FI RST DI VI SI ON

BA RNES, P. J.

, GOBEI L and M A RKLE, 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 84 7

. FIRST M E R I T CREDIT SERVICES v

. FAIRW AY

AVIATION, LLC et

al

.

B A R N E S , Pres i d i n g J ud g e.

Fi rs t M eri t Cred i t Serv i ces ap p eal s t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s o rd er d en y i n g i t s p et i t i o n

fo r s ci re faci as t o rev iv e a d o rm an t fo rei g n j u d gm en t o n th e g ro u n d t h at t h e p et i t i o n

was t i m e-b arred

. Acco rd i n g t o Fi rs t M eri t, t h e t ri al co u rt fai l ed t o co n si der an en t ry

o n t he g en eral e x e c u t i o n d o ck et t h at i t al l eg es res t art ed t h e ap p l i cab l e l i m i t at i on s

p eri o d . Fi rs t M eri t al s o co n ten d s t h at t he l i m i t at i o ns p eri o d was t o l l ed fo r 1 2 2 d ay s

b as ed o n t h e em erg en cy o rd er i s s u ed b y t h e Ch i ef Ju s t i ce o f t h e Geo r g i a S u p r em e

Co u rt i n res p o n se t o t h e COVID-1 9 p an d em ic an d t h e ex ten s i o n s o f t h at o rd er. Fo r

t h e reas o n s d i s cu s sed b el ow, we v acat e t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s ord er an d rem an d fo r fu rt h er

p ro ceed in g s co n s is t en t wi t h t h i s o p in i o n.Th e rel ev an t fact s are u nd i s pu t ed

. O n D ecem b er 1 4

, 2 0 0 9

, t h e U n i t ed St at es

Di s t ri ct Co u rt fo r t h e No rt h ern Di s t ri ct o f Oh i o en t ered ju d g m en t i n fav o r o f Fi rs t

M eri t an d ag ai ns t Fai rway Av i at i o n

, LLC, M at t h ew C. Gi l l ey

, Pat ri ck Cl ay Gi l l e y,

an d Pas ch al Gi l l ey

, Jr. ( c o ll ect i v el y

, t he “ d efen dan t s ”) i n t h e p ri n ci pal am o u n t o f

$ 1 ,2 7 6 ,6 5 7 .8 6 (t h e “ Oh i o J u d g m en t ”). Fi rs t M eri t s ub s eq u en t ly fi l ed a p et i t i o n i n t h e

Su p eri o r Co u rt o f Fay et te Co u n t y t o d om es t i cat e t h e Oh i o J u dg m en t u n d er t h e

Un i fo rm En fo rcem en t o f Fo rei gn J u d g m en t s L aw (“ U EFJ L”), O CGA § 9 -1 2 -1 3 0 et

s eq

., an d t h e t ri al co u rt g ran t ed t h e pet i t io n an d d o m es t i cat ed t h e ju dg m en t o n Au g u s t

1 3

, 2 0 1 0

. Th e t ri a l co u rt d i rect ed t h e cl erk o f co u rt t o i s s u e a wri t of fi eri faci as

,

wh i ch t h e c l e r k i s s u ed

. Th e wri t o f fi eri faci as was reco rd ed o n t h e Fay et t e Co u n t y

g en eral ex ecu t i on d o ck et o n Oct o ber 1 8

, 2 0 1 0

.

On Oct o b er 2 3 , 2 02 0

, Fi rs t Meri t fi l ed a pet i t i o n fo r s ci re faci as t o rev i v e t h e

Oh i o Ju d g m en t i n t he Su peri o r Co u rt o f Fay et t e Co u n t y

. 1 Fi ve d ay s l at er, o n Oct o b er

2 8

, 2 0 2 0

, t he t ri al co u rt den i ed t h e pet i t io n

. In i t s o rd er, t h e t ri al co u rt co n cl u d ed t h at

t h e p et i t io n was ti m e-b arred un d er OCGA § § 9

- 12 -6 0 an d 9-1 2 -6 1 b ecau s e t h e

1 Fi rs t M eri t p rev i o u s l y fi l ed a p et i t io n f o r s c i r e f a ci as t hat was v o l u n t ari l y

d i s m i s s ed b efo re s erv i ce was p erfect ed

. Th at p ri o r p et i t i o n i s n o t at i s s u e i n t h i s

ap p eal

. Fi rs t M eri t d o es no t co n t en d t h at i t s Oct o b er 2 3 pet i t i on co ns t i t u t ed a ren ewal

o f i t s p ri o r p et i t i o n u n der OCGA § 9 -2 -6 1 (a).

2l i m i tat i on s p eri od fo r en fo rci n g t h e O h i o Ju d gm en t ex p i red o n Decem b er 1 4

, 2 0 1 9,

t en y ears aft er t h e fo rei g n ju d g m en t was ren d ered

. T h i s ap p eal b y Fi rs t M eri t

fo l l o w ed

.

1

. As an i ni t i al m at t er, t h e d efen d an t s co nt en d t hat Fi rs t M eri t ’ s ap p eal s h o u ld

b e d i s m is s ed as u n t im el y

. Al th o u g h t h e d efen d an t s d i d n o t fi le a s ep arat e m o t i o n to

d i s m i s s th e ap p eal as req u i red b y o u r ru l es

, 2 “ [i ] f t h i s Co u rt fi n d s t hat i t h a s n o

ju ri s d i ct i o n o v er an ap p eal

, i t h as t h e au t h o ri t y t o d i s m i s s t h e ap p eal o n i t s o wn

m o ti o n

. ” Tr ey In ma n & A s s o c. v. Ba n k o f Amer i ca

, N. A.

