FI RST DI VI SI ON

BA RNES, P. J.

, M C M I LLI A N and M ERCI ER, JJ.

N O T IC E : M otions for r e c ons i de r a tion m us t be

phy s ic a lly r

e ce iv ed i n our c le r k ’s offic e w ithin te n

da y s of the da te of de c is ion to be de e m ed tim e ly file d.

http://w w w .ga a ppe a l s .us /r ule s

Decem ber 14, 2017



# I n t h e C o u

r t o f A p p e a l s o f G e o r g i a

A 1 7 A 1 6 8 6

. S A M A D I v

. F E D E R A L H O M E L O A

N M O R T G A G E

C O R P O R A T I O N

.

B ARNES

, P r e s id in g J

u d g e

.

P r o c e e d in g p r o s e

, M ik e S a m a d i a p p e a ls t he t ri a l c o u

r t’ s o r d e r g r a n tin g t

h e

m o tio n t o o p e n d e f

a u lt f ile d b y th e F e d e r a l H o m e L o a n M o r tg a g e C o r p o r a t io n ( “ F r e d d ie

M a c ” ) a n d th e tr ia l c o u

r t’ s f in a l o r d e r a n d ju d g m e n

t g r a n tin g F r e d d i e M a c ’ s m o tio n t o

d is m is s b a s e d o n th e d o c t ri nes o f r e s ju d ic a ta a n d c o lla te r a l e s t o p p e l. F o r th e r e a s o n s

d is c u s s e d m o r e f

u lly b e lo w

, w e c o n c lu d e th a t th e t r ia l c o u r t abused it s d is c r e tio n i n

d e te r m in i ng t hat t

h e p r e s e n t la

w s u it w a s a “ p r o p e r c a s e ” f o r o p e n in g d e f

a u lt u n d e r

O C G A § 9

- 1 1

- 5 5 ( b ) b a s e d s o le ly o n th e f a c t th a t F r e d d i e M a c ul t i m at el y r a is e d

m e r i to r io u s d e f

e n s e s to S a m a d i’ s la

w s u i t; th e tr ia l c o u

r t a ls o w a s r e q

u ir e d to c o n s id e r

w h e th e r F r e d d ie M a c h a d a r e a s o n a b l e e x p l a n a tio n f

o r its a p p r o x im a te l y 1 5

- m o n t

h

d e la y in r e s p o n d in g t o S a m a d i’ s c o m p la in t. A c c o r d in g ly

, w e v a c a te t h e tr ia l c o u

r t o r d e r

o p e n i n g th e d e f

a u l t a n d its f in a l o r d e r a n d ju d g m e n t d is m is s in g S a m a d i’ s c la im s

, a n dw e r e m a n d f

o r t h e tr ia l c o u

r t to a p p ly th e p r o p e r le g a l s ta

n d a r d f o r d e te r m in in g w h e th e r

th e d e f a u lt s h o u ld b e o p e n e d

.

F a c tu a l B a c k

g r o u n d

. T h e r e c o rd ref

l ec ts th a t in J

u n e 2 0 0 2

, S a m a d i o b ta in e d a

$ 2 8 1 ,0 0 0 lo a n f

r o m M o r tg a g e P o rt f

olio S e r v ic e s t o p u

r c h a s e c e r

ta in r e a l p r o p e r

t y

lo c a te d in C o l u

m b ia C o u n ty

, G e o r g ia ( th e “ P r o p e r

ty ” )

. S a m a d i e x e c u

te d a p r o m is s o r

y

not e in c o n

n e c tio n w ith th e lo a n th a t w a s s e c u r e d w ith a d e e d to s e c u

r e d e b t on t he

P r o p e r t y

. T h e n o te a nd s ecur ity d e e d w e r e a s s i g n e d to S u n T r u s t M o r tg a g e

, I n c

.

( “ S u n T r u s t” )

.

S a m a d i la te r d e f

a u lte d o n th e n o te

, a n d in N o v e m b e r 2 0 1 2

, S u

n T r u s t f o r e c lo s e d

on the P r o p e r

ty p u r s u a n t to th e s e c u

r ity d e e d

. S u

n T r u s t w a s th e h ig h e s t b id d e r a t t he

f o r e c lo s u r e s a le a n d th e n c o n v e y e d th e P r o p e r ty to F r e d d ie M a c

. In M a r c h 2 0 1 3

,

F r e d d ie M a c in i tia

te d d i s p o s s e s s o r

y p r o c e e d i n g s a g a in s t S a m a d i in t h e M a g i s t r a t e C o u r t

o f C o l u m b i a C o u n ty ( th e “ D is p o s s e s s o r

y P r o c e e d in g ” )

. L a te r in M a r c h

, th e m a g is tr a te

c o u r t g r a n te d a w

r it o f p o s s e s s io n to F r e d d ie M a c in th e D i s p o s s e s s o r y P r o c e e d in g

, a n d

F r e d d ie M a c p r o c e e d e d w i t h the ev ic tio n a n d w ith th e r e m o v a l o f S a m a d i’ s p e r s o n a l

b e lo n g in g s f

r o m th e P r o p e r

ty

.

T h e F ir s t A c tio n

. S in c e h is d e f

a u lt o n th e N o te

, S a m a d i h a s f ile d t h r e e s e p a r a te

la w s u its th a t h a v e r e s u lte d in a c o m p le x p r o c e d

u r a l h is t o ry

. I n J a

n u a r y 2 0 0 9

, S a m a d i

2f

ile d s ui t i n th e S u

p e r io r C o u

r t o f C o lu m b ia C o u n ty a g a i n s t S u

n T r u s t f o r a lle g e d

d e c e p tiv e tr a d e p r a c tic e s r e la t in g to h is m o r t g a g e lo a n ( th e “ F ir s t A c tio n ” )

. T h e tr ia l

court en te r e d s u

m m a r y ju d g m e n

t in f a v o r o f S u

n tr u s t o n a ll o f S a m a d i’ s c la im s

, th i s

C o u r t a f f ir m e d w ith o u t o p i n io n

, 1 a n d th e S u p r e m e C o u

r t o f G e o r g i a d e n ie d S a m a d i’ s

p e titio n f o r a w r it o f c e r tio r a r i

.

