THI RD DI VI SI ON

DOYLE, P. J.

, REESE, 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

A ugust 23, 2022



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A2 2 A0 63 2 . CRUM PTON et al . v . SAM PLES.

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 a di s pu t e ab ou t th e ret u rn o f earn es t m o n ey d ep o si t ed p u rs uan t t o a

b u s i n es s p u rch as e ag reem en t

. Dei d re Sam p l es s u ed Co m

m erci al E x pert s

, In c. an d i t s

p res i den t an d CEO T h o m as Cru m p t o n (co l l ect i v el y “ Cru m p t o n ”)

, t o reco v er h er

earn es t m o n ey d ep o s it

. Th e t ri al co u rt g ran t ed su m m ary ju d g m en t t o Sam

p l es b as ed

u p o n ad m i s s i o n s m ad e b y Cru m p t o n wh en h e fai l ed to res po n d t o d i s co v ery req u es t s

.

Cru m pton ap p eal s t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s o rd ers den y i n g h i s m o ti o n to w i th d raw ad m i s s i o n s

,

g ran t i n g Sam

p l es ’ s m o t i o n fo r s u m

m ary j u d g m en t

, an d award i n g d am ag es an d

at t o rn ey fees t o Sam

p l es

. W e affi rm b ecau s e (a) Cru m p t o n h as n o t s h o wn th at t h e t ri al

co u rt ab u s ed it s d is cret i o n wh en i t den i ed h i s ad m i s s i o n s an d (b ) h i s ch al l en g e t o t h eco u rt ’ s s um m ary ju d g m en t ru li n g res t s s ol el y o n h i s ch al l en g e t o t h e den i al o f h i s

req u es t t o wi t hd raw ad m i s s i o n s

.

Vi ewed i n t h e l i gh t m o s t fav o rab l e t o Cru m p t o n

, Ma l oo

f v. MARTA , 3 3 0 Ga.

Ap p

. 7 6 3

, 7 6 4 (7 6 9 SE2 d 17 4 ) (2 0 1 5 ), t h e reco rd sh o w s t h at Co m m erci al Ex p ert s

, as

t h e l i s t i n g b ro k er, an d Th om as Cru m p t o n

, as i t s ag en t

, rep res en t ed a t ree an d l an d

cl eari n g b u s i n es s t hat Sam p l es s o u g h t t o b u y

. On J u l y 2 7

, 2 0 1 9

, S am p l es an d t h e

b u s i n es s o wn er

— wh o i s n o t a p art y t o t h e s u i t

— si g n ed a Let t er o f In t en t (“ LOI”)

t h at req u i red Sam

pl es t o d ep o s i t $ 1 0 ,0 0 0 of e a r ne st m one y into Co m

m erci al Ex p ert s ’ s

es cro w acco u n t. Th e LOI p ro v i d ed t h at t h e earn es t m o n ey was “ fu ll y refu n d ab l e” to

Sam p l es “ fo r an y reas o n ” if t h e p art i es d i d n o t ex ecu t e a d efi ni t i v e p u r c h a s e

ag reem en t wi t hi n 2 0 d ay s fro m t h e d at e o f t h e l et t er. A n as s o ci at i o n o f Sam p l es

,

J o s h u a Co p el an d

, 1 wi red t h e fu n d s t o Cru m p t o n ; h o w e v er, wh en Sam p l es s o u g ht

fi nan ci n g as d i rec t e d b y t h e L OI, s h e was d en ied a l oan

, an d t h e p art i es d i d n ot

ex ecu t e a d efi ni ti v e p u rch as e ag reem en t wi th i n t h e s p eci fi ed t im e fram e.

On Oct o b er 9

, 2 0 1 9, Co p el an d e-m ai l ed Cru m pt o n o n Sam

p l e s ’s b e h a l f an d

req u es t ed t h e ret u rn o f t h e earn es t m o n e y. In an e-m ai l res p o nd i ng t o Co p el an d ’ s

1 Co p el an d i s referred t o b o t h as Sam p l es ’ s h u s b an d an d h er b o y fri en d i n t h e

reco rd

.

