SECOND DI VI SI ON

M I LLER, P. J.

, BROWN and GOSS, 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

M ar ch 7, 2019



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 8 A1 65 5 . HILL v

. BURNETT. GS-0 6 1

G O S S , J u d g e.

W e g ran t ed Su s an H il l’ s ap p l i cat io n fo r d is cret i o nary rev i ew o f a t ri al co u rt

o rd er d i rect i n g h er to pay $ 25 ,4 7 5 .8 7 i n at t o rn ey fees u n der OCGA § 9 -1 5 -1 4 (a) to

h e r f o r m er s am e-s ex part n er, Am y Bu rn et t

, aft er t h e t ri al co u rt d i s m i s s ed Hi l l ’s

p et i t i o n s s eek i ng to l eg i t i m at e an d es t ab l i s h p aren t i n g t i m e/ v i s i t at i o n an d cu s t o d i al

ri g h t s t o t w i n gi rl s b o rn t o Bu rn et t i n 2 01 4

. 1 Hi l l arg ues th at t h e t ri al co u rt erred in

award i n g at t o rn ey fees t o Bu rn et t

. Sh e al s o co n t en ds t h at t o t h e ex t e nt a fee award

was warran t ed

, th e t ri al co u rt erred i n req u iri n g Hi l l

, rat h er t h an h er at t o rn ey

, t o p ay

1 Al t h o ug h s am e-s ex co u p l es co u l d n o t m arry i n G eo rg i a wh en t he t wi n s were

b o rn i n 2 01 4

, t h e U n it ed St at es Su prem e Co urt l eg al i zed s am e-s ex m arri ag e t h e n ex t

y ear, i n Ob er

g ef el l v. Ho d g es

,

_ _ U. S.

_ _ (1 35 SCt 2 5 8 4, 1 9 2 LE2 d 6 0 9 ) (2 0 1 5 ). Hi l l

an d Bu rn et t d id n o t m arry s u bs eq u en t t o Ob er g ef el l

.t h e award a n d i n s et t i n g a d ead l i n e fo r p ay m en t. Fo r t he reas o n s t h at fo l l o w, we

affi rm t h e ju d g m en t as t o t h e d eci s i o n t o award fees an d e x p e n s e s rel at ed t o Hi l l ’ s

cl ai m fo r l eg i t i m at i o n

. Ho wev er, we rev ers e t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s d eci s i o n t o award fees

an d ex p en s es rel at ed t o H il l’ s cl ai m s fo r cu s t o d y an d v i s i t at i on / p aren t i ng t i m e. Ou r

r e v e r s a l i s p u rs uan t t o OCGA § 9 -1 5 -1 4 (c), bas ed o n Hi l l ’ s ci t at i o n t o reco g n i zed

au t h o ri t y fro m o t h er s t a t e s

. W e t h u s v acat e t h e $ 2 5 ,4 7 5 .8 7 award

, an d rem an d t h e

cas e fo r a h eari n g s o t h at t h e t ri al co u rt m ay d et erm i n e wh i ch p ort i on o f t he fees an d

ex p en s es p rev i o u sl y

award ed rel at es t o t h e l eg i t i m at i o n cl ai m

.

OCGA § 9 -1 5 -1 4 (a) p ro v i d es fo r reas o n ab l e an d n eces s ary at t o rn ey fees an d

l i ti g at i o n co s t s t o “ an y p art y ag ai n s t wh o m an o t h e r p art y h as as s ert ed a cl ai m

,

d efen s e, o r o t h er p o s i t i o n wi t h res p ect t o wh i ch t h ere ex i s t ed su ch a co m p l et e ab s en ce

o f an y j u s t ici ab l e is s u e o f l aw o r fact t h at i t co u l d n o t b e reas o n ab l y b el i ev ed t h at a

co u rt wo ul d accep t t h e as sert ed cl ai m , d efen s e, o r o t h er p o s i t io n .” In g en eral

,

wh en we rev i ew an award o f at to rn ey fees u n d er OCGA § 9 -1 5 -1 4 (a),

we d o s o u n d er t h e “ an y

ev i d en ce” s t an dard

, a s t an d ard t hat o rd i n ari l y

i s m ark ed b y d eferen ce t o t h e way i n wh i ch t h e co u rt b el o w as s es sed th e

rel ev an t ev id en ce. Th at s ai d

, wh et h er at t o rn ey fees are r e q u i r ed u nd er

OCGA § 9

- 1 5

- 1 4 (a) dep en d s i n s o m e cas es n o t s o m u ch u p o n an

as s es s m en t o f wh at we u s u al l y m ean w h en we s p eak o f “ ev i d en ce”

. . .

b u t u p o n a n a s s e s sm en t o f t h e s t at e o f t h e law at t h e ti m e a p art y

2ad v an ced a l eg al arg u m en t [.]

