FI FTH DI VI SI ON

M CFA DDEN, P. J.

, BRA NCH and BETHEL, JJ.

N O T IC E : M otions for r e c ons i de r a tion m us t be

ph y sic a l ly r e ce iv ed i n our c le r k ’s offic e w ithin te n

da y s of the da te of de c is ion to be de e m ed tim e ly file d.

http://w w w .ga a ppe a l s .us /r ule s

June 19, 2017



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 7 A0 24 9 . COSTA et al

. v . HAM ILTON STATE BANK.

M C F A D D E N , Pres id i n g J u d g e.

Th i s ap p eal co n cern s an act io n b ro u g ht b y Ham i l t o n St at e Ban k (t h e b an k ) o n

g u aran ti es s i g n ed b y J u an R. Co s t a an d Fred d y A. Ach ecar (t h e ap p el l an t s ). Th e t ri al

co u rt g ran t ed s u m

m ary j u d gm en t t o t h e b an k

, an d Co s t a an d A ch ecar ap p eal p ro s e.

Th ey arg u e t h a t t he b an k ’ s s um m ary ju d g m en t m o t i o n was u nt i m el y

, b u t we fi nd i t

was wi t h i n t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s d i s cret i o n t o c o n s i d e r t h e m o t i o n

. Th ey arg u e t h at t h e

b an k d i d n o t es t ab l is h t h ei r l i ab i l i t y o n t h e g u a r a n t i e s

, bu t we fi n d t he ev i d en ce s et

fo rt h a p ri m a faci e cas e o f l i ab il i t y

. Fi n al l y

, th ey arg u e t h at t h e b an k d i d n o t es t ab l i s h

i t s d am ag es

, an d we ag ree. Co n s eq u en t l y

, we affi rm t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s g ran t of s u m m ary

ju d g m en t as to l iab i l i t y

, b u t rev ers e t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s g ran t o f s um m ary ju d g m en t as to

d am ag es

.1

. Ti mel i n es s o f mo t i o n f o r s u mma r y j u d g men t

.

Th e g u aran to rs arg u e t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n co ns i d eri n g t he b an k ’ s m o t i o n

fo r s u m m ary ju d g m en t b ecau s e t h e m o ti o n w as u n t i m el y

. A p art y

, su ch as t h e b an k,

s eek i n g t o reco v er u p o n a cl ai m

, “ m ay

, at an y t i m e aft e r t h e ex p i rat io n o f 3 0 day s

fro m t h e co m

m en cem en t o f t h e act i o n

. . . m o ve wi th o r wi t h o ut s u p p o rt i n g affi d av i t s

fo r a s u m m ary ju d g m en t i n [i t s ] fav o r u p on al l or an y part t h ereo f.” OCGA § 9 -1 1 -5 6

(a). Bu t

t h e p h ra s e “ a t a n y t i m e” d o es n ot m ean t h at a m o t i o n fo r s u m m ary

ju d g m en t m ay b e fi l ed wi t h o u t an y t i m e l i m i t w h at s o ev er. Un i fo rm

Su p eri o r Co u rt Ru l e (USCR) 6 .6 p ro v i d es t h at “ (m )o t i o ns fo r s u m m ary

ju d g m en t s hal l b e fi l ed s u ffi ci en t l y earl y s o as n ot t o del ay t h e t ri al

. No

t ri a l s hal l b e co nt i n u ed b y reas o n o f th e d el ay ed fi l in g o f a m ot i o n fo r

s u m m ary ju d g m en t .”

S t eel e v. Ri ver c h a s e D ev. Co

. , 3 1 1 Ga. Ap p

. 3 4 0

, 34 1 (1 ) (7 1 5 SE2 d 7 6 0) (2 0 1 1 )

(ci t at i o n an d pu n ct uat i o n o m i t t ed ). Nev ert h el es s

, “ t h e t ri al co u rt h as b ro ad d i s cret i o n

i n reg u l at i n g i t s b u s i nes s an d s ch ed u l i n g tri al s .” Co op er -Br i d ges v. In g l e

, 2 6 8 Ga.

