FI RST DI VI SI ON

BA RNES, P. J.

, M I LLER and REESE, 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 25, 2018



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 8 A0 59 2 . M O ORE v . HULLANDER.

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

Fo l l owi n g th e gran t o f h i s ap p l i cat i o n fo r d i s cret i o n ary ap p eal

, Mat t h ew J am es

M o o re ap p eal s th e t ri al co u r t ’ s o rd er g ran t i n g at t o rn ey fees t o hi s ex -wi fe, No reen

Du m as Hu l l an d er, i n co n n ect io n wi th a di s p u t e ov er ch i ld cu st o d y an d ch i l d s u p p o rt

.

Fo r t h e reas o n s th at fo l l o w, we v acat e th e at t o rn ey fees award an d rem an d t h i s cas e

fo r fu rt h er p ro ceed i n g s co n si s t en t wi t h t h i s o p i n i o n.

Th e reco rd refl ect s th at M o o re a n d Hu l l an d er were d i v o rced i n 2 0 0 5

, an d

H u l l a n d e r was award ed p ri m ary cu s t od y of t h ei r m in o r ch i l d an d ch i l d s u p p o rt o f

$ 2 5 0 p er m o n t h. Sev eral y ears l at er, t he tri al co u rt en tered an o rd er m o d i fy i n g ch i ld

s u p p ort to $ 4 50 p er m o n t h

. Su b s eq u en t l y

, i n M arch 2 0 1 6

, M o o re fi l ed a pet i t i o n fo r

m o di fi cat i o n o f ch i l d cu s to dy

. M o o re at tach ed t o h i s p et it i o n t h e fo u rt een -y ear-o ld

ch i l d ’ s affi d av it o f el ect i o n t o res i d e p ri m ari l y w i t h M oo re. H u l l an d er an s wered an dco u nt ercl ai m ed fo r co n t em p t ag ai n s t M o o re fo r fai l i n g to p ay th e fu l l $ 4 5 0 p er m o n th

i n co u rt -o rd ered ch il d s u p p ort

.

A t em p o rary h eari n g o n t h e i s s u es o f cu s t o d y m o di fi cat i o n an d co n t em p t was

h e l d i n M ay 2 0 16

. Du ri n g th e h eari n g

, M o o re p ai d h i s ch i ld s u p p o rt arrears i n t h e

am ou n t o f $ 1 6,4 0 0 t o Hu l l an d er. Hu l l an d er st at ed t h at s h e d i d n o t in t en d t o g o

fo rward wi t h h er co n t em

pt m o ti o n i n l i g h t o f M o o re’ s fu l l p ay m en t at t h e heari n g

. At

t h e co n cl u s i o n o f t h e h eari ng

, th e t ri al co u rt decl i n ed t o m od i fy cu s t od y o f th e ch i ld

d u ri n g t h e rem ai n i ng week s of t h e s ch o o l y ear, b u t th e co u rt i n d i cat ed t hat i t wo u ld

rev i s it t h e i s s u e o f cu s t o d y befo re th e en d o f s u m m er at t h e fi n al h eari n g

. H o wev er,

a t em p o rary o rd er was n ev er i s s u ed b y t h e t ri al co u rt aft er t h e h eari n g

.

Th e ch i l d l at er ch an g ed h er m i n d ab o u t l i v i n g w i t h M o o re, an d M o ore d eci d ed

i n Au g u s t o r Sep t em

b er 2 0 1 6 th at h e wo ul d d i s m i s s h is p et i t i o n s e e k i n g t o m o d i fy

ch i l d cu s t o d y

. Ho wev er, M o ore d i d n o t fi le h i s v o lu nt ary d i s m i s s a l o f hi s p et i t i o n

u n t i l M arch 2 01 7.

Hu l l an d er fi l ed a m o ti o n s eek i n g at t o rn ey fees an d ex p en s es u n d er OCGA § §

9 -1 5 -1 4 (b ); 13 -6 -1 1 ; 19 -6 -2 (a); an d 1 9 -9 -3 (g ). Mo ore o p p o s ed t h e m o ti o n

, an d a

h eari n g o n t h e i s s u e o f at t o rn ey fees was h el d in J u ne 2 01 7

. At t h e h e a r i n g,

Hu l lan der’ s at t o rn ey i n t ro d u ced

, wi th o u t ob ject i o n

, b i l li n g s t at em en t s t hat co v ered

2t h e i n i t iat i o n o f t h e cas e t h ro u g h earl y Sep t em b er 2 0 1 6 t h at t ot al ed $ 6 ,2 0 1, an d t h e

at t o rn ey s t at ed i n h i s p l ace t h at h i s b i l l s were reas o nab le an d cu s t o m ary

. M o o re

t es t i fi ed t h at h e h ad d eci ded t o v o l u n t ari l y d is m i ss h i s p et i t i o n t o m o d i fy cu s t o dy

o n ce h i s ch i l d ch an g ed h er m in d ab o u t h er el ect io n t o l i v e wi t h h i m

. M o o re’ s co u n s el

al s o n o t ed t h at t h e co n tem pt i s s u e “ was wrap ped u p an d was s at is fi ed b efo re an y s o rt

o f l i t i g at i o n h ad t o o ccu r as t o . . . t h e co n t em p t.”

