FI FTH DI VI SI ON

B RA NCH, M CM I LLI A N

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

M ay 12, 2017



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 7 A0 31 0 . BADICHI v . ALBION TRADING, INC. et al

.

M C M ILLI A N , J u dg e.

Bo az Yah ei l Bad ich i ap p eal s fro m t h e t r i a l co urt ’ s gran t o f p art i al s u m m ary

ju d g m en t t o Al b i o n Trad in g, I n c

. ( “ Al b i o n ”); SBS 3 8 4, LLC; SBS 27 6

, LLC; an d

SBS Ho l d i n g s at Tal l Pi n es A p art m en t s

, LLC (co l lect i v el y t h e “ p l ai n ti ffs ”), as s ert i n g

t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred in fi n d i n g h e h ad fai l ed to res p o nd t o t h e p l ai n t i ffs ’ req u es t

fo r ad m i s s i o ns

, t h ereb y co n cl u s i v el y ad m i t t i n g th e al l eg at io ns i n t h o s e req u es t s

. Fo r

t h e reas o n s t h at fo ll o w, w e v acat e t h e t r i a l co u rt ’ s o rd er an d rem an d fo r fu rt h er

p ro ceed in g s

.

Th e l i m i t ed reco rd s h o w s t h at t h e pl ai n t i ffs fi l ed s u i t ag ai n st Bad i ch i

, an Is rael i

ci t i zen an d res id en t i n No v em b er 2 0 1 4

. Th e co m

pl ai n t al l eg ed t h at Al b i o n i s t h e s o l e

m em b er o f SBS 3 8 4

, L L C ; SBS 2 7 6

, L LC; an d SBS Ho l d i n g s at Tal l Pi n esAp art m en t s

, LL C ( c o l l ect iv el y t he “ Ap art m en ts ”), co rp o rat e en t i t ies t hat o wn

ap art m en t co m

p l ex es o p erat i n g i n Decat u r an d At l an t a, Geo rg i a

. T h e co m p l ai nt

fu rt her al l eg ed t h at Bad ich i o wn s a 5 0 p ercen t “ b en efi ci al o r eq u i t ab l e b u t no t l eg al

i n t eres t ” i n t h e Ap art m en t s

. Si n ce t h ei r acq u i s i t i o n

, t he Ap ar t m e n t s ’ v al u e h as

p u rp ort ed l y d ecreas ed an d Bad i ch i h a s ceas ed p ay i n g h is 5 0 percen t s h are o f t h ei r

n eg at i v e cas h fl ow. As a res u l t

, t h e p l ai n t i ffs as s ert ed cl ai m s fo r eq u i t ab l e p art i t i o n,

acco u n t in g , an d at t o rn ey

fees

.

In J u n e 2 0 1 5

, t h e p l ai n t i ffs am en d ed th ei r co m p l ai n t t o ad d Ori Nes her, wh o

al l eg ed l y rep res en t s Bad i ch i ’s i n t e res t s w i th res p ect t o t h e Ap art m en t s

, as a

d efen d an t

, an d t o as s ert a co u n t fo r d ecl arat o ry ju d g m e n t reg ard i n g t h e t ru e

o wn ers hi p o f t h e Ap art m en t s

. Acco rd i n g t o t h i s co m p l ai n t, wh en t h e Ap art m en t s

were p u rch as ed i n 2 0 1 1

, Nes her arran g ed fo r t h e cl o s i n g s

, an d s h o rt l y aft er t h e s al e,

Nes her an d Al b i o n ’ s rep res en t at i v e, Ori Peret z, b ecam e th e s o l e m em b ers o f t h e

Ap art m en t s

. Th e p l ai n ti ffs al leg e t h at Bad i ch i d i d n o t wan t hi s n am e to ap p ear as a

m em b er, s o i n A u gu s t 20 1 3

, w h en Al b i o n an d Bad i ch i cau sed Nes h er an d Peret z to

t ran s fer t hei r i n t eres t s i n s at i s fact i o n o f t h e acq u i s i t i o n l o an s

, Al b i o n b ecam e t h e s o l e

m e m b er o f each Ap art m en t

. Nes h er an d Peret z rem ai ned i nv o l v ed as co rp o rat e

m an ag ers o f t h e Ap art m en t s. T h e pl ai n ti ffs al s o al l eg e t hat Bad ich i t h ereaft er

2d ecl i ned to ex ecu te a n ew op erat i n g ag reem en t o r o t h erwi s e b eco m e a m em ber o f t h e

Ap art m en t s

.

