FI FTH DI VI SI ON

M CFA DDEN, P. J.

, BRA NCH and BETHEL, 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 27, 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 17 7 . ROCKER v . FIRST BANK OF DALTON.

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

J o h n Ro ck er ap p eal s fro m an o rd er o f th e W h i t fi el d C o u n ty Su peri o r Co u rt

wh i ch fo u n d Ro ck er in co n t em p t o f co u rt b as ed o n h i s f a i l u r e t o co m

p l y wi t h a

s u b p oen a fo r t he pro d uct i o n o f d o cu m e n t s s e r v ed o n h i m b y Fi rs t Ban k o f Dal t o n

d u ri n g p o s t -ju dg m en t d i s co very

. Al t h o u g h Ro cke r d o es n o t ch al l en g e t h e tri al co urt ’ s

fi nd i ng of co n t em

p t, h e cl ai m s t h at th e co n t em p t ord er fai ls t o co m

p l y wi th Geo rg i a

l aw i n t wo res p ect s

. Fi rs t

, Ro ck er co n t en ds t h at t he p u rg e co n d i t i o n s i n t he co n t em pt

o rd er are t o o i n defi n it e to al l o w h i m t o d et erm i n e wh at d o cu m en t s he m u s t p ro d uce

t o p urg e h i m s el f o f co n t em p t

. Ro ck er fu rt h er as s ert s t h at th e o rd er i s s el f-ex ecu t i n g,

i n t h at i t req u i red Ro ck er t o rep o rt t o jai l wi t h ou t affo rd i n g hi m a h eari n g to

d et e r m i n e wh et h er h e h ad m et t h e p u rg e co nd i t i o ns

. W e ag ree wi t h Ro ck er an d wet h erefo re v a c a t e t h e co n t em p t o rd er an d rem an d fo r th e en t ry of a n ew o rd er t h at

rem ed ies t he d efi ci en ci es co m p l ai ned o f.

As a g en eral ru le, w h ere an o r d e r o f ci v i l co n t em p t i s s u p p o rt ed b y at l eas t

s o m e ev i d en ce, w e wi l l n o t di st u rb th at ord er ab sen t an ab us e o f d i s cret i o n b y t h e t ri al

co u rt

. Th o mp s o n v. S t a t e

, 2 9 4 Ga. Ap p

. 3 63 (6 7 0 SE2 d 1 5 2) (2 00 8 ). Su ch an ab u s e

o f d i s cret i o n o ccu rs wh ere t h e t ri al co urt ei t h er fai l s t o ap p l y o r m i sap p l i es t h e

rel ev an t l aw. See No rt h Dr u i d Dev. v. Po st

, Bu ckl ey, S

ch uh & Jer n i

g a n

, 3 3 0 Ga. Ap p.

4 3 2

, 44 1 (7 6 7 SE2 d 2 9 ) (2 0 1 4 ) (o n m o t io n fo r reco n s i derat i o n ); Ma t h i s v. B el l S o u th

Tel eco mmu n i ca t i on s

, 3 0 1 Ga. Ap p

. 8 81 (6 9 0 SE2 d 2 1 0 ) (2 0 1 0 ). Ad d i t i o n al l y

, t o t h e

ex t en t t h at t h e q u es t i on o f t h e v al i d i t y o f a co n t em p t o rd er i nv o l v es a q u es ti o n o f l aw,

we rev i ew t h at q u es t io n d e n ov o

. See Ca l l a wa y Bl u e S p r i n g s v. W es t Ba si n Ca

p i t a l

,

3 4 1 Ga. Ap p . 5 3 5 , 5 3 7 (1 ) (8 01 SE2 d 3 2 5 ) (2 0 1 7).

Th e rel e v a n t fact s are u n d i s pu t ed 1 an d s h o w t h at Ro ck er i s a p ri n ci p al in

Karo ck

, LLC. In 2 0 0 5, Karo ck o b t ai n ed a l o an i n t h e am ou n t o f $ 1

, 3 43 ,0 2 2 .7 0 fro m

Fi rs t B an k o f Dal t o n (“ t h e Ban k ”) t h at was s ecu red b y b ot h cert ai n real p ro p ert y

l o cat ed i n W h i t fi el d Co u n t y an d Ro ck er’ s p ers o n al g u aran t y

. Aft er Karo ck d efau l t ed

1 Ro ck er has n o t ap p eal ed t h e t ri al co u r t ’s f i n d i n g o f co n t em

p t an d t h erefo re

co n ced es t h at t h e ev i den ce s up p o rt s t h at fi nd i n g

.