At t he en d o f t h e h eari n g

, t h e t r i al co u rt an n ou n ced t hat “ bas ed o n cert ai n

fact ors

, ” i t wo u l d award Hu l l an d er at t o rn e y f e e s i n t h e am o u n t o f $ 4 ,0 0 0. Th e t ri al

co u rt ’ s s ub s eq u en t w ri t t en o rd er award i n g at t o rn ey fees t o Hu l l an d er d i d n o t s p eci fy

t h e s t at u t o ry b as i s fo r t h e award . Th e o rd er s t at ed :

[ Hu l l an d er] i s en t i t l ed to p art i al rei m b u rs em en t o f t h e at t o rn e y

fees b as ed on t he fact t h at [M o o re] was fo un d in co n t em p t o f t h i s Co u rt

fo r b ei n g s u b s t an t i al l y

b eh i n d o n h i s ch i l d s u p p o rt p ay m en t s

.

Fu rt h er, t h e Co u rt fi n d s t h at [M o o re] u n r e a s on ab l y d el ay ed th e

res o lu t i o n o f t h i s m at t er b y h i s act io n s, o r l ack t h ereo f.

Aft er t h e t ri al co u rt en t ered it s wri t t en ord er a w a r d i n g at t o rn ey fees to

Hu l lan der, M o o re fi l ed an ap p l i c a t i on fo r d is cret i o nary ap p eal

, wh i ch t hi s Co u rt

g ran t ed . Th i s ap p eal fo l l o w ed

.

31

. M o o re co n ten d s t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n p red icat i n g i t s award o f at t o rn ey

fees i n p art o n a pri or fi n d in g o f co nt em p t fo r fai lu re t o p ay ch i l d s u p p o rt b ecau s e n o

s u ch fi n d i n g h ad b een m ad e b y t h e co u rt . W e ag ree.

As p rev i o u s l y n o t ed , i n i t s o rd er award i n g at to rn ey fees

, t h e t ri al co urt s t at ed

t h at M o o re h ad p rev i o u s ly b een “ fo u n d i n co n t em p t fo r b ei ng s u bs t an ti al l y b eh i n d o n

h i s ch i l d s u p p ort p ay m en t s ,” a n d a t t h e h eari n g on Hu l lan d er’ s m o t i o n fo r at t o rn ey

fees

, t h e t ri al co u rt s t at ed t h at i t h ad p rev i ou s l y h el d M o o re “ i n wi l l fu l

, i n d i rect

co n tem p t o f co u rt fo r fai lu re t o p ay ch i l d s u p p o r t

. ” Ho wev er, th e reco rd b el i es t h e

t ri al co u rt ’ s reco l l ect i o n o f wh at h ad t ran sp i red earl i er i n t h e cas e an d i n s t ead refl ect s

t h at Hu l l an d er s t at ed at t h e t em p o rary h eari n g t hat s h e d i d n o t i n ten d t o g o fo rward

wi t h h er co n t em

p t m o t i o n i n l i g h t o f M o o re’ s fu l l pay m en t o f h i s ch il d s u p p o rt

arrearag e. Fu rt h erm o re, t h e t ri al co urt n e v e r e n t ered a wri t t en o rd er aft er t h e

t em p o rary h eari n g t h at ad dres s ed t h e is s u e o f co nt em p t o r an y o th er i ss u es rai s ed at

t h at h eari n g

.

Becau s e i t is ap p aren t fro m t h e reco rd t h at Hu l l an der d i d n o t g o fo rward wi th

h er co n t em

p t m o t i o n an d t h e i s su e o f co n t em p t w as n ev er ad

ju d i cat ed

, t h e t ri al co u rt

ab u sed i t s d i s cret i o n b y award i n g at t o rn ey fees b as ed i n p art o n i t s erro n eo u s fi n d i n g

t h at i t h ad prev i ou s ly h el d M o o re i n co n t em p t f o r fai l ure t o p ay ch i l d su p po rt

. See

4Ha r ri s v. Ma h o n e

, 3 4 0 Ga. Ap p

. 41 5

, 4 2 9 (2 ) (7 9 7 S E 2 d 6 8 8 ) (2 0 1 7 ) (t ri al co u rt

ab u sed i t s d i s cret i o n w h ere t h e co u rt ’ s ru l i n g o n at t o rn ey fees was p red icat ed o n “ an

erro neo u s fact u al fi n d i ng ”); Po s t el l v. Al f a In s u r a n ce Co r

p.