Ho wev er, i n J u l y 2 01 5

, t h e p l ai nt i ffs w i t hd rew t h e am en d ed co m p l ai n t a n d

rei n s tat ed t h ei r o ri g i n a l c om pla i nt. 1 O n A ugust 26, 2015, B a d ich i s i m u l tan eo u s l y fi l ed

an an s wer, b y s p eci al ap p earan ce, a n d a m ot i o n t o d is m i ss

, as sert i n g in su ffi ci en t

s erv i ce o f p ro ces s

, lack o f pers o n al ju ri s d i ct i on

, fai lu re t o s t at e a cl ai m

, a n d fai l u re

t o jo i n an i n d i sp en s ab l e p art y

. Th e p l ai n ti ffs t h en fi led an o th er am en d ed co m p l ai n t

,

t h i s t i m e as s ert in g cl ai m s fo r d ecl arat ory j u d gm en t

, acco u nt i n g

, d a m ag es

, an d

at t o rn ey fees

. On Decem b er 2

, 2 0 1 5

– m o re t h an 9 0 d ay s aft e r B a d i c h i fi l ed h i s

m o ti o n t o d i s m i s s

– t he pl ai n t i ffs s erv ed Bad i ch i w i t h d i s co v ery req u es t s

, i n cl u d i n g

a req u es t fo r ad m i s s i o n s

. 2 Bad i ch i t i m el y res p o n d ed b y o b j ect i n g t o each d i s co v ery

req u es t o n t h e g ro u n d s t hat h e h ad n o t been s erv ed wi t h p ro ces s, h e h ad m ad e o n l y

1 Th e p l ai n t i f

f s e x p l ai n ed t h ey h ad recen t l y l earn ed t h at s erv i ce h ad b een

p erfect ed o n Bad i ch i in Is rael an d t h erefo re n o l o n ger need ed t o ad d N es h er as a p art y

t o t he act i o n

.

2 See OCGA § 9 -1 1 -1 2 (j) (1 ) (“ If a p art y fi l es a m o t io n t o d i s m i s s b efo re o r at

t h e t i m e o f fi l i n g an an s wer

. . . d i s co v ery s h al l b e st ay ed fo r 9 0 d ay s aft er t h e fi l i n g

o f s uch m o t i o n or u n t i l t h e ru l i n g o f t h e co urt

. . . , wh ich ev er i s s o o n er. Th 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 . . . 9 0 d ay s.”).

3a s p eci al ap p earan ce, an d h e h ad fi l ed a m o ti o n t o s t ay di s co very p en d i n g t h e t ri al

co u rt ’ s ru l i n g o n h i s m o ti on t o d i s m i s s.

Th e t ri al co u rt u l t i m at el y d en i ed Bad i ch i’ s m o ti o n t o d i s m i s s an d m o t i o n to

s t ay i n J an u ary 2 0 1 6

. Th e p l ai n t i ffs th ereaft er fi l ed y et an o t h er am en d ed co m p l ai n t

,

t h i s t i m e wi t h d rawi ng t h ei r acco u n t i n g cl ai m

, an d m o v ed fo r p art i al s u m m ary

ju d g m en t

. In th ei r m o t i o n

, t h e p l ai n t i ffs arg u ed t hat

, b ecau s e Bad i ch i fai l ed to

res p o n d t o t h e i r req u es t fo r ad m i s s i o n s

, “ Bad i ch i h as ad m i t t ed t hat h e o wn s a 50 %

b e n e f i c i al o r eq u i t ab le, b u t n o t l eg al

, i n t eres t i n t h e [Ap art m en t s ] an d t hat h e h o l d s

a 5 0 % s h are i n al l ‘ Ri g ht s an d L i ab i li t ies ’ o f t h e [Ap art m en t s ,] ” t h ereb y en t i t l i n g t h e

p l ai n t i ffs t o s u m

m ary ju d g m en t o n t h ei r cl ai m

fo r d ecl arat o ry ju d g m en t

. 3

Al t h ou g h t h ere i s n o in d i cat io n i n t h e reco rd t h at t h e p l ai n t i ffs ev er m o v ed t h e

t ri al co u rt to fi n d Bad i ch i ’ s o b ject i o n s to t hei r req u es t fo r ad m i ss i o n s i n s uffi ci en t

