FI RST DI VI SI ON

BA RNES, P. J.

, GOBEI L and PI PKI N, 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.

https ://w w w

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

D E A D LIN E S A R E N O LO N G E R TO LLE D IN T

H I S

C O U R T. A LL FILIN G S M U ST B E S U B M I TTE D WITH IN

TH E TIM E S S E T B Y

O U R C O U R T R U LE S

.

Decem ber 21, 2020



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A2 0 A1 63 2 . M O ORE v . LOVEIN FUNERAL HOM E, INC. et al

.

G O B E I L

, J u d g e.

Darrel l Ken M oo re fi l ed s u i t ag ai n s t Ro b ert S. Lo v ei n

, J r. (“ Lo v ei n ”) a n d

Lo v ei n Fu n eral Ho m e, In c. (t h e “ Fu n eral Ho m e,”) 1 (co l l ect i v el y

, t h e “ Defen d an t s ”),

al l eg in g i n rel ev an t p art t h at h e n ev er au t h o ri zed t h e Defen d an t s to s en d p art o f h i s

l at e wi fe’ s

, Pau l in e M o o re’ s (“ Pau li n e”) crem at ed rem ai n s t o Ken net h H oward

. 2 Th e

Defen d an t s m o v ed fo r s u m m ary ju dg m en t

, wh i ch t h e t ri al co u rt g ran t ed

. In t h e i n s t an t

ap p eal

, M o o re arg u es t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n g ran t in g t h e Defen d an t s’ m o t i o n fo r

s u m m ary ju d g m en t

, as h e pu t fo rt h s u ffi ci en t ev id en ce t o s u p p o rt h i s cl ai m s fo r:

1 Lo v ei n

, a l icen s ed fu n eral d i rect o r, c o-o wn s th e Fu n eral Ho m e wi t h hi s fat h er,

Ro b ert S. Lo v ei n, Sr.

2 Ho ward i s Pau l i n e’ s s on an d M o o re’ s s t ep -s o n

.( 1 ) b reach o f co n t ract

, (2 ) t o rt i o u s i n t erferen ce wi t h b u ri al ri g h ts

, (3 ) i n t en t i o n a l

i n fl i ct i o n o f e m o t i o nal d is t res s, (4 ) frau d, an d (5 ) n eg l i g en t m i s rep res en t at i o n

. Fo r t h e

reas on s t h at fo l l o w, we affi rm t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s g ra n t o f s u m m ary ju d g m en t t o t h e

Defen d an t s o n M o ore’ s cl ai m s fo r i n t en t i o n al i n fl i ct i o n o f em o t io n al d i s tres s

, frau d,

an d n eg l i g en t m is rep res en t at io n

, b u t we rev ers e th e g ran t o f s u m m ary ju d g m en t o n

h i s cl ai m s fo r b reach o f co n t ract an d t o rt i o u s i n t erferen ce wi t h b u ri al ri g h ts

.

Su m m ary ju d g m en t i s ap p ro pri at e i f t h e p l ead i n g s an d ev i d en ce

s h o w th at t h ere i s n o g en u i n e i s s u e as t o an y m at eri al fact a n d t h at th e

m o v i n g p art y i s en t i t l ed t o a ju d g m e n t a s a m at t er of l aw. On ap peal

f r o m t h e g ran t o r d en i al o f s u m m ary ju d g m en t

, we co n d u ct a de n o v o

rev i ew, wi t h al l reas o n ab l e i n feren ces co n s t r u e d i n t h e l i g h t m o s t

fav o rab le t o th e n on m o v i n g p art y

.

Fo r syt h Co u n t

y v. W a ter s ca pe S vcs

., LLC

, 3 0 3 Ga. Ap p

. 6 2 3

, 6 2 3 -6 2 4 (6 9 4 SE2 d

1 0 2 ) (2 0 1 0 ) (ci t a t i o n a n d p u n ct u at i o n o m it t ed ). So v iewed

, t h e reco rd s ho ws t h at

Pau li n e d i ed o n Feb ru ary 1 9, 2 0 1 5 . M o o re’ s s i s t ers co nt act ed t h e Fu n eral Ho m e o n

h i s b eh al f t o arran ge crem at o ry an d m em o ri al serv i ces fo r Pau l i n e. T h e Fu neral Ho m e

co l l ect ed Pau l i n e’ s b od y fro m h er res i d en ce fo r t ran sp o rt t o i t s p l ace o f b us i n es s

. On

t h e d at e o f h is wi fe’ s deat h

, Feb ru ary 1 9

, M o o re s i g ned a co n t ract wi t h t h e Fu n eral

Ho m e, i n wh i ch h e ag reed t o pay $ 1

, 5 0 0 fo r a “ d irect crem at io n .” Th e Fu n eral Ho m e

2p ro v id ed M o o re a di sco un t fro m t h e u s u al crem at i o n f e e o f $ 3 ,0 7 5 b ecau s e M o o re

was h av i n g a “ h ard t i m e,” an d h e h ad u s ed t h e F u n e r a l Ho m e i n t h e p as t fo r o t h er

fam i l y m em b ers

.

Two d ay s aft er Pau li n e’ s d eat h

, t h e Fu n eral Ho m e h el d a v i ewi n g fo r Pau l i ne.

Aft er t h e v i ewi n g

, M oo re m et w i t h Lo v ei n at th e Fu n eral Ho m e fo r an “ arran g em en t

co n feren ce.” 3 M oo re recal l ed t h at h e t o l d ev ery o n e p res en t t h at h e wan t ed Pau l i n e to

b e crem at ed i n k eep in g w i t h h er wi s h es . At t h e m eet i n g

, Lo v ei n as k ed M o ore wh at

h e wan t ed t o d o w i t h t h e as hes aft er t h e crem at i o n

, t o wh i ch M o o re rep l ied : “ Fo r t h e

t i m e b ei n g t h ey al l co m e t o m e.” Becau s e h e was s t i l l s o u p s et ab o u t Pau l i n e’ s d eat h,

M o o re h ad y et t o d eci d e wh at h e was g o i ng t o d o wi t h t h e as hes

.

