FOURTH D I VI SI ON DOYLE, P. J.

, COOM ER and M A R KLE, 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 ar ch 10, 2020



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 9 A2 12 3 . FLEETW OOD et al

. v . LUCAS.

C O O M E R , J u d ge.

Th i s ap p eal in vo l v es a s u i t fo r b reach o f co n tract an d qu an t um m eru i t fi l ed by

Sco tt Lu cas ag ai n s t Xav ier Fl eet wo o d

, Dei d re Fl eet wood, Bri o n ’ s Tru ck i n g , In c., an d

J erry Ev an s (co l lect i v el y , “ Ap p el l an ts ”). Ap p el l an ts co n t en d t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred

i n d en y i n g t h ei r m o t i o n fo r s u m m ary j u d gm en t an d in n o t en t eri n g a d i rect ed v erd i ct

i n t hei r fav o r b as ed o n OCGA § 4 3 -4 1 -1 7

. Fo r t h e reas o n s t hat fo l l o w, we rev ers e.

Su m m ary ju d g m en t is p ro p er wh en t h ere i s n o gen u i n e i s s u e o f m at eri al fact

an d t h e m o v an t i s en ti t l ed t o ju d g m en t as a m at t er o f l aw. OCGA § 9 -1 1 -5 6 (c).

In rev i ewi n g a g r a n t o r d en i al of s u m m ary j u d gm en t, w e o w e n o

d eferen ce t o t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s ru l in g an d we rev i ew d e no v o b o t h th e

ev i d en ce an d t h e tri al co u rt ’ s l eg al co n cl u s i o n s. M oreo v er, we co n s t ru et h e ev i d en ce an d al l i n feren ces an d co n cl u s i o n s ari s i n g t h erefro m m o s t

fav o rab ly t o ward t h e p art y

o p po s i n g t h e m o t i o n

.

S wi nt v. Al p h o n s e , 3 4 8 G a. Ap p

. 1 9 9, 1 9 9-2 0 0 (8 2 0 SE2 d 3 1 2 ) (2 0 1 8 ) (ci t at i o n

o m it t ed ). “ [A] d i rect ed v erd i ct i s ap p ro p r i a t e o n l y i f t h ere i s n o co n fl i ct i n t h e

e v id en ce as t o an y m at eri al i s s u e an d t h e ev i den ce in t ro d u ced

, co n s t ru ed m o s t

fav o rab l y t o t h e p art y

o p p o s in g t h e m o ti o n, d em an d s a p art i cu l a r v e rd i ct .” S t

. Pa ul

Mer cu r y In s

. Co . v. Meeks , 2 7 0 Ga. 1 36 , 1 3 7 (1 ) (5 08 SE2 d 6 4 6 ) (1 9 9 8 ).

So v i ewed

, t h e ev i d en ce s h o ws th at Xav i er Fl eet wo o d

, t h e o wn er o f Bri o n ’ s

Tru ck i n g, In c., l eas es p ro p ert y o n M o rel an d Av en u e i n El len wo o d

, Geo rg i a, fro m

J erry Ev an s

. T h e Fl eet w o od s al s o o wn p ro pert y o n Sh an n o n D ri v e. Th e Fl eet wo od s

h i red Lu cas t o perfo rm wo rk at t h e two p ro p ert i es

. Lu cas s u b m i t t ed p ro p o sal s l i s t i n g

t h e wo rk t o b e p erfo rm ed at t h e t w o p r o p ert i es

. Lu cas d i d n o t hav e a co n t ract o r

l i cen se wh en h e s u bm it t ed t h e p ro p o s al s

.

Th e s co p e o f wo rk fo r t h e Sh an n o n Dri v e p ro ject was as fo l lo ws :

Du m p s t er fo r cl ean o u t & Dem o

. Dem o b at h ro o m

t i l e b o t h wal l & fl o o r, rem o v e t u b

, v an i t y an d t o i l et

. In s t al l n ew t u b

, to il et

, v an i t y , b at hro o m h ard ware, t i le b o t h fl o or &

s h o wer wal l s , m i rro r o r m ed i ci ne cab i n et al l pl u m b i n g fi x t u res fro m th e

wal l s o u t ward

.