, i t

ap p ears t h at at a s t at u s co n feren ce h el d b y t h e tri al co urt o n M arch 1

, 2 0 1 6

, Bad i ch i

an n ou n ced h e wo u l d be s erv i n g su p p l em en t al d i s co v ery res p o n ses

, i n cl u d i n g

3 Al b i o n s eek s d ecl arat o ry ju d g m en t th at (1 ) Al b i o n h o l d s a 1 00 p ercen t l eg al

i n t eres t an d a 5 0 p ercen t eq u i tab l e i n t eres t i n t h e Ap art m en t s; (2 ) Bad i ch i h o l d s a 5 0

p ercen t b en efi ci al o r eq u i t ab l e o wn ers hi p in t eres t i n t h e Ap art m en t s ; ( 3 ) Bad i ch i

h o l d s n o l eg al i n t eres t i n t h e A p art m en t s ; an d (4 ) Bad i ch i h ol d s a 5 0 percen t s h are in

t h e ri gh t s an d l i ab i l i t i es o f t h e Ap art m en t s

.

4s u b s t an t i v e res p o n s es to Al b i o n ’ s req u es t fo r ad m i s s i on s

. 4 An d o n M arch 4

, 2 0 1 6,

Bad ich i s erv ed t h e s u p p l em en tal res p o n s es

, d en y in g t he req u es t s rel ied u p o n b y t h e

p l ai n t i ffs i n t h ei r m o t io n fo r part i al s u m m ary ju d g m e n t

. 5 Th ereaft er, t h ere i s n o

ev i d en ce i n t h e reco rd t h at t h e p l ai n t i ffs m o v ed t h e tri al co urt to d et erm i n e t h e

s u ffi ci enc y of B a dic hi’ s su b st an t i v e res p o n s es

. Ho wev er, i n A p ri l 2 01 6

, t h e t ri al co u rt

g ran t ed t h e p l ai n t i ffs ’ m o t io n i n a t h ree-s en t en ce o rd er, n ot i n g o n l y t hat i t was

g ran t i n g t h e m ot io n fo r t h e reas o n s s t at ed i n t h e p l ai n t i f f s ’ b ri ef. T h i s ap p eal

fo l l o w ed

. 6

1

. Req u es t s fo r ad m i ss i o n are g o v ern ed b y OCGA § 9 -1 1 -3 6

, w hi ch p ro v i d es

i n p ert in en t p art :

A p art y m ay s erv e u p o n an y o t h er p art y a wri tt en req u es t fo r t h e

ad m i s s i o n

, fo r p u rp o s es o f t h e p en d i n g act i o n on l y

, o f t h e t ru t h o f an y

m at t ers wi t h in t h e s co p e o f s u b s ect io n (b ) o f Co d e Sect i o n 9

- 1 1 -2 6

4 Th ere i s n o t ran s cri p t o f t h es e p ro ceed i n g s i n t h e reco rd

.

5 Bad i ch i had p rev i ou s l y d en i ed i d en t i cal al l eg at io n s i n h i s an s wer t o A l b i o n ’ s

am en d ed c om

plai n t

. Acco rd i n g t o Bad i ch i

, t h i s m at t er o ri g i n at es as a d i s p u t e b et ween

h i m an d h i s b u si n es s p art n er, Sh l o m o E l i a, wh o faci l i t at ed h i s ori g i n al i n v es t m en t in

t h e Ap art m en t s

. Bad ich i as s ert s t h at t h e t ran s fer o f h i s i n t eres t i n t h e Ap art m en t s to

Al b io n was frau du l en t an d th at h e i s cu rren t ly l it i g at i ng cl ai m s ag ai n s t El i a i n Is rael

.