D ur ing the “ a r

r a n g em en t co n feren ce,” M o o re si g n ed a s ep arat e ag reem en t wi t h

t h e crem at o ry

, So u t h Geo rg i a Crem at o ry

, LLC (t he “ Crem at o ry ”), t i t l ed

“ Au t h o ri zat i o n fo r Crem a t i o n an d Di sp o s i t i o n .” Th e Fu n eral Ho m e co -o wn s t h e

Crem at o ry wi t h s ev eral ot h er fu n eral h om es

. L ov ei n p res en t ed t h e co n t ract wi t h t h e

Crem at o ry t o M o o re fo r ex ecu t i o n i n h is o ffi ce at t h e Fu n eral Ho m e, an d wen t o v er

each p ro v i s i o n in t h e d o cu m en t wi t h M o o r e

. A s r e l ev an t h ere, M o o re i n it i al ed t h e

3 Bas ed o n t h e reco rd

, i t ap p ears t h at M o o re’ s m o t h er an d s i s t ers

, as wel l as

Ho ward , were p res en t fo r p art s o f t h i s m eet i n g.

3p ro v is i o n i n t h e ag reem en t t h at g av e t h e Crem at o ry p erm i s s i o n t o rel eas e Pau l i n e’ s

crem at ed rem a i n s t o t h e Fu n eral Ho m e. Lo v ei n al s o si g n ed t h e co n t ract wi t h t h e

Crem at o ry

i n h i s cap aci t y

as d i rect o r o f t h e Fu neral Ho m e.

Aft er t h e crem at io n o n Feb ru ary 23

, Mo ore au t h o ri zed h is s i s ter t o co l l ect

Pau li n e’ s as h es fro m t h e Fu n eral Ho m e an d b r i n g t h em to h i s h ou s e. Sh o rt l y

t h ereaft er, H o ward ’ s wi fe, V i ck i Ho ward

, cal l ed M oo re an d to l d h i m th at Ho w ard h ad

recei v ed s o m e o f Pau l i n e’ s as h es

. Th i s was wh en M o o re fi rs t learn ed th at th e Fu n eral

Ho m e h ad n o t g i ven h i m al l o f h i s l at e wi fe’ s as h es

. In a ph o n e cal l wi t h M o o re,

Lo v ei n ad m i t t ed t h at h e h ad m ai l ed ap pro x i m at el y o n e “ teas p o on ” o f Pau l i n e’ s as h es

t o Ho ward

. Ho ward i n t u rn s p read th e as h es o v er t he g rav es o f Pau li n e’ s p aren t s an d

t h e Su wan n ee Ri v er, wh i ch he co n t en d ed was i n acco rd an ce wi t h Pau l i n e’ s wi s h es

.

Ho ward al l eg ed th at h e was u n aware t h at M o o re d id n o t wan t h i m t o h av e an y o f h i s

l at e m o t h er’ s as h es

.

In Feb ru ary 20 1 7

, M o o re fi l ed s u i t ag ai n s t t h e Defen d an t s

, rai s i n g cl ai m s fo r

b reach o f co n t ract

, t o rt i o us i n t erferen ce wi t h b u ri a l ri g h ts

, i n t en t i o n al i n fl i ct i o n o f

em ot i o n al d i s t res s

, frau d

, an d n eg l i g en t m i s rep res en t at i o n

. 4 Th e Defen dan t s m o v ed

4 M o o re al s o rai sed a cl ai m o f t o rt i o us i n t erferen ce wi t h co nt ract u al rel at i on s

ag ai n s t Ho w ard

, al l eg i n g t h at Ho ward i m p ro perl y as k ed t h e Defen d an t s t o s en d h i m

s o m e o f Pau l i n e’ s as h e s

, e v e n t h o u g h t hey “ were co n tract u al l y an d s t at u t o ri l y

4fo r s u m

m ary ju dg m en t

, wh i ch t h e t ri al co u rt g ran t ed o n al l o f M o o re’ s cl ai m s

. 5 Th e

co u rt cert i fi ed i t s o rd er as fi n al u n der OCGA § 9 -1 1 -5 4 ( b )

, a n d t h e i n s t an t ap p eal

fo l l o w ed

.

1

. M o o re arg u es t h at t h e t ri al co urt erred i n g ran t i n g s u m m ary ju d g m en t t o t h e

D e f en d an t s o n h i s b reach o f co n t ract cl ai m b ecau s e gen u in e i s s ues of m at eri al fact

rem ai n as t o wh et h er t h e Fu n eral Ho m e’ s fai l u re t o rel eas e t o M o o re al l o f Pau l i n e’ s

crem at ed rem ai ns co n s ti t u t es a b reach o f t h e wri t ten ag reem en t s bet ween th e p art i es

.

Th e el em en t s fo r a b reach o f co n t ract cl ai m in G eo rg i a are t h e (1 ) b reach

an d t h e (2 ) res u l t an t d am ag es (3 ) to t h e p art y w h o h a s t h e ri g h t t o

co m p lai n ab o ut t h e co n t ract b e i n g b ro k en

. A b reach occu rs i f a

co n t ract i n g part y rep ud i at es o r ren o u n ces l i ab i l i t y un d er t h e co n t ract ;

fai l s t o p erfo rm t he en g ag em en t as sp eci fi ed in t he co n t r a c t; o r d o es

s o m e act t h at ren d ers p erfo rm an ce i m po s si b l e.

o b l i g at ed t o del iv er al l o f [Pau li n e’ s ] rem ai n s t o [M oo re] .” H o ward d i d n ot jo i n i n t h e

Defen d an t s ’ s u m

m ary ju d g m en t m o ti o n an d i s n o t a p art y t o t h e i n s t an t ap peal

.