T h e S e c o n d A c tio n

. I n N o v e m

b e r 2 0 1 2

, S a m a d i f

ile d a s e c o n d s u it in th e S u

p e r io r

C o u r t o f C o lu m b ia C o u n ty a g a in s t S u

n T r u s t, a lle g in g th a t th e f

o r e c lo s u r e p r o c e e d in g s

o n t h e P r o p e r

ty w e r e ille g a l a n d s e e k in g a te m p o r a r y r e s t r a in in g o r d e r ( “ T R O ” ) a n d

in ju n c tiv e r e l ie f ( th e “ S e c o n d A ctio n ” )

. S a m a d i la te r a m e n d e d h is c o m p la in t to a d d

F r e d d ie M a c a s a d e f

e n d a n t a n d to a d d a q

u i e t title c la im

, b u t S a m a d i d id not

s p e c if ic a lly a s s e r

t a n y c la i m s p e r

ta in in g to th e D is p o s s e s s o r y P r o c e e d i n g o r h is e v ic tio n

f r o m th e P r o p e r

ty

. T h e tr ia l c o u

r t ini t i al ly g r a n te d a T R O a n d p r e lim in a r y in ju n c tio n

p r o h ib i tin g th e f

o r e c lo s u r e o f th e P r o p e r

ty , b u t th e tr i a l c o u

r t la t e r d is s o lv e d th e T R O

a n d in ju n c tio n n u n c p r o tu n c a n d d is m is s ed S am adi ’ s c la im s a g a in s t S u n T r u s t a n d

F r e d d ie M a c w ith p r e

ju d ic e

. S a m a d i s o u g h t a

p p e lla te r e v i e w f r o m th is C o u

r t

, b u t t h e

tr ia l cou r t d is m is s e d h is a

p p e a l f o r a n u n r e a s o n a b le d e la y in f ilin g th e tr a n s c r ip t, a n d

1 S e e S a m a d i v . S u n T r u s t M tg

. , 3 1 6 G a . A

p p . X X V ( J u ly 1 0

, 2 0 1 2 )

.

3th is C o u

r t a f f ir m e d th e d is m

is s a l w ith o u t opi ni on. 2 S a m a d i f i le d a p e titio n f

o r w r it o f

c e r tio r a r i, w h ic h th e G e o r g i a

S u p r e m e C o u

r t d e n ie d

.

T he C ur r e n t A c t io n

. I n A

p r il 2 0 1 5

, w

h i le th e a p p e a l o f t

h e S e c o n d A c t i on

r e m a in e d p e n d in g

, S a m a d i f i l e d th e c u

r r e n t p r o s e a c tio n a g a in s t F r e d d ie M a c in t h e

S ta te C o u r t o f C o b b C o u

n t y

, a r g u in g t

h a t th e D is p o s s e s s o r

y P r o c e e d in g a n d r e m o v a l

o f h is p e r s o n a l b e lo n g in g s f r o m th e P r o p e r

t y h a d b e e n c o n d

u c te d in a n ille g a l m a n

n e r

( t h e “ C u r r e n t A ct io n ” )

. T h e c o m

p la in t a lle g e d th a t F r e d d i e M a c h a d n e v e r p r o p e r l y

s e r v e d S a m a d i w ith n o tic e o f th e D is p o s s e s s o r y P r o c e e d i n g

, s u c h th a t h e h a d b e e n

una w a r e o f th e e v i c tio n a

n d r e m o v a l o f h is p e r s o n a l b e lo n g in g s w h e n th e y o c c u

rred

d u r in g th e p e n d e n c y o f th e S e c o n d A c tio n

. T h e c o m p l a in t f u r th e r a lle g e d t

h a t F r e d d ie

M a c ’ s e v ic tio n o f S a m a d i a n d r e m oval of hi s p e r s o n a l b e lo n g in g s h a d b e e n ille g a l

b e c a u s e th e y o c c u

r r e d w h ile th e T R O a n d p r e lim

in a r y in ju n c t io n w e r e s t ill in f

o r c e i n

th e S e c o n d

A c tio n

.

I n M a y 2 0 1 5

, F r e d d ie M a c w a s s e r v e d th r o u g h i ts r e g is te r e d a g e n

t w i t h t h e

s u m m o n s a n d c o m

p la in t i n th e C u r r e n t A c tio n

. B e c a

u s e F r e d d ie M a c d id n o t tim e ly f ile

2 S e e S a m a d i v . S u n T r u s t M tg

. , 3 3 2 G a . A

p p . X X I V ( M a r c h 2 9 , 2 0 1 5 )

.

4a n a n s w e r to th e c o m p la in t, 3 th e C u r r e n t A c tio n w e n t in

to a u to m a tic d e f

a u lt. S e e O C G

A

§ 9

- 1 1

- 5 5 ( a )

. 4 N o r d id F r e d d ie M a c o p e n t h e d e f a u lt a s a m a tte r o f r ig h t w ith in 1 5 d a y s

o f th e a u to m a tic d e f

a u lt. S e e id

.

3 S e e O C G A § 9

- 1 1

- 1 2 ( a ) ( “ A d e f e n d a n t s h a ll s e r

v e h is a n s w e r w ith in 3 0 d a y s

af t er the s e r v i c e o f t h e s u m m o n s a n d c o m

p la in t u p o n h im

, u

n le s s o th e r

w is e p r o v ided

b y s ta t u te . . . .” )

.

4 O C G A § 9

- 1 1

- 5 5 ( a ) p r o v id e s :

I f in a n y c a s e a n a

n s w e r h a s n o t b e e n f

ile d w i th in th e tim e r e q

u ir e d b y th is

c h a p te r

, th e c a s e s h a ll a

u to m a tic a l ly b e c o m e in d e f a u lt u n l e s s th e tim e f

o r

f ilin g th e a n s w e r h a s b e e n e x te n d e d a s p r o v id e d b y la w

. T h e d e f

a u lt m a y

b e o p e n e d a s a m a tte r o f r ig h t b y th e f ilin g o f s u c h def

enses w ith in 1 5

d a y s o f th e d a y o f d e f

a u lt, u p o n th e p a y m e n t o f c o s ts

. I f th e c a s e i s s till in

d e f a u lt a f t e r t h e ex p ir a tio n o f th e p e r io d o f 1 5 d a y s

, t h e p la in tif f a t a n y

tim e th e r e a f

te r s h a ll b e e n title d to v e r d ic t a n d ju d g m e n t b y d e f a u lt, in

o p e n c o u r t o r in c h a m

b e r s

, a s if e v e r

y ite m a n d p a r a g r a

p h o f th e c o m

p la i n t

o r o th e r o r ig in a l p le a d in g w e r e s u p p o r te d b y p r o p e r e v id e n c e

