FI RST DI VI SI ON

BA RNES, P. J.

, M CM I LLI A N and R EESE, JJ.

N O T IC E : M otions for r e c ons i de r a tion m us t be ph y sic a l ly r e ce iv ed i n our c le r k ’s offic e w ithin te n da y s of the da te of de c is ion to be de e m ed tim e ly file d.

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

June 21, 2018



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 8 A0 56 3 . CHALK v

. POLETTO.

R E E S E

, J u d g e.

Hers ch el E

. Ch al k, III, fi l ed a p et i t io n t o leg i ti m at e h is tw o b i o lo g i cal s o n s

.

Th ei r m o t h er, Ket t y Po l et t o , o p p o sed t h e p et i t io n , an d t he Su p eri or Co u rt o f Co b b

Co u n t y h el d a b en ch t ri al o n Feb ru ary 7

, 2 0 1 7

. Aft er Ch al k res ted h i s cas e, t h e co u rt

g ran t ed Po let t o ’ s m o ti o n fo r a d i rect ed v erd i ct

, an d is s u ed a wri t t en o rd er d en y i n g t h e

l eg i t i m at i o n p et i t io n

. T h e co u rt s u b s e q u e n t l y en t ered an o rd er d en y i ng Ch al k ’ s

m o ti o n fo r n ew t ri al an d g ran t i n g Po l et t o ’ s pet i t i o n fo r at t orn ey fees

, l i t i g at i o n co s t s ,

an d g uard i an ad l i t em fees

. Ch al k ap p eal s fro m t h is o rd er. Fo r th e reas o n s s et fo rt h,

i n fra, we affi rm

.

Th e reco rd i s u n di s pu t ed t hat Ch al k i s t h e b i o l o g i cal fat h er o f t wo m in o r

ch i l d ren b o rn to Po l et t o in 2 0 1 1 an d 2 0 1 2

. Ch al k an d Po l et t o l i v ed t o get h er wi t h t h ech i l d ren u n t i l Oct o b er 2 0 1 5

, wh en Po let t o ev i ct ed Ch al k fro m h er ap art m en t

. In

No v em b er 2 0 1 5

, Po l et t o o b t ai n ed a s i x -m o n t h fam i l y v i o l en ce p r o tect i v e o rd er

p ro h ib i t i ng Ch al k fro m co nt act i n g h er or t h e ch i ld re n

. 1 C h a lk co n s en t ed t o t h e

p ro t ect i v e o rd er, b ut i m

m ed i at el y fi l ed a p et i t i o n t o l eg i t i m at e t h e ch i l d ren

.

In t h e l eg i t i m at i o n act i o n , t h e t ri al co u rt ap p o i n ted a g u ard i an ad l i t em fo r t h e

ch i l d ren an d req u i red Ch al k an d Po l et t o t o s p l i t t h e co s t o f t h e g u ard i an ad l i t em ’ s

s erv i ces

. W h en Ch al k fai l ed to p ay h i s p o rt io n , t h e g u ard i an ad l i t em p et i t i o n ed fo r

a ci t at i on o f co n t em

p t ag ai n s t h i m , an d t h e tri al co u rt s ch ed u l ed a h eari n g o n t h e

m at t er. Ch al k

, wh o was an A rm y res erv i s t

, as k ed fo r a co n t in u an ce an d p ro v i d ed t h e

g u ard i an ad l i t em w i t h a co p y o f m i l i t ary o rd ers p u rp o rt in g to sen d h im t o t rai n i n g o n

t h e d at e o f t h e heari n g

. On t h e day o f t h e s ch ed u l ed co n t em pt heari n g , Ch al k i n s t ead

at t en ded a m ark et i n g co nferen ce o u t

- o f-s t at e. Aft er h o l d i n g t h e h eari n g i n Ch al k ’ s

ab s en ce, t h e t ri al co u rt h el d Ch al k i n co n tem pt fo r fai l i n g t o p a y t h e gu ard i an ad

l i tem

, fai l i n g t o co o p erat e wi th h er i n v es t i g at io n, an d d el ay in g t h e co m p l et i o n o f t h e

l eg i t i m at i o n act io n.

1 J us t befo re t h e p ro t ect i v e o rd er ex p i red i n May 2 0 1 6

, Po l et t o o bt ai n ed a 1 2

-

m o nt h p ro t ect i v e o rd er wi t h t h e s am e p ro h i b it i on s

.

