FI RST DI VI SI ON

BA RNES, P. J.

, M C M I LLI A N and M ERCI ER, 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 20, 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 47 7 . ODUM v . RUSSELL.

B A R N E S , Pres i d i n g J ud g e.

St ev en Do u g las Od u m ap p eal s fro m s ev eral o rd ers o f t h e t ri al co u rt

, i n cl u d i n g

an ord er d en y i n g h is p et i t i o n t o m o d i f y c us t o d y an d m o ti o n fo r co n t em p t

, an o rd er

award i n g h i s ex -wi fe at to rn ey fees an d l it i g at i on ex p en ses , an d an o rd er d is m i s s i n g

h i s in i t i al n o t i ce o f ap pea l

. F o l l o w i n g o u r rev iew, we rev ers e t h e p ro v i s i o n s i n t h e

fi nal o rd er m o d i fy i n g ch il d cu s t o d y

. W e affi rm t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s award o f at t o rn ey fees

u n d er OCGA § 1 9 -6 -2

, b u t we v acat e t he tri al co u rt ’ s award o f fees u n der OCGA §

1 9 -9 -3 an d rem an d fo r fu rt h er p ro ceed i n g s co n s is t en t wi t h t h i s o p i n i o n

. W e al s o fi n d

t h at Od u m ’ s p res en t ap p eal ren d ers m o o t t h e o rd er d i s m i s si ng h i s i n i t i al no t i ce o f

ap p eal

.

Od u m an d Peg g y A n n Ru s s el l were m arri ed i n Ap ri l o f 2 0 0 4

, an d d i v o rced in

J u l y o f 2 0 0 8

, an d t h e ori gi nal d i v o rce decree gran t ed t h em jo i n t l eg al an d p h y s i cal

cu s t o d y of t h ei r m i n o r ch il d , wh o was t wo y ears o l d at th e ti m e o f t h e di v o rce. Th ed i v o rce d ecree fu rt h er g ran t ed t h e p aren t s

, am on g o th er t h i n g s

, p h y s i cal cu s t o d y o f

t h e ch i ld o n an al t ern at in g week -b y -week bas i s

, g av e Od u m fi n al d ec i s i o n -m ak i n g

o v er t h e ch i l d ’ s ed u cat i o n

, g av e Ru ss el l fi n al deci s i o n -m ak i ng o v er t he c hild’ s he a lthrel at ed is s u es

, an d g av e b o t h p aren t s s h ared d eci s i on -m ak i n g au th o ri t y o v er t h e

ch i l d ’ s ex t racu rri cu l ar act i vi ti es

.

On Feb ru ary 1 0

, 2 0 1 4, Od u m fi l ed a pet i t i o n t o m o d i fy cu st o d y an d ch i ld

s u p p ort an d a m ot io n fo r co nt em p t

. Od u m al l eg ed t hat a ch an g e i n l eg al an d p h y s i cal

cu s t o d y o f t h e ch i l d was warran t ed an d in t h e ch i l d ’ s b es t i n t eres t bas ed o n ch an g es

i n m at eri al ci rcu m st an ces

, i n c l u d i n g t h at Ru s sel l h ad fai l ed an d refu s ed t o co m p l y

wi t h cert ai n t erm s an d p ro v is i on s o f t h e d i v o rce d ecree, d i d n ot co n s ul t wi t h Od u m

ab o ut t h e ch i l d ’ s h eal t h an d o t h er is s u es

, p ro v i d ed fal s e an d m i sl ead i n g i n fo rm at i o n

rel at i n g t o t h e ch i ld

, ex h i b i ted p o o r ju d g m en t i n d is ci pl i n i n g t h e ch i l d

, an d fai l ed to

p ro p erl y s u p erv i s e t h e ch il d

.