5 In h i s rep l y b ri ef, M o ore as s e r t s t h a t th e t ri al co u rt fai l ed t o en t er an o rd er

wi t h s p eci f

i c f i n d i n g s o f fact an d co n cl us i o n s o f law d es p i t e h i s req u es t to t h e t ri al

co u rt fo r s u ch an o rd er. In t h e fi rs t i n s t an ce, th i s Co urt wi l l no t co n s i d er arg u m en t s

rai s ed fo r t h e fi rs t t i m e in a rep l y b ri ef. Va n n v. Fi n ley

, 3 1 3 Ga

. A p p

. 1 53

, 1 5 4 n

. 2

(7 2 1 SE2 d 1 5 6 ) (2 0 11 ). In an y ev en t

, “ [t ] h e t ri al co urt i s n o t req u i red t o m ak e ex p res s

fi nd i ng s of fact an d co n cl us i on s o f l aw i n ru l i n g o n m o t i o ns fo r s u m m ary ju d g m en t

, al t h o u g h t h ey are h el p fu l t o t h e ap p el l at e co urt s an d i n s t ru ct i v e t o th e p art i es .” Lewi s

v. Ri cken b a ker , 1 74 Ga. Ap p . 3 7 1

, 3 7 2 (1 ) (3 3 0 SE2 d 1 4 0) (1 98 5 ).

5UW

o r k.co m, In c. v. P a r ag o n T e c h n o l o g i es

, In c.

, 3 2 1 Ga. A p p

. 5 8 4

, 5 90 (1 ) (7 4 0

SE2 d 8 8 7) (2 0 1 3) (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 rel ev an t h ere, M o o re en t ered i n t o t wo co n t ract s : t h e g e n e r al co n t ract in

wh i ch h e ag reed t o pay t h e Fu n eral H o m e $ 1,5 0 0 f o r a “ d i rect crem at i o n .” Th i s

co n tract di d n o t i n cl ud e an y det ai l s as t o t h e Fu n eral Ho m e’ s d u t i es an d o b li g at i on s

reg ard i n g t h e d i s p o s i t i o n of Pau l i n e’ s crem at ed rem ai n s

. M o o re al s o s ig n ed a s eco n d

ag reem en t wi t h th e Crem at o ry

, t i t l ed “ Au t h o ri zat io n fo r Crem at i o n an d Di s po s i t i o n,”

wi t h res p ect t o t h e crem at i o n an d d i s p o s i t i o n o f Pau l i n e’ s as h es

.

On ap p eal

, Mo o re d o es n o t co n t en d t hat t h e Crem at o ry b reach ed t h e t erm s o f

t h e crem at o ry co n t ract i n th e m an n er i n wh i ch t h e crem at i o n was p erfo rm ed o r t h e

d el i v ery of t h e as h es t o t h e F u n eral Ho m e. Rat h er, M o o re arg ues t h at t h e Fu n eral

Ho m e ex ceed ed t h e s co p e o f i t s au t ho ri t y u n der t h e crem at o ry co n t ract wh en i t t o o k

p o s s es s i o n o f Pau l i ne’ s as h es fro m t h e Crem at o ry an d s u b s eq u en t l y gav e Ho ward a

p o rt i on o f h er crem at ed rem ai n s wi t h o u t M o o re’ s au t ho ri zat io n

.

Th e i n t erp ret at i on o f a co n tract i s a q u es ti o n o f l a w

, u n l es s th e

co n t ract l an g u ag e p res en t s an am b i g u i ty t h at can n o t b e res o l v ed b y th e

ru l es o f co n st ru ct i on

. Th e card i nal ru l e o f co n s t ru ct i o n i s t o as cert ai n th e

i n t en t o f t h e p art i es

. W h ere t h e co n t ract term s are cl ear a n d

u n am bi g u o us

, t h e co u rt wi l l l o o k to t h at al o n e t o fi n d t h e t ru e i n t en t o f

t h e p art i es

. . . . W h ere am b i g u i t i es ex i s t

, th e co u rt m ay l o o k o u t s i d e th e

6wri t t en t erm s of t h e co n t ract an d co n s id er al l t h e su rro u n d i n g

ci rcu m s t an ces t o d et erm in e t h e p art i es ’ i n t en t. Paro l ev i d en ce m ay n o t

b e co n s i d ered u n l es s t h e wri t t en i n s t ru m en t i s am b i g u ou s

.

Gr een b er g Fa r r ow Ar ch it ect u re, In c. v. JMLS 1 4 2 2, LLC

, 3 3 9 Ga. Ap p

. 3 2 5

, 3 2 9 (1 )

(7 9 1 SE2 d 6 3 5 ) ( 2016) ( c ita t io n an d p u nct u at i o n o m i tt ed ). Im p o rt an t l y

, t h e crem at o ry

co n tract di d n ot s p eci fy wh et h er t h e Defen dan t s h ad th e au t h o ri ty t o g i v e H o ward

s o m e o f Pau l i n e’ s as h es u p o n r e c e i p t fro m t h e Crem at o ry

. Becau s e th e co n t ract i s

am bi g uo u s , we t u rn t o p aro l ev i d en ce t o as cert ai n t h e i n t en t o f t h e p art i es

.