, w ith o u t th e

in te r v e n tio n o f a j u

r y, u n le s s th e a c tio n is o n e e x d e lic to o r i n v o lv e s

u n l iq u id a t e d d a m ages, in w

h ic h e v e n t th e p la in

tif f s h a ll b e r e q

u ir e d to

in tr o d u c e e v id e n c e a n d e s ta

b lis h th e a m o u

n t o f d a m a g e s b e f

o r e th e c o u

r t

w ith o u t a ju

r y

, w ith th e r ig h t o f th e d e f e n d a n t t o in

tr o d u c e e v i d e n c e a s to

d a m a g e s a n d th e r ig h t o f e ith e r to m o v e f o r a n e w t r ia l in r e s p e c t o f s u c h

d a m a g e s ; p r o v i d e d

, h o w e v e r

, in th e e v e n t a d e f e n d a n t, th o u g h in d e f

a u lt,

h a s p la c e d d a m a g e s in is s u e b y f ilin g a p l e a d in g r a i s i n g s u c h is s u e

, e ith e r

p a r ty s h a ll b e e n title d

, u

p o n d e m a n d

, to a ju

r y t ri al o f th e i s s u e a s to

d a m a g e s

. A

n a c tio n b a s e d u

p o n o p e n a c c o u

n t s h a ll n o t b e c o n s id e r e d o n e

f o r u n liq u i d a te d d a m a g e s w ith in

th e m e a n in g o f

th is C o d e s e c tio n

. S e e B e llS o u th T e le c o m m u n ic a tio n s v

. F

u tu r e C o m m u n ic a tio n s

, 2 9 3 G a

. A p p

. 2 4 7

, 2 4 8

( 6 6 6 S E 2 d 6 9 9 ) ( 2 0 0 8 ) ( c a s e is a u to m a tic a lly in def

aul t, w h e r e n o a n s w e r w a s f

ile d

w ith in th e s ta tu

to r y p e r i o d a n d th e tim e f

o r r e s p o n d in g w a s n o t e x te n d e d )

.

5I n S e p te m b e r 2 0 1 5

, S a m a d i f

ile d a m o tio n f

o r e n t r y o f d e f a u lt ju d g m e n t a g a in s t

F r e d d ie M ac pu

r s u a n t to O C G A § 9

- 1 1

- 5 5 ( a )

. F r e d d i e M a c d id n o t r e s p o n d to t h e

m o tio n

, b u t in N o v e m

b e r 2015, th e la

w s u it w a s t

r a n s f e r r e d to th e S u

p e r io r C o u

r t o f

C obb C ount y b e f

o r e th e s ta te c o u

r t r u le d o n th e m o tio n b e c a u s e S a m a d i s o u g ht

e q u ita b le r e lie f in h is c o m

p la in t. 5 F o llo w in g th e tr a n s f

e r o f th e c a s e

, th e s u

p e r io r c o u r t

is s u e d a r u le n i s i in A

p r il 2 0 1 6 o r d e r in g th e p a r tie s to a tte n d a h e a r in g in M a y 2 0 1 6 t o

a d d r e s s S a m a d i’ s m o tio n

f o r e n tr y o f d e f a u lt ju d g m e n t.

U p o n r e c e iv in g t

h e r u le n is i in M a y 2 0 1 6

, F r e d d ie M a c r e a liz e d th a t it h a d n o t

r e s p o n d e d to th e la

w s u i t a n d r e t a in e d c o u

n s e l

, b u t it d id n o t in itia lly r e s p o n d t o

S a m a d i’ s m o tio n f

o r e n tr y o f d e f a u lt j u d g m e n t o r a

p p a r e n tly a tte n d th e h e a r in g

. R a th e r

,

in J u n e 2 0 1 6

, F r e d d ie M a c f

ile d a m o tio n to d is m is s S a m a d i ’ s c o m p la in t o n th e g r o u

n d s

o f r e s ju d ic a ta

, c o lla

te r a l e s to p p e l, a n d f

a ilu r e to s t a te a c la im u

p o n w h ic h r e lie f c o u l d

5 S e e T h o r G a lle r y a t S

. D e K a lb v

. M o n g e r

, 3 3 8 G a

. A

p p

. 2 3 5

, 2 3 6 ( 1 ) ( 7 8 9 S E 2 d

8 0 6 ) ( 2 0 1 6 ) ( “ G e o r g i a ’ s s ta te c o u r ts

, c r e a t e d p u

r s u a n t to O C G A § 1 5

- 7

- 2

, e x e r c is e

c o m p r e h e n s iv e ju

r i s d ic tio n o v e r a w id e r a n g e o f c l a im s

, in c lu d in g

, in te r al ia

, la n d lo r d /te n a n t d is p u t e s

, m is d e m e a n o r o f f e n s e s ( in c lu d in g d

r iv in g u n d e r th e in f

lu e n c e )

,

c o n tr a c t a n d to r

t c a s e s

, a n d c a s e s i n v o lv in g r e a l prop e r ty a n d s m a ll c la im s

, b u

t

e x c lu d in g o n ly f

e lo n y c r im in a l c a s e s

, c e r

ta in d o m e s tic c a s e s

, e q u ity m a tte r s

, a n d la n d

title c a s e s

. S e e O C G A § § 1 5

- 7

- 4

, 1 5

- 6

- 8 .” ) ( c ita tio n a n d p u

n c tu a tio n o m itte d ; e m

p h a s is

in o r ig in a l)

.

6b e g r a n t ed. S ubse q u e n tly

, in A

u g u s t 2 0 1 6

, F r e d d ie M a c f ile d a m o tio n to o p e n t

h e

d e f a u lt p u r s u a n t to O C G A § 9

- 1 1

- 5 5 ( b )

, 6 al ong w ith a v e r if ie d a n s w e r

, n o tic e o f

p a y m e n t o f c o u

r t c o s ts

, a n d a s u

p p o r t in g a f f id a v it. I n t h e s w o r n a f f id a v it, a F r e d d ie M a c

e m p l o y e e w h o m o n ito r s a n d m a n a g e s litig a tio n o n th e c o m p a n y ’ s f o r e c lo s e d p r o p e r

tie s

a v e r r e d th a t F r e d d ie M a c h a d b e e n s e r v e d w ith S a m a d i’ s c o m

p la in t in th e C u

r r e n t

A c tio n in M a y 2 0 1 5

. T h e e m p lo y e e f u r th e r a v e r r e d th a t F r edd ie M a c h a d f a ile d t o

a n s w e r th e c o m

p l a in t in t h e C u r r e n t A c tio n f

ile d in C o b b C ount y be c a u s e it h a d

“ i nadve r te n tly a s s u

m e d ” th a t S a m a d i’ s p r o s e c o m p la in t h a d b e e n f

ile d a s p a r

t o f t h e

S e c o n d A c tio n in C o lu

m b ia C o u n ty

, w h ic h h a d a lr e a d

y b e e n d is m is s e d w i th p r e

ju d i c e

.

