In th e S u p re m e Co u rt o f Ge o rg ia

De c id e d: Ju ne 2 9, 2 0 1 5

S1 5A0 1 4 2 . DAVIS v . VCP S OUTH, LLC e t a l.

S1 5 X0 14 3. VCP S OUTH, LLC e t a l. v . DAVIS e t a l.

THOMP S O N, Ch ie f Ju stic e

.

Ap p e lla n t L o ri Da v is, in d iv id u a lly an d a s p e rso n a l re p re se n ta t iv e o f th e

Esta te of Ke ith L

. Da v is, M

. D., a p p e a ls th re e o rd e rs e n te re d b y th e Co lu m b ia

Co u n ty S u p e rio r Co u rt o n Ma rc h 7

, 2 0 1 4

, Ap ril 1

, 2 01 4, a nd Ap ril 2 1

, 2 0 1 4

,

g ra n tin g m a n d a to ry in te rlo c u to ry in ju n c tio ns a g a in st h e r a nd h o ld in g h e r in c iv il

a n d c rim in a l c o n te m

p t in a n a c tio n b ro u g h t ag a in st h e r hu sb a n d ’s e sta te b y

S te v e n M. Ro th

, M.D. (“ Ro th ” ) an d two G e o rg ia lim ite d liab ility c o m p a n ie s

Ro th c o-o wn e d with Ke ith Da v is (“ Da v is” ). Th e pla in t i f f s f ile d su it a g a in st

a p p e lla n t a n d th e Da v is Esta te se e k in g to e n fo rc e c e rta in p ro visio n s o f th e

c o m p a nie s’ o p e ra tin g a g re e m e n ts g iv in g Ro th

, a s th e su rv iv in g m e m b e r o f th e

LLCs, a n o ptio n to p u rc h a s e D a v i s’ in te re sts, an d to oth e rwise e sta b lish th e

rig h ts o f th e p a rtie s, in c lu d in g th e o wn e rsh ip o f c e rta in tra d e m a rk s. Ap p e lla n t

a lso a p p e a ls fro m a n o rd e r e n te re d Ap ril 21

, 2 0 1 4 in wh ic h th e tria l c o urta d o p t e d th e Th ird Re p o rt of th e S pe c ia l Ma ste r an d lim ite d d isc o v e ry in th e

p e n d in g c a se

. Ap p e lle e s, VCP S o u th

, LLC, VCP Ra le ig h

, LLC a nd Ma ry An n e

Ro th

, in d iv id ua lly a n d a s Ex e c u trix of th e Esta te o f S te v e n M. Ro th

, M.D. c ro ssa p p e a l a lle g in g th e tria l c o u rt e rre d in a llo w in g th e D a v is Esta te to m a in ta in a n

o wn e rsh ip in te r e st in th e LLCs p a st th e tim e p ro v id e d fo r in th e o pe ra tin g

a g re e m e n ts, a n d in a llo win g th e distrib u tio n o f LLC p ro fits a c c ru in g a fte r

Da v is’ d e a th to th e Da v is Esta te

. F o r th e re a so ns se t fo rth b e lo w, we a ffirm th e

d e c isio n s o f th e tria l c o u rt.

Th e fa c ts o f th is c a se a re a s fo llo ws: In 20 04

, p la stic su rg e o n s Da v is a n d

Ro th f o r me d VCP S o u th

, L LC, a jo in t ve in c a re p ra c tic e lo c a te d o u tsid e

Au g usta

, Ge o rg ia

, with e a c h d o c to r o w n in g fifty pe rc e n t o f t h e me mb e rsh ip

u n its o f th e L LC p u rsu a

n t to th e te rm s o f a n o pe ra tin g a g re e m e n t sig n e d b y th e

p a rtie s. Drs. Da v is a n d R o th th e re a fte r fo rm e d o th e r re la te d lim ite d l i a b ility

c o m p a nie s a n d o p e ne d a d d itio n a l ve in c a re p ra c tic e s in n e ig h bo rin g sta te s. Th e

d o c to r s h e a v i ly a d v e rtise d th e ir se rv ic e s a n d d e v e lo p e d a lu c ra tiv e b u sin e ss,

b e c o m in g k n o wn a s “ Th e Ve in Gu y s.” V CP S o uth c on tra c te d with a m ark e tin g

c o m p a ny to a p p ly fo r fe de ra l tra d e m a rk pro te c tio n fo r a n u m b e r o f tra d e m a rk s

u tiliz e d b y th e m e dic a l p ra c tic e s, in c lu d i n g “ Ve i n Ca re P a v ilio n ,” “ Ve in Ca re

2P a v ilio n o f th e S o u th

, ” “ T h e Ve in Gu y s,” “We ’re S o Ve in ,” “ Re a l Ta lk ,” a n d

“ To ta l Ve in C a re .” Un b e k n o wn st to Ro t h

, a n d d e sp ite th e fa c t th a t th e

m a rk e t i n g c o m

p a n y wa s p a id b y VCP S o u th

, th e se tra d e m a rk s we re p la c e d

so le ly in th e n a m e o f Da v is.

Da v is d ie d su d d e n ly o n Ja n u a ry 2, 2 0 1 0

. Un d e r th e te rm s o f VCP S o u th ’s

o p e ra tin g a g r e e me n t, Ro th

, a s th e su rv iv in g m e m b e r o f th e LLC, h a d a first

o p tio n to p u rc h a se a ll o r p a rt o f th e m e m b e rsh ip u n its o wn e d b y Da v is. Ab se n t

a n a g re e m e n t a s to v a lu e

, th e o p e ra tin g a g re e m e n t p ro v id e d th a t th e v a lu e o f th e

m e m b e rsh ip u n its wo u ld b e de te rmin e d in a c o m m e rc ia lly re a so n a b le m a n n e r

b y th e c e rtifie d p ub lic a c c o u n ta n t re g u la rly re p re s e n tin g th e pra c tic e

. Th e

o p tio n e x iste d fo r a p e rio d o f n in e ty d ay s fo llo win g th e d a te o f q u a lific a tio n o f

th e p e rso n a l re p re se n ta tiv e o f th e e sta te o f th e d e c e a se d d o c to r a n d , fo llo win g

t h e a pp o in tm e n t o f Da v is’ w ife a s p e rso n a l re p re se n ta tiv e o f h is e sta te o n

Oc to b e r 1

, 2 01 0, Ro th so u g h t to e x e rc ise h is o p tio n s to pu rc h a se Da v is’

m e m b e rsh ip u n its in VCP S o u th

, a s we ll a s in th e o th e r LLCs, 1 on o r a b o u t

No v e m be r 1 1

, 2 01 0. W h e n n e g o tia tio n s b e twe e n a p p e lla n t a n d Ro th b ro k e

1 Althoug h the primary o perating ag reement at issue in this case is the one associated with

VCP South, L L C, there were separate, but similar, o perating ag reements ex ecuted by the doctors in

various other entities.

