FI FTH DI VI SI ON

M CFA DDEN, C. J.

, RI CKM A N, P. J.

, and SENI OR A PPELLA T E JUDGE PHI PPS

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 50 6

. D OUGLAS R. W ILSON et al v

. REDM OND

CONSTRUCTION, INC.

A 21A 0 507. REDM OND CONSTRUCTION, INC. v

. D OUGL A S R

. W ILSON et al

.

R I C K M A N , Pres i d i n g J u d g e.

Do u gl as W i l s o n an d Den i s e W i l s o n s u ed Red m o n d Co ns t ru ct i o n

, In c.

(“ Red m on d ”) fo r b reach o f co n t ract an d th e n eg l i g en t co ns t r u ct io n o f a d ri v eway

.

Red m o n d m o v ed fo r p art i al s u m m ary ju d g m en t o n t h e W i l s o n s ’ cl ai m s fo r at t o rn ey

fees an d l i t i gat io n ex p en s es

. Th e t ri al co u rt g ran t ed t h e m o t i o n

, a n d t h e W i l s on s

ap p eal t h i s ord er i n Cas e No

. A2 1 A0 50 6

. Red m o n d cro s s -ap peal s i n Cas e No

.

A2 1 A0 50 7

, arg u in g t h at t h e t ri al co u rt err e d w h en

, i n an earl i er o rd er, i t d en i ed

Red m o n d ’ s m o t i o n t o ex cl u de t h e t es t i m o n y o f t h e W i ls o n s ’ ex p ert wi t n es s

. W e

affi rm th e g ran t o f su m m a r y ju d g m en t on t h e W i l s on s ’ cl ai m s fo r at t o rn ey fees inCas e No . A2 1A0 5 0 6 , an d we affi rm i n p art , v acat e i n p art , an d rem an d i n Cas e No

.

A2 1 A0 50 7

.

Su m m ary ju d g m en t i s p ro p er wh en t here i s n o g en u i ne i s s ue o f m at eri al

fact an d t h e m ov an t i s en t i t l ed t o ju d g m en t as a m at t er o f l aw. OCGA §

9 -1 1 -5 6 (c). A d e n o v o s t an d ard o f rev i ew ap pl i es t o a n a p p e a l fro m a

g ran t o f s um m ary ju d g m en t

, an d we v i ew t h e ev i d en ce, a n d al l

reas o n ab l e co n cl u s i o n s an d i n feren ces d rawn fro m i t , i n t h e l i g h t m o s t

fav o rab le t o th e n on m o v an t

.

(Ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed .) Hu ns u cker v. Bel fo rd

, 3 0 4 Ga. Ap p

. 2 0 0

, 2 0 0

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

So v i ewed

, t h e W il s o n s co n t ract ed Red m o n d t o co n s t ru ct a n ew ho m e an d i t s

d ri v eway

, an d Red m o n d hi red a s u b co n tract o r to c onstr uc t t h e d ri v eway

. T h e W i l s on s

m o ved i n t o t h e h o m e aft er it was co m p l et ed an d so o n n o t i ced t hat t h ere were crack s

,

p i t t i n g

, an d h o l es i n t h e dri veway a n d t h a t t h e d ri veway was n o t l ev el ed

, wh i ch

cau s ed s t an d i n g wat er. Th e W i l s o n s n ot i fi ed Red m o n d ab o u t t h e dri v eway ’ s

p ro b lem s

, an d Red m o n d u l t i m at el y rep l aced l an d in g s n ear t h e d ri v eway th at res o l v ed

an i ss u e wi t h s t an d i n g wat er, b u t o th er i s s u es rem ai n ed

. Th e W i l s o n s co n t i n u ed to

req u es t t hat Red m o n d fi x t h e dri v eway

. Red m on d s en t s o m eo n e t o p res s u re w as h t h e

d ri v eway i n o rd er t o i d en t i fy t h e al l eg ed weak an d d et eri o rat i ng areas

, b u t t h e

2W i ls o n s al leg ed t h at cau s ed m o re d am ag e. Red m on d p ro p o sed fi l l i n g th e dri v eway ’ s

c r a c k s w i t h s i l i co n e or ep o xy an d ad d i n g a n ew t o p co at o f co n cret e refi n i s h i n g t o

res u rface an d s t ren g t h en t h e d ri v eway , b u t t h e W i l s o ns reject ed t h es e p ro p o s al s

.

