FI FTH DI VI SI ON

RI CKM A N, C. J.

, M CFA DDEN, P. J.

, and SENI OR A PPELLA TE JUDGE PHI PPS

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.

https ://w w w

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

Januar y 14, 2022



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A2 1 A1 80 5 . COW A RT v . GEORGIA POW ER COM PANY.

P H I P P S , Sen i o r Ap p el l at e J u d g e.

Th i s i s t h e s eco n d ap p earan ce i n t hi s Co u rt o f t h i s co n t em p t p ro ceed i n g

, wh i ch

ari s es o u t o f d i s pu t es co n cern i n g a Geo rg i a Po w er eas em en t co n t ai n i n g an e l ect ri c

t ran s m i s s i o n l i n e o n t h e p ro pert y o f d efen d an t Ch ri s t op h er Co wart d/ b / a Co wart T ree

Ex p ert s

. In Co wa r t v. Ga

. Po wer Co

. , 3 5 4 Ga. A p p

. 7 4 8 (8 4 1 SE2 d 4 26 ) (2 0 2 0 ),

Co wart ap p eal ed fro m an o rd er i n wh i ch th e su p eri o r co u rt fo u nd h im i n co nt em p t fo r

rep eat ed v i o l at i o n s o f p ri o r s u p eri o r co urt o rd ers

, award ed Geo rg i a Po wer

$ 1 8 7 ,9 9 8 .9 9 i n d am ag es an d fees

, an d o rd ered Co wart to co m p l y wi t h v ari ou s

s p eci fi ed s afet y m e a s u res co ncern i n g t h e eas em en t

. In t h at ap p eal

, w e vacat ed t h e

s u p eri o r co u rt ’ s o rd er an d rem an d ed fo r t h at co u rt t o d et erm i n e wh et h er i t h ad s u b ject

m at t er ju ri s d i ct i o n ov er th e cu rren t co n t em p t p ro ceed i n g

. Id

. at 7 5 2 -7 53

. On rem an d,fo l l o w i n g ad di t i o n al b ri efi n g

, t h e s u p eri o r co u rt ru l e d t hat i t h ad s u b ject m at t er

ju ri s d i ct i o n o ver t h e p ro ceed i n g an d rei ns t at ed i t s p ri o r co n tem pt o rd er. It is fro m t h at

o rd er t h at Co wart n ow ap p eal s

, ch al l en g in g t h e s u p eri o r co u rt ’ s ru l i n g o n s u b ject

m at t er ju ri sd ict i o n an d s eek i n g a ru l i ng o n t h e m eri t s o f h i s i n it i al ap p eal

. Fo r t h e

reas on s t h at fo ll o w, w e affi rm t h e s u p eri o r co u rt ’ s ju ri s di ct io n al an d co n t em pt

ru l i n gs

.

Th i s ap p eal ari s es o u t o f a d i s p u t e b et ween t h e p art i es dat i n g b ack t o 2 0 0 2

. W e

s et fo rt h t h e u n d erl y i n g fact s i n o u r p ri o r o p i n i o n :

In 2 0 0 2

, Geo rg i a Po w er s u ed Co wart [,] s eek i n g a res t rai n i n g

o rd er an d i n

ju n ct i o n t o p rev en t C o w art fro m en cro ach i n g an d

o b s t ru ct i n g i t s [1 0 0 -fo o t -wi d e] eas em e n t [ t h at ru ns t h ro u g h Co wart ’ s

p ro p ert y ] (t h e “ 2 0 0 2 Act i o n ”). Th i s l aws u i t res u l t ed in an ord er i n 2 0 0 2

(t he “ 2 0 0 2 Ord er”) wh i ch p ro vi d ed

, i n p art :

[Co wart ] sh al l r e m o v e f

r o m th e

. . . eas em en t area

. . . al l

. . . it em s w h ich h av e b een p l a c e d b y [Co wart ] o n th e

ri g h t-o f-way -eas em en t

. . . . Ex cep t as sp eci fi cal l y ag reed

t o b y [Geo rg i a P o w er] i n wri ti n g

, t h is [c] o urt [ ] h ereb y

en jo in s [Co wart ] fro m p l aci n g a n y [o b s tru ct i o n o r]

o perat in g an y m ach i n ery

. . . o n t h e

. . . e a s em en t area[.

Co wart ] i s fu rt h er en

jo i n ed fro m b l ock i n g o r o bs t ru ct i n g

t h e . . . eas em en t area . . . .

2. . . In 2 0 0 3

, Geo rg i a Po wer pet i t i o n ed fo r co n t em p t

, al l eg i n g t hat

Co wart co n ti n u e d t o dan g ero us l y o perat e eq u i p m en t [an d ] p l ace

o b s t ru ct i o n s i n t h e ri g h t o f way

, an d u n d erm i n ed t h e t o wer t h at s u pp o rt s

t h e t ran sm i s s i on li n e

. . . . Th e t ri al co u rt co n du ct ed an ev id e n t i ary

h eari n g [at w h ich it ] fo u nd t h at Geo rg i a Po wer p res en t ed ev i d en ce t hat

s u p p o rt ed i t s al l eg at i o n s

. . . . Th e t ri al co u rt al so h eard t es t i m o n y ab o u t

a co n t ract or of Co wart m ak i n g co nt act wi t h Geo rg i a Po wer’ s co n d u ct ors

as wel l as tes ti m on y t h at Co wart ’ s o p erat i o n al p ract i ces creat ed a ri sk o f

s ev ere in j u ry o r d eat h

. Acco rd i n g l y

, t h e tri al co u rt fo u n d t h at “ a

s u b s t an t i al t h reat t o t h e h eal t h an d s afet y of em p l o y ees

, v i s i t o rs

, an d

o t h ers ex i s t [s ] as a res u l t o f t h e o p era t i o n s o f [Co wart ] o n t he ri g h t o f

way eas em en t . . . .”

As a res u l t o f Geo rg i a Po w er’ s [2 0 0 3] co n tem pt p et i t i o n

, t h e t ri al

co u rt en t ered an o th er o rd er i n 2 0 0 5 (t h e “ 2 0 0 5 Ord er”). T h e t ri al co u rt

o rd ered t h e p art i es t o en t er an En cro ach m en t Ag reem en t t h at t h e p art i es

h ad neg o t i at ed

, an d it i n co rp o rat ed s u ch ag reem en t i n t o i t s o rd er. T he

2 0 0 5 Ord er m o re s p eci fi cal l y i d en t i fi ed t he res t ri ct i o ns an d pro h i bi t i o n s

o n Co w art ’ s co n d u ct i n Geo rg i a Po wer’ s eas em en t

.

Fo l l owi n g en t ry o f t h e 2 0 0 5 Ord er, G eo rg i a Po wer ag ai n

p et i t i o n ed fo r co n t em

p t ag ai n s t Co wart

. Th i s pet i t i o n res u l t ed in t h e t ri al

c o u r t ’s en t ry o f a 2 0 0 6 o rd er in t h e 2 0 0 2 Act i o n (t h e “ 2 0 0 6 Fi na l

Co n sen t Ord er”) wh i ch

, am o n g o t h er t h in g s, ap p o i n t ed a s p eci al m as t er

t o o b s e rv e Co w art ’ s co m p l i an ce wi t h t h e co u rt ’ s p ri o r o rd er an d t o

rep o rt v io l at i o ns t o t he t ri al co u rt

. . . .

3In 20 1 2

, Geo rg i a Po wer fi led a d ocu m en t ti t led “ Pe t i ti o n fo r

Co n tem p t an d Im

p o s i t i o n o f San ct io n s [,] ” w h i ch s o u g h t a fi n d i n g o f

co n t em p t o f t he 2 0 0 5 Ord er en t ered i n t he 2 0 02 Act i o n (t h e “ 2 0 1 2

Act i on ”) . . . .

Th e rel ief req u es t ed b y Geo rg i a Po w er i n i t s 2 0 12 p et i t i o n

i n cl u d ed Co wart ’ s in carcerat i o n

, fi n es

. . . , an o rd e r t o perm an en t l y

rem o v e o bs t ru ct i o ns fro m t h e eas em en t

, fo r t h e t ri al c o u rt t o

“ [f] o rm u l at e a d es i g n fo r i m

p ro v em en t s t o t h e r i gh t o f way s o t hat

Defen d an t Co wart is n o t ab l e t o v i o l at e t h e [c] o urt ’ s o rd er an d i s

p h y s i cal l y res t rai n ed fro m co n t em p t i ncl u d in g t h e co ns t ru ct i o n o f g at es

an d fen ci n g at [Co w art ’ s ] ex p en s e,” as wel l as a re q u e s t t h at th e t ri al

co u rt t erm i n at e t h e p rev i o u s l y en t ered En cro ach m en t Ag reem en t.