2o n t h e l o an

, t h e Ban k fo recl o sed o n t h e p ro p ert y an d so l d i t at au ct i o n fo r $ 8 4 1 ,0 0 0,

l eav i ng a d efi ci en cy o f $ 5 3 9,3 8 2 .0 4

. Th e Ban k t h en o b t ai n ed a ju d i ci al co nfi rm at i o n

o f t h e s al e, 2 an d i n Decem b e r 2 0 1 1

, i t fi l ed th e cu rren t act i o n ag ai n s t Karo ck an d

Ro ck er s eek i n g t o reco ver th e am o u n t d u e u n d er t h e n o t e. Ro ck er a n d K aro ck

co n sen t ed t o t h e en t ry o f j u d gm en t ag ai n s t th em

, an d i n Oct o b er 2 0 12

, t h e t ri al co u rt

en t ered an ord er o f ju d g m en t ag ai ns t Karo ck an d Ro ck er jo i n t l y an d sev eral l y i n t h e

am ou n t o f $ 6 8 5 ,7 4 4 .0 0

. 3

In Decem ber 2 0 1 2, t h e Ban k s erv ed i t s fi rs t p o s t -ju d g m en t d i s co v ery req u es t s

o n Ro ck er i n an effo rt t o co l l ect o n i t s ju d g m en t

. A s d et ai l ed i n t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s o rd er,

Ro ck er was no t co op erat i v e wi t h t h e d i s co v er y p r o ces s an d w as es p eci al l y

u n co op erat i v e wi t h res p ect t o t h e s ch ed u l in g an d tak i n g o f h i s d ep o s i t i o n

. Ro ck er’ s

n o n co m p l i an ce wi t h d i s co v ery l ed th e Ban k t o o b t ai n a s u bp o en a req u i ri n g Ro ck er

t o ap pear fo r h i s d ep o s i t i o n o n J u l y 2 4

, 20 1 5 an d t o p ro d u ce cert ai n d o cu m en t s at t h at

t i m e. Ro ck er di d n o t ap p e a r f o r t h e d ep o s i t i on n ot i ced i n th e s u b p o en a, b u t h e

2 T h e t ri al c o u r t co nfi rm ed t h e fo recl o su re s al e i n an o rd er en t ered Ap ri l 1 2,

2 0 1 0

, an d t h i s co urt s u b s eq u en t l y affi rm ed t h at o rd er p u rs u an t t o Co u rt o f Ap p eal s

Ru l e 3 6 i n an u n p u b l is h ed o p i n i o n . See Ka r o ck, LLC v. Fi r s t Ba nk o f Da l t o n (Cas e

No . A1 1 A0 9 5 6, d eci d ed No v em b er 4 , 2 0 1 1 .)

3 T h is am o u nt rep res en t ed $ 5 3 9 ,3 8 2

. 0 4 i n p ri n ci p a l

, $5 6

, 6 5 0.1 4 i n i n t eres t

, $ 8 9 ,4 0 4 .8 2 i n at to rn ey

fees , an d $ 3 0 7 i n co s t s

.

3ev en tu al l y ag reed t o s i t fo r a d ep o s i t i o n on Sep t em b er 1 7

, 2 0 15

. Ro ck er

, h o w e v e r

,

ab ru p t l y t erm i n at ed t he Sep t em b er dep o s i t i o n b efo re th e Ba nk’ s a tt o rn ey was t h ro u g h

q u es ti o n i n g hi m an d ov er t he ob ject i o n o f th e Ban k

. Th e Ban k t h en n eg ot i at ed wi th

Ro ck er’ s at t orn ey s fo r sev eral m o n t h s i n an effo rt t o s ch ed u l e a co n ti nu at i o n o f

R o c k e r’ s d ep o s i t i o n

. W h en t hes e effo rt s fai l ed an d Ro ck er co n ti nu ed i n h i s refu s al

t o co o perat e, t he Ban k fi l ed a m o t i o n fo r co n t em p t o n Ap ri l 2 1 , 2 01 6

.

Aft er h o l d i n g a h eari ng o n t h e co n t em p t m o t i o n

, th e t ri al co u rt i s s u ed an o rd er

o n J u n e 20

, 2 0 1 6 (t he “ Pro d u ct i o n Ord er”), req u i ri n g Ro ck er t o p ro d u ce, n o l at er t h an

J u n e 3 0

, 2 01 6, al l do cu m en t s n o t p rev i o u s l y p r o d u c ed t h at were res p on s iv e t o t h e

J u l y 20 1 5 s u b p o en a an d t o ap p ear fo r h i s co n t in u ed d ep o s it i on o n Au g u s t 1 9

, 2 0 1 6.

Ad d i t i o n al l y

, th e Pro d u ct i o n O rd er co n t i n ued t h e h eari n g o n t h e co n t em p t m o t i o n

u n t i l Au g u s t 2 6 , 2 0 1 6

.

Fo l l owi n g e n try o f t h e Pro d u ct io n O rd er, Ro ck er p ro du ced ad d i t i o n al

d o cu m e n t s an d ap peared fo r t h e Au g u s t 19 d ep os i t i o n. Du ri n g th at d ep o s i t i o n,

h o wev er, Ro ck er ad m i t t ed t h at h e h ad acces s t o o r p o s s es s io n o f cert ai n d o cu m en t s

t h at were res p on s i v e t o t h e Ban k ’ s s u b p o en a, b ut t hat h e h ad no t y et p ro d u ced t h o s e

d o cu m en t s

.