Th e W il s on s h i red a ci v i l en gi n eer t o i n s pect t h e d ri v eway ’ s co n cret e, an d t h e

en g in eer i den t i fi ed s ev eral al l eg ed d efect s in th e dri v e w a y’s co n s tru ct i o n an d

reco m m en d ed co m

p l e t el y rep laci n g t h e d ri v eway

. Red m on d al s o ret ai n ed i t s o wn

ex p ert

, w h o p rep ared a rep ort an d reco m m en d ed gri n d in g away t h e d ri v eway’s

s u p erfi ci al p as te an d rep l aci n g i t wi t h a sel f-l ev el i n g co n cret e d res s in g t o res o l v e t h e

l ev el in g i s s u es an d cu re t h e aes t h et i c i s s u es

. Th e W i ls o n s s u ed Red m o n d

, al l eg i n g

n eg li g en t co n s t ru ct io n an d b r e a c h o f co n t ract

. Th e W i l s o ns al s o al leg ed t h at t h ey

were en t i t l ed t o at t o rn ey fees an d co s t s b ecau s e t h ere was no b o na fi d e di s p u t e as to

Red m o n d ’ s l i ab il i t y an d Red m o n d cau s e d t h e W i l s o n s u n n eces sary t ro u b l e an d

ex p en s e, act ed i n b ad fai t h

, an d were s t u b b o rn l y li t ig i o us

. Red m o n d fi l ed a n o t i ce o f

non-p art y fau l t u n der OCGA § 5 1 -1 2 -3 3

, 1 al l eg in g t hat Red m o nd ’ s s u b contr a c tor w a s

wh o l l y o r p art ial l y

at fau lt wi t h res p ect t o t h e W i l s o n s ’ cl ai m s

.

1 “ Th e s t at u t o ry s ch em e [o f OCGA § 5 1 -1 2-3 3 ] i s d es ig n ed to a p p o r t i o n

d a m a g e s a m o n g ‘ al l p ers o ns o r en t i ti es wh o co n tri b ut ed t o t h e al l eg ed in ju ry o r

d am ag es ’

— ev en p ers o n s wh o are n o t an d co u l d n o t b e m ad e p art i es t o t h e laws u i t .”

(Ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at i on o m i t t ed .) Ma r t i n v. S i x F l a g s Over Geo r

g i a II, L.P.

, 3 0 1

Ga. 3 2 3 , 3 3 7 (III) (8 01 SE2 d 2 4 ) (2 0 17 ).

3Red m on d t hen fi l ed a m o t i o n f o r p art i al su m

m ary ju d g m en t o n th e W i l s o n s ’

cl ai m s fo r at to rn ey fees u nd er OCGA § 13 -6 -1 1, arg u i n g t h at : (1 ) b ecau s e b o n a fi d e

co n tro v ers i es ex i s t ed as t o b o t h l i ab i l i t y an d d am ag es

, it was en t i tl ed t o s u m m ary

ju d g m en t as t o an y cl ai m s t h at i t w a s s t u b b o rn l y li t ig i o us o r cau s ed t h e W i l s on s

u n n eces sary t ro u b l e an d ex p en s e; an d (2 ) t h ere w as n o ev i d en ce t hat it act ed i n b at h

fai t h

. In ad d it io n to i n t ro d u ci ng t h e d ep o s it i o n s o f t h e p art i es an d t hei r ex p ert s

,

Red m o n d al s o i nt ro d uced an es t i m a t e fro m i ts ex p ert

, wh o es t im at ed t h at h i s

p ro p os ed s o l u t i o n wo u l d co s t ap pro x i m at el y $ 1 2 ,2 50 .0 0 as wel l a s t h e W i l s o n s ’

res p o n s es t o i n t erro g at o ri es wh erei n t h ey i n d i cat ed t hat t h e t o t al co s t t o rep ai r t h e

d ri v eway i n acco rd an ce wi t h t h ei r p ro po s al wo u l d co s t $5 8 ,3 9 2.4 0