2Dem o k i t ch en cab i n et s, co u nt ert o p s, an d o l d ap p l i an ces

. (k eep i n g th e

i s lan d )

In s t al l n ew p l u m

b i n g fi x t u res fro m t h e wal l o ut

, co u n t ert op s , cab i net s ,

s t ov e, d i s h was her, g arb ag e d i s p o s al

, ov en h o o d

, t i l i n g b ack s p l as h ov er

co u n t ert o p s , d i s hwas h er, s i n k , o v en an d refri g erat o r.

San d & refi n i s h fl o o rs , 3 co at s an d 1 t o p co at

. Dem o 1 d o ors o pen i n g s t o co m pl et e wal k t h ru o p en i n g

. In s t al l al arm & cam era. Pl u s ad d i t i o n al m at eri al an d s wap p i n g ou t o l d

m at eri al i f p o s s i b l e.

Pai n t i n si d e al l w al l s , d oo rs an d t ri m

. (ex t eri o r & s h ed n eed s t o w a i t

u n t i l s p ri n g ) (cl i en t s i g n s o ff o n co l o rs )

Refi tt i ng al l i n t eri o r & ex t eri o r d o ors l o ck s & d o or k n ob s

. Cu t o u t an d s q u are u p 6 3 h o l e s fo r rep ai r, sh eet ro ck p at ch i n g &

p l as teri n g

. Refi tt i n g wi nd o ws o n u p p er l ev el s i n g le h u n g (al read y p urch as ed ),

refi t ti n g ex i s t i n g i n t eri o r t ri m & s av i n g ex teri o r t ri m

. It em s [t h at ] wi l l s ti l l n eed t o b e p u rch as ed an d rei m b u rs ed Fri d g e, Ov en

an d W al l & Fl o or Ti l es

.

M r. Fl eet wo o d p ai d a $ 4 ,0 0 0 d ep o s i t an d m ad e t he fi rs t p ay m en t o f $ 8 ,2 2 7 wh en h e

accep t ed t h e p ro p o s al fo r t h e Sh an n o n Dri v e p ro j ect

. M r

. F l e e t wo o d l at er m ad e a

s eco n d p ay m en t o f $ 8 ,2 2 7

. Mr. Fl eet wo o d d i d n ot m ak e th e t h i rd p ay m en t o f $ 8 ,2 2 7,

wh i ch was d u e o n co m

p l et i on

.

3An e-m ai l fro m Lu cas t o M r. Fl eet wo o d

, wh i ch Lu cas i d en ti fi ed at t ri al as p art

o f t h e co n t ract fo r t h e M o rel an d Av en u e p ro p ert y , l i s t s t h e i t em s Lu cas was s u p p o s ed

t o d o at t h e M orel an d Av en u e p ro pert y as fo l l o ws :

$ 6 ,9 0 0 Gu ard h ou s e
$ 1 ,8 0 0 Fen ce m ov e s i d es ad d ed

$ 8 ,6 0 0 Al arm

& cam eras
$ 1 0 ,6 00 Gat e o p en er
$ 1 ,8 0 0 To i l et s , v an it i es , m i rro r l ab o r & m at eri al s
$ 2 ,2 0 0 T r e n ch i n g co n d u i t ru n s

. t o g uard h o u se l o w / h i g h v ol t ag e &

g arag e fo r cam eras
$ 7 0 0 Ki t ch en co u n t ert o p s 2

. n ew k n o b s . l ab o r fau cet i n s t al l

$ 7 5 0 El ect ri cal po wer t o cam eras & g u ard h o u s e
$ 3 3 ,5 50 To t al