Ru s s el l fi led h er an s wer an d a co u n tercl ai m

, in wh i ch s h e al l eg ed m a t eri al

ch an ge s i n c i rcu m s t an ces n eces s i t at in g t h at s h e b e g ran t ed fi n al d eci s i o n -m ak i n g

au t h o ri t y i n “ al l m at t ers rel at i n g t o t h e m i no r ch i l d aft er co n s u l t at io n wi t h [Od u m ] ,”

req u es t e d t h a t t he s u m

m er cu st o d y

/ v i s i t at io n b e m o d i fi ed

, an d req u es t ed th at ch i ld

2s u p p ort b e i n creas ed t o refl ect t h e s u b s t an t i al i n creas e i n Od u m ’ s i n co m e. Sh e al s o

req u es t ed t h at s he b e award ed at t o rn ey fees an d l i t i g at i o n ex p en ses

.

Fo l l owi n g a heari n g , an d u p o n fi nd i n g n o “ m at eri al ch an g e in ci rcu m s t an ces

t h at wo u ld au t h o ri ze a ch an g e i n cu s t o d y o r a red u ct i o n i n t h e M o t h er’ s paren t i n g

t i m e,” t h e t ri al co u rt en tered an o rd er o n J an u ary 1 3

, 20 1 6, d en y in g t h e pet i t i o n to

m o di fy cu s t o d y an d d irect i ng th at “ t h e cu s t o d y arran g em en t s wi l l rem ai n t h e s am e

wi t h t h e p art i es ret ai n i n g jo i n t leg al an d jo in t p h y s i cal cu s t od y .” Th e tri al co u rt fo u n d,

h o wev er, t hat “ p aren t i ng i s s u es i n t h e o ri g i n al d i v o rce ag reem en t n eed ad ju s t i n g in

t h e b es t i n teres t o f [t h e ch i l d ] .”

W h i l e fi n d i n g n o m at eri al c h a n g e i n ci rcu m st an ces

, t h e t ri al co u rt m o d i fi ed

s ev eral p aren t in g p ro v i s i on s of t h e o ri gi nal decree, i ncl u d i n g c h an g i n g t h e fi n al

d eci s i o n -m ak i n g au t h o ri t y ab o u t ed u cat io n fro m t h e fat h er t o t h e m o t h er, ch an g i n g

t h e deci s i o n -m ak i n g ab ou t ex t racu rri cu l ar act i v i t i es fro m jo i n t t o t h e fat h er, an d

d el et in g a week o f t he fat h er’ s cu s t o d y d uri n g t he s u m m er. Th e o rd er fu rt h er p ro v i d ed

t h at t h e ch i l d was t o “ rem ai n i n t h e cu rren t s ch oo l di s t ri ct s o l o n g as t h e m o t h er l i v es

wi t h i n t h e d i s t ri ct

, an d

. . . s t ay i n t he cu rren t s ch oo l t h ro u g h h er cu rren t fo urt h (4 t h )

g rad e an d t h ro u g h fi ft h (5 th ) g rad e, at w h i ch t i m e sh e i s t o at t en d m i d d l e sch o o l

, t h en

h i g h s ch o o l i n t h e s am e d i s tri ct .”

3Th e t ri al co u rt d id fi n d a s u b s t an ti al i n creas e i n Od u m ’ s i n co m e si n ce t h e fi n al

ju d g m en t an d

, ad o p t i n g Ru s s el l ’ s c h i l d s u pp o rt wo rk s h eet referen ced i n h er

co u nt ercl ai m

, i n creas ed O du m ’ s m o n th l y ch i l d s up p o rt

. 1 Th e co u rt fo u n d t h at Ru s sel l

was n o t in co n t em

p t fo r v i o lat i n g t h e d iv o rce d ecree, a n d o rd ered t h at th e p art i es

u n d erg o co -p aren t in g c o u n s e l i n g

. Th e t ri al co u rt d i rect ed Ru ss el l t o s u bm i t h er

req u es t fo r l i t i g at io n ex pen s es an d at t o r n e y f e e s wi th i n 3 0 d ay s o f t h e en t ry o f t h e

o rd er.