, 3 3 2 Ga. Ap p. 2 2

, 2 8 (2 )

(a) (i i i ) (7 7 2 SE2 d 7 93 ) (2 0 1 5) (“ An ab u se o f di s cret io n o ccu rs wh ere t he tri al co u rt

. . . cl earl y errs i n a m at eri al fact u al fi n di n g.”) (ci tat i o n

, pu n c t u a t i o n

, an d em p h as i s

o m it t ed ).

2

. Th e tri al co u rt al s o award ed at t o r n ey fees o n t h e gro u n d t h at M o o re

“ u n reas o n ab l y

d el ay ed t he res o l u t i o n o f t h i s m at t er b y h i s act i o n s, o r l ack t h ereo f.”

M o o re arg u es t h at t he t ri al c o u r t ’s a w a r d o f at t o rn ey fees o n th at g ro u n d was

i m p ro p er b ecau s e t h e co u rt fai l ed t o s et fo rt h a s t at u to ry bas i s o r s u ffi ci en t fact u al

fi nd i ng s t o s u p p o rt t h e award . Ag ai n , we ag ree.

“ As a g en eral ru l e, an award o f at t orn ey fees an d ex p en ses o f l i t ig at i o n are n ot

av ai l ab l e t o t h e p rev ai l i n g p a r t y u n l es s au t h o ri zed b y s t at u t e o r co n t ract .” Ca ry v.

Gu i ra g o s s i a n

, 2 7 0 Ga. 1 9 2, 1 9 5 (4 ) (5 0 8 SE2 d 4 0 3 ) (1 9 9 8 ). To det er m i n e t h e

s t at u to ry b as i s fo r a t ri al co u rt ’ s award o f at t o rn ey fees

, we l o ok t o wh et h er t h e t ri al

co u rt ’ s o rd er “ ci te[s ] a s t at u t o ry b as i s f o r t h e award o r t rack [s ] an y st at u t o ry

l an g u ag e,” wh et her t h e part y s e e k i n g at t o rn ey fees s p eci fi ed th e s t at u t o ry b as i s fo r

award i n g t h e fees

, an d wh et h er t h e reco rd rev eal s t h e b as i s o f t h e award

. See Ha l l v.

5Ha l l

, 3 3 5 Ga. A p p

. 2 0 8

, 2 1 1 (2 ) (7 8 0 SE2 d 7 8 7 ) (2 0 1 5 ). Here, al t h o u g h t h e t ri al co u rt

d i d n o t s p eci fy a s t at ut o ry b as i s fo r i t s award of at t o rn ey fees i n i t s o rd er, Hu l l an d er

m o ved fo r at t o rn ey

fees o n s ev eral s t at u t o ry g ro u n ds

.

(a) Hu l l an d er m o ved fo r at t o rn ey fees b as ed o n OCGA § 1 9-6 -2 (a), 1 b u t t h at

s t at u te “ i s ex p res s l y l i m i t ed t o act i o n s fo r al i m o n y

, fo r di v orce an d al i m o n y

, an d fo r

co n tem p t o f an o rd er ari s i n g o u t o f an act i on fo r al i m o n y o r di v o rce an d al i m o n y .”

Vi s ku p v. Vi s ku p

, 2 9 1 Ga. 10 3

, 1 0 7 (3 ) (7 27 SE2 d 97 ) (2 0 1 2 )

. OCGA § 1 9 -6 -2 (a)

d o es n o t ap p l y t o a p et i t i o n fo r m o d i fi cat i on o f ch i l d cu st o d y

, s ee i d

., o r t o co n t em pt

p ro ceed in g s u n l e s s t h e al l eg at i o n s are “ fo r fai l u re t o co m p l y wi t h t h e o r i

g i n al

al i m o n y o r d i v o rce decree.” (Em p h as i s s u p p l i ed .) Co t hr a n v. Meh os ky

, 2 8 6 Ga. Ap p.

6 4 0

, 64 1 (6 4 9 SE2 d 8 3 8 ) (2 0 0 7 ). See H a l l

, 33 5 Ga. Ap p

. at 21 2 (2 ) (OCGA § 1 9 -6 -2

i s i nap p l i cab l e to act i o n s s eek i n g m o d i fi cat i o n o f ch i l d cu s t o d y an d i s “ l i m i t ed to

1 OCGA § 1 9 -6 -2 (a) p ro v id es i n rel ev an t p art :

(a) Th e g ran t o f at t o rn ey ’ s fees as a p art of t h e ex pen s e s o f l i t ig at i o n

, m ad e

at an y ti m e d u ri n g t he p en d en cy o f t h e l i ti g at i o n

, wh et h er t h e act i on i s fo r

al i m o n y

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

, o r co n t em p t o f co u rt ari s i n g o u t o f ei t her an

al i m o n y c a s e o r a d i v o rce an d al i m o ny cas e, i n cl u d i n g b ut no t li m i t ed t o

co nt em p t o f co u rt o rd ers i nv o l v i n g p ro p ert y d i v i s i o n

, ch i l d cu s t o d y

, an d ch i l d

v i s i t at i on ri g h t s , s h al l b e:

(1 ) W i t h i n th e s o u n d d i scret i o n o f t h e co u rt

, e x c ep t t h at t h e co u rt s h al l

co ns i d er t h e fi n an ci al ci rcu m s t a n c e s o f b o t h p art ies as a p art of i t s

d et erm i n at i o n o f t h e am o un t o f at t o rn ey ’ s fees

, i f an y

, t o b e al l owed ag ai n s t

ei t her p art y

. . . .

