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 l s .us /r ule s

Nov em ber 18, 2015



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 5 A1 98 9 . GULIA et al . v . NORTH ATLANTA BANK. J E-0 9 4

E LLI N G T O N , Pres i d i n g J ud g e.

M o h i n d er Gu l i a, Ni t i n Gu l i a, an d San deep Gu l i a ap p eal fro m t h e o rd er o f t h e

Su p eri o r C o u r t o f Fo rs y t h Co u n t y d en y i n g t h ei r m o t i on to s et as i d e an o rd er

co n fi rm i n g a n o n-ju d i ci al fo recl o s u re s al e. 1 Th e G u l i a s co n ten d t h at n o ti ce o f t h e

fo recl o s ure h eari n g t h at th ey recei v ed w as i n s u ffi ci en t u n der OCGA § 44 -1 4 -1 6 1 (c).

Fo r t h e reas o n s ex p l ai n ed b el o w, we affi rm

.

Th e reco rd s h o ws t he fo l l o w i n g u n d is p u ted fact s

. In J an u ary 2 00 8

, t h e Gu li as

each ex ecu t ed co m

m erci al g u aran t i es t o g u aran t ee t he p ay m en t of i n d eb t ed n es s o wed

b y Sh o ps @ Peach t ree Park way

, LLC, i n fav o r of No rt h At l an ta Ban k an d secu red by

1 W e g ran t ed t h e Gu l i as ’ ap p l i cat i o n fo r d i s cret i o n ary ap p eal p u rs u an t t o OCGA §

5 -6 -3 5 (a) (8 ).a d eed to s ecu re deb t

. Th e s ecu ri t y d eed co n t ai n ed a p o wer o f s al e au t ho ri zi n g a n o n

ju d i ci al fo recl o su re s al e o f t h e p ro p ert y i n th e ev en t o f d efau l t

. T h e b o rro wer

d efau l t ed

, an d t h e b an k ad v ert i s ed t h e s al e o f t h e p ro p ert y i n t h e ap pro p ri at e l eg al

p ap er fo r fo u r co n s ecu t i v e week s

, Decem b er 9

, 1 6

, 2 3

, an d 3 0

, 2 00 9

. Th e p ro p ert y

was au ct io n ed o n J an u ary 5 , 2 01 0 , an d p u rch as ed b y t h e b an k.

Th e b an k fi l ed a v er i fi ed ap p l i cat i o n fo r co n fi rm at i o n an d ap p ro v al o f t h e

fo recl o s ure sa l e i n t h e S u p eri o r Co u rt o f Fo rs y t h Co u n t y o n Jan u ary 2 7, 2 0 1 0

. Th e

ap p li cat io n n am ed as res p o nd en t s t h e b o rro w er, t h e Gu li as

, an d t wo o t h er g u aran t o rs

o f t h e d eb t

. In t h e ap p l i cat io n

, t h e b an k as k ed t h e t ri al co u r t t o s e t a co nfi rm at i o n

h eari n g an d to “ d i rect t h at no t i ce o f sai d h eari n g be g i v en t o Res po n d en t s at l eas t fi v e

d ay s p ri o r to s ai d h eari n g i n s u c h m a n n e r as s h al l co m p l y wi t h Geo rg i a l aw.” Th e

co u r t i s su ed a s u m

m o n s t o each res p o n den t an d i s s u ed a Ru l e Ni s i o rd eri n g t h e

p art i es t o ap p ear fo r a h eari n g o n t h e ap p l i cat i o n o n M arch 2 , 2 0 1 0

.

On Feb ru ary 2 4

, 20 1 0

, t h e res p o n d en ts h av i n g n o t y et b een s erv ed , t h e co u rt

i s su ed a s eco n d Ru l e Ni s i, o rd eri n g t he p art i es to ap pear fo r a h e a r i n g o n t h e

ap p li cat io n o n M ay 4

, 2 01 0

. O n M arch 1

, 2 0 1 0

, a s heri ff’ s d ep u ty at t em pt ed s erv i ce

at 5 6 7 0 Arro wi n d Ro ad

, NW

, in Li l b u rn

, wh i ch was l i s ted o n each o f t he g u aran ti es

as t h e g uaran t o r’ s ad d res s f o r n o t i ce. T h e d ep u t y fo u n d M o h i nd er at h o m e at t h at