On Feb ru ary 11

, 2 0 1 6, Ru s s el l fi l ed her ap p l i cat i o n fo r at t o rn ey fees an d

l i ti g at i o n ex pen s es

, an d o n Feb ru ary 1 2

, 2 0 16

, Od u m fi led a t i m el y n o t i ce o f ap p eal

fro m th e o rd er d en y i n g h i s p et i t i o n t o m o d i fy cu s to dy

. Su b s eq u en t l y

, o n Feb ru ary 2 3,

2 0 1 6

, Ru s s el l f

i l e d a m o t i o n t o d i s m i s s t h e n o ti ce o f ap p eal

, al l eg i n g t h at t h e o rd er

was n o t fi nal b ecau s e t h e m o t i o n fo r at t o rn ey fees an d l i t i g at i on ex p en s es was

p en di n g

, an d t h u s t h a t Od u m h ad to b ri n g t h e ap p eal b y ap p l i cat i on

. Ru s s el l al s o

s o u g ht at t o rn ey

fees fo r h av i ng t o res p o nd t o Od u m ’ s n o t i ce o f ap p eal

.

On M arch 14

, 2 0 1 6

, Od u m fi l ed a res p o n s e t o R u s s el l ’ s Feb ru ary 1 1 req u es t

fo r at t o rn ey fees an d l i t i g at i o n ex p en ses

, an d o n March 2 9

, 2 01 6

, fi l ed a res p o n s e to

1 Od u m d o es n o t ch al l en g e t h e t ri al co urt ’ s fi n di n g as t o th e i n creas e i n ch i ld

s u p p ort p ay m en ts i n t h i s ap p eal

.

4h er m o ti o n t o d i s m i s s h i s no t i ce o f ap peal

. Fo ll o w i n g a h eari n g o n t h e m o t i o n s

, t h e

t ri al co urt en t ered an o rd er o n M arch 3 1

, 2 0 1 6

, g ran t i n g Ru s s el l’ s m o t io n t o d i s m i ss

O d u m ’s n o t i ce o f ap p eal

, an d

, o n J u n e 1 4

, 20 1 6

, en t ered an o rd er g ran t i n g h er a n

award o f at t o rn ey fees an d l i t i g at i o n ex p en s es

. Od u m no w ap peal s t h e J an u ary 1 3

fi nal o rd er, t h e M arch 31 o rd er d i s m i s s i n g h is n o t ice o f ap p eal

, an d t h e J u n e 1 4 o rd er

award i n g Ru ss el l at t o rn ey fees an d l i t i g at i o n ex p en s es

.

1

. Od u m fi rs t co n t en d s t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n m o d ify i n g c h i l d cu s t o dy

b ecau s e t h e t ri al co u rt fo u n d t h ere were n o m a t e r i al ch an g es i n ci rcu m s t an ces

. W e

ag ree.

On ce an award o f ch i ld cu s t o d y has b een m ad e, t o ch an g e t h at arran g em en t

, t h e

t ri al co u rt m

us t d et erm i n e w h et h er t h ere h as b een a m at eri al ch an g e i n ci rcu m s t an ces

affect i n g t h e wel fare of t h e ch i ld si n ce t he las t cu st o d y award

. Vi sku p v. Vi s ku p

, 2 9 1

Ga. 10 3

, 1 0 5 (2 ) (7 2 7 SE2 d 9 7 ) (2 01 2 ). If s o

, t h e t ri al co u rt t h en d et erm i n es wh et h er

t h e ch i l d ’ s bes t i nt eres t s wi ll b e s erv ed b y a ch an g e i n cu s to dy

. To d d v. Ca sci a n o

, 2 5 6

Ga. A p p

. 6 3 1

, 63 2 -6 3 3 (1 ) (5 6 9 SE2 d 5 6 6) (2 0 0 2). T hi s Co u rt wi l l n ot i n terfere wi th

a t ri al c o u r t ’s d e c i s i o n “ u n les s t h e ev i d en ce s h o ws a cl ear ab u s e o f d i s cret i o n

, an d

wh ere t h ere i s an y ev i d en ce t o s u p p o r t t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s fi n d i n g

, [we] w i l l n o t fi n d

5t h ere was an ab u s e of d i s cret io n.” (Ci tat i o n o m i tt ed .) Au t r ey v. Au t r ey