6al i m o n y an d d i v o rce cas es an d s u b seq u en t act i o n s fo r co n t em p t bas ed o n

n o n co m p l i an ce wi t h [t h e] d i v o rce o r al i m o n y d eg ree”) (ci t at i o n an d pu n ct u at i o n

o m it t ed ).

M o o re co m

m en ced th is act i o n s eek i n g t o m od i fy ch i l d cu s t o d y

, an d

Hu l lan der’ s co u n t ercl ai m s o u gh t t o h av e M o ore h el d in co n t em p t fo r fai l u re t o p ay

t h e fu ll $ 4 5 0 p er m o n t h i n ch i ld s u p p o rt award ed b y t h e tri al co u rt i n an o rd er en t ered

s u b s eq u en t t o t h e o ri gi n al di vo rce d ecree, wh i ch h ad o nl y award ed $ 25 0 p er m o n th

i n ch i ld s u p p o rt

. Acco rd in g l y

, at t o rn ey fees co u l d n ot b e award ed u n der OCGA § 1 9

-

6 -2 (a) i n t h i s cas e. See Vi s ku p

, 2 9 1 Ga. at 1 0 7 (3 ) (OCGA § 1 9-6 -2 “ i s n o t ap p l i cab l e

t o t h e cas e befo re u s

, wh i ch i s a p et i t i o n fo r m od i fi cat i o n o f ch i l d cu st o d y ”); Co t h r a n

,

2 8 6 G a

. A p p

. at 6 4 2 (OCGA § 1 9 -6 -2 (a) d i d no t ap p ly wh ere “ [t ] he cas e i n v o l v ed

n o al l eg at i on s o f co n tem

p t fo r n o n c o m

p l i a n ce wi th th e o ri g in al d ecree,” b u t rat h er

al l eg ed co n t em

p t fo r v i o l a t i n g a s u b s eq uen t o rd er en t ered b y t h e t ri al co u rt ); Ha l l

,

3 3 5 Ga. Ap p

. at 2 09 (1 ), 2 1 2 (2 ) (OCGA § 1 9 -6 -2 (a) d i d n o t ap p l y w h ere ap p el l an t

was h el d i n co nt em

p t fo r v i o l at i n g a ch i l d s u p p o rt o rd er o b t ai n ed b y Ch i ld Su p p o rt

Serv i ces an d a s ub s eq u en t t em p o rary o rd er m o d ify i n g ch i ld s u pp o rt ). 2

2 As n o t ed s u p ra in D i v is i on 1

, t h e t ri al co u rt n ev er fo u n d M o o re i n co n t em p t fo r

fai lu re t o p ay ch i l d s u p p o rt

, an d b ecau s e “ t h e co nt em p t i s su es w ere no t ad

ju di cat ed

. . . t h e

t ri al co u rt was n o t au t h o ri zed t o award at t o rn ey fees u n der OCGA § 1 9 -6 -2 (a)” fo r t h i s

7(b ) Hu l l an d er al s o m o ved fo r at t o rn ey fees u n d er OCGA § 1 3 -6 -1 1

. 3

A p l ai n ti ff is en t i t l e d t o reco ver at t orn ey fees u n d er OCGA § 13 -6 -1 1

o n l y i f he can es t ab l i s h t h a t t h e d efen dan t h as act ed i n b ad fai t h i n th e

u n d erl y i n g t ran s act io n

. Th erefo re, t he el em en t o f b ad fai t h rel at es to th e

d e f e n d an t ’ s co n d u ct i n en t eri ng i n t o t h e co n t ract o r pert ai n s t o t h e

t ran s act i o n an d d eal i ng s o u t of wh i ch th e cau s e o f act i o n aro s e, n o t t o

t h e d efen dan t ’ s co n d u ct aft er t h e cau s e o f act i o n aro se.