Aft er th i s fi li n g b y Geo r g i a Po wer, t h e s p eci al m as t er is s u ed

rep o rt s i n t h e 2 0 1 2 Act i o n fi n d in g v i o l at i on s o f t h e 2 0 0 5 O r d er,

s p eci fi cal ly m at eri al s b ei n g i m p e r m i ss i b l y s t o red i n t h e eas em en t

.

Geo rg i a Po w er su b s eq u en t l y m o v e d f o r an em erg en cy heari n g o n i t s

co n t em p t p et i t i o n i n t h e 2 0 1 2 Act i o n as a res u lt o f an ev en t o n Au g u s t

1 5

, 20 1 2

. On t hat day

, a t h i rd -p art y co nt ract o r o f Co wart en t ered

Geo rg i a Po wer’ s eas em en t wi th a tru ck an d rai s ed a m o u nt ed bo o m i n t o

t h e en erg i zed fi el d s u rro u n d i ng t h e t ran s m i s s i o n l i n e. El ect ri ci t y arced

fro m t h e li n e t o t h e b oo m

, cau s i n g t h e fro n t two t ires o f t h e t ru ck t o

b l o w ou t

. Fo rt u n at el y

, t h e d ri v er o f t h e v eh icl e was un h arm ed

. T h i s

ev en t cau s ed a reg i o n al p o wer o ut ag e wh i ch res ul t ed i n t raffi c p ro bl em s

,

i n t erru p t ed t he d i sp at ch o f em erg en cy s erv i c e s

, [an d cau s ed ] reg i o nal

s ecu ri t y s y s t em s fai l u res

. As a res u lt o f an em erg en cy h eari n g

, an d u p o n

t h e ag reem en t o f t he p art i es

, t h e t ri al co u rt en tered a n ord er wh i ch

,

4am o n g o t h er t h i n g s

, r e q u i red Co wart t o hi re an el ect ri cal tran sm i s s i o n

ex p ert to m o n i t o r h i s co m p l i an ce wi t h t h e 2 0 05 Ord er. In 2 0 1 5

, Geo rg i a

Po wer fi l ed an o t her em erg en cy m o t i o n fo r co nt em p t i n t he 2 0 12 Act i o n

,

al l eg i n g t h at Co wart ’ s wo rk er s w e r e a g ai n

. . . o p erat i n g

. . . h eav y

eq u i pm en t u n d er t h e t ran s m i s s i o n l i n e.

U l t i m a t e l y

, i n 2 0 1 8

, t h e t ri al co u rt en t ered an o rd er in t h e 20 1 2

Ac t i o n fi n d i ng Co wart i n co n t em p t o f t h e 2 0 0 5 Ord er (t h e “ 2 0 1 8

Ord er”). In t he 2 0 18 O rd er[,] t h e t ri al co u rt reaffi rm ed t h e pri o r fi n d i n g s

o f fact

, co n cl u s i on s o f l aw, an d i n j u n ct i o n s co nt ai n ed i n it s pri o r ord ers

en t ered i n th e 2 0 0 2 Act i o n. Th e t ri al co u rt fo u n d th at Co wart

“ rep eat ed l y an d i n t en t i o nal l y vi o l at ed t h e Ord ers of [t h e t ri al c] o u rt

. . .

d es i gn ed t o p ro t ect t h e p ro p ert y o f [Geo rg i a Po w er] an d t h e l iv es o f al l

t h at co m e o n t o t h e eas em en t o f Geo rg i a Po wer.” Aft er reco u nt i ng th e

n u m ero us v i ol at i o n s i t fo u n d

, t h e t ri al co u rt s t at ed : “ Each o f t h e s e

v i o l at i o n s creat es co n d i ti o n s t h at are ex t rem el y dan g ero us an d li k el y t o

cau s e i rrep arab l e i n

ju ri es i f t h ey are al l o wed t o co nt i n u e.” Th e t ri al co u rt

co n cl u d ed t h at [Co wart ’ s fai l u re t o fo l l o w i t s p ri o r o r d e rs m ad e i t ]

“ n eces s ary fo r a s t ru ct u re t o b e b u i l t t o res t rai n

. . . h is b u s i n es s

o p erat i o n . . . fro m

t res p as s i n g o n t h e [eas em en t ] .”

As a res u l t o f i t s fi n d i n g o f co n tem pt

, t h e t ri al co u rt s peci fi cal l y

o rd ered as fo l l o ws :

[Co wart ] i s o rd ered t o i n s t al l al l s afet y m eas u res sh o w n o n

t h e r e m e d i al d rawi n g an d s i t e pl an at t ach ed [t o t h e 2 0 1 8

Ord er] as Ex h i b i t “ A” wi t hi n fo rt y -fi v e (4 5 ) d ay s o f th e

fi l i n g o f [t h e] Ord er. [Co wart ] s hal l b e al l owed to co nt i n ue

5cu rren t l y -al l o wed o p erat i o n fo r fo rt y -fi v e (4 5 ) d ay s du ri n g

t h e i n s t al l at i o n o f s ai d s af e t y m eas u res

. In t h e ev en t t hat

s ai d m eas u res are n o t co m p l et el y i n s t al l ed wi th i n t h e fo rt y

fi v e (4 5) d ay p eri o d o u t l i n ed ab o v e, [Co wart ] i s o rd ered t o

ceas e al l act i v i t ies o n [t h e] eas em en t un t i l in s t al l at i o n o f

t h e s afet y m eas u res i s co m p l et ed

. Th i s [c] o u rt i n co rp o rat es

t h e l eg al co n cl u s i on s ex p res s ed i n t h e [2 0 0 5 Ord er] as th e

g ov ern i n g l aw ju s t i fy in g t h i s rem ed y

.

Sh o u l d [Co wart ] n o t m eet th e fo rt y -fi v e (4 5 ) d ay d ead l in e

i m p o sed ab ov e, s u b s eq u en t to h i s i n st al lat i o n o f s u ch

s afet y m eas u res

, [Co wart ] s h al l b e al l o wed to res u m e

act i v i t y w i t hi n t h e eas em en t area t h at i s i n co m p li an ce w i t h

t h e p ri o r o rd ers an d an y wri t ten En cro ach m en t Ag reem en t s

b et w een t he p art i es

.

Co wa r t , 3 5 4 Ga. Ap p . at 7 4 9 -7 5 2 (cap i t al i zat io n an d fo o t n o t e o m i t t ed ).

Co war t a p p e a l ed

, an d we s u a s p o n t e v acat ed t h e 20 1 8 Ord er an d rem an d ed

wi t h i n s t ru ct i o n s fo r th e s up eri o r co u rt to d et erm i n e wh et h er Geo rg ia Po wer’ s 2 0 1 2

co n te m pt p et i ti o n co n s ti t u t ed “ an at t em p t to i m p ro p erl y co m

m en ce a n ew ci v i l

act i on ,” wh i ch

, we st at ed

, wo u l d h av e d ep ri ved t h e s u p eri o r co urt o f “ s u b ject m at t er

ju ri s d i ct i o n t o h ear t h e m at t er.” Co wa r t , 3 5 4 Ga. Ap p. at 7 53

.

On rem an d, Geo rg i a Po wer fi led a “ M o t i o n to Co n fi rm t h e J u ri s di ct i o n o f t h i s

Co u rt ,” i n wh ich i t as k ed t h e s u p eri o r co u rt t o fi n d t hat t h e co u rt had su b j ect m at t er

6ju ri s d i ct i o n ov er th e 2 0 1 2 co n t em p t p et i t i o n o n t h e g ro un d t hat t h e p et i t i o n was n ot

a wh o l l y n ew ci v i l act i o n b u t rat h er was a co n ti n u at i o n o f t h e p ri o r un d erl y i n g

p ro ceed in g t h at g av e ri s e t o t h e co n t em p t

. Geo rg i a Po wer as s ert ed t h at i t s co n t em pt

p et i t i o n co u l d n o t hav e b een fi l ed u n d er t h e p ri or cas e’ s d o ck et nu m b er b ecau s e b o th

t h e Un ifo rm Su p eri o r Co u rt Ru l es (“ USCR”) an d t h e Gwi n n et t Co u n t y Cl erk ’ s Offi ce

req u i re a n ew cas e n um

b er t o b e as si g n ed t o a co nt em p t p ro ceed i n g wh ere, as h ere,

t h e u n d erl y i n g cas e h as b een cl o sed fo r 3 0 day s

. In s u pp o r t of i ts m ot i o n

, Geo rg i a

Po wer s u b m i t t e d an affi d av i t b y t h e Gwi n net t Co u n t y Cl erk o f Co urt

, wh o at t es t ed

as fo l l ows :

If a co n tem

p t act i o n i s f

i l e d i n a cas e wh i ch h as b een cl o s ed b y

o u r o ffi ce d u e t o t h e fact t h at a fi n al j u d gm en t h as b een en t ered an d th e

t i m e fo r ap p eal has l ap s ed

, t h en we as s i g n t h e co n t em p t act i o n a new

cas e n u m b er p urs u an t t o Un i fo rm

Su p eri o r Co u rt Ru l e 3 9 .2

.