. Th e t ri al co u rt

g ran t ed Red m o n d ’ s m o t i o n fo r p art i al su m m ary j u d gm en t

, fi n d i ng th at : (1 ) t h e reco rd

s h o wed t h at t h ere was a co n t ro v ers y o v er cau s at i o n an d / o r ap p o rt i o n m en t i nv o l v i n g

Red m o n d ’ s s u b co n t ract o r an d t h ere was a co n t ro vers y rel at ed t o t h e ap p ro p ri at e

rem ed y an d co s t o f rep ai r ; a n d (2 ) t h at t h e W i l s o n s pro ffered n o ev i d en ce o f a

d i s h o n es t p u rp os e, m o ral o b l i q u i t y

, co n s ci o u s d oi ng o f wro n g o r i l l wi l l o n t h e p art

o f Red m o n d t o s u p po rt a fi n di ng o f b ad fai t h . Th e W i l so n s d i rect l y ap p eal ed

.

4Ca s e No . A2 1 A0 5 0 6

Th e W i l s o n s arg u e th at t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n gran t i n g s u m m ary ju d g m en t o n

t h ei r cl ai m s fo r OCGA § 1 3-6 -1 1 at t o rn ey fees

. 2 OCGA § 1 3

- 6 -1 1 “ au t h ori zes t h e

fi nd er o f fact t o m ak e an award o f at t o rn ey fees an d o th er ex p en s es o f l i t i g at i o n wh ere

(1 ) t h e pl ai n t i ff s peci al ly p l ead s an d p ray s fo r su ch an award

, an d (2 ) t h e fi nd er o f fact

fi nd s t h at t h e d efen dan t act ed i n b ad fai t h i n t h e u n derl y i ng t ran s act io n or t h at

, aft er

t h e t ran s act i o n o n w h i c h t h e cau s e of act i o n i s pred i cat ed

, th e d efen d an t was

s t ub b o rn ly l i t i g i ou s o r cau s ed t h e p l ai n t i ff u n n eces s ary t ro u bl e an d ex p en s e.” Ho r t o n

v. Den n i s , 3 2 5 Ga. Ap p. 2 1 2 , 2 1 6 (7 5 0 SE2 d 4 9 3 ) (2 0 1 3 ).

1

. Th e W il s o n s co n t en d t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n g ran t i n g s u m m ary ju d g m en t

o n t h ei r cl ai m s fo r at t orn ey fees an d ex p en s es o f l i ti g at i o n b ecau s e t he ev i d en ce

s h o wed t h at Red m on d act ed i n b ad f a i t h

, o r

, i n t h e al t ern at i v e, at leas t creat ed a

g en ui n e i s s u e o f m at eri al fact o n t h i s i s s u e. W e d i s ag ree.

“ Bad fai t h warran t i n g an award o f at t o rn ey fees m u s t h av e ari s en o u t o f t h e

t ran s act io n o n wh i ch t h e cau se o f act i o n i s pred i cat ed

. It m ay be fo u n d i n h o w [a]

2 Un d er OCGA § 1 3 -6 -1 1

, “ [t ] h e ex p en s es o f l i t i g at io n g en eral ly s hal l n o t b e

al l o wed as a part o f t h e d am ag es ; b ut wh ere t h e p lai n t i ff h as s peci al l y p l ead ed an d h as

m ad e p ray er t h erefo r an d wh ere t h e d efen d an t h as act ed i n b a d f a i t h

, h as b een

s t ub b o rn ly l it i g i o us

, o r h as cau s ed t he p l ai n t i ff u nn eces s ary t ro u b l e an d ex p en s e, t h e

ju ry m ay al l o w t h em .”

5d efen d an t act ed i n h i s d eal i n g wi t h t h e p l ai n t iff.” (Ci tat i o n an d p un ct u at io n o m i t t ed .)

Ci t y o f Ga in es vi l l e v. W

a t er s

, 2 5 8 Ga. Ap p. 5 5 5

, 5 5 9 (4 ) (5 7 4 SE2 d 6 3 8 ) ( 2 0 0 2 ).

“ M oreo v er, we h av e no t ed th at t h ere m ay be b ad fai t h i n carry i ng o u t t h e p ro v i s i on s

o f t h e co nt ract s u ffi ci en t t o s u p p o rt t h e award .” (Ci t at i o n an d pu n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed .)