4At t h e Au g us t 26 co n t em p t h eari n g, t h e t ri al c o u r t rev i ewed Ro ck er’ s

co m p l ian ce wi t h th e Pro d u ct i o n Ord er an d h eard arg u m en t s fro m t h e p a r t i es as to

wh et h er Ro ck er had p ro d u ce d a ll subpoe na e d doc um e nts. T h e co u rt t h ereaft er en t ered

an o rd er (t h e “ Co n tem

pt O rd er”) f

i n d i ng Ro ck er i n co n t em p t fo r fai l i n g t o co m

p l y

fu l l y wi t h t h e Pro d u ct i o n Ord er. Th e Co n t em p t O rd er req u i red Ro ck er t o b e co n fi n ed

t o t h e W h i t fi el d Co u n t y jai l “ fo r a m ax i m u m of 2 0 d ay s co m

m en ci n g at 8 : 0 0 p .m

. o n ”

N o v em b er 1 1

, 20 1 6

, b u t fu rt h er p ro v i d ed t h at Ro ck er co u l d p u rg e h i m s el f o f

co n tem p t i f, b efo re 8: 0 0 p .m

. o n No v em b er 1 1, h e p ai d a $ 3 0 0 fi n e an d “ p ro d u ce[d ]

an y d o cu m en t s t h at h av e been r e q u e s t e d

. . . an d th at h av e no t b een p ro d u ced

,

i n cl u d i n g

, b u t n o t l i m i t ed t o ,” 1 0 sp eci fi c c a t eg ori es o f d o cu m en t s d es cri b ed i n t h e

Co n t em p t Ord er.

On t h e d ay h e was du e t o rep o rt t o t h e W hi t fi el d Co u n t y j ai l

, Ro c k e r f i l e d a

“ n o t i ce o f co m

p l ian ce” w i t h t h e t ri al co u rt st at i n g t h at h e h ad pro d u ced res p o n s i v e

d o cu m en t s fo r each o f th e 1 0 cat eg ori es s peci fi ed i n th e Co n tem pt Ord er. Th at s am e

d ay , Ro ck er al s o fi l ed a n o ti ce o f ap p eal fro m t h e Co n t em

p t Ord er.

1

. A p art y m ay n o t b e p u n i s h ed fo r fai l u re to co m p l y wi th t h e pu rg e co n d i t i on s

o f a co n t em

p t ord er u n les s t h o se co n d i t i o n s are set fo rt h “ i n d efi n i t e t erm s ” t h at are

5ex p res s ra t h e r t h a n i m p li ed

. 4 Ha l l v. Nel

s o n

, 2 82 Ga. 4 4 1

, 4 4 4 (3 ) (6 5 1 SE2 d 7 2 )

(2 0 0 7) (ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at i o n o m it t ed ). S e e a l s o Ca b i n es s v. La mb r o s

, 3 0 3 Ga.

A p p

. 2 53

, 2 5 5 (1 ) (6 9 2 SE2 d 8 1 7 ) (2 0 1 0 ). Th u s

, i f t h e o rd er i s “ n ot su ffi ci en t l y

d efi n i t e an d cert ai n ,” t h at fact m ay co n s t i t u t e a d efen s e t o an as s ert i o n o f

n o n co m p l i an ce. See Sch i s el ma n v. Tr u s t Co

. Ba n k

, 24 6 Ga. 2 7 4

, 2 7 7 (2 ) (2 7 1 SE2 d

1 8 3 ) (1 9 80 ); In r e B u t t e r

f i e l d

, 2 6 5 Ga. Ap p

. 7 4 5

, 7 4 9 (2 ) (5 9 5 SE2 d 5 8 8 ) (2 0 0 4 ).

Here, Ro ck er co n t en d s t h at t h e co nt em p t o rd er i s no t s u ffi ci en tl y d efi n i t e an d cert ai n,

b ecau s e i t req u i res h i m t o “ p ro du ce a n y d ocu m en t s t h a t h a ve b een r eq u es t ed

. . . an d

t h at h av e n ot b een p ro d u ced

, i n cl u d i n g

, b ut no t l i m i t ed t o ,” t h e 1 0 s peci fi c cat eg o ri es

4 In l i g h t o f t he req u i rem en t t h at p u rg e co n d i ti o n s m u s t b e ex pres s

, rat h er t h an

i m p l i ed

, we fi nd n o m e r i t i n t he Ban k ’ s arg u m en t t h at an y u n cert ai n t y as t o wh at

d o cu m en t s Ro ck er was req ui red t o p ro d uce co u l d b e res ol v ed b y referen ce t o t h e

Au g u s t 2 0 1 6 h eari n g t ran s cri p t

. “ [T] h e v ery n at u re o f t he p ro ceed i n g i n ei t h er ci v i l

o r cri m i n al co n tem

pt fo r an al l eg ed d i so b ed i en ce o f a co urt ord er req u i res t h at t h e

l an g u ag e i n t h e co m

m an d s [o f t h e o rd er] b e cl ear an d cert ai n .” Ha l l v. Nel s o n

, 2 8 2

Ga. 4 4 1 , 4 4 4 (3 ) (6 5 1 SE2 d 7 2 ) (2 0 0 7 ) (ci t at i o n an d p un ct u at i o n o m it t ed ).