2ad d res s an d s erv ed h i m wi th t h e ap pl i cat io n

, Ru l e Ni si

, an d su m m o ns

. He ex ecu t ed

ret u rn s of s erv ice s h o w i n g p ers on al s erv i ce o n M o h i nd er an d n o to ri ou s s erv i ce o n h i s

s o n s , Ni t i n an d San d eep , “ b y l eav i ng a co p y

o f t h e act i o n an d s um m o n s at h i s m o s t

n o t o ri o u s p l ace o f ab o d e i n ” Gwi n n et t Co u n t y b y p l aci n g t h e d o cu m en t s i n t h e h an d s

o f “ M o h i n d er Gu l i a (d ad )” wh o was “ d o m ici l ed at t h e res i den ce o f [Ni t i n an d

San deep ] .”

Th e h eari n g d i d n o t o ccu r o n M ay 4

, 2 0 10

, a n d w a s res et t wi ce m o re d u e to

p ro b lem s wi t h s erv i ng t h e o t h er t wo res p o n d en t g uaran t o rs wi t h n o ti ce of t h e h eari n g.

On Au g u s t 2 7

, 2 0 10

, t h e t ri al co u rt i ss u ed a R u l e N i s i

, s et ti n g t h e co nfi rm at i o n

h eari n g fo r Oct o b er 1 2, 2 0 1 0

, an d t h e ban k s erv e d t h e Gu l ias wi t h t h e Ru l e Ni s i

s et t i n g t he Oct o b er heari n g v i a U. S. M ai l at t h ei r Arro wi n d Ro ad ad dres s

. Th e Gu li as

d i d n o t ap p ear at t he Oct o b er 1 2

, 2 0 1 0 h eari n g, an d t h e t ri al co u rt g ran t ed t he b an k ’ s

ap p li cat io n fo r co n fi rm at i o n of t h e fo recl o s ure. Th e Gu li as d i d n o t a p p eal t h e

co n fi rm at i o n o rd er.

Nearl y fo u r y ears l at er, o n Sep t em b er 9

, 2 0 1 4, t h e Gu li as fi l ed t h ei r m o t i o n to

s et as i d e t h e co nfi rm at io n o rd er, p u rs u an t to OCGA § 9 -1 1-6 0 (d ) (1 ), w h i ch p ro v i d es

t h at “ [a] m ot i o n t o s et as i d e m ay b e b ro u g h t t o s et as i d e a ju dg m en t b as ed u p o n

. . .

3[l ] ack o f ju ri s d i ct io n o v er t h e pers o n [.] ” 2

. N o t i n g t hat n o n e o f t h e G u l i as co n t en d ed

t h at h e d i d no t l i v e at th e Arro wi n d Ro ad ad d res s

, t h e t ri al co u rt fo u n d th at t h e M arch

1

, 2 01 0 s erv i ce was s u ffi ci en t as t o each o f t he Gu l i as t o i n i t iat e a v al id co nfi rm at i o n

p ro ceed in g u n d er OCGA § 4 4 -1 4 -1 6 1

. Th e t ri al co urt co n cl ud ed t h at s u bs eq u en t

s erv i ce b y m ai l o f t h e Ru l e Ni s i res et t i n g t he co n f i r m a t i o n h eari n g fo r Oct o b er 1 2,

2 0 1 0

, w as t h erefo re s u ffi ci en t

. Th e t ri al co u rt den ied t h e Gu l i as ’ m o t i o n t o s et as i d e

t h e o rd er co n fi rm i n g t h e fo recl o s u re s al e.

Th e Gu l i as co n t en d t h a t t h e co n fi rm at i o n s tat u te req u i res t hat t h e t ri al co u rt

g i v e t he d eb t o r n ot ice o f a co n fi rm at i o n h eari n g ex cl u s i v el y b y m ean s o f p er s o n al

s e r v i ce u p on t he d eb to r. Th ey co n ten d t h at t h e ru l e co n t ro l l i n g th i s cas e w a s

p ro n ou n ced b y t he Su p rem e Co u rt o f Geo rg i a in Vl a s s v. S ecu r i ty Pa ci

f i c Na t

. Ba nk

,

2 6 3 Ga. 2 9 6

, 2 9 8 (2 ) (4 3 0 SE2 d 7 3 2 ) (1 9 93 ), as fo l l o ws : “ Al l t h a t i s s t at u t o ri l y

req u i red i s t h at th e d eb t o r b e p ers o nal l y serv ed wi th n o ti ce o f t h e h eari ng o n t h e

cred i t o r’ s ap p l i cat i on at l eas t fi v e d ay s p ri or t h eret o [,] ” ci t i n g Hen r y v. Hi wa s s ee