2req u es t

, Cru m pt o n (a) cl ai m ed t h at h e was n o t o b l ig at ed t o refu n d t h e earn es t m o n ey

b ecau s e t h e t ran sact i o n fel l t h ro u g h d u e t o Sam p l es ’ s fai l u re t o s ecu re fi nan ci n g aft er

s h e m i s rep res en t ed t he ex p eri en ce an d in v ol v em en t of C o p e l an d

. an d (b ) t h ereb y

i m p l i ci tl y refu s ed t o ret u rn th e fu n d s

. 2 Aft er recei v in g Cru m p t on ’ s e-m ai l res p o n s e,

Sam p l es fi led s u i t

, an d rai s ed v ari o u s l eg al an d eq u i t ab l e cl ai m s

. 3 In h is an s wer,

Cru m p t o n ad m i t t ed t h at Co m

m erci al Ex pert s had recei v ed an d ret ai n ed Sam p les ’ s

earn es t m o n ey

.

On Sep t em

b er 2 9

, 2 02 0

, Sam

p l es s erv ed Cru m

p t o n wi t h a nu m

b er o f d i s co v ery

req u es t s

, i n cl u d i n g req ues t s fo r ad m i s s io n s

. On O ct o b er 29

, 2 0 20

, Sam p l es ag reed to

a 1 5 -d ay ex t en si o n t o al l o w Cru m p t o n t o res p on d t o d i s co very

. Du ri n g t h e ex t en s i o n

p eri o d

, t he t ri al co u rt p erm i t t ed Cru m p t o n ’ s co un s el t o wi t h d raw an d p ro v i d ed

Cru m p t o n 30 d ay s t o ret ai n n ew co u n s el

. Cru m p t o n n ei t her res p o n d ed n o r o b ject ed

t o t he d i s co v ery

req u es t s wi t hi n t h e ex t en ded d ead l in e.

2 Cru m p t o n al so cl ai m ed i n t h e e-m ai l t h at Sam pl es b reach e d a Bu y er

C o n fi den t i al i t y Ag reem en t

, a s ep arat e ag reem en t t h at req ui red Sam p l es t o

co m m u n icat e s o l el y

wi t h Cru m

p t o n ab o u t t h e s al e.

3 Th e co m p l ai nt as s ert s cl ai m s fo r co n v ers i on

, b reach o f fi du ci ary d u t y

, u n ju s t

en ri ch m en t

, co n s t ru ct i v e t ru s t

, m o n ey h ad an d rec e ive d

, n e glige nc e

, O C G A § 13-6 -1 1

at t o rn ey fees an d ex p en s es , an d p u n i t i v e d am ag es

.

3In Feb ru ary 2 0 2 1

, Sam p l es m o v ed fo r s u m

m ary ju d g m en t

, arg ui n g t h at

Cru m p t o n ’ s fai l u re t o res p o n d to h er d i s co v ery req u es t s

, p art i cu l arl y h er req u es t s fo r

a d m i s s i o ns

, en t i t led h er t o ju dg m en t as a m at t er o f l aw. Im m ed iat el y t hereaft e r

,

Cru m p t o n ret ai n ed co u n s el t o o p po s e t h e m o t i o n

. Cru m pt o n’ s res p o n s e, fi l ed o n

M arch 1 6, 2 0 2 1, as s ert ed t h at , wh i l e he d id no t recal l recei v i ng Sam p l es ’ s req u es t s

fo r ad m is s i on s

, h e i n t en d ed t o m o v e t o wi th d raw h i s ad m i ss i o ns

. Cru m p t o n

co n tem p o ran eo u s ly req u es t ed to b e h eard o n Sam p l es ’ s s u m

m ary ju d g m en t m o t i o n,

an d t h e t ri al co u rt s et t h e m at t er fo r a h eari n g o n M ay 5 , 2 02 1

.

