FI FTH DI VI SI ON

M CFA DDEN, P. J.

, RI CKM A N and M A RKLE, 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

A pr i l 10, 2019



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 9 A0 03 8 , A1 9 A0 7 49 . LONG v . TRUEX (t wo cas es ).

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

Ch eri e Lo n g an d Du an e Tru ex d i v o rced i n 2 0 1 4

. Th es e r e l a t ed ap p eal s , in

w h i ch Lo n g i s act i n g pro s e, co n cern t ri al co u rt ru l i n g s i n two s u b s e q u e n t

p ro ceed in g s ari s i n g ou t o f t h e d i v o rce: a pro ceed i n g t o m od i fy ch i ld cu s t o d y an d a

co n tem p t p ro ceed i n g

.

In Cas e No

. A1 9 A0 0 3 8

, Lo n g ch al l en g es an Au g u st 4

, 2 0 1 6 ord er m o d i fy i n g

ch i l d cu s t o d y an d an Ap ri l 1 1

, 2 0 1 8 o rd er d en y i n g L o ng ’ s t i m el y m o t i o n fo r n ew

t ri al

. W e h av e ju ri s di ct i o n n o twi t h s t an d i n g Lo n g ’ s in effect i v e at t em p t t o d i s m i s s h er

m o ti o n fo r n ew t ri al

. Th e ev i den ce au t h o ri zed t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s ru l i n g s , s o we affi rm

.

In Cas e No

. A1 9 A0 7 4 9, Lo n g ch al len g es a Ju l y 6

, 2 0 1 8 o rd er award i ng Tru ex

at t o rn ey fees rel at ed t o L o n g ’ s fi l i n g of an un t i m el y m o t i o n fo r n ew t ri al aft er t h e t ri alco u rt fo u n d her i n co nt em p t o f t h e p art i es ’ di v orce d ecree. Becau s e t h at o rd er d o es

n o t s p eci fy t h e p ers o n o r p ers on s o b l i g at ed t o p ay th e award

, we v acat e i t an d rem an d

t h e cas e fo r fu rt h er pro c e e d i n g s

. W e al s o den y Tru ex ’ s m ot i o n fo r s an ct i o n s fo r

fri v ol o u s ap p eal i n Cas e No . A1 9 A0 7 4 9

.

1

. Ch i l d cu st o dy o r d

er (Ca s e No . A1 9

A0 03 8 ).

W h en t h e p art i es d i v o rced i n t h e fal l o f 2 0 14

, t h e t ri al co urt award ed t h em jo i nt

l eg al cu s t o d y an d t h e f

a t h e r p ri m ary ph y s i cal cu s t o d y of t h ei r s o n, C. T. Th e

fo l l o w i n g s p ri n g , Lo ng pet i t i o n ed t o m o di fy ch il d cu s t o d y t o o b t ai n p ri m ary p h y s i cal

cu s t o d y o f C. T., al l eg in g t h at t h ere h ad b een m at eri al ch an g es in t he co n d it i o n s an d

ci rcu m s t an ces t h at warran t ed t hi s m o d ifi cat i o n . Tru ex fi l ed a s ep arat e m o d i fi cat i o n

p et i t i o n , s eek i ng to o b t ai n s o l e l eg al cu s t o d y o f C. T. an d t o ch an g e Lo n g’ s v i s i t at i o n.

Th e t ri al co u rt co n s o l i d at ed t h e p ro ceed i n g s

. Th e t ri al co u rt t em p orari l y award ed s o l e

cu s t o d y o f C. T. t o Tru ex d u ri n g t h e p en d en cy o f t he p ro ceed i n gs

.

Aft er an ev i d en t i ary h eari n g , t h e t ri al co u rt award ed T ru ex so l e l e g a l an d

p h y s i cal cu s t o d y o f t hen -1 2 -y ear-o l d C

. T. an d h el d t hat Lo n g ’ s v i s i t at i on m u s t b e

s u p erv i s ed

. L o n g ap p eal s fro m t h is ru l i n g an d fro m t h e t ri al c o u rt ’ s den i al o f h er

m o ti o n fo r n ew t ri al , arg u in g t hat t h e ev i d en ce d i d n ot s u p p o rt t h e m o di fi cat i o n

.