6o f d o cu m en t s d es cri b ed i n th e o rd er. 5 (Em p h as i s su p p l i ed .) As ex p l ai n ed m o re fu l l y

b el o w, we fi nd th at u n d er t h e ci rcu m s t an ces of t hi s cas e, t h e f o r e go i n g l an g u ag e i s

s u s cep t i b l e o f m o re t h an o n e reas o n ab l e i nt erp ret at i o n . Acco rd i n gl y

, we ag ree wi th

Ro ck er t hat t h e Co nt em

p t Ord er m

u s t b e v acat ed

.

Th e m o t i o n th at res ul t ed i n t h e Co n tem pt Ord er was bro u g h t p urs u an t to

OCGA § 2 4 -1 3 -2 6 (a), wh i ch p ro v i d es t h at “ [ s ] ub p o en as ma

y b e en f o r ced by

at t ach m en t fo r co nt em

p t an d b y a fi n e o f n o t m o re t h an $3 0 0 .0 0 o r n o t m ore t h an 2 0

d ay s ’ i m p ri s o n m en t

, or b o t h .” (Em p h as i s s up p l i ed .) Ad d i ti o n al l y

, t h at m o t i o n s o u g ht

o n l y Ro ck er’ s co m

p l i an ce wi t h t h e Ju l

y 1 5, 2 0 1 5 s u b

p o en a ; i t d i d n o t s eek to co m p el

t h e p ro d u ct i o n o f an y ad di t i o n al d o cu m en t s t h at h ad been req u es t ed d u ri n g t h e p o s t

ju d g m e n t d i sco v ery p eri o d

. An d i n t h e Pro d uct i on O rd er, t h e t ri al co urt o rd ered

5 In it s b ri ef, t h e Ban k co n t en ds t h at Ro ck er’ s fi rs t en u m erat i o n o f erro r i s n ot

“ ri p e fo r rev i ew” b ecau s e t h e t ri al co u rt h as n o t y et r u l e d o n wh et h er Ro ck er

s u cces s fu l ly p u rg ed h i s co n t em p t . Th e Ban k fu rt h er arg u es t h at Ro ck er h as wai v ed

t h i s en u m erat i on of erro r b ecau s e he fai l ed t o ch al l en g e i n th e t ri al co u rt an y al l eg ed

l ack o f s p eci fi ci t y i n th e co n t em p t o rd er an d he al s o fi l ed a n o ti ce o f co m p l i an ce

s t at i n g t h at h e h ad p ro d u ced al l o f t h e do cu m en t s s p eci fi ed i n t h e co nt em p t o rd er.

Th es e arg u m en t s i g n o re t h e fact t h at an ord er o f co n t em p t i s d irect l y ap p eal ab l e. See

Amer i ca n M

ed

. S ecu r i t y Gr o u p v

. P a r ker

, 2 8 4 G a. 1 0 2

, 1 0 4 (4 ) (6 6 3 SE2 d 6 9 7 )

(2 0 0 8). An d t h ere i s n o req u i rem en t t h at fo l l o wi ng en try o f a co n t em p t ord er t h e p art y

ag ai n s t wh o m th e o rd er i s di rect ed seek fu rt h er gu i d an ce fro m t h e co u rt on an y p u rg e

co n di t i o n s co n t ai ned t h erei n b efo re ch al l en g i n g t h e o rd er o n ap p eal . M oreo v er, t h e

m ere fact t hat Ro ck er fi l ed a n o t i ce o f co m p l i an ce d i d no t m ean t ha t t h e t r i al co u rt

wo u l d fi nd t h at h e h ad s ucces s fu l l y m et t h e p u rg e co n d i t i o n s

.

7Ro ck er t o p ro d u ce al l d o cu m en t s r es p o n s ive t o t h e Ju l

y 2 0 15 s u b

p o en a

— i t d i d n ot

o rd er h i m t o p ro d u ce an y ad d it io n al d o cu m en t s

. Th u s

, g i v en t h e b as is fo r t h e Ban k ’ s

c o n t e m p t m o t io n, t h e sp eci fi c rel i ef s o u g ht i n t h at m o t i o n, an d t h e co n t en t s o f t h e

Pro d uct io n Ord er, Ro ck er i s co rrect t h at o n e co u l d l o g i cal l y co n s t ru e th e p h ras e “ an y

d o cu m en t s t h at h av e b een req u es t ed ” t o refer o nl y to t ho s e d ocu m en t s res p o n s i v e to

t h e s u bp o en a. Pu t an o t h er way

, o n e co u ld read t h e Co n t e m pt Ord er as req u i ri n g

Ro ck er t o p ro d uce t h e 1 0 s p eci fi ed cat eg o ri es o f d o cu m en t s an d an y ad d i t i o n al

d o cu m en t s req u es t ed u n d er t he J u l y 2 0 15 s u b p o e n a t h at d i d n ot o t h erwi s e fal l i n to

o n e o f t h o s e 1 0 cat eg o ri es

.