, 28 8 Ga. 2 8 3,

2 8 5 (4 ) (7 0 2 SE2 d 8 78 ) (2 0 1 0 ). Ho wev er,

t h ere is n o p reced en t wh i ch wo u l d al l ow a t ri al co urt

, ab s e n t a c h a n ge

i n co n d i t i o n s affect i n g t h e wel fare o f t h e ch i l d

, to m o d i fy cu s to d y

. T he

b es t i n t eres t o f t h e ch i l d s h o u l d b e u t i l ized i n d eci d i n g t h e cas e o n ce a

ch an g e i n co n d i ti o n h as b een es t ab l i s h ed

. . . . W h il e a “ b es t i n t eres t o f

t h e ch i ld ” s t an dard ap p l i es t o an i ni t i al d et erm i n at i o n of cu s t o dy

, . . . i t

i s ap p l i cab l e i n a ch an g e o f cu s t o d y act i o n o n l y aft er th ere has b een a

s h o wi n g o f a ch an ge i n co n d i t i o n m at eri al l y affect in g th e ch i l d

. Here th e

t ri al co u rt d et erm i n ed t h at t h ere had been no s h o wi n g o f s u ch a ch an ge

o f co n d i t i o ns

.

(Ci t at i o n s an d p u nct u at i o n o m i tt ed .) Da n i el v. Da n iel

, 2 50 G a. Ap p

. 4 8 2

, 4 8 4 -4 8 5 (2 )

( 5 5 2 SE2 d 4 7 9) (2 0 0 1 ) (o n ce a d i v o rce decree h as b een ap p ro v ed an d a perm an en t

ch i l d cu s t o d y award has b een en t ered

, t h e tes t fo r u s e by t h e t ri al co u rt i n ch an g e o f

cu s t o d y s u i t s i s wh et h er t her e h as b een a ch an ge o f co n d i t io n affect i n g t h e wel fare

o f t h e ch il d ). M o re o v e r

, i t m a k es n o d ifferen ce t h at

, as here, t h e p ro ceed i n g i s al s o

o n e i n v o l v in g al l eg at i on s o f co n t em p t

. See Co l l in s v. Bi l l ow

, 2 7 7 Ga

. 6 04

, 6 0 5 (1 )

(5 9 2 SE2 d 8 4 3 ) (2 00 4 ) (a t ri al co u rt l ack s t h e au t h ori t y t o m o di fy t h e t er m s o f a

d i v o rce d ecree i n a co n t em p t p ro ceed in g ).

6Th e fi n al d i v o rce d ecree p ro v i ded t h at Od u m an d Ru s sel l wo u l d h av e jo i nt

l eg al cu st o d y

, an d fu rt h er d es ig n at ed wh i ch paren t w o u ld h av e t h e p o w e r t o m ak e

d eci s i o n s ab o u t t h e child’ s e d u cat i o n

, act i v i t i es

, h eal t hcare an d rel i g io u s t rai n i n g

. See

OCGA § 1 9 -9 -6 (5 ). 2 Here, aft er fi n d i n g t h at t h e “ p are n t in g i s s ues i n t h e o ri g i n al

d i v o rce ag reem en t n eed ad ju s t i n g ,” an d aft er ex p res s l y fi nd i n g t h at t h ere h ad b een n o

m at eri al ch an g e i n ci rcu m s tan ces , t h e t ri al co u rt ch an g ed t h e fi n al d eci s i o n -m ak i n g

au t h o ri t y o v er ed u cat i o n fro m Od u m t o Ru s s el l

, ch an g ed t h e d eci s i on -m ak i n g

au t h o r i t y o v er ex t racu rri cu l ar act iv i ti es fro m jo i n t t o Od u m

, an d rem o v ed an ex t ra

week o f cu s t o dy

d u ri n g t h e s um m er fro m Od u m

.

