FI FTH DI VI SI ON

M C FA DDEN, C. J.

, R I CKM A N, P. J.

, and SENI OR A PPELLA TE JUDGE PHI PPS.

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.

https ://w w w

. ga a ppe a ls .us /r ule s

D E A D LIN E S A R E N O LO N G E R TO LLE D IN T

H I S

C O U R T. A LL FILIN G S M U ST B E S U B M I TTE D WITH IN

TH E TIM E S S E T B Y

O U R C O U R T R U LE S

.

A pr i l 27, 2021



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A2 1 A0 00 1 . GILLER et al . v . SLOSBERG.

P H I P P S , Sen i o r Ap p el l at e J u d g e.

Th i s co nt en t i o u s c a s e i n v o l v es a fam il y d i s p u t e am o n g s i b l in g s wh i ch aro s e

aft er t h ei r el d erl y fat h er rev o ked an ex i s t i n g po wer o f at t o rn ey

, ex ecu t ed a n ew p o wer

o f a t t o rn ey

, an d m ad e ch an g es t o cert ai n fi n an ci al acco u n t s rel at i ng t o h i s e s t a t e

p l an n i n g s t rat eg y

. See S l o s b er g v. Gi l l er

, 3 41 Ga. Ap p

. 5 8 1 (8 0 1 SE2 d 3 3 2 ) (2 0 1 7 )

(affi rm i n g i n p art an d rev ers in g i n p a r t t h e s up eri o r co u rt ’ s g ran t o f s u m m ary

ju d g m en t t o b o th p art i e s o n v a r i o u s i s su es ). Th e cas e i s n o w b efo re th i s Co u rt a

s eco n d t i m e. In t h i s ap p eal , s i s t ers Su zan n e Gi ll er an d Ly n n e Am y Sei d n er 1 s eek to

rev ers e a ju ry verd i ct an d s up eri o r co u rt ju d g m en t i n f a v o r of t h ei r bro t h er, Ro b ert

1 Sei d n er’ s fi rs t n am e i s al s o s p el led “ Ly nn ” i n t h e reco rd

.Sl o s b erg

. Fo r t h e reas o n s t h at fo l l o w, we rev ers e t h e ju d g m en t o f t h e s u p eri o r co u rt

an d rem an d t h e cas e fo r fu rt h er p ro ceed i n g s co n s i s t en t wi t h t h i s o p in i o n

.

Th i s cas e d oes n o t in v o l v e a wi l l . Rat h er, i t co n cern s t h ree d o cu m en t s wh i ch

p u rp ort ed t o d i s tri b ut e m

u ch o f t h e as s et s o f t h e fat h er, Dav i d K. Sl o s b erg : t he Dav id

K. Sl o s b e rg As s et Pro t ect i o n Tru s t II, d at ed J an u ary 1 7

, 2 0 1 4 (Tru s t # 2 ), a

b en efi ci ary fo rm d es i g n at i n g Gi l l er an d Sei d ner as b en efi ci ari es o f t hei r fat h er’ s IRA

Acco u n t wi t h Fi rs t Nat i on al Ban k & Tru st (“ FNBT”) (t h e “ IRA Ac co u n t ”), an d a

b e n e f i ci ary fo rm des ig n at i n g Gi l l er, Sei dn er, an d Sl o s b erg as b en efi ci ari es o f t h ei r

fat h er ’s A g e n cy A cco u n t w i t h FNBT (t he “ Ag en cy A cco u n t ”), wi th Gi l l er an d

S e i d n er each recei vi n g fo rt y p ercen t o f t h e as s et s an d Sl o s b erg recei v i n g t w e n t y

p ercen t

. Sl o s b erg b el i ev ed th at Gi ll er an d Sei d n er ex ert ed u nd u e i n fl u en ce o v er t h ei r

fat h er an d cau sed t h ei r fat h er t o ex ecu t e t h es e t h ree d o cu m en t s

, d ras t i cal l y red u ci n g

h i s ri g ht t o t h ei r fat h er’ s as s et s

.

Ap p r o x i m a t el y on e y ear b efo re th ei r fat her d i ed

, Sl o s b erg fi led s ui t ag ai n s t

Gi l l er an d Sei d n er. Aft er t h ei r fat h er’ s deat h

, Sl o s b erg fi l ed h i s t h i rd am en d ed

co m p l ai n t

, wh ich i s t h e op erat i v e p lead i n g fo r t h i s ap p eal

. T he am en ded co m p l ai nt

i n cl u d ed a n u m

b er o f cl ai m s, in cl u di n g cl ai m s fo r u nd u e i n fl u en ce, frau d

, co n v ers i o n,

an d t ro v er ag ai n s t Gi l l er an d Sei d n er b as ed o n al l eg at i o n s t h at t h ei r fat h er’ s act i on s

2were t h e res u l t of d i m in i s hed m en tal cap aci t y an d u n d u e in fl uen ce. Th e co m p l ai nt

s o u g ht

, am o n g o t h er rel i ef, t h e i m p o s i t i o n o f a co n s tru ct i v e t ru s t t o th e ex t en t Gi l l er

an d Sei dn er had ab sco n d ed wi t h as s et s t o wh i ch Sl o s b erg was en t i t l ed

, an d i n ju n ct i v e

rel i ef t o p ro h i b i t Gi ll er an d Sei dn er fro m t ran s ferri n g o r recei v in g an y as s et s o f t h ei r

fat h er, i n cl u di n g

, i n t er al i a, Tru s t # 2

, t h e IRA Acco u nt

, an d t h e Ag en cy Acco u n t u n t i l

t h e co u rt d et erm in ed wh et her t h e ex ecu t io n o f t h es e d o cu m en t was t h e res ul t o f u n d u e

i n fl u en ce. G i ll er an d Se ide r a nsw e r e d a n d as s ert ed co u n t ercl ai m s ag ai ns t Sl o s b erg fo r

d efam at i o n an d t o rt io u s i n t erferen ce, s eek i ng b o t h a d ecl arat o r y j u d g m en t an d

eq u it ab l e rel i ef.

Fo l l owi n g a t wo an d o ne-h al f week t ri al

, t h e ju r y fo u n d i n fav or o f Sl o s b erg

o n h is cl ai m s fo r un d u e i n fl u en ce as t o al l t h ree d o cu m en ts : Tr u s t #2

, t h e IRA

Acco u n t

, an d t h e A g en cy Acco u n t

. 2 Th e su p eri o r co u rt en t ered fi n al j u d gm en t o n t h e

ju ry ’ s v erd i ct

, ru l in g “ t h at t h e ch al l en g ed d ocu m en t s p ert ai n i n g t o t h e Acco u n t s are

v o i d an d are hereb y set as i de, as are an y t ran s fers m ad e p u rs u an t t o t ho s e d o cu m en t s .”

Th e s u p eri or co u rt fu rt h er n ot ed t h at th e ev i d en ce p ro d u ced at t ri al d em o ns t rat ed t h at

t h e to t al am o u n t co n t ai n ed in t h e acco u n t s at t h e t i m e o f t h e fat h er’ s d eat h was

2 Th e ju ry fo u n d i n fav o r o f Gi l l er an d Sei d n er o n Sl os b erg ’ s cl ai m fo r t o rt i ou s

i n t erferen ce wi t h g ift ex p ect an cy

. In ad d i t i o n

, t h e ju ry fo u n d th at S l o s b e rg was n ot

en t i t l ed t o reco v er at t o rn ey fees an d ex p en s es o f l i t i g at i o n o r p u n i t i ve d am ag es

.

3$ 2 ,3 7 2 ,0 0 0 .0 1

, an d t h at al l as s et s co n t ai n ed i n t h es e th ree acco u n t s “ had b een

d i s t ri b u t ed b y FNBT, ei t h er t o [Gi ll er an d Sei d n er] o r i n t o t he reg i s t ry of t h e Co u rt

,

ap art fro m $ 1 40 ,4 13

. 6 7 h el d i n t h e IRA acco u n t as o f D ecem b er 3 1

, 2 0 18 .” Th e

s u p eri o r co u rt

, t h erefo re, i m p o s e d a c o n s t ru ct i v e t ru st i n fav or o f Sl o s b erg fo r

$ 1 ,0 5 6 ,4 8 2 .3 1

, wh i ch t h e co u rt d et erm in ed w as Sl o s b erg ’ s o n e-t h i rd s h are o f t h e

acco u n t s, p l u s p reju d g m en t i n t eres t

, po s t ju d g m en t i n teres t , an d co st s . Sp eci fi cal l y

,

t h e s u p eri o r co u rt ’ s ju dg m en t s t at ed :

Th e Co u rt d i rect s t h at t h e Cl erk di s t ri b u t e t o [Sl o s b erg ] al l m o n i es h el d

i n t h e r e g i s t r y o f t h e Co u rt wi t h res p ect t o t h i s m at t er, t o t al i n g

$ 5 6 8 ,9 1 9.9 6 as o f J u n e 2 8

, 2 0 1 9

. T h e Co u rt fu rt her d i rect s t h at an y

m o n i es ret ai n ed b y FNBT i n t h e Acco u nt s b e d i s t ri b u t ed to [Sl o sb erg ]

. To t h e ex t en t t h at th es e m o n i es are i n s u ffi ci en t to s at i s fy t hi s J u d g m en t

, [Gi l l er an d Sei d n er] are l i ab l e as co n s t r u c t iv e t ru s t ees fo r an y u n p ai d

b al an ce.

