THI RD DI VI SI ON

DOYLE, P. J.

, REESE and BROWN, 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.

https ://w w w

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

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

H I S

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

TH E TIM E S S E T B Y

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

.

June 16, 2021



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A2 1 A0 17 2 . ROSE v . CLARK.

D O Y LE , Pres i d i n g J u d g e.

Ti m o t h y Gl en n Ro s e an d Bet h an y Dawn Cl ark were d i v o rced i n 2 0 1 4

, an d in

2 0 1 8

, t he co u p l e each fi l ed cl ai m s fo r co n t em p t an d m o d i fi cat i o n of ch i ld s u p p o rt

o b l i g at i o ns

. Th e cl ai m s were co n s ol i dat ed

, an d fo l l o wi n g a b en ch tri al

, t he t ri al co u rt

en t ered an o rd er fi n d i n g Ro s e i n co n t em p t fo r fai l i ng t o pay cert ai n p ri vat e s ch o ol

t u i t i o n ex p en s es

, i n creas i n g h i s ch i l d s u pp o rt ob l i g at i on

, an d award i n g Cl ark

$ 1 0 ,0 5 0 .4 7 i n at t o rn ey fees

. Ro s e n o w ap peal s fro m t h e d en i al o f h i s m o t i o n fo r n ew

t ri al

, co n ten d i n g t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred b y (1 ) fi n d i n g h i m i n co nt em p t

, (2 ) ad ju s t i n g

h i s in co m e u p w a rd an d i m p os i n g a t u i ti o n d ev i at i o n in fav o r of hi s wi fe, an d (3 )

award i n g at t o rn ey fees wi th ou t i d en t i fy i n g a s t a tu t o ry b as i s o r m ak i n g ad eq u at efact ual fi n d i n g s

. 1 Becau s e t he o rd er fai l s t o s u p p o rt th e at to rn ey fee a w ard wi th

s t at u to ry au t h o ri t y o r fact u al fi n d i n g s

, we v acat e an d rem an d t h at p o rt i o n o f t h e o rd er;

we o t herwi s e affi rm

.

Th e reco rd sh o ws t h at i n 2 0 1 4

, Ro s e an d Cl ark en t ere d i n t o a d i v o rce

s et t l em en t ag reem en t t h at was ap p ro v ed b y t h e s u peri o r co u rt an d m ad e a p art o f t h e

fi nal ju d g m en t an d d ecree o f d i v o rce. Acco rd i n g t o t he ag reem en t

, t h e p art i es s h ared

cu s t o d y o f t h ei r o n e m i n o r ch i l d

, wi t h Cl ark b ei n g t h e p r i m a r y p h y s ical cu s t o d i an

.

Ro s e ag reed t o p ay Cl ark $5 1 8 p er m o n th i n ch i l d s u p po rt an d to pay h al f o f t h e

ch i l d ’ s s c h o o l t u i t i on ex p en s es

. Th e p art i es fu rt her ag reed t hat th e set t l em en t

ag reem en t wo u l d b e o ffered fo r i n co rp o rat i o n i n t o an y d iv o rce decree ap p ro v e d by

a co u rt , b u t

[n ] o t wi t h s t a n d i n g s u ch i n co rp o rat i o n

, t hi s ag reem en t s h al l n o t be

m erg ed in an y d ecree, b u t s h al l s u rv iv e i n d ep en d en t l y o f su ch d ecree.

.

. . [Al s o

, n ] o m o di fi cat i o n o r wai v er o f t h e t erm s of t hi s ag reem en t sh al l

b e m ad e ex cep t wi t h t h e EXPRESS W RITTEN CONSENT OF BOTH

PARTIES o r b y

ORDER o f a co u rt o f ap p ro p ri at e ju ri s d i ct i o n .”

1 T h e arg u m en t i n Ro s e’ s ap p el l at e bri ef d o es n o t cl earl y co rr es p o n d t o h i s

en u m erat i o n s

, b u t we h av e en d eav ored t o a d d res s t h e m eri t o f h i s arg u m en t s as

art i cu l at ed i n h i s b ri ef.

2In Au g u s t 2 01 8

, Cl ark p et i t i o n ed th e s up eri o r co u rt fo r co n tem pt

, al l eg i n g t h at

Ro s e h ad fai l e d t o m eet h i s o b l i g at i o n s t o p ay h al f o f t h ei r ch i l d ’ s t u it i o n ex p en s es

an d t o m ai nt ai n a cert ai n l i fe i n s u ran ce p o l i c y. R os e fi led an an swer an d

co u nt ercl ai m ed fo r co n t em p t i n t h e fo rm

o f at t orn ey fees ag ai n s t Cl ark

.