F r e d d ie M a c ’ s v e r if

ie d a n s w er rai se d s e v e r a l d e f e n s e s

, in c lu d in g r e s ju d ic a ta a n d

c o lla t e r a l e s t o p p e l b a s e d o n t h e S e c o n d A ct i on

, t

h e a p p e a ls o f w

h ic h h a d b e e n

c o n c l u d e d b y th a t p o i n t

.

6 O C G A § 9

- 1 1

- 5 5 ( b ) p r o v id e s :

A t a n y tim e b e f

o r e f in a l ju d g m e n t, t

h e c o u r t, in its d is c r e tio n

, u

p o n

p a y m e n t o f c o s ts

, m ay al l ow th e d e f a u l t to b e o p e n e d f

o r p r o v id e n tia l

c a u s e p r e v e n t in g th e f

ilin g o f r e q

u ir e d p le a d in g s o r f

o r e x c u s a b le n e g le c t

o r w h e r e t h e ju d g e

, f

rom a ll th e f

a c ts

, s h a ll d e te r

m in e th a t a p r o p e r c a s e

h a s b e e n m a d e f

o r th e d e f a u lt to b e o p e n e d

, o n t erm s t o be f ix e d b y th e

c o u r t

. I n o r d e r to a l lo w t

h e d e f a u lt to b e th

u s o p e n e d

, th e s h o w in g s h a ll b e

m ad e u n d e r o a th

, s h a ll s e t u

p a m e r ito r io u s d e f

e n s e

, s h a ll o f

f e r t o p le a d

in s ta n te r , a n d s h a ll a n n o u n c e r e a d y to p r o c e e d

w ith th e tr ia l.

7I n D e c e m b e r 2 0 1 6

, th e tr ia l c o u

r t e n te r e d a n o r d e r g r a n tin g F r e d d ie M a c ’ s m o tio n

to o p e n t h e d e f a u lt in th e C u

r r e n t A c tio n

. T h e t

r ia l c o u r t c o n c lu d e d th a t t

h e s ta tu to r y

p r e r e q u is ite s f o r o p e n i n g d e f

a u lt u n d e r O C G A § 9

- 1 1

- 5 5 ( b ) h a d b e e n s a tis f ie d a n d th a t

th e C u r r e n t A c tio n w a s a “ p r o p e r c a s e ” f o r o p e n in g d e f

a u lt to a v o id a m a n if

e s t in ju s tic e

,

g iv e n S a m a d i’ s m e r i to r io u s d e f e n s e s o f res j udi cata a n d c o lla te r a l e s to p p e l

. T h e tr ia l

c o u r t th e r e a f te r e n te r e d a f

in a l o r d e r and j udgm e n t g r a n tin g F r e d d ie M a c ’ s m o tio n t o

d is m is s a ll o f S a m a d i’ s c l a im s o n r e s ju d i c a ta a n d c o lla te r a l e s to p p e l g r o u

n d s

. S a m a d i

n o w a p p e a ls th e s e r

u lin g s b y th e tr ia l c o u

r t.

1

. S a m a d i c o n te n d s th a t tr ia l court e r r e d in g r a n tin g F r e d d i e M a c ’ s m o tio n t o

o p e n t h e d e f a u lt.

A tr ia l c o u

r t’ s d e c i s io n t o o p e n a p r e

ju d g m e n t d e f a u lt u n d e r O C G A

§ 9-11-55 ( b ) is r e v ie w e d f o r a n a b u s e o f d is c r e tio n a s l o n g a s c e r ta in

p r e r e q u is ite s a r e m e t. A f

te r th e 1 5

- d a y g r a c e p e r io d f o r o p e n i n g d e f

a u lt a s

a m a tte r o f r ig h t u

n d e r O C G A § 9

- 1 1

- 5 5 ( a )

, a t r ia l c o u r t h a s n o d is c r e tio n

to o p e n d e f

a u lt u n le s s th e d e f

e n dan t’ s s h o w in g f

o r o p e n in g th e d e f

a u lt

m e e ts f o u r c o n d itio n s : it m

u s t ( 1 ) b e m a d e u

n d e r o a th, ( 2 ) o f

f e r to p le a d

in s ta n te r

, ( 3 ) a n

n o u n c e r e a d y to p r o c e e d w ith t ri al, a n d ( 4 ) s e t u

p a

m e r ito r io u s d e f

e n s e

. C o m

p lia n c e w ith th e c o n d itio n s o f O C G A § 9

- 1 1

- 5 5

( b ) is m a n d a t o r

y

, a n d in its a

b s e n c e

, th e tr ia l c o u

r t h a s no d is c r e tio n to

o p e n d e f a u lt.

. . . O n c e th o s e f

o u r p r e r e q u is ite s a r e s a tis f

ie d , a tr ia l c o u r t

m a y [ e x e r c i s e its d is c r e tio n a n d ] o p e n d e f a u lt o n a n y o n e o f th

r e e

8g r o u

n d s : ( 1 ) p r o v id e n tia l c a

u s e

, ( 2 ) e x c u s a

b le n e g le c t, o r ( 3 ) th a t a p r o p e r

c a s e h a s b e e n

m a d e f o r o p e n in g d e f

a u lt.