2At t h e s ub s eq u en t b en ch t ri al o n Ch a l k ’s p et i t i on t o l eg i t i m at e i n Feb ru ary

2 0 1 7

, Ch al k t es t i fi ed t h at h e h ad fi n an ci al l y s u p p o rt ed t h e ch i l d ren wh il e h e l i v ed

wi t h Po let t o an d en

jo y ed a cl o s e rel at i o n sh i p w i t h t h em

. On cro s s -ex am i n at i o n,

h o wev er, Ch al k was u n ab l e t o s ay h o w m u ch s u p p o rt h e h ad p ro vi d ed

, h ad n o

d o cu m en t at i o n o f an y s u ch s up p o rt

, an d co n ced ed th at Po let t o h ad p ai d fo r ren t an d

ch i l d care wh il e th ey l i v ed t og et h er. He al s o ad m it t ed th at

, aft er Po l et t o ev i ct ed h i m ,

h e p ro v i d ed n o s u p p o r t fo r t he ch i l d ren

. Ch al k t es t i fi ed t h at h e h ad recei v ed a

b ach el o r’ s d eg ree fro m G eo rg et o wn Un iv ers i ty

, b u t ad m i t t e d t h at h e had n o t h el d

rem u n erat i v e em

pl oy m en t s in ce h e q u i t hi s jo b i n 2 0 1 2, 2 an d t hat h e o wed o v er

$ 2 0 0 ,0 0 0 i n d eb t

, p ri m ari l y i n s t u den t l o an s

. Fu rt her, Ch al k ad m i t t ed t h at

, i n 2 0 0 2,

h e h a d p l e d gu i l t y i n Vi rg i n i a t o t h e fel o n y o f m ak in g fal s e s t at em en ts t o recei v e

b en e f i t s , an d he was s ti l l p ay in g o ff t h e fi ne as s o ci at ed wi t h h i s s en ten ce fo r t h at

ch arg e wh en h e fi l ed t h e l eg it i m at i o n act i o n

.

At t ri al

, Ch al k cl ai m ed t o h a v e zero as s et s. Bu t

, i n 2 0 1 6

, h e h ad t ak en a s i x

w e e k t ri p t o So u t h Am eri ca th at i n cl u d ed at t en d i n g th e O ly m p i c Gam es i n Br a z i l

,

2 Ch al k tes t ifi ed t h at h e s o l i ci t ed co nt ri bu t i o n s fro m m em b ers of hi s ch u rch to

g o o n “ m i s s i o n t ri p s ” ab ro ad

. Th e ev i d en ce al s o s h owed t hat h e h ad a s i g n i fi can t
i n t ern et an d s o ci al m ed i a p res en ce, w here h e ad v ert i s ed h i m s el f as a “ s o ci al

en t rep ren eu r” an d b ran d i n g co ns u l t an t

.

3h i k i n g in M ach u Pi cch u , an d ri d i n g t h e “ Swi n g of Deat h ” an d t ak i n g a d u ne b u g gy

t o u r i n E cu ad o r. He h ad al s o t rav el ed t o Th ai l an d, Co s ta Ri ca, Las Veg as , Orl an d o,

an d Op ry l an d

. Th e ex h i b i t s i n t ro d u ced o n cro s s -ex am i n at i on s h o wed t h at Ch al k h ad

d o cu m en t ed th es e t rav el s o n s o ci al m ed i a. In ad di t i o n , i n 2 0 1 6

, C h al k had p ai d fo r

i n d o o r s k y d i v in g , l as er h ai r rem o v a l

, c o l l eg e cl as s es , an d ren ewal o f h i s p ri v at e

p i l o t ’ s l i cen se.

In g ran t i n g Po l et t o ’ s m o t i o n fo r d i rect ed v erd i ct

, t he co u rt ru l ed t h at Ch al k h ad

a b a n d o n e d h i s o p p o rt u n i t y i n t eres t t o es t ab l i sh a rel at io n s h i p wi t h h i s ch i l d ren an d

t h at l eg i t im at i o n was n ot i n t h e ch i l d ren ’ s b es t i n t eres t s. Th e co u rt s t at ed : “ If t h i s m an

s ay s t od ay was Tu es day

, I wo ul d l o o k at m y cal en d ar. He’ s l u ck y h e’ s n o t j ai l ed n o w

fo r p erju ry

. He’ s a l i ar.” T h e co u rt t h en i s s u ed a wri tt en ord er den y i n g t h e

l eg i t i m at i o n p et i t i o n. Ch al k fi l ed a m o t i o n fo r n ew t ri al

. Aft er a h eari ng , t h e t ri al

co u rt en t ered an o rd er deny i ng t h at m o t i o n an d award i n g $ 3 0

, 0 34 .9 5 3 t o Po let t o u n d er

OCGA § 1 9 -9 -3 (g ).