In hi s d ep o si t i o n

, Lo v ei n co n ced ed t hat t h e crem at o ry co nt ract d i d no t i n cl u d e

an y p ro v i s i o n s “ ab o u t al l o wi n g s o m eo n e el s e t o t a k e [Pau l i n e’ s crem at ed rem ai n s ]

o r au th o r i z i n g t h e m ai l i n g ” o f h er as h es

. In fact

, Lo v ei n t es t i fi ed t h at i t was h i s

u n d e r s t a n d i n g t hat t h e crem at ory co n t ract req u i red t h at h e g i v e Pau l in e’ s as h es to

M o o re fo l l o wi n g t h e crem at i o n

. Sp eci fi cal l y

, u n d er a s ect i on t i tl ed “ Ord er fo r

Di s p os i t i o n ,” M o ore au th ori zed t h e Crem at ory t o rel eas e t h e crem at ed rem ai n s t o t h e

“ p o s s es s i o n an d cu st o dy o f t h e Fu neral Ho m e.” Ad d i t i o n al l y , u n d er a s ect i o n t i t l ed

“ Crem at o ry Req u i rem en t s

, Pro ced u res

, an d Po l ici es ,” th e ag reem en t s t at ed : “ T h e

crem at i o n

, p ro ces s i ng

, an d d is p o s i t io n o f th e rem ai n s o f [Pau l i n e] au t h o ri zed h erei n

s h al l be p erfo rm ed i n acco rd an ce wi t h al l go v ern i n g l aws

, an d t h e req ui rem e n t s

,

7p ro ced ures

, an d p ol i ci es o f t h e C rem at o ry an d t h e d es i g n at ed Fu n eral Ho m e.” See

OCGA § 3 1 -2 1

- 7 (b ) (3 ) (“ t h e ri g h t t o co nt ro l t h e d i s p os i t i o n o f t h e rem ai n s o f a

d eceas ed pers o n; t h e l o cat i on

, m an n er, an d c o n d it i o n s o f d i s p o s i t i o n ; an d

arran g em en t s fo r fu n eral g o o ds an d s erv i ces t o b e p ro vi d ed v es t s i n

. . . [t ] h e

s u rv i v i n g s p o u s e o f t h e deced en t ”). Lo v ei n ack n o wl ed g ed t h at “ o n ce t h e crem at i o n

h as b een co m

p l et ed

. . . th e crem ai n s are d i s pers ed t o t h e n ex t o f k i n

. Th at ’ s t h e l aw.”

In d eed

, L o vei n s p e c i f

i c a l l y co nfi rm ed t h at M o o re was t h e n ex t of k in i n t hi s cas e. 6

M o o re m ai n t ai n s t h at h e n ev er au t h o ri ze d Lo vei n t o d el i v er a p o rt i o n o f

Pau li n e’ s as h es t o Ho ward

. In fact

, M oo re as s ert s t h at h e cl earl y t o l d Lo v ei n t h at h e

wan ted al l o f th e as h es

. By co n t ras t

, L o v e i n des cri b ed t h at Ho ward ap p ro ach ed

Lo v ei n an d as k ed fo r a s m al l p o rt i o n o f h is m o t h er’ s as hes

. D u ri n g h i s m eet i n g wi th

M o o re o n t h e d ay o f t h e v i ewi n g

, Lo v ei n recal led t hat

, al t h ou g h M o ore i n it i al l y t o ld

Lo v ei n t h at h e d i d n o t wan t t o g i v e an y as h es t o H o ward

, M o o re ev en t u al l y rel en t ed

aft er Lo v ei n rem i n ded h i m t h at H o ward w as Pau l i n e’ s s o n

. Sp eci fi cal ly

, Lo v ei n

al l eg ed t hat M o o re to l d hi m

, “ Fi n e, ju s t d o n ’ t

. . . I ju s t d o n’ t w an t to k n o w. Do n ’ t t el l

6 Of n o t e, t h e crem at o ry co n t ract l i s t s M o o re as Pau li n e’ s s p o u s e, b u t d o es n ot

i n cl u d e h er ch i l dren as h er s u rv i v i ng h ei rs

.

8m e.” A l t ho u g h t he crem at o ry co n t ract d o es n o t i n cl u d e t h i s “ au th o ri zat i o n

, ” 7 Lo v ei n

ex p lai n ed t h at i t was n o t u n co m m o n fo r h i m t o d i s t ri b ut e as hes t o m u l ti p l e fam i l y

m em b ers wi t h ou t wri t t en ap p ro v al

.

Bas ed o n t h e co n t rad i ct i o n i n t h e e v i d e n ce, “ th ere i s

, at t h e very l eas t

, a

g en ui n e i s s u e o f m at eri al fact as t o wh et h er” t h e Defen d an t s b reach ed t he t erm s o f t h e

crem at o ry co n t ract b y

d i s t ri b u t i n g s o m e o f Pau l i n e’ s as h es t o Ho ward u p o n recei pt

fro m t h e Crem at o ry

, w it ho u t Mo o re’ s au t ho ri zat i o n

. Ju s t i ce v. S CI G eo r g ia Fu n er al

S vcs

., In c.

, 3 2 9 Ga. Ap p

. 6 3 5

, 6 3 7 (1 ) (7 6 5 SE2 d 7 7 8 ) (2 0 1 4 ). See al s o Ly v. Ji mmy

Ca r t er Co mmo n s

, LLC

, 2 8 6 Ga. 8 3 1

, 8 3 3 (1 ) (6 9 1 SE2 d 8 5 2 ) (2 0 10 ) (“ On s u m m ary

ju d g m en t

, a t ri al co u rt i s n o t au t h o ri zed t o res o l ve di s p ut ed i s s u es o f m at eri al fact .”)

(ci t at i o n an d p u nct u at io n o m i t ted ).

