THI RD DI VI SI ON

ELLI NGTON, P. J.

, DI LLA RD and M C FA DDEN, 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 ls .us /r ule s /

Jul y 9, 2015



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 5 A0 11 7 . CITY OF ATLANTA v . HOTELS.COM , L. P. et al

.

M C F A D D E N , J u d g e.

T h i s i s t h e lat es t ch ap t er i n l i t i g at io n b et ween t h e Ci t y o f At l an t a, Geo rg i a (t h e

Ci t y ) an d s ev eral o n l i n e t rav el co m p an i es (OTCs ) reg ard i n g o ccu p an cy t ax es d u e o n

h o t el ro o m s in t h e Ci t y t h at are b o o k ed b y cu s t o m ers t h ro u g h t h e O TCs p u rs u an t to

co n tract s b et ween t h e O TCs an d h o t e l s

. In earl ier p ro ceed i n g s

, o u r Su p rem e Co u rt

affi rm ed t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s s u m m ary ju d g m en t ru li n g s o n m os t o f t he cl ai m s b ro u g h t by

t h e Ci t y ag ai n s t t h e OTCs

. Ci t y o f At l a n t a v. Ho tel

s

. co m

, 2 8 9 Ga. 3 23 (7 1 0 SE2 d 7 6 6 )

(2 0 1 1). T h is ap p eal ch al l en g es t h e t ri al co urt ’ s g ran t o f s u m m ary j u dg m en t t o t h e

OTCs o n t h e t wo rem ai n in g cl ai m s i n th e cas e: co n v ers io n an d b reach o f t ru s t

. W e

affi rm t h e g ran t o f s u m

m ary ju d g m en t b ecau se t h e u nd i s p u t ed ev i d en ce s h o ws t h at

t h e Ci ty s eek s t o reco ver p ro p ert y n o t s ub ject t o a co n v ers io n cl ai m an d b eca u s eearl ier p ro ceed in gs i n th e cas e p recl u de t he b reach o f tru s t cl ai m

. Th e C i t y al s o

ap p eal s fro m t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s den i al of i t s m ot i o ns s eek i n g ad di t i o n al d is co v ery

. W e

affi rm th at ru l in g as wel l b ecau s e t h e Ci ty h as s h o wn n o ab u se o f d i s cret i o n

.

1

. Fa ct s a n d p r o ced

ur a l p o s t u r e.

Ou r Su p rem e Co u rt s et fo rt h t h e fact s of t h i s cas e i n Ci t y o f At l a n t a v.

Ho t el s .co m

, su p ra, 2 8 9 Ga. 3 23

. Th e OTCs “ b o o k h o tel ro o m s an d m ak e ot h er t rav el

arran g em en t s fo r cu s to m ers wh o acces s t h ei r s erv ices o v er t he i n t ern et .” Id . at 3 2 3.

Un d er t h ei r b u s i n es s m o d el , k n o wn as t h e “ m erch an t m o d el ,”

t h e co n s u m er pay s t h e OTC a ret ai l “ ro o m r at e” an d a l i n e i t em fo r

“ t ax es an d fees ” i n o r d e r t o res erv e an d l at er o ccu p y o n e o f t h e Ci t y ’ s

h o t el ro o m s . Th e co n s u m er p ay s n o t h i n g t o t h e h o t el fo r o ccu p an cy o r

t ax es an d o n l y p r o v i d e s a cred i t card at ch eck -i n

. . . . [T] h e OTCs

cal cu l at e th e h o t el o ccu p an cy t ax am o u nt [req u i red b y t h e Ci t y p u rs u an t

t o OCGA § 4 8-1 3

- 5 0 e t s eq

. ] b as ed o n t h e wh o l es al e rat e th e O TC

n eg o t i at es w i t h h o t el s fo r t h e ri gh t t o b ro k er ro o m s an d n o t o n t h e ret ai l

ro o m rat e t h e OTC ch arg es t h e cu s t o m er fo r t h e ri g ht t o o ccu p y a ro o m

.