La n d Co

. , 2 4 6 Ga. 8 7 (2 6 9 SE2 d 2 ) (1 9 8 0). Th ey a r g u e t h a t t h e M arch 1

, 2 0 1 0

s erv i ce u p o n M o hi n d er co n s t i t u t ed

, “ at b es t [,] n o t o ri o u s s erv i ce” u p on Ni t i n an d

San deep an d fai led t o s at i s fy th e p ers o n al s erv i ce req u i rem en t o f OCGA § 4 4 -1 4 -1 6 1

2 See fo o t n o t e 3 , i n fra.

4an d t h at t h e s u b seq uen t fi rs t -cl as s -m ai l s erv ices o f no t ice were i n v al i d

. A s a res u l t

,

t h ey arg u e, t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n d en y i n g t h ei r m o t i o n t o s et as id e t h e co nfi rm at i o n

o rd er. 3

3 See Ra mch a n da n i v. S t a t e Ba n k & Tr u st Co

. , 3 2 4 G a. Ap p

. 2 3 5, 2 3 9 -2 4 0 (1 ) (7 4 9

SE2 d 7 9 7 ) (2 0 1 3 ) (In ord er t o ch al l en g e t h e v al i d i t y of a co n fi rm at i o n o rd er, t h e d eb t o r can

fi l e a m o t i o n t o set as i d e th e ju d g m en t i n t h e tri al co urt t h at ren d ered t h e co n fi rm at i o n

o rd er, p u rs u an t t o OC G A § 9

- 1 1 -6 0 (b ) an d (d ). W here a cred i t o r pu rs u ed a d efi ci en cy

ju d g m en t ag ai n st t h e d eb t o rs i n a d i fferen t co u n ty fro m t h e o n e th at i s s u ed a co n fi rm at i o n

o rd er, t he s eco n d t ri al co u rt p ro p erl y co n cl ud ed t hat i t l ack ed j u ri sd i ct i o n t o co n s i d er t h e

d eb t o rs ’ m o t i on t o s et as i d e t h e co nfi rm at i o n o rd er.); Qu a t t l eb a u m v. A mer i b a n k, N.A.

, 2 2 7

Ga. Ap p. 5 1 7 , 5 1 8 (1 ) (4 89 SE2 d 3 1 9 ) (1 9 9 7 ) (p h y s ical p reced en t o n l y ) (W h ere t h e t ri al

co u rt s et as i d e a p o rt i o n o f a co n fi rm at i o n o rd er o n t h e b as i s t h at t h e m o vi n g res p o n d en t

h ad no t been p ers o nal l y s erv ed wi t h n o t i ce o f t h e h eari n g

, t he t ri al co u rt was th en req u i red

t o d i s reg ard it s p ri o r co nfi rm at io n o rd er an d co n s id er an ew t h e i s su e o f w h et h er t h e

en cu m b ered p ro p ert y h ad s o l d at fo recl o s u re fo r i t s fai r m ark et v al u e.), aff’ d

, 26 9 Ga. 8 5 7

( 5 0 5 SE2 d 4 7 6 ) (1 9 9 8 ); Ro g er s v. Fi d el i t y F ed

. S a v. & Lo a n A s s o c.

, 1 8 0 Ga. A p p

. 3 3 0

, 3 3 1 ( Wh e re t h e t ri al co u rt en t ered a co n fi rm at i o n ord er an d l at er d et erm i n ed t hat t h e

d eb t o rs di d n o t recei v e t h e req u i s i t e n o t i ce u n d er O CGA § 4 4 -1 4-1 6 1 (c), t h e t r i a l c o u rt

s et as i d e t h e co n fi rm at i o n o rd er. Th e effect of th e s et -as i d e o rd er was t o rei n s tat e t h e cas e

i n t h e t ri al co u rt

, ret u rn i n g i t t o t h e p os t u re i t o c c u p i e d p ri o r to ju d g m en t

. On ce t h e

d efi ci en ci es i n s erv i ce were rect i fi ed

, th e t ri al co u rt co u l d p ro ceed w i t h t h e co n fi rm at i o n

p ro ceed i n g s .).