Al t h o u g h o n e co u l d reas o n ab l y i n t erp ret “ an y d o cu m en t s t h at hav e b een

req u es t ed ” as referri n g o n l y t o t h o s e d o cu m en t s req u es t ed i n th e Ju l y 2 0 15 s u b p o en a,

t h e reco rd s h o ws t h at a n u m b er o f o t h er req u es t s to p ro d u ce were m ad e o v er t h e

co u rs e o f t h e p o s t-ju d g m en t di s co v ery p eri o d

. So m e o f t h es e req u es t s were fo rm al

,

m ad e t h ro u g h ei t h er a w ri t t en req u es t t o p ro d u ce u n d er OCGA § 9 -1 1 -3 4 o r t h ro u g h

ad d it i o n al s u b p o en as

. Ot h er req u es t s were m o re i nf o r m al an d were m ad e b y t h e

B a nk’ s a t t o rn ey at Ro ck er’ s d ep o s i t i o n an d/ o r v i a an em ai l ex ch an g e bet ween c ounse l

fo r t h e p art i es

. An d t he Co n t em pt Ord er referen ces s om e (b u t n o t a l l ) o f t h es e

ad d it i o n al req u es t s t o p ro d u c e

. T h u s

, t h e Co n t em p t Ord er co u l d al s o b e read as

8req u i ri n g Ro ck er t o co m p l y wi th ev ery req u es t to p ro du ce m ad e d u ri n g th e co u rs e o f

p o s t -ju d g m en t d i s co v ery an d fu rt h er r e q u i ri ng h i m to p ro d u ce t h e 1 0 s p eci fi ed

cat eg o ri es o f d o cu m en t s l i s t ed i n t h e Co n t em p t Ord er

. N o t a b l y, t h e Ban k read s t h e

Co n t em p t O rd er i n t hi s way ; i t s b ri ef m ak es cl ear th at t h e Ban k r e a d s t h e p u rg e

co n di t i o n s as req u i ri n g Ro ck er t o p ro d u ce al l d o cu m en t s req u es t ed at an y t i m e d u ri n g

p o s t -ju d g m en t d i s co v ery

.

Gi v en t h at t he p u rg e co n d i t i o n i n t h e Co nt em p t Ord er req u iri n g Ro ck er to

“ p ro d u ce an y d o cu m en t s th at h av e b e e n r eq u es t ed

. . . an d t h at h av e n o t b een

p ro d uced ” i s su s cep t i b l e o f m o re t h an o n e reas o n ab l e i n t erp ret at i o n

, we fi n d t h at t h e

o rd er was n o t s u ffi ci en tl y d efi n i t e an d s p eci fi c en o u g h to al lo w Ro ck er to d et erm i n e

wh at d o cu m en t s h e n eed ed t o p ro d u ce t o p u rg e h i m s el f o f co n t em p t

.

2

. Ro ck er arg u es t h at t h e t ri al co urt ab u s ed i t s d i s cret i on by o rd eri n g h i m to

rep o rt to jai l i f t h e p u rg e co n di ti o n s were n o t m et

. Sp eci fi cal l y

, Ro ck er co n t en d s t h at

t h e s el f-ex ecu t i ng n at u re o f t h e co nt em p t o rd er v i o l at ed hi s d u e p ro ces s ri g h t s i n t h at

i t ord ered Ro ck er’ s i n carcerat i o n wi t h o ut p ro vi d i n g h i m a h eari n g t o d et erm i n e

wh et h er h e co m

p l i ed wi th t h e p u rg e co n d i t i o n s an d

, i f n o t

, wh et h er an y

n o n co m p l i an ce was wi l lfu l

. W e ag ree.

9A s el f-ex ecu ti n g o rd er i s “ [a] n o rd er t hat i m p o ses fu t u re s an ct i o n s o n a p art y

u n l es s he co m

p li es wi t h t h e t erm s o f t h e ord e r w i t h i n a cert ai n l en g t h o f t i m e.”

Ha r rel l v. Fed

. Na t

. Pa

ya bl es

, 2 8 4 Ga. Ap p

. 3 9 5

, 3 9 7 (2 ) (6 4 3 SE2 d 8 7 5 ) (2 00 7 ). See

al s o Ten et Hea l th ca r e Co r p

. v. Lo ui s i a n a Fo r u m Co r p

. , 2 7 3 Ga. 2 0 6

, 2 1 2 (3 ) (5 3 8

SE2 d 4 4 1 ) (2 0 0 0 ). A n d Geo rg i a l aw i s cl ear t h at a t r i al co u rt ab u s es i t s d i s cret i o n

wh en i t en t ers s u ch an ord er i n t h e co n t ex t o f a d i s co v ery di s p ut e o r co n t em pt

p ro ceed in g

. Ten et Hea l t h ca r e

, 2 7 3 Ga. at 2 1 2 (3 ). See al s o S t eel e v. Co l b er t

, 1 8 2 Ga.