Th e Fu n eral H o m e co un t ers t h at M o o re fai l ed t o st at e a v al id b reach of co n t ract

cl ai m b ecau s e t h e Fu n eral Ho m e was n o t a p art y t o t h e crem at o ry co n tract

. 8 Bas ed o n

7 L o vei n s t at ed t h at t h i s p o rt i o n o f t he d is cu s s io n ap p aren t l y t o o k p l ace wi th

o n l y Lo vei n an d M o o re p res en t i n t h e ro o m

.

8 Th ere i s n o co n t ract b et ween t h e Fu n eral Ho m e an d t h e Crem at o ry . Rat h er,

t h e Fu neral Ho m e p ay s a fee to t h e Crem at o ry fo r each crem at i o n co m p l et ed

. As p art

o f i t s s erv i ces

, t he Fu n eral Ho m e p i ck s u p t h e as h es fro m t he C r e m a t o r y a n d t h en

co n tact s t h e fam i ly fo r t h e n ex t o f k i n o r an au t h o ri zed r e p r e s en t at i ve t o co m e an d

p i ck u p t h e as h es

.

9t h e reco rd o n ap p eal

, t he ex act n at u re o f t h e rel at io n s h i p b et ween t h e Crem at o ry an d

t h e Fu n eral Ho m e rem ai n s u n cl ear. Sp eci fi cal l y

, th e Fu n eral Ho m e i s a co -o wn er o f

t h e Crem at o ry al o n g wi t h s ev eral o t h er fu n eral h o m es

. By h is o wn ad m is s i o n

, Lo v ei n

,

as an au t ho ri zed rep res en tat i v e o f t h e Fu n eral H o m e, p res en t ed t h e ag reem en t wi th

t h e Cr e m at o ry t o Mo o re an d wen t o v er each t erm i n t h e ag reem en t fo r M o o re’ s

ap p ro v al

, i n cl u d in g t h at t h e F u ne r a l H o m e “ was res po n s i b l e fo r m ak i n g arran g em en t s

wi t h [M oo re] fo r t h e crem at i o n o f [Pau l i n e] .” As i d e fro m Mo o re’ s s i g n at ure, t h e o n l y

o t h er s i g n at u re ap p eari n g i n t h e co n t ract i s Lo v ei n ’ s

, o n b eh al f of t h e Fu neral Ho m e,

i n t wo sep arat e p l aces

. Im p o rt an t l y

, i n t h e co n tract

, M o o re ex p l i ci t l y “ req u es t [ed ] an d

au t h o ri ze[d t h e Fu n eral Ho m e] t o t ak e po s s es s i o n o f an d m ak e arran g em en t s fo r t h e

crem at i o n o f [Pau l i n e’ s ] rem ai n s b y [t h e Crem at o ry ] .” As s u ch

, a q ues t i o n o f fact

rem ai n s as t o wh et h er t he Crem at o ry was “ act i n g as th e u n d i s cl o s e d a g e n t ” o f t h e

Fu n eral Ho m e i n co n t ract i n g wi th M o o re fo r t h e crem at i o n

. Ch a s. S

. Ma r t in

Di s t r i b u t i n g Co

. v. Fo s t er

, 1 4 0 Ga. A p p

. 12

, 1 3 (2 3 0 S E 2 d 7 7 ) ( 1 9 7 6 ). See al s o

OCGA § 1 0 -6 -5 4 (“ If an ag en t s h al l fai l t o di s cl o s e h i s p r i nci p al ,” th e co n t ract i n g

p art y m ay set t l e wi t h ei th er t h e ag en t o r t h e p r i n ci p al ); Ca r p en t er v. Co r d

el e El ec.

S u p p l y

, 2 2 0 Ga. Ap p

. 5 4 8

, 5 4 9 (2 ) (4 6 9 SE2 d 79 9 ) (1 9 96 ) (“ W h et her o r no t t h e fact

o f t h e ag en cy

an d t h e i d en t i t y of t h e p ri n ci p al were d i s cl o sed o r k no wn t o t h e o t h er

10co n tract in g p art y i s a q u es t i on o f fact wh i ch m ay b e s h o wn b y d irect or ci rcu m s t an t i al

ev i d en ce.”) (ci t at io n an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i tt ed ).

Fi n al l y

, as t h e Defen d an t s p o i n t o u t

, M o o r e d i d n o t s u ffer act ual d am ag es

b ecau s e b y h i s o wn ad m i s s i on h e n ev er p ai d t h e F u n e r a l Ho m e t h e $ 1 ,5 0 0 fee to

arran g e t h e crem at i o n an d m em ori al s erv i ces

. Nev ert hel es s

, w h ere t h ere ex i s t s

ev i d en ce fro m

wh i ch a ju ry

co ul d fi n d t h at t he d efen d an t b reach ed a co n t ract

,

t h e d efen d an t is n o t en t i tl ed t o s u m m ary ju dg m en t o n t h e cl ai m

, ev en i f

t h e pl ai n t iff fai l s t o p res en t an y ad m i s s i b l e ev i d en ce t o es t ab l is h th e

am o u nt of act ual d a m ag es fl o w i n g fro m t h e b reach

. Th i s is b ecau s e,

u n d er OCGA § 13 -6 -6

, i n ev ery cas e o f b reach o f co n t ract

, t h e i n ju red

p art y h as a ri gh t t o d am ag es

, b u t

, if t h ere has b een n o act u al dam ag e, th e

i n ju red p art y m ay reco v er n o m i n al d am ag es s u ffi ci en t to co v er t h e co s t s

o f b ri n g in g t he act i o n

.

Ea s tvi ew Hea l th ca r e, LLC v. Syn er t x, In c.