3 Th i s n um

ber rep res en t s $ 2 5

, 6 8 0 .2 7 i n Po l et t o’ s at t o rn ey fees

, Po l et t o ’ s h al f

o f t h e g u ard i an ad l i t em fees o f $ 3 ,1 9 0 .4 6

, an d co s t s t o tal i n g $ 1 ,1 6 4 .2 2

.

4W e rev i ew a t ri al co u rt ’ s d eci s i o n wh et h er t o award at t o rn ey fees fo r an ab u s e

o f d i s cret i o n

. 4 Si m i l arl y , “ [w] e rev i ew a t ri al co u rt ’ s ru l in g on a l eg i t i m at i o n p et i t i o n

fo r an ab u s e o f d i s cret io n an d wi l l s u s t ai n t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s fact u al fi n d i n g s i f t h ere i s

an y ev i d en ce t o s u p p o rt th em .” 5 “ In a b en ch tri al

, wh ere t here i s n o v erd i ct b y a ju ry ,

a m o t io n fo r d i rect ed v erd i ct i s t reat ed as a req u es t fo r i n v o l u n t ary d i s m i s s a l u n d er

OCGA § 9 -1 1 -4 1 (b ).” 6

A d i s m i s s al u n der O.C.G.A. § 9 -1 1 -4 1 (b ) d o es n o t req u i re t h e t ri al co u rt

t o co n s t ru e t h e ev i den ce m o s t fav o rab l y fo r th e n o n -m o v in g p l ai n t i ff.

Si n ce t h e t ri al co u rt d et erm i n es t h e fact s as wel l as t h e law, i t n eces s ari l y

fo l l o ws t h at an in v o l u n tary d i s m i s s al m ay b e warran t ed ev en t h o u g h

p l ai n t i ff m ay h av e es t ab li s h ed a p ri m a faci e cas e. T h u s , d es p i t e t h e ru l e

t h at a m ot i o n fo r a d i rect ed v erd i ct i n a b en ch t ri al i s co n s tru ed t o b e a

m o t i o n fo r i n v o lu n t ary d i s m i s s al , we can n o t treat a d i s m is s al p u rs u an t

t o OCGA § 9 -1 1 -4 1 (b ) t h e s am e as a d i r e ct ed v erd i ct i n a ju ry tri al

, wh i ch m ay be u ph el d o n l y i f th e ev i den ce d em an d s a p art i cu l ar v erd i ct

. At a b en ch t ri al

, t h e t ri al co u rt can d et erm i ne wh en es s en t i al fact s h av e

4 Od u m v. Ru s s el l , 3 4 2 Ga. Ap p. 3 9 0 , 3 9 3 (2 ) (8 02 SE2 d 8 2 9 ) (2 0 1 7 ).

5 Du r d en v. An d er s o n , 3 38 Ga. Ap p

. 5 6 5 (1 ) (7 9 0 SE2 d 8 1 8 ) (2 0 1 6) (ci t at i o n

o m it t ed ).

6 Ma g nu s Ho mes v. Der os a , 2 4 8 Ga. Ap p

. 31 (1 ), n

. 2 (5 45 SE2 d 16 6 ) (2 0 0 1 ) (ci t at i o n o m i tt ed ).

5n o t b een p ro v ed

. Th e t ri al co u rt ’ s d et erm i n at i on as a t ri er o f fact wi l l be

rev ers ed o n l y

wh ere t h e ev i d en ce d em an d s a co n t rary fi n d i ng

. 7

W i th t h es e g u id in g p ri n ci p l es i n m i n d , we t u rn t o Ch al k ’ s cl ai m s o f erro r.