Un d er Geo rg i a l aw, wh en t h e d efen se o f l ack o f p ers o n al ju ri sd i ct i o n d u e t o

d efect i v e s erv i ce i s rai s ed b y way o f a m o t i on t o s et as id e t h e ju d g m en t , t h e

t ri al co u rt s i t s as th e t ri er o f fact

. Ou r s t an d ard o f rev iew i n t hi s reg ard i s t h e

a n y ev id en ce ru l e, an d ab s en t an ab u s e o f d i s cret i o n

, we wi l l n o t rev e r s e a

t ri al co u rt ’ s refu s al t o s et as i d e a ju d g m en t

. Ho wev er, wh e r e t h e fact s are

u n di s p u t ed an d t he q u es ti o n i s o n e o f l aw, we rev iew t h e ru l in g d e n o v o

. ( C i t at i o n s an d p un ct u at i on o m i t t ed .) Ho oks v. M cCo n d i ch i e Pr o

p er t i es 1

, LP

, 3 3 0 G a

. Ap p . 5 8 3

, 5 8 4 (7 6 7 SE2 d 5 1 7 ) (2 0 1 5 ). See W in s t a r Dev., In c. v. S

u n tr u s t Ba nk , 3 0 8 Ga.

Ap p

. 6 55

, 65 8 (1 ) (7 0 8 SE2 d 6 0 4) (2 0 1 1 ) (A d efen d an t wh o ch al l en g es t h e s u ffi ci en cy o f

s erv i ce “ b ears t h e b u rd en of s h o wi n g i m p ro p er s erv i ce.”) (p u n ct u at i o n an d fo o tn o t e

5Th e Gu l i as ’ read i n g o f Vl a s s i s m i s g u i d ed

. Th e i s s u e b efo re t h e Co u rt i n Vl a ss

was wh et h er t h e co n fi rm at i o n st at u t e req u i res s erv i ce o f t h e p l ead i n g t h at i n i t i at es a

co n fi rm at i o n p ro ceed i n g

, t h at i s

, t h e cred i t o r’ s ap p l i c a t i o n fo r co n fi rm at i o n

, in

a d d i t i o n to a n o ti ce o f t h e t im e an d p l ace o f t h e h eari n g on t hat ap pl icat i o n

. 2 6 3 Ga.

at 2 9 6 (Th e d eb to r arg u ed t h at “ s erv i ce o f [a cred i t or’ s] ap p l i cat i o n fo r co nfi rm at i o n

i n acco rd an ce wi t h O CGA § 9 -1 1 -4 is a p rereq u i s i t e t o t h e i n i ti at i o n o f a v al id

co n fi rm at i o n pro ceed i n g u n d er OCGA § 4 4 -1 4-1 6 1 .”). Th e Co u rt ’ s s t at em en t t h at

“ [a] l l t h at i s s t at ut ori ly req u i red i s t h at t h e d eb t o r be p ers o n al l y serv ed wi t h n o t i ce o f

t h e h eari n g o n t h e cred i t or’ s ap p l i cat i o n at l eas t fi v e d ay s pri o r th eret o ” ex p l ai n ed t h e

Co u rt ’ s h o l d i n g t h at

[s ] i n ce i t i s cl ear t h at an ap p l i cat i on fo r co n fi rm at io n m erel y i n v o k es th e

s u p eri o r co urt ’ s s upe r

visor y a uthor ity ove r non-

j udic ia l f o r ecl o s u re s al es

u n d er p o wer an d i s n o t a “ co m p l ai n t ” b y wh i ch t h e cred i t o r i n i ti at es a

“ ci v i l act i o n ” ag ai n s t t h e d eb t o r i n t h e s u p eri o r co u rt

, i t n eces s ari l y

fo l l o ws t h at su ch an ap p l i cat i o n n eed n o t be serv ed o n t h e d e b t o r i n

acco rd an ce wi t h OCGA § 9 -1 1 -4

.

Vl a s s v. S ecu r i t y Pa ci f i c Na t . Ba n k , 2 6 3 Ga. at 2 9 7-2 9 8 (1 ).

o m i t t ed ).