, 2 9 6 Ga. Ap p

. 3 9 3

, 3 9 9 (4 ) (6 7 4 SE2 d 6 4 1 )

(2 0 0 9) (ci t at i on s an d p un ct u at i o n o m it t ed ). Here, ev en t h o u g h t h ere is n o in d i cat i o n

t h at M o ore s u s t ai n ed act ual d am ag es ari s i n g fro m t h e al l eg ed b reach

, s u ch l ack o f

ev i d en ce “ d o es n o t co n st i tu te a v i ab l e b as i s fo r g ran t in g [t h e D efen d an t s ’ ] m o t i o n fo r

s u m m ary ju d g m en t .” Id

. See al so Cr i p p en v. Ou t b a ck S t ea kh ou s e In t l

., L.P.

, 3 2 1 Ga.

Ap p

. 1 6 7

, 1 7 0 (1 ) (7 4 1 SE2 d 2 8 0 ) (2 0 1 3 ) (ci t i n g OCGA § 1 3 -6 -6 fo r t h e p ro p o s i t i o n

11t h at “ a l ack o f d am ag es wo u l d n o t b e a b ar t o a b reach o f co n t ract cl ai m ”). W e t hu s

rev ers e t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s g ran t o f s u m m ary ju d g m en t o n t h e breach o f co n tract cl ai m

.

2

. M o o re arg u es th e t ri al co u rt erred in g ran t in g t he D efen dan t s ’ s u m m ary

ju d g m en t m ot i o n o n h i s to rt i o us i n t erferen ce wi t h bu ri al ri gh t s cl ai m b ecau s e t h e

Defen d an t s “ w i l lfu ll y an d wan t o n l y d el i v ered a p o rt i o n o f [Pau l i n e’ s ] crem ai n s to [ ]

Ho ward , d es p i t e [M o o re’ s ] ex p res s d irect i v e t o t h e co n t rary .”

“ In t h i s s t at e, an un l awfu l an d u n warran t ed i nt erferen ce wi t h t h e ex erci s e o f t h e

ri g h t o f b u ri al i s a t o rt

. T h i s ri g h t o f bu ri al bel o n g s to t h e s u rv i v in g s p o u s e o f t h e

d e c e a s e d a n d d ev o l v es u p o n t h e n ex t o f k i n o f th e d eceas ed o n l y i f no s p o u s e

s u rv i v es .” Ha b er

s h a m M em. Pa r k, In c. v. Mo o r e

, 1 6 4 Ga. Ap p

. 6 7 6, 67 8 (1 ) (2 9 7

SE2 d 3 15 ) (1 9 8 2 ) (ci tat i o n o m i t t ed ). See al s o In r e Tr i -S t a t es Cr ema t o r y Li t i g a t i o n

,

2 1 5 FRD 6 6 0

, 6 8 4 (II) (A) (4 ) (f) (2 ) (N.D. Ga. 2 0 0 3 ) (reco g n i zi n g t h at n ex t o f k in

h ad s t an d i n g t o p u rs u e a p ri v at e ri g h t o f act i o n fo r t o rt i o u s i n t erferen ce wi t h b u r i al

ri gh t s ag ai n s t a c r e m at o ry fo r al l eg ed l y m i s h an d li n g deced en t’ s rem ai n s ). Th e

Defen d an t s d o n o t d i s p u t e t h at M o o re, as th e s u rv i v i n g s po u s e, h ad th e p ri vat e ri g ht

t o b u ry o r d is p os e o f h i s l a t e w i f e ’s rem ai n s

. As s u ch

, “ [t h e Defen d an t s ] o wed

[M o o re] t h e d u t y no t t o wi l fu ll y o r wan t o n ly in t erfere w i t h th e b u ri al of [Pau l i n e] .”

Pyl e v. Pyl e , 2 4 3 G a. Ap p

. 3 98 , 4 0 0 (2 ) (5 3 1 SE2 d 7 38 ) (2 0 0 0 ).

12A d em o ns t rat i o n o f m ere n eg l i g en ce i s n ot s u ffi ci en t t o sh o w w i l fu l o r

wan t o n b eh av i o r. In ord er t o p ro v e wi l fu l o r w an t o n co n d u ct

, a p l ai n ti ff

m u s t d em o n st rat e t h at a d efen d an t ’ s act s were s u ch as t o e v i d e n ce a

wi l fu l i n t en ti o n t o i n fl i ct t h e i n ju ry

, o r el s e were so reck l es s o r s o

c h a r g ed w i t h i n d i fferen ce to t h e co n s eq u en ces as t o ju s ti fy fi n d i ng a

wan t o n n es s eq u i v al en t i n s p i ri t t o act u al i nt en t

.

McNea l Lo

f t i s

, In c. v. H

el m ey

, 2 1 8 Ga. A p p

. 6 2 8

, 6 2 9 (4 6 2 SE2 d 7 89 ) (1 9 9 5 )

(ci t at i o n s 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 t he Defen d an t s d el i b erat el y

g av e Ho ward s o m e o f Pau li n e’ s rem ai n s

. Co m p are Ju s t i ce

, 3 2 9 G a. Ap p

. at 6 3 7 -6 3 8

(2 ) (affi rm in g g ran t o f su m m ary ju d g m en t w h e r e th ere was no ev i d en ce t h at t h e

fu n eral h o m e “ act ed w i l fu l ly o r wan t o n l y [; r] at h er, at m os t

, t h e ev i d en ce s h o ws t h at

[i t] act ed n eg l i g en t l y i n fai l i n g t o en s u re t h at t he crem at ed r e m a i n s were i n t h e u rn

d u ri n g th e m em ori al s erv i ce”); McNea l Lo f t i s

, 2 1 8 G a

. Ap p

. at 6 2 9 -6 3 0 (rev ers i n g

d en ial o f s u m

m ary j u d gm en t o n cl ai m fo r t o rt i o u s i n t er feren ce wi t h b u ri al ri g h t s

wh ere d eced en t ’ s wi fe fai led t o s h o w t h at cem et ery o wn er wan t o n l y i n t erfered wi th

b u ri al o f h er hu s b an d b y fai l i n g t o h av e g r a v e d u g at t i m e o f b u ri al

, i n v i ew o f

ev i d en ce t h at cem et ery o wn er’ s i n s p ect i o n o f g rav e’ s l o cat io n d i d n o t rev eal t h at s o i l

co n di t i o n was p o o r, m a k i n g d i g g i n g o f g rav e d i ffi cu l t

, an d t h at cem et ery o wn er

co n tact ed fu neral h o m e u p o n di s co v eri n g t h at g rav e wo ul d n o t b e d u g i n t i m e fo r

13b u ri al s o as to p rev en t fu n eral p art y fro m co m i n g t o c e m et ery u n t i l g rav e h ad b een

p rep ared ).