1

. Ch al k arg u es th at t h e tri al co u rt cl earl y erred w h en i t d en i ed h i s l eg i t i m at i o n

p et i t i o n becau s e h is t es t i m o n y was cl ear an d u n d i s p u t ed o n m an y areas o f h i s p aren t al

i n v o l v e m e n t o ver a n earl y fi ve-y ear p eri o d

, an d th i s in v ol v em en t en d ed o n l y wh en

Po l et t o eject ed hi m fro m t h e h o m e. Ch al k co nt en d s h e d i d n o t ab an d o n hi s

o p p o rt u ni t y

i n t eres t b u t fi l ed t o l eg i ti m at e t h e ch i l d ren as s o o n as Po l et t o s o u g h t t o

ex cl u d e h i m

fro m t h ei r l i v es

.

In co n si d eri ng a p et i t i o n t o leg i ti m at e, t h e t r i al co u rt m u s t fi rs t

d et erm i ne wh et her t h e fat h er ab an d o n ed h i s o p po rt u ni t y i n teres t t o

d ev el o p a rel at i on sh i p wi t h t h e ch i l d

. In t h at res pect

, a b io l o g i cal fat h er

i s affo rd ed an o p po rt u ni t y t o d ev el o p a rel at i o n s h i p wi t h h i s o ffs p ri n g

. If t h e f a t h er g ras p s t hat o p p o rt u n i t y an d accep t s so m e m eas u re o f

r e s p o n s i b i li t y fo r t h e ch i l d ’ s fu t ure, he m ay en jo y t h e b l es s i n g s o f t h e

p aren t -ch il d rel at i o n s h i p an d m ak e u n i q u el y v al u a b l e co nt ri bu t i o n s t o

t h e ch il d ’ s d ev el o p m en t

. Un wed fat h ers g ai n fro m t h ei r bi o l o g i cal

co n n ect i o n wi t h a ch il d an o p p o rt u n it y i n teres t t o d ev el o p a rel at i o n s h i p

wi t h t h ei r ch i l d ren wh i ch i s co n s t it u t i o n al l y p ro t ect ed

. Th i s o p p o rt u ni t y

i n t eres t b eg i ns at co n cep t i o n an d e n d u res p ro b ab l y t h ro u g ho u t th e

7 S mi t h v. Ga

. Ka o li n Co

. , 2 6 9 Ga. 4 7 5

, 4 76 (1 ) (4 9 8 SE2 d 2 6 6 ) ( 1 9 9 8 ) (ci t at i o n s an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ).

6m i n o ri t y o f t he ch i l d

. Bu t i t i s n o t i nd es t ru ct i b l e. It m ay be l o s t. It i s an

i n t eres t w h i c h c an b e ab an d o n ed b y t h e u nwed fat h er if n o t t i m el y

p u rs ued

. 8

As Ch al k p o i n ts o u t

, n o o t h er wi tn es s es t es t i fi ed at t ri al

. H o w e v e r , t h e co u rt

ad m i t t e d m

u l t i p l e ex hi b i t s du ri n g Ch al k’ s cro s s -ex am i n at i o n th at d em o n st rat ed h i s

e x t en s i v e t rav el

, i n cl u d i n g h i s “ s i x -week jo u rn ey t h ro u g h o u t Lat i n Am eri c a , ” a l l

wh i le rep o rt in g v ery l i t t l e an n u al i n c o m e fro m wag es , an d neg at i v e n et s el fem pl o y m en t i n co m e. As n ot ed ab o v e, Ch al k di d no t i n tro d u ce an y d o cu m en t at i o n to

s u p p ort h i s cl ai m s t h at h e h ad ev er p ro v i d ed fi nan ci al s u pp o rt fo r t h e ch i l d ren

.

Gi v i ng d u e reg ard t o t he o p p o rt u n i t y o f t h e t ri al co u rt t o ju d g e t he cred i b i l i t y

o f t h e s o le w i t n e s s , 9 p art i cu l arl y g i v en Ch al k’ s p ri o r fel o n y co n v ict i o n fo r m ak i n g

fal s e s t at em en t s an d h i s at t em p t t o p erp et rat e a frau d u p on t he co u rt i n t h i s cas e, 1 0 t h e

8 W il b o u rn v. Lu mp ki n , 3 2 7 G a. Ap p

. 3 85

, 3 8 6 ( 75 9 SE2 d 2 6 2 ) (2 0 1 4 ) (p u n ct u at i o n an d fo o t n o t es o m it t ed ).

9 See Ma g d

a n g a l v. Hen d r i x , 3 1 3 Ga. Ap p

. 5 22 (7 2 2 SE2 d 1 3 0 ) (2 0 1 2 ).