Th e OTC ret ai n s wh at ev er i t h as co l l ect ed fro m t h e co n s u m er o v er t he

am o u nt o f t h e rem i t tan ce t o th e ho t e l

. I f t h e h ot el fai ls t o s u b m i t an

i n v o i ce o r ch arg e t o t h e OTC i n t h e t i m e p eri o d d es i g n at ed b y co n t ract

,

t h en t h e OTC ret ai n s al l m o n i es co l l ect ed fro m t h e cu s to m er, i n cl u d i n g

an y m o ney p urp o rt ed l y co l l ect ed fo r t h e pay m en t o f h o t el o ccu p an cy

t ax es

.

2Ci t

y o f At l a n ta v. Ho t el

s .co m , 2 8 9 Ga. at 3 2 3 -3 2 4

.

“ Th e Ci t y b ro u g ht an act i o n al l eg i n g t hat t h e ret ai l ro o m rat e w a s t h e

ap p ro p ri at e am ou n t u p on wh i ch t o b as e t h e h o t e l o ccu p an cy t ax an d s eek i n g

i n ju n ct i v e rel i ef, as wel l as b ack t ax es fro m th e OTCs .” Id

. at 3 2 4

. T h e t ri al c o u rt

g ran t ed i n p art an d den i ed i n part t h e p art i es ’ m o t i o n s fo r s u m m ary ju dg m en t an d t h e

Su p rem e Co u rt affi rm ed t h at ju d g m en t. Id

. at 32 4 -3 2 5

. In p ert i n en t p art

, t he Su p rem e

Co u rt affi rm ed th e t ri al co u rt ’ s h o l d i n g s : (1 ) t h at “ th e ‘ ren t ’ fo r o ccu py i ng a Ci t y

h o t el ro o m i s t h e ro o m rat e p ai d b y t h e co n s um er rat h er t han t h e n eg o t i at ed wh o l es al e

rat e b et ween t h e OTC an d t h e h o t el ,” i d

. at 3 2 5-3 2 6 (1 ); (2 ) t h at t h e Ci ty was en t i t l ed

t o an in ju n ct io n o rd eri n g t h e OTCs

, s o l o n g as t hey v o l u n t ari ly co l l ect ed tax es fro m

cu s t o m ers s eek i n g t o o ccu p y t he Ci t y ’ s h ot el ro o m s

, t o d o s o b as ed o n t h e ro o m rat e,

t o rem i t t h e t ax es t o t h e Ci t y

, an d t o m ai n tai n cert ai n d at a rel ev an t t o t h e co l l ect i o n

an d rem i t t an ce o f t h e t ax es

, i d

. at 3 2 6 -3 2 7 (2 ); an d (3 ) t h at “ th e Ci t y di d no t s h o w i t

h ad a rem ed y [fo r t h e reco v ery o f b ack t ax es ] u n der t h e c l a i m s as s ert ed

– u n ju s t

en ri ch m en t an d m o n ey h ad an d recei v ed (al o n g wi th co l l at eral i s su es o f i m p o s i n g a

co n st ru ct i v e t ru s t an d an eq u i t ab l e acco u n t i n g ),” id

. at 3 2 8 (4 ) (fo o t n ot e o m i tt ed ). Th e

Su p rem e Co u rt al so h el d th at t h e t ri al co u rt h ad no t ru l ed u p o n t h e Ci t y ’ s cl ai m fo r

co n vers io n

. Id

. at 3 2 8 (4 ) n

. 5

. Co n s eq u en t l y

, th e “ cas e rem ai n ed o p en fo l lo wi n g t h e

3i s su an ce o f t h e r e m i t t i tu r.” Tr i p Net wo r k v. Demp s ey

, 29 3 Ga. 5 20

, 52 2 (7 4 8 SE2 d

4 3 2 ) (2 0 1 3 ) (ci t at i o n o m i t t ed ) (ad d res s in g i m pact of Su prem e C o u r t ’ s h o l d i n g

reg ard i n g co n v ers i o n cl ai m i n Ci t y o f At l an t a v. Ho t el

s.co m , s u p ra, 2 8 9 Ga. 3 2 3 ).