If a co n tem

pt act i on i s fi l ed an d a n ew cas e n u m b er i s g i v en

, i t i s

o u r o f fi ce’ s p o l i cy t o as s i g n t h at co n t em p t act i o n t o t he D i vi s i o n an d

J u d g e wh o en t ered t h e fi n al o rd er b ecau s e i t i s n o t a n ew cas e, b u t i s a

co n t in u at io n o f t h e p ri o r ci v i l act io n

.

T h e s u p eri o r co u rt g ran t ed Geo rg ia Po wer’ s m o t io n an d en t ered an “ Ord e r

Es t ab l i s hi n g J u ri s d ict i o n

, ” i n wh i ch i t : (i ) co ncl u d ed t hat Geo rg i a Po wer’ s 2 0 1 2

co n tem p t p et i t io n “ was n o t a wh o l l y n ew ci v il act i o n ,” b u t rat h er was a co n ti n u at i o n

7o f t h e p ri or u n derl y i n g p ro ceed i n g s ; an d (i i ) rei n st at ed i t s p ri o r co n t em p t o rd er. Th i s

ap p eal fo l l o w ed

.

1

. Co wart co nt en d s t h at t h e s u p eri o r co u rt erred i n fi n d i n g t h at i t h ad s u b ject

m a t t e r ju ri sd ict i o n o v er t h e 20 1 2 co n t em p t p et i t i o n becau s e, acco rd i n g t o Co wart

,

“ n o t o n ly d i d [Geo rg i a Po wer] at t em p t t o in i t i at e a n ew act i o n

, i t act u al ly co m m en ced

a n ew act i o n ” wh en i t fi l ed t h e p et i t i o n . W e d i s ag ree.

W h et h er a t ri al co urt l ack ed s ub ject m at t er ju ri s di ct io n i s a q u es t i on o f l aw t h at

we rev i ew d e n o vo

. Go d

d ar d v. Ci t y o f Al b a ny

, 2 8 5 Ga. 88 2

, 8 8 3 (1 ) (6 8 4 SE2 d 6 3 5 )

(2 0 0 9).

J u ri s d i ct i o n o f t h e s u b

ject -m at t er d o es n o t m ean s i m p l y ju ri s d ict i o n o f

t h e part i cu l ar cas e t h en o ccu p y i n g t h e at t en t i o n o f t h e co urt

, b u t

ju ri s di ct i o n o f t h e cl a s s o f ca s es t o wh i ch t h at p art i cu l ar c a s e b el o n gs

.

As ap pl i ed to t h e s u b

ject

- m a t t e r o f a s u i t

, ju ri s d ict i on i s al way s

co n ferred b y l aw, an d it i s i n co rrect t o s u p p o s e t h at t h e p ower t o d eci de

i n an y cas e res t s s ol el y o n t h e av erm en t s o f a p l ead i n g

, b u t on th e

co n t rary t h e ju ri s d i ct io n o f a co urt i n n o way d ep en d s o n th e s u ffi ci en cy

o r i n s u ffi ci en cy o f th e p l ead i n g s

, an d if t h e p l e a d i n g s st at e a cas e

b el o ng i n g to a g en er a l cl a s s o ver wh i ch t h e au th o ri t y o f t h e co u rt

ex t en d s , t hen ju ri s d i ct i o n at t ach es an d t h e co u rt h as p o wer t o h ear an d

d et erm i ne t h e i s s u es i n v o l v ed

. If t h e p art i cu l ar cas e fal l s wi th i n th e

g en eral cl as s o f wh i ch t h e co urt h as ju ri s d i ct i o n, th en i t i s n eces s ary t o

l o o k t o t h e p art i cu l ar cas e t o fi n d g ro u n d s fo r o us t i n g t h e ju ri sd i ct i o n o f

8t h e co u rt

. Th i s i s wh at t he co u rt s g en e r a l l y refu s e to d o

. Bro ad l y

, t h ey

l ay d o wn th e ru le th at i f t h e co u rt h as t he ju ri s di ct io n t o en t er u p o n th e

i n q u i ry i n res p ect t o t h e i s s u es i n v o l v ed

, t h en t h e co u rt has j u ri s d i ct i o n

o f t h e s u b ject -m at t er.

Ni ch ol s o n v. S t at e

, 2 6 1 Ga. 1 9 7

, 1 9 9-2 0 0 (4 ) (4 0 3 SE2 d 4 2 ) (1 9 91 ) (ci t at i o n an d

p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ). Im p o rt an t l y

, “ [a] ‘ g en eral cl as s ’ wi l l n o t b e d e f i n e d b y t h e

p res en ce o r ab sen ce of s p eci fi c p l ead i n gs fi l ed in a sp eci fi c cas e.” Id

. at 2 0 0 (5 ) (a).

An d i t i s wel l s et tl ed t h at “ [c] o n t em p t i s p ar t o f t h e j u d ici ary ’ s i n h eren t p o wer to

en fo rce i t s o r d e r s

. ” Br o wn v. Ki n g

, 2 6 6 Ga. 8 9 0

, 8 9 1 (1 ) (4 7 2 SE2 d 6 5 ) (1 9 9 6 );

Ca r d en v. Ca r d

en

, 2 6 6 Ga. Ap p

. 1 4 9

, 15 0 (1 ) (5 9 6 SE2 d 6 8 6 ) (2 00 4 ); acco rd In r e

S i emo n

, 2 6 4 Ga. 6 4 1

, 6 4 1 (1 ) (4 4 9 SE2 d 8 3 2) (1 9 9 4) (“ T h e ju d i ci al p o wer t o p u n i s h

fo r co n t em

p t i s i n h eren t an d en ab l es t h e co u rt s t o p erfo rm t h ei r fu n ct i o n s, i n cl u d i n g

p res erv i ng o rd er i n ju di ci al p ro ceed i n g s.”).

“ [A] m o t i o n to h o l d a p a r t y i n co n t em p t i s no t a n ew ci v i l act i o n

. ” Co o k v.

S mi th

, 2 88 Ga. 4 0 9

, 4 1 2 (2 ) (7 0 5 SE2 d 8 4 7 ) (2 01 0 ) (ci t at i o n an d p u n c t u a t i o n

o m it t ed ). Rat h er, “ an act io n fo r co n t em pt i s an ci l l ary t o t h e p ri m ary act i o n an d

, as

s u ch

, i s no t a p l ead i n g b u t a m o t i o n .” Ph i l l i p s v. B r o wn

, 26 3 G a. 5 0

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

8 6 6 ) (1 9 9 3 ); Ca r d

en

, 2 66 G a. Ap p

. at 1 5 0 (1 ); s ee Br o wn

, 2 6 6 Ga. at 8 9 1 (1 ) (a

co n tem p t act io n t o en fo rce a p ri o r co urt o rd er “ i s an i n d ep en d en t p ro ceed i n g t h at i s

9an ci l lary ” t o t h e act io n i n w h ich t h e p ri o r o rd er w as en t ered ). In t h at reg ard

, “ [a]

m o ti o n fo r co nt em

p t i s n o t t an t am o u n t t o t h e f i l i n g of a co m

p l ai n t

, ” as i t “ d o es n ot

co m e wi t h i n t he d efi n i t i o n o f a p l ead i n g .” Ph i l l i p s

, 26 3 G a

. at 5 1 (2 ) (ci tat i o n an d

p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ); acco rd Op a t u t v. Gu es t Po n d Cl u b

, 25 4 Ga. 2 5 8

, 2 58 (1 ) (3 2 7

SE2 d 4 8 7 ) (1 9 8 5). A nd wh ere t h e p ro ceed in g o u t o f wh ich an ap p l i cat i o n fo r

co n tem p t ari s es rem ai n s p en d i n g b efo re t h e t ri al co u rt

, th e ap p l icat i o n s h o u l d b e fi l ed

i n t hat p ro ceed i ng . See Ph i ll i p s , 2 6 3 Ga. at 5 1 -5 2 (2 ).