Th e Defen d an t s co u n t er t h at “ [M o ore’ s] acq u i es cen ce t o s en d i n g [ ] Ho ward

t h e as h es p ro v es t h ere w as n o ‘ wi l lfu l or wan t o n ’ co n d u ct .” As p rev i o u sl y d i s cu s s ed

i n Di v i s i o n 1

, h o wev er, b as ed o n t h e d i fferi n g acco un t s offered b y M o o re an d Lo v ei n,

a qu es t i o n o f fact rem ai n s as t o w h et h er M o o re g ran t ed t h e Fu n eral H o m e p erm i s s i o n

t o s en d Ho ward a p o rt i o n o f Pau l i n e’ s as h es

. Al th o u g h t h e Defen d an t s arg u e th at t h ei r

“ co m p as si o n ” i n en s uri ng t h at Ho w ard b e gran t e d hi s wi s h t o h av e p art of h i s l at e

m o th er’ s rem ai n s was “ n o t i n t e n d ed t o i n fl i ct i n ju ry ” o n M oo re, s o as t o ri s e t o t h e

l ev el o f w i l f

u l o r wan t o n co n du ct

, t h i s i s a cred i b i l it y d et erm i n at i o n t h at b el o ng s

ex cl u s i v el y t o t h e fact fi n d er. See K/ C Ice, LLC v. Co n n el l

, 35 2 G a. Ap p

. 3 7 6

, 3 7 8 (1 )

(8 3 5 SE2 d 1 1 ) (2 0 1 9 ) (“ In d eci d i n g a m ot i o n fo r su m m ary ju d g m en t

, n ei t h er t h e t ri al

co u rt n or t h i s Co u rt can co n s i d er t h e cred ib i l i t y of wi t n es s es ; an d a fi n d er o f fact m u s t

res o l ve t h e q u es t i on o f cred i b i l i t y an d th e co nfl i ct s i n t h e ev i den ce wh i ch i t

p ro d uces .”). Becau se g en u in e i s s u es o f fact rem ai n fo r res o l ut i o n, w e t h er e f o re

rev ers e t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s g ran t o f s u m m ary o n M oo re’ s cl ai m fo r t o rt i o u s in t erferen ce

wi t h b uri al ri g h ts

.

143

. M o o re al l eg es t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n g ran t i n g s u m m ary j u d gm en t t o t h e

Defen d an t s o n h i s cl ai m

fo r i nt en ti o nal i n fl ict i on o f em o ti o nal d i s tres s

.

To s u s t ai n a cl ai m fo r i n t en t i o n al i n fl i ct i o n o f e m o t i o n al di s t res s

,

[M o ore] m

u s t p ro v e t h e fo l l o wi n g fo u r el em en t s : (1 ) Th e co n d u ct m u s t

b e i nt en t io n al or reck l es s ; (2 ) Th e co n d u c t m u s t b e ex t rem e an d

o u t rag eo u s ; (3 ) Th ere m

u s t b e a cau s al co n n ect io n b et ween t h e wro n g fu l

co n d u ct an d t h e em o ti o n al di s tres s ; an d (4 ) T h e em o t i o n al d i s t res s m u s t

b e s ev ere. W h et h er a cl ai m ri s es t o t h e req u i s i te l ev el o f ou t rag eo us n es s

an d eg reg i ou s nes s t o su s t ai n a c l a i m fo r i n t en t i o n al i n fl i ct i o n o f

em o t i o n al d i s t res s i s a q u es t i o n o f l aw.

Hi l l v. Ci t

y o f Fo rt Va l l ey

, 2 51 Ga. Ap p. 6 1 5, 6 1 6 (1 ) (a) (5 5 4 S E 2 d 7 8 3 ) (2 0 0 1 )

(ci t at i o n an d p u nct u at io n o m i t ted ).

Ex t rem e an d o ut rag eo u s m ean ex act l y t h at : It h as n o t b een en o u g h t hat

t h e d efen d an t h as act ed wi t h an i n t en t wh ich i s to rt i o u s o r ev en cri m i n al

,

o r t h at he h as i n t en d ed t o i nfl i ct em o t i o n al di s t res s

, o r ev en t h a t h i s

co n d u ct h as b een ch aract eri zed b y m al i ce, o r a d e g ree o f ag grav at i o n

t h a t w o u l d en ti t l e th e pl ai n t i ff t o p u n i t iv e dam ag es fo r an o th er t o rt

.

Li ab i l i t y h as been fo u n d o n l y wh ere t h e co n du ct h as b een s o o ut rag eo u s

i n ch aract er, an d s o ex t rem e i n d eg ree, as t o g o b ey o nd al l po s si bl e

b o u n d s o f decen cy

, an d t o b e reg ard ed as at ro ci ou s

, an d u tt erl y

i n t o lerab l e i n a ci v i l i zed co m m u n it y

.