( C i ta t io n s a n d p u

n c t u a tio n o m itte d .) F

r a n k l in v

. E a v e s

, 3 3 7 G a

. A

p p

. 2 9 2

, 2 9 3

- 2 9 4 ( 1 )

( 7 8 7 S E 2 d 2 6 5 ) ( 2 0 1 6 )

. S e e C a v e n d e r v

. T a y lo r

, 2 8 5 G a

. 7 2 4

, 7 2 4

- 7 2 5 ( 2 ) ( 6 8 1 S E 2 d

1 3 9 ) ( 2 0 0 9 ) ; C

o n s tr u c ta m a x v

. A n d y B la n d C

o n s tr

. , 2 8 0 G a

. A

p p

. 4 0 3

, 4 0 4 ( 1 ) ( 6 3 4

S E 2 d 1 6 8 ) ( 2 0 0 6 )

. “ A l th o u g h th e r u le p e rm ittin g o p e n in g o f d e f a u lt i s r e m e d ia l i n

n a tu r e a n d s h o u ld b e lib e r a lly a p p lie d

, a n d w

h e n e v e r p o s s ib le c a s e s s h o u ld b e d e c id e d

o n t h e ir m e r its a s d e f

a u l t j udgm ent is n o t f

a v o r e d in la

w

, t h i s r u le is n o t a

b s o lu te

. A

def e n d a n t m u s t s till s a tis f

y th e r e q u ir e m e n ts o f O C G A § 9

- 1 1

- 5 5 ( b ) .” ( C i ta tio n s a n d

p u n c t u a tio n o m itte d .) C

o m c a s t C o r p . v . W a r r e n , 2 8 6 G a

. A

p p . 8 3 5

, 8 3 6

- 8 3 7 ( 1 ) ( 6 5 0

S E 2 d 3 0 7 ) ( 2 0 0 7 )

.

( a ) T h e t r ia l c o u r t d id n o t e r

r in f in d i n g th a t F r e d d ie M a c m e t th e f o u r s ta tu to r y

p r e r e q u is ite s f o r o p e n i n g d e f

a u lt in O C G A § 9

- 1 1

- 5 5 ( b )

. A s p r e v io u s ly n o te d

, F r e d d ie

M a c p r e s e n te d th e s w o r

n a f f i davi t of a r e p r e s e n t a tiv e to e x p la in its d e la

y in tim e l y

a n s w e r in g S a m a d i’ s c o m

p la in t i n th e C u r r e n t A c tio n

. I n a d d itio n

, F r e d d ie M a c o f f e r e d

to p l e a d in s ta

n te r in i ts m ot i on to o p e n d e f a u lt a n d a t ta c h e d a v e r i f

ie d a n s w e r to its

m o tio n

, a n d F r e d d ie M a c a l s o a n n o u n c e d t h a t it w a s r e a d

y to p r o c e e d w ith tr ia l. G iv e n

th is r e c o r d

, th e tr ia l c o u

r t w a s a u th o r i zed t o f

in d th a t th e f

ir s t th r e e p r e r e q u is ite s f o r

9o p e n i n g d e f

a u lt h a d b e e n m e t. S e e O C G A § 9

- 1 1

- 5 5 ( b ) ; M a y fie ld v

. H e im a n

, 3 1 7 G a

.

A p p

. 3 2 2

, 3 3 1

- 3 3 2 ( 6 ) ( 7 3 0 S E 2 d 6 8 5 ) ( 2 0 1 2) ; J o h n s o n v

. A m e r ic a n N

a t. R e d C r o s s

,

2 5 3 G a . A

p p . 5 8 7 , 5 9 0 ( 1 ) ( 5 6 9 S E 2 d 2 4 2 ) ( 2 0 0 2 )

.

T h e tr ia l c o u

r t a l s o w a s e n title d to f

in d th a t F r e d d i e M a c m e t t h e f o u r t h a n d f in a l

p r e r e q u is ite f o r o p e n in g d e f

a u l t b y s e ttin g u

p m e ri t o r io u s d e f

e n s e s in its v e r if

i e d

a n s w e r

. T h is p r e r e q

u is ite “ d o e s n o t r e q

u ir e a d e f e n d a n t to s h o w th a t it w ill c o m p le te l y

d e f e a t p la in tif f ’ s c la im ; r a th e r

, th e d e f

e n d a n t m u s t d e m o n s t

r a te t h a t if r e lie f f

r o m d e f a u l t

is g r a n te d

, th e o u tc o m e o f th e s u it m a y b e d if f e r e n t f r o m th e r e s u lt if th e d e f

a u lt s ta n d s .”

( C i ta t io n a n d p u

n c tu a t io n o m itte d .) J

o h n s o n

, 2 5 3 G a

. A

p p

. a t 5 9 0 ( 1 )

. S e e E

x x o n C o r p

.

v

. T h o m a s o n

, 2 6 9 G a

. 7 6 1

, 7 6 1 ( 1 ) ( 5 0 4 S E 2 d 6 7 6 ) ( 1 9 9 8 )

. A p p l y i n g th is te s t, th e tr ia l

c o u r t w a s a u th o r iz e d to c o n c lu d e th a t F r e d d i e M a c h a d r a is e d m e r ito r io u s d e f e n s e s i n

its a n s w e r

, n a m e l y

, th e d e f e n s e s o f r e s ju d ic a ta a n d c o lla te r a l e s to p p e l p r e d ic a te d o n t h e

p r i o r litig a tio n b e tw een t he p a r tie s in th e S e c o n d A c tio n

. S e e id .; L e g a c y H i lls

R e s id e n tia l A s s n

. v

. C

o lo n ia l B a n k

, 2 5 5 G a

. A

p p

. 1 4 4

, 1 4 5

- 1 4 6 ( 5 6 4 S E 2 d 5 5 0 ) ( 2 0 0 2 )

. 7

7 S e e O C G A § 9

- 1 2

- 4 0 ( “ A ju d g m e n t o f a c o u r t o f c o m p e te n t ju r is d ic tio n s h a l l

be conclu s iv e b e tw e e n th e s a m e p a r tie s a n d th e ir p r iv ie s a s to a ll m a tte r s p u t in i ssue

o r w h i c h u n d e r th e r u le s o f la w m ig h t h a v e b e e n p u t in

is s u e in th e c a u s e w h e r e in th e

ju d g m e n t w a s r e n d e r e d u

n til th e ju d g m e n t is r e v e r s e d o r s e t a s id e .” ) ; N e e ly v. C ity o f

R iv e r d a le

, 2 9 8 G a

. A

p p

. 8 8 4

, 8 8 6

- 8 8 7 ( 2 ) ( 6 8 1 S E 2 d 6 7 7 ) ( 2 0 0 9 ) ( “ T h e d o c t r in e o f r e s

ju d ic a t a preven ts r e

- l itig a tio n o f m a t te r s th a t w e r e o r c o u l d h a v e b e e n litig a te d in a

p r e v i o u s l y

- a d

j u d i c a t e d a c tio n

. T h e d o c tr in e a

p p lie s e v e n i f s o m e n e w f

a c tu a l a l le g a tio n s

10F o r th e s e c o m b in e d r e a s o n s

, th e tr ia l c o u r t d id n o t e r

r i n c o n c l u d i n g th a t F r e d d ie

M a c m e t th e f

o u r s ta t u t o r y p r e r e q u is ite s f o r o p e n in g d e f

a u lt u n d e r O C G A § 9

- 1 1

- 5 5 ( b )

.