1 0 Th e g u ard i an ad li t em h ad cal l ed Ch al k ’ s co m m an d i ng offi cer to v eri fy t h e

m i l i tary t rai n i n g o rd ers an d l earn ed t h ey h ad b ee n f a l si fi ed

. Ch al k lat er ad m i t t ed

u n d er o at h t h at h e h ad fo rg ed t h em

.

7t ri al co u rt w as n o t req u i red to bel i ev e h i s t es t im o n y , i ncl u d in g hi s as sert io ns t h at h e

h ad a cl o s e rel at i o n s hi p wi t h t h e ch i l d ren an d h ad s u p p o rt ed t h em fi nan ci al l y

. 1 1

M o reo v er, t h ere was ev i d en ce t hat u n d erm i n ed or co n t rad i ct ed Ch al k ’ s

t es t i m o ny

. Ch al k d i d n o t at t em p t t o l eg i t i m at e t h e ch i l d ren u n t i l aft er Po l et t o ev i ct ed

h i m fro m h er ap art m en t i n Oct ob er 2 01 5

, wh en t h e ch il d ren were ap p ro x i m at el y t wo

an d fo ur y ears o l d

. Ch al k t h en co n s en t ed t o a p ro t ect iv e o rd er th at p rev en t ed h i m

fro m h av i n g an y co n tact wi t h t h e ch i l d ren

. Ad d i t i o n al l y , t h ere was n o d o cu m en t ary

ev i d en ce t h at Ch al k ev er fi n an ci al l y s u p po rt ed the c hil d ren , ei t her wh i l e h e was l i v i n g

wi t h Po l et t o o r aft er s h e ev i ct ed h i m , ev en t h o u g h h e s pen t s i g n i fi can t s u m s of m o n ey

o n hi s o wn t rav el an d p ers o n al en ri ch m en t

. Un d e r t h e s e ci rcu m s t an ces , t here was

ev i d e n c e t o su p p ort t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s fi nd i n g t h at Ch al k ab an d o n ed hi s o p p o rt u n i t y

1 1 See Ta yl o r v. Ta

yl o r , 2 8 8 G a

. A p p

. 3 3 4

, 3 3 8 (2 ) (6 5 4 SE2 d 1 4 6 ) (2 0 0 7 ) (“ Cre d i b i l i t y o f wi tn es s es an d t h e wei g h t t o b e g i v en t h ei r t es t i m o n y i s a d eci s i o n -m ak i n g po wer t h at li es s o l el y wi t h th e t ri er o f fa c t

. Th e t ri er o f fact i s n ot

o b l i g at ed t o b el i ev e a wi t n es s ev en i f t h e t es t i m o n y is u nco n t rad i ct ed an d m ay accep t

o r reject an y p o rt i o n o f t h e t es ti m o n y .”) (p u n ct u at i o n an d fo o t n o t e o m i t ted ).

8i n t eres t

, 1 2 an d t h e co u rt d id n o t ab u s e i t s d i s cret i o n i n d en y i ng Ch al k ’ s l eg i t i m at i o n

p et i t i o n

. 1 3

2

. (a) Ch al k co n ten d s th at t h e t ri al co urt erred i n award i n g at t o rn ey fees an d

co s t s un d er OCGA § 1 9 -9 -3 (g ), wh i ch Ch al k arg u es o n l y ap pl i es t o cu s t o d y cas es

.

Becau s e l eg i t i m at i o n was d en i ed , t h e co u rt n ev er ad d res sed cu s t o d y

.

“ Gen eral l y an award o f at t o rn ey fees is no t av ai l ab l e un l es s s u p p o rt ed by

s t at u te o r co n t ract .” 1 4 OCGA § 1 9 -9 -3 (g ) p ro v i des i n rel ev an t p art :

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

, an d i n ad di t i o n to th e

at t o rn ey ’ s fee p ro v i s i o n s co nt ai n ed i n Co d e Sect i o n 19 -6 -1 5, t h e j u d ge

m ay o rd er reas o nab l e at t o rn ey ’ s fees an d ex p en s es o f l i t ig at i o n , ex p ert s ,

an d t h e ch i ld ’ s g u ard i a n ad l i t em an d o t h er co s ts of t h e ch i l d cu s t o d y

act i o n an d p ret ri al p ro ceed i n g s t o b e p ai d b y t he p art i es i n p ro po rt i o n s

an d at t i m es d et erm i ned b y t h e ju d g e.