Two m o nt h s lat er, i n Oct o b er 2 0 1 8

, Ro s e fi l ed a s ep arat e p et i t i o n fo r co n t em pt

an d m o d i fi cat io n o f h i s ch i l d s u p p o rt o b l i g at i o n s ; Cl ark fi l ed an an s wer an d

co u nt ercl ai m s fo r co nt em p t an d m o d i fi cat i o n o f ch i l d su p po rt o b li g at i o n s. In 2 0 1 9,

t h e act i o ns were co n so l id at ed

, an d fo ll o w i n g an ev i d en ti ary h eari n g, t h e t ri al co u rt

en t ered a fi n al o rd er wh i ch

, as am en d ed

, fo u n d t h at Ro s e h ad a n et tu i t i o n arrearag e

o f $ 4 ,9 6 6 .9 5 an d an o n g o i ng o b l i g at i o n t o p ay $ 7 ,6 3 0 fo r t he 2 0 1 9 -2 0 20 s ch o o l y ear.

Th e t ri al co u rt al s o m o d i fi ed Ro s e’ s m o n t h l y ch i l d s u p p o rt o b l i gat i on t o $1 ,0 4 8 an d

award ed Cl ark $ 1 0 ,0 5 0 .4 7 i n at t o rn ey fees . Ro s e n o w ap p eal s

.

1

. Ro s e fi rs t en u m erat es as erro r t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s co n t em p t f i n d i n g as t o h i s

fai l u re t o m eet h i s o b l i g at i o n t o p ay h al f o f t h e ch il d ’ s s ch o ol t u i t i o n as req u i red by

t h e s et tl em en t ag reem en t

. He fo cu s es o n a co l l o q uy d uri n g t h e h eari n g on h i s m o t i o n

fo r n ew t r i a l th at ad d res s ed t h e fact t h at t h e t ui t i o n req u i rem en t was a p art o f t h e

s et t l em en t ag reem en t an d n o t part o f t h e ch i ld s u pp o rt wo rk s h eet

. Bas ed o n t h i s, h e

3arg u es t h at th e t ui ti o n o bl ig a ti o n was m o d ifi ab l e, an d h e s h o u ld n o t b e h el d in

co n tem p t

.

Th i s o verl o o k s th e b as i s fo r t h e co nt em p t fi nd i n g : Ro s e’ s f

a i l u re t o co m

p l y

wi t h t h e d i v o rce d ecree tha t inc or p o rat ed hi s s et tl em en t ag reem en t

. Nei t h er t he d ecree

n o r t h e s et t l em en t a g r e e m e n t h ad b een m o di fi ed

, an d t h e ev i d en ce s u p p ort ed a fi n d i n g

t h at h e fai l ed t o p ay h i s s h are t h e co s t o f pri v at e s ch o o l tu i t i o n

. Becau s e t h e d i v o rce

d ecree i n co rp o r a t e d t he s et t l em en t ag reem en t

, Ro se’ s fai l u re t o co m p l y wi t h t h e

ag reem en t co n s ti t u t ed a v i o l at i o n o f t h e d i vo rce decree, th ereb y ex p o s i n g h i m to

co n tem p t

. 2 Acco rd i n g l y , Ro s e’ s arg u m en t i s m i s p laced

. 3

2

. Ro s e n ex t ch al l en ges t h e u pward ad j u s t m en t o f h i s i n co m e a n d a $ 2 2 5 .3 9

d ev iat i o n i n hi s m o nt hl y ch i l d s u p p o rt o b l ig at i o n

, arg u in g t h at t h is es s en t i al l y s h i ft ed

s o m e o f h i s ex -wi fe’ s t u i t i o n b u rd en b ack t o h i m

. Ro se p o i nt s o u t t h at t h e d ev i at i o n

2 See, e.g

. , Ha r tl ey-S el vey v. Ha r t l ey

, 2 6 1 Ga. 7 0 0, 7 0 1 (4 1 0 SE2 d 1 1 8 ) (1 9 9 1 )

(h o l d i n g t h at d i v o rced p art i es w ere bo u n d b y a p r o v i s i o n o f th ei r set t l em en t

ag reem en t req ui ri n g t hem to sh are co l l eg e t u i t io n ex p en s es ). See al so Ru s ki n v.