. . . Su ch an as s es s m en t o f th e s t at e o f th e

l aw, we t h i nk

, i ts el f p res en t s a q u es ti on of l aw, an d w e us u al ly d o n o t

d efer t o t ri al co u rt s ab ou t pu re q u es t i on s of l aw. T h i s ap p eal p res en t s

q u es t i o n s o f l aw, w h ich we rev i ew de n o v o

. . . . So

, al t h o u gh we ap p l y

t h e “ an y ev id en ce” s t an d ard o f rev i ew in t h i s cas e, t o t h e ex t en t th at th e

“ ev i d en ce” rel ev an t t o t h e q u es t i o n of at t o rn ey fees co n si s t s o f t h e s t at e

o f t h e l aw, w e m ak e ou r o wn as s es sm en t o f t hat “ ev i den ce” an d d eci de

fo r o u rs el ves wh et h er t h e cl ai m s as s ert ed b el ow p res en t ed a ju s t i ci ab l e

i s su e o f l aw.

(Ci t at i o n s an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed .) Gi b s o n Co n s t r

. Co

. v. GAA Acq ui s i t i o n s I, LLC

,

3 1 4 Ga. Ap p

. 67 4

, 6 7 5 -6 7 6 (7 2 5 SE2 d 8 0 6) (2 01 2 ). See i d

., ci ti n g El l i s v. Jo h n s o n

,

2 6 3 Ga. 5 1 4

, 5 16 -5 1 7 (2 ) (4 3 5 SE2 d 9 2 3 ) (1 9 9 3) fo r t h e p ro p o s i t i o n t h at “ t h e

Su p rem e Co u rt d o es n ot ap p ear t o h av e d eferred to an y as s es sm en t o f t h e s tat e o f t h e

l aw b y t h e t ri al co u rt .” Gi b s o n , 3 1 4 Ga. Ap p . at 6 7 6 , n . 2

.

So v i ewed

, t he reco rd 2 sh o ws t h at Hi l l an d Bu rn et t were i n a rel at i o n s h i p fo r

ap p ro x i m at el y t hree y ears

, al th o u g h t h ey s ep arat ed an d reu n i t ed s ev eral t i m es

. Th ey

ex ch a n g e d r i n g s i n 2 0 13 i n No rt h Caro l i n a, an d i n 2 01 3 an d 20 1 4

, Bu rn et t b eg an

t ry i n g t o g et p reg nan t

. Th e t ri al co u rt fo u n d t h at b o t h p art i es co nt ri bu t ed to t h e co s t

2 As t h i s cas e n ev er reach ed an ev i d en t i ary h eari n g

, t h e reco rd co n s i s t s o f t h e

t ran s cr i p t s o f t h e p art i es ’ l eg al arg u m en t s an d o f t h e p art ies ’ veri fi ed p et i t i o n s an d

res p o n s es

.

3o f t h e p ro c e d u res d es ig ned t o p ro m o t e p reg nan cy

. Th e co u rt fu rt h er fo u n d t h at in

2 0 1 4

, Bu r n e t t b ecam e p reg n an t u s in g a pro ced u re sh e p ai d fo r wi t h o u t Hi l l ’ s

co n tri b u t i o n

. Th at sam e y ear, t h e t wo wo m en m et wi t h an ad o p t io n at t o rn ey to

d i s cu s s Hi l l ’ s ad o p t i ng t h e ch i l d r e n

, al th o u g h n o ad o p t i o n o ccu rred

. Am o n g o t h er

t h i n g s

, H i l l p art i ci p at ed i n b i rt h i n g cl as s es

, was p res en t at t h e t wi n s ’ b i rt h

, p u rch as ed

i t em s fo r t he n u rs ery an d p ro v i d ed cl o t hi n g an d n eces s i t i es fo r t h e c h i l d ren

. Th e

wo m en ag reed t h at Hi l l wo u l d b e cal l ed “ M o m m a[,] ” an d Bu rn et t g av e M o t h er’ s Day

card s t o Hi l l

. Ev en wh en t h e wo m en ’ s o wn rel at io n s h i p was i n ab ey an ce, Bu rn et t s en t

Hi l l p h o t o g rap hs o f t h e ch i l d ren an d referred t o Hi l l as “ M o m m a.”