On ce t h e cas e ret u rn ed t o t h e t ri al co u rt

, t he Ci t y am en d ed i t s co m p l ai n t t o ad d

a n ew cl ai m fo r b reach o f t ru s t, ci t i n g a st at em en t b y th e Su p rem e Co u rt t hat “ [t ] h e

m o ni es [v o l u n t ari l y

co l l ect ed b y

t h e OTCs as t ax es fro m co n s u m ers ] d o n o t b el o n g

t o t h e OTCs o r t h e h o t el s

, bu t are h el d i n t ru st fo r t h e C i t y.” Ci t y of A t l a n t a v.

Ho t el s .co m

, 2 8 9 Ga. at 32 6 -3 2 7 (2 ) (ci t at i on s o m i t t e d )

. T he OTCs m ov ed fo r

s u m m a r y ju d g m en t on th e co n v ers i o n cl ai m t h at t h e Su p rem e Co u rt s ai d h ad n ot

earl ier b een deci d ed an d o n t h e n ew breach o f t ru s t cl ai m

. T h e Ci t y so u gh t ad d i t i o n al

d i s co v ery

. Th e t ri a l c o u rt en tered an o rd er g ran t i ng s u m m ary ju d g m en t o n t h e

co n vers io n an d b reach o f t ru st cl ai m s an d d en y i n g ad d i ti o n al d i s co v ery t o t h e Ci t y

.

2

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

.

Th e Ci t y arg u es th at t h e t ri al co u rt 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

OTCs on t h e Ci ty ’ s cl ai m s fo r co n v ers i o n an d b reach o f t ru s t

. Su m m ary ju d g m en t i s

p ro p erl y g ran t ed wh en t h e p lead i ng s an d ev i den ce “ s h o w t h at t h ere i s n o g en u i n e

i s su e as t o an y m at eri al fact a n d t h a t t h e m o vi n g p art y i s en t i t l ed t o ju d g m en t as a

m at t er o f l aw.” OCGA § 9 -1 1 -5 6 (c). “ On ap p eal fro m t h e g ran t o r den ial o f s u m m ary

4ju d g m en t

, we co n du ct a d e no v o rev i ew, wi t h al l reas o n ab l e i n feren ces co n s t ru ed in

t h e l i g h t m os t fav o rab l e t o t h e n o n m o v i n g part y .” S cr o cca v. As h wo o d Co n d

omi n i u m

As s n

. , 3 2 6 G a. Ap p

. 2 2 6 (1 ) (7 5 6 SE2 d 3 0 8) (2 0 1 4) (ci t at i o n an d pu n ct u at i o n

o m it t ed ).

(a) Co n ver

s i on

.

Th e t ri al co u rt d i d n o t err i n g ran t i n g s u m m ary ju d g m en t o n th e Ci t y ’ s cl ai m

fo r co n vers i o n o f “ m o n i es o w ed t o t h e Ci t y i n t h e way o f t a x es co l l ect ed b y [t h e

OTCs ] b u t n o t rem i t t ed ,” b ecau s e g en eral ly m o ney i s n o t su b j ect t o a ci v i l act i o n fo r

c o n v e rs i o n an d t h e Ci t y h as po i n t ed t o n o ev i d en ce s h o wi n g t h at t h e m o ney i n t h i s

cas e co m p ri s ed a s p eci fi c, s ep arat e, i d en t i fi ab l e fu n d ex cep t i n g i t fro m t hat g en eral

ru l e. See Ta

yl o r v. P o wer t el

, In c.

, 2 5 0 Ga. Ap p

. 35 6

, 35 9 (2 ) (5 5 1 SE2 d 7 6 5 ) (2 0 0 1 ).