3d o wn

, Ro th

, VCP So uth a n d VCP R a le ig h

, LLC file d su it a g a i n s t th e Da v is

Esta te o n De c e m

b e r 3

, 2 0 1 0

, se e k in g

, in te r a lia

, to e n fo rc e th e pro v isio ns o f th e

o p e ra tin g a gre e m e n ts a

n d to o b ta in a ru lin g t h a t v a rio us tra d e m a rk s o b ta in e d

a n d u tiliz e d b y th e m e d ic a l p ra c tic e sin c e 2 0 0 4 b e lo n g e d to VC P S o u th

.

Ap p e lla n t a n s w e r e d t h e c o m p l a i n t, re sp o n d in g in p a rt th a t th e LLCs’ a c c o u n ta n t,

S te v e n S ta le y

, sh o u ld n o t b e a llo we d to d o th e v a lu a tio n b e c a u se h e c o n tin u e d

to p ro v id e se rv ic e s to th e LLCs a n d to Ro th a n d th u s h a d a c o n flic t o f in te re st.

Th e tria l c o u rt d isa g re e d

, g ra ntin g p a rtia l su m m a ry ju d g m e n t to th e p la in tiffs o n

th is issu e a n d a

u th o riz in g S ta le y t o d e c id e th e fa ir m a rk e t v a lu e o f Da v is’

in te re st.

Afte r S ta le y ’ s v al u a tio n 2 wa s c o m ple te d in S e p te m

b e r, 2 0 1 1

, th e tria l

c o u rt a p p o in te d a sp e c ia l m a st e r t o c o n sid e r, in te r a lia

, th e Da vis Esta te ’s

o b je c tio n s to th e v a lu a tio n a s we ll a s o th e r issu e s re g a rd in g th e e x t e n t o f th e

e sta te ’s in te re sts in th e L LCs d u rin g th e p e n d e n c y o f th e litig a tio n

. Th e S p e c ia l

Ma ste r issu e d a re p o rt o n D e c e m b e r 1 2

, 20 11

, fin d in g th a t p u rsu a n t to th e te rm s

o f th e o p e ra tin g a g re e m e n t, Da v is c e a se d to b e a m e m be r o f th e LLCs o n th e d a y

2 Staley set the v a l u e o f Davis’ membership units in V CP South a t $2,578,693. This

valuation did not list any

trademarks among the assets of VCP South.

4h e die d a n d h is e sta te th e re a fte r m a in ta in e d o n ly fin a nc ia l rig h ts, in c lu d in g (1 )

th e rig ht to sh a

re in th e p ro fits a n d l o s s e s o f th e c o m p a n y

, (2 ) th e rig h t to

in te rim a n d te rm in a tin g d istrib u tio n s, a n d (3 ) th e rig h t to c a p ita l in te re st, “ u n til

su c h tim e a s a c lo sin g oc c u rs to pu rc h a se his Me m b e rsh ip Un its.” No tin g th a t

th e a g re e m e n t s e t n o tim e lim it w ith in wh ic h th e c lo sin g h a d to o c c u r, b u t

re c o g n iz in g th a t a p a rty c o u ld u n re a so n a b ly p ro tra c t th e p u rc h a se o f th e c e a se d

m e m b e r’s in te re st, a s we ll a s th a t th e c o m p a ny h a d c o m

p le te c o n tro l o v e r wh e n

a n d h o w q u ic k ly a v a lu a tio n c o u ld b e d on e

, th e Sp e c ia l Ma ste r d e te rm in e d th a t

a re a so n a b le c u to ff d a te fo r th e a llo c a tio n o f p ro fits an d lo sse s an d e n title m e n t

to d istrib u tio n s “ sh ou ld b e th e la st d a y o f th e m o n th wh e n a c o m m e rc ia lly

re a so na b le v a lu e is d e te rm in e d ,” b e c a u se

, p ursu a n t to th e o p e ra tin g a gre e m e n t,

o n c e th e p u rc h a se p ric e wa s e sta b lish e d

, th e Da v is Esta te h a d n o c h o ic e b u t to

a c c e p t th e p ric e

. Th e S p e c ia l Ma ste r th us d e te rm in e d th a t if Sta le y ’s v a lu a tio n

wa s fo u n d to ha v e b e e n d o n e in a c o m m e rc ia lly re a so n a

ble m a n ne r, th e n

S e p te m b e r 3 0

, 2 0 1 1

, th e la st d a y o f th e m o n th wh e n th e Da v is Esta te wa s

p re se nte d w ith th is v a lu a tio n, wo u ld b e th e a p p ro pria te c uto ff d a te fo r th e Da v is

Esta te ’s fin a n c ia l rig h ts.

T h e r e a fte r, by o rd e r e n te re d M a y 3

, 20 1 2

, th e tria l c o u rt a d o p te d th e

5S p e c ia l M a ste r’s re po rt a n d g ra n te d p artia l su m m a ry ju d g m e n t to th e p la in tiffs

with re sp e c t to th e v a lu a tio n o f Da v is’ m e m be rsh ip u n its fo r p u rc h a se b y Ro th

.

Ap p e lla n t a

p pe a le d

, a n d th e tria l c o u rt’s g ra n t o f su m m a ry ju d g m e n t to th e

p la in tiffs o n th is issu e wa s a ffirm e d b y th e Co u rt o f Ap pe a ls. S e e Da v is v

. VCP

S o u th

, LLC, 3 2 1 Ga

. Ap p

. 5 0 3 (7 4 0 S E2 d 4 1 0 ) (2 0 1 3 ). 3 F in a lly

, o n De c e m b e r

1 8

, 2 0 13

, th e c lo sin g sa le o f Da v is’ m e m b e rsh ip u n its to Ro th wa s

a c c o m p lish e d

. 4

De sp ite th e fa c t th a t th e i s s u e r e g a rd in g o wn e rsh ip o f th e tra d e m a rk s

re m a in e d p e n d in g in th e c a se

, o n M a r c h 6

, 2 0 1 4

, a pp e lla n t, th ro u g h a

re p re se n ta tiv e

, c o nta c te d F a c e b o o k a n d

, c la im in g o wn e rsh ip a n d a sse rtin g

3 W hile a waiting the Court of Appeals’ ruling

, Roth and several employ ees of VCP South

were killed in a F ebruary 20, 2013 p lane crash. As a result, Roth’s widow, Mary Anne Roth, was

appointed representative o f his estate on Fe b r u a r y 2 5

, 2013 and, as ex ecutrix

, was added a s a

plaintiff to the litig ation. Shortly thereafter, Mrs. Roth, as representative of the Roth estate, ex ecuted

two resolutions amending the L L C operating a g reements to provide that she could b ecome a member

of the L L Cs and thereby avoid their dissolution.