(Ci t at i o n an d pu nct u at io n o m i t t ed ). Fer ti l it y Tech n o l o gy Res o ur ces v. Li f et ek

Med i ca l

, 2 8 2 Ga. Ap p

. 1 4 8

, 1 5 3 (3 ) (6 3 7 SE2 d 8 44 ) (2 0 0 6 ). Here, at th e h eari n g o n

Hu l lan der’ s m o t i on fo r at t o rn ey fees

, t h e t ri al co urt d i s cu ss ed so m e o f M o o re’ s

b eh av i o r l ead i n g u p t o t h i s cas e an d s u gg es t ed t h at i t co u l d co n s t i t u t e b ad fai t h u n d er

OCGA § 1 3 -6 -1 1

. No t ab l y

, h o wev er, th e t r i a l c o u rt t h en st at ed t h at i t wo u l d n ot

“ p u n i s h [M o o re] fo r t h at [b eh av i o r] fi n an ci al l y ” b ecau s e it “ d id n ’ t h ap p e n i n t h i s

cas e,” an d i n it i ts su b seq u en t wri t t en o rd er, t h e t ri al co urt d i d n o t award at to rn ey fees

b as ed o n a fi n d i n g o f bad fai t h b y Mo o re pri o r t o t h e li t ig at i o n

, b ut rat h er o n a fi n d i n g

ad d i t i o n al reas o n

. G l a z a v. Mo r g a n , 2 4 8 Ga. Ap p

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

3 OCGA § 1 3 -6 -1 1 p ro v i d es :

Th e ex p en s es o f l i t ig at i o n g en eral l y s h al l n o t b e a l l o wed as a part o f t h e

d am ag es ; b u t wh ere t h e p l ai n t i ff h as s p eci al l y p l ead ed an d h as m ad e p ray er

t h erefo r an d wh ere t h e d efen d an t h as act ed i n b ad fai t h

, h as b een st u b bo rn l y

l i t i g i o u s

, o r h as cau s ed t h e p l ai n t i ff u n neces s ary tro u b l e an d ex p en s e, t h e ju ry

m ay al l o w t h em

.

8t h at Mo o re h ad u n reas o n ab l y d e l a ye d t h e res ol u ti o n of t h e cas e. 4 Th u s

, al t h o u g h

Hu l lan der m o ved fo r at t o rn ey fees u n d er OCGA § 1 3 -6 -1 1

, i t i s cl ear fro m t h e

l an g u ag e o f t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s o rd er t hat i t d i d n o t award fees o n t h at s t at u t o ry b as i s

. 5

(c) Ad d i t i o nal l y

, Hu l l an d er m o v ed fo r at to rn ey fees u n d e r O C G A § 9 -1 5 -1 4

(b ), 6 wh i ch can b e award ed i n a cu s t o d y m od i fi cat i o n act i o n. See W a r d v. W a r d

, 2 8 9

Ga. 2 5 0

, 2 5 1 (2 ) (7 1 0 SE2 d 5 5 5 ) (2 0 1 1). Th at s tat u t o ry s u b s e c t i o n a u t h o ri zes an

award o f at t o rn ey fees wh ere, am o n g o t h er t h i n g s, a p art y u n n eces s ari l y ex p an d ed t h e

p ro ceed in g s t h ro u g h i m

p ro p er co n d u ct o r act ed t o cau s e d el ay

. See OCGA § 9 -1 5 -1 4

4 W e al s o n o te th at t he tri al co urt d i d n o t award at t o rn ey fees b as ed on a fi n di n g o f

b ad fai t h co n d u ct d u ri n g t h e l it i g at i o n.

5 Becau s e t h e t ri al co u rt d i d n o t award at t o rn ey fees t o H ul l an d er u n der OCGA § 1 3

-

6 -1 1

, we n eed n o t d eci de w h et h er o r t o w h at ex ten t a t t o rn ey fees co u ld b e award ed t o

Hu l l an d er u n d er t h at s t at ut e.

6 OCGA § 9 -1 5 -1 4 (b ) p ro v i d es :

Th e co u rt m ay as s es s reas o n ab l e an d n eces s ary at t o rn ey ’ s fees an d ex p en s es

o f l i ti g at i o n i n an y

ci v i l act i o n i n an y co u rt o f reco rd i f, u p o n t h e m o t io n o f

an y p art y o r t h e co u rt i t s e l f, i t fi n ds t h at an at t o rn ey o r p art y b ro u gh t o r

d efen d ed an act i o n

, o r a n y p art t h ereo f, t h at l ack ed s u b s t an t i al ju s t i fi cat i o n

o r t hat t h e act i o n

, o r an y p art t h ereo f, was i n t erp o s ed fo r d el ay o r h aras s m en t

,

o r i f i t fi n d s t h at an at t orn ey o r p art y u n n eces sari l y ex p an d ed t h e p ro ceed i n g

b y o t h er im

p ro p er co n d u ct

, i n cl u d in g

, b u t n o t l i m i t ed t o

, ab us es o f di s co v ery

p ro ced u res av ai l ab l e u nd er Ch ap ter 1 1 o f t h i s t it l e, t h e “ Geo rg ia Ci v i l

Pract i ce Act .” As u s ed i n t h i s Co de s ect i on

, “ l ack ed s u b s t an t i al j u s t i fi cat i o n ”

m ean s s ub s t an t i al l y fri v o l o u s

, s u b s t an t i al l y g ro u n d l es s

, o r s u bs t an ti al l y

v ex at i o u s

.