Gi l l er an d Sei d n er fi l ed a m o t i o n fo r ju dg m en t no t wi t h s t an d i ng t h e v erd i ct an d

fo r n ew t ri al , wh i ch t h e s u p eri o r co u rt d en i ed . Th i s ap p eal fo l l o wed

.

W e fi rs t n o t e t h at Gi l l er an d Sei d ner do n o t c l a i m th at t h e ev i d en ce was

i n s u ffi ci en t t o s u p p o rt t h e ju ry ’ s fi n d i n g s o r i n an y way ch al l en g e t h e ju ry ’ s fi n d i ng s

t h at t hey wro n g fu l ly p ro cu red t h e t h ree d o cu m en t s an d t h ei r as s et s t h r o u g h t h e

ex erci s e o f u n d u e i n fl u en ce o v er t h ei r fat h er. Rat h er, t h ey at t ack t he s u p eri or co urt ’ s

4fi nal ju d g m en t

, arg u i n g t h at (1 ) t h e i n t erro rem cl au s e co n t ai ned in Tru s t # 2 p recl u d ed

Sl o s b erg fro m recei v i n g an y as s et s fro m t h at t ru s t

, (2 ) t h e s u p eri o r co u rt ’ s i m p o s i t i o n

o f a co n s t ru ct i ve t ru s t i n Sl o s b erg ’ s fav or u s urp s th e p ro bat e co u rt ’ s ju ri sd i ct i o n

, an d

(3 ) t he fi n al ju d g m en t award ed d am ag es ab o v e t h o s e t o wh i ch Sl o s berg was en t i t l ed

. 3

Th es e i s s u es ap p ear to rai s e m ix ed q u es t i o n s o f fact an d l aw. W i t h m i x ed q u es t i on s

o f fact an d l aw, t hi s Co u rt accep t s th e t r i a l c o u r t ’ s fi n d i n g s o n d i sp u ted fact s an d

wi t n es s cred ib i l i t y u n l es s cl earl y erro n eo u s

, b u t i nd ep en d en t l y ap p l i es th e l eg al

p ri n ci p l es t o th e fact s

. G ar d en Cl u b o f G a. v. Sh a ckel

f or d

, 2 7 4 Ga. 6 5 3, 6 5 5 (1 ) (5 6 0

SE2 d 5 2 2) (2 0 0 2); S

u g g s v. S t a t e , 2 7 2 Ga. 8 5, 8 8 (4 ) (5 2 6 SE2 d 3 4 7 ) (2 0 00 ).

1

. Gi l l er an d Sei d n er as s ert t h at t h e s u p eri o r co u rt erred i n al l owi n g Sl o s b erg

t o “ en jo y t h e b en efi t s h e fo rfei t ed b y i n i t i at i n g act i o n s d is al lo wed b y t h e n o -co n tes t

cl au s e” i n t h ei r fat her’ s t ru s t

. Sp eci fi cal ly , t h ey arg u e t h at t h e s u p eri o r co u rt ’ s fi n al

ju d g m en t i s i n co n s i s t en t wi th t he v al i d an d en fo rceab l e in t erro rem cl au se 4 co n t ai n ed

3 “ Fo r co n v en i en ce of di s cu s s i o n

, we h av e t ak en th e en u m erat ed erro rs o u t o f

t h e o rd er” i n w h ich Gi l l er an d Sei d n er hav e l i s t ed th em

. Fo s t er v. Mo r r i s on

, 1 7 7 Ga.

Ap p . 2 5 0 , 2 5 0 (1 ) (3 3 9 SE2 d 3 0 7 ) (1 9 8 5 ).

4 An i n t erro rem cl au s e is “ [a] p ro v is i o n d es i gn ed to t h reat en o ne i nt o act i o n

o r i n act io n ; es p

., a t es t am en t ary p ro v is i on t h at t h reat en s t o d i s p o s s es s an y b en efi ci ary

wh o ch al l en g es t h e t erm s o f t h e wi l l .” Bl ack ’ s Law Di ct i o n ary (1 0 t h ed

. 2 0 1 4 ), p p.

9 4 7 , 1 2 0 9

.

5i n Tru s t # 2

, wh i ch pro v i des t hat b en efi t s rev o k ed un d er th e cl au s e b eco m e a p art o f

t h e rem ai n d er o f t h e Tru s t E s t at e. Th ey fu rt h er as sert t h at no t o n l y was Sl o s b erg n ot

en t i t l ed t o b en efi ts u nd er Tru s t # 2 b ecau s e o f t he i n t err o r em cl au s e, b u t t h ey were

en t i t l ed t o ju d g m en t i n t h ei r fav o r o n t h e u n d u e i nfl u en ce cl ai m as t o t h e t ru s t

. 5 W e

co n cl u d e t h at Sl o s b erg fo rfei t ed an y b en efi t s u n d er Tru s t # 2 by v i o l at in g t h e t ru st ’ s

i n t erro rem

cl au s e, an d t h e s u p eri o r co urt erred in n o t o n l y award in g a co n s t ru ct i v e

t ru s t b as ed o n a n y b e n e f i ts h e wo u l d h av e recei v ed u n d er t h e t ru s t

, b u t al s o in

p erm i t t in g t h e cl ai m to p ro ceed t o t h e ju ry

. W e n o te t h at n ei th er t h e IRA Acco u n t n o r

t h e Ag en cy Acco u n t co n t ai n ed i n t erro rem cl au s es

, an d o u r d eci s i o n i n t hi s d i v i s i o n,

t h erefo re, i s l i m i t ed t o Tru s t # 2

.

Th e s t at u t e ad dres s i n g t h e ru l es fo r t ru s t i n t erro rem cl au ses wh en t h e t ru s t at

i s su e was ex ecu t ed i n 20 1 4 s t at ed :

(a) A t ru s t m ay

b e creat ed fo r an y l awfu l p u rp o s e.

5 Gi l l er an d Sei d n er m o v ed fo r p art ial s u m m ary ju d g m en t o n t h e g ro u n d t h at

Sl o s b erg ’ s cl ai m fo r u n d ue i n fl u en ce was barred b y th e i n terro rem cl au s e i n Tru s t # 2.

Th e s u p eri or co u rt d en i ed t h e m o t i o n

. Gi l l er an d Sei d n er rai s ed th e sam e i s s u e d u ri n g

a d i rect ed v erd i ct at t h e cl o s e o f ev i d en ce, an d t h at m o t io n al s o was d en i ed

. Th ey

ag ai n rai sed t h e i s s u e in t h ei r m o t i o n fo r ju d g m en t n o twi th s t an d i n g t h e v erd i ct

, an d

t h e s u p eri o r co u rt ag ai n d en i ed i t , n o t i n g t h at “ t h e Co u rt p rev i o u s l y co ns i d ered an d

reject ed [t h e arg u m en t ] o n s u m m ary ju d g m en t an d at d i rect ed v erd i ct .”

6(b ) A co n d it i on in t erro rem s h al l b e v o i d u n l es s th ere i s a d i rect i o n i n th e

t ru s t i n s t ru m en t as t o t he d i s p o s it i o n o f t h e p ro p ert y i f t h e co n d i t io n i n

t erro rem i s v i o l at ed

, i n wh i ch ev en t t h e d i rect io n in t he t ru s t i n s t ru m en t

s h al l b e carri ed o u t.

OCGA § 5 3 -1 2 -2 2 (2 0 1 4 ). 6 “ [A] l t h o u gh i n t erro rem cl au s es are p erm i t t ed b y s t at u t e

. . . th ey are n o t fav o red i n t h e l aw. Fu rt h erm o re, b ecau s e i n t erro rem cl au s es res u l t

i n fo rfei t u res

, t h ey m

u s t b e s t ri ct l y co n s t ru ed .” C a l l a w a y v. W i l la r d

, 3 2 1 Ga. Ap p.

3 4 9 , 3 5 3 (1 ) (7 3 9 SE2 d 5 33 ) (2 0 1 3 ) (ci t at i o n s an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ).

Th e i n t erro rem cl au se at i s s u e h ere i n Tru s t # 2 p ro v i d ed :

[S] h o u l d m

y s o n

, Ro b ert Ken n et h Sl o sb erg

, o r hi s l eg al rep res en t at i v e,

o r ei t h er o f m

y d au g h t ers

, o r t h ei r l eg al rep res en t at i v es [,] c o n t es t o r

i n i t i at e l eg al pro ceed i n g s t o co n t es t t h e v al i d i ty o f t h i s Tru st o r m y Las t

W i l l an d T es t am e n t ex ecu ted b y m e an d d at ed Oct o b er 3 1 st

, 2 0 1 3, o r

an y p ro vi s i on fro m b ei n g carri ed o u t i n acco rd an ce wi t h i ts t erm s as I

ex p res s ed (wh et h er o r n ot i n g oo d fai t h an d wi th p ro b ab le cau se), t h en

al l t h e b en efi t s p ro v i d ed h erei n fo r m y s o n an d / o r fo r m

y d au gh t ers are

rev o ked an d an n u l l ed

. Su ch b en e f i t s

, i f n o t a p art of t h e res i d u e o f m y

es t at e, s h al l g o o v er to an d b eco m e a p art o f t h e rem ai nd er o f m y Tru s t

Es t at e.