4 After the Court of Appeals issued its decision on March 26, 2013, sale of Davis’

membership u n i t s to Roth (now the Roth Estate) was further delay ed when it was d iscovered that

the Davis E s t a t e n o long er had any ownership interest in the membership units o f VCP South

because a ppellant h a d obtained a Probate Order of Year’s Support transferring all of the a ssets of the

Davis Estate to herself and her children. Various motions were filed by the parties and, following

entry o f a trial court order requiring appellant and the Davis children to be named i n d ividually as

parties, appellant obtained a n order from the p robate court setting aside the y ear’s support order and

re-vesting ownership of the membership units in the Davis Estate.

6tra d e m a rk in frin g e m e n t, h a d th e T h e Ve in G u

y s F a c e b o o k p a g e d isa b le d a n d

ta k e n do wn

. F a c e b o o k se n t a n e m a il no tific a tio n to VCP S o uth ’s we b site

m a n a g e r sta tin g th a t Fa c e b o o k wo u ld o n ly be a b le to re sto re c o n te n t to T

h e Ve in

Gu y s p a g e if it re c e iv e d “ e x p lic it n otic e of c o n se n t fro m th e c o m p la in in g p a rty .”

A Mo tio n fo r Em e rg e n c y In ju n c tiv e Re lie f wa s file d b y th e p la in tiffs a n d h e a rd

b y th e tria l c o u rt o n Ma rc h 7

, 2 0 1 4

. F in d in g th e p l a i n t i f f s wo uld su ffe r

irre p a ra b le h a rm a n d d a m a g e s, th e tria l c o u rt e n te re d a n o rd e r th a t d a y re q u irin g

a p p e lla n t to im m e d ia te ly no tify F a c e b o o k t o “ r e in sta te a n d pu t b a c k u p ‘Th e

Ve in Gu y s’ p a g e in sta n te r” a n d to im m e d ia te ly a d v ise th e c o u rt wh e n su c h

re in sta te m e n t wa s a c c o m p lish e d

. 5

Th e F a c e b o o k p a g e re m a in e d d isa b le d

, h o we ve r, a n d p la in tiffs file d a

m o tio n fo r c o n te m

p t o n Ma rc h 1 3

, 2 01 4. 6 F o llo win g a h e a rin g on Ma rc h 2 6

,

2 0 1 4

, th e tria l c o u rt e n te re d a n o rd e r o n Ap ril 1

, 2 0 1 4 d e c lin i n g t o h o l d

5 The trial court deemed this March 7, 2014 order to be in the nature of a temporary

restraining order and characteriz ed the March 26, 2014 hearing as the hearing

on the interlocutory

injunction.

6 W hen the F acebook pag e had not been rei n s t a t e d b y mid-morning on March 11, 2014,

plaintiffs’ c ounsel f

ax ed a letter to appellant’s counsel in the pending c ase, as well a s to the Estate’s

attorney responsible for initiating the complaint with F acebook, inquiring about reinstatement of the

p ag e. L ater that d ay

, plaintiffs’ c o unsel received a copy of an email which h a d b e en s e n t t o

F acebook less than an hour earlier attaching the trial court’s March 7 t h order and requesting that The

Vein Guys F acebook pag e be put up immediately

.

7a

p p e lla n t in c o n te m

pt, b u t g ra n tin g an in te rlo c u to ry in ju n c tio n re q u irin g h e r to

ta k e a ffirm a t i v e a c tio n to “ c o m p ly e x p lic itly ” with F a c e b o o k ’s o rig in a l

in stru c tio n s fo r o b ta in in g r e s t o r a tio n of th e F a c e b o o k p a g e

. 7 T h e tria l c o u rt’s

o rd e r fu rth e r p ro v id e d th a t th e F a c e bo o k p a g e wa s to b e re a c tiv a te d n o la te r th a n

Ap ril 4, 2 0 1 4

, o r b e g in n in g Ap ril 5

, 2 0 1 4

, th e c o u rt wo uld a sse ss a p e n a lty o f

$ 1 ,0 0 0 p e r d a y a g a in st a

p pe lla n t u ntil th e p a g e wa s re sto re d

.

Wh e n th e F a c e b o o k p a g e wa s no t tim e ly a c tiv a te d

, th e p la in tiff s f ile d a

m o tio n fo r re c o n sid e ra tio n wh ic h wa s he a rd by th e tria l c o u rt on Ap ril 1 4

, 2 0 1 4

.

At th is h e a rin g, a

p p e lla n t’s a tto rn e y a n n o u n c e d th a t th e F a c e b o o k p a g e h a d b e e n

re a c ti v a t e d t h a t d a y

. T h e re a fte r, o n Ap ril 21

, 2 0 1 4 th e tria l c o u rt e n te re d its

S e c o n d Ord e r o n In te rlo c u to ry In ju n c tio n an d Co nte m

pt fin din g a

p p e lla n t in

b o th c iv il a

n d c rim in a l c o n te m

p t o f its p re v io u s o rd e r a n d e n j o i n i n g he r,

p e rso n a lly o r th ro u g h h e r a tto rn e y s o r in te rm e d ia rie s, fro m (1 ) c o n ta c ti n g

F a c e b oo k with ou t c o u rt a p p ro v a l re g a rd in g Th e Ve in Gu y s Fa c e b o o k p a g e ; a n d

7 The pertinent F acebook instructions provided:

I f an ag reement is reached to restore th e r e p o r t ed content, p lease have the

c o m p l a i ning p arty email u s with their consent and include the orig inal referen c e

number. W e will not be able to restore this content to F acebook unless we receive

ex p licit notice of consent from the complaining party

.