, 3 0 6 G a. Ap p

. 4 5 1

, 4 5 5 (1 )

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

In g en eral

, a n ot i ce o f ap p eal m u st be fi l ed wi t h i n 30 d ay s aft er en t ry o f t h e

ju d g m en t s o u g h t t o b e ap p eal ed

. OCGA § 5 -6 -3 8 (a); Ad ams v. S t a t e

, 2 34 Ga. Ap p.

6 9 6

, 6 96 (1 ) (5 0 7 SE2 d 5 3 8 ) (1 9 9 8 )

. “ Th e t i m el y fi l i ng o f a n o t i ce o f ap p eal i s an

ab s o lu t e req u i rem en t t o co n fer ju ri sd i ct io n on t hi s Co u rt

. It fo l l ows th at

, i f no p ro p er

an d t i m el y n o t i ce o f ap p eal h as b een fi led

, t h en we m u s t d i s m i s s t h e ap p eal fo r l ack

o f ju ri s d i ct i o n

. ” (Ci t at i on s an d pu n ct uat i o n om i t t ed .) Ha rn ed v. Pi ed m ont H e a l t h ca r e

2 See Co u rt o f Ap p eal s Ru le 4 1 (b ) (“ Al l m o t i o n s an d res p on s es t o m o t i o n s s h al l

b e fi l ed as s ep arat e d o cu m en t s

, an d n ot as jo i nt

, c o m p o u n d

, or al t ern at i v e m o t i o n s

. No m o t i o n s o r res p on s es t o m o ti o n s s h al l b e fi l ed i n t h e b o d y o f b ri efs

, ap p l i cat i o n s

,

o r res po n s es t o ap p l i cat i o n s. . . .”).

3Fo u nd

a ti o n , 3 5 6 Ga. Ap p . 8 70 , 8 7 1 -8 7 2 (8 4 9 SE2 d 7 2 6 ) (2 0 20 ).

Fi rs t M eri t fi l ed i t s n ot i ce o f ap p eal o n No v em b er 2 4

, 20 2 0

, wi t h i n 3 0 d ay s o f

e n try of t h e tri al co u rt ’ s o rd er d en y i n g i t s s ci re faci as p et i t i o n

. Ho wev er, t h e

d efen d an t s co n t en d t h at t h e n o t i ce was v o id an d fat al l y d efect i v e b ecau s e i t l i s t ed t h e

wro ng s u p eri o r co u rt cas e n u m b er. W e d i s ag ree.

Pu rs uan t t o OCGA § 5 -6 -3 7, a no t i ce o f ap p eal s h o u l d i n cl u d e

, a m o n g o t h er

t h i n g s

, “ th e t i t l e an d do ck et n u m b er o f t h e cas e” an d “ a co n ci s e s t at em en t o f t h e

ju d g m en t

, ru l i ng

, o r ord er en t i t l i n g t h e ap p el l an t to t ak e an ap p eal .” 3 Bu t th e ru l es o f

ap p el l at e p ract i ce “ s h al l b e l i beral l y co n s tru ed s o as t o b ri ng ab o u t a d eci si o n o n t h e

3 OCGA § 5 -6 -3 7 p ro v i d es i n p art :

Un l es s o t h erwi s e pro v i d ed b y l aw, an ap peal m ay b e t ak en t o th e

S up rem e Co u rt o r t h e Co u rt o f Ap p eal s b y fi l i n g wi t h t h e cl erk o f t h e

c o u r t wh erei n t h e cas e was d et erm i ned a n o t i ce o f ap p eal

. Th e n o t i c e

s h a l l s et fo rt h th e t i t l e an d d o ck et n u m b er o f t h e cas e; t h e n a m e o f t h e

ap p el l an t an d th e nam e an d ad d res s o f h is at to rn ey ; a co n ci s e s t at em en t

o f t h e j u dg m en t

, ru li n g, o r o rd er en t i tl i ng th e ap p el l an t to t ak e an ap p eal ;

t h e co urt ap p eal ed t o ; a d es i g n at i o n o f t ho s e po rt i o n s of t he reco rd t o be

o m i t t ed fro m t he reco rd o n ap p eal ; [an d ] a co n ci se s t at em en t as t o wh y

t h e ap p el l at e co u rt ap p eal ed t o h as j u ri s d i ct i o n rat h er th an t h e o t h er

ap p el l at e co u rt [.]

. . . Th e ap p eal s hal l n o t b e d i s m i s s e d n o r d en ied

co n s i d erat i o n b ecau s e o f fai l u re t o i n cl u d e th e ju ri s d i ct i o nal s t at em en t

o r b ecau s e o f a d es i g n at i on o f t h e wro n g ap p el l at e co u rt

. In ad d i t i o n

, th e

n o t i ce sh al l s t at e wh et h er o r n o t an y t ran scri p t o f ev i d e n c e an d

p ro ceed i n g s i s t o b e t ran s m i tt ed as a p art o f t h e reco rd o n ap p eal

. . . .