Two d ay s b efo re th e h eari n g

, Cru m p t o n m o v ed t o wi t h d raw th e ad m i s s i o n s

. In

s u p p ort of hi s m o t io n

, T h o m as Cru m p t o n s u b m i t t ed an affi d av i t i n wh i ch h e ad m i t t ed

t h e fo l l o wi n g : (a) Sam

p les h ad d ep o s i t ed $ 1 0 ,0 0 0 i n t o Co m m erci al Ex p ert s ’ s es cro w

acco u n t p u rs u an t t o t h e LOI; (b ) Sam p les h ad req u es ted ret u rn o f h er earn es t m o n ey

aft er s h e h ad b een d en i ed a l oan ; (c) Cru m p t on h a d b e e n s erv ed wi t h Sam p les ’ s

co m p l ai n t an d d i s co v ery req ues t s; an d (d ) Cru m p t o n h ad u ni n t en t io n al l y fai l ed to

res p o n d t o t h e wri tt en req u es t s

. C r u m p to n al s o at t es t ed t h at h e “ sp en t s i g n i fi can t

fu n d s an d t im e rel at ed t o faci l i tat i n g t h e t r a n s act i o n ,” wh ich h ad fai l ed d u e to

Sam p l es ’ s act i o n s

.

4Fo l l owi n g o ral arg u m en t an d ad d i t i on al b ri efi n g b y th e p art i es

, t h e t ri al co u rt

en t ered o rd ers d en y i n g Cru m p t o n ’ s m o t i o n t o w i t hd raw h i s ad m i s s i o n s, g ran t i n g

s u m m ary ju d g m en t t o Sam

p l es

, an d fi n d i ng Co m

m erci al Ex pert s a n d Th o m as

Cru m p t o n jo i nt ly an d s ev eral l y l i ab l e i n th e am o u n t o f $ 1 0 ,0 0 0 i n d a m ag es

,

$ 3 ,2 1 5 .3 4 i n p reju d g m en t i n t eres t

, an d $ 9

, 0 31 .5 5 i n at t o rn ey fees

. 4 Cru m p t o n ap p eal s

t h es e o rd ers

.

1

. Cru m pt o n fi rs t co n t en d s th at t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n d e n yi n g h i s m o t i o n to

wi t h d raw ad m i s si o ns p u rs u an t t o OCGA § 9 -1 1 -3 6 (b ). W e d i s ag ree.

OCGA § 9 -1 1 -3 6 p ro v i d es t h at a p art y m ay serv e u p o n an ot h er part y a wri t t en

req u es t fo r t h e ad m i s s i o n o f t h e t ru t h o f an y m at t er t hat i s n o t p r i v i l eg ed an d i s

r e l e v a n t t o t he pen d i n g act i o n

. See O CGA § 9 -1 1 -3 6 (a) (1 ); s ee al s o O CGA §

9 -1 1

- 2 6 ( b ) ( 1 ). “ Th e m at t er i s ad m i t t ed u n l es s

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

req u es t o r wi t h i n s uch s h ort er o r l o n g er t i m e as t h e co u rt m a y a l l o w

, t h e p art y to

wh o m t h e req u es t i s d i rect ed s erv es u p o n t h e p art y req ues t i n g th e ad m i s s i o n a wri t t en

a n s w e r o r o b

ject io n ,” req u es t s p o s t p o nem en t o f i ts o b l i g at i o n t o res p o n d t o t h e

req u es t s

, o r s eek s a p ro t ect i v e ord er. OCGA § 9 -1 1 -3 6 (a) (2 ); acco rd 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 or

s

, 2 6 8 Ga. 3 27

, 3 3 0 (2 ) (4 8 6 S E 2 d 8 1 0 )

4 Th e t ri al co u rt d ecl i n ed t o award Sam p l es p u n i t i ve d am ag es

.