6 Th e s tat u t e was am en d ed

, effect i ve J an u ary 1

, 2 0 2 1

, t o a dd a cl au s e to

s u b s ect i o n (b ) (“ ex cep t as o th erwi s e pro v i d ed i n s u b s ect i o n (c) o f th i s Co d e s ect i o n ”)

an d a n ew s u b s ect i o n (c) t h at read s : “ (c) A co n d i t i o n i n t e r r o rem s h al l n o t b e

en fo rce a b l e ag ai n s t an in d i v i du al fo r: (1 ) Bri ng i n g an act i o n fo r in t erp ret at i o n o r

en fo rcem en t o f a t ru s t in s tr u m e n t ; (2 ) Bri n g i n g an act i o n fo r an acco u n t i n g

, fo r

rem o v al

, o r f

o r o t h e r rel i ef ag ai n s t a t ru s t ee; o r (3 ) En t eri n g in t o a set t l em en t

ag reem en t .” Th e res u l t we reach i n t h i s cas e wo u l d b e t h e s am e u n d er cu rren t Geo rg i a

l aw.

7Gi ll er an d Sei dn er arg ue th at t h e i n t erro rem cl au s e refl ect s t h ei r fat h er’ s “ p l ai n an d

u n am b i g u o u s i n t en t

. . . t o p res erv e t h e s an ct i t y o f t h e p lan h e, o v er a peri od o f y ears

,

c r e a t ed fo r h i s as s et s an d h i s ch i l d ren .” W hi l e t h is arg u m en t i g n o res Gi l l er a n d

Sei d n er’ s u n d is p ut ed ro l e i n un d u l y i n fl u en ci n g t h ei r fat h er t o s ecu re t h e t ru s t

co n tai n i n g t h e i n t erro rem cl au s e, we are co n st rai n ed to co n cl u d e t h at Sl o s b erg ’ s

“ i n it i at io n of l eg al p ro ceed i n g s t ri g g ered t h e [t ru s t ’ s ] i n t erro rem cl au s e[.] ” No r ma n

v. Go b er , 2 9 2 Ga. 3 5 1 , 3 5 4 (1 ) (7 3 7 SE2 d 3 0 9 ) (2 0 13 ).

Al t h ou g h Sl o s b erg at t em

p t s t o d i s t i n gu i s h Du n ca n v. Ra wl s

, 3 45 Ga. Ap p

. 3 4 5

(8 1 2 SE2 d 6 4 7) (2 0 1 8 ), th at cas e i s d irect l y on p o in t an d lead s u s to t h e i n es cap ab l e

co n cl u s i o n t h at t h e i n t erro rem cl au s e i n Tru s t #2 b ars an y cl ai m at tack i ng th e t ru s t

,

i n cl u d i n g a cl ai m t h at t h e t ru s t was ex ecu t ed as t h e res u l t o f u n d u e i n fl u en ce. Du n ca n

co n cern ed “ wh et h er an d u n d er wh at ci rcu m s t a n ces Geo rg i a p u b l i c p o l i cy pro h i b i t s

en fo rcem en t o f an i n t erro rem

, o r n o co n t es t

, p ro v i s i o n o f a t ru st

. ” Id

. at 3 45

. Th e cas e

i n v o l v ed b en efi ci ari es o f a t r u s t

, al l eg ed l y i n g o o d fai t h an d u p o n p ro b ab l e cau s e,

ch al l en g i n g th e l eg al v al i d i t y o f t h e t ru s t b as ed o n a cl ai m of u n d ue i n f l u e n c e

. I d.

“ W e co n cl u de[d ] t h at b ecau s e t h e l eg i s l a t u r e, n o t t hi s Co u rt

, det erm in es Geo rg i a

p u b l i c p o l i cy

, th e t ri al co u rt d i d n o t err b y en fo rci n g t h e i n t erro rem cl au s e ag ai n s t a

8cl ai m of u n d u e i n fl u en ce an d t h erefo re g ran ti n g p art i al s u m m ary ju d g m en t t o t h e

t ru s t ees o n t h at cl ai m .” Id . Sp eci fi cal l y , t hi s Co u rt h el d as fo l l o w s :

Un d er Geo rg i a l aw, a t ru s t m ay b e at t ack ed wh ere t h e t ru s t res ul t s fro m

u n d u e i n fl u en ce. Bu t

. . . i n t erro rem cl au ses p ro t ect i n g ag ai n s t s u ch a

ch al l e n g e are al l o wed u n d er Geo rg i a law wi t h on l y o ne co d i fi ed

l i m i t at i on

, t hat b ei n g t h e al t ern at i v e di s p os i t i o n p ro v i s i o n d i s cu s se d

ab o v e. Th e p art ies h av e n o t ci t ed an y o t h er s t at u t o ry l i m i t at io n o n s u ch

cl au ses

, a n d we fi n d n o n e, l et al o n e a g o o d fai th / p ro b ab l e cau s e

ex cep t i on t o en fo rcem en t o f an i n t erro rem cl au s e.

Id . at 3 4 8 (1 ) (b ) (ci t at i o n o m i t t ed ).

A s i m i l ar an al y s i s was ap p l i ed in Ho wel l v. Ba tes

, 35 0 Ga. Ap p

. 7 0 8

, 7 1 5 (3 )

(8 3 0 SE2 d 2 50 ) (2 0 1 9 ), w h ere t h is Co u rt affi rm ed t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s ru l i n g t h at t h e

p et i t i o n er h ad vi o l at ed an i n t ero rrem cl au s e an d fo rfei t ed h er d i s tri b u t i o n u n d er a

t ru s t . Th e t ru s t i n t h at cas e p ro vi d ed t h at

i f a p ers o n co n t e s t ed o r i n i t i at ed leg al p ro ceed i n g s ei t h er t o ch al l en ge

t h e v al i d i t y o f t he Tru s t

, t he W i l l

, o r o f an y p r o v i s i on in ei t h er

d o cu m en t

, o r to p rev en t an y p ro vi s i o n i n ei t h er d ocu m en t fro m b ei n g

carri ed o u t i n a c c o rd an ce wi th i t s t erm s (wh et h er o r n o t in go o d fai t h

an d wi t h p ro b ab l e cau s e), th en al l b en efi t s p ro v i d ed fo r su ch p ers o n

u n d er t h e Tru s t an d t h e W i l l wo u l d b e rev o k ed an d an n u ll ed

.

Id

. at 7 1 4 (3 ) (p u n ct u at i o n an d fo o t n o t e o m i t t ed ). Th i s Co u rt s p eci fi cal l y h el d t h at by

fi li n g act i o n s ch al l en g i n g t h e v al i d i t y o f a wi l l wi t h an i n t erro rem cl au s e, i n cl u d i n g

o n e i n wh i ch t he p et i t i o n er cl ai m ed t h e wi l l w as i n v a l i d d u e to al l eg ed u n d u e

9i n fl u en ce, t h e p et i t i o n er “ cl earl y v i o lat ed t h e pl ai n l an g u ag e o f t h e ‘ n o co n t es t ’ cl au s e

i n t he Tru s t.” Id . at 7 1 5 (3 ) (b ).

W h i l e we s y m

p at h i ze wi t h Sl o s b erg

, an d we ag ree th at it i s p o o r p u b li c p o l i cy

t o p erm i t i n d i v i d u al s ex ert i n g u n d u e i n fl u en ce o v er t h e creat i o n o f t ru s ts t o i m m u n i ze

t h ei r act io n s by i n cl u di n g i n t erro rem cl au s es i n t h e t ru s t s

, we m u s t ex erci s e ju d i ci al

res t rai n t b ecau s e “ [t ] h e leg i s l at u re, an d n ot th e co u r t s

, i s em p o w ered b y t h e

Co n s t i t u t i o n t o d eci de p u bl ic p o l i cy

, an d t o i m p lem en t t h at po l i cy b y en act i n g l aws .”

Du n c an

, 3 4 5 Ga. Ap p

. at 3 50 (1 ) (b ) (p u n ct uat i o n o m i t ted ). To t h at en d

, t h i s Co u rt

rep eat ed l y

h as s t at ed t h at

[s ] t at u t es s ho u l d b e read acco rd i ng t o t h e n at u ral an d m o s t o b v i o u s

i m p o rt o f t h e l an g u ag e, w i t ho u t res o rt i n g t o s ub t l e an d fo rced

co n s t ru ct io n s

, fo r t h e p u r p o s e o f ei t h er li m i ti n g o r ex ten d i n g t h ei r

o p erat i o n

. In rev i ewi n g a s t at u t e, we p res u m e t h at t h e l eg i s l at u re en act s

al l s t at u t es wi t h k n o wl ed g e o f t h e ex i s t i n g l aws

.

Ho wel l

, 3 5 0 Ga. Ap p. at 7 1 2 (2 ).