4m eri t s o f ev ery cas e ap p eal ed an d t o av o i d d i sm i s sal of an y cas e or refu s al t o co n s i d er

an y p o i n ts rai s ed t h erei n .” OCGA § 5 -6 -3 0 . To t h at en d

,

[w] h ere i t i s a p p a r en t fro m t h e no t i ce o f ap p eal

, t h e reco rd

, th e

en u m erat i o n o f e r r o rs

, o r an y co m b i n at i o n o f th e fo reg o i n g

, wh at

ju d g m en t or ju d g m en t s were ap p eal ed fro m o r wh at erro rs are s o u g h t t o

b e as s ert ed u p o n ap p eal

, t h e ap p eal s hal l b e co n s i dered i n acco rd an ce

t h erewi th n o t wi t h s t an d in g t h at t h e n o ti ce o f a p p e al fai l s t o s p eci fy

d efi n i t el y t he ju d g m en t ap p eal ed fro m o r t h at t h e en um erat io n o f erro rs

fai l s t o en u m erat e cl earl y t h e erro rs s o u g h t t o b e rev i ewed

. . . . .

OCGA § 5 -6 -4 8 (f). M o reo v er, i f a n ot i ce o f a p peal co n tai n s an i n co rrect cas e

n u m b er, wh ere “ t he p ro p er reco rd an d t ran s cri p t h av e b ee n t r a n s m i t t ed t o u s

,

i n d i cat i n g t h at t h e p ro bl em was co rrect ed i n t h e l o wer co urt ,” we w i l l n o t d is m i s s t h e

ap p eal

. G o r d

on v. W el d o n

, 1 54 Ga. Ap p

. 5 3 1

, 5 3 2 (1 ) (2 6 8 SE2 d 7 9 6 ) (1 98 0 ). See

S t a t e v. Jo n es , 2 8 3 Ga. Ap p . 5 3 9 , 5 39 , n . 1 (6 4 2 SE2 d 1 8 3 ) (2 0 0 7 ).

Al t h ou g h Fi rs t M eri t ’ s n o t i ce o f ap p eal s p eci fi ed t h e w ro n g s up eri o r co u rt cas e

n u m b er, t h e n o t i ce i n cl u d ed t h e co rrect t i tl e of t h e cas e, accu rat e l y r e c i t e d t h at t h e

t ri al co u rt ’ s Oct o b er 28

, 2 0 2 0 o rd er d en yi n g t h e s ci re faci as p et i t i o n was t h e o rd er

fro m wh i ch ap p eal was b ei n g s o u g h t

, an d o t h erwi s e co m pl i ed wi t h OCGA § 5 -6 -3 7.

Th e p ro p er reco rd al s o was t ran s m i t t ed t o t h i s Co u rt

. Fu rt h erm o re, i t i s o b v i o u s fro m

t h e no t i c e o f ap p eal

, en um erat i o n o f erro r, an d u n d erl y i n g reco rd t hat Fi rs t M eri t

5s o u g ht t o ap p eal t h e Oct o b er 2 8 o rd er. Acco rd i ng l y, i n c l u s i o n o f t h e erro n eo u s

s u p eri o r co u rt cas e n u m

ber i n th e n o t ice o f ap p eal cl earl y was n o t a fat al d efect an d

d i d no t n eces s it at e d i s m i s sal

. See O CGA § § 5 -6 -3 0 ; 5 -6 -4 8 (f); Jo n es

, 2 8 3 G a. Ap p.

at 5 3 9

, n

. 1 (i n cl us i on o f wro n g cas e nu m ber d i d no t ren d er th e ap p eal su b ject to

d i s m i s s al ); Go r do n , 1 5 4 Ga. Ap p . at 5 3 2 (1 ) (s am e).

In an y ev en t

, Fi rs t M eri t l at er am en d ed it s n ot i ce o f a p p eal t o co rrect t h e

erro neo u s s u p eri o r co u rt cas e n u m b er. “ If an erro r ap p ears i n t h e n ot i ce o f ap p eal

, t h e

co u rt s h al l al l o w t h e n o t ice of ap p eal t o b e am en d ed at an y t i m e p ri o r t o ju d g m en t to

p erfect t h e ap p eal s o t h a t t h e ap p el l at e co u rt can an d wi l l p as s u p o n t h e ap p eal an d

n o t d i s m i s s i t .” OCGA § 5-6 -4 8 (d ). Hen ce, Fi rs t M eri t ’ s a p p e a l was no t s u b ject to

d i s m i s s al fo r t he ad d i t i o nal reas o n t h at i t s n o t i ce o f ap p eal was p ro p erl y am en d ed to

cu re t he d efect . See In r e Bu rt o n

, 2 7 1 Ga. 4 9 1

, 4 9 2 -4 9 3 (1 ) (5 2 1 SE2 d 5 6 8 ) (1 9 9 9 )

(d en y i n g m o t i on t o d i sm i s s ap p eal

, wh ere o ri g i n al n o t i ce o f ap p eal fai l ed to s p eci fy

d efi n i t el y t he o rd er t h at was t h e ap p eal ab l e j u d gm en t, b u t am en d ed n ot ice o f ap p eal

co rrect ed t h e erro r); Ad

a ms v. S t a t e

, 2 3 4 Ga. Ap p

. 6 9 6

, 6 9 6 (1 ) (5 07 SE2 d 5 3 8 )

(1 9 9 8) (reject i n g arg u m e nt t h at ap peal sh o ul d b e d i s m i s s ed as u nt i m el y

, wh ere

o ri g i nal n o t i ce o f ap p eal was t i m el y fi l ed b u t d es i gn at ed t he wro n g ap p el l at e co u rt

,

an d ap p el l an t am en d ed t h e n o ti ce o f ap peal t o co rrect t h e i n accu racy ).