Becau s e t h e t ri al co u rt ex p res s l y fo u n d t h at t h ere h ad b een n o m at eri al ch an g e

i n ci rcu m s t an ces

, t he t ri al co u rt w a s n o t au t ho ri zed t o m od i fy t h e o ri g i n al cu s t o dy

2 “ J o i n t l eg al cu st o dy ” m ean s bo t h p aren t s h av e eq u al ri g h t s

an d res po n s i b i l i t i es fo r m ajo r d eci si on s co n cern in g t he

ch i ld

, in cl u d i n g t h e ch i l d ’ s ed ucat i on

, h eal t h care,

ex t racu rri cu l ar act i v i t i es

, an d rel i g i o u s t rai n i n g ; pro v i d ed

,

h owev er, t h at t h e ju d ge m ay d es i g n at e o n e p aren t t o h av e

s o l e p o wer t o m ak e cert ai n d eci si o n s wh i l e b ot h pa r e n t s

ret ai n eq u al ri g h t s an d res p o ns i b i l it i es fo r o t h er d eci s i o ns

.

OCGA § 1 9 -9 -6 (5 ).

7o rd er b y al t eri n g p aren t al cu s t o d y arran g em en ts

, wh i ch i n cl u ded arran g em en t s o v er

wh i ch p aren t wo u l d h av e fi n al au t h ori t y ov er cert ai n d eci s i o n s rel at i n g t o t h e ch i l d.

See OCGA § 1 9 -9 -6 (5 ). Acco rd i n g l y

, w e rev ers e t h e t r i a l co u rt ’ s ju d g m en t i n t h i s

res p ect

. See W

ei cker t v. W

ei cker t

, 2 6 8 Ga. Ap p

. 62 4

, 6 2 7 (1 ) (6 0 2 SE2 d 3 37 ) (2 0 0 4 )

(n o t i ng t hat “ a ch an g e o f cu s t o d y m ay b e g ran t ed o n ly i f a n ew an d m at eri al ch an g e

i n ci rcu m s t an ces affect s t he ch il d ”) (ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed .)

W e fu rt h er n ot e th at

, al t h ou g h t h e t ri al co urt is “ ex p res s ly au t ho ri zed t o m o d i fy

v i s i t at i o n ri g h t s

, ev en on i t s o wn m o t i o n

, d uri n g a co n t em p t pro ceed i n g [p u rs u an t to

OCGA § 1 9 -9 -3 (b )] ,” S t ewa r t v. St ewa r t

, 2 4 5 Ga. Ap p

. 2 0

, 2 1 (1 ) (5 3 7 SE2 d 1 5 7 )

(2 0 0 0 )

, rem o v i n g Od u m ’ s ex t ra week o f cu st o d y d u ri n g t h e s u m m er was a

m o di fi cat i o n o f

j o i n t p h y si cal cu s t o d y arran g em en ts, n ot m e r e ly v i s i t at i o n

, an d ab s en t

a m at eri al ch an g e in ci rcu m s t an ces

, t h e t ri al co urt was no t au t h o r i z e d t o d o s o.

Acco rd in g ly

, t he t ri al co urt ’ s m o d i fi cat io n o f Od u m ’ s s u m m er cu s t o d y arran g em en t s

i s l ik ewi s e rev ers ed

.

2

. O d u m al s o co nt en d s t hat t h e tri al co u rt erred i n award in g at t o rn ey fees an d

l i ti g at i o n ex p en s es t o Ru s s el l p u rs u an t t o OCGA § § 1 9-6 -2 (a) an d 1 9 -9 -3 (g ).

W e rev i ew a t ri al co u rt ’ s d eci s i o n wh et h er t o award at t o rn ey fees fo r an ab u s e

o f d is cret i o n

. See Ho a r d v. Bever i d g e

, 29 8 Ga. 7 2 8

, 7 30 (2 ) (7 8 3 SE2 d 62 9 ) (2 0 1 6 ).

8Fo l l o wi ng a heari n g, t h e t ri al co u rt award ed Ru s s el l $ 5 0 0.0 0 i n at t o rn ey fees p u rs u an t

t o OCGA § 1 9

- 6 -2 “ fo r h er defen s e o f t he M o t i on fo r Ci t at i on o f Co n t em p t ,” an d

$ 5 0 0 .0 0 in at to rn ey fees “ fo r [h er] defen se of t h e Pet it i on t o M o d i fy Ch i l d Su p p o rt .”