15Pl a n ta t i o n a t Ba y Cr eek Ho meo wn er

s As s n

. v. Gl a s i er

, 3 49 G a. A p p

. 20 3

, 2 1 1 (7 )

(8 2 5 SE2 d 5 4 2 ) (2 0 1 9 ) (ci tat io n , p u n ct uat i o n , an d em p h as i s o m i t t ed ).

In t hi s cas e, “ [e] v en as s u m i n g th at t h e [D] efen dan t s ’ a c t i o ns can b e

ch aract eri zed as w i l fu l o r wan t o n

, [ M o o re’ s] cl ai m fo r i n t en t i o n al i n fl i ct i o n o f

em ot i o n al di s t res s st i l l m

u s t fai l

. To su s t ai n s u ch a cl ai m

, [M o o re] m u st s h o w t h at t h e

co n du ct of t h e [D] efen d an t s was d i rect ed to ward s [h i m ] .” Hi l l

, 2 5 1 Ga. Ap p

. at 6 1 7

(1 ) (a). In h i s d ep o si t i o n

, Lo v ei n t es t i fi ed t h at h e was t ry i n g t o en su re t h at Ho ward

,

as Pau l i ne’ s s o n

, was g ran t ed h i s req u es t t o recei v e p art o f h is m o t h er’ s rem ai n s

.

Al t h o u g h t h ere rem ai n s a qu es t i o n o f fact as t o wh et h er Mo ore acq u i es ced t o Ho ward

recei v i ng a p art of Pau li n e ’s crem at ed rem ai n s

, t h ere is no t h i n g i n th e reco rd to

s u g g es t t h at t h e Defen d an ts ’ co n d u ct was d irect ed s p eci fi cal l y t o ward s M o o re wi th

t h e i n t en t t o cau s e h i m di st res s

. Id

. Becau s e M o o r e i s u n ab l e t o s us t ai n a cl ai m fo r

i n t en t i o n al in fl i ct i o n of em ot i o n al d i s t res s

, t he t ri al co u r t p ro p erl y g ran t ed t h e

Defen d an t s ’ m o t i o n fo r s u m m ary ju d g m en t o n t h i s g ro u n d

.

4

. M o ore al so co n ten d s th at t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n g ran ti n g s um m ary ju d g m en t

t o t h e Defen dan t s o n h i s cl ai m s fo r frau d an d n eg l ig en t m i s rep res en t at i o n.

Sp eci fi cal l y

, M o o re as s ert s t h at Lo v ei n “ fal s el y in fo rm ed ” hi m t h at h e wo u l d recei v e

al l o f Pau l i n e’ s crem at ed rem ai n s

, an d M o o re di d n o t real i ze th at t h e Fu neral Ho m e

16h ad sen t p art o f Pau l in e’ s rem ai n s t o Ho ward u n t i l Ho ward ’ s wi fe’ s p ho n e cal l

i n fo rm ed h i m

o f t hi s fact

.

As rel ev an t h ere, “ [t ] h e t o rt o f frau d h as fi v e el em en t s : a fal s e rep res en t at i o n

b y a d efen d an t

, sci en ter, i nt en t i o n t o i n d u ce t h e pl ai n t i ff t o act or refrai n fro m act i n g,

ju s t ifi ab l e rel i an ce by p l ai n t i ff, an d dam ag e t o p l ai n t iff.” Cr a wf or d v. W i ll i ams

, 2 5 8

Ga. 8 06

, 80 6 (3 7 5 SE2 d 2 2 3) (1 9 8 9 ). “ Th e el em en ts o f a n eg l i g en t m i s rep res en t at i o n

cl ai m are (1 ) a fal se rep res en t at i o n o f o m is s io n of a m a t e r i a l f act ; (2 ) s ci en t er;

(3 ) i n t en t i o n t o i n du ce t h e p art y cl ai m i n g frau d t o a c t o r refrai n fro m act i n g;

(4 ) j u st i fi ab l e rel i an ce; an d (5 ) d am ag es .” La f o n t a in e v. Al exa n der

, 3 4 3 G a. Ap p

. 6 7 2,

6 7 8 (3 ) (8 0 8 SE2 d 5 0) (2 01 7 ) (ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ).

M o o r e h a s f

a i l ed t o m eet h i s b urd en t o s h o w th at h e rel i ed o n a

m i s rep res en t at i o n b y th e Defen d an t s

. S e e Pyl e

, 24 3 Ga. Ap p. at 4 0 1 (3 )

(“ [A] ct i o n ab l e frau d m

u s t b e b as ed u p o n a m is rep res en t at i o n m ad e to t h e d efrau d ed

p art y , an d rel i ed u p o n b y t h e d efrau ded p art y .”) (ci t at i on an d p u nct u at i o n o m i t t ed ).

Becau s e t h ere i s n o e v i den ce i n t h e reco rd t h at t h e Defen d an t s affi rm at i v el y t o ld

M o o re t h at h e wo u ld recei v e al l o f Pau l i n e’ s crem at ed rem ai n s

, an d t h at h e rel i ed o n

t h at m is rep res en t at i o n t o h is d et ri m en t

, th i s c o n t en ti o n i s w i t ho u t m eri t

. Rat h er, as

p rev i o u s l y

d i s cu s sed

, t h e cru x o f t h e d i s p u t e b et ween th e p art i es i s w h et h er M o o re

17co n sen t ed to t h e Defen d an ts sen d i n g p art o f Pau l i n e’ s crem at ed rem ai n s to Ho ward

.

Th e t ri al co u rt th erefo re d id n o t err i n g ran ti n g s u m m ary j u d gm en t t o t he Defen d an t s

o n M oo re’ s frau d an d n eg l ig en t m is rep res en t at i o n cl ai m s

.

Ju d g men t a f f i r med i n p a r t a n d r ever

s ed in p a rt

. Ba r n es

, P

. J., a n d Pi p ki n

, J.,

co n cu r

.

18