6 Th i s cas e was o ri g i n al ly t ran s ferred t o t h e Su p rem e Co u rt fo r j u ri s d i ct i o n al

reas on s ; h o wev er, t h e Su p rem e Co u rt ret u rn ed t h e cas e t o t h i s Co u rt

.

5wh i ch are s et fo rt h i n t h e req u es t a n d t h at rel at e t o st at em en t s o r

o p i n i o n s o f fact o r o f t h e ap p l i cat i on o f l aw t o fact

, i n cl u d in g th e

g en u i n en es s o f an y

d o cu m en t s d es cri b ed i n t h e req u es t

.

OCGA § 9 -1 1 -3 6 (a) (1 ). T h e s t at u t e fu rt h er p ro v i d es t hat each m at ter req u es t ed “ i s

ad m i t t ed u n l es s

, wi t h i n 3 0 d ay s aft er s erv i ce o f t h e req ues t

. . ., t h e part y to wh o m t h e

req u es t i s d i rect ed s erv ed u p o n t h e p art y req u es t i n g t he ad m i s s i on a wri t t en an s wer

o r o bject i o n ad d res s ed t o t h e m at t er[.] ” OCGA § 9 -1 1-3 6 (a) (2 ). W h en a req u es t i n g

p art y i s u n s at i s fi ed wi t h a res po n s e, h e m ay fi l e a m o t i o n t o d et erm i n e t h e s u ffi ci en cy

o f t h e an s wers o r o b

j ect io ns

. OCGA § 9-1 1 -3 6 (a) (3 ). Th en

, i f t h e co u rt d et erm i n es

t h at an o b j e c t i o n i s n o t ju s t i fi ed

, “ i t s h al l ord er t hat an an s wer b e s erv ed .” Id

. An d

“ [i ] f th e co u rt d et erm i nes t hat an an s wer d o es n o t co m pl y w i t h t h e r e q u i rem en t s o f

t h i s s u b s ect i o n

, i t m ay o rd er ei t h er t h at t he m at t er i s ad m i t ted o r th at an am en d ed

an s wer b e s erv ed .” Id

.

Here, al th o u g h i t d o es n o t ap p ear t h at t h e p l ai nt i ffs ex p res s l y m o v ed t h e t ri al

co u rt to d et erm i n e th e s u ffi ci en cy o f Bad i ch i ’ s i n it i al o b j ect i on s an d t h ere i s n o o rd er

co m p el l i n g Bad i ch i t o res p on d

, t h e r e i s s o m e i n d i cat i o n t h at t h e d i s co v ery d i s p u t e

was ad dres s ed at t h e s tat u s co n feren ce, an d Bad i ch i d i d u l t i m at el y s u p p l em en t h i s

i n i t i al o b ject i o n s wi t h s u bs t an t i v e res p on s es

. Ho wev er, fo l l o wi ng th e s erv i ce o f t h es e

6s u p p lem en t al res p o n ses

, t he p l ai n t i ffs d i d n o t m o v e t h e t ri al co u rt t o d et erm i n e t h at

B a dic hi’ s o b

j ect io n s were s o m eh o w i n s u ffi ci en t

. T h u s

, t here i s n o ord er fi nd i ng e ithe r

t h at Bad i ch i ’ s o b

ject i o ns di d n o t co m

p ly w i t h th e req u i rem en ts o f OCGA § 9 -1 1 -3 6

an d t h e req u es t s s ho u l d t h erefo re ei t h er b e d eem ed ad m i t t ed o r t h at Bad i ch i s h o u ld

fu rt her s up p l em en t h is res p o n s es

.