Nev ert h el es s

, s i n ce at l eas t 2 0 12 (wh en Geo rg i a P o we r ’ s lat es t co n t em pt

p et i t i o n was fi l ed ), s u p eri o r co u rt cl erk s h av e b een req u i red b y s t at u t e t o as s i g n

“ s ep arat e c a s e n u m

b e r [ s ] ” to “ al l ci vi l act io n s

. . . , in cl u d i n g co m p l ai n t s

, . . .

co n t e mp t a ct i o n s

, mo t i o n s an d m o d i fi cat i o n s o n cl os ed ci vi l a ct io n s

, an d al l o t h er

act i on s ci v i l i n n at u re ex cep t ad o p t io n s.” OCGA § 1 5 -6 -6 1 (a) (4 ) ( A ) (2 0 1 2 )

(em p h as es s u p p l i ed ). 1 An d t h e Un i fo rm Su p eri o r Co urt Ru l es

, s in ce t h ei r i n cep t i o n,

s i m i l arl y h av e req u i red a s u peri o r co u rt d o ck et t o “ c o n t a i n sep a r at e ca s e n u mb er

en t r i e s f o r a l l ci v i l act i o n s fi l ed i n th e o ffi ce o f t he cl erk i n cl u d i n g : co m p l ai nt s

,

mo t io n s

, . . . co n t emp t a ct i o n s

, . . . an d al l ot h er act i o n s ci v i l i n n at u re, ex cep t

1 Th e cu rren t v e r s i o n of t hi s s t at u t e ex t en d s t h e “ s ep arat e cas e n u m b er”

req u i rem en t t o “ an y p o s t

j ud gm en t p ro ceed i n g fi l ed m o re th an 3 0 d ay s aft er ju d g m en t

o r d i s m i s s al i n an act i o n .” OCGA § 1 5 -6 -6 1 (a) (4 ) (A) (2 0 2 1 ).

10ad o pt i o n s.” USCR 3 9 .2 (em p h as es s u p p l i ed ). 2 In t hat v ei n

, “ an y p o s t ju d g m en t

p ro ceed in g fi l ed m o re t h an 3 0 d ay s aft er ju d g m en t o r di s m i s s al i n a n act i o n ” i s

co n si d ered “ a n ew cas e” fo r p u rp o s es o f co l l ect in g fi l i n g fees

. OCGA § 1 5 -6 -7 7 (e)

(1 ). 3

Here, i t i s u n d i sp u t ed t hat t h e u nd erl y in g act i o n g i v i n g ri se t o Geo rg i a Po wer’ s

2 0 1 2 co nt em

p t p et i ti o n h ad b een cl o s ed fo r m ore t h an 3 0 d ay s w h en Geo rg i a Po wer

f i led t h e p et i t io n

. Co n s eq u en t l y

, OCGA § 1 5 -6 -6 1 (a) (4 ) (A) an d USCR 3 9 .2

req u i red t h e s u p eri o r co urt cl erk t o as s i g n a n ew d ock et n u m ber t o Geo rg ia Po wer’ s

2 0 1 2 co n t em

p t p et it i on

. It i s ax i o m at i c t h at t h i s p urel y ad m in i s t rat iv e req u i rem en t

can n ot t ran s fo rm a p o st -judgm e nt c onte m pt pr oc e e di n g in to an i m

p ro p er “ w h o l l y n ew

act i on ”

— o th erwi s e, o n e co u l d n ev er i n i t i at e a po s t-ju dg m en t co nt em p t p ro ceed i n g.

See B r o w n

, 2 6 6 Ga. at 8 9 1 (2 ) (o b s erv i n g t h at OCGA § 1 5 -6 -7 7 (e) (1 ) an d USCR

3 9 .2 “ d eal wi t h ad m i n i s t ra t i v e m at t ers rel at ed t o fi li n g s i n t h e cl erk ’ s o ffi ce” an d

2 Th at p ro vi s io n h as rem ai n ed u n ch an g ed s i n ce i t b ecam e effect i v e i n 1 9 8 5.

3 Th at req u irem en t h as rem ai n ed un ch an g ed s i n ce 2 0 1 2

, wh en Geo rg i a Po wer

fi led t h e p res en t co n t em

p t p et i t i o n

. Co m

p are O CGA § 1 5 -6 -7 7 (e) (1 ) (2 0 1 2 ), wi th

OCGA § 1 5 -6 -7 7 (e) (1 ) (2 0 2 1 ). Th e cu rren t v ers i o n o f th e s t at u t e al s o ex p res s l y

req u i res an y

“ n ew cas e” u n d er t h e s t at u t e t o b e “ gi v en a n ew cas e nu m b er.” OCGA

§ 1 5-6 -7 7 (e) (1 ) (2 0 2 1 ).

11p ro v id e n o au t ho ri t y “ fo r a co u rt t o d es i g n at e a co n t em p t m o t i o n as a n ew ci vi l act i o n

req u i ri n g 3 0 d ay s n o ti ce o f a h eari n g ”).

Geo rg i a Po we r ’s 2 0 1 2 co n t em p t p et it i o n

— t h e i n i t i al fi l i n g i n t h e cu rren t

co n tem p t p ro ceed i n g

— i s en t i tl ed “ Pet i t i o n fo r Co nt em p t an d Im

p o s i t i o n o f

San ct i o n s ,” an d n o t “ Co m p lai nt .” Th e fact t h at Geo rg i a Po wer t it l ed t h i s fi l i n g a

“ p et it i o n ” rat h er t h an a “ m o ti o n ” o r an “ ap p l i cat i on ” i s i rrel ev an t

— reg ar d l e s s o f

wh et h er i t i s t e c h n i c a l l y p r o p er

— as i t i s th e s u bs t an ce o f t h e fi l i n g t h at i s

d et erm i n at i v e. See P l a n et In s

. Co

. v. Fer rel l

, 2 2 8 G a. A p p

. 2 6 4

, 2 6 6 (4 9 1 SE2 d 4 7 1 )

(1 9 9 7) (“ [ P ]l e a d i n g s

, m o t i o n s an d o rd ers are t o b e co n st ru ed acco rd i n g t o t h ei r

s u b s t an ce an d fu nct i o n an d n o t m erel y as t o t hei r no m en cl at ure

. . . .”); ac c o r d

Ku r i at n yk v. Ku r i a t n

yk

, 2 8 6 Ga. 5 8 9

, 5 9 0 (6 9 0 SE2 d 3 9 7 ) (2 0 1 0) (i n co n s t ru i n g

p l ead i n g s

, su b s t an ce co n tro l s o v er n o m en cl at u re); H a mmer Cl i n i c P.C. v. Cr a wl ey

,

1 6 9 Ga. Ap p

. 5 2 2, 5 2 3 (3 1 3 SE2 d 7 7 8 ) (1 9 8 4 ) (“ Al t h o u g h each o f t h e p art i es an d

t h ei r co u n s el

, t og et h er wi t h t he t ri al j u d ge, seem to cal l t he t h i n g a m o t i o n fo r

s u m m ary ju d g m en t

, we are n o t at al l i n t eres t ed i n i t s n o m en cl at u re b ut accep t i t fo r

wh at we t h i n k it i s

. . . . ”). No t ab l y

, t h e p et i t i o n ex pres s l y referred t o t h e p ri o r

p ro ceed in g s i n t h i s o n g o i n g d i s p ut e an d at t ach ed p ri o r s u p eri o r co urt o rd e r s a n d

rel at ed fi l i ng s i n t hi s d i s p u t e as ex h i b i t s t o t h e p et i t i o n. A rev i ew o f t h e pet i t i o n an d

12i t s ex h i b i t s t hu s s h o ws t hat t he p et i t i o n s erv ed t o i n i t iat e a p o s t -ju d g m en t co n t em pt

p ro ceed in g

— r a t h e r t han a “ wh o l l y n ew act i o n ”

— o v er wh i ch t h e s u p eri o r co u rt

ret ai n ed “ i n h eren t p o w er” fo r t h e p u rp o s e o f “ en fo rc[i n g ] i t s ord ers .” See Br own

, 2 6 6

Ga. at 8 91 (1 ).

Fu rt her, as d i s cu s s ed ab ov e, t h e n eces s ary ad m in i s t rat i ve as s ig n m en t o f a n ew

t ri al co urt d o ck et n u m

ber t o a co n t em

p t p et i t i on d o es n o t t ran s fo rm s u ch a p et i t i o n

i n t o a “ wh o l l y new” ci vi l act i o n

. 4 See g en eral l y O CGA § § 1 5 -6 -6 1 (a) (4 ) (A); 1 5 -6

-

7 7 (e) (1 ); USCR 3 9

. 2

. Vi ewed i n t h is co nt ex t

, t h e fact t hat Geo rg i a Po wer s o u g ht

an d o bt ai n ed an u n n eces s ary s u m m on s di rect ed t o Co wart i n c o n ju n ct i o n wi t h t h e

fi li n g o f t h e 2 0 1 2 co n t em

p t p et it i o n (as i t al s o d i d i n 2 0 0 3 ) h as n o b eari n g o n wh et h er

4 W e n ot e t hat Geo rg i a Po wer’ s 2 0 1 2 co n t em p t p et i t i o n was n o t th e fi rs t fi l i n g

g i v en a n ew d o ck et n u m b er i n t h es e pro ceed i n gs

. In 2 0 0 2, Geo rg i a Po wer’ s

co m p l ai n t was d o ck et ed as cas e n o

. 0 2 -A-1 0 53 1

. Geo rg i a Po w er’ s 2 0 0 3 m o t i o n fo r

co n tem p t was as s i g n ed cas e n o

. 0 3 -A-0 7 2 3 9

. On a rel at ed n o t e, A l exa n d er v. Gi b s o n

, 3 0 0 Ga. 3 9 4

, 3 9 5 -3 9 6 (7 9 4 SE2 d 5 9 7 ) (2 01 6 ), b ri efl y rel i ed o n b y Co wart