1 2 S e e Wi l b o u rn , 3 2 7 Ga. Ap p

. at 3 8 7 (“ Fact ors s u pp o rt in g a fi n d i n g o f

ab an do n m en t o f a fat h er’ s o p p o rt u n i t y i n t eres t i n cl u d e, wi t h ou t l im it at i o n , a b i o l o g i cal fat her’ s i n act i o n d u ri ng preg n a n c y a n d a t b i rt h

, a d el ay i n fi l i n g a l eg i t i m at i o n p et i t i o n , an d a lack o f co nt act wi t h t h e ch i l d .”) (p u n ct uat i o n an d fo o t n o t e

o m it t ed ).

1 3 See S mi t h v. S o l i g o n , 2 5 4 Ga. Ap p

. 17 2

, 1 73 -1 7 4 (2 ) (5 61 SE2 d 8 5 0 ) (2 0 0 2 ) (affi rm i n g d en i al o f l eg i t i m at io n p et i t i o n wh ere b io l og i cal fat h er l i v ed wi t h ch i l d fo r

s ev eral y ears , b u t p ro v i d ed n o s i g n i f i can t em o ti o n al o r m o n et ary s u p p o rt an d

m ai n t ai n ed o n l y s po rad i c co n t act aft er ch i l d m o v ed away ).

1 4 S i n kwi ch v. Co n n er , 2 88 Ga. Ap p . 3 2 0 , 3 2 1 (6 5 4 SE2 d 1 8 2 ) (2 0 07 ).

9“ OCGA § 1 9 -9 -3 (g ) affo rd s wi d e d i s cret i o n t o t h e t ri al co u rt t o award r e a s o n ab l e

at t o rn ey fees an d ex p en s es i n ch i l d cu s t o d y act i o ns [.] ” 1 5

As t h e t ri al co u rt n o t ed i n i t s o rd er, Ch al k’ s p et i t i on fo r l eg i ti m at i o n i n cl u d ed

a p ray er t h at t he p art i e s s h are jo i n t l eg al cu s t o d y o f t h e ch i l d ren

. Th e pet i ti o n al s o

i n cl u d ed a p ray er fo r “ l i b eral v i s i t at i o n

. ”

C h a l k h a s pro vi d ed n o au t h o ri t y , an d we h av e fo u n d no n e, t o su p p o rt h i s

arg u m en t t h at OCGA § 1 9 -9 -3 (g ) d o es no t ap pl y i n l eg i t i m at i o n cas es 1 6 t h at i n cl u d e

cl ai m s fo r cu s t o d y o r v i s i tat i o n

. 1 7 “ [W ] h e n a l e g i t i m at io n p et i ti o n i s fi l ed [,] t h e

am ou n t of ch i l d su p po rt i s o n e o f t h e i s s ues t o b e det erm i n ed

, al o n g wi t h cu s t o d y an d

v i s i t at i o n .” 1 8

1 5 Mo o re v. H

ul l a n d er ,

__ _ Ga. Ap p

.

_

_ _ (2 ) (d ) (Cas e No

. A1 8 A0 5 9 2, d eci d ed Ap r. 2 5 , 2 0 1 8 ).

1 6 Co m p are Ap pl i n g v. Ta t u m , 2 9 5 Ga. Ap p

. 7 8

, 8 3 (5 ) (6 7 0 SE2 d 7 95 ) (2 0 0 8 ) (rev ers in g t ri al co u rt ’ s award of at t o rn ey fees becau s e OCGA § 1 9-6 -2 (a), wh i ch

, by

i t s p l ai n l an g u ag e, go vern s th e g ran t an d en fo rcem en t o f at to rn ey fees i n al i m o n y an d

d i v o rce cas es , was n o t ap p l i cab l e t o l eg i t i m at io n p et i t i o n ) (fo o t no t e o m i tt ed ).

1 7 See Del l i n g er v. Del l in g er , 2 7 8 Ga. 7 3 2

, 7 3 3 (1 ) (6 0 9 SE2 d 3 3 1 ) ( 2 0 0 4 ) (“ [V] i s i t at i o n ri g h t s are a p art o f cu s t o d y an d ch an ges i n o ne p aren t ’ s v i s i t at i o n ri g h t s

n eces s ari l y

affect t h e cu s t o d ial ri g h t s o f t h e o t h er p aren t .”) (ci t at i o n s o m i t t ed ).