Ap p

. 68 0 (3 5 6 SE2 d 73 6 ) (1 9 8 7 ); Ma xey v. Co vi n g t o n

, 1 2 6 Ga. Ap p

. 1 9 7

, 1 9 9 (1 9 0

SE2 d 4 4 8 ) (1 9 7 2). T h i s ru le res u l t s fro m t h e fact t h at o rd ers o f in carcerat i o n b as ed

o n a fi n d i n g o f co n t em

p t are s ub ject t o b as i c du e p ro ces s req u i rem en ts

, “ i n cl u d i n g

n o t i ce an d a ri g h t to be h eard .” H a r r e l l

, 2 8 4 G a

. Ap p

. at 39 8 (3 ), ci t i n g Ma p l es v.

S eel i ger

, 1 6 5 Ga. Ap p

. 2 0 1, 2 0 2 (1 ) (2 99 SE2 d 90 6 ) (1 9 8 3 ). See a l s o Ro eh l v.

O’Keef e

, 2 43 Ga. 6 96

, 6 97 (2 5 6 SE2 d 3 75 ) (1 9 7 9); Mi t ch el l v. Ko o p u

, 24 2 Ga. 5 0 6,

5 0 6 (1 ) (2 4 9 SE2 d 2 10 ) (1 9 7 8 ).

A h eari n g o n a part y ’ s co m p l i an ce (o r n o n co m

p l i an ce) wi t h p u rg e co n d i t i on s

i s n eces s ary t o s at i s fy d u e p ro ces s fo r s ev eral reas o ns

. Fi rs t

, as t h i s cas e d em on s t rat es

,

p art i es c a n d i s a g ree as to wh at co n s t i t u t es fu l l co m p l i an ce wi t h p u rg e co n d i t i o n s

,

10es p eci al ly i n th e co n t ex t o f d i s co v ery d i s p u tes th at i n v o l v e n u m ero u s do cu m en t s

. 6 As

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

ex p l ai n ed

,

W h et h er a res p o n d en t wh o ten d ered [n um ero u s ] p ag es m ad e ‘ fu l l an d

co m p let e’ d i sco v ery res p o n s es i s n o t a y es -o r-n o q u es t i o n

. . . . Fi n d i n g

t h at n o res p o n s e was m ad e aft er a res p o n s e was o rd ered i s

s t rai gh t fo rward an d m ay n o t req u i re a h eari ng ; fi n d i ng t hat in su ffi ci en t

res p on s es were m ad e d es p i t e v o l u m i n o us d o cu m en t p r o d u c t i o n i s n o t

s t rai gh t fo rward

, an d n ot i ce an d a h eari n g i s req u i red befo r e t h e co u rt

m ay o rd er t h e p art i es i ncarcerat ed

.

Ha r rel l

, 28 4 Ga. Ap p

. at 3 9 9 (3 ). An d t h e fi n al arb i t er as t o wh et h er co m p l i an ce h as

b een ach i ev ed m

u s t b e t h e t ri al c o u r t

, rat h er th an th e p art i es t hem sel v es

. Id

. (t ri al

co u rt co ul d n ot bas e o rd er o f i n carcerat io n s o l el y o n affi d av i t o f p art y wh o s o u g h t t h e

o rd er an d wh o av erred t h at p u rg e co nd i t i o n s h ad n ot been co m p l i ed wi t h ); Ro eh l

, 2 4 3

Ga. at 6 97 (3 ) (s am e); Mi tch el l , 2 42 Ga. at 5 0 6 (1 ) (s am e).

Fu rt herm o re, “ [t ] h e es s en ce o f

. . . co n t em p t i s wi l l f u l d i s o b ed i en ce o f a p ri o r

co u rt o rd er. ” Gr een e v. Gr een e

, 3 0 6 Ga. Ap p

. 2 9 6

, 3 0 0 (3 ) (7 0 1 SE2 d 91 1 ) (2 0 1 0 )

6 As n o t ed p rev i ou s l y

, Ro ck er fi l ed a n o t i ce o f co m p l i an ce wi t h t he tri al co u rt

s t a t i n g t h a t h e had p ro d u ced res p o n si v e d o cu m en t s th at fel l in t o each o f t h e 1 0

cat eg o ri es s p eci fi cal l y d es cri b ed i n t h e co n t em p t o rd er. In i t s bri ef, h o wev er

, the B a nk

d i s p u t es t h e n ot i ce o f co m p l i an ce an d a s s e r t s t h at Ro ck er fai l ed t o p ro du ce an y

res p o n s i v e d o cu m en t s fo r at l eas t t h ree o f t h e 1 0 cat eg o ri es

.

11(em

p h as i s s u p p li ed ). Th u s , a d efen s e t o b o t h ci v i l an d cri m i n al co nt em p t i s t h at t h e

v i o l at i o n o f t h e o rd er at i ss u e “ was n o t wi ll fu l (e.g

., [t h e] in ab i l i t y t o p ay o r co m p l y ).”