Ap p . 7 3 , 7 5 (1 ) (6 0 1 SE2 d 4 4 5 ) (2 0 04 ) (ci tat i o n an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ).

Th e reco rd s h ows t h at i n J a n u a r y 2 01 6 t h e t ri al co u rt en t ered a cas e

m an ag em en t o rd er st at in g t h at

, “ [e] x cep t as o t h erwi s e p ro vi ded i n t h e Ci v i l Pract i ce

2Act o r o rd ered b y t h e Co u rt

, t he p eri o d fo r fi l in g m o t i o n s h a s a l read y cl o s ed .” On

M arch 1 0

, 2 0 1 6

, t h e b an k fi l ed a n o ti ce o f s u b s t i tu t i o n o f co un s el

. On M ay 2

, 2 0 1 6,

t h e t ri al co u rt en t ered a t ri al n ot i ce p l aci n g t h e cas e o n a M ay 20 tri al cal en d ar an d

s t at i n g th at o u ts t an d i n g m o t i on s “ s h al l b e h eard pri o r to t h e cal l of t h e cas e fo r t ri al .”

An d o n May 5

, 2 0 1 6, th e b an k ’ s n ew co u n s el fi l ed a m o t i o n fo r s u m m ary ju d g m en t

,

wh i ch t h e t ri al co urt g ran t ed o n J u n e 7 , 2 0 1 6

.

Th e t ri al co u rt d i d n o t ab u s e hi s d is cret i o n. Th e b an k ’ s n ew co u ns el fi l ed t h e

m o ti o n fo r s u m

m ary ju d g m en t th ree d ay s aft er th e t ri al co u rt en t ered t h e n o t i ce o f t h e

t ri al cal en d ar. Th at n o t i c e r e f l e c t ed t h at t h e cas e was n o t sch ed u l ed fo r t ri al o n a

p art i cu l ar d ay b u t was on e of s ev eral cas es t o b e t ri ed on a cal en d ar t h at “ s h al l

co n ti n u e u n t i l ex h au si o n,” o n a s ch ed u l e t o b e det erm in ed at t h e cal en d ar cal l

. “ No

co n ti n u an ce o f t h e t ri al w as s o u g h t o r g ran t ed b ecau s e o f t h e m o t i o n f o r s u m m ary

ju d g m en t ; i n st ead

, t h e t ri al was o bv i a t e d b y th e g ran t o f t h e [b an k ’ s ] m ot i o n fo r

s u m m ary ju d g m en t

. . . . “ Pu l l en v. O x f o r d

, 2 2 7 Ga. A p p

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

(1 9 9 7) (ci t at io n an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ). An d m o re t h an 3 0 d ay s el ap sed b efo re t h e

t ri al co u rt ru led on t h e m o t i o n

, g i v in g Co st a an d Ach ecar th e o p po rt u n i t y t o res p o n d

t o i t

. See OCGA § 9 -1 1 -5 6 (c) (a m o t i o n fo r s u m m ary ju d g m en t “ s h al l b e s erv ed at

l eas t 3 0 d ay s b efo re t h e t i m e fi xed fo r t h e h eari n g ”); Br o wn v. Sh i ver

, 1 8 3 Ga. Ap p.

32 0 7

, 2 0 9 (2 ) (3 5 8 SE2 d 8 6 2 ) (1 9 8 7 ) (OCGA § 9 -1 1 -5 6 (c) “ al l o ws t he p art y o p p o s i n g

a m o t io n fo r s um m ary ju d g m en t at l eas t t h i rt y d ay s to res p o n d befo re t h e m o t i o n i s

h eard ”). W e fi n d no erro r i n t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s co n si d erat io n o f t h e b an k’ s m o t i o n fo r

s u m m ary ju d g m en t

.

2

. S u mma r y j u d g men t

.