8(2 ) p e rm ittin g a n y o th e r e n tity (with o n e lim ite d e x c e p tio n n o t re le v a n t to th is

a p p e a l) to u se th e d isp u te d tra d e m a rk s. Th e o rd e r fu rth e r re q uire d a p p e lla n t to

p ro d u c e a ll lic e nse s, c o n tra c ts a n d oth e r d o c u m e n ta tio n b e twe e n a p p e lla n t a n d

o th e rs re la te d to u se o f a n y of th e d isp u te d tra d e m ark s, a n d p r o v id e d th a t th e

tria l c o u rt wo u ld e nte rta in a m o tio n fo r a tto rn e y s fe e s b y th e p la in t i f f s in

c o n n e c tio n with th e F a c e b o o k p a ge d isp u te

.

Also o n Ap ril 2 1

, 2 0 1 4

, th e tria l c o u rt issu e d its Ord e r on S p e c ia l Ma ste r’s

Th ird Re p o rt a n d Oth e r Ma tte rs in wh ic h it a do p te d

, in m a jo r pa rt, th e Th ird

Re p o rt o f th e Sp e c ia l Ma ste r a s th e ju d g m e n t o f th e c o u rt. A m o n g o th e r th in g s,

th e tria l c o u rt he ld th a t VCP S o u th h a d b e e n p u rc ha se d a s o f S e p te m b e r 3 0

,

2 0 1 1 fro m th e Da v is Esta te b a se d o n th e c o m p a ny ’s op e ra tin g a g r e e m e n t a n d

p re v io u s ru lin g s o f th e c o u rt, t h u s th e Da vis Esta te wa s n o t e n title d to a n y

d istrib u tio n s fro m t h e c o m p a n y a c c ru in g a fte r th a t d a te

. F u rth e r, th e c o urt

c o n c lu d e d th a t a n y a c tio ns ta k e n b y VCP S o u th o r its m e m be rs a fte r S e p te m

b e r

3 0

, 2 0 1 1 we re irre le v a nt to th e m a tte rs be fo re th e c o u rt. Ba se d o n t h i s

d e te rm in a tio n

, th e t r i a l c ou rt d isa llo we d d isc o v e ry fo r a c tiv itie s, tra n sa c tio n s

a n d e v e n ts oc c u rrin g a fte r Se p te m b e r 30

, 2 0 1 1 an d d e n ie d a p p e l l an t’s m o tio n

to a dd Ma ry An n e Ro th

, in d iv id u a lly

, a s a p arty to th e a c tio n

, fin d in g Mrs. Ro th

9h a d n o in te re st o r c on tro l o f th e e n titie s u n til a fte r th is c u t-o ff d a te

. F in a lly

, th e

tria l c o u rt o rd e re d th a t th e issu e s re g a rd in g o wn e rsh ip an d u se o f th e d isp u te d

tra d e m a rk s b e su b m itte d to th e S pe c ia l Ma ste r fo r d e te rm in a tio n

.

Ca se No . 1 5 A0 1 4 2

.

1

. Ap p e lla nt c o n te n d s t h e tria l c o u rt e rre d w h e n it g ra nte d th e

p la in tiffs/a p p e lle e s’ re q u e st fo r e m e rg e nc y re lie f f o llo win g F a c e b o o k ’s

d e a c tiv a tio n o f T

h e Ve in Gu

y s F a c e b o o k

p a g e a t a p p e lla n t’s re q ue st.

(a ) Ap p e lla n t first a sse rts th e tria l c o u rt e rre d in e n te rin g its Ma rc h 7

,

2 0 1 4 te m p o ra ry re stra in i n g o rd e r a nd

, th e re a fte r, its Ap ril 1

, 2 0 1 4 o rd e r g ra n tin g

in ju n c tiv e re lie f b e c a

u se th e p la in tiffs’ re q u e st fo r in ju n c tiv e re lie f wa s n e ith e r

v e rifie d n o r a c c o m

p a nie d b y su ffic ie nt a ffid a v its. Th e re c ord re v e a ls, ho we ve r,

th a t th e tria l c ou rt fo u n d sa tisfa c to ry p ro o fs su p p o rte d th e gra n tin g o f th e se

o rd e rs a n d

, in a ny e v e n t, th e tria l c o u rt a llo we d th e p la in tiffs’ to p e rfe c t th e

re c o rd b y filin g a v e rific a tio n a s a n a m e n d m e n t to th e ir m o tio n . Ac c o rd in gly

,

th is c la im la c k s m e rit. S e e OCGA § 9 -1 0 -1 1 0. 8 S e e a lso DRS T Ho ld in g s, Ltd

.

8 OCGA § 9-10-110 provides:

Petitions for a restraining order, injunction, receiver, or other ex traordinary equitable

relief shall be verified positively b y the petitioner or supported by other satisfactory

proofs.

10v

. Bro wn

, 2 9 0 Ga

. 3 1 7 (1 ) (7 2 0 S E2 d 62 6) (2 0 1 2 ) ( “ I t i s we ll se ttle d th a t th e

fa ilu re to v e rify a

p le a d in g is a n a m e n d a

ble d e fe c t. [Cits.] ” ).

(b ) A p p e lla n t n e x t c la im s th e e v id e n c e wa s in su ffic ie n t to sh o w th a t sh e

a n d /o r h e r re p re s e n t a tiv e s h a d th e p o w e r to m a k e F a c e b o o k re -p ost T h e Ve in

Gu y s’ F a c e b o o k p a g e a s o rd e re d b y th e tria l c o u rt, th u s th e c o u rt a b u se d its

d isc re tio n in issu in g its Ap ril 1

, 2 0 1 4 o rd e r g ra n tin g in ju n c tiv e r e l i e f

. “ Th e

p u rp o s e f o r g ra n tin g in te rlo c u to ry in ju n c tio n s is to p re se rv e th e sta tu s q u o

, a s

we ll a s b a la n c e th e c o n v e n ie n c e s o f th e pa rtie s, p e nd in g a fin a l a d ju dic a tio n o f

th e c a se .” Gro ssi C o n su ltin g, LLC v . S te rlin g Cu rre nc y Gro u p

, LLC, 2 9 0 Ga

.