S ch is el ma n

, 2 4 6 Ga. at 2 7 7 (1 ) (ci t at i o n o m i t t ed ). Befo re i n carcerat i ng a l i t i g an t fo r

fai l u re t o co m

pl y wi th p u rg e co n d i t i o n s, t h erefo re, a t ri al co u rt m u st d et erm i n e t h at

t h i s fai l u re was d el i b erat e. Ha r r el l

, 2 8 4 Ga. Ap p. at 39 9 (3 ). Pu t an o th er way

, g i v en

t h e req u i rem en t s o f d u e p ro ces s

, a t ri al “ co u rt can n o t as s u m e t h at [an y ] fai l u re” to

co m p l y wi t h p u rg e co n d i ti o n s “ wi l l b e u n ju s t i fi ab l e.” St e e l e

, 1 8 2 Ga. Ap p

. at 6 8 0.

In s t ead

, t h e co u rt “ m

us t ex am i n e t h e ci rcu m s tan ces [o f t h e fai l u re] ret ro s pect i v el y [,

wh i ch ] m ean s affo rd i n g [t h e p art y i n co n tem pt ] an op p ort u n it y t o ex p l ai n t h e

ci rcu m s t an ces ” of h i s fai l u re t o p u rg e. Id

. See al s o Ten et H ea l t h ca r e

, 2 7 3 Ga. at 2 1 1.

As t h e fo reg o i n g dem o n s t rat es , wh ere a co urt fi n d s a p art y to be i n co n t em pt

b u t al s o p ro v id es t h at t h e co n t em p t m ay b e pu rg ed b y m eet i n g cert ai n co n d it i o n s

, t h e

co u rt m u s t affo rd t h e p art y i n q u es t i on a h eari n g t o d et erm i n e wh et h er t h e p u rg e

co n di t i o n s h av e b een m et b efo re i t can o rd er t h e part y ’ s i n carcerat i on

. 7 Becau s e t h e

o rd er i n t h i s cas e fai l ed t o s at i s fy t h es e req u irem en ts

, we m u s t v acat e t h at o rd er. See

Ha r rel l

, 28 4 Ga. Ap p

. at 3 9 9 (3 ) (rev ers in g o rd er o f i n carcerat io n wh ere tri al co u rt

7 W e n o t e t h at i f, at t h e cl o s e o f su ch a heari n g

, t h e t ri al co u rt f i n d s t h a t t h e

p u rg e co n d i t i o n s h av e n ot b een m et

, i t m ay ord er t h e i m m ed i at e in carcerat io n o f t h e

p art y i n q u es t i o n

.

12fai l ed t o p ro v i d e l i t ig an t s wi t h a h eari n g o n wh et h er t h ey h ad fai l ed t o co m p l y wi th

t h e p u rg e co n d i t i on s co n t ai n ed i n t h e co u rt ’ s p ri o r o rd er o f co n t em p t ). Cf. Bl a ke v.

S p ea rs

, 25 4 Ga. Ap p

. 2 1

, 2 4 (3 ) (5 6 1 SE2 d 1 7 3 ) (2 0 0 2) (affi rm i n g o rd er o f

i n carcerat i on wh ere t ri al co u rt gav e l i t i g an t o p p o rt u n i t y t o p u rg e h i m sel f o f co n t em pt

an d s u b s e q u en t l y h el d a heari n g as to wh et h er t h e p art y h ad m et t h e p u rg e

req u i rem en t s an d wh et h er an y fai l u re to d o s o w as w i l lfu l ); Co o k v. Ro wl a n d

, 2 2 1 Ga.

Ap p

. 83 5

, 8 3 6 (4 72 SE2 d 4 4 4) (1 9 9 6 ) (affi rm i n g a fi n d i n g o f co n t em p t an d o rd er o f

i n carcerat i o n ; ord er was en t ered fo l l o wi n g a h eari n g

, at w h i ch t h e t ri al co u rt fo u n d

t h at t h e part y h ad wi ll fu l l y refu s ed to co m p l y wi t h t h e p rev i o u s l y en t ered co u rt o rd er

req u i ri n g t h at h e res p o n d t o p o s t -ju d g m en t d i sco v ery req u es t s ).

Fo r t h e reas o ns ex p l ai n ed ab o v e

, w e v acat e t h e Co nt em p t Ord er an d rem an d

t h e cas e fo r t h e en t ry o f a n ew o rd er. Becau s e Ro ck er h as n o t ch al l en g ed t h e fi n d i n g

o f co n t em

p t

, n o h eari ng i s n eces s ary b efo re en t ry o f t h e n ew o rd er. Th at o rd er,

h o wev er, m

u s t i d en t i fy wi t h reas o nab l e s peci fi ci t y t h e d o cu m en ts (o r cat eg o ri es o f

13d o cu m en t s ) wh i ch Ro ck er is req u i red to p ro d u ce t o pu rg e h i m s el f of co n t em p t

, 8 g i v e

Ro ck er so m e am o u nt o f t im e t o co m p l y wi t h t h e p urg e co n d i t i o n s

, 9 an d p ro v i d e fo r

a h eari n g t o d et erm i ne wh et h er Ro ck er h as co m p l i ed wi t h t h o s e co n d it i on s i n a t i m el y

fas h i on an d

, i f no t

, wh et h er hi s fai l u re t o d o s o was wi l l fu l

. Sh ou l d t h e t ri al co u rt t h en

fi nd t h at Ro ck er h as wi l l fu l l y fai l ed t o co m p l y fu l l y wi t h an y p u rg e co n d i t i o n s