AAF-McQu a

y In c.

, 2 9 4 Ga. A p p. 8 4 2

, 8 43 (6 7 0 SE2 d 5 17 ) (2 0 0 8 ) (“ Di s o b ed i en ce to

t h e lawfu l o rd er o f a co u rt is an o b s t ru ct i o n o f j u s t i c e

, an d fo r s u ch a v io lat i o n t h e

co u rt

, i n o rd er t o co m

p el res p ect o r co m

p li an ce, m ay pu n i s h fo r c o n t e m p t .”)

(p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ).

3 See Pa r k-Po a p s v. Po a p s

, 3 5 1 Ga. A p p

. 8 56

, 8 5 9 (1 ) (8 3 3 SE2 d 5 54 ) (2 0 1 9 )

(“ Th e tri al co u rt ’ s d i scret i o n i n co n tem pt m at t ers is bro ad

, an d i t s d eci s i o n w i l l b e

u p h el d i f t here i s an y

ev i d en ce t o s u pp o rt i t .”) (p u n ct u at io n o m i tt ed ).

4was l i s t ed fo r “ e x t r a o rd in ary ed u cat i on al ex p en s es ,” an d th e rat i o n al e l is t ed o n t h e

c h i l d s up p ort sch ed u l e was t h e p art i es ’ o b l i gat i o n to eq u al l y s h are t u i t i o n co s t s

.

In creas in g h is ch il d su p po rt ob l i g at i o n b as ed o n t h e p art i e s ’ t u i t i o n o bl i g at i o n

, h e

arg u es , i s i n co ns i st en t wi t h t h e t erm s o f t h e s et t l em en t ag reem en t.

Pu rs uan t t o OCGA § 1 9 -6 -1 5 (k ) (1 ), a p aren t m ay p et it i o n fo r a

m o d i fi cat i o n o f ch i l d s u pp o rt i f “ t h ere i s a s u b s t an t i al ch an g e i n ei t h er

p aren t ’ s i nco m e an d fi n an ci al st at u s o r t h e n eed s o f t h e ch i l d .” Aft er th e

t ri al co u rt fi n d s s at i s fact o ry p ro o f o f a ch an g e i n fi n an ci al s t at u s, i t m u s t

reco ns i der t h e am o un t o f ch i l d s u p p o rt u nd er th e gu i d el i nes of OCGA

§ 1 9 -6 -1 5 (b ). Hen ce, th e s h o wi n g o f a ch an g e i n t h e p aren t ’ s fi n an ci al

s t at u s o r a ch an g e i n th e n eed s o f t h e ch i l d i s a t h res h o l d req u i rem en t i n

a m o d i fi cat i o n act i o n

. W e rev i ew a t ri al co u rt ’ s ru l i n g o n a m o d i fi cat i o n

p et i t i o n fo r ab us e o f di s cret i o n

, an d we w i ll u ph o l d t h e fact u al fi n d i n g s

u n d erl y i n g t h e ru li n g i f t h ey are s u p po rt ed b y

an y ev i den ce. 4

Here, t h e t ri a l c o u r t fo un d t h at b ot h p aren t s h ad ex p eri en ced a s u b s t an t i al

ch an ge i n t h ei r in c o m e an d fi n an ci al s t at u s. Fo r Ro s e, t h ere w as ev i den ce t h at h i s

i n co m e h ad g o n e fro m ab ou t $ 3 0

, 0 0 0 i n 2 01 4

, t h e y ear o f t h e d i vo rce, to

ap p ro x i m at el y $ 50 ,0 00 i n 2 01 6

, $ 4 8,0 0 0 i n 2 0 1 7

, an d $ 6 0 ,0 0 0 i n 2 0 1 8

. Fo r Cl ark

, t h e

ev i d en ce s h o wed th at s h e h ad s i n ce rem arri ed

, h ad an o t h er ch i l d

, an d q u i t h er

4 (Ci t at i o n s an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ). Id . at 8 6 4 (4 ).

5t each i n g j o b ; t he tri al co u rt i m p u t ed i n co m e t o Cl ark eq u i v al en t t o h er t each er s al ary

.