3 8 6

, 3 8 8 (7 2 2 S E2 d 4 4 ) (2 0 1 2) (q u o tin g Be n to n v

. P a te l, 25 7 G a

. 6 6 9

, 6 7 2 (3 6 2

S E2 d 21 7 ) ( 1 9 8 7 )). Th e p o we r o f a tria l c o urt to g ra n t a re q u e st fo r

in te rlo c u to r y i n

j u nc tiv e re lie f is d isc re tio n ary a n d b a se d o n th e c irc um sta n c e s

o f e a c h c a se

. S e e O CGA § 9 -5 -8

. Alth o u g h th is p o we r m u st b e p ru de n tly a n d

c a u tio u sly e x e rc ise d, th is Co u rt will n o t d istu rb a n in ju n c tio n fa sh io n e d b y th e

tria l c o u rt a

b se n t a m a

n ife st a b u se of d isc re tio n

. S e e Gro ssi Co n su ltin g

, su p ra

a t 3 8 7 -3 8 8 (1 ). In d e c id in g wh e th e r to issu e an in te rlo c u to ry in ju n c tio n

, a tria l

c o u rt sh ou ld c o n sid e r fo u r fa c to rs:

(1 ) wh e th e r th e re e x ists a su b sta n tia l th re a t th a t a m o v in g p a rty w ill

11su ffe r irre p a ra b le in ju ry if th e in

ju n c tio n is n o t g ra n te d ; (2 ) wh e th e r

th e th re a te n e d in

ju ry to th e m o v in g pa rty o u twe ig h s th e th re a t a n d

h a rm th a t th e in

ju n c tio n m a y d o to th e pa rty b e in g e n jo in e d ; (3 )

wh e th e r th e re is a su b sta n tia l lik e lih o od th a t th e m o vin g p a rty w ill

p re v a il o n th e m e rits a t tria l; a n d (4 ) wh e th e r gra n tin g th e

in te rlo c uto ry in

ju n c tio n will n o t d isse rv e th e p ub lic in te re st.

S e e S RB In v

. S v c s. v

. Bra n c h Ba n k in g a n d Tru st C o

. , 2 8 9 G a

. 1

, 5 (3 ) (7 2 2

S E2 d 4 4) (2 0 1 1 ).

He re

, th e tria l c o u rt fo u n d th a t a p pe lla n t’s a c tio n s c a

u se d F a c e b o o k to d e

a c t i v a t e T h e Ve in Gu

y s F a c e b o o k p a g e a n d th a t a bse n t e n try o f a n in

ju n c tio n

,

p la in ti f f s w o u ld su ffe r irre p a ra

b le h a rm

. Ev id e n c e in th e re c o rd sh o we d a

sig nific a n t d ro p in th e n u m b e r o f n e w pa tie nts c on ta c tin g th e p ra c tic e fo llo win g

th e d e a c tiv a tio n o f th e F a c e b o o k p a g e wh e n c o m pa re d to th e n u m

be r o f n e w

p a tie n t c o n ta c ts re c e iv e d by th e p ra c tic e in th e p re c e d in g two m o n th s.

Ac c o rd in g to th e a ffid a v it o f K e lly Va n n

, CEO o f V CP S o uth

, LLC, e v e n a 5%

d e c re a se in th e n u m

b e r o f n e w p a tie n ts c o sts th e p ra c tic e o v e r $ 6 0 ,0 0 0 p e r

m o n th

. In c o m

p a riso n

, th e re wa s n o e v id e n c e th a t re sto ra tio n o f th e F a c e b o o k

p a g e wo u ld h ar m ap p e l l a nt. Ra th e r, th e tria l c o u rt sp e c ific a lly n o te d th a t th e

h a rm to th e p la in tiffs ou twe ig h e d a n y a c tio n re qu ire d o f a p pe l l a n t to c o m

p ly

with th e in

ju n c tio n

. Th e tria l c o u rt fu rth e r d e te r mi n ed th e re wa s a su b sta n tia l

12lik e lih o o d th e p la in tiffs wo u ld p re v a il on th e m e rits re g ard in g own e rsh ip o r

rig h t o f u se to th e t r a d e n a me “ Th e V e in Gu y s,” a nd e x p re sse d c o n c e rn th a t

a p p e lla n t’s re p re se n ta tiv e d e lib e ra te ly c h o s e t o o b f u sc a te th e sta tu s of a d isp u te d

issu e pe n d in g b e fo re th e c o u rt in o rd e r to c o n v in c e F a c e b o ok t o t a k e a c tio n

a l t e r in g th e sta tu s q u o

. F in a lly

, th e tria l c o u rt o b se rv e d th a t th e in te rlo c u t o r y

in ju n c tio n s re q u e ste d by th e p la in tiffs wo u ld n o t d isse rv e th e p ub lic in te re st.

As e v id e n c e in th e re c o rd su p p o rts th e tria l c o urt’s fin d in g s, a s we ll a s its

d e te rm in a tio n th a t a

p p e lla n t fa ile d to fo llo w th e c o u rt’s pre v io u s ord e r re q u irin g

h e r to stric tly c o m

ply with F a c e b o o k ’s in stru c tio n s to h a v e th e F a c e b o o k p a g e

re sto re d

, th e in te rlo c u to r y in ju n c tio n g ra n te d b y th e tria l c o u rt re q u irin g

a p p e lla n t to ta k e th e sp e c ific ste p s n e c e ssa ry to h a v e T he Ve in Gu

y s’ F a c e b o o k

p a g e re sto r e d with in a tim e lim it e sta b lish e d b y th e c ou rt did n o t c o n stitu te a

m a n ife st a

b u se o f th e tria l c o u rt’s d isc re tio n

(c ) F in a lly

, a

pp e lla n t a rg u e s th a t b e c a

u se T h e Ve in Gu

y s F a c e b o o k p a g e

wa s re

- p o ste d b y Ap ril 1 4

, 2 0 1 4

, th e re wa s n o fu rth e r n e e d fo r th e in ju n c tiv e

re l i ef s o u g h t, th u s th e tria l c o u rt’s Ap ril 2 1, 2 0 1 4

, e ntitle d “ Se c o n d Ord e r o n

In te rlo c u to ry In

ju nc tio n a n d Co n te m

p t,” c o n stitu te d a n e v e n gre a te r a b u se o f

d isc re tio n

. S e e Bru c e v

. Wa llis, 2 7 4 Ga

. 52 9, 5 3 1 (5 5 6 S E 2 d 1 2 4 ) (2 0 0 1 )

13(fin din g it a n a b u se o f d isc re tio n fo r th e tria l c o u rt to e n te r a n in ju n c tio n wh e n

th e o b je c t of th e in

ju n c tio n h a d b e e n a lle via te d ). Ap p e lla nt a dd itio n a lly c la im s

th a t th e re lie f g ra n te d in th is o rd e r wa s fa r b ro a d e r th a n th a t re q u e st e d b y th e

p la in tif f s

, a nd sh e a sse rts n o e v id e n c e wa s te n d e re d b y th e p la in tiffs to

su b sta n tia te th e ir e n title m e n t to su c h re lie f.