, d o es n ot

ch an ge th e res u lt h ere. In Al exa n d er

, t he Su p rem e Co u rt hel d t h a t th e v ers i o n o f

OCGA § 1 5 -6 -7 7 (e) (1 ) (wh i ch g o v ern s t h e as s es s m en t o f co s t s i n ci v i l act i o n s ) i n

effect at t h e t i m e d i d n o t pro h i b i t a p art y fro m fi l i n g a p o s t -ju d g m en t m o t i o n to

co m p el d i s co v ery u nd er t h e d o ck et n u m b er o f a cas e i n wh i ch j u d gm en t was en t ered

m o re t h an 3 0 d ay s p ri o r. 3 0 0 Ga. at 3 9 5 -3 9 6

. Im p o rt an t l y

, t h e m a

j o ri t y o p i n i o n in

Al exa n der d i d n o t ad d res s OCGA § 1 5 -6 -6 1 o r USCR 39 .2

. See g en eral ly i d

. at 3 9 4

-

3 9 6

. W e t h erefo re read Al exa nd er as l i m it ed t o i ts fact s an d p ro ced u ral p o s t u re

— i

. e.,

a s p eci fi c req u es t b y a p art y to fi l e a p o st -ju d g m en t m o ti o n t o co m p el d is co v ery u n d er

t h e s am e d o ck et n u m

b er as t h e act i o n i n wh ich t he p ri or ju d g m en t was en t ered

—

an d

, as a res u l t , i n ap pl icab l e h ere. See i d

.

13t h e s u p eri o r co u rt h ad “ ju ri s d i ct i o n o f t h e cl a s s o

f ca s es ” t o w h i ch a co n t em p t act i o n

b el o n g s

, p art i cu larl y wh ere, as h ere

, i t i s c l e a r fro m t h e face o f t h e p et i t i o n t h at

en fo rcem en t was so u gh t o f o n e o r m ore p ri o r o rd ers en tered b y t h e su p eri o r co u rt in

p ri o r p ro ceed i n g s b et ween t h e p art i es t o t h e pet i t i o n

. See Ni ch ol s o n

, 2 6 1 Ga. at 1 9 9

(4 ); s ee al s o gen eral l y Br o wn

, 2 6 6 Ga. at 8 9 1 (1 ). Fo r s i m il ar reas o ns

, t h e f a c t t h at

Geo rg i a Po wer ch eck ed t h e b ox fo r “ Eq u i t y ” rat h er t han “ No n -Do m es t ic Co n t em p t ”

o n t h e ad m i n is t rat i ve G en eral Ci v i l Cas e Fi l i n g In fo rm at i o n Fo rm i t s u bm i t t ed wi th

i t s co n t em

p t p et i t i o n d o es no t ch an g e t h e s u b s t a n ce o f i t s req u es t fo r a fi n d i n g o f

co n tem p t ari s i n g o u t o f th e p ri o r u n d erl y i n g pro ceed i n gs b et w een t h es e p art i es

. See

Ku r i at n yk

, 2 86 G a. at 5 9 0; Pl a n et In s

. Co

. , 2 2 8 Ga. Ap p

. at 2 6 6; Ha mmer Cl i n i c P.C.

,

1 6 9 Ga. Ap p

. at 5 23 ; see al s o g en eral l y Ca rd en

, 2 6 6 Ga. Ap p

. at 1 4 9 (co nt em p t i s an

“ eq u i t ab l e rem ed y ”); i d

. at 1 5 4 (“ A p ro ced u ral t ech n ical i t y s h o u l d no t p ro h ib i t a co u rt

o f eq u it y fro m

d i s p en s in g ju s t i ce.”) (M i k el l , J ., co n cu rri ng s p eci al ly ).

Al l i n al l

, we co n cl u d e t h at Geo rg i a Po wer’ s act i o n s i n fi l i n g th e 2 0 1 2

co n tem p t p et i ti o n es t ab l is h n o t t h at i t i n t en ded t o i ni t i at e a “ wh o l l y n ew act i o n ” b ut

rat h er t h at i t s o u g h t m erel y to co m p l y

— ev en i f i n a r t f

u l l y

— wi t h t h e les s -t h an

i n t u i ti v e s t at u t o ry

, reg u l at o ry

, an d ad m i n i s t rat i v e req u i rem en t s g o v ern i n g t h e

14as s i g n m en t o f cas e n um bers i n p o s t -ju d g m en t p ro ceed i n g s

. 5 W e th erefo re affi rm t h e

s u p eri o r co u rt ’ s ru l i n g t hat it h ad s u b ject m at t er j u ri s d i ct i o n o v er t he 20 1 2 co n t em pt

p et i t i o n

.

2

. Th e p art i es d i s pu t e wh et h er we m ay n ow ad d res s t h e m e ri t s o f Co wart ’ s

ch al l en g es t o t h e 2 0 1 8 O rd er. In t h at reg ard

, Geo rg i a Po wer co n ten d s t h at Co wart h as

ab an do n ed an y ch al l en g es i t m ay h av e t o t h e s u b s t an ce of t h e 20 1 8 Ord er b y fai l i n g

t o rai se an y s u ch arg u m e n t s i n i t s i n i t i al bri ef i n t h i s ap p eal

. Co wart

, o n th e o t h er

5 Becau s e a t ri al co urt ret ai n s “ i nh eren t p o wer” t o “ en fo r c e i t s o r d ers ” in

co n tem p t p ro ceed in g s

, Br own

, 2 6 6 Ga. at 89 1 (1 ), an d b ecau se a req u es t fo r t h e t ri al

co u rt t o h o l d an o p po s in g p art y i n co n t em p t i s

, by i t s v ery n a t u r e

, “ n ot a n ew ci v i l

a c t i o n ,” Co o k

, 2 8 8 Ga. at 4 1 2 (2 ) (ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at i on o m i t t ed ), b u t i s r a t h e r

“ an ci l l ary t o t h e p r i m a r y a ct i o n ” an d t h erefo re “ n o t t an t am o u n t t o th e fi l i n g o f a

co m p l ai n t ,” Ph i l li

p s

, 2 6 3 Ga. at 5 1 (2 ) (ci t at i o n an d pu n ct u at i o n o m i t ted ), we q u es t i o n

t h e p ro po s it i o n (u n derl y i n g t h i s Co u rt ’ s ru l i n g i n Co wa r t

, 3 5 4 Ga. Ap p

. at 7 5 2 -7 5 3 )

t h at a p art y’s “ a t t e m

p t t o i m p ro p erl y co m

m en ce a n ew ci v i l act i o n” b y fi l i n g a

p et i t i o n fo r co n t e m

p t co u l d d ep ri v e a t ri al co u rt of s u b j ect ma t t er j u ri s d i ct i o n to

ad ju d i cat e t h e p et it i o n

. See Ni ch o l s o n

, 2 6 1 Ga. at 1 9 9 (4 ) (“ i f t h e pl ead i n g s s t at e a

cas e b el o n g i n g t o a g en er a l cl a s s o v er wh i ch t h e au t h o ri t y o f t he co u rt ex t en d s

, t h en

ju ri s d i ct i o n at t ach es ”) (ci t at io n an d p u n ct u at i o n om i t t ed ). W h i l e t he s u ffi ci en cy o f

s er vi ce o f an ap pl i cat i o n fo r co n t em p t p o t en t i a l l y m a y i m

p l i cat e i s s ues co n cern i n g

p er s o n a l ju ri s d i ct io n

, s ee g en eral l y Den n i s v. Den ni s

, 3 0 2 Ga. A p p

. 79 1

, 79 4 (2 ) (6 9 2

SE2 d 4 7 ) (2 0 1 0 ); Ch ava r r i a v. Ja cks o n

, 1 94 Ga. Ap p

. 4 1 4, 4 1 4 -4 1 5 (3 9 0 SE2 d 6 1 3 )

(1 9 9 0); Ber

g e r v

. N o r t h Amer ica n Co

. , 1 4 6 Ga. Ap p

. 4 7 5

, 4 7 6 -4 7 7 (3 ) (2 4 6 SE2 d

7 1 6 ) (1 97 8 ), n o s u ch q u es t i o n i s b efo re u s i n t h i s p ro ceed i n g

. Nev ert h el es s, b ecau s e

we affi rm t h e s u p e r i o r co u rt ’ s ru l i n g t h at n o i m p ro p er at tem

pt t o s tart a n ew act i o n

o ccu rred h ere, we l eav e fo r an o t h er d ay wh et h er t o rev is it o u r ru l i n g i n Co wa r t

, 3 5 4

Ga. Ap p . at 7 5 2 -7 5 3

.