Th e t ri al co u rt al so award ed Ru s s el l at t o rn ey fees an d l i t i g at io n ex p en s es pu rs u an t to

OCGA § 1 9 -9 -3 “ fo r [t h e] d efen s e o f t h e Pet i t i o n t o M o d i fy Cu s to d y

. . . . i n t h e

am ou n t o f $ 4 4 ,7 7 0 .3 7 . . . p ay ab l e d i rect l y t o [Ru ss el l ’ s ] at to rn ey

. 3

(a ) Fees a wa r d

ed u n d er OCGA § 1 9 -6 -2

As a g en eral ru l e, Geo rg i a l aw d oes n o t p ro v i d e fo r t h e award o f

at t o rn ey fees ev en to a p rev ai l i n g p art y u n l es s au t h o ri zed b y s t at u t e o r

b y co n tract . OCGA § 1 9 -6 -2 (a) au t h ori zes at t o rn ey fees ag ai n s t ei t h er

p art y

, u p o n co n s i d e r a ti o n o f t hei r fi n an ci al ci rcu m s t an ces

, wh ere th e

act i o n i s fo r al i m o n y

, d i v o rce an d al i m o n y

, or co n t em p t of co u rt ari s i n g

o u t o f ei t h er an al i m o n y cas e o r a d iv o rce an d al i m o ny cas e.

. . . Geo rg i a

co u rt s h av e t h us ap p r o ved at t o rn ey fees p u rs u an t t o OCGA § 1 9 -6 -2

wh en award ed as part o f t h e ex p en s e of l i ti g at i o n i n t he o ri g i n al al i m o n y

an d d i v o rce p ro ceed i ng s

, an d i n su b s eq u en t act i o n s fo r co n t em p t b as ed

o n a p art y ’ s n on co m

p l i an ce wi t h t h e d i vo rce o r al i m o n y d ecree.

3 In s u p p o rt o f h er ap p l i cat i o n fo r award of at t o rn ey fees an d l i t i g at i o n

ex p en s es

, Ru s sel l i n cl u d ed an i t em i zed li s t o f h er at t o rn ey ’ s b i ll ed t i m e, ch arg es

, an d

o t h er ex p en s es , wi t h an affi d av i t d et ai l i n g t h e fees

. Th e affi d av i t an d b il l s refl ect ed

t h at t h e t o t al fees an d ex p en s es were $ 4 2,4 9 2 .3 3

, t h at Ru s s el l h ad p ai d $ 3 7 ,4 3 9 .7 6

o f t h e fees , an d t h at t h ere was an u n p ai d b al an ce o f $ 5,0 5 2 .5 7

.

9(Ci t at i o n an d p u nct u at io n o m i t t ed .) Co t h r a n v. Meh o sky

, 2 8 6 Ga. Ap p

. 6 4 0

, 6 4 1 (6 4 9

SE2 d 8 3 8) (2 0 0 7).

Al t h ou g h Od u m co n t en d s t h at th e t ri al co u rt erred i n award i n g a t t orn ey fees

u n d er OCGA § 19 -6 -2 fo r t h e d efen s e o f t h e p et i t i o n t o m o d i fy ch i l d s u p p o rt

,

[t ] h e s t at u t e g r a n t s d i s cret i o n i n award i n g at t o rn ey fees wh et h er th e

act i o n i s fo r al i m o n y

, d i vo rce an d al i m o n y

, or co n t em p t of co u rt ari s i n g

o u t o f ei t h er an al i m o n y cas e o r a d iv o rce an d al i m o n y cas e. T h e act i o n

fi led b y [Od u m ] was an act i o n t o m o d ify [cu s to d y ]

, an act i on fo r

co n t em p t

, an d an act i on t o m o d i fy c h i l d s u p po rt

. Th e act i o n w as n o t

p u rel y an act i o n fo r m o d i fi cat i o n [o f cu s t o d y ]

. Th erefo r e, u nd er

[OCGA] § 1 9 -6 -2

, t h e award of at t o rn ey fees was i n th e di s cret io n o f th e

co u rt

.