9(b ); Ta

yl o r v. Ta yl o r

, 2 8 2 Ga. 1 1 3

, 1 1 5 (3 ) (6 4 6 SE2 d 2 3 8 ) (2 0 0 7 ). A t ri al co urt ’ s

award o f at t o rn ey

fees u n der OCGA § 9 -1 5 -1 4 (b ) i s rev i ewed o n l y fo r an ab u s e o f

d i s cret i o n

, Ha g

g a r d v. Bd

. o f Reg en t s o f t h e Un i v. S

ys t em , 2 5 7 Ga. 5 2 4

, 5 27 (4 ) (c)

(3 6 0 SE2 d 5 6 6) (1 9 8 7 ), bu t t h e co u rt ’ s o rd er “ m u s t i ncl u d e fi nd i n g s o f co n du ct t h at

au t h o ri ze t he award .” Ca s o n v. Ca s o n

, 2 8 1 Ga. 2 9 6

, 3 00 (3 ) (6 3 7 SE2 d 71 6 ) (2 0 0 6 ).

In i t s o rd er award i n g fees t o Hu ll an d er, t h e t ri al co u r t f o u n d t h at M o o re h ad

“ u n reas o n ab l y d el ay ed t h e res o l u t i o n o f t h i s m at t er b y h i s act io n s, o r l ack t h ereo f.”

Th u s, i t ap p ears fro m t he l an gu ag e o f t h e o rd er t h at t he tri al co u rt i n ten d ed t o award

at t o rn ey fees u n d er OCGA § 9-1 5 -1 4 (b ). See Ha l l

, 3 3 5 Ga. A pp

. at 2 1 1 (2 ) (ap p el l at e

co u rt s ca n l o o k t o wh et h er t ri al co u rt ’ s o rd er “ t rack [s ] an y s t at u t o ry l an gu ag e” to

d et erm i n e b as i s f

o r a t t o r n ey fees award ). Bu t, t he t ri al co urt ’ s b are co ncl u s i o n t h at

M o o r e c a u s ed u n reas o n ab le d el ay was i n su ffi ci en t t o ju s t i fy th e award o f fees

b ecau s e “ [t ] h e t ri al co u rt d i d n o t i n cl ud e i n i t s o rd er an y fact u al fi n d in g s t h at u n d erl ay

t h at co n cl u s i o n .” Ra z a vi v. Mer ch a n t

, 3 3 0 Ga. Ap p

. 4 0 7, 4 0 9 (1 ) (a) (7 65 SE2 d 4 7 9 )

(2 0 1 4). 7 See Ama

yo v. Ama

yo

, 3 0 1 Ga. 6 6 0

, 6 6 0

- 6 6 1 ( 8 0 2 SE2 d 2 4 5) (2 0 1 7 );

7 At t h e h eari n g o n t h e m ot io n fo r at t o rn ey fees

, t h e t ri al co u rt no t ed t h at M o o re h ad

d eci d ed i n Au g u s t o r Sep t em b er 2 0 1 6 n o t t o p u rs u e h i s p et i t i o n fo r cu s t o d y m o d i fi cat i o n

b u t d i d no t v o l u n tari l y d i s m is s th e p et i t i o n u n t i l M arch 2 0 17

. Ho w ev er, i t i s u n c l ear

wh et h er t h e t ri al co u rt i n t en ded fo r t h i s fact u al fi n d i n g t o ju s t i fy it s award o f at t o rn ey fees

fo r u n reas o n ab l e del ay i n t h e cas e, g i v en t hat Hu l l an d er o n l y s o ug h t at t orn ey fees fo r wo rk

10McCl u r e v. McCu r r y

, 3 2 9 Ga. Ap p

. 3 4 2

, 3 4 4 (2 ) (7 6 5 SE2 d 3 0) (2 0 1 4). Acco rd i n g l y

,

t h e award m

u s t b e vac a t e d a n d t h e cas e rem an d ed fo r t h e tri al co u rt t o reco n s i d er

wh et h er at t o rn ey fees sh o u ld be g ran ted u nd er OCGA § 9 -1 5 -1 4 (b ), an d

, i f s o, to

en t er a ju d g m en t co n t ai n i n g s u ffi ci en t fi n d i n g s o f fact an d co n cl u s i o ns o f l aw to

s u p p ort s u ch an award

. See Ama yo

, 3 0 1 Ga. at 6 6 0 -6 6 1 ; Ra z avi

, 3 3 0 Ga. Ap p

. at 4 0 9

(1 ) (a); McCl u r e , 3 2 9 Ga. Ap p . at 3 4 4 (2 ).