15h an d, m ai n t a i n s t h at

, i f w e affi rm t h e s u peri o r co u rt ’ s ru l i n g on s u b ject m at t er

ju ri s d i ct i o n

, t h e arg u m en t s rai s ed b y t h e p art i es i n t h ei r b ri efs i n th e p ri or ap p eal are

n o w ri p e fo r rev i ew.

No t a b l y, i n o u r p ri or d eci s io n in t h is cas e, we s t at ed

, “ If

. . . t h e t ri al co u rt

d et erm i n es t hat G eo r g i a P o wer p ro p erl y fi l ed a m o t i o n w h i ch w as m erel y as s i g n ed

a 20 1 2 cas e nu m

b er b y t h e cl erk o f co u rt

, t h en s u bject m at t er ju ri s d ict i o n ex i s t s an d

t h i s Co ur t ma

y s u b s eq u en t ly co n si d

er t h e mer it

s o f t h e a p pea l .” Co wa r t

, 3 5 4 Ga.

Ap p

. at 7 5 3 (em

ph as i s s u p p l i ed ). W e d i d n o t, ho wev er, gi v e t h e p art i es cl ear g u i d an ce

as t o wh et h er i t wo u l d b e n eces s ary t o re-b ri ef Co wart ’ s s u bs t an ti v e ch al l en g es t o t h e

2 0 1 8 Ord er i n an en s ui n g ap p eal

. Reg ard l es s, we n o te t h at nei t h er p art y s u g g es t s t h at

(a) t h es e i s s ue s were n ot fu l l y bri efed i n t h e pri o r ap p eal

, (b ) fact u al d ev el o p m en t s

s i nce t h e p ri o r ap peal warran t ad d i t i o n al b r i e f i n g

, o r (c) ei th er p art y wi l l b e

p reju d i ced b y ad d res si n g th es e i s s u es i n t h is ap p eal

. Th e p art i es al s o d o n ot ci t e an y

au t h o ri t y b arri n g u s fro m ad d res s i n g t h es e i s su es o n t h e p ecu l i ar ci rcu m s t an ces

p res en t ed h ere. Co n s eq u en t l y

, i n t h e i n t eres t s of ju s t i ce an d ju di ci al eco n om y

, we t u rn

t o Co wart ’ s s u b s t an t i v e ch al l en g es t o t h e 2 0 1 8 Ord er.

3

. Co wart co n t en ds t h at

, i n t h e 2 0 1 8 Ord er, t h e s u p eri o r co u rt i m p erm i s s i b l y

m o di fi ed t he t erm s o f t h e 2 0 0 5 Ord er b y req u iri n g h i m to erect b arri ers o n h i s

16p ro p ert y

. In t h at reg ard

, h e m ai n t ai n s t hat t h e m os t recen t s u p eri or co u rt o rd er p red at i n g Geo rg i a Po wer’ s 20 1 2 co n t em p t p et i ti o n

— th e 2 0 0 6 Fi n al Co n s en t Ord er

—

d i d n o t p u t h i m

o n n o ti ce t h at a v i o l at i o n o f i t s t erm s co ul d res u l t i n s uch a “ d ras t i c

s an ct i o n ,” b u t rat h er d el i neat ed ot h er p o t en t i al p en al t ies fo r n o n -co m pl i an ce. W e

d i s ag ree.

Un d er OCGA § 2 3 -4 -3 1

, “ [a] s u p eri o r co urt s h al l h av e fu l l p ower t o m o l d i t s

d ecrees s o as t o m eet th e ex i g en ci es o f each cas e an d s h al l h av e fu l l p o wer t o en fo rce

i t s d ecrees wh en ren dered .” “ An d t h e d i s cret io n o f t h e ju d g es o f t h e s u p eri o r co u rt s

i n al l m at t ers p ert ai n i n g t o co n t em p t o f t h ei r au t h ori t y an d m an d at es wi l l n e v er b e

co n tro l l ed u nl es s g ro s s l y ab u s ed .” W ya t t Pr o ces s i n g v. Bel l Ir r i ga t i o n

, 2 9 8 Ga. Ap p.

3 5

, 3 5 -3 6 (6 7 9 SE2 d 6 3 ) (2 0 0 9 ) (ci tat i o n an d p u n ct u at i o n om i t t e d )

. “ Th u s, wh i le a

t ri al co u rt i s n ot au t h o ri zed t o m o d i fy [a p ri o r] d ecree wi t h i n a co n t em p t p ro ceed i n g,

i t ma y exer ci s e i t

s di s cr et io n t o cr a

f t a r emed y fo r co nt emp t

, i ncl u d i n g rem ed y i n g

h arm cau s ed t o an i n n o cen t p art y by t h e co n t em p tu o u s co n d u ct .” S

m i t h v. S mi t h

, 2 9 3

Ga. 56 3

, 5 6 4 (1 ) (7 4 8 SE2 d 45 6 ) (2 0 1 3 ) (ci t at io n an d p u nct u at i o n o m i tt ed ; em p h as i s

s u p p li ed ); acco rd S

u th er l in v. S

u t h er l i n

, 3 0 1 Ga

. 5 81

, 5 8 2 (8 0 2 SE2 d 2 0 4 ) (2 0 1 7 )

(“ Th e t r i a l c o u rt in a co n t em p t cas e h as wi d e d i s cret i o n t o d et erm i n e wh et h er i t s

o rd ers h av e b een vi o l at ed

. Th e co u rt i s n ot au th o ri zed t o m od i fy a p rev i ou s decree in

17a co nt em

p t o rd er, b u t i t i s al way s em p o wered t o i n t erp ret an d cl ari fy i ts o wn o rd ers .”)

(ci t at i o n s an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ); Zi ya d v. El -Ami n , 2 9 3 Ga. 8 7 1

, 8 72 (7 5 0 SE2 d

3 3 7 ) (2 0 1 3 ) (“ [A] co urt can craft a rem ed y fo r co n t em p t

, in cl u d i ng rem ed y i n g h arm

cau s ed to an in no cen t p art y by t he co n t em p t u o u s co n du ct .”) (ci t at i o n an d pu n ct u at i o n

o m it t ed ). 6 “ Th e t es t t o det erm i n e wh et h er an o rd er i s cl ari fi ed o r m od i fi ed i s wh et h er

t h e cl ari fi cat i o n i s reas o nab l e o r wh et h er i t i s so co n t rary t o t h e ap p aren t i n t en t i o n o f

t h e o ri g i n al ord er as to am o u n t t o a m o d i fi cat i o n

. ” Ka u f ma n n v. Ka u

f ma n n

, 2 4 6 Ga.

2 6 6

, 2 6 8 -2 6 9 (3 ) (2 7 1 SE2 d 1 7 5 ) (1 9 8 0 ); acco rd Ki r ken d a ll v. Decker

, 27 1 Ga. 1 8 9,

1 9 1 (5 1 6 SE2 d 7 3 ) (1 9 9 9). In th at reg ard

, “ [t ] h e tri al co u rt h as t h e p ower t o s ee t h at

t h ere b e co m

p l i an ce wi t h t h e i n t en t a n d s p i r it o f i t s d ecrees [,] an d n o p art y s h o u l d b e

p erm i t t ed t o t ak e ad v an t ag e o f t h e l e t t e r o f a d ecree t o t h e d et ri m en t o f t h e o t h er

p art y. ” K a u f ma n n

, 2 4 6 Ga. 2 69 (3 ) (ci t at i o n an d p u n ct uat i o n o m i t t ed ; em p h as i s

s u p p li ed ).

As d i s cu s sed ab o v e, i n t he 2 0 0 5 Ord er, t he s up eri o r co u rt req u i red t h e p art i es

t o en t er an En cro ach m en t Ag reem en t at t ach ed t o th e o rd er. Th e co urt al s o

, i n t er al i a,

6 Fo r p urp o ses o f th i s ap p eal

, we as s u m e wi th o u t d eci d i ng t hat t h e p ro p o s i t i o n

t h at a co u rt m ay n o t m o d i fy a p ri o r d ecree i n a co n t em p t o rd er ap p l i es in co n t ex t s

o t h er t h an d i v o rce d ecrees

, al t h o u g h n e i t h e r p art y h as i d en t i fi ed an y Geo rg i a

ap p el l at e d eci s i o n s t o t h at effect

.