To p rev ai l a t s u m

m ary ju d g m en t

, t h e m o vi n g p art y m u s t

d e m o n s t rat e t h at t h ere i s n o g en u i n e i s s u e o f m at eri al fact an d t h at th e

u n d i s p ut ed fact s

, v i ewed i n t h e l i g h t m o s t fav o rab le t o t h e n o n m o v i n g

p art y

, warran t ju d g m en t as a m at t er o f law. W h ere t h e m o v an t i s th e

p l ai n t i ff, [i t ] h as t he b u rd en of p res en t i n g ev i d en ce t o s up p o rt [i t s ] cl ai m

an d t h e b u rd en o f p i erci n g t h e d efen d an t ’ s affi rm at i ve d efen s es

.

S t a t e o f Geo r g i a v. Ro z i er

, 2 8 8 Ga. 7 67

, 7 6 8 ( 7 0 7 S E 2 d 10 0 ) (2 0 1 1 ) (ci t at i o n

o m it t ed ).

In s u p po rt o f i t s m o t i o n fo r s u m m ary ju d g m en t

, t h e b an k s u b m it t ed t h e

affi d av i t o f Pau l McLau gh l i n

, i t s s en i o r v i ce p res i d en t an d s p eci al as s et s m an ag er,

wh o w as t h e b an k em

p l o y ee p ri m ari l y res po n s i b l e fo r ad m i n i st eri n g an d reco v eri n g

u p o n t h e gu aran t i es at i s s u e i n t h i s cas e an d wh o al s o t es t i fi ed as t h e ban k ’ s cu s t o d i an

o f reco rd s

. M cLau g h l i n tes t ifi ed t h at i n J an u ary 2 0 0 6

, CA A s so ci at es

, L LC ex ecu t ed

a p ro m i s s o ry n o t e i n fav o r o f Do u g l as Co u n t y Ban k

. Co st a an d Ach ecar each

4ex ecu t ed g u aran t i es o f t h i s ob l i g at io n

, an d co p i es o f t he g u aran t ies

, al o n g wi t h o t h er

l o an d o cu m en t s

, were at t ach ed t o t h e affi d av i t

. Do u g l as Co u n t y Ban k s u bs eq u en t l y

cl o s ed an d an ap p o i n t ed recei v er as s i g n ed al l o f i t s as s et s t o b an k. Co p i es o f t h e n o t e,

g u aran ti es

, an d as si g n m en t were at t ach ed t o an d referen ced i n M c L a u g h l i n ’ s

affi d av i t. Aft er CA As so ci at es d efau l t ed on i t s o b l i g at i o n u nd er t h e n o te, Co s t a an d

Ach ecar d efau l t ed o n t h ei r o b l i g at io n s u nd er t h e g u aran t ies

.

Co s t a an d Ach ecar arg u e t h at th e ban k was n o t en t i t l ed t o s u m m ary ju d g m en t

b ecau s e i t d i d n o t es t ab l i s h a p ri m a faci e cas e al l owi n g i t t o reco v er o n t h e g u aran ti es

an d b ecau se t h ere ex i s t g en u i n e i ss u es o f m at eri al fact

. A p l ai nt i f f i n a s u i t o n a

g u aran ty “ es t ab l i s h es a pri m a faci e cas e b y p ro d u ci n g [t h e] g u aran t [y ] an d s h o wi n g

t h at i t was ex ecu t ed [.] ” CS S R ea l E s t at e Dev. I v. St a t e Ba n k a n d Tr u s t Co

. , 3 2 4 Ga.

Ap p

. 1 8 4

, 1 8 5 (7 4 9 SE2 d 7 73 ) (2 0 1 3 ) (ci t at i on o m i t t ed ). W h en t h e si gn at u re o n t h e

g u aran ty “ is ad m i t t ed o r es t ab l i s h ed

, p ro d u ct i o n o f t he i n s tru m en t en t i t l es t h e h o l d er

t o reco ver on it un l es s th e d efen d an t es t ab li s h es a d efen se.” L. D. F. Fa mi l y Fa r m v.