A rev iew of OCGA § 53 -1 2 -2 2

, wh i ch ad d res s es in terro rem cl au ses i n t ru s t s

,

an d OC GA § 5 3 -4 -6 8

, w h i ch ad d res s es i n t erro rem cl au s es i n wi l l s

, i nd i cat es t h at

Du n ca n

, s u p ra, was co rrect l y d eci d ed

. Af t e r o u r d eci s io n i n Du nca n

, a fu l l co u rt

o p i n i o n th at i n cl ud ed a s peci al co n cu rren ce an d t wo d i s s en t s

, t h e l eg i s l at u re am en d ed

b o t h OCGA §§ 5 3-1 2-2 2 an d 5 3 -4

- 6 8

, ad d i n g t h ree i d en t ical ci rcu m s t an ces u n d er

10wh i ch i n t erro rem cl au s es sh al l n o t b e en fo rceab l e i n t ru s ts or wi l l s

. OCGA § § 5 3 -1 2

-

2 2 (c), 5 3 -4 -6 8 (c). T h e l eg i s l at u re d i d n o t

, h o wev er, ch o o s e t o ad d or am en d t h e t ru s t

s t at u te t o v o i d i n t erro rem cl au s es i n tru s ts t hat are i m p o s s i b l e, i l l eg al

, o r ag ai n s t

p u b l i c p o l i cy

, as t h ey are i n w i l ls

. See OCGA § 53 -4 -6 8 (a) (“ Co n d i t i o n s i n a wi l l t h at

are i m p o s s i b l e, i l l eg al

, o r ag ai n s t p u b li c po l i cy s hal l b e v o i d .”)

. I n s t e a d

, t h e

l eg i s lat u re ret ai n ed O C G A § 5 3 -1 2 -2 2 (a), wh i ch m erel y st at es

, “ [a] t ru st m ay b e

creat ed fo r an y l awfu l p u rp o s e.” “ Becau s e t h e l eg i sl at ure i s p res u m ed to act wi t h fu l l

k n o wl ed g e o f th e ex i st i n g s tat e o f th e l aw, i t fo l lo ws t h at th e l eg i s l at u re ch o s e n o t to

ad o pt a go od fai t h / pro bab l e cau s e ex cep t i on t o en fo rcem en t o f n o co nt es t cl au s es in

t ru s t s .” Du n ca n

, 3 4 5 G a. Ap p

. at 3 4 9 -3 5 0 (1 ) (b ). St ri ct l y co n s t ru i n g t h e in t erro rem

cl au s e, wh i ch we a r e o b l i g a t ed t o do

, Ca l l awa y

, 3 2 1 Ga. A p p

. at 3 5 3 (1 ), an d

p res u m i n g t h e l eg i s l at u re en act ed an d am en d ed OCGA § 5 3 -1 2 -2 2 wi t h k n o wl ed g e

o f t h e ex i s t i n g l aws

, wh i ch w e are o b l i g at ed t o d o

, Ho wel l

, 3 5 0 G a. Ap p

. at 7 1 2 (2 ),

we co n cl u d e t h at t h e su p eri o r co u rt erred i n fai l i n g t o fi nd t hat t he i n terro rem cl au s e

i n Tru s t # 2 res u l t ed i n Sl o s berg ’ s fo rfei t u re o f b en efi t s u nd er Tru s t # 2

.

M o reo v er, t h e s up eri o r co u rt fu rt h er erred in p erm i t t i n g t h e un d u e i n fl u en ce

cl ai m reg ard i ng Tru s t #2 t o pro ceed t o th e ju ry

. Th e G eo rg i a Su prem e Co u rt an d t h i s

11Co u rt h av e s t at ed t hat

, u n der l an g u ag e s i m i l ar t o t h e in t erro rem cl au s e at i s s u e, t h e

m ere “ i n i t i at i o n ” o f l eg al pro ceed i n g s t ri g g ers t h e t ru st ’s i n t e rro rem cl au s e. See

No r ma n , 2 92 Ga. at 3 5 4 (1 ). W i t h t h at i n m i n d

, b o th ap p el l at e co u rt s h av e affi rm ed

s u m m ary ju d gm en t ru l i n g s fi n d i n g t h at an i n t erro rem cl au se b ars an i n d i v i d u al fro m

p ro ceed in g wi t h an act io n

– ev en o n e cl ai m i n g u n d u e i n fl u en ce. See No r t o n v.

No r t on

, 2 9 3 Ga. 1 7 7

, 1 7 9 ( 7 4 4 SE2 d 7 9 0 ) (2 01 3 ) (affi rm i n g t ri al co u rt ’ s g ran t o f

s u m m ary ju d g m en t t o d efen d an t s aft er fi n d in g t h at fi l i n g a c av eat cl ai m i n g u n d u e

i n fl u en ce ex t in g u i s h ed an y an d al l i n t eres t s th e p lai n t i ffs had u n der t h e wi l l d u e t o an

i n t erro rem cl au s e); Du n ca n

, 3 4 5 Ga. Ap p

. at 34 5 (“ [T] h e t ri al co u r t d i d n o t err by

en fo rci n g t h e in t erro rem c l a u s e a g ai n s t a cl ai m o f u nd u e i n fl u en ce an d t h erefo re

g ran t i n g p a r t i al s u m

m ary ju d g m en t t o t h e tru s t ees o n th at cl ai m .”). See al s o In r e

Es t a t e o f Jo h n s o n

, 3 5 2 Ga. Ap p

. 16 4

, 1 67 -1 6 8 (8 3 4 SE2 d 2 8 3 ) (2 0 1 9 ) (affi rm i n g

p r o b a t e co u rt ’ s deci s i o n t h at p ro p o s ed d ecl arat o ry ju d g m en t act i o n

, if f i l ed

, wo u ld

“ t ri g g er” an d v i o l at e t h e i n t erro rem cl au s e). Th i s cas e l aw lead s u s t o t h e i n es cap ab l e

co n cl u s i o n t h at t h e i n t erro rem cl au s e i n T ru s t # 2 b arred Sl o s berg fro m p u rs u i n g h i s

u n d u e i n fl u en ce act i o n as t o th at tru s t

, an d t h e s u peri or co u rt erred i n p erm it t i n g t h e

i s su e t o g o t o t h e ju ry

an d accep t i n g t h e ju ry ’ s v erd i ct o n t h at cl ai m

.

122

. Becau s e t h e i n terro rem cl au s e d i s cu s s ed i n D i vi s i o n 1 ap p l i es on l y t o Tru s t

# 2 an d no t t h e IRA Acco u n t o r t h e Ag en cy Acco u n t

, we tu rn t o Gi ll er an d Sei d n er’ s

n ex t en u m erat i o n o f erro r.

Gi l l er an d Sei dn er as s ert t h at “ [t ] he t ri al co u rt ’ s award of a co n s tru ct i v e t ru s t

i m p ro p erl y u s u rp s t h e p ro b at e co u rt ’ s ju ri s d i ct io n .” Gi l l er an d Sei d n er d o no t as s ert

t h at t h e s u p eri or co urt lack ed ju ri s d i ct i o n t o d et erm i n e wh et h er t h e t h ree d o cu m en t s

were p ro cu red b y u n d u e i n fl u en ce; rat h er, t h ey as s ert t h at t h e s u p eri o r co u rt d i d n ot

h av e au t h o ri t y to creat e a co n s t ru ct i v e t r u s t b e c a us e it s au th o ri t y is l i m i t ed t o a

d eci s i o n ab o u t wh et h er t h e d o cu m en t s s h o u l d b e s et as id e. 7 Acco rd i n g t o Gi l l er an d

Sei d n er, o n ce t h e s up eri o r co u rt i n v al i d at ed an d s et as i d e t h e do cu m en t s at i s s u e in

t h i s cas e, al l as s et s sh o u ld h av e rev ert ed t o t h e fat h er’ s es t at e fo r d i s tri b ut i o n b y t h e

p ro b at e co u rt

. W e fi nd t h at

, as a g e n eral ru l e, a s up eri o r co u rt h as t h e au t h o ri t y to

c r e at e a co n s t ru ct i v e t ru s t t o co rrect frau d o r u n ju s t en ri ch m en t

. H o wev er, b ecau s e

7 To t h e ex ten t t h at Gi l l er an d Sei d n er h av e at t em p t ed t o ex p an d t h i s

en u m erat i o n of erro r t o i n cl ud e an y arg u m en t u nrel at ed t o th e s u p eri o r co urt ’ s award

o f a co n s t ru ct i ve t ru s t, su ch as wh et h er t h e s u p eri o r co u rt h ad j u ri s d i ct i o n t o h ear an y

o f Sl o s b erg ’ s cl ai m s, t ho s e arg um en t wi ll no t b e co n s i d ered

. See, e.g

., S t eed v. Dea l

, 2 2 5 Ga. Ap p

. 3 5

, 3 5 (2 ) (4 8 2 SE2 d 5 2 7 ) (1 99 7 ) (a p art y m ay n o t ex p an d h er

en u m erat i o n o f erro r b y

arg u m en t s an d ci t at i o n i n t h e b ri ef).