$ 1 6 ,5 00 Grav el & s i te p rep

M r. Fl eet wo o d t es t ifi ed t h at h e ag reed t o t h es e i t em s

. Aft er Lu cas in fo rm ed h i m t h at

t h e pro ject was o ver b u d g et b y ab o u t $ 1 0 ,0 0 0

, M r. Fl eet w o o d as k ed Lu cas t o g i v e

h i m al l o f t h e recei p t s fo r t he M o rel an d Av en u e p ro j ect . At t h at p o i n t , Lu cas b eg an

p rep ari n g a seri es o f s pread s heet s t hat h e p res en t ed t o M r. F l eet wo o d peri o d i cal l y

s h o wi n g t h e ru n ni n g t o t al s o f h o w m u ch h e h ad s pen t o n t h e p ro ject

.

Lu cas fi l ed a co m

p l ai nt ag ai n s t Ap pel l an t s cl ai m i ng t h at t h e Fl eet wo o d s h ad

ret ai n ed h i s s erv ices t o ren o v at e t h e h o u s e o n t h e Sh an no n Dri v e p ro p ert y , th at h e h ad

4co m

p l et ed t h e ren o v at i o n , an d t h at t h e Fl eet wo o ds owed h i m m o n ey as co m p en s at i o n

fo r t h e ren o v at i o n. Lu cas al s o cl ai m ed t h at th e Fl eet wo o ds r e t a i n e d hi s s erv i ces to

ren o v at e t h e o ffi ce on t h e M o rel an d Av en u e p ro p ert y , an d t h at J erry Ev an s ag reed to

h av e Lu cas p erfo rm ad d i t io n al ren o v at i o n w o rk o n t h e o ffi ce. Lu cas cl ai m ed t h at h e

h ad co m p l et ed t h e ren o v at i o n o f t h e o ffi ce, an d t h at t h e Fl eet wo o d s an d Ev an s o wed

h i m m on ey as co m

p en s at i o n fo r t h e ren o vat i o n

. In t h e co m p l ai n t

, Lu cas m ad e cl ai m s

fo r b reach o f co nt ract an d q u an t u m m eru i t

.

Ap p el l an t s fi l ed a m o t i o n fo r s u m m ary ju d g m en t, as s ert i n g t h at OCGA § 4 3

-

4 1 -1 7 (b ) b ars u nl i cen s ed co n t ract ors fro m en fo rci n g i n l aw o r eq u i t y a co n t ract fo r

t h e p erfo rm an ce o f wo rk fo r wh i ch a l i cen s e i s req u i red

. Lu cas fi l ed a m o t i o n

o p p o s i n g s u m

m ary ju d g m en t

, arg u i n g t h at h e w as n o t req u i red t o p o s s es s a co n t ract o r

l i ce n s e t o p erfo rm th e s erv i ces u n d er t he co n tract s w i t h Ap p el l an t s

. In an affi d av i t

fi led wi t h t h e m o t i o n o p p o s i n g s u m m ary ju d g m en t

, Lu cas s t at ed th at h e i n fo rm ed M r.

Fl eet wo o d t h at h e d i d n o t h av e a Geo rg i a res i d en ti al an d gen eral co nt ract o r l i cen s e.

Th e t ri al co u rt d en i ed A pp el l an t s ’ m o t io n fo r s u m m ary ju d g m en t

.

Th e cas e was t ri ed b e f

o r e a j u r y i n Oct o b er 2 0 1 8

. A ft er Lu cas p res en t ed h i s

cas e, Ap p el l an t s m o v ed fo r a di rect ed v erd i ct i n t hei r fav o r, ag ai n arg u i n g t h at Lu cas

was b arred fro m b ri n g i n g s ui t b ecau s e h e d i d n ot p o s ses s a v al i d Geo rg i a co n t ract o r

5l i cen se wh en h e en t ered i n t o t h e ag reem en t s w i t h t h e Ap p el l an t s