, i t m ay

8 W e n o t e t h at g i v en t h e b read t h o f s o m e o f t h e Ban k’ s d i s co v ery req u es t s

,

m erel y in co rp o rat i ng b y referen ce t h e req u es t s t o p ro du ce t o wh i ch th e o rd er i s

referri n g (e.g

., al l do cu m en t s req u es t ed in t h e s u b p oen a o f J u l y 24

, 2 0 1 5 ) m ay n ot

p r o v i d e t h e req u i s i t e s peci fi ci t y

. Fo r ex am p l e, o ne o f t h e cat eg o ri es o f d o cu m en t s

r e q u es t ed i n t h e Ju l y 2 0 15 s u b p o en a is “ [a] n y an d al l d o cu m en t s

, co n t r a c t s

, o r

p ro p os ed co n t ract s r el a ti n g t o t h e s a l e o r p u rch a s e of a n y g o o d s o r s er vi ces by

[Ro ck er] fo r t h e p eri o d J an u ary 1

, 2 0 1 0 t o th e p res en t .” (Em p has i s s u p p l i ed .) Tak en

t o i t s l og i cal ex t rem e, th i s req u es t co u l d b e i nt erp ret ed as as k in g Ro ck er t o p ro d uce

d o cu m en t at i o n fo r ev ery p u rch as e h e h as m ad e fro m t h e g ro cery s t o re, d ru g s t o re, o r

g as s t at i o n s i n ce J an u ary 1, 2 0 1 0

.

9 In deci d i n g wh at am o u nt o f t i m e i s reas o nab l e u n d er t h e ci rcu m s tan ces , t h e

t ri al co urt m ay t ak e i nt o co ns i derat i o n t h e am o u n t o f t im e al read y affo rd ed Ro ck er

t o p ro d u ce an y

req u es t ed d o cu m en t s

.

14ex erci s e i t s co nt em p t p o wers u n d e r OCGA § 1 5 -6 -8 (5 ) 1 0 an d it m ay al so en t er an

award o f at t o rn ey fees t o th e ex t en t s uch fees are al l o wed u n der rel ev an t l aw. 1 1

Ju d g men t va ca t ed a n d ca s e r emande d. M c F adde n, P. J., a n d Bet hel

, J., co n cu r

.

1 0 W e n o t e t h at b ecau s e Ro ck er h as n ot ap p eal ed t h e fi n d i n g o f co n t em p t

, t h e

t ri al co u rt co u l d rel y on t h at fi n d i n g t o o rd er Ro ck er’ s i m m ed i at e i n carcerat i o n

, wi th

h i s rel eas e co n di t i o n ed u p o n s at i s fact i o n of t h e p u rg e co n di ti o n s. See Ga y v. Ga y

, 2 6 8

Ga. 1 0 6

, 1 0 7 (2 ) (4 8 5 SE2 d 18 7 ) (1 9 9 7 ); En s l ey v. En s l ey

, 23 9 Ga. 8 60

, 8 6 1 -8 6 2 (2 3 8

SE2 d 9 2 0) (1 9 7 7); O CGA § 1 5-6 -8 (5 ). Sh o ul d t h e n ew o rd er p ro v id e fo r Ro ck er’ s

i m m ed i at e i n carcerat io n

, ho wev er, t h en t h e p u rg e co n d it i on s wo u ld h av e t o b e b as ed

s o l el y o n t h e Pro du ct i o n Ord er an d co u l d n o t en co m p as s an y ad d i t i o n al d i s co v ery

req u es t s serv ed o n Ro ck er b y t he Ban k

. Th is l i m i t at i o n res u l t s fro m t h e fact t h at t h e

u n ch al l en g ed co n t em

p t fi n d in g is b as ed o n Ro ck er’ s fai lu re to co m pl y wi t h t h e

Pro d uct io n Ord er an d n o t o n Ro ck er’ s al l e g ed fai l u re t o co m p l y wi t h an y o t h er

d i s co v ery req u es t s

.

1 1 Th e v acat ed o rd er i ncl u d ed an award o f at t o rn ey fees u n d er OCGA § 9 -1 5 -1 4

(b ). In a recen t deci s i o n

, h o we v e r

, t h i s Co u rt fo u n d t h at OCGA § 9 -1 5 -1 4 d i d n ot

a p p l y i n t h e co n t ex t o f a p o s t -ju d gm en t d i sco v ery d i s pu t e. See RL BB ACQ I

- G A

CVL, LLC v. W

o r kma n

, 3 4 1 Ga. Ap p

. 1 2 7

, 13 5 (7 9 8 SE2 d 6 7 7 ) (2 0 1 7 ). Th e Su p rem e

Co u rt o f Geo rg i a h as n o w g ran t ed cert i o rari o n t h i s q u es ti o n

. See W o r kma n v. RL BB

ACQ I-GA CVL, LLC , Cas e No . S1 7 C1 4 8 5 (Au g. 2 8

, 2 01 7 ).

15