1 8 Do d s o n v. W al ra ven , 3 1 8 Ga. Ap p

. 5 8 6

, 5 9 1 ( 3 ) (7 3 4 SE2 d 4 28 ) (2 0 1 2 ) (fo o t no t e o m i t t ed ).

10OCGA § 1 9 -7 -2 2 (g ) p ro v i d es :

A l eg i t i m at i o n p et it i o n m ay al s o i n cl u d e cl ai m s fo r vi s i t at i o n , paren t i n g

t i m e, or cu s t o d y

. If su ch cl ai m s are rai s ed in t h e l eg i ti m at i o n act i o n , th e

co u rt m ay o rd er, i n ad di t i o n t o l eg i t i m at i o n , v i s i t at i o n , p aren t i ng t i m e,

o r cu s t o d y bas ed o n t h e b e s t i n t eres t s o f t h e ch il d s t an d ard

. In a cas e

i n v o l v i n g al l eg at i o ns o f fam i l y v i o l en ce, t h e p ro v i s i o n s o f p arag rap h (4 )

o f s u b s ect i on (a) o f Co d e Sect i o n 1 9 -9 -3 s h al l al so ap p l y

. 1 9

Becau s e Ch al k req u es t ed v i s i t at i o n an d j o i n t leg al cu s t o d y i n h i s l eg i t i m at i o n

p et i t i o n , t h e t ri al co u rt co u l d h av e award ed v i s i t at i o n an d cu s t o dy u n d er OCGA § 1 9

-

7 -2 2 (g ) co ncu rren t ly wi t h a g ran t o f t h e leg i t i m at i on pet i t i o n

. Th u s, we co n cl u d e t h at

t h e t ri al co u rt h ad au t h o ri t y t o award at t o rn ey fees an d o th er co st s “ o f t h e ch i ld

cu s t o d y act i o n an d p ret ri al p ro ceed i n g s” u n d er OCGA § 1 9 -9 -3 (g ).

( b ) C h a l k fu rt h er co m

p l ai n s t h at t he tri al co u rt ’ s i n cl u s i o n o f h al f o f t h e

g u ard i an ad l i t em fees i n i t s award t o Po l et t o w as i n co n s i s t en t wi th i t s p ro n o u n cem en t

1 9 OCGA § 1 9 -7 -2 2 (g ).

11at t h e b en ch t ri al

. Ch al k h as ci ted n o au t h o ri ty to s u pp o rt t h i s arg u m en t

, 2 0 wh i ch we

fi nd t o b e wi t h o u t m eri t

. 2 1

Ju d g men t a f f i r med

. Ba r n es

, P. J., co n cu r s

. McMi l l i a n

, J., c o n c u rs fu l l y a n d

s p eci a l l y

.

2 0 See Co u rt o f Ap p eal s Ru l e 2 5 (c) (2 ) (“ An y en u m erat i o n of erro r t h at i s n ot

s u p p ort ed i n t h e b ri ef b y ci t a t i o n o f au th o ri t y o r arg u m en t m ay b e d eem ed

ab an do n ed .”).

2 1 See W ach o vi a Ba n k S

a va n n a h v. Ki t ch en , 2 7 2 Ga. Ap p

. 6 0 1

, 6 02 (6 1 2 SE2 d

8 8 5 ) (2 0 0 5 ) (“ [A t ri al co urt is n ot b o un d b y i t s o ral s tat em en t s m ad e d u ri n g t h e co u rs e

o f a h eari n g t o t h e ex t en t th at su ch oral d eci s i o n s can n o t b e ch an g ed p ri o r t o t h e t i m e a fi n al w ri t t en o rd er i s en t ered .”); An d r ew L. Pa r

ks

, In c. v. S

u nTr us t Ba n k , 2 4 8 Ga. Ap p

. 8 4 6, 8 4 7 (5 4 5 SE2 d 3 1 ) (2 0 0 1 ) (n o t in g t h at a ju d g m en t i s n o t en tered u n t i l i t i s fi led wi t h t h e co u rt cl erk an d th at a tri al j u d ge h as i n h eren t p o we r d u r i n g t h e s am e

t erm o f co u rt t o m o d i fy

a ju d g m en t , ev en s u a s p o n t e).

12A1 8 A0 56 3 . CHALK v

. POLETTO

M C M ILLI A N , J u dg e, co n cu rri n g s p eci al l y

.