(a) Ap p el l a t e j u r i s d ict i o n

.

2As an i n i t i al m at t er, we co n s i d er o u r ju ri s d i ct i o n o ver t h e ap p eal i n Cas e No

.

A1 9 A0 03 8

. See g en eral ly Fo r d v. Fo r d

, 3 4 7 G a. Ap p

. 2 3 3 (8 1 8 S E 2 d 6 9 0 ) (2 0 1 8 )

(ap p el l at e co urt h as d u ty t o i n q u i re i n t o i t s ju ri s di ct io n t o rev iew erro rs en u m erat ed

o n ap p eal ). “ A n o t i ce o f ap p eal s h al l b e fi l ed wi t h i n 3 0 d ay s o f t h e en t ry o f t h e

ap p eal ab l e d eci s i on o r ju d g m en t co m p l ai n ed of; b u t wh en a m ot i o n fo r new t ri al

. .

. h as b een fi l ed

, t h e n o t i c e s h a l l b e fi l ed wi t h in 3 0 d ay s aft er t h e en t ry o f t h e o rd er

g ran t i n g , o v erru l i ng , o r o th erwi s e fi n al l y d i s p os i n g o f t h e m o t i o n .” OCGA § 5 -6 -3 8

(a).

Aft er t h e t ri al co u rt en t ered t h e o rd er m od i fy i n g cu s t o d y , Lo n g fi l ed a t i m el y

m o ti o n fo r n ew t ri al

. Sh e s u b s e q u e n t l y fi l ed a n o t ice t o d i s m i s s th at m o t i o n

. Bu t

“ OCGA § 5 -6 -3 8 req u i res a t r i al co u r t o rd er gran t i n g , d en y in g , o r o t herwi s e fi n al l y

d i s p o si n g o f a p art y ’ s m o t i o n fo r n ew tri al [.] A p art y ’ s v o l un t ary wi t h d rawal o f i t s

m o ti o n fo r n ew t ri al

, s t an d i n g al o n e, i s n ot th e s tat u to ri ly -req u ired co u rt o rd er fi n al l y

d i s p o s i n g o f t h e m o t i o n fo r new t ri al .” Hea r d v. S t a t e , 2 7 4 Ga. 1 9 6

, 1 9 7 ( 1 ) (5 5 2

SE2 d 8 1 8 ) (2 0 0 1 ) (ci t at io n s o m i t t ed ; em p h as i s i n o r i g i n al ). Th e reco rd i n t h i s cas e

d o es n o t co n t ai n a tri al co u rt o rd er co n n ect ed wi t h Lo ng ’ s n o ti ce to d i s m is s h er t i m el y

m o ti o n fo r n ew t ri al

. So

, un d er t h e ru l e art icu l at ed i n Hea r d

, t h e t h at m ot i o n rem ai n ed

p en di n g

. Th e t ri al co urt fi n al l y d i s p o s ed o f th e m o t i o n l at er, w h en h e en t ered an o rd er

3t h at d en i ed Lo n g a n ew t ri al

. At t h at p o i n t, Lo n g h a d 3 0 d ay s i n wh i ch t o fi l e h er

n o t i ce o f ap p eal u n der O CGA § 5 -6 -3 8 (a), an d s h e fi l ed h er no t i ce of ap peal wi t h in

t h e 3 0-d ay p eri o d

. W e th e r e f o re h av e j u ri s d i ct i o n t o rev i ew t h e o rd er m o d i fy i n g

cu s t o d y

.

(b ) S u ff i ci en cy o f evi d en ce s u p p o r t i n g cu s t o d y mo d if i ca t i o n

.