Giv e n e v id e nc e in th e re c o rd sh o win g th a t a p p e lla n t re p e a te d ly fa ile d to

fu lly c o m p ly with tria l c o u rt’s o rd e rs u n til rig h t b e fo re th e c o n te m p t h e a rin g

h e l d Ap ril 1 4

, 2 0 1 4

, 9 th a t th e issu e c o n c e rn in g o w n e rsh ip of th e tra d e m a rk s

re m a in e d p e n d in g b e fo re t h e tria l c o u rt an d h a d b e e n p e n din g sin c e th e

b e g in n in g o f th e la wsu it, a n d th a t a p p e lla n t a n d h e r a g e nts did

, in fa c t, h a v e th e

p o we r to o b ta in re sto ra tio n o f th e F a c e b o o k p a g e b y sim p ly fo llo win g

F a c e b oo k ’s d ire c tio n s, we d o n o t fin d th a t th e tria l c o u rt a b use d its d isc re t i o n

in g ra n tin g th e in te rlo c u to ry in ju nc tiv e re lie f se t fo rth in th is o rd e r. No r, u n d e r

th e c irc u ms t a n c e s, c a n w e sa y th a t th e tria l c o u rt’s a c tio n e n jo in in g a p p e lla n t

fro m c o n ta c tin g F a c e bo ok in th e fu tu re re g a rd in g T h e V e in G u y s F a c e b oo k p a g e

with ou t p rio r c o u rt a

p pro v a l o r fro m p e rm ittin g o th e r e n titie s to use th e d isp u te d

9 I t was not until April 13, 2 014 at 1 0:26 p.m., that a ppellant’s attorney

, Timothy E. Moses,

who was “th e complaining p arty ,” notified F acebook of his e x plicit consent to restoration of The

Vein Guys F acebook pag e. The Vein Guys F acebook pag e was reactivated by F acebook the nex t day

.

14tra d e m a rk s w a s n o t n e e d e d

. Ra th e r, it a p p e ars th a t th e re lie f g ra n te d b y th e tria l

c o u rt a ffe c ts a

p p e lla n t’s rig h ts n o m o re th an n e c e ssa ry to p re se rv e th e sta tu s q u o

a n d to p r o te c t p la in tiffs fro m th e th re a te n e d ha rm a sso c ia te d with c o n tin u e d

a tte m p ts b y a p p e lla n t to e n fo rc e h e r tra d e m a rk c la im s o u tsid e th e c o n fin e s o f th e

p e n d in g litig a tio n . S e e Gro ssi Co n su ltin g

, su pra

, 2 9 0 Ga

. a t 3 8 9

.

2

. Ap p e lla n t c o n te n d s th e tria l c o u rt e rre d in fin din g h e r to b e in b o th c iv il

a n d c rim in a l c o n te m

p t fo r fa ilin g to stric tly c o m p ly with th e tria l c o u rt’s o rd e rs.

We d isa g re e

.

In o rd e r to b e he ld in c o n t e mp t

, o n e m u st w ilfu lly d iso be y th e c o u rt’s

d e c re e o r ju d g m e n t. Se e S im p k in s v

. S im

p k in s, 2 7 8 Ga

. 5 23

, 5 23 (6 0 3 S E2 d

2 7 5 ) (2 0 0 4 ). “ Crim in a l c on te m p t im po se s u n c o n d itio n a l pu nish m e nt fo r p rio r

a c ts of c o n tu m a c y

, wh e re a s c iv il c o n te m p t im po se s c o nd itio n a l p u n ish m e n t a s

a m e an s o f c o e rc in g fu tu re c o mp l i a n c e with a prio r c o u rt o rd e r. [Cits.] .”

Am e ric an Me d ic a l S e c u rity Gro u p

, In c

. v. P a rk e r, 2 84 Ga

. 1 0 2

, 10 5 (6 6 3 S E2 d

6 9 7 ) (2 00 8 ). It is fo r th e tria l c o u rt to d e te rm in e wh e th e r a c o n te m p t h a s b e e n

c o m m itte d

, a n d th a t c o urt’s a dju d ic a tio n will n o t b e in te rfe re d with u nle ss th e re

h a s b e e n a n a

b u se o f d isc re tio n

. S e e Be rm a n v

. Be rm a n, 23 2 Ga

. 3 4 2

, 3 4 2 (2 0 6

S E2 d 4 47 ) (1 9 7 4 ).

15He re

, th e re c ord sh o w s th a t a p p e lla nt fa ile d to fo llo w th e tria l c o u rt’s

in stru c tio n s in its Ma rc h 7 , 2 0 1 4 o rd e r to im m e d ia te ly ta k e a c tio n to h a v e T h e

Ve in Gu y s’ F a c e bo o k p a g e re a c ti v a t e d

. Su bse qu e n tly

, a p p e lla nt fa ile d to

c o m p ly w ith th e c o u rt’s m ore d e ta ile d in stru c t io n s in its Ap ril 1

, 2 0 1 4 o rd e r

u n til th e e v e n in g b e fo re th e h e a rin g o n th e p la in tiffs’ m o tio n f or c o n te m

p t.

F in a lly

, th e re c o r d re v e a ls th a t o nc e a pp e lla n t fu lly c o m

p lie d w ith th e

in stru c tio n s se t fo rth in th e tria l c o urt’s ord e r, th e F a c e bo o k p a g e wa s

r e a c t i v a t e d

. As th e re is e vid e n c e to su p p o rt th e tria l c o u rt’s fin d in g s o f

c o n te m pt, th e se fin d in g s will n o t be d istu rb e d

. S e e P a te v

. P a te

, 2 8 0 Ga

. 7 9 6

,

7 9 8 (6 31 SE2 d 1 0 3 ) (2 0 0 6 ) (“ If th e re is an y e v i d e n c e in th e re c o rd to su p p ort

th e tria l ju dg e ’s d e te rm in a tio n th a t a p a rty h a s wilfu lly d iso b e y e d a tria l c o u rt’s

o rd e r, th e d e c isio n o f th e tria l c o u rt will b e a ffirm e d o n a p p e a l. [Cit.]

. ” ); City o f

Cu m m in g v

. Re a lty De v e lo p m e n t Co rp

., 2 68 Ga

. 4 6 1

, 4 6 2 (4 9 1 S E 2 d 6 0 )

(1 9 9 7 ) .