5(1 9 9 7). An d

, p u rs uan t t o OCGA § 9 -1 1 -3 6 (b ), an y m at t er ad m it t ed “ i s co n cl u s i v el y

es t ab l i s h ed u n l es s t h e co u rt

, o n m o t i on

, p erm it s w i t hd rawal o r am en d m e n t o f t h e

ad m i s s i o n .”

Th i s i s t ru e ev en i f t h e req u es t ed ad m i s s io n s req ui re op i n i o n s o r

co n cl u s i o n s o f l aw, s o lo n g as t h e l eg al co n cl u si o n s rel at e to t h e fact s o f

t h e ca s e

. T h e l an g u ag e i n OCGA § 9-1 1 -3 6 (a) is cl ear, u n am b i g u o us

,

an d u n eq u i v ocal an d m ean s ju s t wh at i t say s

. On e m u s t co m p l y s t ri ct l y

an d l i t eral l y w i t h t h e t erm s o f t h e s t at u t e u p o n t h e p eri l o f h a v i n g h i s

res p on s e co n st ru ed t o b e an ad m i s si o n

. Th u s, m at t ers d eem ed ad m i t ted

u n d er t h i s s t at u t e b e co m e s o l em n ad m i s s i o n s i n j u d ici o an d are

co n cl u s i v e as a m at ter o f l aw o n t h e m at t ers st at ed an d can no t be

co n t rad i ct ed by o th er ev i d en ce u n l es s t h e ad m i s s i o n s are wi th d rawn o r

am en d ed o n fo rm al m ot io n

.

Fu l t o n Co u n t

y v. S OCO Co nt r act i n g Co

. , 3 4 3 G a. A p p

. 8 8 9

, 8 9 6 (2 ) (8 0 8 SE2 d 8 9 1 )

(2 0 1 7) (ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ).

It i s un d i s p u ted t h at Cru m p t o n fai l ed t o t i m el y res po n d t o Sam p l es ’ s req u es t s

fo r ad m is s i o n s

. “ [U] nq u es t i o n ab l y

, th e p en al t y fo r fai l i n g to an sw e r o r o b ject t o a

req u es t fo r ad m i s s i o n s i s ad m i s s i o n o f t h e su b j ect m at t er of t h e req u es t .” Iko mo n i v.

Exec. As s et M

g m t

. , 3 0 9 Ga. Ap p

. 8 1

, 8 3 (1 ) (7 0 9 SE2 d 2 8 2) (2 0 1 1) ( c i t a t i o n an d

p u n ct u at i o n o m it t ed ). Co n s eq u en t l y , t h e m at t ers d eem ed ad m i t t ed i n t h i s cas e were

co n cl u s i v el y es tab l i s hed

. N on et h el es s

, p urs u an t to th e t wo -p ro n g t es t es t ab li s h ed by

6OCGA § 9 -1 1 -3 6 (b ), a t ri al co u rt m ay al l o w t h e wi t h drawal o f ad m i s s i o ns “ wh en t h e

p res en t at i o n o f t h e m eri t s o f t h e act i o n wi l l b e s u bs erv ed t h ereb y an d t h e p art y wh o

o b t ai n ed t h e ad m i s si o n fai ls t o s at i s fy t h e co u rt t h at wi t h d rawal o r am en d m en t wi l l

p reju d i ce h i m i n m ai n t ai n in g h i s act io n o r d efen s e o n th e m eri ts .” A cco rd Tu r n er v.

Mi z e

, 2 8 0 G a. Ap p

. 2 5 6

, 2 5 7 (1 ) (6 3 3 SE2 d 6 4 1 ) (2 0 0 6 ). “ If t h e m o v an t s at i s fi es t h e

co u rt o n th e fi rs t pro ng

, th e b u rd en i s o n t he res p o n d en t t o s at i s fy t he s eco n d p ro n g.