Og l et h or p e Po wer Co rp

. v. Es t a t e o f Fo r r i s t er

, 3 3 2 Ga. Ap p

. 6 9 3

, 7 0 6 (2 ) (e) (7 7 4

SE2 d 7 5 5 ) (2 0 1 5). “ Bad fai t h can n o t b e p ro m p t ed b y an h o n es t m is t ak e as t o o n e’ s

ri gh t s o r d ut i es b u t m

u s t res u l t fro m s o m e i n t eres t ed o r s i n is t er m o t iv e. Bad fai t h i s

n o t s i m p l y b ad ju dg m en t o r n eg l i g en ce, b ut it i m p o rt s a d is h o nes t p u rp os e o r s o m e

m o ral ob l i q u i t y

, an d im

p l i es co n s ci o u s d o i n g o f wro ng

, an d m ean s b reach o f k n o wn

d u t y t hro u g h s o m e m o t i v e o f i n t eres t o r i l l wi l l .” (Ci t at i o n an d p u n ct uat i o n o m i t t ed .)

MARTA v. Mi t ch el l , 2 8 9 Ga. Ap p . 1 , 4 (6 5 9 SE2 d 6 05 ) (2 0 0 7).

Here, t he W i ls o ns co n ten d t h at Red m o n d ’ s bad fai t h i s s h o wn b y i t s s t u b b o rn

l i ti g i o u s n es s

, d en i al o f l i ab i l it y

, an d i t s al l eg ed in t en t i o n n o t t o rep ai r o r rep l ace t h e

d ri v eway . Bu t , as n o t ed ab o v e, b ad fai t h warran t in g an award o f at t o rn ey fees m u s t

h av e ari sen o u t of t he t ran s act i o n o n wh i ch t h e cau s e o f act i o n is p red i cat ed

. An d in

t h at reg ard

, Do u g las W i l so n t es t i fi ed i n hi s d ep o s i t i o n t h at Red m o n d ’ s o wn er an d t h e

W i ls o n s d i s cu s s ed t h e d ri v eway ’ s i s s u es

, th at Red m o n d rep l aced l an d in g s n e a r t h e

d ri v eway wh i ch fi x ed a l ev el i n g i s s u e t h at cau s ed s t an d i n g wat er, an d t hat al t h o u g h

6t h e W i l s o n s t es t i fi ed t h at Red m o n d “ d i d n’ t s ee i t as a p ro b lem

, ” Red m on d ’ s o wn er

n o n et h el es s v i s i t ed t h e h ou s e an d u l ti m at el y “ wh et h er t o ap p eas e u s o r wh at

, h e

s t art ed t al k i n g ab o u t a t o p co at .” Ad d i t io n al l y

, Red m o nd ’ s o wn er tes t i fi ed t h at h e s en t

s o m eo n e t o p res s u re was h t h e d ri v e w a y i n o rd er t o ch eck i t s s u rface, an d h e al s o

t es t i fi ed th at t h e W i l so n s di s m is s ed Red m o n d ’ s p l an to fi l l i n t h e d ri v eway ’ s crack s

wi t h s i l i co n e. Th u s, t he reco rd sh o ws th at Red m o n d at t em p t ed t o ad dres s t h e al l eg ed

p ro b lem s wi t h t h e d r i veway

, wh i ch s u p p ort s t h e t ri al co urt ’ s fi n di n g t h at t h ere was

n o ev i den ce o f b ad f

a i t h i n t h e u n d erl y in g t ran s act i o n

. See C & H Dev., LLC v.

Fr a nkl in Co u n t

y

, 2 9 4 Ga. Ap p

. 7 9 2

, 7 95 (2 ) (6 7 0 SE2 d 4 9 1 ) (2 0 0 8 ); Ga r r et t v.

W o men ’s Hea l t h Ca r e o

f Gwi n n et t

, P.C.