. Lu cas o p po s ed t h e

m o ti o n fo r d i rect ed v erd i ct

, co nt en d in g t h at t h e wo rk h e p erfo rm ed fo r t h e Sh an n o n

Dri v e p ro p ert y was rep ai r wo rk

, s o a l i cen s e w as n o t req u i red

, an d t h at fo r t h e

M o rel an d Av en u e p ro

ject

, M r. Fl eet wo o d act ed as th e co n t ract o r an d Lu cas m an ag ed

t h e p ro ject fo r h i m

. Th e t ri al co urt as k ed wh et h er Lu cas ev er n o t i fi ed Ap p el l an t s t h at

h e had n o l i cen s e. Lu cas was recal l ed to t h e s t an d an d was as k ed i f M r. Fl eet wo o d

k n ew t h at Lu cas d i d n o t hav e a co n t ract or li cen s e. Lu cas res p o n d ed

, “ No

, h e d i d n ot

k n o w t h at .” Lu cas w a s as k ed w h et h er th ere was ev er an y t i m e t h at M r. Fl eet wo o d

as k ed i f Lu cas h ad a co n t ract or l i cen s e. Lu cas an s wered

, “ No

, h e’ d nev er as k ed t h at

q u es ti o n .” L u cas t es t i fi ed t h at he n ev er had a co n v ers at i o n wi th Mr. Fl eet wo o d ab o ut

Lu cas hav in g a co n t ract o r l i cen s e, an d t h ere w as n ev er an y wri tt en d i s cu s s i o n

b et ween h i m an d M r. Fl eet w oo d ab o ut Lu cas h av i n g a co nt ract o r l i c e n s e

. T h e t ri al

co u rt s t at ed

, “ I’ m n o t g o i n g t o d eci d e [t h e m o t io n fo r d i rect ed v erd i ct ] ri gh t n o w. I’ l l

l et t he defen s e p u t u p h i s cas e. Th e co u rt m ay reco ns i d er, po s s i b l y f o l l o w i n g t h e

d e f e n s e ’ s cas e an d m ak e i t s d eci s i o n at t h at p o i nt i n t i m e.” Aft er t h e cl o s e o f

ev i d en ce, t h e t ri al co u rt s t at ed t h at i t w as i n ten d i n g t o rev i s i t t he m ot i o n fo r d i rect ed

v erd i ct

. Ho wev er, t h e t r i a l co u rt h el d t h e ch arg e co n feren ce an d rel eas ed t h e co u rt

rep o rt er ju st aft er th e ch arg e co n feren ce. Th e t ran s cri p t do es n o t refl ect wh et h er t h e

6t ri al co urt ru l e d o n t h e m o t i o n fo r d i rect ed v erd i ct

. Th e j u ry ret u rn ed a v erd i ct in

fav o r of Lu cas , an d t he tri al co u rt en t ered j u d g m en t o n t h e v erd i ct

. Th i s ap p eal

fo l l o w ed

.

1

. A p p el l an t s co n t en d t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n no t en t eri n g a d i rect ed v erd i ct

i n t hei r fav o r. W e ag ree.

Ap p el l an t s co n t en d t h at Lu cas i s b arred fro m bri n g i n g t h i s act i o n b y OCGA §

4 3 -4 1-1 7 (b ), wh i ch p ro v i d es , i n rel ev an t p art :

an y co n t ract en t ered i n t o

. . . fo r t h e p erfo rm an ce o f wo rk fo r wh i ch a

res i d en ti al co n t ract o r o r g en eral co n t ract o r l i cen s e i s req u i red b y t h i s

ch ap t er an d no t o t h erwi s e ex em p t ed u n d er t h i s ch ap t er an d wh i ch i s

b et ween an own e r a n d a co n t ract o r wh o d o es n o t h av e a v al id an d

cu rren t l i cen s e req u i red fo r s uch wo rk i n acco rd an ce wi t h t h i s c h a p t er

s h al l b e u n en fo rceab l e i n l aw o r i n eq u i t y by t h e u n l i cen s ed co n tract o r.