A d eci s io n o n ch i l d cu s t o d y i n cl ud es v i s it at i o n ri g ht s

. See OCGA § 1 9 -9 -2 2

(1 ); Vi nes v. Vi n es , 2 92 Ga. 5 5 0

, 5 5 1 (2 ) (7 3 9 SE2 d 3 7 4 ) (2 01 3 ). W h en ru l i n g o n a

p et i t i o n fo r m o d i fi cat i o n o f ch i l d cu s t o d y , t h e t ri al co u rt

i s ch ar g e d w i th ex erci s i n g i t s d i s cret io n t o d et erm i n e wh at i s i n th e

ch i l d ’ s b es t i n t eres t

. A t ri al co u rt ’ s d eci si o n reg ard i n g a ch an g e i n

cu s t od y / v i si t at i o n wi l l b e u p h el d on ap p eal u nl es s i t i s s ho wn t h at th e

co u rt cl earl y a b u s ed i t s d i s cret i o n

. W h ere t h ere i s an y ev i d en ce t o

s u p p o rt t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s ru l i n g , a rev i ewi ng co urt can n o t say t h ere w as

an ab u s e o f d i s cret i o n

.

Ca r r -Ma cAr t h u r v. Ca r r , 2 9 6 Ga. 3 0

, 3 1 (1 ) (7 6 4 SE2 d 8 4 0) (2 0 1 4 ) (ci tat i o n s an d

p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ). See S ch o w e v

. A ms ter

, 2 3 6 Ga. 7 20

, 72 2 (5 ) (2 2 5 SE2 d 2 8 9 )

(1 9 7 6) (d eci si o n to res t ri ct v i s i t at i o n i s m at t er fo r t ri al co u rt ’ s d i s cret i o n ). M o reo v er,

“ [i ] n th e ap p el l at e rev i ew o f a b en ch t ri al

, a t ri al co urt ’ s fact ual fi n di n gs m u s t n o t b e

s et as i d e u n l es s t hey are cl earl y erro n eo us

. Rat h er, d u e d eferen ce m u s t b e g i ven t o t h e

4t ri al co urt

, ack n o wl ed gi n g t h at i t h as t h e o p p o rt u n i t y t o ju d g e t h e cred i b i l i t y o f t h e

wi t n es s es .” St ri ckl a n d v. S t r i ckl a n d

, 2 9 8 Ga

. 6 3 0

, 6 3 3 -6 3 4 (1 ) (2 0 1 6 ) (ci t at i on s

o m it t ed ).

“ A p et i t i o n to ch an g e cu st o d y s h o u l d b e g ran t ed o n l y i f t h e t ri al co u rt fi n d s t h at

t h ere h as b een a m at eri al ch an g e o f co n d it i on affect in g t h e wel fare o f t h e ch i l d s i nce

t h e las t cu s t o d y a w a r d

. ” S m i t h v. Cu r t i s , 3 1 6 Ga. Ap p

. 8 9 0

, 8 9 2 (7 3 0 SE2 d 6 0 4 )

(2 0 1 2) (ci t at io n an d fo o t no t e o m i t t ed ). In m o d ify i n g cu st o d y an d p laci n g res t ri ct i on s

o n v i si t at i o n , t h e t ri al co u rt fo u n d

, am o n g ot h er t h i n g s , t h at Lo ng “ has a m en t al h eal th

i s su e t h at a p p e a r s t o hav e d et eri o rat ed s in ce t he d i vo rce” i n a m an n er t h at was

d et ri m en t al t o C. T. Th e m en t al h eal t h o f each p aren t i s a fact o r t hat a t ri al co u rt m ay

co n si d er i n d eci d i n g wh et h er t o m o d i fy a cu s t o dy arran g em en t

. See OCGA § 1 9 -9 -3

(a) (3 ) (I); S i

g a f o o s e v. Co b b

, 3 4 5 G a. A p p

. 7 8 3

, 7 8 8 -7 8 9 (1 ) (8 15 SE2 d 1 3 6 ) (2 0 1 8 ).

Lo n g arg u es , h o wev er, t h at t he t ri al co u rt ’ s fi n d i n g reg ard i n g h er m en t al h eal t h was

an “ erro neo u s fact u al fi n d i n g ” m an d at i n g rev ers al

. 1 W e d is ag ree.

As a g ro u n d fo r h is fi n d i n g t h at Lo n g ’ s m en t al h ea l t h h ad d et eri orat ed t o C.