, 2 4 3 Ga. Ap p 5 3

, 5 5 (1 ) (5 3 2 SE2 d 1 6 4 )

(2 0 0 0) (affi rm i n g g ran t of s um m ary j u d gm en t t o d efen d an t o n p l ai nt i ff’ s OCGA § 1 3

-

6 -1 1 cl ai m fo r bad fai t h at to rn ey fees i n b reach o f co n t ract an d frau d cas e an d fi n d i n g

t h at t h ere was n o ev i d en ce t h at t h e d efen d an t “ act ed t h ro u gh i ll w i l l o r fu rt i v e d es i g n

wi t h reg ard t o t he p erfo rm an ce o f t h e co n t ract ” wh ere th e d efen d an t rel i ed up o n t h e

cal cu l a t i o n s o f a co rp orat e acco u n tan t i n cal cu l at i n g b o nu s pay m en t s d u e u n d er a

co n tract an d w h ere t h e acco u n t an t “ cl earl y bel i ev ed t h at h i s m et h o d o f cal cu l at i o n

was ap p ro p ri at e, an d th ere [was ] n o ev i d en ce t h at [t h e d efen dan t ] h ad r e a s o n to

b el i ev e o th erwi s e”); see al s o M & H Co n s t r

. Co

. v. No r th Fu l to n D ev. Co rp

. , 2 3 8 Ga.

7Ap p

. 71 3

, 7 1 5 (1 ) (5 1 9 SE2 d 2 8 7 ) (1 9 9 9 ) (affi rm in g tri al co u rt ’ s g ran t of j.n .o .v

. o n

OCGA § 1 3 -6 -1 1 at t o rn ey fees cl ai m i n b reach o f co nt ract cas e wh ere m o s t o f t h e

e v i d en ce rel i ed up o n b y t h e p lai n t i ff aro se fro m th e fi n an ci al di sp u t es b et ween t h e

p art i es an d at m o s t am o un t ed t o a fai l u re t o p ay a d eb t

, w h i c h was i ns u ffi ci en t to

s u p p ort an award o f at t o rn ey fees ).

2

. Th e W i l so n s al so arg u e t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n g ran t i n g th e m o t i o n fo r

s u m m ary ju d g m en t o n t h e i s su e o f at t o rn ey fees becau s e t h e ev i d en ce i n t h e reco rd

i n d i cat ed t h at a b o n a fi d e co n tro v ers y d i d n o t ex i s t, an d i n t he al t ern at i v e, t h ere were

g en ui n e i s s u e s o f m a teri al fact rem ai n i n g as t o wh et h er a b o n a fi d e co n t ro v ers y

ex i s t ed . W e d i s ag ree.

W h en t h e “ bas is fo r a reco v ery o f at t o rn ey fees is ei t h er s t u b b o rn l i t i g i o u s n es s

o r th e cau s i n g o f u n n eces s ary t ro u b l e an d ex p en s e, an award un d er OCGA § 1 3 -6 -1 1

i s au t ho ri zed wh ere th e ev i d en ce rev ea l s t h at n o bo n a fi d e co n t ro v ers y o r g en u i n e

d i s p u t e ex i s t ed

— w h et h er o f law o r fact

, o n l i ab i l i t y o r am o u n t o f d am ag es

, o r o n an y

co m p arab l e i s s u e.” (Ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at io n o m i t t ed .) Ho r t o n

, 3 2 5 Ga. Ap p

. at 2 1 6.

“ A m ere refu s al to p ay a d i s p u t e d cl ai m i s n o t th e eq u i v al en t o f s t u b b o rn

l i ti g i o u s n es s .” (Ci t at io n an d p un ct u at io n o m i t t ed .) Id

.

8Here, t h e W i ls o n s a r g u e t h at “ t h e reco rd ev i d en ce refl ect s t h at t h ere was n o

b o n a fi d e co n t ro vers y t h at t h ere were p ro b l em s w i t h t he d efect i v e d ri veway ” an d t h at

fo rci ng t hem t o res o rt t o fi l i n g t h ei r laws u i t i n t h e ab s en ce o f a b o n a fi de co n t ro v ers y

cau s ed t h em un n eces s ary t ro u b l e an d ex p en s e en t i t l i n g t h em t o an award o f at t o rn ey

fees u n der OCGA § 1 3 -6 -1 1

. Th e W i l s o n s co n t en d t h at b o th p art i es ’ ex p ert wi t n es s es

t es t i fi ed “ co n s i s t en t wi th t h e [W i l s o n s ’ ] o n g oi n g co m p l a ints tha t the subj ect d ri v eway