In J u n e o f 2 0 1 6, h o wev er, Bu rn et t an d t h e ch i l d ren m o v ed o u t o f t h e p art i es ’

res i den ce. L at er t h at y ear, Hi l l fi l ed s u i t, s eek i n g l eg i ti m at i o n an d es t ab l i s hm en t o f

cu s t o d y an d p aren ti n g r i g h t s b as ed o n t h eo ri es o f i m pl i ed co n t ract

, p ro m i s s o ry

es t o p p el

, an d co n s t i t u t i o n al ri g h t s

. Th e t ri al co urt d i s m i s s ed Hi l l ’ s act i o n fo r l ack o f

s t an d i n g

. Bu rn et t m o v ed fo r at t o rn ey fees

, an d fo ll o w i n g a h eari n g

, th e t ri al co u rt

fo u n d i n Bu rn et t ’ s fav o r. Hi ll fi l ed t h e in s t an t ap p e a l reg ard i n g t h e at t orn ey fees

award o n l y

.

1

. Hi l l arg u es th at t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n award i n g at t o rn ey fees b ecau s e h er

arg u m en t s were m ad e i n a g o o d f a i t h at t em

p t t o es t ab l i s h a n ew th eo ry o f l aw in

4Geo rg i a. W e ag ree in t h at Hi l l p res en t ed reco g n i zed au t h o ri t y fro m o th er s t at es as to

t h e cl ai m s i n wh i ch s h e at tem pt ed t o es t ab l i s h v i s i t at i on

, p aren t i n g t i m e, an d cu s t o d y

.

W e d o n o t ag ree as t o Hi ll ’ s cl ai m fo r l eg it i m at i o n

.

OCGA § 9 -1 5 -1 4 (c) p ro v i d es t h at at t o rn ey fees s h al l n o t b e as s es s ed “ as t o an y

cl ai m o r d efen se wh i ch t h e co u rt d et erm i nes was as s ert ed b y sai d at t o rn ey o r p art y in

a g oo d f a i t h a t t emp t t o es t ab li s h a n ew t h eo ry o f l aw i n Geo rg i a i

f s u ch n ew t h eo r

y

o f l a w i s ba s ed o n s o me r eco g n i z ed p reced en t i al o r p er

su a s i ve a ut h o r i t

y

. ” (Em p h as i s

s u p p li ed .) See Do s ter v. Ba t es

, 2 6 6 Ga. Ap p

. 1 9 4

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

(b ecau s e at t o rn ey fee award s are n o t al l o wed as p art o f d am ag es u n d er co m m o n l aw,

OCGA § 9 -1 5 -1 4 ’ s fee p ro v i s i on m u s t b e st ri ct l y co ns t ru ed ag ai n s t s u ch an award ).

As an i n i t i al m at t er, w e fi n d n o ev i den ce i n th e reco rd , n o r d i d t h e t ri al co u rt

fi nd , t h at Hi ll l ack ed g o od fai t h i n b ri ng i n g t h e act io n o r i n h er at t em p t t o es t ab l i s h

a n ew t heo ry o f l aw i n Geo rg i a. OCGA § 9 -1 5 -1 4 (c). See g en eral l y S ach a v. Co

f f ee

Bu t l er S er vi ce, In c

., 2 1 5 Ga. Ap p

. 2 8 0

, 2 8 1 (2 ) (4 5 0 SE2 d 7 0 4 ) (1 99 4 ) ( f i n d i n g n o

ev i d en ce o f b ad fai t h u n d er OCGA § 9 -1 5 -1 4 (a)).

(a) Cl ai ms f

o r cu s t o d y a n d p ar en t i n g

t ime/ vi si t at i o n : Hi l l s ou g h t t o es t ab l i s h

s t an d i n g an d t o g ai n cu s to d y an d / o r p aren t i n g ti m e/ v is i t at i on u n d er v ari o u s l eg al

t h eo ri es

. A d e n o v o ex am i n at io n o f t h e s t at e of th e l aw at i s s ue h ere, s ee Gi b so n