6Fo r t h es e reas o n s

, t h e d efen d an t s ’ arg u m en t th a t t h e ap p eal s h o u l d b e

d i s m i s s ed i s wi t h ou t m eri t

.

2

. Fi rs t M eri t co n t en d s t hat t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n d en y i n g i t s p et it i on fo r s ci re

faci as o n t h e g ro u n d t hat en fo rcem en t o f t h e Oh i o Ju d gm en t was t im e-b arred u n d er

OCGA § § 9 -1 2 -6 0 an d 9 -1 2 -61.

Ti t l e 9

, Ch ap t er 1 2

, Art i cl e 3 o f t h e Geo rg i a Co d e ad d res s es t h e d o rm an cy an d

rev i v al o f ju d g m en t s

. Mo re s p e ci fi cal l y

, OCGA § 9-1 2 -6 0 (a) pro v i des t h at a

ju d g m en t b eco m es d o rm an t an d u n en fo rceab l e:

(1 ) W h en s ev en y ears s h a l l el ap s e aft er t h e ren di t i o n of th e

ju d g m en t b efo re ex ecu t i o n i s i ss u ed th ereo n an d i s en t e r e d o n th e

g en eral ex ecu t i o n d ock et o f t h e co u n t y i n w h i ch t h e ju d g m en t w as

ren d ered ;

(2 ) Un l es s en try i s m ad e o n t h e ex ecu t i on by an o ffi cer au t h ori zed

t o lev y an d ret u rn t h e s am e an d t h e en t ry an d th e d at e t h ereo f are en t ered

b y t he cl erk o n th e g en eral ex ecu t i o n d o c k e t wi t h i n s ev en y ears aft er

i s su an ce o f t h e ex ecu t i o n an d i t s reco rd ; o r

(3 ) U n les s a b on a fi d e p u b l i c effo rt o n t h e p art o f t h e p l ai n t i ff i n

ex ecu t i on t o en fo rce t h e ex ecu t i o n in t h e co u rt s is m ad e an d d u e wri t ten

n o t i ce o f s uch effo rt s p eci fy i n g t he t im e o f t h e i n s t i t ut i o n o f t h e act i o n

o r p ro ceed i n g s

, t h e n at u re t h ereo f, t he nam es o f th e p art i es t heret o, an d

t h e n am e o f t h e co urt i n w h i c h i t i s p en d i n g i s fi l ed b y t h e p lai n t i ff i n

7ex ecu t i on o r h is at t o rn ey at law wi t h t h e cl erk an d i s en t ered by t h e cl erk

o n t h e g en eral ex ecu t io n d o ck et

, al l at s uch t im es an d p eri o d s t h at s ev en

y ears wi l l n o t el ap s e b et ween su ch en t ri es o f s u ch no t i ces o r b et w een

s u ch an en t ry an d a p ro p er en t ry m ad e as p res cri b ed i n p arag rap h (2 ) o f

t h i s s u b sect i o n

.

En t ry o n t h e g en eral e x e c u t i on d o ck et i n acco rd an ce w i t h parag rap h (1 ), (2 ), o r (3 )

o f OCGA § 9 -1 2 -6 0 (a) “ s h al l i n s ti t u t e a n ew s ev en -y ear p eri o d wi th in wh i ch t h e

j u d g m e n t s h al l no t b eco m e do rm an t .” O CGA § 9 -1 2 -6 0 (b ). 4 See Co rz o Tr u cki n g

Co r p . v. W es t , 2 9 6 Ga. Ap p

. 3 9 9

, 4 0 1 (1 ) (6 7 4 SE2 d 4 14 ) (2 0 0 9) (p oi n ti n g o u t t h at

“ a ju d g m en t be c o m es d o rm an t s ev en y ears fro m t h e d at e o f t h e l as t en t ry u p o n t h e

ex ecu t i o n d o ck et ”). On ce a ju dg m en t beco m es do rm an t

, OCGA § 9 -1 2 -6 1 p ro v i d es

t h at t h e ju d g m en t “ m ay b e ren ewed o r rev i v ed b y an act io n o r b y s ci re faci as

, at t h e

o p t i o n of t h e ho l d er o f t h e ju d g m en t

, wi t h i n t hree y ears fro m t h e t im e i t b eco m es

4 OCGA § 9 -1 2 -6 0 (b ) p ro v i d es :

Th e reco rd o f th e ex ecu t i o n m ad e as p res cri b ed i n p arag rap h (1 )

o f s u b s ect i o n (a) of t h i s Co d e s ect i o n o r of ev ery en t ry as p res cri b ed i n

p arag rap h (2 ) o r (3 ) o f s ub s ect i o n (a) of t h i s Co d e s ect i o n s h al l i n s t i t ut e

a n ew s ev en

- ye ar p eri o d wi t h i n wh i ch t h e ju d g m en t s h al l no t b eco m e

d o rm an t, p ro v id e d t h at wh en an en t ry o n t h e ex ecu ti o n o r a wri t ten

n o t i ce o f p u b l i c effo rt i s fi l ed fo r reco rd

, t he ex ecu t i o n s h al l b e reco rd ed

o r rereco rd ed on th e g en eral ex ecu t i o n d ock et wi t h al l en t ri es t h ereo n

. It s h al l n o t b e n eces s ary i n o rd er t o p r ev en t d o rm an cy t h at s u ch

ex ecu t i on b e en t ered o r s u ch en t ry b e reco rd ed o n an y o t h er d o ck et

.