Bo t h p ro n g s m

u s t b e es t ab l i s hed

, p u rs u an t to t h e s t an dard p ro v i d ed i n OCGA §

9

- 1 1 -3 6 (b ).” Fu l t o n Co u n t y

, 3 4 3 Ga. Ap p

. at 89 7 (2 ) (a) (ci tat i o n an d pu n ct u at i o n

o m it t ed ). Th u s

, i f th e m o v an t fai l s t o s at i s fy t h e fi rs t p ro n g o f t h e t es t

, a tri al co u rt i s

au t h o ri zed t o d en y th e m o t i on t o wi t h d raw ad m i s s i o n s

, Tu r n er

, 2 8 0 Ga. Ap p

. at 2 5 7

(1 ), an d n eed n o t co n s i d er t h e s eco n d p ro ng

, Fo x Ru n Pr op er t i es v. Mu rr a y

, 2 8 8 Ga.

Ap p . 5 6 8 , 5 7 0 (1 ) (6 5 4 SE2 d 6 7 6 ) (2 0 0 7 ).

“ Un d er O CGA § 9 -1 1 -3 6 (b ), t h e t ri al co u rt is v es t ed wi t h b ro ad d i s cret i o n to

p erm i t w i t h d rawal o f an ad m i ss i o n m ad e b y reas o n o f t h e fai l u re t o m ak e a t i m el y

res p o n s e t o t h e req u es t

. ” Bu rt o n v. ECI Mg mt

. Co r p

. , 3 46 Ga. Ap p. 6 6 8

, 6 7 1 (2 ) (8 1 6

SE2 d 7 7 8 ) (2 0 18 ). W e th erefo re rev i ew a tri al co u rt ’ s ru l i n g o n a m ot i o n t o wi t h d raw

ad m i s s i o n s f

o r ab us e o f th at d i s cret i o n

. Id

. Cru m p t o n as s ert s t h at t h e t ri al co u rt

7ab u sed i t s b ro ad d i s cret io n by fi n d in g t h at h e d i d n o t sat i s fy t he fi rs t p ro n g o f OCGA

§ 9 -1 1-3 6 (b ). W e d i s ag ree.

As rel ev an t h ere, t o prev ai l

, Cru m pt o n n e ed ed t o es t ab l i s h t h at “ t h at t h e

ad m i t t ed req u es ts ei t h er were refu tab l e b y ad m i s s i b l e ev i d en ce h av in g a m od i cu m o f

cred i b i l i t y o r were i n cred i b l e o n t h ei r face.” Nj o ku v. A deyemi

, 3 5 5 Ga. Ap p. 1

, 3 (1 )

(a) (8 4 2 SE2 d 3 1 7 ) (2 0 20 ) (ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ). St a n d i n g al o n e, t h e

d es i re t o h av e a t ri al i s i n su ffi ci en t t o m ak e t h e req u i red s h o wi n g t o s at i s fy t h e fi rs t

p ro n g o f t h e t es t s et fo rt h i n OCGA § 9 -1 1 -3 6 (b ). Tu r n er

, 2 80 G a. Ap p

. at 2 5 7 (1 ).

(a) W e t u rn fi rs t t o Cru m p t o n ’ s cl ai m t h at h e p res en ted ev i d en ce wi t h a

“ m o d icu m o f cred i b i l it y ” t h at t h e ad m i s s i o ns s o u g h t t o be w i t hd rawn co u l d b e

refu ted

. Sam

p les s e r v e d 3 6 req u es t s fo r ad m i s s i o n s o n Th om as Cru m p t o n an d 3 4

req u es t s fo r ad m i s s io ns o n Co m m erci al Ex p ert s

. On ap p eal

, Cru m p t o n arg u es t h at h i s

a f f i d av i t “ p res en t [s ] ad m i s s i b l e ev i d en ce t o s h o w t h at a tri al o n t he m eri ts i s

warran t ed .” He offers th e fo l l o wi n g i n s u p p o rt t h ereo f: (i ) t h e ex p eri en ce o f Th o m as

C r u m p t o n as a l i cen sed b ro k er an d ag en t an d t h e l en g th o f t im e h e h as own e d a n d

o p erat ed Co m

m erci al Ex p ert s ; (i i ) t h e am o u n t o f “ t i m e, effo rt

, an d m on ey ” Cru m p t o n

ex p en d ed o n t h e t ran s act i o n at i s s u e h ere; (i i i ) t h e fact t h at

, acco rd i n g t o Cru m p t o n,

8Sam

p l es b reach ed t h e Bu y er Co n fi d en ti al i t y Ag reem en t; 5 an d (i v ) t he fa c t t h at

Co p el an d , n o t Sam

p l es , wi red t h e es cro w fu n ds t o Co m m erci al Ex p ert s

.