In s t ead

, i t ap p ears t h at t h e p l ai n t i ffs arg u ed b el o w an d on ap peal th at Bad i ch i ’ s

i n i t i al o b ject i o ns were i m

p ro p er an d t h erefo re am ou n t t o t h e fai l u re t o res p o n d at al l

,

s u ch t h at t h e req ues ts s h o u l d b e d eem ed ad m i t t ed as a m a tt er o f l aw p u rs u an t to

OCGA § 9

- 1 1

- 3 6 (a) (2 ). Bu t t h i s arg u m en t i g n ores t h e s t at u to ry fram ewo rk

g o v ern i n g req u es ts fo r ad m is s i o n

, w hic h c le a r ly pe r m it s t h e res p o n di n g p art y t o ei t h er

p ro v id e “ a wri t t en an s wer o r o b ject i o n .” (Em

p h as i s s u p p li ed .) O CGA § 9 -1 1 -3 6 (a)

(2 ). It is wel l es t ab l i sh ed th at “ [u ] n d er O C G A § 9 -1 1-3 6

, t h e u l t i m at e s an ct i o n

(d eem in g a m at t er ad m i t ted ) i s av ai l ab l e wh en a p art y co m pl et el y fai l s t o res p o n d o r

aft er t h e req ues t i n g p art y h as m o v ed t o det erm in e t h e s u ffi ci en cy o f t he an s wer an d

t h e t ri al co u rt fi n ds t h e an s wer fai l s to co m pl y w i th s tat u to ry r e q u i rem en t s .”

(Ci t at i o n s o m i t t ed .) Ta va ko l i an v. Ag i o Co r p.

, 3 0 4 Ga. Ap p

. 6 6 0, 66 6 (5 ) (6 9 7 SE2 d

2 3 3 ) (2 0 10 ). See al s o G . H. Ba s s & Co . v. Fu l t o n Co u n t y Bd

. o f Ta x As s es s o r

s

, 2 6 8

Ga. 3 2 7

, 3 3 1 (2 ) (4 8 6 SE2 d 8 1 0 ) (1 9 9 7 ) (wh ere res p o n d i n g p art y d i d n o t res p o n d,

7as s ert o b

ject io ns

, req u es t d eferm en t

, o r s eek a p ro t ect i v e ord er, i t “ di d n o t av ai l i t s el f

o f an y o f t h e vari et y o f res p o n s es av ai l ab le u n d er OCGA § 9 -1 1-3 6 an d ch o s e n o t to

s eek t h e l i b eral rem ed i es affo r d e d t o p art i es u n d er t h e s t at u t e t o av o i d t h e

co n seq u en ces o f a fai l u re t o res p o n d

, we h o l d th at t h e su b ject m at t er o f [t h e] req u es t s

fo r ad m is s i o n s t o od ad m i tt ed ”).

H e r e

, Bad i ch i t i m el y o b ject ed t o t he req ues t s an d t h en s up p l em en t ed h i s

res p o n s es

, bu t n o t hi n g in t h e reco rd s h o ws th at th e t ri al co urt ex p l i ci tl y o v erru l ed t h e

o b ject i on s o r fo un d t h e s u p pl em en t al res p o n s es t o b e i n ad eq u at e. M oreo v er, ev en i f

we were to as s u m e t h at t h e t ri al co u rt i m p l ied l y o v erru l ed Bad i ch i ’ s o b ject i o n s aft er

i t d en i ed h is m ot i o n t o d i s m i s s

, i t d o es no t fo l l o w t h at Bad ich i ad m i t t ed t he req u es t s

b y t h en fai l i n g t o s u b m i t s u b s t an ti v e res p o ns es wi t h i n 3 0 d ay s

. See Co n t r a ct

Ma n a g emen t Co n su l t a nt

s

, In c. v. Hu d

d l e Ho u s e, In c

. , 1 3 4 G a. Ap p

. 5 6 6

, 5 6 9 (1 ) (2 1 5

SE2 d 3 2 6) (1 97 5 ). “ W h ere a co u rt det erm i n es t h a t a n o b ject i o n to a req u es t i s

u n ju s t i fi ed , i t m

us t t h en o rd er t h e res p o n d i n g p art y t o an s wer t h e req u es t [.] ” Id . Cf.

Mo n o l i t h Co mp a ni es

, LLC v. Hu n t er Do u g l a s Ho s p i t a l it y, In c.