5Co n s t r

. Co

. , 3 1 4 Ga. A p p. at 6 7 6

, s ho ws th at Hi l l p r e m i s ed h er arg u m en t s as to

p aren t i n g t i m e/ vi s it at i o n an d cu s t o d y o n n ew t h eo ri es o f l aw b as ed o n s o m e

reco g n ized p ers u as i v e au th o ri t y

. O CGA § 9 -1 5 -1 4 (c). T h e fact th at m o s t o f t h e

au t h o ri t ies Hi l l ci t ed i n s u pp o rt o f her arg u m en ts b el o w are fro m o t h er ju ri sd i ct i on s

d o es n o t rem o v e h er fro m th e pro t ect i on o f OCGA § 9 -1 5 -1 4 (c). It i s wel l s et t l ed t h at

Geo rg i a co u rt s o ft en co n s i der l aw an d d eci s i o n s fro m o t he r j ur isdic tions a s p ers u as i v e

au t h o ri t y

. See

, e

. g

., G l is s o n v. Co ker

, 2 6 0 Ga. Ap p. 2 7 0

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

(2 0 0 3); W

o r l ey v. W

o r l ey

, 16 1 Ga. Ap p

. 4 4

, 45 (5 ) (2 8 8 SE2 d 8 5 4 ) (1 9 8 2 ). See al s o

La n e v. K-Ma r t Co r

p

. , 1 9 0 G a. Ap p. 1 1 3

, 1 1 5 -1 1 6 (3 7 8 SE2 d 1 3 6 ) (1 9 8 9) (So g n i er,

J

., co n c u r r i n g sp eci al l y ) (n o ti n g t h at OCGA § 9 -1 5 -1 4 (c)’ s l an g u ag e ab o ut

p ers u as i v e au t h o ri t y

refers t o d eci si o ns fro m

o t h er ju ri s d i ct i o n s).

Hi l l cl earl y s ou g h t t o gai n l eg al reco g n it io n o f t h e em o t i o n al an d p sy ch o l o g i cal

b o n d s h e d ev el o p ed wi th t h e ch i l d ren

, an d t o es t ab li s h cu s t o d y an d / o r p aren t i n g

t i m e/ v i si t at i o n wi th t h e c hi l d ren

. In m ak i n g t h es e arg um en t s

, Hi l l ci t ed t o wh at i s

cl earl y reco g n ized p ers u as i v e au t h o ri t y fro m o t h er ju ri s d i ct i o ns

. 3 Th e au t ho ri t i es s h e

ci t ed i ncl u d e In r e: Cu s t o d y o f H. S

. H.

– K. v. Kn ot t

, 1 9 3 W i s .2 d 64 9 (5 3 3 N.W .2 d

3 T h es e i n cl u d ed d eci s i on s fro m t h e h ig h es t ap p el l at e co u r t s i n fo u r o t h er

s t at es

.

64 1 9 ) (1 9 9 4 ), o n e wo m an ’ s s u i t s eek i n g v is it at i o n o f her fo rm er s am e-s ex p a rt n er’ s

b i o l o g i cal ch i l d

, wh o m t h e co u p l e h ad rai s ed t o g et h er b efo re s ep arat i ng

. Id

. at 6 5 9

-

6 6 1 (I). In t h i s cas e, t he Su p rem e Co u rt o f W is co n s i n es t ab li s hed a fo ur-p art t es t fo r

d et erm i n i n g wh e t h e r t h e p et i t i o n er h ad es tab l i s h ed t h at s h e h ad a “ p aren t -l i k e

rel at i o n s h i p wi t h t h e c h i l d [.] ” Id

. at 6 5 8-6 5 9 (t es t req u i res p ro o f of b i o l o g i cal o r

ad o pt i v e p aren t ’ s co ns en t to p et i t i o n er’s f o rm at i on of p aren t -l i k e rel at i o n s h i p wi th

ch i l d

, an d t h at p et it i o n er l i v ed wi t h ch i l d

, as s u m ed o b l ig at i o n s o f p aren t i n g

, an d h ad

en o ug h t i m e t o es t ab l i s h b o n d ed p aren t al rel at i o n s h i p wi t h ch i ld ).

Hi l l ci t ed ad d i t i o nal p ers u as i v e a u t h o ri t y fro m o t her ju ri s d i ct i on s wh i ch h ad

ad o pt ed t h e W i s co n s i n t es t

. See, e. g

. , V . C. v. M. J. B.

, 1 6 3 N . J

. 2 0 0

, 2 2 1 (III) (B),

2 2 3 an d 2 2 6 (IV) (7 4 8 A2 d 5 3 9 ) (2 0 0 0 ) (ex am i n e d o t h er ju ri s d i ct i o ns wh i ch

reco g n ized t h e p s y ch o lo g i cal p aren t d o ct ri ne, an d ad o p ted t h e fo u r-p art t es t i n H. S.