8d o rm an t .” 5 OCGA §§ 9-1 2 -6 0 an d 9 -1 2 -6 1 t h erefo re “ o p erat e i n t an d em as a t en -y ear

s t at u te o f l i m i t at i o n fo r t h e en fo rcem en t o f Geo rg i a ju dg m en t s,” s u ch t hat “ al t h o u g h

a ju d g m en t b eco m es d o rm an t s e v e n ye ars fro m th e d at e o f t h e l as t en t ry u p o n t h e

ex ecu t i o n d o ck et

, i t d o es n o t ex p i re u n t i l t en y ears a f t e r th at d at e.” (Ci tat i o n s an d

p u n ct u at i o n om i t t ed .) Au t o mo ti ve Cr ed i t Co r p. v. W h i t e

, 3 4 4 Ga. Ap p

. 3 2 1, 3 2 3 (8 1 0

SE2 d 1 66 ) (2 0 1 8 ). See Co r z o Tr u cki n g Co r

p

. v. W es t

, 2 8 1 G a

. A p p

. 3 6 1

, 3 6 2 -3 6 3

(6 3 6 SE2 d 3 9 ) (2 0 0 6 ).

Th e fact t h at t h i s cas e i n v o lv es an Oh i o ju dg m en t

, wh i ch was l at er fi l ed i n t h e

s u p e ri or co u rt

, d o es n ot ch an g e o u r an al y s i s

. U n d er t h e UEFJ L, “ [a] fi l ed fo r e i g n

ju d g m en t h as t h e s am e effe c t an d i s s u b ject to t h e s am e p ro ced u res

, d efen s es

, an d

p ro ceed in g s fo r reo p en i n g

, v acat i ng

, st ay i n g

, en fo rci n g

, o r s at i s fy i n g as a ju d g m en t

o f t h e co u rt i n wh i ch i t i s fi led an d m ay b e en fo rced o r s a t i s fi ed i n li k e m an n er.”

OCGA § 9 -1 2 -1 3 2

. 6

5 “ A s ci re faci as res em

bl es a s u m

m o n s an d d i rect s t h e d efen d an t t o ap p ear i n t h e

i s su i ng co u rt o n a cert ai n d at e an d t o s h o w cau se wh y th e i d en t i fi ed ju d g m en t s h o u ld

n o t be rev i v ed an d an e x e c u t i o n b e is s u ed .” Po p ha m v. Jo r da n

, 2 7 8 Ga. Ap p

. 2 5 4,

2 5 4 -2 5 5 (1 ) (6 2 8 SE2 d 6 6 0 ) (2 0 0 6 ).

6 A “ fo rei g n ju d g m en t ” u n d er t h e UEFJ L i n cl u d es a j u d gm en t en t ered b y a fed eral

d i s t ri ct co u rt i n a d i fferen t s t at e t h at i s s u b s e q u e n t ly fi l ed i n a Geo rg i a co u rt

. See

OCGA § 9 -1 2 -1 3 1 (“ A s u s ed i n t h i s art i c l e

, t h e t erm “ fo rei g n ju dg m en t ” m ean s a

ju d g m en t

, d ecree, o r o rd er o f a co u rt of t h e U n i t e d S t at es o r o f an y ot h er co u rt t h at

9Th e UEFJ L t h u s p ro v i d es a su m m ary p ro ced u re fo r en d owi n g a fi led

fo rei g n ju d g m e n t w i t h t h e sam e effect as a ju d g m en t o f t h e co u rt i n

wh i ch i t i s fi led

. It i s n o t a n ew act i o n b u t m erel y p ick s u p wh ere i t w as

l eft o ff i n t h e s t at e wh ere ren d ered

. An y l it i gat i on en s u i n g is l i m i t ed t o

t h at wh i ch i s affo rd ed an y o t h er Geo rg i a ju d g m en t.

(Ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed .) Co rz o Tr u cki n g Co r p

. , 2 8 1 Ga. Ap p

. at 3 6 2

. See

W r ig h t v. Tr

. Co

. Ba n k

, 21 9 G a

. A p p

. 5 5 1

, 5 5 2 (4 6 6 SE2 d 7 4 ) (1 9 9 5 ) (fo rei g n

ju d g m en t fi l ed i n acco rd an ce wi t h t h e UEFJ L “ s t an d s i n t h e s am e s h o es as a ju d g m en t

o f th e co u rt i n w h ich i t i s fi l ed ”). Hen ce, t h e li m i tat i o n s p eri o d i m p o s ed b y OCGA § §

9 -1 2 -6 0 an d 9 -1 2 -6 1 ap p li es t o fi l ed fo rei g n ju d g m en t s an d “ b eg i n s t o ru n wh en t h e

fo rei gn ju d g m en t i s ren d ered

. To h o l d o t h erwi s e wo u ld m ean t h at t h e fo rei g n

ju d g m en t wo u ld n o t h av e t h e s am e effect as a Geo rg i a ju d g m en t or b e s u b ject t o t h e

s am e d efen s es as a Geo rg i a ju dg m en t [

. ]” ( Ci t at i o n s an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed .)