M o reo v er, wh en award i ng at t o rn ey fees u n der OCGA § 9 -1 5 -1 4 (b ), t h e t ri al

co u rt “ m us t l i m i t t h e fees award t o t h o s e fees in cu rred b ecau s e of t h e s an ct i o n ab l e

co n du ct

. ” (Ci t at i o n an d pu n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed .) Br ewer v. Pa u l k

, 2 9 6 Ga. Ap p

. 2 6

, 3 1

(2 ) (6 7 3 SE2 d 54 5 ) (2 0 0 9 ). T h u s

, “ l u m p s u m o r u n ap p o rt io n ed at t orn ey fees award s

are n o t perm it t ed in Geo rg i a,” an d we w i l l v acat e an d rem an d fo r fu rt h er fact -fi n d i n g

wh ere “ t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s o rd er, o n i t s face[,] fai l s t o s ho w th e co m p l ex d eci s i o n m ak i n g

p ro ces s n eces s ari l y i n v o l v ed i n reach i n g a part i cu l ar d o l lar fi gu re an d fai l s to

art i cu l at e wh y ” t he co u r t a w ard ed on e am o un t o f fees rat h er t h an an o t h er u n d er

OCGA § 9 -1 5-1 4 (b ). (Ci t at i on s an d p u nct u at i o n o m i tt ed .) Tr o tma n v. Vel o ci t e a ch

d o n e b y h er co u n s el th ro u g h earl y Sep t em b er 2 0 16

. T h us

, t h e h eari n g tran s cri p t d oes n o t

cl ari fy t h e fact u al b as i s fo r th e t ri al co u rt ’ s award o f fees

. See F r a n kl i n Cr ed i t Mg mt

. Co rp

.

v. Fr ied en b er g

, 2 7 5 Ga. Ap p

. 2 36

, 2 4 1 (2 ) (b ) (6 2 0 SE2 d 4 6 3 ) ( 2 0 0 5 ) (ap pel l at e co u rt

co u l d c o n s i d e r th e h eari ng t ran s cri p t i n d et erm in i n g wh et h er t ri al co u rt m ad e s u ffi ci en t

fact u al fi n d i n g s t o s u p p o rt an award o f at to rn ey fees u n der OCGA § 9 -1 5 -1 4 ).

11Pr o

ject Mg mt

. , 3 1 1 Ga. Ap p

. 2 0 8

, 2 1 4 (6 ) (7 15 SE2 d 4 4 9 ) (2 0 11 ). Here, t h e t ri al

co u rt award ed a l um

p s u m o f $ 4 ,0 00 i n at t o rn ey

fees wi t ho u t s h o wi n g t h e co m p l ex

d eci s i o n m ak i n g p ro ces s n eces s ari l y i n v o lv ed i n reach in g t h at part icu l ar d o l l ar fi g u re

an d fai led t o art i cu l at e “ h o w t h e a w ard was ap po rt i o n ed t o i n cl u d e o nl y fees an d

ex p en s es g en erat ed b as ed o n [M o o re’ s ] s an ct i o n ab l e co n du ct ” u nd er OCGA § 9 -1 5

-

1 4 (b ). Bu t l er v. Le e

, 3 3 6 G a

. Ap p

. 1 0 2

, 1 06 (2 ) (7 8 3 SE2 d 7 0 4 ) (2 0 1 6). Fo r t h i s

ad d it i o n al reas o n

, t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s o rd er award i n g at t orn ey fees to Hu ll an d er m u s t b e

v acat ed an d t h e cas e rem an d ed fo r fu rt h er act i o n co n s i s t en t wi th t h i s o p i n i o n . Id

.

(d ) Las t ly

, we n o t e t h at a t ri al co u rt ’ s award o f at t o rn ey fees n eed n o t b e

v acat e d a n d rem an d ed i f “ th e fu l l am ou n t o f t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s award can b e

i n d ep en den t l y s u s t ai n ed ” u nd er an a l t ern at i v e s t at u t o ry p ro v is i on t h at was as s ert ed

as a b as i s fo r an award o f fees i n t h e co u rt b el o w. Ho a r d v. B ever i d g e

, 2 9 8 Ga. 7 2 8,

7 3 0 (2 ) (7 8 3 SE2 d 6 2 9) (2 01 6 ). See S i n kwi ch v. Co n n er

, 2 8 8 Ga. Ap p

. 3 20

, 3 2 2 (6 5 4

SE2 d 1 8 2 ) (2 0 0 7 ) (at t orn ey fees award c a n b e s u s t ai n ed u n d er t h e “ ri g h t fo r an y

reas on r u l e ” b as ed “ u po n a l eg al b as i s ap p aren t fro m t h e reco rd w h i ch w as fai rl y

p res en t ed i n t h e co u rt bel o w”) (fo o t n o t e an d p u n ct u a t i o n o m i tt ed ). Hu l l an d er al s o

12m o ved fo r at to rn ey fees u n d er OCGA § 19 -9 -3 (g ), 8 wh i ch “ i s ap p l i cab l e i n an act i o n

s eek i n g m o d ifi cat i o n o f c h il d cu s to d y [] ” an d th u s co u l d h av e p ro v id ed a st at u t o ry

b as i s fo r an award o f at t o rn ey fees i n t hi s cas e. See Vi sku p

, 2 9 1 Ga. at 1 0 7 (3 ). See

al s o Hi l l v. Da vi s

, 3 3 7 Ga. Ap p. 6 8 3 , 6 86 (6 ) (7 8 8 SE2 d 5 70 ) (2 0 1 6 ) (at t o rn ey fees

co u ld b e award ed u n d er OCGA § 1 9 -9 -3 (g ) ag ai n s t part y wh o “ o ri g i nal l y b ro u g ht

