay ul t i m at el y p rev ai l o n t h e m e r i t s b u t wh et h er t h e req u irem en t s o f [OCGA § 9 -1 1 -2 3 ] h av e b een m et

. . . . Becau s e t h e t ri al co u rt d i d n o t m ak e t h e

n e c e s s ary fi n d i n g s o f fact an d co n cl u s i o n s of l aw, we h av e n o b as i s t o ev al u at e wh et h er t h e t ri al co u r t p ro p erl y ex erci s ed i t s d i s cret i o n i n g ran t i n g cl as s

cert ifi cat i o n .” (ci t at i on s & pu n ct u at i o n o m it t ed )); Al l i a n ce Cr ed i t Co u n s el i n g

, In c.

v. Tr u mi a r , 3 05 Ga. Ap p

. 27

, (6 9 9 SE2 d 3 7 6 ) (2 0 1 0 ) (“ Becau s e t h e t ri al co u rt d i d n ot

m ak e th e n eces s ary fi n di ng s o f fact an d co n cl u s i on s o f l aw, we h av e n o b a s i s to

ev al u at e wh et h er t h e t ri al co u rt p r o p erl y ex erci s ed i t s d i s cret i on i n g ran t i n g cl as s

cert ifi cat i o n .” (p u nct u at io n o m i t t ed )); Gr i f f i n In d u s

. v. Gr een , 2 8 0 Ga. Ap p

. 8 5 8

, 8 6 0 (1 ) (6 35 SE2 d 2 3 1 ) (2 0 0 6 ) (s am e); s ee a l s o Un i t ed Co s . Len d i ng

Co r p

. v. Pea co ck

, 2 6 7 Ga. 1 4 5

, 1 4 6 -4 7 (1 ) (4 7 5 SE2 d 60 1 ) (1 9 9 6 ) (co n cl ud i n g t h a t r e m an d was

n eces s ary wh en th e t ri al co u rt fai l ed t o m ak e s peci fi c fi n di n g s o f fact b efo re g ran t i n g

a p erm an en t i n

ju n ct i on ).

1 1 S ee Peck

, 2 98 Ga. Ap p

. at 5 58 (rev ers i n g ju d g m en t t o th e ex t en t co u rt d en i ed

m o ti o n fo r cl as s act i o n cert i fi cat i o n b y l o o k i n g o nl y t o m eri t s o f act i o n ); G a y v. B.H.

Tr a ns f er Co

. , 2 8 7 Ga. Ap p

. at 6 1 3 (p h y s i cal p reced en t o nl y ) (“ Th e ju d g m en t o f t h e

t ri al co u rt i s rev ers ed t o t he ex t en t t h e co u rt d en i ed t h e m o t i o n fo r cl as s a c t i o n

cert ifi cat i o n b y l oo k i n g s o l el y t o t h e m eri t s o f t h e act i o n [.] ”); s ee al s o Mi l l er , 2 9 5 Ga.

at 51 1 (2 ) n

. 1 2 (“ [C] l as s cert i fi cat i o n i s n o t i n t en d ed t o b e a m ech an i s m fo r d eci d i n g

t h e m eri t s o f a cas e.”); Ki r kp a t r i ck v. J.C. Br ad

f or d & Co

. , 8 27 F2 d 7 18

, 7 23 (II) (A) (1 1 t h Ci r. 19 8 7 ) (n o t i n g t hat d i s t ri ct co u rt ’ s co ncl u s io n t hat cl ai m was i m p ro p er fo r cl as s t reat m en t was m ad e o n an erro n eo us bas i s wh en t h e d is t ri ct co urt co n s i d ered t h e

8an al y ze t h e req u i rem en t s o f OCGA § 9 -1 1 -2 3 (a) (1 )-(4 ), t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s ju d g m en t

i s v a c a t ed

, an d t h e cas e i s rem an d ed fo r en t ry of a m o re det ai l ed o rd er ad d res s i n g

t h es e an d an y

o t h er req u i rem en t s

. 1 2

Ju d g men t r ever

s ed i n p a r t

, va ca t ed i n p a r t

, a n d ca s e rema n ded wi t h d i r ect i o n.

Ri ckma n a n d

Br o wn , JJ., co n cu r

.

p l ai n t i ffs ’ l i kel i h o o d o f s u cces s o n t h e cl ai m s ).

1 2 See Peck

, 2 9 8 Ga. A p p

. at 5 5 8 (v acat i n g an d rem an di n g fo r reco n s i d erat i o n

o f c l a s s cert i fi cat io n ); Ga y , 2 8 7 Ga. Ap p

. at 6 1 3 (p h y s ical p reced en t o nl y ) (s am e);

Ci a no cch i

, 2 8 5 Ga. Ap p

. at 8 2 9 (1 ) (s am e); Gr if f i n In d u s

. , 2 8 0 Ga. A pp

. at 8 6 0 (1 ) (s am e); see a l

s o n o t e 4 s u

p r a

.

9