I co n cu r fu l l y wi t h t h e m ajo ri t y ’ s o p i n i o n , b ut w ri t e sep arat el y t o p o in t o u t t h at

t h e s tat u t o ry h i s t o ry o f OCGA § 1 9 -7 -2 2 (g ) an d OCGA § 1 9 -9 -3 al s o s u p p o rt s t h at

a l e g i t i m a t i o n p et i t i on w i t h a req u es t fo r cu s t o dy m ay al so b e co n si d ered a ch i l d

cu s t o d y act i o n s u ch t h at at t orn ey fees an d ex p en s es m ay b e award ed un d er OCGA §

1 9 -9 -3

. 1 In 2 0 0 5

, Sect i on 1 9 -7 -2 2 was s u b s t an ti al ly am en d ed

, a dding subse c tion ( f .1 ),

wh i ch s p eci fi cal l y al l o wed t h e p et i t i o n fo r l eg i t i m at i o n t o i n cl u d e a c l a i m f o r

1 St at u to ry h i s t o ry i s t h e “ en act ed li n eag e o f a s t at u t e, i n cl u d i n g pri o r laws

am en d m en t s , c o d i fi cat i o n s , an d rep eal s ,” an d m ay b e p ro p erl y rel i ed u p o n in

d i s cern i ng t h e p l ai n m ean i n g o f t h e t ex t of a s t at u t e, as o p po s ed t o leg i s l at iv e h i s t o ry

. See Du n ca n v. Ra wl

s , 3 45 Ga. Ap p

. 34 5

, 3 5 0 (1 ), n.1 0 (8 1 2 S E 2 d 6 4 7 ) ( 2 0 1 8 );

An t on i n Scal i a & Bry an A. G arn er, Read i n g Law: Th e In t erp ret at i on o f Leg al Tex t s 2 5 6 , 4 4 0 (2 0 1 2) (d is t i ng u i s hi n g b et ween s t at ut o ry h i s t o ry an d l eg is l at i v e h i s t o ry ).v i s i t at i o n o r cu s t o d y

. 2 0 0 5 Ga. Laws Act 4 1 3

, § 1

. 2 Pri o r t o t h at t i m e, cu st od y i s s u es

co u ld o nl y b e ad

ju d i cat ed i n a l eg i t i m at i o n pro ceed i n g b y co n s en t o f t h e part i es , an d

i n t h e ab s en ce of t h e m o t h er’ s co n s en t

, t h e fat h er s eek i ng a ch an g e i n p h y s i cal

cu s t o d y was req u i red t o fi l e a s ep arat e pro ceed i n g aft er t h e ju d g m en t o f l eg i t i m at i o n

was en tered

. See P et er

s on v. Tys o n , 2 5 3 Ga. Ap p. 4 3 1

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

Su b s eq u en t l y , t h e G en eral As sem b ly en act ed OCGA § 1 9 -9 -3 (g ), p e r m itting a ttor

n ey

fees an d ex p en s e s o f l i t i g at i o n t o b e award ed i n a ch i l d cu s t o dy act i on

. 2 0 0 7 Ga.

Laws Act 2 6 4

.

Becau s e i t i s p res u m ed t h at t h e l eg i s l at u re act s wi t h fu l l k n owl ed g e o f t h e

ex i s t in g s t at e of t h e l aw, 3 i t fo l l o ws t h at t h e leg i s l at u re was aware t h at t he bi o l o g i cal

fat h er co u l d s eek b o t h l eg it i m at i o n an d cu s t o d y i n t h e s am e p r o c e e d in g wh en i t

en act ed OCGA § 1 9 -9 -3 (g ). Acco rd in g l y, I f u l l y co n cu r wi t h t h e m ajo ri t y ’ s

co n cl u s i o n t h at O CGA § 1 9 -9 -3 ap p l i es i n leg i t i m at i on cas es t h at i n cl u d e cl ai m s fo r

cu s t o d y o r v i s it at i o n

.

2 Su b s ect i on (f.1 ) was s ub s eq u en t l y red es i g nat ed as su b s ect i o n (g ) in 2 0 1 6

. See

2 0 1 6 Ga. Laws Act 4 0 4

.

3 Ret en t i o n Al t er n a t ives

, Lt d

. v. H a ywa r d

, 2 8 5 Ga. 4 3 7

, 44 0 (2 ) (6 7 8 SE2 d 8 7 7 ) (2 0 0 9); Du n ca n , 3 45 Ga. Ap p . at 3 4 9 (1 ), n .9

.

2