“ Co n v ers i o n co n s i s t s o f an u n au t h o ri zed as su m p t io n an d ex erci s e o f t h e ri g ht

o f o wn ers h i p o v er p ers o n al pro p ert y b el o n gi n g t o an o t her, i n h os t i l i t y t o h i s ri g h t s ;

an act of d o m i ni on ov er t h e p ers o n al p ro p ert y o f an o t h er i nco n s i s t en t wi t h hi s ri g h t s ;

o r an u nau th o ri zed ap p ro p ri at i on .” Ma r yl a n d Ca s

. In s

. Co

. v. W

el ch el

, 2 5 7 Ga. 2 5 9,

2 6 1 (1 ) (3 5 6 SE2 d 8 7 7 ) (1 98 7 ) (ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at io n o m i t t ed ). T o es t ab l i s h a

cl ai m fo r co nv ers io n

, a p l ai n ti ff m u s t sh o w “ (1 ) t i t l e t o t h e p ro p ert y or t he ri g h t o f

p o s s es s i o n

, (2 ) act u al p o s s es s io n i n t h e o t h er p art y

, (3 ) d em an d fo r ret u rn o f t h e

5p ro p ert y

, an d (4 ) refu s al b y t h e o t h er p art y t o ret u r n t h e p ro p ert y .” Tr ey In ma n &

As s o c. v. Ba nk o

f Amer i ca

, 3 0 6 Ga. Ap p

. 4 5 1

, 4 5 7 (4 ) (7 0 2 SE2 d 7 1 1 ) (2 0 1 0 )

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

Th e g en eral ru l e i s t h at m o n ey i s n o t a t y p e o f p ro p ert y t hat i s s u b ject t o an

a ct i o n fo r co n v ers i o n

. See i d

. at 4 5 8 (4 ); Ta yl o r

, 2 5 0 Ga. Ap p

. at 3 5 9 (2 ). “ W h i l e

m o ney co n s t i t u t es p ers o n al p ro p ert y

, m o ney i s i n t an gi bl e pro p ert y t h at i s f u n g i b l e,

b ecau s e i t b el o n g s t o a cl as s of p ro pert y wh i ch can n o t b e d i ff e r e n t i a t ed b y s p eci fi c

i d e n t i fi cat i o n u nl es s t h ere h as b een creat ed a s p eci fi c fu n d t h at h as b een s et as i d e

fro m ot h er m o n e y .” T

a yl or

, 2 50 Ga. Ap p

. at 3 5 9 (2 ) (ci t at i o n s o m i t t ed ). W h ere a

p l ai n t i ff “ i s n o t s eek i n g t o reco v er s o m e s p e c i f ic m o n ey

, . . . b ut i n s t ead s eek s to

reco v er a cert ai n am o u n t o f m o n ey g en eral l y [,]

. . . [i t ] is n o t a cas e fo r w h i ch a cau s e

o f act io n fo r co n v ers io n was in t en d ed .” H o d g s ki n v. Ma r

ka tr o n

, In c.

, 1 85 Ga. Ap p.

7 5 0 , 7 5 1 (1 ) (3 6 5 SE2 d 4 9 4 ) (1 9 8 8 ) (ci t at io n o m i tt ed ). See g en eral l y D eca t u r Au to

Cen ter v. W

a c h o v i a Ba n k

, 2 7 6 Ga. 8 1 7

, 8 2 0 -8 21 (5 83 SE2 d 6 ) (2 0 03 ) (d i s cu s s i n g

ex am p l es o f co n v ers i o n cl ai m s s eek in g t o reco ver s p eci fi c m o n ey i n co n t ex t o f cl ai m

t o reco v er face v al u e of co n v ert ed ch eck ). “ [C] o n vers i on i s n o t a v iab l e cl ai m wh ere

t h ere i s n o t h in g m o re t h an a fai l u re b y th e d efen d an t t o p ay m on ey o w ed t o t h e

6p l ai n t i ff.” In ter n a l Med i ci n e Al l i a n ce v. Bu d el l

, 2 9 0 Ga. Ap p

. 2 3 1

, 2 39 (5 ) (6 5 9 SE2 d

6 6 8 ) (2 0 0 8 ) (ci t at i o n s o m i t t ed ).