Ch a r t er ba n k

, 3 26 G a. Ap p

. 3 6 1

, 3 6 3 (7 5 6 SE2 d 5 9 3 ) ( 2 0 1 4 ) ( c it at i o n o m i t t ed ).

“ Ho wev er, wh ere a p art y s u es fo r d am ag es

, i t h as t he b u rd en of p ro o f of s ho wi n g t h e

am ou n t o f lo ss i n a m an ner i n wh i ch t h e t ri al ju d g e can cal cu l at e t h e am o u n t o f t h e

l o s s w i th a reas o nab l e d eg ree o f c e r t ai n ty .” W a r e v. Mu l t i b a n k 2 00 9 -1 RES -ADC

5Ven tu r e, LLC

, 3 2 7 Ga. Ap p

. 2 4 5

, 25 0 ( 2 ) ( 7 58 SE2 d 1 4 5 ) (2 01 4 ) (ci t at i o n an d

p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ). As d et ai led b el o w, t he b an k es t ab l i s h ed i t s p ri m a faci e cas e o f

l i ab i l i t y ag ai n s t Co s t a an d Ach ecar b u t d i d n ot m eet i t s b urd en as t o d am ag es

.

(a) Li a b i l i t

y.

Th e b a n k p ro d u ced s ev eral s i g ned g u aran t ies t h at i d en t i fy t h e ap p el l an t s as

g u aran to rs

, b u t Co s ta an d Ach ecar arg u e t hat t here i s n o ev i d en ce t h at t h ey ex ecu t ed

t h o s e s p eci fi c g uaran t i e s

. T h e y al so arg u e t h at t h ere i s a fact u al q u es t io n reg ard i n g

t h e as s i g n m en t o f t h e gu aran t i es t o t h e b an k

. W e are no t p ers u ad ed b y ei t h er

arg u m en t

, so we affi rm t h e g ran t o f s u m m ar y j u d g m e n t t o t h e b an k o n t h e i s s u e o f

l i ab i l i t y

.

(i ) Evi d en ce o f execu t i on o

f t h e g ua r an t i es

.

In t h ei r an s wers

, Co s t a an d Ach ecar st at ed t h at t h ey co u l d n ei t h e r ad m i t n o r

d en y ex ecu t i n g t h e gu aran t i es “ fo r wan t o f i nfo rm at i on .” Co m pare G au s e v. Fi d

el i t y

Ba n k

, 3 3 2 Ga. Ap p

. 8 44

, 8 4 7 ( 1 ) (b ) (7 7 5 SE2 d 2 0 7 ) (2 0 1 5) (p h y si cal preced en t )

(d efen d an t ’ s affi d av i t t es t i m o n y t h at h e w as cer ta i n h e di d n ot ex ecu te a gu aran t y an d

b el i ev ed t h at t he s i g n at u r e p a g e m ay h av e co m e fro m an o th er d ocu m en t p recl u d ed

s u m m ary ju d g m en t t o t h e b an k i n i t s act i o n o n th e g u aran t y ). Bu t t h ere i s n o d i s p u t e

t h at Co s t a an d Ach ecar d i d gu aran t ee a l oan m ad e b y Do u g las Co u n t y Ban k (t h e

6b an k’ s p red eces s o r) t o CA A s s oci at es

— t h ey ad m i t t ed s o i n t h ei r b ri efs b efo re b o th

t h i s co u rt an d t h e t r i al co u rt

, an d Ach ecar al s o ad m i t t ed s o i n res p o n s e t o a req u es t

fo r ad m is s i o n. 1 See Ken s i n g t o n Pa r tn er s

, LLC v. Bea l B a n k N

e v a d a

, 3 1 1 Ga. Ap p.