[t he] act i o n t o m o d i fy ch i l d cu st o d y ”). OCGA § 1 9 -9 -3 (g ) “ affo rd s w id e d i s cret i o n

t o t h e t ri al co u rt t o award reas o n ab l e at t o rn ey fees an d e x p e n s e s i n ch i l d cu s t o dy

act i on s t o b e p ai d b y th e p art i es i n p ro p o rt i on s an d at t im es d et erm i n ed b y t h e ju d g e.”

(Ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed .) Mo o re v. Mo o r e-McKi n n ey , 2 9 7 Ga. Ap p . 7 0 3,

7 1 2 (4 ) (6 7 8 SE2 d 1 52 ) (2 0 0 9 ). Nev ert h el es s, i n t h e p res en t cas e,

8 OCGA § 1 9 -9 -3 (g ) p ro v i d es :

Ex cep t as p ro v i d ed i n Co d e Sect i o n 1 9 -6 -2

, an d i n ad d i t i o n to t h e at t o rn ey ’ s

fee pro v i s i o n s co n t ai ned i n Co d e Sect i o n 1 9 -6 -1 5

, t h e j u d ge m ay o rd er

reas o n ab l e at t o rn ey ’ s fees an d ex p en ses o f l i t i g at i o n

, ex p ert s

, an d t h e ch i l d ’ s

g u ard i an ad l i t em a n d o t h er co s t s of t h e ch i l d cu s t od y act i o n an d pret ri al

p ro ceed i n g s t o b e p ai d by th e p art ies in p ro p o rt i o n s an d at ti m es det erm i n ed

b y t h e ju d g e. At t o rn ey ’ s fees m ay b e award ed at bo t h t h e t em p o rary heari n g

a n d t h e fi n al heari n g

. A fi n al ju dg m en t s h al l i n cl u d e t h e am ou n t g r a n t e d

, wh et h er t h e g ran t i s i n fu l l o r o n acco u n t

, wh i ch m a y b e en fo rced b y

at t ach m en t fo r co n t em

p t o f co u rt o r b y wri t o f fi eri faci as

, w h et h er th e p art i es

s u b s eq u en tl y

reco n ci l e o r n o t

. An at t orn ey m ay b ri ng an act io n i n h i s o r h er

o wn n am e to en fo rce a g ran t o f at t orn ey ’ s fees m ad e p u rs uan t t o t h i s

s u b s ect i o n

.

13wh i l e i t is ap p aren t t h e t ri al co u rt ex erci s ed i t s d i s cret i o n i n m ak i n g th e

at t o rn ey fee award

, we can n ot s ay it i s ap p aren t t h at t h e t ri al co urt w o u l d

h av e d o n e s o u n d er OCGA § 19 -9 -3 (g ). Un l i k e OCGA § 9 -1 5 -1 4 (b ),

a fee award u n d er OCGA § 1 9 -9 -3 (g ) wo u l d n o t n eces s ari l y b e fo cu s ed

o n M o o re’ s co n du ct

. Th u s

, i t i s n o t ap p aren t t h at t he t ri al co u rt wo u l d

h av e award ed fees u n d er OCGA § 1 9 -9 -3 (g )[.]

(Ci t at i o n s an d pu nct u a t i o n o m i t t ed .) Id

. Co n s eq uen t l y

, we can n ot affi rm t h e t ri al

co u rt ’ s at t o rn e y f

ees award o n t h e al t ern at i v e b as i s o f OCGA § 1 9 -9 -3 (g ), an d t h e

t ri al co urt ’ s ord er m

u s t b e v acat ed

, an d “ t h e i s s u e o f at to rn ey fees m u s t b e rem an d ed

fo r an ex pl an at i on o f t h e s t at ut o ry b as i s fo r t h e award an d an y fi n d i n g s n eces s ary to

s u p p ort i t .” (Ci t a t i o n a n d p u nct u at i o n o m it ted .) Id

. See W i l s o n v. P er ki n s

,

_

_ Ga.

Ap p

.

_ _ (2 ) (Cas e No

. A1 7 A1 5 2 0

, d e c i d ed M arch 2

, 2 0 1 8 ) (at t o rn ey fees award

v acat ed an d rem an d ed fo r t h e t ri al co u rt t o reco n s i d er wh et h er o r to wh at ex t en t fees

s h o u ld b e award ed u nd er OCGA § 9 -1 5 -1 4 o r OCGA § 1 9 -9 -3 (g )).

Ju d g men t va ca t ed a n d ca s e r ema n d ed wi th d i r ect i o n

. Mi l l er

, P. J., a n d Rees e,

J., co n cu r

.

14