Th i s ev i d en c e au t ho ri zed t h e t ri al co u rt t o co n cl u d e t h at t h e part i es h ad each

ex p eri en ced a s u b s t an ti al ch an g e i n t h ei r i n co m e an d fi n an ci al s t at u s

. 5

W i t h res p ect t o Ro se’ s arg u m en t t h at t he t ri al co u rt i m p ro p erl y sh i ft ed s o m e

o f t h e t u i t i o n co st t o h i m

, we fi n d n o bas i s fo r rev ers al

. Th e fact t h at t he s et t l em en t

ag reem en t p ro v i d ed t h at t he p art i es wo u l d s p l it t ui t i o n refl ect s t h e p art i es ’ in t en t i o n

“ t o al t er t h e leg al p res u m

p t i o n t h at t h e cu s t o d ial p aren t wo u ld p ay t h at ch i l d -reari n g

ex p en s e.” 6 Ev en so

, un d er t h e ap p l i cab l e s t a t u t o r y s c h em e, t h e “ t ri al co u rt

. . . h as

co n si d erab l e d i s cret i o n to d ev i at e fro m t h e p res u m pt i ve ch i l d s u p p o rt am o un t b as ed

o n t h e m an y s p eci fi c d ev i at i o n s l i s t ed i n t h e g ui d el i n es o r on o t her g ro u n ds

. . . aft er

s u p p o r t i n g a n y d ev i at i o n wi t h wri t t en fi n d i n g s o f fact

. ” 7 T h e d ev i at i on s here were

m ad e b as ed o n t h e fi n d i n g s o f ch an g ed i nco m e an d t h e t ui t io n co s t o f pri v at e s ch o o l

.

Th e ev i d en ce s u pp o rt ed t h es e fi n d i n g s, an d t h e o rd er an d i n co rp orat ed ch i l d s u p p o rt

wo rk s h eet an d s ch ed u l e ad eq u at el y m em o ri al i zed t h e rat i o n al e fo r t h e d ev i at i o n.

5 See i d

. at 8 6 5 (“ [A] t ri al co u rt i s au th o ri zed t o bas e i t s fi nd i n g of a s u b s t an t i al

ch an ge o n an i n creas e i n a p aren t ’ s wag e i n co m e.”).

6 Ha r d ma n v. Ha r d

m a n , 2 9 5 Ga. 7 3 2, 7 3 9 (3 ) (b ) (7 6 3 SE2 d 8 6 1 ) (2 0 1 4 ).

7 Id . at 7 3 7 (3 ) (b ), ci t i n g OCGA § 1 9 -6 -1 5 (c) (2 ) (E), (i ).

6Acco rd in g ly

, t h e t ri al co u rt was a u t h o ri zed t o ex erci se it s di s cret io n b y d ev i at i n g

fro m t h e p res u m

p t i v e ch i l d s u pp o rt am o u n ts

. 8

3

. Fi n al l y

, Ro s e ch al l en ges t he award o f $1 0

, 0 5 0 .4 7 i n at t o rn ey fees t o Cl ark

,

arg u i n g t h at i t w as n ot ad eq u at el y s u p p o rt ed b y s t at ut o ry au t ho ri t y an d fact u al

fi nd i ng s . W e ag ree.

Th e t ri al co u rt ’s o rd er ad d res s ed t h e award i n i t s en t i ret y as fo l l o ws : “ Th e

Co u rt fi n d s [Cl ark ] i n cu rred at t o rn ey [] s fees in t h e am ou n t o f $ 1 0 ,0 5 0 .4 7. Th e Co u rt

award s at t o rn ey [] s fees t o [Cl ark ] t o b e p ai d b y t h e Defen d an t i n t h e to t al am o u n t o f

$ 1 0 ,0 5 0 .4 7 t o b e p ai d wi t h i n n i n et y (9 0) d ay s o f t h e en t ry

o f t h e Fi n al Ord er.”

Th e o rd er m ak es n o fact u al fi n d i ng s t o s u p p o rt t h e award

, no r d o es i t s p eci fy

a s tat u t o ry b as i s. W e n o t e t h at Cl ark ’ s an s wer t o Ro s e’ s p et i t i o n f o r co n t em

pt

co n tai n ed a co u n t ercl ai m fo r at t o rn ey

fees u n d er OCGA § 9 -1 5 -1 4 , b u t

wh en a t ri al co u rt ex erci s es i t s d i s cret i o n i n as s es s i n g at t o rn ey fees an d

co s t s of l i t i g at i o n un d er OCGA § 9

- 1 5

- 14

, it i s i n cu m b en t up o n th e

co u rt t o s p eci fy t h e co n d u ct u p on wh i ch t h e award i s m a d e

. . . .