18en

jo i n ed Co wart fro m (a) “ s t o ri n g an y m at eri al s

, o b s t ru ct i o n s, eq u i p m en t o r o t h er

d eb ri s ” i n t h e eas em en t (wi t h t wo ex cep ti on s n o t rel ev an t h ere), (b ) o p erat i n g a n y

e q u i p m e n t m o re t h an 1 5 feet ab o v e g ro un d l ev el in t h e eas em en t

, an d (c) al l o wi n g

o t h er p art i es t o acces s t h e eas em en t

. Im p ort an t l y

, t he 2 0 0 5 Ord er fu rt h er p ro v i d ed as

fo l l o w s :

In t h e ev en t [Co wart ] v i o l at es t h e t erm s o f t h i s Ord er, p en al t i es s hal l be

en fo rced ag ai n s t [Co w art ,] i n cl u d i n g th e p ay m en t o f an y at t o rn ey ’ s fees

i n cu rred b y [Geo rg i a Po wer,] as wel l as a fi n e u p t o $ 10 ,0 0 0 .0 0 p er d ay

fo r an y vi o l at io n. In t h e ev en t t h at t h ere i s a s ec o n d v i o l a t i o n o f th e

t erm s o f t h i s Ord er g ran t i n g In ju n ct i ve Rel i ef, t h e Co u rt sh al l ret ai n th e

ri gh t t o [i m ] po s e ad d i t i o n al fi n es an d p en al t i es an d i f l es s s u b s t a n t i a l

ev i d en ce is p res e n t e d t o ju s t i fy t h e co n t i n u ed v i ol at i o n o f t he Co u rt ’ s

o rd er, t h e Co ur t wi ll co n s i d er t er mi na t i n g a l l p r i vi l eg es of [ Co wa r t ] t o

u t i l i z e t h e r i g h t o f wa y o f [Geo rg i a Po wer]

.

(Em p h as i s s u p p li ed .)

Th e s u p eri o r co u rt ’ s au t h o ri t y t o req u ire t h e p art i es t o t ak e act i o n s n eces s ary

t o term in at e Co wart ’ s p ri v i l eg es t o u s e t h e ri g h t o f way fo ll o wi n g m u l ti p l e v io l at i on s

o f t h e 2 0 0 5 Ord er i s n eces s ari l y i m pl i ed i n t h at o rd er. See, e.g

., S mi t h

, 2 93 Ga. at 5 6 4

(1 ) (wh ere t h e h u sb an d rem o v ed fro m t h e m art ial h o m e p ers o n al p ro pert y prev i o u s l y

award ed t o t h e wi fe i n a d iv o rce d ecree, th e t ri al co u rt d i d n ot ab u s e it s d i s cret i o n in

19a l at er co n t em p t p ro ceed i n g b y award i n g th e wi fe t h e m on et ary v al u e o f t h e rem o v ed

p ro p ert y

, as t h at rel i ef was “ m ad e n eces s ary b y h u s b an d’ s refu s al t o o b ey t h e o ri g i n al

d ecree” an d “ r em ed i ed t h e h arm cau sed b y h u sb an d’ s co n tem p t u o u s co n d u ct ”);

K a u f m a n n

, 2 4 6 Ga. at 2 6 8 -2 6 9 (3 ) (co n cl u d i n g t h at a d i v o rce d ecree p ro v i s i o n

req u i ri n g t h e hu sb an d to keep i n r e p a i r a h o m e award ed t o t h e wi fe au t h o ri zed t h e

t ri al co u rt t o ord er t h e h u s b an d t o p ay $ 1 5 ,0 0 0 t o th e wi fe fo r rep ai rs an d o b t ai n t h e

s erv i ces o f a s up erv i s i n g en g i n eer); s ee al s o g en eral l y Zi ya d

, 2 9 3 Ga. at 8 7 2 -8 7 3

(en fo rci ng o bl i g at io n t h at

, t h o u g h n o t ex p res s l y s t at ed i n di v o r c e s e t t l em en t

ag reem en t

, was n eces s ari l y i m p l i ed fro m i t s t erm s ); Fl o

yd v. Fl o yd

, 2 9 1 Ga. 6 0 5

, 6 1 0

(2 ) (7 3 2 SE2 d 2 5 8 ) (2 0 1 2 ) (s am e); cf. S ut h er li n

, 3 0 1 Ga. at 5 8 3 (I) (wh ere a

s et t l em en t ag reem e n t i n c o rp o rat ed i n t o a di v o rce d ecree req u i res on e t o m ak e

m o rt g ag e pay m en t s

, i n ferri n g a d u t y to m ak e t ho s e p ay m en t s o n ti m e d o es n ot

co n st i t u t e an i m

p ro p er m o d i fi cat i on ).

Al s o as d i s cu s s ed ab ov e, t h e s u peri o r co u rt ’ s 2 0 0 6 Fi nal Co n se n t O rd er

ap p oi nte d a s p eci al m as t er t o co nd u ct o n g o in g i n s p ect i o n s o f t h e eas em en t t o ev al u at e

Co wart ’ s co m

p l i an ce wi t h th e 2 0 0 5 Ord er an d rep o rt an y v io lat i on s o f t h at o rd er t o

t h e s u p e ri o r co u rt

. Co n seq uen t l y

, u n d er t h e p l ai n t erm s o f t h e 20 0 6 Fi n al Co n s en t

Ord er, th e 2 00 5 O rd er n eces s ari l y rem a i n e d i n fu l l fo rce. Fo r t h at reas o n

, Co wart

20r e m ai n ed o n no t i ce t hat m u l t i p le v i o l at i o n s o f th e 20 0 5 O rd er co u ld re s u l t i n

t erm i n at i o n o f h i s acces s t o t he ri g h t of w ay

. An d wh i l e t h e co n s tru ct i on o f a b arri er

was n o t ex p l i ci t l y i d en t i fi ed as a m ean s t o acco m p l i s h t h at en d i n t he 2 0 0 5 Ord er, i t

n eces s ari l y fo l lo ws t h at a b arri er i s a reas o n ab l e way to acco m p l i s h t h at res u l t

, i f n ot

t h e m o s t l i k el y way t o d o s o

. T h u s

, b y co n di t i o n in g Co wart ’ s co nt i n u ed acces s t o t h e

eas em en t o n hi s co n s t ru ct i o n o f a b arri er, “ t h e co u rt b el o w d i d n o t m o d i fy o r rewri t e

t h e [t h e 2 0 0 5 Ord er]

, b u t rat h er pro p erl y al l o wed [Co w ar t ] t o p u rg e h i m s el f by

co m p l y i n g wi t h i ts t erm s .” See Fl oyd

, 2 91 G a. at 6 1 1 (2 ) (ci tat i o n an d pu n ct u at i o n

o m it t ed ).

In i t s 2 0 1 8 Ord er, t h e s u p eri o r co u rt fo u n d t hat Co wart had co m m i t t ed m u l t i p l e

v i o l at i o n s o f t h e 2 0 05 O rd er (a ru l i n g t h at Co wart d o es n o t ch al l en g e on ap p eal ). As

a res u l t

, t h e co u rt p ro p erl y co n d i t i o n ed Co wart ’ s co n t i n u ed acces s t o t h e eas em en t

—

fo l l o w i n g 4 5 d ay s o f t h e o rd er

— o n h i s co n s t ru ct i o n of a s t ru ct u re th at wi l l “ res t rai n

h i s act i v i t i es s o t h at h i s bu s in es s o p erat i o n i s p h y s i cal l y res t rai n ed fro m t res p as s i n g

o n t h e p ro p ert y ri gh t s of [Geo rg i a Po wer] .” W e fi n d n o ab u s e o f d is cret i o n

— m u ch

l es s a g r o s s ab u s e o f d i s cret i o n

, s ee W ya tt Pr o ces s in g

, 2 9 8 Ga. A pp

. at 3 6

— b y t h e

s u p eri o r co u rt i n craft i n g t h is rel i ef t o rem ed y th e h arm cau s ed t o Geo rg i a Po wer

(an d

, p o t en t i al l y

, to th e g reat er co m m u n it y) b y Co wart ’ s y ears -l o n g o n g o i n g

21co n tem

p t u o u s co n du ct

. See Zi

ya d

, 2 93 Ga. at 8 7 2 ; S

m i t h

, 2 9 3 G a. at 5 6 4 (1 ). W e

t h erefo re affi rm t h e s u peri o r co u rt ’ s ru l i ng i n t hi s reg ard

. 7

4

. Fi n al ly

, Co wart as s ert s t h at t h e 2 0 18 Ord er p ro v i s i o n req u i ri n g h i m t o b u i ld

a b arri er i s i n t h e n at u r e o f an i m p erm is s i b l e cri m i n al co n t em p t s an ct i o n

, as i t i s

u n co nd i t io n al an d g i ves h i m n o o p p o rt u n it y

t o p u rg e. 8 W e ag ai n d is ag ree.

“ Th e p u rp o s e o f ci v i l co n t em p t i s t o p r o vi d

e a r emed

y an d t o o b t ai n

co m p l ian ce wi t h t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s ord ers .” S mi t h

, 29 3 Ga

. a t 5 6 4 (1 ) (ci t at i o n an d

p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ; em

p has is s u p p l i ed ). “ Th e d is t i n ct i o n b et ween cri m i n al an d ci v i l

co n tem p t i s t h at cri m i n al co n tem p t i m p o s es u n co n di t i o n al p u n i s h m en t fo r p ri o r act s

o f co nt u m acy

, wh ereas ci v i l co n t em p t i m p os es co n d i t i o n al p u n is h m en t as a m ean s o f

co er ci n g f

u t u r e co mp l i a n ce wi th a p ri o r co u rt ord er.” Ca b i n es s v. La mb r o s

, 3 0 3 Ga.