H.

– K.

, 1 9 3 W i s .2 d at 6 5 8 -6 5 9. Hi l l al s o ci t ed B r o o ke S

. B. v. El i z a b et h A. C. C.

, 2 8

N. Y. 3 d 1

, 2 7 -2 8 (IV), (V) (6 1 NE2 d 4 8 8 ) (2 0 1 6) (fo u n d t h at a n on -b i o l og i cal

, n o n

ad o pt i v e p art n er wo u l d h av e s t an d i n g t o s eek vi s i t a t i on an d cu st o d y if t hat p art n er

co u ld sh o w b y cl ear an d co n v in ci n g ev i d en ce t h at t h e p a r t i e s h ad ag reed

, p ri o r to

co n cep t io n

, t o rai s e a ch i l d t o g et h er), an d Bet h a ny v. Jo n es

, 20 1 1 Ark

. 6 7 (3 7 8 SW 3 d

7 3 1

, 7 3 5, 7 3 8 -7 3 9 (I)) (2 0 1 1 ) ( f o u n d t h at b i o l o g ical m o t h er’ s fo rm er s am e-s ex

7p art n er st o o d i n l o c o p aren t i s t o t h e ch i l d fo r v i s i t at i on p u rp o ses

, ev en t h o u g h t h e

p art i es n ev er l eg al i zed t h ei r rel at i o n s h i p an d h ad o nl y an o ral ag reem en t t o rai s e t h e

ch i l d t o g et h er). Here, t h e tri al co u rt co n s i d ered t h e arg u m en t s p res en t ed an d

d i s m i s s ed H i l l’ s cas e an d award ed Bu rn et t at t o rn ey fees

. Rev i ew o f t h e t ri al co urt ’ s

d eci s i o n t o d i s m i s s Hi ll ’ s l aws u i t i s no t b efo re t h i s Co u rt

. T h erefo re, t h i s o p i n i o n

d o es n o t rev i ew t h e m eri t s o f t h o s e a rg u m en ts

, an d rev i ews o n l y th e deci s i o n as to

at t o rn ey fees a n d ex p en s es

. As t o t h e at to rn ey fees an d ex p en s es award ed i n t h e

i n s t a n t c a s e

, “ a reas o n ab le l awy er m i g h t h av e read [t he ci t ed au t h o ri t y fro m t h es e

o t h er j u ri s d i ct i o n s] an d i n ferred t h at ” t h es e au t h o ri ti es o ffered s o m e s up p o rt fo r t h e

c l a i m s H i l l p res en t ed i n h er qu es t t o es t ab l is h cu s t o d y o r p aren t in g t i m e/ v i s i t at i o n

.

Gi b so n Co n s t r

. , 3 1 4 Ga. Ap p

. at 6 77 (rev ers i n g g ran t o f at t o rn ey fees u n d er OCGA

§ 9 -1 5 -1 4 (a) ev en w h ere ap p el l an t “ fai l ed t o ci t e a n y co n vi n ci ng au t ho ri t y ” fo r t h e

p ro p os i t i on at h an d ) (ci tat i o n an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ; em p has i s s u p p l i ed ).

[ W ] e c a nn o t s ay th at t hi s arg u m en t was n o n s en s i cal

, i l lo g i cal

, f or e c lose d

b y ex i s t i n g p reced en t

, o r wi t h o u t s o m e arg u ab l e s up p o rt

. . . [W ] e m u s t

k eep in m i n d t h at OC G A § 9 -1 5 -1 4 (a) i s i n ten d ed to d is co u rag e th e

b ri n gi n g o f fri v ol ou s cl ai m s

, n o t t h e p res en t at i on o f q u es ti o n s o f fi rs t

i m p res s io n ab o u t wh i ch r e a s o n ab l e m in d s m i g h t d i s ag ree o r th e

as s ert i on o f n o v el l eg al t h eo ri es th at fi n d arg u ab le, al b ei t l i m i t ed

,

s u p p o rt i n ex is t in g cas e l aw . . . [.]

8Id

.

Th e t ri al co u rt

, ci t i n g Br o o ke

, fo u nd t h at “ a cl o s e read i n g o f t h e fact s ” in

Br o oke s ho wed a “ di s ti n ct l y m o re cl ear cu t s h o wi n g o f i n ten t b y t h e p art i es t o b o th

co n cei v e an d rai s e a ch il d t o g et h er[,] ” t h an t h at p res en t b et ween Hi l l an d Bu rn et t

.