1 9 6 , 1 9 6 -1 9 7 (1 ) (7 1 5 SE2 d 4 9 1 ) (2 0 1 1 ) (p art y ’ s fact u al ad m is s i o n s m ad e i n b ri efs

are ad m i s s i o n s i n ju d i ci o an d are b i n d i n g ). A n d M cLau g hl i n t es t i fi ed t h at t h e

g u aran ti es p res en t ed by t h e b an k i n i t s p ro s ecu t i o n of t h i s act i on were t h e g u aran ti es

as s o ci at ed w i t h t h at l oan

. Co s t a an d Ach ecar arg u e t h at M cLau g h l i n co u l d n o t at tes t

t o t h e g uaran t i es ’ au t h en t ici t y b ecau s e h e h ad n o p ers o nal k n o w l e d g e o f t h ei r

ex ecu t i o n . M cLau g h l i n t es ti fi ed , h o wev er, t h at t h e g u aran t i es

were r e c e i v e d i n th e reg u l ar co urs e o f b us i n es s o f [t h e b an k] an d are

k ep t i n t h e c o u r s e o f t he reg u l arl y co n d uct ed b u s i n es s act i v i t y o f [t he

b an k ]

. It i s t h e reg ul ar p ract i ce o f [t h e b an k ] f o r a n em p l o y ee o r

rep res en t at i v e wi t h k no wl ed g e o f t h e act

, ev en t

, o r co nt ract reco rd ed t o

m ak e t h e reco rd at o r n ear t he t i m e o r reas o nab l y s oo n aft er i t s

o ccu rren ce. T h e d o cu m en t s at t ach ed [t o t h e affi d av i t ] are ex act

d u p l i cat es o f t h e o ri g i n al s

, wh i ch are cu rren t l y hel d by [t he b an k ] i n th e

reg u lar co u rs e o f [t h e b an k ’ s] b u s in es s

.

Th i s was s u ffi ci en t t o au t h en t i cat e t h e d o cu m en t s

. See O CGA § 2 4 -9 -9 0 2 (1 1 ); S a l a s

v. JP Mo r g a n Ch a s e Ba nk, N. A.

, 3 3 4 Ga. Ap p

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

1 Th e reco rd d o es no t co n t ai n Co st a’ s res po n se t o an y req ues t s fo r ad m i s s i o n s

.

7(2 0 1 5); W

a r e

, s u p ra, 3 2 7 Ga. Ap p

. at 24 8 -2 4 9 (2 ). Tak en to g et h er, t h e a p p e l l an t s ’

ad m i s s i o n s an d M cLau g h li n ’ s affi d av i t t e s t i m o n y es t ab l i s h t h at t h e ap p el l an t s

ex ecu t ed t h e g u aran ti es

.

(i i) As s i gn men t

.

Co s t a an d Ach ecar arg u e t h a t t h e c o p y o f t h e d o cu m en t as s i g n i n g t h e

g u aran ti es t o t h e b a n k

, wh i ch was at t ach ed t o an d referen ced i n t h e M cLau g h l in

affi d av i t, creat ed a g en u in e i ss u e o f m at eri al fact reg ard i n g t he as s i g n m en t . Th i s i s

,

es s en t i al l y

, an arg u m en t t h at th e b an k d i d n o t e s t a b l i s h t h at it i s t h e real p art y in

i n t eres t

. See Pa t r i ck M

a l l o y Co mmu n i ti es

, LLC v. Co mmu n i t y & S o u t h er n Ba n k

, 3 3 4

Ga. Ap p

. 7 6

, 7 9 (1 ) (7 7 8 SE2 d 2 4 2 ) (2 0 1 5 ). Co s t a an d Ach ecar arg u e t h at t h ere are

q u es ti o n s o f fact reg ard i n g t h e as si g nm en t b ecau s e t he as s i g n m en t d id n o t i n cl u d e a

co p y o f an u n d erl y i n g p u rch as e ag reem en t

, wh i ch w as referen ced i n i t b ut n o t m ad e

an ex h i b i t t o i t

. H o wev er, t h ey ci t e t o n o au t h o ri t y req u i ri n g t h at al l d o cu m en t s