13t h ere h as b een no fi nd i n g o f frau d or u n ju s t en ri ch m en t i n t h is cas e, we ag ree t h at t h e

co n st ru ct i v e t ru s t i m

p o s ed h ere was i m

p ro p er.

It i s wel l s et t l ed t h at G eo rg i a p ro b at e c o u r t s are ves t ed wi t h “ o ri g i n al

,

ex cl u s i v e, an d g en eral j u r i s d i c t i o n ” o v er, i n t er al i a, t h e p ro b at e of wi l l s an d “ [a] l l

o t h e r m a t t ers an d t h in g s as ap p ert ai n o r rel at e t o es t at es o f d eceas ed pers o n s [.] ”

OCGA § 1 5 -9 -3 0 (a) (1 ), (1 1 ). Ho wev er, i t i s eq u al l y wel l s et tl ed t h at OCGA § 5 3 -7

-

6 0 gran ts s u per i o r c o u rt s co n cu rren t ju ri sd i ct i o n w i th p ro b at e co u rt s “ o v er t h e

s et t l em en t o f acco u n ts o f p ers on al rep res en t at i v es .”

Al t h ou g h s u p eri or co u rt s are rel u ct an t t o i n t erfere i n t h e ad m i n is trat i o n

o f es t at es

, t h ey m ay d o s o wh ere t here i s a d an ger of l o s s o r o th er i n ju ry

t o a p art y ’ s in t eres t

, or wh ere eq u i t ab l e i n t erferen ce i s n eces sary fo r th e

fu l l p ro t ect i o n o f t h e ri g h t s o f t h e p art i es i n i n t eres t

.

Lee v. Lee

, 2 6 0 Ga. 3 5 6, 3 56 (1 ) (3 92 SE2 d 8 70 ) ( 1 9 9 0 ) (ci t at io n o m i t t ed ).

Acco rd in g ly

, “ a s u p eri o r co u rt can ex erci s e i ts co n cu rren t ju ri s d i ct i on o v er t h e

a d m i n i s t rat i on o f es t at es wh en co m p l et e an d ad eq u at e rem ed i es at l a w a r e

u n av ai l ab l e.” Jo n a s v. Jo n as

, 28 0 Ga. Ap p

. 15 5

, 1 61 (3 ) (b ) n.1 5 (6 3 3 SE2 d 5 4 4 )

(2 0 0 6).

“ Tru s t s a re p ecu l i arl y s u b ject s o f eq u i ty ju ri sd i ct i o n .” O CGA § 5 3 -1 2 -6 (a).

An d

, s u ch ju ri s d i ct i o n li es in t h e s up eri o r co u rt

, n o t t h e pro b at e co urt

. In r e Lo n g i n o

,

142 8 1 Ga. Ap p

. 59 9

, 6 02 (3 ) (6 3 6 S E 2 d 6 8 3 ) (2 0 0 6). Reg ard in g co n s t ru ct i v e t ru s t s

,

OCGA § 5 3 -1 2 -1 3 2 (a) p ro v i d es th at “ [ a ] c o n s t ru ct i v e t ru s t i s a t ru s t i m p l i ed

wh en ev er t h e ci rcu m s t an ces are s u ch t h at t h e p ers o n h o l di n g l eg al t i t l e to p ro p ert y

,

e i t h er fro m frau d o r o t h erwi s e, can n o t en j o y t h e b en efi ci al in t eres t i n t h e p ro p e r t y

wi t h o u t vi o l at i n g s o m e es t ab l is h ed p ri n ci p l e o f eq u it y

. ” 8 A req u es t fo r t h e i m p o s i t i o n

o f a co n s tru ct i v e t ru s t i s no t an i n d ep en d en t cau s e o f act i on

, b u t i s a dev i ce b y wh i ch

p ro p ert y m i g h t b e re c o v e r e d i f a part y s ucceed s on a cl ai m o f frau d o r u n ju s t

en ri ch m en t

. See Mo r ri s o n v. M o r r i s o n

, 2 8 4 Ga. 11 2

, 1 13 (1 ) (6 6 3 SE2 d 7 1 4 ) (2 0 0 8 );

S t

. Pa u l Mer cu r

y In s

. Co

. v. Meeks

, 27 0 Ga. 1 36

, 1 38 (2 ) (5 0 8 SE2 d 6 4 6 ) (1 99 8 ); s ee

al s o Lee

, 2 60 Ga. at 3 5 7 (1 ) (“ [A] co n s t ru ct i v e t ru s t m ay b e i m p o s ed wh ere p ro p ert y

h as been acq u i red b y frau d, o r wh ere, t ho u g h n ot acq u i red b y frau d i t is ag ai n s t eq u i t y

t h at i t s h o u l d b e ret ai n ed b y t h e p ers o n wh o h ol d s i t.”); Jo n a s , 2 8 0 Ga. Ap p. at 1 6 2

( 3 ) ( c ) ( A co n s t ru ct i v e t ru s t “ i s a rem ed i al dev i ce creat ed b y a co u rt of eq u i t y to

p rev en t u n

ju st en ri ch m en t .”) (ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at i o n o m it t ed ). “ Un ju s t en ri ch m en t

ap p li es wh en as a m at t er o f fact t h ere is n o leg al co n t ract

, bu t wh en t h e p art y s o u g ht

8 Th i s s t at u t e was rev i s ed effect i v e 2 01 0 ; h o wev er, th e l an g u ag e i n OCGA §

5 3 -1 2-1 32 (a) i s i d en t i cal t o t h at u s ed i n fo rm er Co d e Sect i on 5 3

- 1 2 -9 3 (a). See

Ed wa r d s v. Ed wa r d s

, 2 6 7 Ga. 7 8 0

, 7 8 1 (2 ) (4 8 2 SE2 d 7 0 1 ) (1 9 9 7 ). T h erefo re, cas e

l aw pri or t o 2 0 1 0 p ro v id es g u i d an ce reg ard in g t h e i m p o s i t i o n of co n s t ru ct i v e t ru s t s

.

15t o b e ch arg ed h a s b een co n ferred a b en efi t b y t h e p art y co n t en d i n g an u n ju s t

en ri ch m en t wh i ch t h e b en efi t t ed p art y eq u it ab ly o u g h t t o ret u rn o r co m p en s at e fo r.”

Tu vi m v. Un i t ed Jewi s h Co mmu n i ti es

, In c.

, 2 8 5 Ga. 6 3 2, 6 3 5 (2 ) (6 8 0 SE2 d 8 2 7 )

(2 0 0 9) (ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ).

Th e qu es t io n s t h en are wh et h er “ eq ui t ab l e in t erferen ce is n eces s ary fo r t h e fu l l

p ro t ect i o n ” o f Sl o s b erg ’ s ri g h t s

, an d wh et h er i t i s ag ai n s t eq u i t y t o al l o w G i l l er an d

Sei d n er t o ret ai n an y o f th e as s et s i n cl u d ed i n t h e IRA Acco u n t an d Ag en cy Acco u nt

wh i ch t h ey acq u i red t h ro u g h u n d u e i n fl u en ce o ver t h ei r fat h er. Lee

, 2 6 0 G a. at 3 5 6

-

3 5 7 (1 ). T h es e q u es t i on s n eces sari l y t u rn o n wh et her Gi l l er an d Sei d n er were u n ju s t l y

en ri ch ed b ecau s e, as t h e Geo rg i a Su p rem e Co u rt i n ferred i n Tu vi m

, a s u p eri o r co u rt

can im p o s e a co n st ru ct i ve tru s t i f t h e ev i d en ce s u p p o rt s a fi n d i ng th at p art i es were

u n ju s t l y en ri ch ed

. Tu vi m , 2 8 5 Ga. at 6 3 4-6 3 5 (2 ).

In Tu vi m

, t h e Su p rem e Co u rt fo u nd t h at t h e s u p eri o r co u rt erred i n i m p o s i n g

a co n s t ru ct i v e t ru s t o n ce r t a i n fi n an ci al in s t ru m en t s b ecau s e n o p art y recei v ed an y

u n ju s t en ri ch m en t

. 28 5 Ga. at 6 3 4 -6 3 5 (2 ). Acco rd i n g to t h e Co urt

, b ecau s e t h ere was

n o ev i d en ce o f u n

ju s t en ri ch m en t

, “ t h e fi n an ci al i n s t ru m en t s

. . . wo u l d s i m p l y

b eco m e a p art o f [t he] es t at e[,] ” an d “ an y fi n an ci al b en efi t t h at [t h e p art y ] wo u l d b e

en t i t l ed to recei v e wo u l d i n vo l v e ap p l i cat i o n o f t h e l aws o f i n t es t acy

, no t an y s o rt o f

16u n

ju s t en ri ch m en t .” Id

. at 6 3 5 (2 ). Th i s h o l d i n g i n ferred t h at a co n s t ru ct i v e t ru s t

wo u l d h av e b een warra n t e d i f ev i d en ce of u n j u s t en ri ch m en t ex i s t ed

. Si m i l arl y

, in

Jo n as

, t h i s Co u rt fo u n d th at a s u peri o r co u rt p ro perl y ref u s e d t o d i s m i s s a

g ran d d au g h t er’ s cl ai m req u es t i n g t h e i m p o si t io n o f a co n s t ru ct i v e t r u st o n l i fe

i n s u ran ce p ro ceed s her g ran d m o t her h ad recei ved fro m t h e g ran d fat h er’ s es t at e

b ecau s e h er g ran d m o th er wo u l d h av e b een u n ju s t l y en ri ch ed b y recei v i ng t h e m o n ey

.