Th i s Co urt h as reco gn i zed th at OCGA § 9 -1 5 -1 4 (a) i s cas t i n t h e d i s ju n ct i ve,

h o wev er, p ro v i di ng fo r at t o rn ey fees o n l y i n cas es “ wi t h r e s pect t o wh i ch t h ere

ex i s t ed su ch a co m

p let e ab s en ce o f an y ju s ti ci ab l e i s s u e o f l aw o r fact

. . . [.] ” See

Do s ter

, 2 6 6 Ga. Ap p

. a t 1 9 6 (1 ) (“ w e m u st d et erm i ne wh et h er t h e cl ai m as s ert ed

b el o w ei t h er h ad s o m e fact u al m e r it o r p res en t ed a j u s ti ci ab le i ss u e o f l aw”)

(p u n ct u at i o n an d fo o tn o t e o m i tt ed ; em p h as i s s u p p l i ed ). See al s o La ne

, 1 9 0 Ga. Ap p.

at 11 5 -1 1 6 (So gn i er, J

. , co ncu rri n g sp eci al l y ) (“ Becau s e o f t h e cas t i ng o f t h e

l an g u ag e o f sect i o n (a ) [ o f O CGA § 9-1 5 -1 4] i n t he d i sju n ct i ve rat h er t h an t h e

c o n j u n ct i v e, I read t hat s ect i o n t o al l o w at t o rn ey fees o n l y wh en a cl ai m h as m eri t

n ei t h er i n fact n o r i n l aw”) (ci t at i o n s o m i tt ed ; em ph as i s i n o ri g i n al ). In o rd er t o av o id

p ay i n g Bu rn et t ’ s at t o rn ey fees

, o u r l aw d o es n ot req u i re th at Hi l l p res en t i s su es o f l aw

an d fact s u ffi ci en t to p rev ai l on h er cl ai m s

, o n l y t h at s h e p res en t a ju s t i ci ab l e i s s u e

t h at m i gh t “ reas o nab l y [b e] b el i ev ed th at a co u rt w o u ld accep t[.] ” OCGA § 9 -1 5 -1 4

(a). Bas ed o n co u n sel ’ s arg u m en t s o f ap p el lat e cas e l aw fro m o t her s t at es

, t h e t ri al

9co u rt erred t o t he ex t en t t h at i t award ed Bu rn et t at t o rn ey fees un d er OCGA § 9 -1 5 -1 4

(a) as t o Hi l l ’ s cl ai m s fo r cu s to d y an d p aren ti n g t i m e/ v i s i t at i o n. W e t h us rev ers e i t s

o rd er i n p art

.

(b ) Leg i t i ma t i o n

. Hi l l al s o s o u g h t t o l eg i t i m at e t h e t wi n s

. Hi ll p oi n t s u s t o n o

au t h o ri t y t h at s h e ci t ed bel o w, an d ci t es t o n o th i n g o n ap p eal

, w h i ch wo u l d q u al i fy

a s t he “ reco g n i zed p reced en t i al o r p ers u as i v e au t h ori t y ” req u i red by OCGA § 9- 15- 14

(c) to s u pp o rt a cl ai m fo r leg i t i m at io n m ad e b y a p ers o n wh o h ad es tab l is h ed n o

b i o l o g i cal o r l eg al co n n ect io n t o t h e ch i l d ren at i s s u e. 4

Geo rg i a’ s l eg i ti m at i o n st at u t e, OCGA § 1 9 -7 -2 2 (b ) pro v i d es

, i n p ert i n en t p art

,

t h at “ t h e b i o l o g ical fat h e r o f a c hi l d ” m ay ren der t h e rel at i o n s h i p l eg i t im at e by

p et i t i o n i n g t h e s u peri or co u rt

. OCGA § 19 -7 -2 2 (a) (1 ) d efi n es “ b i o l og i cal fat h er” as

“ t h e m al e wh o im

p reg nat ed th e b i o l o g i cal m o t her res u l t i n g i n t h e b i rt h o f a ch i l d.”

See al so OCGA § 1 9 -7 -2 2 (h ). M o reo v e r

, “ o n ly a b io l o g i cal fat h er m ay b ri n g a

4 Hi l l p o i n t s ou t t hat s h e fi l ed a m o t i o n t o s t ay bas ed u p o n a cas e wh i ch was at

t h at t i m e b efo re t he Su p rem e Co u rt o f Geo rg i a. See S1 7 A0 6 4 3

. Fa u b e r t

- R o c h a v.