T.’ s d et ri m en t

, t h e t ri al co u rt ci t ed t h e t es ti m o n y o f a p aren ti n g co o rd i n at o r, a

l i cen sed cl i n i cal s o ci al wo rk er wh o m t h e p art i es h ad ag reed t o u s e t o as s es s wh et h er

1 Lo n g d o es n o t ch al l en g e an y o th er fi n d in g s o f t h e t ri al co u rt

.

5t h ey co u l d “ co -p aren t ” t h ei r ch il d

. Th e t ri al co u rt s t at ed i n h i s o rd er t hat th e paren t i n g

co o rd i n at o r h ad

m ad e th e fo l l o wi n g o bs erv at io n s ab o u t [Lo n g’ s ] weak n es ses : s he

s ab o t ag es her o wn s t at ed g o al s ; s h e is n o t cap ab l e o f “ li s t en i n g” t o

o t h ers s u ch as her ch i l d ren , t h e d efen d an t

, th e [g u ard i an ad li t em ] an d / o r

t h e j u d g e to recei v e ad v i ce o r reco m m en d at i o n s ; s h e h as an g er an d

im pu l se co n t ro l i s s u es ; i nap p ro p ri at e react io n s t o an g er; d o es not r e spe c t

ru l es an d b o u n dari es ; d o es n o t act i n [ C

. T

. ’s ] b es t i n t eres t s ; h as a

d i s t o r t e d v i ew o f real i t y an d s h e “ p ro ject s ” h er p ercep t i o n s an d

ex p ect at i o n s o n o t h ers

. Th es e are p ro bl em s t h at n eg at i v el y i m p act th e

ch i l d an d h av e cau s ed h i m t o h av e p ro b lem s m at u ri n g res p o ns i b l y

. T he

p art i es were n o t cap ab le o f co -p aren t i n g.

Th e reco rd s up p o rt s t h is s y n o ps i s o f t h e p aren t i n g co o rd i n at o r’ s t es ti m o n y

.

In ad d i t i o n to reci t i n g t h e p aren t i ng co o rd i n at o r’ s t es t i m o ny , th e t ri al co u rt al s o

s ep arat el y fo u n d th at Lo n g ’ s “ b eh av io rs are t ro u b l i n g i n t hat h er n eed s ap p ear to

co m e b efo re [C. T.’ s ]

, t h at s h e h as i nap p ro p ri at e react i o n s t o ev ery d ay l i fe si t u at i o n s ,

t h at s he s ab o t ag es h er s t at ed g o al s , t h at s he i s i n cap ab l e o f l i s t en i n g t o o t h ers t o t h e

d et ri m en t o f [C. T.]

, t h at s he has an g er i s s u es , i m p u l s e co n t ro l i ss u es an d a d i s t o rt ed

v i ew o f real i ty .” Th e t ri al co u rt d es cri b ed L on g ’ s b eh av io r t o ward Tru ex as “ b i zarre”

an d fo un d t h at i t was d et ri m en t al t o C. T

. Sp eci fi cal l y , t h e t ri al co u rt n o t ed i n h i s

o rd er t h e fo l lo wi n g b eh av io rs , al l o f wh i ch are s u pp o rt ed b y h eari n g ev id en ce: Lo n g

6u n i l at eral l y s o ug h t t o ch an ge C. T

. ’s in d i v i d u al i zed ed u cat i o n p l an , d es p i t e h av i n g

reach ed an ag reem en t ab o ut t h at p l an wi t h Tru ex an d s ch o o l p ers on n el t he d ay b efo re;