(Ci t at i o n s an d p un ct u at i on om i tt ed .) McDo n o g h v. O’Co n n o r

, 26 0 Ga. 8 4 9

, 8 4 9

- 8 5 0

(4 0 0 SE2 d 3 1 0 ) (1 99 1 ) (co u rt h ad d i s cret i o n t o award at t orn ey fees b ecau s e act i o n

fo r m o di fi cat i o n o f v i s i t a t i o n an d ch il d s u p p o rt was jo i n ed wi t h an act i o n fo r

co n tem p t fo r fai l u re t o co m

p ly wi t h t h e o ri g i n al d iv o rce d ecree). Co m p are Co t h ra n

v. Meh o s ky

, 2 8 6 Ga. Ap p

. at 6 4 1 (al t h o u g h co n t em p t p ro ceed i n g s aro s e w h en t h e

ex -wi fe l at er fai l ed t o co m pl y wi t h t h e co u rt ’ s o rd er fo r DNA t es ti n g

, p ro ceed i n g s d id

n o t ari s e o u t o f t h e o ri g i n al d i v o rce cas e, as req u i red b y OCGA § 1 9 -6 -2

, b u t aro s e

i n s t ead o u t o f t h e p at ern i t y an d m o d i fi cat i o n act i o n ).

10Here, t h e $ 1 ,0 00 .0 0 award t o Ru s s el l u n d er O CGA § 1 9 -6 -2 w as n o t b as ed

s o l el y o n ch il d s u pp o rt m od i fi cat i o n

, bu t al so o n co n t em p t al l eg at i o n s t hat aro s e o ut

o f t h e o ri g i nal d i vo rce d ecree; t h u s

, t h e t ri al co u rt ‘ s award p u rs u an t t o OCGA § 1 9 -6

-

2 was n o t an ab u se o f i t s d i s cret i o n . Acco rd i n g ly , t h e award o f fees u n d er OCGA §

1 9 -6 -2 i s affi rm ed

.

(b ) Fees a wa r d

ed u n d er OCGA § 1 9 -9 -3

Th e t ri al co u rt al s o award ed l i t i g at i o n ex p en s es an d at t o rn ey fees p u rs u an t to

OCGA § 1 9 -9 -3 “ fo r [t h e] d efen s e o f t h e Pet i t i o n t o M o d i fy Cu s to d y

. . . . i n t h e

am ou n t o f $ 4 4 ,7 7 0 .3 7 .” 4 Ho wev er, i t i s u n cl ear t o w h at ex t en t th e t ri al co urt ’ s

erro neo u s deci s io n t o m o d i fy t h e d eci s i o n -m ak i n g au t h o ri t y o f t h e p aren t s an d to

m o di fy s u m

m er cu s t od y affect ed t h e award o f fees u nd er O CGA § 1 9-9 -3

. Th erefo re,

we v acat e t h at po rt i o n o f t h e o rd er award in g Ru s s el l at t o rn ey fees pu rs u an t t o OCGA

4 OCGA § 1 9 -9 -3 (g ) p ro v i d es , i n p ert in en t p art , t hat

[e] x cep t as p ro v i d e d i n Co d e Sect i o n 1 9 -6 -2

, an d i n ad di t i o n t o th e

at t o rn ey ’ s fee pro vi s io ns co n t ai n ed in Co d e Sect i o n 19 -6 -1 5, t h e j u d ge

m ay o rd er reas o nab l e at t o rn ey ’ s fees an d ex p en s es o f l i t ig at i o n

, ex p ert s

,

an d t h e ch i ld ’ s g u ard i an ad l i tem an d ot h er co s ts o f t h e ch i l d cu s t o d y

act i o n an d pret ri al p ro ceed i n g s t o b e p ai d b y t h e p art i es i n p ro po rt i o n s

an d at t i m es d et erm i ned b y t h e ju d g e.