2 8 0 Ga. Ap p . at 1 61 -1 6 2 (3 ) (c).

Th e au t h o ri t y ci t ed b y Gi l l er an d Sei d n er d o no t co m p el a d i fferen t res u l t

. To

s u p p ort th ei r arg u m en t t hat a s u p eri o r co u rt l ack s au t h o ri t y to i m po s e a co n s t ru ct i v e

t ru s t o n ce i t s et s as i d e fi n an ci al d o cu m en t s o n t h e b as i s o f u nd u e i n fl uen ce, Gi l l er an d

Sei d n er ci t e OCGA § 5 3 -1 2 -4 5 (c), cl ai m i n g t h e s t at u t e d e m a n d s t h at d i s t ri b u t i on s

o f a t ru s t d eem ed i n v al i d m us t b e ret u rn ed t o t h e es tat e. Th at s t at u te, h o wev er, d o es

n o t co ncern t h e i m

p o s i t io n of a co n s t ru ct i v e tru s t o r d ecl are t h at a s u p eri o r co u r t i s

au t h o ri zed o n l y t o s et as i d e an i n v al i d t ru s t an d m us t l eav e d i s t ri b u ti o n of t h e as s et s

t o t he p ro b at e co u rt

. It m erel y s t at es t h at “ [a] b en efi ci ary o f a t ru s t t h at i s d et erm i n ed

t o h av e b een in v al i d s h al l b e l i ab l e t o ret urn an y di st ri bu t i o n recei v ed .” OCGA § 5 3

-

1 2 -4 5 (c).

17Gi l l er an d Sei d n er al s o ci t e Lewi s v. Va n An d a

, 2 8 2 Ga. 7 63

, 7 65 (1 ) (6 5 3 SE2 d

7 0 8 ) (2 0 0 7 ), fo r t h e p ro p o s i t i o n t h at wh ere a tru s t i s i nv al i dat ed b y a su p eri o r co u rt

,

t h e p ro p ert y m

us t rev ert to t h e es t at e an d b e d i s b u rs ed b y t h e p ro b at e co u rt

. H o wev er,

t h at p ro p os i t i o n was st at ed i n t he Lewi s op i n i o n as a p art y ’ s co n t en t i o n ; i t was n o t a

ru l i n g o f t h e t ri al co u rt o r t h i s Co u rt

. Id

. at 7 6 4 ( 1 ). In fact

, th e Lewi s o p i n i o n

a d dres s ed t h e is s u e i n t h e co n t ex t o f s tan d i n g

, wh i ch is n ot at i s s u e i n t h i s c a s e :

“ [U] n les s an d u nt il t h e p ro bat e co u rt were t o d et erm i n e t hat [t h e d eced en t ’ s ] wi l l i s

i n v a l i d a n d t h at sh e t h u s d i ed i n t es t at e, [t h e p l ai n t iff] wo u l d hav e no co g n i zab l e

i n t eres t i n t h e t ru s t p ro p ert y reg ard l es s o f wh et h er t h e tru s t an d rel at ed t ran s fers were

i n v al i d at e d .” Id

. at 7 6 4 -7 6 5 (1 ). In ad di t i o n

, al t h o u g h t h e s up eri or co u rt i n Lewi s

ex erci s ed i t s eq u i t ab le p owers t o s et as i d e a tru s t an d rel at ed t ran sfers pro cu red as a

res u l t o f u n d u e in fl u en ce, th ere was n o m en t io n o f un ju s t en ri ch m en t o r w h et h er a

co n st ru ct i v e t ru s t m ay

h av e b een warran t ed u nd er t h e ci rcu m s t an ces o f t h at cas e.

Tu rn i n g t o t h e s p eci fi cs in t h i s cas e, aft er t h e ju ry fo u n d t hat Gi l l er an d Sei d n er

a c q u i red as s et s b y wro n gfu l l y ex ert i n g u n du e i n fl u en ce t o cau s e th ei r fat h e r t o

ex ecu t e b en efi ci ary fo rm s fo r t h e IRA A cco u n t an d t h e Ag en cy Acco un t

, t h e s u p eri o r

co u rt ex erci s ed i t s d i scret i o n t o i m p o se a co n s t ru ct i v e t ru st o v er t h e p ro ceed s o f t h e

as s et s i n t h o s e acco u n ts

. Th e s up eri o r co urt w as wi t h i n it s au t h o ri ty t o i m p o s e s u ch

18a tru s t i f “ eq u i t ab l e in t erferen ce [was ] neces sary fo r th e fu l l p ro tect io n” o f Sl o s b erg ’ s

ri gh t s an d G i l l er an d Sei d n er w ere u n ju s t l y en ri ch ed b y re t a i n i n g a n y o f t h e as s et s

t h ey w ro n g fu l l y p ro cu red

. Lee

, 2 6 0 Ga. at 3 5 6-3 5 7 (1 ), (2 ). Ho wev er, t h e ju ry d i d n ot

ren d er a v erd ict reg ard in g frau d o r u nju st en ri ch m en t

, an d t h e t ri al co urt di d n o t m ak e

an y fi n di n g s i n i ts fi n al o rd er reg ard i n g u n j u s t en ri ch m en t. Th e su p eri o r co u rt s i m p l y

award ed a co n s t ru ct i v e t ru s t

. A s we fo u n d in Tu vi m

, wi th o u t a f i n d i n g o f u n

ju s t

en ri ch m en t

, t h e as s et s co n t ro l led b y t h e fi n an ci al i n s t ru m en ts i n v o l v ed h ere “ wo u ld

s i m p l y b eco m e a p art o f [t h e] es t at e[,] ” a n d “ an y fi n an ci al b en efi t t hat [Sl o s b erg ]

wo u l d b e en t it l ed t o recei ve wo u l d i nv o l v e ap p li cat i o n o f t h e l aws o f i nt es t acy

, n ot

an y s o rt o f u n

ju st en ri ch m en t .” Tu vi m , 2 8 5 Ga. at 6 3 5 (2 ).

In ad d i t io n

, ev en i f fact s s u p p o rt ed a fi n d in g t h at Gi l l er an d Sei d n er were

u n ju s t l y en ri ch ed

, t h e s u p eri o r co u rt ’ s fi nal ju d g m en t d i d n o t l i m it it s co n s t ru ct i v e

t ru s t award t o th e am o u n t o f an y u n ju s t en ri ch m en t

. In s t ead

, t h e su p eri o r co u rt n o t ed

t h at “ t h e o n l y ev id en ce i n tro d u ced reg ard i n g dam ag es were t h e am o u n t s i n t h e t h ree

acco u n t s at i s s u e at t he t i m e o f [t h e fat h er ’s ] d eat h [,] ” u ni l at eral l y d et erm i n ed t h at

Sl o s b erg was en t i t l e d t o o n e-t h i rd o f t he as s et s co n t ai n ed i n th e t h ree acco u n t s at

i s su e, an d i m

p o s ed a co n s t ru ct i v e t r u s t f o r t h at o n e-t h i rd am o u n t

. Th i s u s u rp s t h e

19p ro b at e co u rt ’ s ju ri sd i ct i o n t o ap p l y t h e l aws o f i n t es tacy

. See Tu vi m

, 2 8 5 Ga. at 6 3 5

(2 ). M o reo v er, as we h e l d i n Di v i s io n 1

, Sl o sb erg i s precl u d ed fro m recei vi n g an y

b en efi t reg ard i n g Tru s t # 2 d u e t o t h e i n t erro rem cl au se co n t ai n ed i n t h at d o cu m en t

.

Acco rd in g ly

, th e su p eri o r co urt ’ s i m p os i t i o n of a co n s t ru ct i v e t ru s t i n t h e am o u nt o f

$ 7 9 0 ,6 6 6 .6 7 was erro r, t h e fi n al ju d gm en t i s rev ers ed

, an d t h e cas e i s rem an d ed fo r

fu rt her p ro ceed i n g s co ns i st en t wi t h t h i s o p i n i on

.

3

. Gi l l er an d Sei d n er co n t en d t hat t h e s u p eri o r co u rt erred i n award i n g

p reju d g m e n t i n t eres t an d fu n d s t h at Sl o s b erg al read y h as recei v ed

. Gi ven t h at we

h av e rev ers ed t h e s up eri o r co u rt ’ s fi n al ju dg m en t

, we d ecl i n e t o ad d res s t h es e i s s u es

o n ap p eal an d i n s t ead u rg e th e s u p eri o r co u rt t o co ns i d er t h em o n rem an d s h o u l d t h e

co u rt d et erm i n e t h at t h e i m po s it i o n o f a co n s t ru ct i v e t ru s t i s s t i l l p ro per.