6Ot h er cas es h a ve es t ab l i s h ed t h at t h e n o t i ce req u i rem en t o f OCGA § 4 4 -1 4 -1 6 1

(c) can b e s at i s fi ed wi th l es s t h an p e r s o n al s erv i ce. See Bel a n s v. B an k o f Amer i ca

,

(“ Bel an s I ”) 3 0 3 Ga. Ap p

. 3 5

, 3 7 (1 ) (6 9 2 SE2 d 6 9 4) (2 0 1 0 ). W i t h o u t eq u at i n g t h e

g i v i n g o f n o t i ce of a co n fi rm at i o n h eari ng t o t h e res p o nd en ts w it h t he s erv i ce o f l eg al

p ro ces s u p o n a d efen d an t i n an o rd i n ary ci v i l cas e

, 4 o u r c o u rt s l o o k t o th e m et h od s

o f s erv i ce p ro v i d ed i n th e Ci v i l Pract i ce Act fo r g u i d an ce i n th e d et erm i n i n g wh et h er

n o t i ce o f a co n fi rm at i o n h eari n g i s s u ffi ci en t i n a p art i cu l ar cas e. W i ns t a r Dev. In c.

v. S u n t r u s t Ba n k

, 3 0 8 Ga. Ap p

. 6 5 5

, 6 5 8 (1 ) (7 0 8 SE2 d 6 0 4 ) (2 0 1 1 ); Amer i b a n k, N.A.

v. Qu a t tl eb a u m , 2 2 0 Ga. Ap p . 3 4 5 , 3 4 7 (2 ) (4 6 9 SE2 d 4 6 2 ) (1 9 9 6 ). Th u s, n o t i ce o f

a co nfi rm at i on h eari n g t hat i s g i v en t o a co rp o rat e res p o n d en t is s uffi ci en t u n d er t h e

co n fi rm at i o n s t at u t e i f i t co m p o rt s wi th OCGA § 9-1 1 -4 (e) (1 ), t h at is

, p ers o n al

s erv i ce u po n an o ffi cer o f th e co rp o rat i o n o r, i f s uch serv i ce can n o t b e acco m p l i s h ed

,

4 Al t h o u gh a co n fi rm at i o n p ro ceed i n g un d er OCGA § 4 4 -1 4 -1 6 1 “ i s n o t an act i o n

i n rem

, becau s e i t d o es n o t ad ju d i cat e t i t l e,” (ci t at i o n an d pu n ct uat i o n o m i t t ed ) W a l l v. Fed

. La nd Ba n k o

f Co lu m b i a

, 2 4 0 Ga. 2 3 6

, 2 3 7 (1 ) (2 4 0 SE2 d 7 6 ) ( 1 9 7 7 )

, a co n fi rm at i o n

p ro ceed i n g i s n o t an ord in ary ci v i l cas e

, ei t h er, b ecau s e n o p ers on al ju d g m en t can b e

o b t ai n ed ag ai n st an y d eb t o r, n o r d o es i t es t ab l i s h t h e li ab i l i t y o f an y p ers o n wi t h reg ard t o

t h e d eb t. Vl a s s v. S

ecu r i t y Pa ci f i c Na t

. Ba n k

, 2 6 3 Ga. at 2 9 7 (1 ); W a ll v. Fed

. La n d Ba n k

o f Co lu mb i a

, 2 4 0 G a

. a t 2 3 7 (1 ). See al s o Hen r y v. Hi wa s s ee La n d Co

. , 2 4 6 Ga. 8 7

, 8 9

(2 6 9 SE2 d 2 ) (1 9 8 0 ) (Co n fi rm at i o n p ro ceed i n g s are u n i q ue ju d i ci al p ro ceed i n g s t h at “ d o

n o t n eat l y fi t i n t o t h e cu s to m ary cl as s i fi cat i o n o f act i o ns i n p ers o n am or act i o n s i n rem .”)

(ci tat i o n o m i t t ed ).