referen ced i n an as s i g n m en t b e at t ach ed as ex hi b i ts t o i t . Th ey al s o arg u e t h at t h ere

are q u es t i o n s of fact reg ard i n g t h e a s s ig n m en t b ecau s e i t is “ m i ss i n g p ag es .” Th i s

ap p ears t o refer t o a s i n g l e m i s s i n g p ag e i n a l i m i t e d p o wer o f at t o rn ey t h at was

a t t a c h ed t o t he as s i g n m en t as ev i d en ce o f t h e au t h o ri ty o f t h e p ers o n s ig n i n g t h e

as s i g n m en t t o act o n b eh al f o f t h e as s i g n o r. T h e p ag es t hat are i n t h e reco rd i n cl u d e

8t h e en t i re t ex t o f t h e l im i ted p ower o f at t o rn ey

, t h e s i g n at ure o f t h e part y g ran t i n g t h e

p o wer, t h e s i g n at u res o f t wo wi t n es s es

, an d t h e s i g n at u re of a no t ary pu b l i c, an d i t i s

u n cl ear w h at i n fo rm at i o n, i f an y

, was o n t he m i s si n g p ag e. Ag ai n

, Co s t a an d Ach ecar

o ffer n o ci t at i o n t o au t h o ri t y t o s u p p o rt t h ei r p os i t i o n t h at t h e l ack o f t h i s p ag e g i v es

ri se t o qu es t i o n s o f fact t h at wo u l d p recl ud e s u m m ary ju dg m en t

.

(b ) Da ma g es

.

T h e b an k u s ed t he McLau g h l i n affi d av i t t o es tab l i s h it s d am ag es

. Co s t a a n d

Ach ecar arg u e t hat t h e t ri al co u rt s h o u l d n o t h av e co n s i d ered t h i s affi d av i t b ecau s e

i t co n t ai n ed l eg al co ncl u s i o n s an d referred t o at t ach ed l o an h i s to r y d o c u m e n t s t h at

were i n ad m i s s ib l e. W e are n o t p ers uad ed b y ei t h er arg um en t. Bu t t h ey al s o arg u e t h at

d o cu m en t s at t ach ed t o an d referen ced i n t h e affi d av i t creat ed fact q u es t i o n s ab o ut

d am a g e s t h at p recl u de s u m m ary ju d g m en t

. Becau s e t h e d o cu m en t s at t ach ed t o t h e

affi d av i t d o n o t su p po rt t h e t es t i m on y

, we are co ns t rai ned t o ag ree an d, th erefo re, to

rev ers e t he g ran t o f s u m

m ary ju d g m en t as t o d am ag es

.

(i ) Leg a l co n cl u si o ns

.

Arg u i n g t h at t h e t ri al co u rt s ho u l d no t h av e co ns i d ered t he M cLau g h l in

affi d av i t b ecau s e i t co n t ai n ed leg al co n cl u s i o n s

, Co s t a an d Ach eca r p o i n t to

M cLau gh l i n ’ s s tat em en ts t hat t h e a p p e l l an t s were i n defau l t an d th at t h e b an k h ad

9p ro v id ed t h em wi th “ ap p ro p ri at e d em an d an d n o t i ce” b efo re fi l i n g i t s act i o n. Bu t t h e

affi d av i t al s o co n t ai n ed fact u al s t at em en t s o n t h o s e p o i nt s : M cLau g h l i n t es t i fi ed t h at

Co s t a an d Ach ecar h ad “ fai l ed t o p ay t he a m o u n t s du e an d o wi n g u nd er [t h e

g u aran ti es ] as t h o se am o un t s b ecam e d u e an d o wi n g [an d t hat t h e] o bl i g at i o ns rem ai n

u n p ai d

, d u e, an d o wi n g t o [t he ban k ] ”; an d h e tes t ifi ed t h at “ b y l et t ers [at t ach ed t o t h e

affi d av i t an d i n co rp o rat ed t h erei n ]

, [t h e b an k ] m ad e d e m a n d u p o n [Co s t a an d

Ach ecar] fo r i m m e d i a t e pay m en t o f t h e en t i re un p ai d p ri n ci p al

, in t eres t, an d l at e

ch arg es d u e an d o wi n g u n d er t h e [n ] o t e [t h at was t h e s ub ject o f t h e g u aran t i es ] .”