Au t o m o t i ve Cr ed i t Co r

p

. , 3 4 4 Ga. Ap p . at 3 2 3

. See Co rz o Tr u cki ng Co r p

. , 2 8 1 Ga.

Ap p

. at 3 6 4. A cco rd i n g l y, a f o r e i g n ju d gm en t fi l ed i n Geo rg i a u n d er th e UEFJ L i s

ex t i n g u i s h ed t en y ears aft er i t was ren d ered i f t h ere h as been nei t her an en try o n t h e

g en eral ex ecu t io n d o ck et un d er OCGA § 9 -1 2 -6 0 (a) n o r a ren ewal u n d er OCGA §

i s en t i t l ed t o fu l l fai t h an d cred i t i n t h i s s t at e.”).

109 -1 2 -6 1

. Au t o mo t ive Cr ed i t Co r p

. , 3 4 4 Ga. A p p

. at 3 2 3 ; Co r z o Tr u cki n g Co r

p

. , 2 8 1

Ga. Ap p . at 3 6 4

.

In th e p res en t cas e, th e t ri al co u rt

, i n d en y i n g Fi rs t Meri t ’ s s ci re faci as p et i t i o n

s eek i n g t o en fo rce t h e Oh i o J u dg m en t as t i m e-b arred , reas o n ed as fo l l o ws :

Th e Co urt ’ s rev i ew o f t h e reco rd i n t h e o ri g i n al cas e s h o w s t h at th e

[Oh i o J u d g m en t ] w a s ren d ered o n D ecem b er 1 4

, 2 0 0 9

. . . [T] h e s ev en

(7 ) y ear d orm an cy cl o ck b eg an co un t i n g d own i m m ed i at el y t h ereaft er.

T h e reco rd i n t hat cas e

. . . d o es n o t s ho w an “ en t ry

. . . m a d e o n t h e

ex ecu t i o n b y

an o ffi cer au t h o ri zed t o l ev y an d ret u rn t h e s am e an d th e

en t ry an d t h e d at e t h e r e o f

. . . en t ered b y t h e cl erk o n t h e gen eral

ex ecu t i on d o ck et

. . .” as s et fo rt h in OCGA § 9 -1 2 -6 0 (a) (2 ). No r d o es

i t s h o w a “ b o n a fi d e p u b l i c effo rt o n t h e p art o f th e p l ai nt i ff in ex ecu t i o n

t o en fo rce t h e ex ecu t i o n i n t h e co u rt s

. . . an d d u e wri t t en n o t i ce o f s u ch

effo rt sp eci fy i n g t h e t i m e o f t h e i n s t it u t i on o f th e act i o n o r pro ceed i n gs

,

t h e n at u re th ereo f, t h e n am es o f t he part i es t h eret o

, an d t he n am e o f th e

co u rt i n wh i ch i s i t p en d in g i s fi l ed

. . . wi t h t h e cl erk an d i s en t ered b y

t h e cl e rk o n t h e g en eral ex ecu t i o n d o ck et ” as s p eci fi ed i n OCGA §

9 -1 2 -6 0 (a) (3 ). W i t ho u t p ro o f of t h o s e e v e n t s d em on s t rat ed o n th e

reco rd

, t h e d o m es t icat ed ju dg m en t b ecam e v acan t ex act l y s ev en (7 )

y ears aft er en t ry

[o f t h e Oh i o J u d g m en t ] , o n Decem b er 1 4

, 2 0 1 6

.

By an d t h ro u g h O CGA § 9 -1 2-6 1

, [Fi rs t M eri t ] h ad th e o p t i o n o f

s eek in g t o ren ew or rev i v e t h e act i o n u n ti l Decem b er 1 4

, 2 01 9

. [Fi rs t

M eri t ] d i d n o t d o s o

. . . .

11On ap p eal

, Fi rs t M eri t co n t en d s t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n co n cl u d i n g t h at t h e

l i m i tat i on s p eri o d fo r en fo rci ng t h e Oh i o Ju d gm en t b eg an on Decem b er 14

, 2 0 0 9 an d

ex p ired on Decem

b er 1 4

, 20 1 9

. Rat h er, Fi rs t M eri t arg u es th at p urs u an t t o OCGA §

9 -1 2 -6 0 (a) (1 ), th e i n i t i al sev en -y ear d o rm an cy p eri o d res t art ed o n Oct o b er 1 8

, 2 0 1 0

b ecau s e o n t h at d at e, t he wri t o f fi eri faci as (i .e., wri t of ex ecu t i o n) 7 t h at Fi rs t M eri t

o b t ai n ed fro m t h e s u p eri o r co u rt cl erk was en t ered on Fay et t e Co un t y ’ s g en eral

ex ecu t i o n do ck e t

. S ee OCGA § 9 -1 2-6 0 (a) (1 ), (b ); A u t omo ti ve Cr ed i t Co r p

. , 3 4 4

Ga. Ap p

. at 32 3 (d o rm an cy p eri o d ex p i res i f s ev en y ears el ap s e “ b efo re ex ecu t i o n i s

i s su ed t h ereo n an d i s en t ered o n t h e gen eral ex ecu ti o n d ock et ”) (ci tat i o n an d

p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ); Ta

yl o r v. Pea ch b el t P ro

p er t i es

, 2 9 3 Ga. Ap p. 3 3 5

, 3 3 9 (2 ) (6 6 7

SE2 d 1 1 7 ) (2 0 0 8 ) (ju d g m en t b ecam e d o rm a n t “ u p o n t h e ex p i rat i o n o f sev en y ears

aft er t h e i s s u an ce o f t h e w r i t o f ex ecu t i o n an d i ts reco rd at io n ”). Fi rs t M eri t

ack n owl ed ges t h at ten y ears fro m t h e en try m ad e o n t h e g en eral ex ecu t i o n d o ck et fel l