7s erv i ce u po n t h e Secret ary o f St at e. W i n st a r Dev. In c. v. S

u n tr u s t B an k

, 3 08 Ga. Ap p.

at 6 58 (1 ). An d n o t i ce o f a co n fi rm at i o n h eari n g t o an i n d i v id u al r e s p o n d e n t i s

s u ffi ci en t i f i t co m

p o rt s w i t h OCGA § 9-1 1 -4 (e) (7 ), t hat i s, serv i ce u p o n t h e

i n d i v i d u al p ers o n al ly

, o r b y l eav i n g co p ies t h ereo f at t h e p ers o n ’ s d wel l i n g h o u s e o r

u s u a l p l ace o f ab o d e wi t h s o m e p ers on of s u i t ab l e ag e an d d i s cret i o n t h en res i d i n g

t h erei n

, o r b y d el i veri n g a co py o f t he s u m m o ns an d co m

p lai n t t o an ag en t au t h o ri zed

b y ap p o i n t m en t o r b y l aw t o recei v e s erv i ce o f pro ces s

. Id

. See Hen r y v. Hi wa s s ee

La n d Co

. , 2 4 6 Ga. at 8 8 -8 9 (Th e n o t i ce req u i red b y t h e co n fi rm at i o n s t at u t e s h o u ld

b e by o n e o f th e m et h o d s p ro v i d ed fo r p ers o n a l s e r v i c e i n fo rm er Ga. Co d e An n

. §

8 1 A-1 0 4 [cu rren t OCGA § 9 -1 1 -4 ] ; i n i t i al ser v i ce o f th e co n fi rm at i o n ap p l i cat i o n an d

Ru l e Ni s i b y cert i fi ed m ai l was n o t ad eq u at e n o t ice o f t he co n fi rm at i o n p ro ceed i n g s .).

No t ice of a co n fi rm at i o n h eari ng can ev en b e s u ffi ci en t i f i t co m po rt s wi th OCGA §

9 -1 1 -4 (f), t h at i s

, s erv i ce b y p u b l i cat i o n u po n a p ers on wh o res i d es o u t si de t h e s t at e

can n ot b e fo u nd wi t h i n t he s t at e, o r co nceal s h i m s el f o r h ers el f to av o i d s erv i ce.

Bel a n s v. Ba n k o

f Amer i ca (“

Bel a n s V ”), 3 0 9 G a. Ap p

. 2 0 8

, 2 09 (1 ) (7 0 9 SE2 d 8 5 3 )

(2 0 1 1); Bel a n s I

, 3 0 3 Ga. Ap p. at 3 6-3 8 (1 ) .

In t h i s cas e, n o ti ce o f t h e co n fi rm at io n h eari n g was g i v en t o Ni t i n an d San d eep

m o re th an fi v e d ay s p ri o r t o t h e co n fi rm at i o n heari n g

, wh en t he d ep u t y l eft co p i es o f

8t h e p l ead i n g s

, i n cl ud i n g a Ru l e Ni s i o rd eri n g t h em t o ap pear at t h e co nfi rm at i o n

h eari n g

, at t h ei r d w el l i n g h o u s e o r u s u al p l ace o f ab o d e wi th M o h in d er, a p ers o n o f

s u i t a b l e ag e an d d i s cret io n t h en res i d i n g t h erei n

. Th i s m et h o d o f serv i ce was

s u ffi ci en t u n d er O CGA § 4 4 -1 4 -1 6 1 t o i n i t i at e a v al i d co n fi rm at i o n p ro ceed i n g.

W i n st a r Dev. In c. v. S

u n t r u s t Ba n k

, 3 0 8 Ga. A p p

. at 6 58 (1 ). As t he Gu l ias co n ced e,

o n ce a d eb to r h as o nce recei v ed n o t i ce o f a co nfi rm at i o n p ro ceed i n g i n co m p l i an ce

wi t h OCGA § 4 4 -1 4 -1 6 1 (c), s u ch t h at a v al id co n fi rm at i o n p ro ceed i n g i s i n i t i at ed

,

s u b s eq u en t n o t i ces res et ti n g t h e co n fi rm at i o n h e a ri n g to a l at er d at e m ay be s erv ed

b y m ai l i n acco rd an ce wi t h OCGA § 9 -1 1 -5 (b ). Bel a n s V

, 3 0 9 Ga. A p p

. at 2 1 0 (1 ).

Acco rd in g ly

, th e tri al co u rt d i d n o t err i n d en y i n g t h e Gu l i as ’ m o t i o n t o s et as i d e t h e

co n fi rm at i o n h eari n g o n t h e b as i s t h at t he n o t ice w as i n s u ffi ci en t u n d er OCGA § 4 4

-

1 4 -1 61

.

Ju d g men t a f f i r m ed . Di l l ar d

a n d McFa d den , JJ., co n cu r

.

9