Ju d g men t r ever sed a n d ca s e r ema nd

ed . Ri ckma n , P. J., co ncu r s ; M cFa d d en

,

C.J., d i ss en t

s

.A2 1 A0 00 1 . GILLER et al . v . SLOSBERG.

M C F A D D E N , Ch i ef J u d g e, d i s s en t i n g

.

Un d er fu n d am en t al an d s et t l ed l aw, t h e v erd i ct an d ju d g m en t t h at t h e t ru s t

b efo re us was p ro cu red by u n d ue i n fl u en ce en t ai l ed a d et erm i n at i o n t h at t h e g ran t o r

h ad b een wi t h o u t cap aci ty t o ex ecu t e i t an d t h erefo re t h at i t was v o i d at i ts i n cep t i o n.

Th e i n t erro rem cl au s e fal l s al o n g wi t h t h e res t o f t he i n s t ru m en t

. Th ere i s n o t h i n g to

t h e co n t rary i n Du n ca n v. Ra wl s

, 3 4 5 Ga. Ap p. 3 4 5 (8 1 2 SE2 d 64 7 ) (2 0 1 8 ). A d o p t i n g

a ru l e t o t h e co n trary en tai l s di s ap p ro v i n g d eci s i on s o f o u r Su p rem e Co urt

. So I

res p ect fu l l y

d i s s en t

.

“ A p ers o n h as cap aci t y t o creat e an i n ter v i v o s t ru s t t o th e ex t en t t h at s u ch

p ers o n h as l eg al cap aci t y t o t ran s fer ti t le t o p ro pert y i n t er v i v os

. A pers o n h as

cap aci t y t o creat e a tes t am en t ary t ru s t t o t h e ex t en t t hat s u ch p ers o n h as l eg al cap aci t y

t o d ev is e o r b eq u eat h p ro pert y b y wi l l .” OCGA § 5 3-1 2 -2 3.

2Here th e v erd i ct i s an au t h o ri t at i v e d et erm i n at io n t h at t h e g ran to r l ack ed t h e

cap aci t y t o creat e a t ru s t. “ Fo r u n d u e i n fl u en ce t o b e s u ffi ci en t t o i nv al i d at e a t ru s t

,

i t m u s t am o u n t t o d ecep ti o n o r fo rce an d co erci o n s o t h at t h e g ran to r i s d ep ri v ed o f

free ag en cy an d t h e wi l l o f an ot h er i s s u bs t i t u ted fo r t h at of t h e g ran t o r.” Lewi s v. Va n

An d a

, 2 8 2 Ga. 7 6 3, 7 6 6 (4 ) (6 5 3 SE2 d 7 08 ) ( 2 0 0 7 ) (ci t at i o n an d pu n ct u at i o n

o m it t ed ). See al so Mu l l i s v. W el ch

, 3 4 6 Ga. 7 9 5

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

(“ [Th e s t an d ard req u i red fo r i n v al i d at i o n o f a t ru s t ] i s t h e s am e s t an dard req u i red fo r

t h e i n v al i d at i o n of a wi l l o r a d e e d a s t h e res u l t of u n d ue i n fl u en ce o v er a

t es t at o r/ t es t at ri x o r g ran t o r.”)

W i l l s an d t ru st s ex ecu ted b y o n e wi t h o u t t h e l eg al cap aci t y t o d o so are v o i d

fro m t h e i n cep t i o n

. Th ey are s t i l l b orn

. Th ei r t erm s are, an d al way s were, en t irel y

wi t h o u t effect

. See JR Co ns t ./ E l ec. v. Or dn er Co n s t. Co

. , 2 9 4 Ga. Ap p

. 4 5 3

, 4 5 5 (6 6 9

SE2 d 2 2 4 ) (2 0 0 8 ); cf. S

mi t h v. Mo r r i s

, M

a n ni n g & Ma rt in

, 2 6 4 Ga. Ap p

. 2 4

, 2 6 (5 8 9

SE2 d 8 4 0) (2 0 0 3) (p hy s i cal p reced en t o n l y ). In cl u d i n g i n t erro rem cl au s es

.

Es p eci al l y i n t erro rem cl au s es

. “ [A] l t h o u g h i n t erro rem cl au s es are p erm i t t ed

b y s t at u t e, OCGA § 5 3

– 1 2

– 2 2 (b ), t h ey are n o t fav ored i n t h e l aw.” Ca l l a wa y v.

W i l l ar d

, 3 2 1 Ga. Ap p

. 34 9

, 3 5 3 (1 ) (7 3 9 SE2 d 5 3 3 ) (2 0 1 3) (ci t at i o n an d pu n ct u at i o n

o m it t ed ).

3Th ere i s n o affi rm at i ve s t at u t o ry au t h o ri t y i n G e o r g i a fo r [i n t erro rem

cl au ses ]

. In s t ead , t h ey

are au t ho ri zed i n d i rect l y by [OCGA § 5 3-1 2 -2 2

(b ) (“ [a] co n d i t i on i n t erro rem s h al l b e v o i d u n l es s t h ere i s a di rect i o n i n

t h e t ru s t i n s tru m en t as t o t h e d i s p o s it i o n o f t h e p ro p ert y i f t h e co n d i t i o n

i n t erro rem i s v i o l at ed

, i n wh i ch ev en t t h e di rect i o n i n t h e t ru s t

i n s t ru m en t s h al l b e carri ed o u t

, ex cep t as o t h erwi s e p ro v i d ed i n

s u b s ect i o n (c) o f t h i s Co d e s ect i on .”)]

Di ck v. S t a t e

, 2 4 8 G a. 8 9 8

, 8 9 9 (1 ), n

. 2 ( 2 8 7 S E 2 d 1 1 ) (1 9 8 2) (d i s cu s s i n g

ex t rao rd i n ary m o t i o n s fo r n ew t ri al ). So i t i s o f n o co n s eq uen ce wh et h er t h e v o i d in

t erro rem cl au s e b efo re u s was , b y i t s t erm s, p u rp o rt ed ly

t ri g g ered

.

Th e m ajo ri ty i n v es t s ex t rao rd i n ary p ot en cy in t h o s e d i s fav o red cl au s es

. Un d er

t o d ay ’ s d eci s i o n t h ey c a n s u b s t i t u t e fo r cap aci t y an d an i m at e s t il l bo rn i n s t ru m en t s

.

Ou r d eci s i o n i n D u nca n v. Ra wl s

, su p ra, d o es n o t req u ire th at res u l t

. It

co rrect ly res t at ed t h at

, wh i le “ a t ru s t m ay b e at t ack ed wh ere t he t r u s t r e s u l t s fro m

u n d u e i n f

l u e n ce

. . . i n t erro rem cl au s es p ro tect i n g ag ai n s t s u ch a ch al l en g e are

al l o wed u n d er G eo rg ia l aw[.] ” Du n ca n

, s u p ra at 3 4 8 (1 ) (b ). Pro t ect i o n is o n e t h i n g.

Im p o s in g a h i g h co s t fo r u n s u cces s fu l ch al l en ges i s o n e th in g

. Ou r deci s i o n t o d ay i s

q u i t e an o t h er. Un d er o ur d eci si o n to d ay

, an i n t erro rem cl au s e affo rd s co m p l e t e

i n v u l n erab i l i ty

.

It i s t ru e t h at Du n ca n ’ s i n t ro d u ct o ry p arag rap h s ay s t h at “ t he t ri al co u rt d i d n ot

err b y en fo rci n g t h e i n t err o r e m c l au s e ag ai n st a cl ai m o f u n d u e i n fl u en ce an d

4t h erefo re g ran t i n g p art i al s u m m ary ju d g m en t t o t h e t ru s t ees o n t h at cl ai m .” Id

. at 3 4 5.

Bu t t he ben efi ci ari es ’ rel ev an t cl ai m was fo r a d ecl arat i o n t h at t hey h ad a g o o d fai th

b as i s an d p ro b ab l e cau se fo r al l eg i n g u n d u e i n fl u en c e a n d s o s ho u l d n o t s u ffer

fo rfei t u re ev en i f t h ei r al l eg at i o n s were reject ed at t ri al

. Ab o u t th at cl ai m

, Du n ca n ’ s

h o l d i n g i s t h at i t fai l s at t h e t h res h ol d

. “ W e t h erefo re co n cl u d e th at t h e t ri al co u rt

co rrect ly h el d th at n o g o o d fai t h / p ro b ab le cau s e ex cep t io n ex i s t s.” Id

. at 3 50 (1 ) (b ).

Th e t ru s t ees ’ rel ev an t cl ai m w as t h at

, b y s e e k i n g s u ch a d ecl arat i o n

, t h e

b e n e f i c i ari es had t ri g g ered t he i n t erro rem cl au s e. Th at cl ai m

, Du n ca n reco g n i zes

,

h ad n o t been d eci d ed b el ow an d s o w as n o t b e f o re u s

. “ Th e t ri al co u rt n o t ed t h at

‘ [q ] u es t i o n s as t o wh et h er [t h e ap pel l an t s ’ ] act i o n s m ay hav e t ri g g ered fo rfei t u re o f

t h ei r d i st ri b u t io ns u n d er th e no co n t es t cl au s e ar e n o t b efo re t he Co u rt

. ’ ” Id

. at 3 5 0

(2 ), n . 1 2

.