3

. Ap p e lla n t a sse rts th e tria l c o u rt e r r e d in a d op tin g th e c o n stru c tio n o f

th e o pe ra tin g a g re e m e n t se t fo rth i n th e Th ird Re p o rt o f th e S p e c ia l Ma ste r,

a rg u in g th e sp e c ia l m a ste r im p ro p e rly c o n sid e re d p ro v isio n s o f th e ta x c o d e a n d

IRS r e g u l at i o n s i n c o n stru in g th e a g re e m e nt’s te rm s. Ap p e lla nt fu rth e r c o n te n d s

16th a t th e c o n stru c tio n a d o p te d b y th e tria l c o u rt wo rk s a fo rfe itu re o f fin a n c ia l

in te re sts to wh ic h th e Da v is Esta te w a s e n title d

, a sse rtin g th a t th e e sta te sh o u ld

h a v e c o n tin u e d to re c e iv e d istrib u tio n s e q u a l to th ose m a d e to R o th th ro u g h a n d

u n til De c e m

be r 1 8

, 20 13

, th e d a te o n wh ic h th e sa le o f Da v is’ m e m be rsh ip u n its

to Ro th wa s c o m

p le te d . Th e se c la im s la c k m e rit.

S e c tio n 7 .0 1 (a ) of VCP S o u th ’s o p e ra tin g a gre e m e n t sp e c ific a lly sta te s:

Th e Me m b e rs a c k n o w l e d g e th a t th e Co m p an y will b e tre a te d a s a

“ p a rtn e rsh ip ” fo r fe d e ra l a n d Ge o rg ia sta te t ax p u rp ose s. All

p ro v i s i o n s o f th is Ag re e m e n t a nd th e Co m p a ny ’s a rtic le s o f

o rg a n iz a tio n a re to b e c o n stru e d so a s to p re se rv e th a t ta x sta tu s.

As it is c le a r th a t th e o p e ra tin g a g re e m e n t, i t s e lf, n ot on ly a u th o riz e s, b u t

re q u ire s c o n sid e ra tio n o f a p p lic a b le ta x c o d e s a n d re g u la tio n s in c o n stru in g its

te rm s, a p p e lla n t’s first c la im

o f e rro r fa ils.

Ap p e lla n t’s se c o n d a rg um e n t, wh ic h p rim a rily c h a lle n ge s th e tria l c o u rt’s

e sta b lish m e n t o f S e p te m

b e r 3 0

, 2 0 1 1 a s a re a so n a

b le c u to ff d a te fo r d e te rm in in g

t h e f in a n c ia l rig h ts o f th e Da v is Esta te

, is e q u a lly u n p e rsu a siv e

. 1 0 Wh ile t h e

o p e ra tin g a g re e m e nt d e vise d b y th e p a rtie s in th is c a se se t n o sp e c ific tim e

1 0 W e note that the establishment of a c ut-off d ate w a s part of the special master’s first

report to which neither party objected and which, thereafter, w as adopted by the trial court in

accordance with Rule 46 (G) (2) of the Uniform Rules of the Superior Court.

17with in wh ic h th e pu r c h as e o f a d e c e a se d m e m b e r’s m e m

be rsh ip u n its b y th e

su rv iv in g m e m

b e r wa s to b e e ffe c tu a te d

, it d id se t fo rth a sim p le a n d e x p e d itio u s

p ro c e d u re fo r a c c om

p lish in g th e sa le

. Ge org ia la w re q u ire s th a t t h e

p e rfo rm a n c e of c o n tra c tu a l o blig a tio n s by a c o n tra c tin g pa rty “ b e su b sta n tia lly

in c o m p lia n c e with th e sp irit a

n d th e le tte r of th e c o ntra c t an d c o m p le te d with in

a re a so n a b le tim e .” OCGA § 13 -4 -2 0

. By e sta b lish in g a c u to ff d a te o f

S e p te m b e r 3 0

, 2 01 1, so m e 2 0 m on th s a fte r Da v is’ d e a th

, a s th e d a te b e y o n d

wh ic h th e Da v is E sta te c o u ld n o lo n g e r c o n tin ue to re c e iv e a n e q u a l sh a re o f th e

p ro fits a n d lo sse s of th e LLC, a s we ll a s a ny distrib u tio n s, th e tria l c o urt

c o rre c tly re fu se d to a llo w a p p e lla n t to th w a rt th e in te nt o f th e p a r t ie s b y

u n re a so n a

b ly im p e d in g th e sa le

. “ Ev e ry c o n tra c t im p o se s u p o n e a c h p a rty a

d u ty o f g o o d fa ith a n d fa ir d e a lin g in its p e rfo rm a n c e a n d e n fo rc e m e n t. [Cit] .”

Bra c k v

. Bro wn le e

, 2 46 G a

. 8 1 8

, 8 2 0 (2 73 SE2 d 3 9 0 ) (1 9 8 0 ). Giv e n th e d e la y s

c a u se d b y a p p e lla n t’s c h a lle ng e s to th e o p e ra tin g a g re e m e n t’s p ro v isio n s, a s

we ll a s th e a d d itio n a l d e la y c a u se d b y a p p e lla n t ’ s t r a n sfe r o f th e m e m b e rsh ip

u n its fro m th e Da v is Esta te to h e rse l f a n d h e r so n s p u rsu a n t to h e r rig h t to a

y e a rs’ su p p o rt, we fin d n o e rro r in th e tria l c o u rt’s d e te rm in a tio n th a t th e Da v is

Esta te wa s o n ly e n title d to d istrib u tio n s fro m th e LLCs a c c ru in g th ro u g h a n d

18in c lu din g S e p te m b e r 3 0

, 20 11

, b u t no t th e re af te r. 11 Alth o u g h a

pp e lla n t n o w

a sse rts th a t th e s p ec i a l m a ste r’s fin din g s with re sp e c t to th is h o ld in g we re

u n c le a r a n d in c o n flic t with o th e r fin d in g s m a d e in h is re p o rt, we d isa g re e

. No r

d o we fin d th a t b y a d o p tin g th e sp e c ia l m a ste r’s c uto ff d a te

, th e tria l c o u rt’s

o rd e r im p ro p e rly w o rk s a fo rfe itu re o f fin a n c ia l rig h ts to w h ic h th e Da v is Esta te

wa s e n title d

.