Co m p are GE Ca

p i t a l Mt g

. S vcs

. v. Cl a ck

, 2 7 1 Ga. 82

, 8 5 (2 ) (b ) (5 1 5 SE2 d 6 1 9 )

(1 9 9 9) (m ere s tat em en t i n affi d av i t t h at n o ti ce was “ p u bl i s h ed ‘ as req ui red b y l aw’ ”

was a l eg al co n cl us i on t h at d i d n o t es t ab l i s h t h e fact t h at b an k h ad co m p li ed wi th

fo recl o s ure no t i ce req ui rem en t ). Th es e fact u al s t at em en t s co u ld b e co ns i d ered in

d et erm i n i n g t h e b an k ’ s en t i t l em en t t o s u m m ary ju d g m en t

, ev en if t h e affi d av i t al s o

co n tai n ed l eg al co n cl u s i o n s d rawn fro m t h o s e fact s

. See W a re

, s up ra, 3 2 7 Ga. Ap p.

at 2 50 (2 ) (“ ev en wh ere a p o rt i o n o f [an ] affi d av i t i s i n ad m i s s ib l e, t h at fact d o es n ot

i n v al i d at e t h e en t i re affi d av i t ”) (ci t at i o n o m i t t ed ); Vi cker s v. Ch r ys l er Cr ed i t Co rp

. ,

1 5 8 Ga. Ap p

. 4 3 4

, 4 4 0 (4 ) (2 80 SE2 d 8 4 2 ) (1 9 8 1 ) (“ t h e m ere fact th at t h e affi d av i t s

i n q u es t io n m i gh t co n t ai n cert ai n av erm en t s w h i ch co u l d b e ch aract eri zed as

10co n cl u s i o n s

. . . di d n o t p ro h i b i t t h e tri al ju d g e fro m co n s i d eri n g th e ad m i s s i b l e p art s

t h ereo f an d fro m

g ran t in g s u m

m ary ju d g m en t i f ap p ro pri at e”).

(i i) Ad m i s s i b i l i t y o f l oa n h i s t o r

y d o cu men t s

.

Co s t a an d Ach ecar ar g u e t hat l o an h i s t ory d o cu m en t s at tach ed t o an d

referen ced i n t h e affi d av i t

, w h ich t h e b an k us ed t o es t ab l i s h t h e am o u nt o u t s t an d i n g

o n t h e n o t e, w ere s um m ari es t h at were i n ad m i s s ib le b ecau se th e b an k h ad n o t m ad e

t h e u n d erl y i ng reco rd s u po n wh i ch t h e s u m m ari es were b as ed av ai l ab l e to t h em

. See

OCGA § 2 4 -1 0 -1 0 0 6 (“ Th e co n t en t s o f ot h erwi s e ad m i s s i b l e v o l u m i n o u s wri t i n g s

,

reco rd i n g s

, o r p h o t og rap h s wh i ch can n ot co n v en i en t l y be ex am in ed i n co u rt m ay b e

p res en t ed i n t h e fo rm o f a ch art

, s u m m ary

, o r cal cu l at i o n

. T he o ri g i n al s

, o r d up l i cat es

,

s h al l be m ad e av ai lab l e fo r ex am i n at i o n o r co p y i n g

, o r b o t h, b y o th er p art i es at a

reas on ab l e t i m e an d p l ace.”). “ [ A ] d o cu m en t t h at s im p l y l i s t s t h e cu rren t b al an ce,

accru ed i n t eres t

, an d fees o wed o n a b an k l o an at t h e t i m e o f t h e l it i gat i on i s n o t a

b u s i n es s reco rd b u t rat h er a ‘ su m m ary .’