7 “ A wri t o f fi eri faci as an d an ex ecu t i o n are s y n o n y m o u s i n Geo rg i a l a w

. Ex ecu t io n s are i s s u ed fo r t h e pu rp o s e o f au th o ri zi n g s h eri ffs an d th ei r lawfu l d ep u ti es

t o p ro ceed wi t h l ev y o n real an d p ers on al p ro p ert y

. ” (Ci t at i o n s o m i tt ed .) B l a ck v.

Bl a ck

, 2 45 Ga. 28 1

, 2 8 2 ( 2 ) ( 2 6 4 S E2 d 2 1 6 ) (1 9 8 0 ). “ Su ch a wri t i s ‘ [a] wri t o f

ex ecu t i o n co m

m an d i n g t h e s heri ff t o l ev y an d m ak e t h e am o u n t o f a ju d g m en t fro m

t h e go o d s an d ch at t el s o f t h e j u d g m en t d eb t o r.’ ” Ba n k So u t h

, N.A. v. R o s w e l l Jeep

Ea g le

, 20 0 Ga. Ap p

. 48 9

, 4 92 (4 ) (4 0 8 SE2 d 5 03 ) ( 1 9 9 1 ), q u o ti n g Bl ack ’ s Law

Di ct i o n ary , 5 t h ed

.

12o n Oct o b er 1 8

, 2 0 1 0 an d t h at i t f i l e d i t s s c i r e faci as p et i t io n a few d ay s l at er o n

Oct o b er 2 3

, 2 0 2 0

. Bu t Fi rs t Meri t arg u es th at t he l i m i t at io n s p eri od was t o l led fo r 1 2 2

d ay s fro m M arch 14

, 2 0 2 0 t o J ul y 14

, 2 0 2 0 bas ed o n th e em erg en cy ord er i s s u ed by

t h e Ch i ef J u s t i ce o f t h e Geo rg i a Su p rem e Co u rt in res p on s e t o t h e C O VID-1 9

p an dem i c an d i t s su b s eq u en t ex t en s i o n s

. 8 Co n s eq u en t l y

, Fi rs t M eri t as s ert s t h at i t s

p et i t i o n fo r s ci re faci as t o en fo rce th e Oh i o Ju d gm en t was t i m el y u n der OCGA § 9

-

1 2 -6 0 (a) (1 ) an d (b ) an d OCGA § 9 -1 2 -6 1

, wh en read i n co n ju n ct i o n wi t h t h e Ch i ef

J u s t i ce’ s em erg en cy

o rd er an d i t s ex t en s i o n s

.

Becau s e t h e t ri al co u rt d en i ed Fi rs t M eri t ’ s p et i t i o n fi v e d ay s aft er i t was fi l ed

8 On M arch 14

, 2 0 20

, t h e Ch i ef J u s ti ce en t ered an o r d er d ecl ari n g a st at ewi d e

j u d i c i a l e me r g e n c y i n l i g h t o f “ t h e c o n t i n u e d t r a n s m i s s i o n o f t h e

Co r onav i ru s / COVID-1 9 t h ro u g h o u t t h e St at e an d t h e p o t en t i al i n fect i o n o f t h o s e wh o

wo rk i n or are req u i red to ap p ear i n o u r co u rt s .” See OCGA § 3 8 -3

- 6 1 ( a). Am o n g

o t h er th i n g s

, t h e em erg en cy o rd er su s p en d ed o r t o l l ed

, d uri n g t h e peri o d of t h e o rd er,

“ an y dead l i n es o r o t h er t i m e sch ed u l es or fi l i ng req u i rem en t s i m p o s ed b y o t h erwi s e

ap p li cab l e s tat ut es

, ru l es

, reg u l at i o n s

, o r co u rt ord ers

, wh et her i n ci v i l o r c r i m i n al

cas es o r ad m i n i s t rat i ve m at t ers

, in cl u d i n g

, b u t n o t l im it ed to an y [ ]

. . . st at u t e o f

l i m i tat i on .” See OCGA 3 8 -3 -6 2 (1 ). Th e em erg en cy ord er s u b s eq u en t ly h as b een

ex t en d ed s ev eral ti m es

. In hi s t h ird em erg en cy o rd er i s s u ed o n J u ne 1 2

, 20 2 0

, t h e

Ch i ef J u s t i ce rei m

p o s ed d ead li n es i m

p os ed o n l i ti g an t s b y s t at u t es

, ru l es

, reg u l at i o n s

,

an d co u rt o rd ers wi t h cert ai n ex cep t i o n s an d co n d i t i o n s

, i n cl u d in g th at “ [t ] h e 1 2 2

d ay s b et ween M arch 1 4 an d J u l y 1 4

, 2 0 2 0, o r an y p o rt i o n of t h at p eri o d i n wh i ch a

s t at u te of l i m i t at i on wo u l d h av e ru n

, s h al l b e ex cl u ded fro m t h e c a l c u l at i o n o f t h at

s t at u te of l i m i t at io n .” Th e 12 2 -d ay t o l l i n g pro v i si o n h as b een in cl ud ed i n a l l

s u b s eq u en t ex ten s i o n s o f t he em erg en cy o rd er.