Ba u ti s t a (Cas e d is m i s s ed M ay 31

, 2 0 1 7 ). Sh e co n t en d s t h at th is t h en -p en d in g m at t er

p res en t ed th e arg u m en t t h at a “ n o n -b i o l o g i cal ‘ p aren t ’ i n a s am e-s ex rel at i o n s h ip

at t em p t ed t o u se G eo rg i a’ s l eg i t i m at i o n s t at u t e as g ro u n d s fo r cu st od y an d / o r

v i s i t at io n .” H o wev er, a pen d i n g ap p eal d o es n o t s at i s fy O CGA § 9 -1 5 -1 4 (c ) ’s

req u i rem en t t h at

, i n o rd er t o av o i d at t o rn ey fees

, an arg um en t b as ed o n a n ew t h eo ry

o f l aw m u s t al s o b e “ b as ed o n s o m e reco g n ized p r eced en t i a l o r p ers u as i v e a u t h o r i t y .”

(Em p h as i s s u p p li ed ).

10l eg i t i m at i o n act i o n

. ” (Pu n ct u at io n an d fo o t n o t e o m it t ed .) Vea l v. V ea l

, 2 8 1 Ga. 1 2 8,

1 2 9 (6 36 SE2 d 5 2 7 ) (2 00 6 ). Fu rt h er, Hi l l an d Bu rn et t n ev er m arri ed

, s o n o arg u m en t

fo r leg it i m acy co u l d o b t ai n u n d er OCGA § 1 9 -7 -2 0 (c) (m arri ag e b et w een m o t h er an d

rep u t ed fat h er o f ch i ld b o rn o u t o f wed l o ck , an d fat h er’ s reco g n i t i o n o f ch il d as h i s

o wn , ren d ers ch il d l eg it i m at e).

Hi l l h as ci t ed n o l aw fro m an y ju ri s d ict i o n fo r t h e p ro po s it i o n t hat a p ers o n o f

ei t h er g en d er m ay p et i t i on t o l eg i t i m at e a ch i ld ab s en t a b i o l o g i cal rel at i o ns h i p

, an d

Geo rg i a l aw m ak es no p ro v i s i o n fo r s uch a s i t u at io n. See OCGA § 9 -1 5 -1 4 (c). Th u s

,

t h ere ex i s t ed “ s u ch a co m pl et e ab s en ce o f an y ju st i ci ab l e is su e of l aw o r fact t h at i t

co u ld n o t b e reas o n ab l y be l i e v e d t h at a co u rt w o u ld accep t t he as s ert ed cl ai m [.] ”

OCGA § 9 -1 5 -1 4 (a). Fi nd i n g n o erro r o n th i s p oi n t, we affi rm t h e tri al co urt ’ s award

o f at t o rn ey fees t o t h e ex t en t t h at t h e fees award ed were i n cu rred i n d efen d i ng ag ai n s t

t h e l eg i t i m at i o n cl ai m

.

c. At t o rn ey f

ees

. Gi ven o u r d et erm i n at i o n s i n Di v i s i o n (1 ) (a) an d (b ), s u p ra,

we v acat e t h e award o f at t o rn ey fe es

. W e rem an d t h i s cas e t o t h e t ri al co u rt fo r a

h eari n g t o d et erm i n e th e p o rt i o n o f t h e fees p rev i o us l y award ed wh ich s h o u l d b e

al l o cat ed t o t h e defen s e ag ai n s t t h e leg i t i m at i on cl ai m

, t h u s es t ab l i s h i n g t h e am o u nt

o f fees an d ex p en s es wh i ch m u s t b e pai d t o Bu rn et t

. “ As we h av e h el d

, i n cas es

11i n v o l v i n g O CGA § 9 -1 5 -1 4 (a) o r (b ), t h e t ri al co u rt m u s t l im i t th e fee s award to

t h o se fees in cu rred b ecau s e o f t h e s an ct i o n ab l e co n d u ct

. ‘ Lu m p s u m ’ o r

u n ap po rt i o n ed at t orn ey fee award s are no t perm it t ed i n G eo rg i a.” (Ci t at i o n o m i t t ed .)