Al t h ou g h t he Ci t y at t em

p t s t o ch aract eri ze i t s cl ai m as o n e fo r s p eci fi c m o n ey

rat h er t h an a cert ai n am o un t o f m o n ey g en eral ly

, i t h a s n o t p o i n t ed t o ev id en ce to

s u p p ort th i s ch aract eri zat i o n

. To b e ex cep t ed fro m t he g en eral ru l e th at m o n ey i s n ot

s u b ject t o a co n v ers i o n act io n

, t h e Ci t y was req u i red t o s h o w t h at t he m o n ey i t s o u g ht

“ co m p ri s e[d ] a s p eci fi c, s ep arat e, i d en t i fi ab l e fu n d ” t hat b el o ng ed t o it

. Ta yl o r

, 2 5 0

Ga. Ap p

. a t 3 5 9 (2 ) (ci tat i o n s o m i t t ed ). T he ev i d en ce ci t ed b y t h e Ci t y d o es n ot

s at i s fy t h i s req u i r e m en t

. It p o i n t s t o ev i d en ce t h at cu s t o m er b i l l s refl ect ed i t em i zed

“ t ax es an d fees ” t h at i n cl u d ed am ou n t s co l lect ed b y t h e OTCs b u t n o t rem i t t ed t o t h e

Ci t y

. In Ta

yl o r v. Po wer t el

, su p ra, h o wev er, we reject ed a s im i l ar arg u m en t i nv o l v i n g

i t em i zed t ax es o n a t el ep h o n e bi l l

, fi nd i n g i n s t ead t hat t h e p l ai n t i ff “ fai l ed t o s h o w

t h at t h e p o rt i o n o f t h e t o t al t el ep h o n e b i l l s p eci fi c a l l y at tri b ut ab l e t o t ax es co m es

wi t h i n t h [e] ex cep t i o n an d t h at th es e s um s co n s t i t u t ed an id en t i fi ab l e fu nd bel o n g i n g

t o h i m t o wh i ch h e h ad an i m m ed i at e r i g h t o f p os s es si o n .” Id

. at 3 5 9 (2 ) (ci t at i o n

o m it t ed ). Th e Ci t y al s o p oi nt s t o d ep o s it i o n t es ti m o ny d es cri b i n g m on ey b ei n g h el d

i n res erv e ag ai ns t p o t en t ial o ccu p an cy t ax li ab i l i t y

, b u t ag ai n i t p o i n t s t o n o ev i d en ce

7t h at th e res erv e co m p ri s ed a “ s p eci fi c, s ep arat e, i d en t i fi ab l e fu nd [as req ui red ] to

s u p p ort an act i o n fo r co n v ers i o n .” Id . (ci t at io n s o m it t ed ).

Des p i t e t h e Ci t y ’ s effo rt s , t h e u n d i s p ut ed ev i d en ce s h o ws t hat it s co n v ers i o n

cl ai m co n cern s “ n o t h i n g m o re th an a fai l u re b y th e [OTCs ] t o pay m o n ey o wed t o t h e

[Ci t y ] .” In t er n a l Med i ci n e Al l i a n c e

, 2 9 0 Ga. Ap p

. at 2 39 (5 ) (ci t at i on s o m i t t ed ).

Co n s eq u en t l y

, t h e t ri al co u rt d i d n o t err in g ran t i n g s u m m ary ju d g m en t t o t h e OTCs

o n t h e cl ai m

.

(b ) Br ea ch o

f t r us t

.

Th e t ri al co u rt d i d n o t err i n g ran t i n g s um m ary ju d g m en t t o t h e OTCs o n t h e

cl ai m fo r b reach o f t ru s t t h at t h e Ci t y as s ert ed i n an am e n d e d c o m p l ai n t aft er t h e

Su p rem e Co u rt ’ s 2 0 1 1 d eci s i o n i n t h e cas e, Ci t y o f At la nt a v. Ho t el

s .co m

, s u p ra, 2 8 9

Ga. 32 3

. Th at cl ai m

, as t h e Ci t y co n ced es i n i t s ap p el lat e b ri efs

, co ncern s t h e al l eg ed

b reach o f a co n s t ru ct iv e t ru s t

. It t h erefo re fai l s b ecau s e n o co n s t ru ct i v e t ru s t h as b een

i m p o s ed i n t h i s cas e.