T h e tr ia l c o u

r t t h e r e f o r e w a s a u th o r iz e d to e x e r c is e i ts d i s c r e tio n a n d d e t e r m in e w h e th e r

o n e o f th e th

r e e g r o u n d s f o r o p e n in g d e f

a u lt ( p r o v id e n

tia l c a u s e

, e x c u s a

b le n e g le c t, o r

p r o p e r c a s e ) e x is te d

. F

r a n k l in , 3 3 7 G a . A

p p . a t 2 9 4 ( 1 )

.

( b ) T h e “ P r o p e r C a s e ” G r o u n d

. T h e tr ia l c o u

r t s p e c if ie d i n its o r d e r th a t it w a s

o p e n i n g th e d e f

a u l t on t he “ p r o p e r c a s e ” g r o u n d

. S a m a d i a r g u e s th a t t

h e t r ia l c o u r t

a b u s e d its d is c r e tio n i n c o n c lu d in g th a t the C ur r e n t A c tio n w a s a “ p r o p e r c a s e ” f o r

o p e n i n g d e f

a u lt, g iv e n th e a

p p r o x im a te ly 1 5

- m o n th d e la y b e tw e e n w

h e n F r e d d ie M a c

w a s s e r v e d w ith th e c o m

p la in t a n d w h e n it m o v e d to o p e n th e d e f a u lt. W e c o n c lu d e th a t

h a v e b e e n m a d e

, s o m e n e w r e lie f h a s b e e n r e q u e s te d

, o r a n e w d e f

e n d a n t h a s b e e n

a d d e d

. I t is o n ly w

h e r e t h e m e r its w e r e n o t a

n d c o u ld n o t h a v e b e e n d e te r m in e d u n d e r

a p r o p e r p r e s e n ta t io n a

n d m a n a g e m e n t o f th e c a s e th a t r e s ju d ic a ta is n o t a vi a b le

d e f e n s e

. I f

, p u r s u a n t to a n a

p p r o p r ia te h a n d lin g o f th e c a s e

, the m er its w e r e o r c o u l d

h a v e b e e n d e t e r

m in e d

, th e n th e d e f

e n s e is v a lid .” ) ( c ita

tio n s

, p u n c tu a tio n

, a n d e m

p h a s is

o m itte d ) ; T

h o m a s C o u n ty B d

. o f T a x A s s e s s o r s v

. T h o m a s v ille

, 2 7 7 G a

. A

p p

. 5 9 1

, 5 9 3

( 2 ) ( 6 2 7 S E 2 d 1 9 2 ) ( 2 0 0 6 ) ( “ I n G e o r g ia

, th e c o l la te r a l e s t o p p e l d o c tr i n e p r e c lu d e s t h e

r e

- a d ju d ic a tio n o f a n is s u e th a t h a s p r e v io u s ly b e e n litig a te d a n d a d ju d ic a te d o n t

h e

m e r i ts in a n o t

h e r a c tio n b e tw e e n th e s a m e p a r tie s o r th e ir p ri vi es. Li k e r e s ju d ic a ta

,

c o lla t e r a l e s to p p e l r e q

u ir e s t he id e n tity o f th e p a r tie s o r th e ir p r iv i e s i n b o th a c tio n s

. H o w e v e r

, u

n lik e r e s ju d ic a ta

, c o lla

te r a l e s to p p e l d o e s n o t r e q u i r e id e n tity o f th e c la im

– s o lo n g a s th e is s u e w a s d e te r m in e d i n th e p r e v io u s a c t io n a n d th e r e is id e n tity o f t h e

p a r tie s , th a t is s u e m a y n o t b e r e

- litig a te d , e v e n

a s p a r t o f a d if f e r e n t c la im .” ) ( c ita

tio n

a n d p u n c tu a tio n o m itte d )

.

11th e tr ia l c o u r t a b u s e d i ts d is cret i on und e r th e c ir c u m s ta n c e s h e r e

, w

h e r e th e c o u

r t

d e te r m in e d th a t th e C u

r r e n t A c t w a s a “ p r o p e r c a s e ” f

o r o p e n in g th e d e f

a u lt s o le ly o n

th e g r o u n d th a t F r e d d ie M a c h a d a s s e r te d th e m e r ito r io u s d e f

e n s e s o f r e s ju d ic a ta a n d

c o lla t e r a l e s to p p e l.

“ W h ile th e ‘ p r o p e r c a s e ’ g r o u n d i s b r o a d e r th a n t

h e o th e r s

, it d o e s n o t g iv e a tr ia l

c o u r t th e a u th o r ity to o p e n a d e f

a u lt f o r a n y r e a s o n w

h a ts o e v e r .” C

a r d in a l R o b o tic

s v

.

M o o d y

, 2 8 7 G a

. 1 8

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

. S e e F r a n k lin

, 3 3 7 G a

. A

p p

. a t 2 9 4 ( 1 )

( n o tin g th a t th e “ p r o p e r c a s e ” g r o u n d “ d o e s n o t g iv e a tr ia l c o u r t u n lim ite d a u th o r ity t o

o p e n a d e f a u l t” ) . A n d , th e f a c t th a t a d e f e n d a n t h a s a m e r ito r io u s d e f e n s e to a n a c tio n

“ is n o t in its e lf a g r o u

n d [ f o r ] o p eni ng d e f

a u lt.” ( C ita

tio n a n d p u

n c tu a tio n o m itte d .)

N o r th P o in t G

r o u p H o ld in g s v

. M o r r is

, 3 0 0 G a

. A

p p

. 4 9 1

, 4 9 4 ( 1 ) ( c ) ( 6 8 5 S E 2 d 4 3 6 )

( 2 0 0 9 )

. S e e B u c h a n a n v . T r e a d w e ll , 2 1 3 G a

. 1 5 5

, 1 5 6 ( 3 ) ( 9 7 S E 2 d 7 0 5 ) ( 1 9 5 7 ) ; B

-

X

C o r p

. v

. F u lto n P lu m b in

g C o

. , 1 4 0 G a

. A

p p

. 1 3 1

, 1 3 2

- 1 3 3 ( 2 ) ( 2 3 0 S E 2 d 3 3 1 ) ( 1 9 7 6 ) ;

W e s t C o u r t S q u a r e v

. A s s a

y a g

, 131 G a. A

p p

. 6 9 0

, 6 9 1 ( 2 ) ( 2 0 6 S E 2 d 5 7 9 ) ( 1 9 7 4 )

.