Fo l l owi n g a h eari ng an d ex am i n at i o n o f Cru m pt o n ’ s affi d av i t an d ex h i b i t s

, t h e

t ri al co u rt fo u n d t h at t h e affi d av i t l ack ed a “ m o d icu m of cred i b i l i t y” an d t h at

Cru m p t o n h ad n o t o ffered “ o t h erwi s e ad m i s s i b l e ev i den ce” to s u pp o r t h i s p o s i t i o n

t h at t h e ad m i s s i on s sh o u l d b e wi t h d rawn

. Acco rd i n g t o t h e co u rt

, i t was “ u n d i s p u t ed

t h at t h e s al e d i d n ot g o t h ro u g h as s t at ed i n t h e LOI” an d t h at Cru m p t o n was h o l d i n g

t h e earn es t m o ney

i n es cro w. A n d t h o u gh h e arg u ed ot herwi s e, t h e co u rt fo u n d t h at

Cru m p t o n fai l ed t o pro du ce ev i d en ce es t ab l i s h i n g th at he co u l d “ ri g h tfu l ly wi t h h o ld

t h e es cro w f

u n d s .” In th at reg ard

, t h e co u rt co n cl u d ed th at t h e “ ex t ran eo u s i s s u es ”

rai s ed b y Cru m

p t o n i n h i s affi d av i t “ reg ard i n g t h e Co n fi den t i al i t y A g reem en t an d t h e

co n tract b et ween o t her i nd i v i d u al s wh o are no t p art i es t o t h i s cas e[ ] h av e n o b eari n g

o n t h e i s s u e o f t h e ret u rn o f t h e es cro w fu n ds .” W e ag ree.

Pret erm it t i n g wh et h er Sam p l es ’ s co n d uct v i o lat ed t h e Bu y er Co n fi d e n t i a l i t y

Ag reem en t an d wh et h er s h e o r Co p el an d wi red t h e f u n d s t o Cru m

p t on

, i t was

Cru m p t o n ’ s res p o n si b i l it y

— as t h e p art y s eek i n g t h e wi t h d rawal o f ad m i s s i o n s

—

t o p ro d uce cred i b l e ev i d en ce reb u t t i n g h i s ad m is s i o n t h at t h e earn es t m o n ey w as fu l l y

5 See n o t e 2 , ab o v e.

9refu nd ab l e t o S a m p l es p u rs u an t t o t h e t erm s o f t h e LOI. See g en eral ly In t er s o u th

Pr o per t ie s v

. C o n t r a ct o r Exch a n g e

, 1 9 9 Ga. A pp

. 7 26

, 7 2 7 (2 ) (4 0 5 SE2 d 7 6 4 )

( 1 9 9 1 ) ( “ Th e fi rs t p ro n g o f t h e [s t at u t o ry ] t es t i s no t p erfu nct o ri l y s at i s fi ed .”).

Acco rd in g ly

, t h e t ri al co urt d i d n o t ab u s e i t s b ro ad d i s c r e t i o n by co n cl u d i n g t h at

Cru m p t o n fai l ed t o m eet h i s bu rd en o f p res en t i n g ev i d en ce wi th a “ m o d i cu m o f

cred i b i l i t y ” t h at t h e ad m i s s i o n s s o u g h t t o b e wi t h d rawn co u l d b e refu t ed

.