A co n s t ru ct i v e tru s t i s an eq ui t ab l e rem ed y i m p o sed b y a co u rt t o p rev en t

u n ju s t en ri ch m en t

. A n s l e

y v

. Ra cz ka -Lo n g

, 2 9 3 G a. 13 8

, 1 4 1 (3 ) (7 4 4 SE2 d 5 5 )

(2 0 1 3); S t

. Pa u l Mer cu r

y In s

. Co

. v. Meeks

, 2 7 0 Ga. 1 3 6

, 1 3 8 (2 ) (5 0 8 SE2 d 6 4 6 )

(1 9 9 8). See OCGA § 5 3-1 2 -1 3 2 (a ) ( co ns t ru ct i v e t ru st i s “ i m p li ed wh en ev er t h e

8ci rcu m s t an ces are s u ch t h at t h e p ers on h o l d i ng l eg al ti t l e t o p ro p ert y

, ei t h er fro m

frau d or o th erwi s e, can n ot en jo y t h e ben efi c i a l i n t eres t i n t h e p ro p ert y wi t h o ut

v i o l at i n g s o m e es t ab l is h ed p ri n ci p l e of eq u i t y ”). It i s no t t h e b as i s fo r an i n d ep en d en t

cau s e o f act i on

. Mo r r i s o n v. Mo r r i s o n

, 2 8 4 Ga. 1 1 2

, 1 1 3 (1 ) (6 6 3 SE2 d 7 1 4 ) (2 0 0 8 ).

E a r l i er p ro ceed i n g s i n t h i s cas e es t ab l is h ed t h at t h e Ci t y was n o t en t i t l ed t o t h e

rem ed y of a co n st ru ct i ve t ru s t

. Th e t ri al co u rt d ecl i n ed t o i m p o s e a co n s tru ct i v e t ru s t

o n th e b ack t ax es

, a n d t h e Su p rem e Co u rt affi rm ed t h at d eci si on

. Ci t y o f A t l a n t a v.

Ho t el s .c o m

, 2 89 Ga. at 3 2 8 (4 ). Becau se t h e Su p rem e Co u rt ex p res s l y affi rm ed t h e

t ri al co u rt ’ s refu sal t o i m

p os e a co n s t ru ct i v e t ru s t

, we d ecl i n e t o co ns t ru e t h at co urt ’ s

referen ce

– i n an o t h er p art o f i t s o p i n i o n – t o m on i es “ hel d i n t ru s t fo r t he Ci t y ,” i d.

at 3 2 7 (2 ) (ci t at i o n s o m i t t ed ), as a h o l d i n g th at t h e Ci t y had a co n s t ru ct i v e tru s t o v er

t h e b ack tax es

. Mo reo v er, i n a s u b s eq u en t ord er d ecl i n i ng eq u i ty ju ri s d ict i o n o v er t h i s

ap p eal an d t ran s ferri ng t h e ap p eal t o t h is co u rt

, t h e Su prem e Co u rt p l ai nl y s t at ed t h at

“ n o co n st ru ct i v e t ru s t was act u al l y i m p o s ed ” i n t h i s cas e.