R a th e r

, “ th e d e f

e n d a n t m u s t h a v e n o t o n ly a m e r ito r i o u s d e f e n s e b u t a ls o a le g a l e x c u s e

f o r its n o n

- a

p p e a r a n c e .” ( C ita

tio n a n d p u

n c tu a tio n o m i tte d .) C

o n s tr u c ta m a x

, 2 8 0 G a

.

A p p

. a t 4 0 4 ( 1)

. S e e B u c h a n a n

, 2 1 3 G a

. a t 1 5 6 ( 3 )

. H e n c e

, “ a d e f a u lt m a y b e o p e n e d

u n d e r th e ‘ p r o p e r c a s e ’ a n a ly s is o n ly w h e r e a r e a s o n a b le e x

p la n a tio n f o r th e f a ilu r e t o

12tim e ly a n s w e r e x is ts .” ( E m p h a s is in o r ig in a l .) N

o r th P o i n t G

r o u p H o ld i n gs

, 3 0 0 G a

.

A p p

. a t 4 9 3 ( 1 ) ( a ) , q

u o tin g B e lls o u th T

e le c o m m u n i c a tio n s , 2 9 3 G a

. A p p

. a t 2 5 0 ( 2 )

. 8

S e e L e g a c y H ills R e s id e n tia l A s s n

. v

. C

o lo n ia l B a n k

, 2 5 5 G a

. A

p p

. 1 4 4

, 1 4 6 ( 5 6 4 S E 2 d

8 T h e B e lls o u t

h d e c is i o n s h o u ld n o t b e c o n s tr u e d in a n o v e r ly b r o a d m a n n e r t o

h o l d “ th a t th e ‘ p r o p e r c a s e ’ g r o u n d f o r o p e n in g a d e f

a u lt is s ubsum ed i nto t

h e

‘ e x c u s a b le n e g le c t ’ g r o u

n d .” N e ls o n v

. B d

. o f R e g e n ts o f U n iv

. S y s te m o f G a

. , 3 0 7 G a

. A p p

. 2 2 0

, 2 2 6 ( 1 ) ( 7 0 4 S E 2 d 8 6 8 ) ( 2 0 1 0 )

. S ee Str a d e r v

. P a lla d

ia n E n te r p r is e s

, 3 1 2

G a

. A p p

. 6 4 6

, 6 4 9

- 6 5 0

, n

. 1 3 ( 7 1 9 S E 2 d 5 4 1 ) ( 2 0 1 1 )

. N e v e r th e le s s

, a d e f

e n d a n t r e ly in g

u p o n th e “ p r o p e r c a s e ” g r o u n d s till m u s t p r o v id e s o m e e x

p la n a tio n f o r t he del a y i n

a n s w e r in g th e c o m

p la in t

, w ith th e tr ia l c ourt h a

v in g b r o a d d is c r e t io n to d e te r m i n e

w h e th e r th e e x

p la n a tio n w a s r e a s o n a

b le

. S e e S tr a d e r

, 3 1 2 G a. A

pp. a t 6 4 9

- 6 5 0 ( tr ia l

c o u r t a c te d w ith i n its d i s c r e tio n in a c c e p tin g d e f e n d a n t’ s e x p la n a ti on f o r d e la y a n d

o p e n i n g d e f

a u lt o n “ p r o p e r c a s e ” g r o u

n d

, w h e r e d e f e n d a n t h a d f

o r w a r d e d th e c o m

p la in t

to its in s u r a n c e c a r r ie r a n d l o c a l in s u

r a n c e a g e n t, c o n f

ir m e d th a t t h e c o m p la in t h a d b e e n

r e c e iv e d b y th e m

, n o tif

ie d th e p r o p e r p a r

tie s w h o h a d a n in

te r e s t in th e la

w s u it, r e lie d

u p o n its in s u

r e r f o r “ f u r th e r i n s tr u c t io n a n d

/o r d ir e c t io n ,” a n d b e g a n ta k i n g s te p s t o

o p e n d e f a u lt w ith in tw o d a y s o f le a r n in g o f th e d e f a u lt) ; N e ls o n

, 3 0 7 G a

. A

p p . a t 2 2 2

( 1 ) , 2 2 4 ( 1 ) ( tr ia l c o u

r t a c te d w ith i n its d is c r e tio n in o p e n in g d e f a u lt o n “ p r o p e r c a s e ”

grou n d in m a lp r a c tic e a c tio n b r o u g h t a g a in s t d e f e n d a n t h e a lth c a

r e c o m p a n y

, w here

d e f e n d a n t “ w a s s t i l l t ransitio n i n g in to its o p e r a tio n o f th e h o s p ita l a n d h a d n o t y e t

im p l e m e n te d a n e w p r o c e d

u r e f o r h a n d lin g la

w s u its

, ” th e d e f

e n d a n t’ s e m

p lo y e e s h a d

“ m is ta k e n ly a s s u

m e d ” t h a t a n a d m in is tr a tiv e a g e n c y w o u ld b e h a n d lin g th e la w s u it f o r

th e h o s p ita l, th e la

w s u it a t is s u e w a s th e f

ir s t m a lp r a c tic e s u it f

ile d a g a in s t th e d e f

e n d a n t

s in c e it h a d ta k e n c o n

tr o l o f t h e h o s p ita l’ s o p e r a t io n s, a n d th e d e f e n d a n t h a d “ a c t e d

p r o m p tly b y f ilin g a m o tio n to o p e n th e d e f a u lt le s s th a n a w e e k a f

te r th e e x p ir a tio n o f

th e tim e it c o u ld h a v e d o n e s o a s a m a tte r o f r ig h t [ u n d e r O C G A § 9

- 1 1

- 5 5 ( a ) ] ( a n d o n e

d a y a f te r le a r n in g o f th e d e f

a u lt) ” )

. C o m

p a r e S id w e ll v

. S i d w e ll

, 2 3 7 G a

. A

p p

. 7 1 6

, 7 1 8

( 1 ) ( 5 1 5 S E 2 d 6 3 4 ) ( 1 9 9 9 ) ( d e f a u lt c o u ld n o t b e o p e n e d o n “ p r o p e r c a s e ” g r o u n d

, w h e r e

th e d e f e n d a n ts “ te s tif

ie d th a t t h e y d i d n o t a n s w e r th e la

w s u it b e c a

u s e th e y d id n o t w a

n t

to u p s e t th e e ld e r [ f

a th e r ]

, [ a n d ] th e y s till d id n o t b o t h e r to f ile a r e s p o n s e u

n til 2 5 d a y s

a f te r h e d i e d ” ; d e f

e n d a n ts ’ e x

p la n a tio n w a s n o th i n g m o r e th a n a “ s e lf

- s e r v in g

r a tio n a liz a t io n ” th a t

p r o v id e d n o b a s is f

o r o p e n in g d e f

a u l t)

.