Lo n g m ad e v ari o u s al leg at i o n s ag ai n st Tru ex t h at s h e co u l d not s up p o rt wi t h ev i d en ce

b u t wh ich req ui red Tru ex to s p en d s ig n i fi can t t i m e reb ut t i n g ; L o n g ’s act i o n s in

co n nect io n wi t h t h i rd -p art y p ro fes s i o n al s s uch as C. T .’ s t h erap i s t were d ri v en b y h er

fo cu s on h er o w n rel at i o n s h i p w i t h t h e p ro fes s i on al

, rat h er t h an b y t he b o y ’ s b es t

i n t eres t s ; an d t hat Lo n g refu s ed t o al l o w C. T. t o acco m p an y Tru ex t o t h e o u t -o f-s t at e

wed di n g o f C. T’ s h al f-b ro th er, i n s t ead d em an di n g t h at a p ol i ce o ffi cer acco m p an y

t h e b o y , wh ich u l t i m at el y l ed t o t h e b o y ’ s ex cl u s i on fro m t h e ev en t. Th e ev i d e n ce

au t h o ri zed t h e t ri al co u rt t o fi n d t h at Lo n g ’ s b eh av i o r, a s i l l u st rat ed ab o v e, was

d et ri m en t al t o C. T.

As an o t h er g ro u n d fo r h i s fi n d i n g t h at Lo n g’ s m en t al h eal t h h ad d et eri o rat ed

t o C. T.’ s d et ri m en t, t h e t ri al co u rt ci t ed hi s o wn o bs erv at i o n s of Lo ng as a wi t n es s

at t h e h eari n g. Th e tri al co u rt co u l d “ s ee an d h ear [Lo n g at t h e h eari ng ]

, o b serv e [h er]

d em ean o r an d at t i tu d es , an d as s es s [h er] cred i b i li t y .” S i g a f o os e , 3 4 5 Ga. A p p

. at 7 8 8

(1 ) (ci t at io n an d p un ct u at i o n om i t t ed ). Fro m th at o b s erv at i o n , t h e t ri al co u rt was

au t h o ri zed t o d raw co n cl u s i o n s ab o u t Lo n g’ s m en t al heal t h

, t he im p act i t h ad o n h er

ab i l i t y t o act i n t h e ch i l d ’ s b es t i n t eres t

, an d wh e t h e r t h a t ab i l i t y had m at eri al l y

7ch an ged s i n ce t he p ri o r cu s t o d y award

. See i d

. at 7 8 8 (1 ) (affi rm i n g cu s t o d y o rd er in

wh i ch t ri al co u rt “ cal l ed [m o t h er’ s ] m en t al h eal t h i n t o qu es t i o n ” a n d ex p res s ed

“ s eri o u s co n cern s ab ou t (m o t h er’ s ) p res en t m en tal s i t u at i on ”).

Gi v en o u r d eferen ti al s t an d ard o f rev i ew, w e fi n d n o ab us e o f d i s cret i o n i n t h e

t ri al co u rt ’ s m o d i fi cat i on ru l i n g o r h i s d en i al o f Lo n g ’ s m o t i o n fo r n e w t r i a l o n t h e

m o di fi cat i o n p et i t i o n

.

2

. At t o r ney f

ees o r d er (Ca s e No . A1 9

A 0 7 4 9).

Cas e N o

. A 1 9 A 0 7 49 co n cern s an at t o rn ey fee ru l i ng t h at aro s e fro m t h e

p art i es ’ d i v o rce b u t i s un rel at ed t o t h e cu s t od y m o d i fi cat i o n ru li n g d i s cu s s ed ab o ve.

On Decem

b er 1 6

, 2 0 1 5

, t h e t ri al co u rt en t ered an ord er h o ld i n g Lo n g in co n t em p t fo r

v i o l at i n g t erm s o f t h e p art i es ’ d i v o rce d ecree. Th e t ri al co u rt d en i ed Lo n g ’ s m o t i o n

fo r reco n s i d erat i o n o f t h e c o n t em p t o rd er, an d o n Au g u s t 1 8

, 2 01 6 Lo n g fi l ed a

m o ti o n fo r new t ri al

. wh i ch t h e t ri al co urt d en i ed as u n ti m el y o n Ap ri l 1 1

, 20 1 8

. Lo n g

t h en fi l ed a n o t i ce of ap p eal fro m t h e Decem b er 1 6

, 2 01 5 co nt em

p t ord er, b u t we

d i s m i s s ed t h at di rect ap p eal fo r l ack o f ju ri sd i ct i o n b ecau s e t h at o rd er is su b j ect t o t h e

d i s cret i o n ary

ap peal s p ro ced ure. See OCGA § 5 -6 -3 5 (a) (2 ).