OCGA § 4 3 -4 1-1 7 (a) p ro v i d es t h at “ n o p ers o n , w h et her an i n d i v i d ual o r a b u s i n es s

o rg an i zat i o n , s h al l hav e t h e ri g h t t o en g ag e i n t h e b us i n es s o f res id en t i al co n t ract i n g

o r g en eral co n t ract i n g wi t h o u t a cu rren t

, v al i d res i d en ti al co n tract o r l ic e nse o r gen eral

co n tract or l i cen s e[.] ” Co n t ract i n g , i n t u rn , i s d efi ned i n OCGA § 4 3 -4 1 -2 (3 ), i n p art

,

as “ p erfo rm i n g o r cau s i n g t o b e p erfo rm ed an y o f t he act i v i t ies s et fo rt h i n [OCGA

§ 4 3 -4 1 -2 (4 ).] Th e act i v it i es s et fo rt h in OCGA § 4 3 -4 1 -2 (4 ) i n cl ud e “ fo r

7co m

p en s at i o n , co nt ract [i n g ] to

. . . p erfo rm []

. . . t h e co n s tru ct i on o r im p ro v em en t o f,

ad d it i o n to

, o r t h e rep ai r, al t erat i o n , o r rem od el i n g o f an y

. . . bu i l d i ng

. . . fo r u s e by

t h e o wn er o r b y

o th ers o r fo r res al e t o o t h ers .”

Ho wev er, OCGA § 4 3 -4 1 -1 7 (g ) p ro v i d es t h at :

No t h i n g in t h is ch a p t e r s h al l p recl u d e a p ers o n fro m offeri n g o r

co n t ract i n g t o p erfo rm o r u n d ert ak i n g o r p erfo rm i n g fo r an o wn er rep ai r

wo rk

, p ro v id ed th at t h e pers o n p erfo rm i n g t h e rep ai r wo rk d i s cl o s es t o

t h e o wn er t h at s u ch p e r s o n d o es n o t h o l d a l i cen s e u n d er t h i s ch ap t er

an d p ro v i d ed

, fu rt her, t h at s u ch wo rk d oes n ot a f f e ct th e st ru ct u ral

i n t eg ri ty o f t h e real p ro p ert y

.

OCGA § 4 3 -4 1 -1 7 (g ) s p eci fi cal l y p ro v i d es th at t h e St at e Li cen s i n g Bo ard fo r

Res id en ti al an d Gen eral Co n t ract o rs “ sh al l b y ru l e or reg u l at io n fu rt h er defi n e t h e

t erm “ rep ai r” as us ed i n t h i s s ub s ect i o n an d an y ot h er n eces s ary t erm s as t o th e s co p e

o f t hi s ex em

p t io n.” Ru l e 5 5 3

- 8

- . 0 1 o f t h e G eo rg i a Co m preh en s i v e Ru l es an d

Reg ul at io n s d efi n es “ rep ai r” “ t o m ean fi x i n g , m en d in g , m ai nt en an ce, rep l acem en t o r

res t ori n g o f a p art o r p o rt i o n s o f real p ro p ert y t o g o o d co n d i t i o n .”

Ap p el l an t s co n t en d t h at t h e ex em pt i on o f OCGA § 4 3 -4 1 -1 7 (g ) d o es n o t ap p l y

b ecau s e t h e m ajo ri t y o f t h e wo rk d o n e b y Lu cas was n ew co ns t ru ct i o n wo rk

, n ot

rep ai r wo rk

. A p pel l an ts fu rt h er co n t en d t h at O CGA § 4 3 -4 1 -1 7 ( g ) d o es n o t ap p l y