. . . In co n t ras t

, . . . rep ort s th at p ro v i d e a

d et ai led t ran s act i o n h is t o ry o f a l o an [are] b u si n es s reco rd s

, n o t

. . . s u m m ari es .”

Ro b er t s v. Co mmu ni ty & S

o u t h er n Ba n k

, 3 3 1 Ga. Ap p

. 3 6 4, 3 70 -3 7 1 (2 ) (7 7 1 SE2 d

6 8 ) ( 2 01 5 ) (ci t at i o n s o m i t t ed ). Th e l o an h i s t o ry d ocu m en t s at i s s u e h ere pro v i d ed

11d et ai led t ran s act io n h is t o ri es f r o m t h e l oan ’ s i ncep t i o n an d were ad m i s s i b l e as

b u s i n es s reco rd s . Id . at 3 7 1 (2 ).

(i ii ) Fa i lu r e o

f a f f i d a vi t exh i b i t s t o s u pp o r t t es t i mo n y.

W e ag ree wi t h Co s t a an d Ach ecar, h o wev er, t h at th e b an k d i d n o t s h ow t h at i t

i s en t i tl ed to s um m ary ju d g m en t o n d am ag es

, b ecau s e t h e l o a n h i s t o ry d o cu m en t s

at t ach ed t o M cLau g h li n ’ s affi d av i t g i v e ri se t o q ues t i o n s o f fact t h at p recl u d e

s u m m ary ju d g m e n t

. M cLau g h li n t es t i fi ed i n h i s affi d av i t t hat t h e to t al am o u n t d u e

an d o wi n g u n d er t h e n ot e an d g u aran t i es as of A p ri l 2 8

, 2 01 6

, was $4 1 3,4 0 9 .8 6

. Th e

affi d av i t al s o “ reci t ed t h at i t was b as ed i n p art o n b an k rec o rd s

, an d i t i s cl ear fro m

t h e co n tex t t h at t h e po rt i o n o f t h e affi d av i t w h i ch s et o u t t h e am ou n t o wed b y [Co s t a

an d Ach ecar] was b as ed o n b an k reco rd s .” T a q uech el v. Ch a t t a h o o ch ee Ba n k

, 2 6 0

Ga. 7 55

, 7 5 6 (2 ) (4 0 0 SE2 d 8 ) (1 9 9 1 ) (ci t at i on o m i t t ed ). An affi d av i t th at refers to

b an k reco rd s t o es t ab l i s h t h e am o u n t o w ed o n a d eb t m u s t at t ach t h o s e reco rd s

. See

i d

. T h e l o an h i s t ory d o cu m en t s at t ach ed t o M cLau g h l i n ’ s affi dav i t

, h o w ev er, d o n ot

refl ect t h e am o u n t o f d am ag es s et fo rt h i n t h at affi dav i t ; i n fact

, th ey co n t ai n n o

i n fo rm at i o n wh at s o ev er ab o u t act i v i t y on t h e l o an aft er 2 0 13

. Becau s e t h i s

d i s crep an cy i s m at eri al to t h e am o u n t o wed u n d er t h e n o te, an d t h e r e f o r e t h e

g u aran ti es

, m at eri al is s u es o f fact ex i s t a s t o t h e am o u n t o f d am ag es t h at p recl u d e

12s u m

m ary ju d g m en t o n t h at i s s u e. See Pa tr i ck Ma l lo y C o mmu n it i es

, s u p ra, 3 3 4 Ga.

Ap p . 8 3 (2 ); W

a r e , 3 27 Ga. Ap p . at 2 5 1 (2 ).

Ju d g men t a f f i r m ed in p a r t a n d r ever

s ed i n p a r t, a nd

ca s e r ema n d

ed . Br a n ch

a n d Bet h el , JJ., co n cu r

.

13