(b ) Cru m p t o n al s o co n ten d s t hat t h e t ri al co u rt erred b y fi n d i n g t h at Sam p les ’ s

req u es t s fo r ad m i s s io n s were n o t i n cred i bl e o n t h ei r face. W e d o n o t fi n d an ab u s e o f

d i s cret i o n i n t h i s reg ard

.

Of t h e 70 req u es t s fo r ad m i s s i o n s

, Cru m p t o n s o u gh t wi t h d rawal o f t h e

m ajo ri ty

, arg u i n g th at t h ey were i n cred i b l e o n t h ei r face becau s e t hey co n t ai ned “ p u re

co n cl u s i o n s o f l aw wi t h o u t an y referen ce t o t h e f a c t s in t h e cas e.” 6 Gen eral l y

,

h o wev er, “ req u es t s fo r ad m i s s io n u n d er OCGA § 9 -1 1 -3 6 (a) are n o t o b ject i o n ab l e

ev en i f t h ey req u i re o p i n i o n s o r co ncl u s i o n s o f law, as l o n g as t h e l eg al co n cl u s i on s

rel at e to t h e fact s o f t h e cas e.” McCl a r t y v. Tr i g i l d In c.

, 3 3 3 Ga. Ap p

. 1 12

, 1 1 5 (2 )

(7 7 5 SE2 d 5 9 7 ) (2 0 1 5) (ci t at io n o m i t t ed ). An d

, req u es ts t h at s eek ad m i s si o n o f l eg al

6 Cru m p t o n’ s m o ti o n t o w i t hd raw s ou g h t wi t h d rawal o f Req u es t s fo r

Ad m i s s i o n n u m

bers 3-1 3 an d 1 5 -3 6 as t o Th o m as Cru m pt o n an d n u m

b ers 4 -6

, 8 -1 1,

an d 1 3 -3 4 as t o Co m

m erci al Ex p ert s

.

10co n cl u s i o n s

— s u ch as t h e req u es t s h ere (as d i s cu s sed b el o w)

— are “ n ot

o b ject i on ab l e b ecau s e t h ey s eek ad m i s s i o n o f t h e u l ti m at e i s s u e i n t h e cas e b u t are

o n l y o bject i on ab l e i f t h ey s eek ad m is s i o n o f p u rel y ab st ra ct p ri n ci pl es un rel at ed to

t h e fact s o f t he cas e.” Fu l t o n Co u n t y , 3 4 3 Ga. Ap p . at 8 9 9 (2 ) (b ) (i ).

A rev i ew o f t h e req u es t s fo r ad m i s s io n s t h at Cru m p t o n s o u g h t wi th drawal o f

b ecau s e t h ey are “ i n cred i b le on t hei r face” i n cl ud e, i n p art

, t h e f o l l o w i n g as to

Th o m as Cru m

p t o n:

1 1

. [Cru m

p to n ] h ad no lawfu l o r co n t ract u al ri g h t t o keep [Sam pl es ’ s ]

Dep o s i t

.

1 2

. [ Cru m

p t on ] h as wi t h o u t l eg al ri g ht o r perm i ss i o n

, t ak en

, k ep t

, an d

m i s ap p ro p ri at ed [Sam

p l es ’ s ] Dep o s i t

.

. . .

2 9

. [Cru m

p t o n ] h as b een u n

ju s tl y en ri ch ed b y ret ai n i n g [Sam pl es ’ s ]

d ep o s i t.

3 0 . [Cru m

p t o n ] o wes t o [Sam

p l es ] t h e s u m o f n o l es s t han $ 1 0 ,0 00 fo r

m o n ey h ad an d recei v ed

, wh ich i n eq u i t y a n d g oo d co n sci en ce

[Cru m p t o n ] s h o u l d n o t b e p erm i t t ed t o ret ai n

.

3 1

. [Cru m

pt o n ’ s ] act i o n s were a d i rect an d p ro x im at e cau s e o f

[Sam p l es ’ s ] d am ag es

.