, 3 3 3 Ga

. A p p

. 8 9 8,

9 0 0 -0 1 (7 7 7 SE2 d 7 2 6) (2 0 1 5 ) (res p o n d i n g p a r t y’s fai l u re to o b j ect o r res p o n d to

req u es t s fo r ad m i ss io n res u l t s i n co n cl u s i ve ad m is s io n o f t h e m at t ers req ues t ed ); Nea l

v. S t a te Fa r m Fi r e & Ca s u a l ty Co

. , 3 0 0 G a

. A p p

. 6 8, 69 (6 8 4 SE2 d 1 32 ) (2 0 0 9 )

8(wh ere res p o n di n g part y ’ s res p on s e was serv ed si x d ay s aft er t h e d u e d at e, al l eg at i on s

i n t h e req u es ts fo r ad m i s s i o n s d eem ed ad m i t t ed as a m at t er o f l aw). Pl ai n t i ffs p o i nt

t o n o th i n g in t h e reco rd s h o w i n g t h at t he t ri al co u rt o rd ered t h at Bad i ch i fi l e

s u p p lem en t al res p o n ses

.

In ad d i t io n, wh ere t h e res p o n d i n g p art y h as m ad e s o m e t i m el y res p on s e, s u ch

as Bad i ch i d i d h ere, “ a m o t i o n t o d et erm i n e i n a h eari n g t h e s u ffi ci en cy o f an s wers

i s neces s ary b efo re res p on s es t o req u es t fo r ad m i s s i o n s m ay b e d eem ed in su ffi ci en t

an d d eem ed ad m i t ted .” (Ci t at i o n an d p u nct u at i o n o m i t t ed

. ) Ta va ko li a n

, 3 0 4 Ga. Ap p.

at 6 6 6 (5 ). See al s o Cl emen t s v. To o mb s Co u n ty Ho s

p

. Au t h

. , 1 75 Ga. Ap p

. 6 5 1

, 6 5 2

(1 ) (3 34 SE2 d 1 88 ) (1 9 8 5 ) (“ we co n cl u d e t h at an i n s u ffi ci en t an swer m ay be d eem ed

an a d m i s s i o n b y t he co u rt o n l y aft er t h e req u es t i n g p art y h as q u es t i o n ed b y m o t i o n

t h e s u f f i c i e n c y o f th e an s wers an d a h eari n g o n t h e m o t io n h as b een h el d ”). Here,

wh i le t h e reco rd i s u n cl ear o n t hi s i s s u e, i t ap p ears th at t h e t ri al co u rt

, i n ad o p t i n g t h e

p l ai n t i ffs ’ reas o n in g i n i t s o rd er, ei t h er i m p ro p erl y fo u n d t hat Bad i ch i fai l ed t o t i m el y

res p o n d at al l o r, wi th o u t a h eari n g

, i m pro p erl y fo un d t h at h i s s u p p l em en t al res p o n s es

w ere i n s u ffi ci en t

. Un d er ei t h er s cen ari o, we m u st v acat e t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s j u d g m e n t

g r an t i n g s u m

m ary j u d gm en t t o p l ai n t iffs an d rem an d fo r fu rt h er pro ceed i n g s

9co n si s t en t wi t h t h i s op i n i o n

. See McCl a r t y v. Tr ig i l d

, In c

. , 33 3 Ga. Ap p. 11 2

, 1 1 5 -1 6

(2 ) (7 75 SE2 d 5 97 ) (2 0 1 5 ).

2

. Bad ich i al s o as s ert s t h at t h e tri al co u rt erred i n co n cl ud i n g t hat n o i s s u es o f

m at eri al fact rem ai n ed whe n i t g ran t ed s u m m ary j u d gm en t t o t h e p lai n ti ffs

. 7 Su m m ary

ju d g m en t i s ap p ro p ri at e wh en t h e m o v i n g p art y can “ sh o w t h at t h ere is n o g en u i n e

i s su e as t o an y m at eri al fact an d t h at t h e m o v an t i s en ti t led t o a ju d g m en t as a m at t er

o f l aw[.] ” OCGA § 9 -1 1 -5 6 (c). “ Th e p art y o p p o s i n g s um m ary ju dg m en t i s n o t

req u i red t o p ro d u ce ev i d en ce d em an di n g ju d g m en t fo r i t

, b u t i s o n l y req u i red to

p res en t ev i d en ce th at rai ses a g en u i n e i s s u e o f m at eri al fact .” (Ci t at i o n o m i t t ed .)