7 Co wart ’ s pas si n g

, co ncl u s o ry as s ert i o n t h at t he 2 0 0 5 Fi n al Ord er co n d i t i o n ed

t h e im po s i t i o n o f rem ed i es o t h er t h an fi n es an d at t o rn ey fees o n a f i n d i n g b y t h e

s u p eri o r co u rt t h at Co wart p res en t ed “ l es s s u b s t an t ial ev i d en ce” t o ju st i fy i t s o n g o i n g

v i o l at i o n s o f p ri o r co urt ord ers m is read s t h e 20 0 5 Fi n al Ord er. Th e 2 00 5 Ord er

req u i res n o s u ch ex p l i ci t fi n d i n g t o b e m em o ri al i zed i n a w ri t t en o rd er — i t rat h er

o n l y co n d i t i o n s t h e i m

p o s i t io n o f ad di t io n al rem ed i es on Co wart ’ s fai l ure t o p res en t

s u ch ev i d en ce. By fas h i on i n g t h e rem ed y at i s s u e here, t h e s u p eri o r co u rt i m p l i ci t l y

— bu t n eces sari l y

— fo u n d t hat Co wart fai l ed t o p res en t s u ch ev i d en ce, an d Co wart

d o es no t d is p u t e t hat i t fai l ed t o d o s o

.

8 Al t h o u g h Co wart b ri efl y refers t o t h e o t h er p en a l t i e s i m p o sed i n t h e 2 0 1 8

Ord er, h e ch al l en g es o n l y t h e b arri er-co n s t ru ct io n req u irem en t

.

22Ap p

. 2 5 3, 2 5 5 (1 ) (6 9 2 SE2 d 8 1 7 ) ( 20 1 0 ) (ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ; em p h as i s

s u p p li ed ); a c c o r d G r an t h a m v. Un i ver s a l Ta x Sys t ems

, 2 1 7 Ga. Ap p

. 6 76

, 6 7 7 -6 7 8

(2 ) (4 58 SE2 d 8 70 ) (1 9 9 5 ).

[B] efo re a p ers o n m ay b e h el d i n co n t e m p t f o r v i o l at i n g a co u rt

o rd er, t h e o r d e r s h o u l d i n fo rm h i m i n d efi n i t e t erm s as to t h e d ut i es

t h ereb y i m

p o s ed u p o n h im

, an d t h e co m m an d m u s t t herefo re be ex p res s

rat h er t h an i m

pl i ed . In d eed , t h e v ery

n at u re o f t h e 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 t em

p t fo r an al l eg ed d i s o b ed i en ce o f a co u rt o rd er

req u ires t h at t h e l an g uag e i n t h e co m m an d s b e cl ear an d cert ai n

.

Ca b i nes s , 3 0 3 Ga. Ap p . at 2 5 5 (1 ) (ci t at i o n s an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ).

As d i s cu s sed ab o v e i n Di v i s i o n 3

, read as a wh ol e, t he 2 0 18 Ord er d o es n ot

u n co nd i t io n al l y req u i re Co w art t o b u i l d a b arri er o n h i s p ro p ert y ; it rat her g i v es h i m

t h e o p t i o n o f b u i l d i ng t h e b arri er o r s t ay i n g co m p l et el y o ut o f t h e eas em en t

. 9 Fo r t h at

r e a s o n

, Co wart ’ s cl ai m t hat t h e b arri er-co n s t ru ct i o n p ro vi s i o n co n s t i t u t es an

im p e r m is s i b le u nco n d i ti on al cri m i n al co n t em p t s an ct i o n wi t h n o o pp o r

tunity to pur ge

i s m i s p l aced

, p ret erm it t i n g wh et h er (as Co wart su g ges t s ) t h at p ro vi s i o n p ro p erl y m ay

b e d eem ed a “ s an ct i o n ” o r “ p u n i s h m en t” i n t h e fi rs t p l ace (rat h er t h an a rem ed y fo r

9 Si m p l y s t a t e d

, th e 2 0 1 8 Ord er g i ves Co wart two o p t i on s fo r pu rg i n g h i s

co n tem p t : h e can ei th er b u i ld t h e b arri er o r s t ay o ut o f t h e eas em en t

.

23h arm to Geo rg i a Po w er). 1 0 An d as al so d i s cu s sed i n D i v i s i o n 3

, Co wart was o n cl ear

n o t i ce t h at m

u l t i p l e v i o l at i on s o f t h e 2 0 0 5 Ord er co ul d res u l t i n t erm i n at i on o f h i s

acces s t o t h e eas em en t an d t h at t h e s u p eri o r co u rt n eces sari l y w o u l d be au t h o ri zed to

craft a rem ed y t o effect u at e th at res u l t

, as it d i d h ere. See gen eral l y Zi ya d

, 2 9 3 Ga. at

8 7 2 ; S m i t h , 2 9 3 Ga. at 5 6 4 (1 ).

Co wart ’ s rel at ed arg um en t t h at t h e s u p eri o r co u rt i m p er m i s s i b l y “ sk i p p [ed ] ”

s ev eral “ co n d i t i o n al s an ct i o n s” an d “ rem o v ed t h e co n d i t i o n al pu rg e p ro v i s i o n ”

m i s read s t h e 2 0 05 O rd er. Th e pl ai n t erm s o f t h e 20 0 5 Ord er au th o ri zed th e s u p eri o r

co u rt t o co n s id er t erm i n at in g Co wart ’ s acces s t o t h e eas em en t u p o n a “ s eco n d

v i o l at i o n ” o f th e o rd er. No t ab l y

, t h i s p ro vi s i o n was t ri g g ered b y a “ seco n d v i o l at i o n,”

n o t b y a s eco n d

f i n d i ng b y t he s u p er io r co u r t o f o n e o r m o re v i o l at i o n s

. A n d Co wart

1 0 Ev en i f th e b arri er-co ns t ru ct io n p ro v i s i o n arg u ab ly co u l d be pa r tia l ly de e m e d

a “ san ct i on ,” wh en vi ewed i n co n t ex t wi t h t h e en t i ret y of t he p ro ceed i n g s b et ween t h e

p art i es

, i t n ev ert h el es s i s cl ear t h at th e pr o v i s i o n ’s pri m ary p u rp o se i s t o pro v i d e a

m ean i n g fu l rem ed y t o Geo rg i a Po wer b y co erci n g Co wart ’ s fu t u re co m p l i an ce wi th

p ri o r co u rt o rd ers barri n g h i m fro m s t ori n g m a t eri al s

, o p erat i n g m ach i n ery

, an d

u n d erm i n i n g t h e t ran s m i s s i o n l i n e t o wer in t h e eas em en t

. See S mi th

, 2 9 3 Ga. at 5 6 4

( 1 ) ; C a b i n es s

, 30 3 Ga. A p p. at 2 5 5 (1 ); s ee al s o Co wa r t

, 3 5 4 Ga. Ap p

. 7 4 9 -7 5 0 ;

Gr a nt h a m

, 2 1 7 Ga. Ap p

. at 6 7 8 (2 ) (s t at u t o ry li m i ts o n cri m i n al co n t em p t s an ct i on s

d o n o t ap p l y

t o s an ct i o n s fo r ci v i l co n t em pt

, th e p u r

p o s e o f wh i ch i s t o d

et er f u t u r e

vi o l a t i o n s o f co u rt o rd ers ).

24d o es n ot ch al l en ge t h e s up eri or co u rt ’ s fi n d i n g s i n t h e 2 0 1 8 Ord er th at h e co m m i t t ed

m u lt i p l e v i o lat i o n s o f t h e 2 0 0 5 Ord er.

Fo r t h es e reas o n s

, an d fo r t h e reas o n s s t at ed ab o v e i n Di v i s i o n 3 , Co wart h as

n o t s h o wn t h at t h e s u peri o r co u rt g ro s s l y ab u s e d i t s d i s cret i o n in craft i n g a

reas on ab l e, ap p ro p ri at e rem ed y

— wh en v iewed i n co n t ex t wi t h t h e en t i ret y o f t h es e

y ears -l o n g p ro ceed i n g s an d Co wart ’ s rep eat ed fai l u res t o a d eq u at el y ad d res s t h e

s afet y co n cern s at i s s u e h ere

— t o co erce Co wart ’ s fu t u re co m p l i an ce wi th t h e co urt ’ s

p ri o r o rd ers . W e t herefo re affi rm t he s u p eri o r co u rt ’ s co nt em p t ru l i n g s

.

Ju d g men t a f f i r m ed . Ri ckma n , C. J., a n d McFa d d en , P. J., co n cu r

.

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