was d efect iv e.” B u t t h e p art ies p res en t ed co n fl i ct i ng ev id en ce o n t h e n at ure o f t h e

d am ag e t o t he d ri v eway

, t h e req u i red rep ai rs

, t he co s t s o f rep ai rs

, an d wh et h er

Red m o n d o r i t s s u bco n t ract or was l i ab l e. Ad d i t i o nal l y

, i t is u n d i s p ut ed t h at Red m o n d

at t em p t ed t o m ak e s o m e rep ai rs t o t h e d ri v eway

, s o m e o f w h i ch t h e W il s on s accep t ed

an d so m e o f wh ich th ey reject ed

. Bas ed o n t h e reco rd i n t h i s cas e, t h e t ri al co u rt was

au t h o ri zed t o co n cl u d e t h at a b o n a fi de co n t ro v ers y ex is ted bet w e e n t h e p art i es

,

t h ereb y p recl u di n g an at t o rn ey fees award u n d er OCGA § 1 3 -6 -1 1 fo r s t u b b o rn

l i ti g i o u s n es s or cau s i n g u n n eces s ary t ro u bl e an d ex p en s e. See Ri ver s v. S outh A u ct i o n

& R ea l t y

, 3 5 1 G a. Ap p

. 17 9

, 18 5 (4 ) (a) (8 3 0 SE2 d 6 3 6 ) (2 0 1 9 ) (affi rm i n g d en i al o f

OCGA § 1 3-6 -1 1 at t o rn ey fees bas ed o n s t u b b o rn l i t i g i ou s nes s

, cau s in g u n n eces s ary

t ro u b l e an d ex p en s e, an d b ad fai t h i n a cas e in v o l v i n g t h e can cel l ed cl o s i n g o f a h o m e

s al e wh ere t h e d efen d an ts an d p l ai n t i ff p res en t ed co n fl i ct i n g ev i d en ce reg ard i n g t h e

9n at u re o f d am ag es an d wh ere i t was u n d i s p ut ed t h at o n e o f t h e d efen d an t s at t em p t ed

t o m ak e rep ai rs o n t h e h o m e an d ex t en d ed t h e cl o s i n g d at e t o av oi d can cel lat i o n ); C

& H Dev., LLC

, 2 9 4 Ga. Ap p

. at 7 9 5 (2 ) (affi rm i ng g ran t o f s u m m ary j u d gm en t t o t h e

d efen d an t wh ere, in t h e ab s en ce o f b ad fai th

, t h ere was n o t “ an y ev id en ce” t o s u p p o rt

t h e p l ai n t i ff’ s O CGA § 1 3 -6 -1 1 at t o rn ey fees cl ai m wh en a b o n a fi d e co n t ro v ers y

ex i s t ed b et ween t h e p art i es ) (ci t at io n an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ).

Ca s e No . A2 1 A0 5 0 7

In th i s cro s s-ap p eal

, Red m o n d co n t en d s t h at t he t ri al co u rt erred i n d en y i n g i t s

m o ti o n t o ex cl u d e t h e t es t i m o n y o f t h e W i l s o n s ’ ex p ert wi t n e s s

. In i t s m o t i o n,

Red m o n d arg u ed

, am o n g ot h er t h i n g s

, t h at th e ex pert ’ s t es t i m o n y t h at i m p r o p er

jo i n t i n g c a u s ed s h ri n k ag e crack i n g was n o t rel iab l e an d t h at th e W i l so n s’ ex p ert ’ s

t es t i m o ny t h at t h ere were “ p ro b ab l y ” “ cl ay -t y pe so i l s ” u n dern eat h t h e d ri v eway t h at

cau s ed a d rai n ag e p ro b l em h ad u n rel i ab l e m et h o d o lo g y

.