8b ecau s e Lu cas d i d n o t d is cl o se t o th em t h at h e d i d n o t h o l d a co n t ract ors l i cen s e. W e

ag ree. Ev en i f al l o f t he wo rk d o n e b y Lu cas was rep ai r wo rk

, OCGA § 4 3 -4 1 -1 7 (g )

d o es n o t ap p ly b ecau s e Lu c a s d i d n o t d i s cl o se t o Ap p el l an ts t h at h e d i d n o t h o l d a

co n tract or l icen s e. Al t h o u g h Lu cas s u b m it t ed a n affi d av i t wi t h h i s m o t i o n fo r

s u m m ary ju d g m en t in wh i ch h e s t at ed t h at h e i n fo rm ed Mr. Fl eet wo o d t h at h e d i d n ot

h av e a Geo rg i a res i d en t i al a nd g en eral co n t ract o r l i cen s e, an d t hat th e Fl eet wo od s

b o t h k new t h at h e d i d n o t h ol d a Geo rg i a res i d en t i al an d g en eral co n t ract or l i cen s e,

h e t es ti fi ed t o t h e co n t rary at t ri al

. Th u s, t he ev i d en ce p res en t ed at t ri al s h owed t h at

Lu cas , as a m at t er o f l aw, d i d n ot q u al i fy fo r t h e ex em p t i on i n OCGA § 4 3-4 1 -1 7 (g ).

Lu cas arg ues t h at Ap p el lan t s fai l ed t o s ho w t h at h e was a co n t ract o r as d efi n ed

b y OCGA § 4 3 -4 1 -2 (4 ) b ecau s e t h ey fai l ed t o s ho w t h at h e b o re an y res p on s i b i l i t y

fo r an y co nt ract u al ri s k t o t h em fo r t h e p erfo rm an ce an d co s t o f t he rep ai rs o n t h e

p ro ject s. OCGA § 4 3 -4 1 -2 (4 ) d efi n es “ Co n t ract o r” as fo l lo ws :

“ Co n t ract o r,” ex cep t as s p eci fi cal l y ex em p ted b y t h i s ch ap t er, m ean s a

p ers on wh o i s q ual i fi ed

, o r req u i r ed t o b e q u al ifi ed

, u nd er th i s ch ap t er

an d wh o , fo r co m

p en sat i o n , co n t r a c t s t o , o ffers t o u nd ert ak e o r

u n d ert ak es t o , s ub m i t s a b i d o r a pro p o s al t o , o r p ers o n al ly o r b y o t hers

p erfo rm s th e co n s t ru ct io n o r th e m an ag em en t o f t h e co n s t ru ct i o n fo r an

o wn er o f an y b u i l d i ng , bri d ge, o r o t h er s t ru ct u re, i n cl u d i n g a p ers o n wh o

i n s t al l s i n d us t ri al ized b u i l d i n g s as d efi n ed i n p arag rap h s (3 ) an d (4 ) o f

9Co d e Sect i o n 8 -2 -1 1 1, fo r t h e co ns t ru ct i o n o r i m p ro v em en t o f, ad d i t i o n

t o , o r t h e rep ai r, al t erat i o n , o r rem o del i n g o f an y su ch b ui l di n g, b ri d g e,

o r st ru ct u re fo r u s e b y t h e o wn er o r b y o t h ers o r fo r res al e t o o t h ers

. T he

t erm “ co n t ract o r” fo r p u rp o s es o f t h i s ch ap t er s h al l in cl u d e a p ers o n wh o

co n t ract s t o , u n d ert ak es t o , o r s u b m i t s a b i d o r p ro p o s al t o perfo rm , o r

o t h erwi se d o es h im s el f o r h ers el f p erfo rm , fo r an o wn er:

(A) Co n st ru ct io n m an ag em en t s erv i ces rel at i v e t o t h e p erfo rm an ce b y

o t h ers o f su ch co n s t ru ct i o n act i v it i es wh ere t h e p ers o n p erfo rm i n g s u ch

co n s t ru ct io n m an ag em en t s erv i ces i s at ri s k co n t ract u al l y t o t h e o wn er

fo r t h e p erfo rm an ce an d co s t o f t h e co ns t ru ct i o n ; an d

(B) Serv i ces o f a co n tract o r as p art o f perfo rm an ce o f d es ig n -b u i l d

s erv ices

, wh et h er as a p ri m e co n tract o r, jo in t v en t ure part n er, or as a

s u b co n t ract o r t o a d es i gn p ro fes s i o n al act i n g as pri m e co n tract o r as p art

o f a d es i g n -b u i l d en t it y

o r co m b i n at i o n.