11§ 1 9 -9 -3

, an d rem an d t he cas e t o t h e t ri al co u rt fo r fu rt h er pro ceed i n gs co n s i s t en t wi th

t h i s o p i n i o n.

3

. Od u m co n t en d s th at t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n g ran t in g Ru ss el l ’ s m o t i o n to

d i s m i s s h i s i n i t i al n o t i ce o f ap p eal

. Th i s en u m erat i o n i s no w m o o t, h o w ev er, g i v en

t h at Od u m was ab l e t o l at er ap p eal t he fi n al o rd er an d h av e h i s arg um en t s co n s i d ered

o n t he m eri t s

, as refl ect ed s u p ra i n Di v i s i o n s 1 an d 2

. See Co l l i n s v. Lo m b a r d Co rp

. ,

2 7 0 Ga. 1 2 0

, 1 2 1 (1 ) (5 0 8 SE2 d 6 5 3 ) (1 9 9 8)(“ a cas e i s m o o t w h en it s res o l u t i o n

wo u l d am o u nt t o th e d et erm i n at i o n o f an ab s t ract q u es t i o n n o t ari s i n g u p o n ex i s t i n g

fact s o r ri g ht s

. “ ); Ri ch a r d s on v. Ph i l l i

p s

, 30 2 Ga. Ap p. 3 0 5

, 3 1 0 -3 1 1 (2 ) (6 9 0 SE2 d

9 1 8 ) (2 0 10 ) (“ A cas e i s co n s i d ered m o o t i f th e part ies ’ d i s p u t e h as b een res o l v ed

,

s u ch t h at t h e i s s u e s i n v o l v ed h av e b eco m e acad em i c or d ead .”) (ci t at io n s an d

p u n ct u at i o n o m it t ed ). 5

Al t h ou g h Od um ap pears t o co n t en d t h at t h e i s s u e i s no t m oo t b ecau se h e was

h el d res po n s i b l e fo r t h e l eg al fees an d ex p en s es as s o ci at ed wi t h th e d i s m i s sal o f h i s

5 W e n o t e, h owev er, t h at OCGA § 5 -6 -3 4 ( a ) ( 1 1 ) p ro v i d es a ri g h t o f d i rect

ap p eal fro m “ [a] l l ju dg m en t s o r o rd ers i n ch i l d cu s t o d y cas es award i n g

, refu s i n g to

ch an ge, o r m o d i fy i n g ch i l d cu s t o d y o r h o l d i ng o r d ecl i n i ng t o ho l d p ers o n s in

co n tem p t o f s u ch ch i l d cu s to dy

ju d g m en t o r o rd ers

. ” Th u s

, t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s cu s t o dy

o rd er was d i rect l y ap peal ab le pu rs u an t t o OCGA § 5 -6 -3 4 (a) (1 1 ), ev en t h o u g h t h e

m at t er o f at t o rn ey s fees an d l i t i gat i o n e x p en ses was pen d in g i n t h e cas e. See

W o o d r u f f v. Ch o a t e, 3 3 4 Ga. Ap p . 5 7 4 , 5 7 6 (1 ) (7 8 0 SE2 d 2 5 ) (2 0 1 5 ).

12n o t i ce o f ap p eal

, t h i s arg u m en t i s n o t s u p p o rt ed by a req u i s it e referen ce t o t he reco rd

r e f l ect in g t h os e p art i cu l ar fees

, an d “ we wi l l n ot cu l l t h e reco rd o n a p art y ’s b e h a l f

t o lo cat e i n fo rm at i o n i n su p po rt o f t h e p art y ’ s arg u m en t .” Do h er t y v. Br own

, 3 3 9 Ga.

Ap p . 5 6 7 , 5 7 3 (2 ), n . 4 (7 9 4 SE2 d 2 1 7 ) (2 0 16 ).

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

, r ever s ed i n p a rt

, an d va ca t ed i n p a rt

, a n d ca s e

r ema n d ed wi t h d ir ect i on . McMi l l i a n a n d Mer ci er , JJ., co n cu r

.

13