Un d er OCGA § 2 4 -7 -7 0 2 (b ), “ t h e t es ti m o n y o f a q u al ifi ed ex p ert i s ad m i s s i b l e

i f (1 ) i t i s ‘ b as ed u p o n s u f f i c i e n t fact s o r d at a’ ; (2 ) i t i s ‘ t h e p ro d u ct o f rel i ab l e

p ri n ci p l es an d m et h o d s ’ ; an d (3 ) t h e ex p ert wi t n es s ‘ h as ap p l i ed th e p ri n ci p l e s a n d

m et h o ds rel i ab l y t o t h e fact s o f t h e cas e.’ ” Emo r y Un i v. v. W

i l l co x

, 3 5 5 Ga. Ap p

. 5 4 2,

5 4 2 (1 ) (8 4 4 SE2 d 8 89 ) (2 0 2 0 ) (q uo t i n g O CGA § 2 4 -7 -7 0 2 ( b ) )

. “ U n d er O CGA §

102 4 -7 -7 0 2, i t i s t h e ro le o f t h e t ri al co u rt t o act as a g at ek eep er o f ex p ert t es ti m o n y .”

( Ci t at i o n an d p un ct u at i o n o m i t t ed .) Id

. at 5 4 3 (1 ). “ In t h i s ro l e, t h e t ri al co u r t

‘ as s es s es b o t h t h e wi t n es s ’ q u al i fi cat io n s t o t es t i fy i n a p art i cu lar a r e a o f ex p ert i s e

an d t h e rel ev an cy an d rel i ab i l i t y o f t h e p ro f f e r e d t es t i m o n y .’ ” (Ci t at i o n an d

p u n ct u at i o n o m it t ed .) Id . In d o i n g t hi s

, t h e t ri al co urt co n s id ers wh et h er:

(1 ) t he ex p ert i s q ual i fi ed t o tes t i fy co m pet en t l y reg ard i n g t h e m at t ers he

i n t en d s to ad d res s ; (2 ) t h e m et h o do l og y b y w h i ch th e ex p ert reach es h i s

co n cl u s i o n s i s s u ffi ci en t l y rel iab l e as d et erm i n ed b y t h e so rt o f i n qu i ry

m an d at ed i n Da u b er t v. Mer r el l Do w Ph a r ma ceu t i ca l s

, 5 09 U. S. 5 7 9

(1 1 3 SCt 2 7 8 6

, 1 2 5 LEd 2 d 4 6 9 ) (1 9 9 3 ); an d (3 ) t h e t e s t i m o ny as s is t s

t h e t ri er o f fact

, t h ro u g h t h e ap p l i cat i o n o f s ci en t i fi c, t ech ni cal

, o r

s p eci al i zed ex p ert i s e, t o u n d ers t an d th e ev i d en ce o r t o det erm i n e a fact

i n i s s u e. W h i l e th ere i s i n ev i t ab l y s o m e o v erl ap am o n g t h e b as i c

req u irem en ts

— q u al i fi ca tion, r e lia bility

, a nd he lpfu l n es s

— t hey rem ai n

d i s t i n ct co n cep t s an d t h e co u rt s m u st t ak e care n o t t o co n fl at e t hem

.

(Ci t at i o n an d p u n ct uat i o n om it t ed .) Id

. “ In m ak in g t h i s as s es sm en t

, h o w ev er, t h e t ri al

co u rt m ay n o t ex cl u d e an o t h erwi s e s uffi ci en t ex p ert o p i ni o n s i m p l y b ecau s e i t

b el i ev es t h at t h e o p in io n i s n o t

— i n i t s v i ew

— p art i cu l arl y s t ro n g o r p ers u as i v e. Th e

wei g h t t o b e g i v en t o ad m i s s i b l e ex p ert t es t i m o ny i s a m at t er fo r t h e ju ry .” (Ci t at i o n

an d p u n ct u at io n o m i t t ed ) Id

. “ W h et h er ex p ert t es t i m o ny o ug h t to b e ad m i t t ed u n d er

OCGA § 2 4 -7 -7 0 2 i s a q u es t i o n co m m i tt ed t o t h e s o u n d d i s cret i o n o f t h e t ri al co u rt

.

11W e wi l l n ot d i st u rb t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s d et erm i n at io n a b s e n t a m an i fes t ab u s e o f

d i s cret i o n .” (Ci tat io n an d p u n ct u at i o n o m it ted .) Al l en v. CFY C Co n s tr

., LLC

, 3 5 4 Ga.

Ap p . 8 9 0 , 8 9 2 (1 ) (8 4 2 SE2 d 2 9 7 ) (2 0 2 0 ).