Acco rd i ng l y

, i t i s t h e l aw o f t h i s cas e t h at n o co n s tru ct i v e t ru s t w a s i m p o s ed

o n t h e b ack tax es

. See S

ecu r it y Li f e In s

. Co

. o

f Amer i ca v. Cl a r

k

, 2 7 3 Ga. 4 4

, 4 6 (1 )

(5 3 5 SE2 d 2 3 4 ) (2 0 0 0) (“ Un d er t h e ‘ l aw o f t h e cas e’ ru l e, an y ru l in g by t h e Su p rem e

Co u rt o r t h e Co u rt o f Ap p eal s i n a cas e s h al l b e b in d i ng i n al l s u bs eq u en t p ro ceed i ng s

9i n th at cas e i n t h e l o wer co u rt an d i n th e Su p rem e Co u rt o r t h e Co u rt o f Ap p eal s

, as

t h e cas e m ay be.”) (ci t at i on s an d p u nct u at i o n o m it t ed ). See OCGA § 9

- 1 1 -6 0 (h ).

Un d er th es e ci rcu m s tan ces

, th e OTCs w ere en t i t l ed to s u m m ary ju d g m en t o n t h ei r

cl ai m fo r b reach o f a co n s t ru ct i v e t ru s t

.

3

. Di s co ver

y.

Th e Ci t y arg u es t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n d en y i n g i t s vari o u s d i s co v ery

m o ti o n s. At t h e t i m e t h e Ci ty fi l ed t he m o t io n s

, t h e cas e h a d a l read y g o n e t h ro u g h

s u m m ary ju dg m en t p ro ceed i ng s i nc l u d i n g ap p el l at e rev i ew o f th e t ri al co urt ’ s

s u m m ary ju d g m en t ru li ng

. In t h e s u b s eq uen t m o t i o n s, t h e Ci ty s ou g h t ad d i t i o n al

d i s co v ery t o res po n d t o th e OTCs ’ s u m m ary ju d g m en t m ot i o n o n t h e n ew b reach o f

t ru s t cl ai m an d t h e co n vers i o n cl ai m t h at t h e Su prem e Co u rt hel d t he t ri al co u rt h ad

n o t ad dres s ed

.

“ [W ] e wi l l n ot rev ers e a t ri al co u rt ’ s d eci si o n o n d i s c o v ery m at t ers ab s en t a

cl ear ab u s e o f d i s cret i o n .” Fo rd Mo t o r Co

. v. G i b s o n

, 2 8 3 Ga. 3 9 8, 4 0 1 (1 ) (6 5 9 SE2 d

3 4 6 ) ( 2 0 0 8 ) (ci t at i o n an d pu n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ). Th i s s tan d ard o f rev i ew i n cl u d es

m o ti o n s s eek i ng ad d i t i o n a l d i sco v ery pu rs u an t t o O CGA § 9 -1 1-5 6 (f), t h e Co d e

s ect i on u p o n wh i ch t h e Ci t y b as ed o n e o f i t s m o t i on s

. Si m s v. Fi r s t Accep t a n ce In s

.

Co

. o f Ga

. , 3 2 2 Ga. Ap p

. 3 6 1

, 3 6 6 -3 6 7 (4 ) (7 4 5 SE2 d 3 0 6 ) (2 0 1 3 ). Th e Ci t y h as n ot

10s h o wn a cl ear ab us e. N o ad d i t i o n al d i s co v ery wo u l d b ear u p o n t h e OTC’ s en t i t l em en t

t o s u m m ary j u d g m en t o n t h e b reach o f t ru s t cl ai m b ecau s e, as di s cu ss ed ab o v e, earl i er

p ro ceed in g s i n t h i s cas e b arred t h at cl ai m

. An d as t h e Ci t y al l eg ed t h e co n v ers i o n

cl ai m i n i t s o ri g in al co m

p l ai n t

, i t h ad t h e o p p ort u n i t y t o s eek d i sco v ery

an d res o l v e

an y d i s co v e r y d i sp u t es reg ard i n g t h at cl ai m b efo re t h e fi rs t ro u n d o f s u m m ary

ju d g m en t m o t io ns . W e fi n d n o erro r i n t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s d en i al o f t h e Ci t y ’ s m o t i on s

s eek i n g ad d it i o n al d i s co v ery at t h i s p o i n t i n t h e cas e.

Ju d g men t a f f i r m ed . El l i n g t o n , P. J., a n d Di ll a r d , J., co n cu r

.

11