W h i l e Lo n g ’ s u n t i m el y m o t i on f o r n ew t ri al fro m t h e co n t em pt ru l i n g was

p en di n g , Tru ex fi l ed a m ot i o n fo r at t o rn ey fees i n co n n ect i o n wi t h t h e m o t i o n fo r n ew

8t ri al

. On J u l y 6

, 2 0 1 8

, th e t ri al co u rt g ran t ed Tru ex ’ s m o t i o n , h o l d i n g t hat h e was

en t i t l ed t o at t o rn ey fees o f $ 1 ,3 33 u n d er OCGA § 9 -1 5-1 4 (a) b ecau se Lo n g had fi l ed

t h e m o t i o n fo r n ew t ri al 2 4 0 d ay s aft er t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s co n tem pt ru l in g

.

W e g ran t ed d is cret i o n ary ap pel l at e rev i ew o v er t h e J u ly 6 o r d e r award i n g

at t o rn ey fees

. W e h ereb y

v acat e t h at at t o rn ey

fees o rd er b ecau s e i t d o es n o t s p eci fy

t h e p ers o n o r p ers o n s o b l i gat ed t o pay t h e at t orn ey fee award

. I n s t e ad

, t h e o rd er

c o n t ai n s a b l an k s p ace, st at in g : “ Th e Co u rt ORDERS t h at

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ p ay t o

Pl ai n t i ff, Du an e Tru ex , t h e s u m o f $ 1 3 3 3.0 0 wi t h i n 3 0 d ay s o f t h i s o rd er.” Un d er

OCGA § 9 -1 5 -1 4 (a), a t ri al co u rt m ay as s es s at t orn ey fees ag ai n st a p art y , a p art y ’ s

at t o rn ey , o r b o th

. Lo n g was rep res en ted by co u n sel w h en s h e fi l ed t h e u n t i m el y

m o ti o n fo r n ew t ri al

. T h e J u ly 6 ord er d oes n o t i n di cat e wh et her Lo n g , h er t h en

at t o rn ey , o r b o t h are req u ired t o p ay t h e $ 1 ,3 3 3 t o Tru ex

.

Th e reco rd d o es co n tai n an am en d ed o rd er, d at ed Au gu s t 7, 20 1 8

, s p eci fy i n g

t h at Lo n g i s res p o n s i b l e fo r p ay i n g t h e at t o rn ey fee award

. Bu t th at o rd er i s wi t h o ut

effect b ecau s e t h e t ri al co u rt en t ered i t a f t er Lo ng ap p l i ed fo r d i scret i o n ary ap p el l at e

r e v i ew o f t h e J u l y 6 o rd er. “ Th e fi l i n g o f an ap p l i cat i o n fo r ap p eal s h al l a c t a s a

s u p ers ed eas to t h e ex t en t t h at a n o t i ce o f ap peal act s as a s u p ers ed eas .” OCGA § 5 -6

-

3 5 (h ). A n d

, “ [a] s a g en eral ru l e, i n ci v il act i o n s ot h er t h an i n ju n ct i o n s , a t ri al co u rt

,

9u p o n t h e f

i l i n g o f a no t i ce o f ap p eal

, l o s es ju ri s d i ct i o n t o m o di fy o r en fo rce a

ju d g m en t wh ich i s th e su b j ect o f t h e ap p eal d u ri n g t h e p eri o d o f s up ers ed eas .” Da vi s

v. Ha r p a g o n Co

. , 2 81 Ga. 2 5 0

, 2 53 (8 ) (6 3 7 SE2 d 1 ) (2 0 06 ) (ci tat i o n o m i t t ed ). See

OCGA § 5 -6 -4 6 (a). “ Es s en t i al l y , th e s u p ers ed eas th at res u l t s fro m t h e fi l i n g o f an

ap p li cat i o n t o a p p e a l o r a n o ti ce o f ap p eal d ep ri v es t he t ri al co u rt o f j u ri sd i ct i o n to

t ak e act i o n i n t h e cas e t h at wo u l d affect t h e ju d g m en t o n ap p eal [.] ” A vr en v. Ga r t en ,

2 8 9 Ga. 1 8 6

, 1 9 0 (6 ) (7 1 0 SE2 d 1 3 0 ) (2 0 1 1 ). Th i s i n cl ud es am en d i n g t h e ju d g m en t

o n ap p ea l t o co rrect a m is t ak e. See Br o wn v. W i ls o n Ch evr o l et -Ol d

s , 1 5 0 Ga. Ap p.