Fu rt h e r m o r e

, an o rd er award i n g at t o rn ey fees p u rs u an t to t h i s st at ut e

8 See Jo h ns o n v. Jo h ns o n

, _ _ Ga. Ap p

. _

_ (2 ) (Cas e N o . A2 0 A 2 0 6 1 , d eci d ed

M ar. 2

, 2 0 2 1 ). Cf. Ha r d

ma n

, 2 95 Ga. at 7 3 9 (3 ) (b ) (n o t in g t h at a paren t co u l d s eek

m o di fi cat i o n o f a ch i l d s u pp o rt o rd er i f a s u b st an t i al fi n an ci al ch an g e m ad e t h e

arran g em en t fro m o ri g i n al d i v o rce d ecree an d s et t l em en t ag reem en t u n t en ab l e).

7m

u s t s p eci fi cal l y s t at e wh et h er t h e award i s m ad e u n d er OCGA § 9 -1 5

-

1 4 (a) o r (b ). 9

Al t ern at i v el y

, t h e co u rt co u l d h av e m ad e t h e award u n d er OCGA § 1 9 -6 -2

,

wh i ch au t h o ri zes fees in d i v orce an d al i m o n y co n t em p t cas es “ t o l ev el th e fi n an ci al

p l ay i n g fi el d s o t h at b o t h p art i es can affo rd effect iv e rep res en tat i on b as ed o n t h ei r

rel at i v e fi n an ci al ci rcu m s t an ces .” 1 0 Bu t ag ai n , wh en award in g fees u n d er t h i s Co d e

s ec t i o n

, a t r i al co u rt m

u s t “ m ak e fi n d i n g s o f fact reg ard i n g t h e rel at i v e fi n an ci al

ci rcu m s t an ces of each part y

, o r o t h erwi s e cau se t he reco rd t o s h ow t h at s u ch had b een

p ro p erl y co n s i d ered .” 1 1 Acco rd i n g l y , b ecau s e

n ei t h er t h e s t a t u t o r y bas i s fo r t h e award n o r t he fi n di n gs n eces s ary t o

s u p p o rt an award i s s tat ed i n th e o rd er[,] an d [b ecau s e] a rev i ew o f t he

reco rd d o es n o t rev eal t he b as i s o f th e award , t h e cas e i s rem an d ed fo r

9 Ki n s al a v. Ha i r

, 3 2 4 Ga. Ap p

. 1

, 3 (1 ) (7 47 SE2 d 8 8 7 ) (2 0 13 ) (v acat i n g an d

rem an di n g fee award t h at was ap p aren t l y b as ed o n OCGA § 9 -1 5 -1 4

, b ecau s e t h e t ri al

co u rt “ fai l ed t o m ak e ex p res s fi n d i n g s o f fact o r co n cl u s i o n s o f l aw as t o t h e st at u t o ry

b as i s fo r [t he] award ”).

1 0 W i n ch el l v. W in ch el l , 3 5 2 Ga. Ap p . 3 0 6 , 3 1 1 (2 ) (8 3 5 SE2 d 6 ) (2 0 1 9 ).

1 1 Amo a ku h v. Is s a ka

, 29 9 Ga. 1 3 2 , 1 3 4 (3 ) (7 8 6 SE2 d 6 7 8) (2 01 6 ) (v acat i n g

an d rem an d i n g fee award m ad e u n der OCGA § 1 9-6 -2 t h at was n o t s u p p o rt ed by

fact ual fi n d i n g s co n cern i n g p art i es ’ rel at i v e fi n an ci al ci rcu m s t an ces ).

8an ex pl an at i o n o f t h e s t at u t ory b a s i s an d t h e en t ry o f an y fi n d i n g s

n eces s ary t o s u p p ort i t

. 1 2

Ju d g men t a f f i r m ed i n p a r t a nd va ca t ed i n p ar t

, an d ca s e r ema n d

ed

. Rees e a n d

Br o wn , JJ., co n cu r

.

1 2 Vi s ku p v. Vi s ku p

, 2 9 1 Ga. 1 0 3

, 10 6 (3 ) (7 27 SE2 d 9 7 ) (2 0 12 ); s ee al s o Ha l l

v. Ha l l , 3 3 5 Ga. Ap p . 2 0 8 , 2 1 1-2 1 3 (2 ) (7 8 0 SE2 d 7 8 7 ) (2 0 1 5 ).

9