135 5 0 ) ( 2 0 0 2 ) ( “ G e n e r a lly

, d e f aul t s h o u ld b e o p e n e d w h e r e t h e d e f e n d a n t a c ts w ith

r e a s o n a b le p r o m

p tn e s s a n d a l le g e s a m e r ito r io u s d e f e n s e .” ) ( e m

p h asi s s u p p lie d )

.

“ R e q u i r in g a r e a s o n a

b le e x c u s e o r

e x p la n a t io n f o r o p e n in g th e d e f

a u lt o n th is g r o u

n d

i s nec e s s a r

y

, o th e r w i s e th e tr ia l c o u

r t w o u ld n o t b e a c tin g w ith in its d is c r e ti on as

r e q u ir e d b y O C G A § 9

- 1 1

- 5 5 ( b )

. A s w e h a v e e x p l a in e d

, ju d ic ia l d i s c r e tio n is th a t

d is c r e tio n b o u

n d w ith th e r u le o f r e a s o n a n d la

w .” ( C ita tio n a n d p u

n c tu a tio n o m itte d ;

e m p h a s is in o r ig in a l .) B e llS

o u th T e le c o m m u n ic a tio n s , 2 9 3 G a . A p p . a t 2 5 0 ( 2 )

.

B a s e d o n th is p r e c e d e n t, th e tr ia l c o u r t a b u s e d its d is c r e t io n by open in g t h e

d e f a u lt o n t h e “ p r o p e r c a s e ” g r ound p r e d ic a te d s o le ly o n th e f a c t th a t F r e d d ie M a c

a s s e r te d m e r ito r io u s d e f

e n s e s ; th e tr ia l c o u

r t a ls o w a s r e q

u ir e d to d e te r

m in e a s p a r

t o f

its a n a ly s is w

h e th e r F r e d d ie M a c h a d a r e a s o n a b le e x p l a n a tio n f

o r its f a ilu r e to tim e l y

a n s w e r S a m a d i ’ s c o m

p la in t. S e e M ig m a r

, I n c

. v

. W illia m s

, 2 8 1 G a

. A

p p

. 8 7 0

, 8 7 3 ( 4 )

( 6 3 7 S E 2 d 4 7 1 ) ( 2 0 0 6 ) ( f

a c t th a t d e f

e n d a n t h a d m e r ito r i o u s d e f e n s e o f j u d ic ia l e s to p p e l

w a s n o t in its e lf a b a s is f o r o p e n in g d e f

a u lt)

. S e e g e n e r a lly H

u n g r y W o lf / S u g a r &

S p i c e v

. L a n g

d e a u

, 3 3 8 G a

. A

p p

. 7 5 0

, 7 53 (791 S E 2 d 8 5 0 ) ( 2 0 1 6 ) ( tr ia l c o u r t a b u s e s

its d is c r e tio n w

h e r e its a p p lic a t io n o f

th e le g a l s ta

n d a r d is in c o m

p le te ) . “ [ I ] t is n o t f

o r

th is C o u r t to d e te r m in e w h e th e r

, in th e f

ir s t in s ta n c e , th e p r o f

f e r e d ju s t if ic a t io n g iv e n

b y th e d e f

a u ltin g d e f

e n d a n t is r e a s o n a

b le .” ( C i ta tio n

, p u

n c t u a tio n

, a n d e m

p h a s is

14o m itte d .) S

tr a d e r

, 3 1 2 G a

. A

p p

. a t 6 5 0

. A c c o r d in g ly

, w e v a c a te th e tr ia l c o u r t’ s o r d e r

o p e n i n g th e def

aul t and r e m a n d f

o r th e tr i a l c o u

r t t o d e t e r m in e in th e f

ir s t in s ta n c e

w het her a r e a s o n a

b le e x p la n a tio n f o r F r e d d ie M a c ’ s f

a ilu r e to tim e ly f

ile a n a n s w er

e x is ts

. S e e P a te l v

. G u

p ta

, 2 3 4 G a

. A

p p

. 4 4 1

, 4 4 3 ( 1 ) ( 5 0 7 S E 2 d 7 6 3 ) ( 1 9 9 8 ) ( v a c a tin g

o r d e r o p e n in g d e f

a u lt b a s e d o n tr ia l c o u r t’ s m i s a p p lic a tio n o f le g a l s ta n d a r d )

.

2

. F o r th e r e a s o n s d is c u s s e d s u p r a in D i v i s io n 1

, w e v a c a te th e tr ia l c o u r t’ s f in a l

o r d e r a n d j u d g m e n t d is m is s in g S a m a d i’ s c la im s b e c a u s e t he t r ia l c o u

r t m u s t f ir s t

a d d r e s s u n d e r th e a p p r o p r ia te le g a l s ta

n d a r d w h e t h e r th e d e f a u lt s h o u ld b e o p e n e d u

n d e r

th e “ p r o p e r c a s e ” g r o u

n d o r w h e t her d e f

a u l t j u d g m e n

t s h o u ld b e e n te r e d in f

a v o r o f

S a m a d i. S e e g e n e r a lly A z a r a t M k t g

. G r o u p v

. D e p t

. o f A d m in

. A ffa ir s

, 2 4 5 G a

. A

p p

.

2 5 6

, 2 5 6

- 2 5 7 ( 1 ) ( a ) ( 5 3 7 S E 2 d 9 9 ) ( 2 0 0 0 ) ( if d e f a u l t ju d g m e n t is e n t e r e d f

o r f a ilu r e t o

tim e ly f ile a n a n s w e r , th e a f

f ir m a tiv e d e f

e n s e o f r e s ju d ic a t a

is w a iv e d )

.

3

. W e n e e d n o t a d d

r e s s S a m a d i’ s r e m a in in g a r g u m e n ts f o r r e v e r s a l in l ig h t o f o u

r

d e c is io n s u p r a in D iv is i o n s 1 a n d

2

.

J u d g m e n t v a c a te d

, a n d c a s e r e m a n d

e d w ith d ir e c tio n

. M

c M illia n a n d M

e r c ie r

,

J J ., c o n c u r

.

15