OCGA § 4 3 -4 1 -1 et s eq

. “ s h al l b e l i b eral l y co n s t ru ed s o as t o acco m pl i s h t h e i n t en t ”

o f t h e Gen eral As s em

b l y , wh i ch i s “ t o s afeg u ard h o m eo wn ers , o t h er p ro p ert y o wn ers ,

t en an t s , an d th e g en eral p u b l i c ag ai n s t f a u l ty

, i n ad eq u at e, in effi ci en t

, an d u n s afe

res i den t ial an d ge n eral co n tract o rs .” OCGA § 4 3 -4 1-1

. Th u s , we wi l l n o t co n s t ru e

OCGA § 4 3 -4 1 -2 t o m ean t hat a p ers o n i s a co n t ract o r o n l y i f h e h as co n t ract u al ri s k

t o t he o wn er fo r t h e p erfo rm an ce an d co s t o f t he co n st ru ct i o n

.

10Fi n al l y , Lu cas arg u es t h at t h e Fl eet wo o d s m an ag ed an d d i rect ed t h e p ro ject s ,

an d t hat h e was m erel y a s erv an t o f t h e Fl eet wo o d s

. Ho wev er, t h e reco rd s h o ws t h at

Lu cas en t ered i n t o co n t ract s wi t h A p p el lan t s t o perfo rm serv i ces , i n cl u d i ng m ak i n g

rep ai rs , fo r co m

p en sat io n, t o th e h o u s e o n Sh an n o n D ri v e an d t h e o ffi ce o n M o rel an d

Av en u e. O u r rev i ew of t he reco rd fo u n d n o ev i d en ce t o t h e co nt rary

. Th u s , L u cas “ fo r

co m p en s at i o n , co n tract [ed ] t o

. . . p ers o n al l y o r b y o th ers perfo rm []

. . . t h e

co n st ru ct i o n o r i m

p ro v em en t o f, ad d i t i o n t o , o r t h e rep ai r, al t erat i o n , o r rem o d el i n g

o f an y

. . . b u i ld i n g , . . . fo r us e b y t he own er o r b y o t h ers o r fo r res al e to o t h ers .”

OCGA § 4 3 -4 1-2

. Acco rd i n g ly

, h e was a co n t ract o r as d efi ned i n OCGA § 4 3 -4 1 -2

,

an d was req u i red t o h av e a l i cen s e u n d er OCGA § 4 3 -4 1 -1 7 (a). As s t at ed ab o v e, t h e

ev i d en ce p res en ted at tri al s h owed t h at Lu cas , as a m at t er o f l aw, d i d no t qu al i fy fo r

t h e ex em p t i o n i n OCGA § 4 3 -4 1 -1 7 (g ). T h u s , Lu cas was b arred fro m bri n g i n g t h i s

act i on b y OCGA § 4 3-4 1 -1 7 (b ), an d t h e t ri al co u rt erred b y n o t g ran t in g Ap p el l an t s ’

m o ti o n fo r a d i rect ed v erd i ct

.

2

. Becau s e o f ou r co n cl us i o n i n Di vi s i o n 1

, w e need n ot deci d e wh et h er t h e

t ri al co u rt erred i n d en y i n g Ap p el l an t s ’ m o ti o n fo r s u m m ary ju d gm en t

.

Ju d g men t r ever sed . Do yl e, P. J., a nd

Ma r kl e, J., co n cu r

.

11