11Li k ewi s e, t h e req u es t s fo r ad m i ss i o ns s erv ed o n Co m m erci al Ex p ert s t h at

Cru m p t o n al so so u gh t to wi t h d raw becau s e t h ey were “ i n c r e d i b l e o n t h ei r face”

i n cl u d e, i n p art , as fo l l ows :

1 6

. [Co m m erci al Ex p ert s ] o wed [Sam p l es ] a d u ty t o p e r fo rm [i t s] ro l e

as an es cro w ag en t wi t h t h at d eg ree o f care an d s ki l l cu s t o m ary an d

o rd i nari l y req u i red o f an es cro w ag en t

.

. . .

1 9

. [Co m m erci al E x p ert s ] b reach ed i t s d u t y o f g oo d fai t h t o [Sam pl es ]

.

. . .

2 4

. [Co m m erci al Ex p ert s ] is l i ab l e t o [Sam p les ] fo r b reach of co m

m o n

l aw fi d u ci ary

d u t i es

.

W e co n cl u d e t hat Sam

pl es ’ s req ues t s fo r ad m i s s i o n s are su ffi ci en t l y fact u al l y

t ai l o red t o t h e u l t im at e i s s u es i n t h i s cas e

— wh et h er s h e was en t i tl ed t o t h e ret u rn o f

t h e earn es t m on ey p u rs u an t t o t h e t erm s o f th e LOI an d wh et h er Cru m p t o n was l i ab l e

fo r w i t hh o l d i n g i t fro m h er. T h u s

, t h e t ri al co u rt d i d no t ab u s e i t s b ro ad d i s cret i o n

wh en i t fo u n d t h at Sam

p les ’ s req u es t s fo r ad m i s s i on s were n o t i n cred i b l e o n t h ei r

face. See Fu l t o n Co u n t

y

, 3 43 Ga. Ap p

. at 89 9 (2 ) (b ) (i ) (affi rm i n g a t ri al co urt ’ s

fi nd i ng t h at a req u es t fo r ad m i s s i o n s t h at so u gh t “ d et erm i n at io n o f w h et h er [a p art y ]

12act ed wi t h b ad fai t h ”

— t h e u lt i m at e i s su e i n t h e ca s e

— w as n o t a pu rel y ab s t ract

l eg al p ri n ci p l e u nrel at ed t o t he fact s o f t h e cas e).

Becau s e Cru m

p t o n d i d n o t m eet h i s bu rd en as t o t h e fi rs t pro n g of t h e tes t

es t ab l i s h ed u nd er O CGA § 9 -1 1 -3 6 (b ), it is u n neces s ary t o ad d res s t h e s eco n d p ro n g.

Tu r ner

, 2 8 0 Ga. Ap p

. at 2 59 (1 ). Acco rd i n g l y

, t he t ri al co u rt di d n o t ab u s e it s b ro ad

d i s cret i o n i n d en y i n g Cru m p to n ’ s m o t i o n t o wi t hd raw ad m i s s io n s

.

2

. Cru m p t o n al s o co n ten d s t h at t he t ri al co u rt erred i n gran t i n g s u m m ary

ju d g m e n t a n d award i ng fi n al ju d g m en t t o Sam p l es

. On ap peal

, Cru m

p t o n ’ s s o l e

arg u m en t i n t h i s reg ard i s t h at t h e tri al co u rt erred i n d en y i n g h i s m o t i o n t o wi t h d raw

ad m i s s i o n s

, an d co ns eq u en t l y

, h e arg u es

, t h e t ri al co u rt e r r e d i n g ran ti n g s u m m ary

ju d g m en t

. Becau s e we co ncl u d ed i n Di v i s i on 1 t hat th e t ri al co urt pro p erl y d en i ed

Cru m p t o n ’ s m o t i on t o wi t h d raw ad m is s io n s

, t h is arg u m en t fai ls

.

Ju d g men t a f f i r m ed . Do yl e, P. J., a n d

Rees e, J., co n cu r

.

13