13wi t h o u t h eari n g fro m t h e part i es

, Fi rs t M eri t was n e v e r a f f ord ed an o p p o rt u n i ty to

rai s e t h e afo rem en t i o n ed arg u m en t s i n t h e co u r t b e l o w. M o reo v er, t h e tri al co u rt

co n si d ered o nl y wh et h er t h e s ev en -y ear d o rm an cy peri od had been res t art ed u n d er

OCGA § 9 -1 2 -6 0 (a) (2 ) an d (3 ), wi t h o ut co n s i d eri n g wh et h er t h e do rm an cy p eri o d

h ad b een res t art ed b a s e d o n a n en t ry m ad e o n t h e g en eral ex ecu t i o n d o ck et u n d er

OCGA § 9 -1 2 -6 0 ( a ) (1 ). See OCGA § 9 -1 2-6 0 (b ) (en t ry of ex ecu t i on o n d o ck et

u n d er p arag rap h s (1 ), (2 )

, o r (3 ) o f s u b s ect i o n (a) “ s h al l i ns t i t u te a n ew s ev en -y ear

[d o rm an cy ] p eri o d ”). No r d i d t h e t ri al co u r t c o n s i d er wh et h er or t o w hat ex t en t t h e

Ch i ef J u s t i ce’ s em erg en cy o rd er an d ex ten s i o n s affect ed t h e c a l cu l at i o n o f t h e

l i m i tat i on s p eri od

.

Ou r ap p el l at e co u rt s are co u rt s fo r t h e co rrect i on o f erro rs o f l aw

c o m m i t t e d i n t h e t ri al co u rt

. . . . Al t h o u g h u nd er t he “ ri g h t fo r a n y

reas o n ” ru l e t h i s co u rt wi l l affi rm t h e co rrect r u li n g o f a t ri al co u rt o n

g ro u n d s n o t ad d res s ed bel o w, we d o n o t ap p l y a “ wro ng fo r an y reas o n”

ru l e t o rev ers e in co rrect ru l i n g s o n i s s u es n o t rai s ed o r ru l ed u p o n i n th e

t ri al co u rt

.

(Ci t at i o n s an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed .) Lo wer y v. At l a n ta Hea r t As s o c.

, 2 6 6 Ga. Ap p.

4 0 2

, 4 0 4-4 0 5 (2 ) (5 9 7 S E2 d 4 9 4 ) (2 0 0 4 ). Fi rs t M eri t’ s arg u m en t s are “ t h erefo re

b ey o n d o u r p ro per s co p e o f rev i ew” u n ti l t h e t ri al co u rt ru l e s o n t h em

. Ho l co mb

14In ves t men t

s Lt d

. v

. K

e i t h Ha r d

wa r e

, 3 5 4 Ga. Ap p

. 2 7 0

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

(2 0 2 0). Acco rd i ng l y

, b ecau s e Fi rs t M eri t was nev er g i v en an o p p o rt un i t y t o rai s e i t s

arg u m en t s i n t h e co u rt b el o w, we v acat e t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s o rd er d en y i n g Fi rs t M eri t ’ s

s ci re faci as p et it i o n an d rem an d fo r t h e co u rt t o co n s i d er t h o se arg um en t s i n t h e fi rs t

i n s t an ce. See Ea r l

s v. An eke

, 3 5 0 Ga. Ap p

. 4 5 5, 46 0 -4 6 1 (1 ) (8 2 9 SE2 d 6 6 1 ) (2 0 1 9 )

(v acat i ng an d rem an d i n g w h er e t ri al co urt “ n ev er co n s i d ered [t h e ap pel l an t ’ s ] t ru e

arg u m en t ”); Cl a s si c Co m mer ci a l S vcs

. v. Ba ld

wi n

, 3 3 6 Ga. A p p

. 1 8 3

, 1 8 9-1 9 0 (2 )

(7 8 4 SE2 d 4 4 ) (2 0 1 6 ) (co n cl u d i n g t h at t ri al co urt ’ s s u a s po n te ru l i n g w as p rem at u re,

wh ere co u rt “ s h o u l d h av e co n s i d ered ” ad d it i o n al q u es t i o n an d g i v en t h e ap p el l an t an

o p p o rt u ni t y to b e heard b efo re reach i n g i t s fi n al d et erm i n at i o n ); Ha f er v. Lo wr y

, 3 2 0

Ga. Ap p

. 7 6

, 78 (7 3 9 SE2 d 8 4 ) (2 0 1 3 ) (v acat i n g an d rem an d i n g wh ere “ t h e t ri al co u rt

d ep ri v ed [t h e ap p el lan t ] o f a m ean i n g fu l o p po rt u n i t y t o b e h eard ”).

Ju d g men t va ca t ed a n d ca s e rema n ded wi t h d i r ect i o n. G o b ei l a n d Ma r kl e, JJ.,

co n cu r

.

15