Bu t l er v. Lee

, 3 3 6 Ga. Ap p

. 10 2

, 1 0 6 (2 ) (7 8 3 SE2 d 70 4 ) (2 0 1 6 ) (i n ch i l d cu st o d y an d

suppor t a ct i o n i n v ol v i n g a s am e-s ex

, fo rm erl y m arri ed co up l e, ap p el l at e c our t va c a te d

at t o rn ey fee award u n d er OCGA § 9-1 5 -1 4 (b ) wh ere award h ad n o t b een ap p o rt i o n ed

t o i n cl u d e o nl y f

e es i n cu rred b ecau s e o f san ct i o n ab l e co n du ct an d ord er d i d n ot

art i cu l at e wh y

am o un t award ed was reas o n ab l e). 5

2

. Hi l l al s o a r g u e s t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n o rd eri n g h er, rat h er t h an h er

l awy er, t o p ay Bu rn et t ’ s at t o rn ey fees an d ex p en s es

.

OCGA § 9-1 5 -1 4 (a) pro v i d es

, i n p ert in en t p art

, th at “ [a] t to rn ey ’ s fees an d

ex p en s es s o award ed s h al l b e a s s es s ed a ga i ns t t h e p a r t y a ss er t i n g t h e cl a i m

. . ., o r

a g a i n s t t h a t p a r t

y’s a t t o r n ey, o r

a g a i n s t b o t h i n s uch m an ner as i s ju s t.” (Em p h as i s

s u p p li ed .)

5 At th e h eari n g o n Bu rn et t ’ s m o t i o n fo r at t o rn ey fees

, b o t h si d es s ti p u l at ed t h at

Bu rn et t h ad b een b i l l ed an d h ad p ai d $2 5

, 4 7 5 .8 7 i n at to rn ey fees

. O n ap p eal

, Hi l l

d o es n ot en u m erat e as erro r t h e reas o n ab l en es s o f t h e fees an d ex p en s es

, O CGA § 9

-

1 5 -1 4 (d ), s o we d o n o t ad d res s t h e i s s ue h ere.

12As t h e s t a t u t e m a kes p l ai n

, t h e t ri al co u rt h ad t h e au t h o ri t y t o as s es s t h e fees

ag ai n s t Hi l l

, s o lo n g as t h at as s es s m en t was ju s t

. Here, t h e t ri al co u rt fo u n d t h at i t

“ can n o t s ay t h at Pet i t i o n er reas o nab l y rel i ed o n ex i st i n g Geo rg i a l eg al p reced en t .”

(Em p h as i s s up pl i ed .) In t h e co n t ex t o f H i l l’ s l eg i t i m at i o n cl ai m

, t h ere i s ev i d en ce to

s u p p ort t he t ri al co urt ’ s d eci s i o n

, an d we fi n d n o erro r. See Gi b s o n Co n s t r

. Co

. , 3 1 4

Ga. Ap p . at 6 7 5 -6 7 6

.

3

. Hi l l al s o arg u es t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n s et t i ng a d ead l i n e b y w h i ch s h e

was req u i red t o p ay t h e at t o rn ey fees an d ex pen s es

, ci t i n g O CGA § 9 -1 5 -1 4 (f), wh i ch

p ro v id es t h at an award o f reas o n ab l e at t o rn ey fees an d ex p en ses co n s t it u t es a m o n ey

ju d g m en t

. Hi l l ci t es t o n o l aw b arri n g a t ri al j u d g e f ro m o rd eri n g t h at a m o n ey

ju d g m en t b e p ai d by a cert ai n d at e. Rat h er, Hi l l ci tes t o cas es p ro vi d i ng t h at a co u rt

can n ot u s e i t s co n t em

p t p o w er t o co m

p el co m p l ian ce wi t h a m o n ey ju dg m en t

. See,

e. g

., S a mp s o n v. Cu r et o n

, 3 4 3 Ga. Ap p

. 4 66

, 4 7 2 (2 ) (2 0 17 ); Hi l l v. Pa l u z zi

, 2 6 1 Ga.

Ap p

. 1 23

, 1 2 6 ( 2 ) (5 8 1 SE2 d 7 3 0 ) (2 0 0 3 ). Th e t ri al co u rt d i d n o t fi n d Hi l l in

co n tem p t

. Co n t em

p t o f co u rt i s n o t at i s s u e h ere, an d t h es e cas es h av e n o b eari n g o n

t h e m at t er b efo re u s . W e fi n d n o erro r.

Ju d g men t a ff i r m ed i n p ar t

, r ever s ed i n p a rt

, a wa r d va ca ted a n d ca se re m and ed

wi t h d ir ect i o n . Mi l l er

, P. J., a n d

Br o wn , J., co ncu r

.

13