Exa m i n a t i o n Mg mt

. S

vcs . v. S t eed , 3 4 0 Ga. Ap p

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

“ W e rev i ew a gran t o r d en i al o f s u m m ary j u d g m e n t d e n o v o an d co ns t ru e t h e

ev i d en ce i n t he l i gh t m o s t fav o rab l e t o t h e n o n m o van t .” (Ci t at i o n o m i t ted .) Ma t so n

v. Ba yvi ew Lo a n S

er vi ci n g

, LLC , 3 3 9 Ga. Ap p . 8 9 0, 8 9 0 (7 9 5 SE2 d 1 95 ) (2 0 1 6 ).

7 Al t h ou gh t h e p lai n t i ffs ’ m o t i o n fo r part ial s u m m ary ju d g m en t was d ep en d en t

u p o n t h ei r as s ert i o n t h at Bad i ch i h ad ad m i t t ed t h e al l eg at io n s co n t ai n ed i n t h ei r

req u es t fo r ad m i s s i o n s

, i n t h ei r rep l y b ri ef t h ey l at er as s ert ed t h at t he af f i d a v i t s

s u b m i t t ed b y t h e p art ies al s o es t ab l i s h ed th at t h ey were en t i t l ed to s u m m ary j udgm e nt.

Becau s e i t i s u n cl ear fro m th e t ri al co u rt ’ s o rd er wh et her i t rel i ed u p o n t h e arg u m en t s

p res en t ed i n t h e p l ai n ti ffs ’ rep l y b ri ef, we wi l l al s o ad d res s t h e g ran t o f s u m m ary

ju d g m en t wi t h o ut t h e al l eg ed ad m i s si o n s

.

10Here, t h e p l ai n ti ffs s eek a d ecl arat o ry j u d gm en t t h at Al b i on h o l ds a 1 00 p ercen t

l eg al i n t ere s t i n t h e Ap art m en t s ; t hat Bad i ch i o w n s a 5 0 p ercen t b en efi ci al o r

eq u it ab l e, b u t n o t l eg al

, i n teres t i n t he Ap art m en t s ; an d a fi n al d et erm i n at i o n as t o t h e

am ou n t o wed by th e p art i es t o each o t her. Ho w ev er, ab s en t t he im pro p er fi n d i n g

reg ard i n g Bad i ch i ’ s res p o n ses t o t he req u es t s fo r ad m i s s i o n

, fact u al i ss u es rem ai n o n

Bad ich i ’ s d efen s es o f es t op p el an d u ncl ean han ds an d h i s al l eg at i on s t h at h i s l e g a l

i n t eres t i n t h e Ap ar t m en t s was frau d u l en t l y co n v ey ed to Al b io n

. Th u s

, s u m m ary

ju d g m en t i s im

p ro p er at t h i s st ag e. See Ta va ko l i a n , 3 0 4 Ga. Ap p . at 6 6 6 (5 ) (wh ere

res p o n d in g p art y di d n o t “ co m p l e t el y ” fai l t o res p o n d an d req u es t i n g p art y d i d n ot

m o ve t o det erm i n e su ffi ci en cy o f t h e an s wers

, req u es t i ng p art y d i d n o t d em o n s t rat e

t h ey were en t i t l ed t o ju d gm en t as a m at ter o f l aw).

Acco rd i ng l y

, we v acat e t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s g ran t o f s u m m ary ju d g m en t b as ed o n

i t s co n cl u s i o n t h at Bad i ch i co m p l et el y fai l ed t o res p o n d t o th e req u es t s an d rem an d

fo r fu rt h er p ro ceed i n g s co n s i s t en t w i t h t h i s o pi n i o n

. See Ro b in s o n v. Gl o b al

Res o u r ces , In c. , 3 0 0 Ga. Ap p . 1 3 9 , 1 4 3 (6 8 4 SE2 d 1 0 4 ) (2 0 0 9 ).

Ju d g men t va ca t ed a nd ca s e r ema n d

ed . Br a n ch a n d Bet h el

, JJ., co n cu r

.

11