5 2 5 , 5 3 1 (2 ) (2 5 8 SE2 d 1 39 ) (1 9 7 9 ).

W e n o t e t h at L o n g ap p li ed fo r d i s cret i on ary ap pel l at e rev i ew o f bo t h t he i n i t i al

J u l y 6 at t o rn ey fee o rd er an d t h e l at er, am en ded at t o rn ey fee ord er. W hi l e we g ran t ed

h er ap p l i cat i o n fo r rev i ew o f t h e J u l y 6 ord er (l ead i n g t o t h i s ap peal ), we d en i ed h er

ap p li cat io n fo r rev i ew o f the a m e nd ed o rd er. Gen eral l y , “ [t ] h e den i al o f an ap p l i cat i o n

fo r d i s cret i o n ary ap p eal i n v ok es th e d o ct ri n e o f res j u d i cat a wh ere t he ju d g m en t

ap p eal ed fro m was fi n al an d o n t h e m eri t s .” Da vi s v. Fo r ema n , 3 11 Ga. Ap p. 7 7 5

, 7 7 8

( 2 ) (7 1 7 SE2 d 2 9 5 ) (2 0 11 ) (ci t at i o n o m i tt ed ). Bu t res j u d icat a i s no t i n v o k e d h e r e ,

b ecau s e t h e am en d e d at t o rn ey fee o rd er is a n u l l i t y g i v en t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s l ack o f

ju ri s d i ct i o n t o en t er i t

. See La wyer s Ti t l e In s

. Co r

p

. v. Gr i f f i n , 3 0 2 Ga. Ap p

. 7 2 9 (1 )

10(6 9 1 SE2 d 6 3 3) (2 0 1 0 ); Co l o dn y v. Kr au s e , 14 1 Ga. Ap p. 1 3 4, 1 3 6 (1 ) (2 3 2 S E2 d

5 9 7 ) (1 9 7 7 ).

Co n seq u en t l y , al t h o u g h b o t h p art i es arg ue t h e m eri t s o f t h e am en d ed o rd er in

t h ei r ap p el l at e b ri efs

, we d o n o t co n s i d er t h at o rd er o r t h e m eri t s o f t h e at t o rn ey fee

award

. In s t ead

, we v acat e th e i n c o m p l et e J u ly 6 o rd er an d rem an d t h e cas e fo r t h e

t ri al co u rt t o s peci fy

t h e p ers o n o r p ers o n s o b l i g at ed t o p ay t h e at t o rn ey fee award

.

3

. Mo t i o n f

or s a nct i o n s f

o r f r i vo l o u s a p p ea l (Ca s e No . A1 9

A 07 4 9)

.

Tru ex as k s u s t o award h i m s an ct i o ns o n t h e g ro u n d th at L on g ’ s d i s cret i o n ary

a p p e al was fri v o l ou s

. See Ga. Ct

. Ap p

. R. 7 (e) (2 ). Gi v en t h at we g ran t ed L o n g ’s

ap p li cat io n fo r d i s cret io n a r y a p p eal an d h av e v acat ed t h e o rd er at i s s u e, we d en y

Tru ex ’ s m o t i o n

.

Ju d g men t a f f i rmed i n Ca s e No

. A 1 9A0 0 3 8

. Ju dg men t va ca t ed a n d ca s e

r ema n d ed wi t h d ir ect i on i n Ca s e No

. A1 9 A0 7 4 9

. Ri ckma n an d Ma rkl e, JJ., co n cu r

.

11