So ev en i f t h e referen ce t o “ en fo rci n g ” i n Du n ca n ’ s i n t ro d u ct o ry p arag rap h can

b e read t o u n d ert ak e t o d o wh at t he m ajo ri t y s ay s i t d o es , i t i s d i ct a at m o st

.

No n e o f t he o t h er cas es ci t ed b y t h e m ajo ri t y are t o th e c o n t r a r y. I n n o n e o f

t h em

, as det ai l ed i n t he m arg in

, h ad an i n st ru m en t co n tai n in g an i n t erro rem cl au s e

5b een fo u nd b y a ju ry t o b e t h e p ro du ct o f u n du e i n fl u en ce. 1 A n d n o n e o f t h em s t an d

fo r t h e p ro p o s i t i o n t h at an i n t erro rem cl au s e can su p p l y a l ack of cap aci t y an d ren d er

an i n s t ru m en t i n v u l n erab l e t o ch al len g e as t h e p ro d uct o f u n d u e i n fl u en ce.

Th ere ap p ear t o b e n o prev i o u s cas es i n wh i ch o u r ap p el l at e co u rt s h av e faced

t h e au d aci o u s cl ai m t h e ap p el l an t s m ak e h ere: ev en t h ou g h th ey hav e been fo u n d to

h av e p ro cu red t he t ru st b efo re u s b y m ean s o f u n du e i n fl u en ce an d d o n ot co nt es t t h at

fi nd i ng , t h ey

n ev ert h el es s cl ai m

t o b e fu l l y

en t i t l ed t o al l o f t h ei r i l l-g o t t en g ai n s

.

1 Ho wel l v. Ba t es d o es reject H o wel l’ s “ as s ert [i o n ] th at t h e [t ri al ] co u rt erred in

fi nd i ng t h at s h e v i ol at ed t h e ‘ no co n t es t ’ pro v i si on o f t h e Tru st an d

, t h u s

, fo rfei t ed h er

ri gh t t o a d i s t r i bu t i o n u n d er th e Tru s t ” b y

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

, fi l i n g a cav eat

“ as sert i n g t h at t h e W i l l was i n v al i d b ecau s e Bat es h ad ex ert ed ‘ un d u e i n fl u en ce’ o v er

t h e d eced en t .” Ho wel l v. Ba t es

, 3 5 0 Ga. A p p

. 7 0 8

, 7 10 (8 3 0 SE2 d 2 5 0 ) (2 0 1 9 ). Bu t

a s t o t h e m eri t s o f t h e cav eat

, Ap p el l an t Ho wel l arg ued on l y “ t h at

, b ecau s e t h e

p ro b at e co u rt h as n o t y e t r u l e d o n h er cav eat t o t h e W i l l o r ap po i n t ed s o m eo n e as

ad m i n is t rat o r o f t he es t at e, t h ere was n o o ne t o rep res en t t h e es t at e’ s i nt eres t s i n t h i s

cas e, s o an y ru l i ng b y t h e s u p eri o r co u rt in t h i s cas e was p rem at ure.” Id

. at 7 1 1

. So

wh i le th e i s s u e b e f

o re u s t o day was l u rk i n g i n t h e reco rd

, it w as no t ad d res s ed

.

“ Is s u es m erel y lu rk i n g i n t h e reco rd

, n ei th er bro u g h t t o t he co u rt ’ s at t en t i o n n o r

ex p res s l y ru l ed u p o n

, h av e n o t b een d eci d ed s o as t o co n st it u t e p reced en t .” Ea d y v.

Ca p i to l In d em. Co r p

. , 2 3 2 G a. Ap p. 7 1 1 , 7 13 (5 0 2 SE2 d 5 1 4 ) (1 9 9 8 ).

In No r t o n v. No r t o n t h e cav eat h ad al read y been reject ed

, an d th at reject i o n h ad

b een affi rm ed o n ap peal

. No r t o n v. No r t o n , 2 9 3 Ga. 1 77 (7 44 SE2 d 7 9 0 ) (2 0 1 3 ).

In r e E s t a t e o f Jo h n so n

, as t h e m ajo ri t y co rrect l y ex p l ai ns

, h o l d s t h at “ t h e

p r o b a t e co u rt pro perl y co n cl u d ed t hat t h e J o h n s o n s ’ d ecl arat o ry ju d g m en t act i o n

wo u l d tri g ger t h e i n t erro rem cl au s e[.] ” In r e Es t a t e o f Jo h n s o n

, 3 5 2 Ga. Ap p

. 1 6 4

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

6Bu t o u r Su p rem e Co u rt h as a s s u m ed t he co n t rary

. It s d eci si o n s refl ect an

as s u m pt i o n t h at an i n s t ru m en t p ro v en t o h a v e b een s o p ro cu red i t i s v oi d

— in

t erro rem cl au s e an d al l

.

In No r ma n v. Go b er th e cav eat h ad b een b ro u g ht i n t he n am e o f a ch i l d . Ou r

Su p rem e Co u rt co n cl u d ed t h at t h e ch il d was b ei n g u s ed b y h i s m ot h er as a cat s p aw

— in d e r o g at i o n of h i s o wn i n t eres t s

. It s an al y s i s refl ect s an as s um p ti o n t h at t h e in

t erro rem cl au s e wo u l d b e effect i v e o n l y i f t h e cav eat act i o n were u n s u cces s fu l :

If Cav eat o r’ s act i o n were s u cces s fu l

, Cav eat o r’ s m o t her, an h ei r-at -l aw, wo u ld

b en efi t fro m t h e n o n -p ro b at e o f th e W i l l th ro u gh i n t es t acy

, wh i l e Cav eat o r’ s

co n t in g en t i n t eres t wo u l d b e co n co m i t an t l y d es t ro y ed

. If Cav eat o r’ s act i o n

were u ns u cces s fu l

, t h e t es t am en t ary s h are o f Cav eat o r’ s m o t h er wo u l d rem ai n

i n t act

, w h il e Cav eat o r’ s co n t i nge nt inte r e st w ould be inva lida t e d b y Deced en t ’ s

i n t erro rem

cl au s e.

No r ma n v. Go b er , 2 8 8 Ga. 7 5 4 , 7 5 5 (7 0 7 SE2 d 9 8 ) (2 0 1 1 ).

I n L i l l a rd v. Owen s o u r Su p rem e Co u rt u p hel d a ju d g m en t v o i d in g a wi l l

p ro cu red b y m e a n s o f u n du e i n fl u en ce

— i n cl u d i n g an d no t wi t h s t an d i ng i t s in

t erro rem cl au s e. Th e cas e was a d i sp u t e ab o u t t wo co m p et i n g wi l l s b et ween t h e

ch i l d re n o f a t es t at o r’ s fi rs t m arri ag e an d t h e s t ep ch i ld ren o f h i s seco n d

. A wi l l

ex ecu t ed i n Feb ru ary o f t h e y ear o f h i s d eat h “ [f] or t h e m o st p art

. . . d i v i d ed t h e

t es t at o r’ s p ro p ert y ev en l y am o n g al l t h e ch i l d ren [.] ” Li l l a r d v. Owen s

, 2 81 Ga. 6 1 9

7(6 4 1 SE2 d 5 1 1) (2 0 0 7 ). Bu t a wi l l en t ered i n Oct o b er of th at s am e y ear, t w el v e day s

b efo re h i s d ea t h

, “ l eft m os t o f t h e t es t at o r’ s p ro p ert y t o [t h e ch i l d ren o f t h e fi rs t

m arri ag e]

, wi t h b eq u es t s t o t h e [s t ep ch il d ren o f t h e s eco n d ] an d an i n terro rem cl au s e.

Id . at 6 1 9

.

Aft er a s i x -d ay t ri al

, th e t ri al co u rt en t ered j u d gm en t o n a v erd i ct u ph o ld i n g t h e

Feb ru ary wi l l an d in val i d at in g t h e Oct ob er w i l l

— i n cl u d i ng i t s i n t erro rem c l au s e.

Id . at 6 2 0

. O u r Su p rem e Co u rt affi rm ed , reject i n g t h e co n t en t i o n t h at “ t h e ev i d en ce

was i n s u ffi ci en t t o s up p o rt a fi n d i n g o f u n d u e i nfl u en ce o r l ack o f t es t am en t ary

cap aci t y .” Id . at 6 2 0 (1 ).

It i s t ru e t hat Li l l a r d d i d n o t ad d res s th e q u es t i o n wh et h er “ t ri al co u rt erred in

p erm i t t in g t h e cl ai m

t o p ro ceed t o t h e ju ry .” M ajo ri t y , p

. 7

. Bu t th e as s u m pt i o n t h at

i t di d n o t err b y

d o in g s o i s n eces s ari ly

i m p li ci t.

So t o reach t h e d eci s i o n t h e m ajo ri t y reach es t o d ay

, w e n eed t o d i s ap p ro v e o u r

Su p rem e Co u rt ’ s o pi ni o n s i n Li l l a r d an d No r ma n t o t he ex t en t t h at t h ey s o i m p l y . I

d o n ’ t t h i n k we can d o t h at

.

8