4

. Giv e n o u r d e te rm in a tio n th a t th e tria l c o u rt d id n o t e rr in e sta b lish in g

S e p te m b e r 3 0

, 2 0 1 1 a s th e d a te u p o n wh ic h th e Da v is’ Esta te ’s fin a n c ia l rig h ts

in VCP S o u th te rm in a te d

, se e Div

. 3

, su pra

, we fin d t h a t p o rtio n o f th e tria l

c o u rt’s o rd e r lim itin g fu tu re d isc o v e ry in th is c a se to e v e nts o c c u rrin g b e fo re th e

c u to ff d a te ba se d o n re le v a nc y to b e a p p ro p ria te a nd n ot an a

b u se o f d isc re tio n

.

S e e Bo wd e n v

. Me d ic a l Ce n te r, In c

.,

_ _ _ Ga

.

__ _ (_

_ _ S E2 d

_

_ _ ) ( 2 0 1 5

WL3 65 8 8 19 ) (d isc u ssin g th e issu e o f “ re le v a nc y ” a s it p e rta in s to th e sc o p e o f

d isc o v e ry u n d e r OCGA § 9 -1 1 -2 6 (b ) (1 )).

1 1 W e also find n o merit t o a ppellant’s contention that Roth’s ex ercise of the option was

nonconforming

, and thus merely a counteroffer, simply because the trial court determined some of

the plaintiffs’ proposed closing d ocuments we r e unnecessary

. See Redmond v. Sinclair Refining

Co., 204 Ga. 699, 705 (3) (51 SE2d 4 09) (1949). Nor do we a g ree that Roth’s death subsequent to

the c utoff date established by the trial court, but prior to the actual closing

, somehow voided Roth’s

valid e x ercise of the option. See Martin v. Schindley

, 264 G a. 142, 1 43 (442 SE2d 239) ( 1994) (“An

option becomes a contract b etween the parties b inding from the d ate of its ex e cution when the option

is ex ercised according

to its terms.”).

19Ca se No . S 1 5 X0 14 3

.

In th is c ro ss-a pp e al, th e pla in tiffs/c ro ss-a p p e lla nts first a sse rt th e tria l

c o u rt e r r e d in a llo win g th e Da v is Esta te to re c e iv e d istrib u tio n s of p ro fits

t h r o u g h S e pte m

b e r 3 0

, 2 0 1 1

, a rg u in g th a t su c h d istrib u tio n s sh ou ld h a v e

sto pp e d a s o f Ja n u a ry 3 1

, 2 0 1 0

, th e e n d o f th e m o n th in wh ic h D a v is die d

. Th is

a rg u m e n t, h o we v e r

, d ire c tly c o n flic ts with th e u n a m b ig u o u s te rm s o f th e

o p e ra t i n g a g r e e m e n t w h i c h s p e c i f i c a l l y p ro v id e th a t a c e a se d m e m be r’s fin a n c ia l

rig h ts c o n tin u e so lo n g a s th e c e ssa tio n d id n o t re su lt in d isso lu t i o n o f th e

c o m p a ny , an d it la c k s m e rit.

Cro ss-a pp e lla n ts a lte rn a tiv e ly c o n te n d th e Da v is E sta te ’s fin a n c ia l rig h ts

sh o u ld h a v e e nd e d wh e n Ro th e x e r c i se d h is o p tio n to p u rc h a se Da v is’

m e m b e rsh ip u n its o n o r a ro u n d No v e m b e r 1 1

, 2 0 1 0

, a rg u in g th a t o n c e t h e

o p tio n wa s e x e rc ise d

, th e sa le wa s e sse n tia lly a fa it a c c o mp li a t a p ric e se t b y th e

c o m p a ny ’s a c c o un ta n t. At th e tim e R o th e x e rc ise d h is o p tio n

, h o we v e r, n o

v a lu a tio n of Da v is’ m e m

b e rsh ip u n its b y Sta le y h a d b e e n c o m p le te d

. Alth o u g h

a c k n o wle d g in g th a t th e Da v is Esta te ’s e ffo rts to h a v e S ta le y re p la c e d h a m p e re d

h is v a lu a tio n

, th e sp e c ia l m a ste r a lso o b se rv e d th a t th e c o m p a ny h a d c o m

p le te

c o n tro l o v e r h o w q u ic k ly th e v a lu a tio n wa s c o m p le te d

. We fin d n o e rro r in th e

20tria l c ou rt’s d e te rm in a tio n th a t a re a so n a b l e c u to ff d a te fo r th e Da v is Esta te ’s

f in an c ia l rig h ts wa s th e la st d a y of th e m o n th in wh ic h S ta le y ’s va lu a tio n i n

c o m p lia n c e w i t h th e te rm s o f th e o pe ra tin g a g re e m e n t wa s c o m p le te d a n d

p re se nte d to th e Da vis Esta te . S e e Div . 3 , su p ra

.

F in a lly

, c ro ss-a p p e lla n ts c la im th e tria l c o u rt e rre d in a llo win g th e Da v is

Esta te to m a in ta in a n o wn e rsh ip in te re st in VCP S o uth th ro u g h Se p te m b e r 3 0

,

2 0 1 1 in lig h t o f Ge o rg ia ’s la w g o v e rn in g pro fe ssio n a l c orp o ra tio n s. S e e OCGA

§ 1 4-7 -5 (a ) (“ S ha re s in a p ro fe ssio na l c o rp o ra tio n m a y o n ly b e issu e d to

, h e ld

b y

, o r tra n sfe rre d to a pe rso n wh o is lic e n se d to p ra c t i c e t h e p ro fe ssio n fo r

wh ic h th e c o rp o ra tio n is o rg a n iz e d

. . . e x c e p t a s o th e rwise p e rm itte d un d e r th is

Co d e se c tio n .” ). Th is issu e wa s n o t ra ise d o r ru l e d o n b e lo w, h o we v e r, a n d it

p re se nts n o th in g fo r o u r re vie w. S e e Me ssa a d i v. Me ssa a d i, 2 8 2 G a

. 1 2 6 , 1 2 9

(3 ) (6 4 6 S E2 d 2 3 0) (2 0 0 7 ) (“ Th is Co u rt is e m pa n e le d to re vie w ru lin gs b y lo we r

c o u rts a n d will n o t a d d re ss issu e s n o t ru le d up on b e lo w.” ).

F o r th e fo re g o in g re a so n s, th e issu e s ra ise d in th e c ro ss-a p p e a l la c k m e rit.

Ju d g m e n t in Ca se No s. S 1 5 A0 1 4 2 a n d S 15 X 0 1 4 3 a r e a ffirm e d

. All th e

Ju stic e s c o n c ur.

21