3 . Red m o n d arg ues t h at t h e t ri al co u rt d i d n o t co ns i d er wh et h er t h e W i l s o n s ’

ex p ert ’ s cau s at i on op i n i o n m et t h e cri t eri a s et fo rt h i n O CGA § 2 4 -7 -7 0 2 o r in

Da u b er t . W e ag ree.

[W ] h en a p art y offers ex p ert t es t i m o ny an d t h e o pp o s i n g p art y

rai s es a

Da u ber t ch al l en g e, t h e t ri al co urt m u st m ak e cert ai n t h at an ex p ert

,

wh et h e r b as i n g t es t i m o n y u po n pro fes s i o n al s t u di es or p ers o nal

ex p eri en ce, em

p l o y s in t h e co u rt ro om t h e s am e l ev el o f i n t el lect u al ri g o r

t h at ch aract eri zes t h e p ract ice o f a n e x p e rt i n t h e rel ev an t fi el d.

. . .

Da u ber t req ui res t h e t ri al co u rt t o a ct as a g at ek eep er t o i n s ure t hat

s p ecu l at i v e an d u nrel i a b l e o p i n i o n s d o n o t reach t h e ju ry

. A s a

g at ek eep er t h e co urt mu s t d o a p rel i m i n a r y a s s es s m en t o f wh et h er th e

reas o n i ng o r m et h o do l o g y u n d erl y i n g t he t es t i m o ny i s s ci en t ifi cal l y

v al i d an d o f wh et h er th at reas o n in g o r m et ho d o l o g y p ro p erl y can be

ap p l ied t o t h e fact s i n i s su e.

(Ci t at i o n an d p u n ct uat i o n o m i t t ed ; em p h as i s s u p p l i ed .) McCl a i n v. M et a b ol i f e In t l

.,

In c.

, 4 0 1 F3 d 1 2 3 3, 1 2 3 7 (II) (1 1 t h Ci r. 2 0 0 5)). 3 “ Th e t ri al co u rt h as b ro ad d i s cret i o n

3 Un d er OCGA § 2 4 -7 -7 0 2 (f),

[i ] t i s t h e i n t en t o f t h e l eg i s l at u re t h at

, i n al l ci v i l pro ceed i n gs

, t he co u rt s

12i n d eci d in g h o w t o as s es s t h e rel i ab i li t y of ex p ert t es t i m on y .” S mi t h v. CS

X Tr a n sp

.,

In c.

, 3 4 3 Ga. Ap p

. 5 0 8

, 5 1 2 (1 ) (b ) (8 0 6 SE2 d 8 9 0 ) (2 0 1 7). Id

. “ Th i s d i s c r et i o n

affo rd s t h e t ri al co u rt co n si d era b l e l eeway i n d eci d i n g wh i ch t es ts o r fact o rs t o u s e

t o as s es s t he rel i ab i li t y o f an e x p e r t ’ s m et h o d o l og y .” (Ci t at i o n an d pu n ct u at i o n

o m it t ed .) Id

.

Here, th e t ri al co u rt ’ s ru l i n g ad d res s ed th e rel i ab i l i t y o f t h e fo l l o wi n g op i n i on s

o f th e W i l s o n s’ ex pert : (1 ) t h ere was i m p ro p er j o i n t i n g i n th e dri v eway

, (2 ) t h e

n eces s ar y j o i n t s p aci n g i n s t an d ard res i den t i al d ri v eway s

, (3 ) t h e crack s i n t h e

W i ls o n s’ d ri v eway were d efect s an d t h e d ri v eway n eed ed t o b e r e p l a ced

, (4 ) t h e

W i ls o n s’ d ri v eway li k el y h ad a d rai nag e i s s ue d u e t o cl ay -t y p e s oi l s

, an d (5 ) u n ev en

o r p oo rl y co m

p act ed s o i l s u n d ern eat h t h e W il s on s ’ d ri veway can l ead t o a di fferen t i al

s et t l em en t o r en h an ced t h erm al res t rai n t an d can l ead t o fu t u re crack i n g

. Bu t t h e t ri al

c o u r t d id n o t ad dres s Red m o n d ’ s m o t i o n t o ex cl u d e t h e W il s o n s ’ ex p ert ’ s o p i n i o n

o f t h e St at e o f Geo r g i a n o t b e v i ewed as o pen t o ex p ert ev i d en ce t hat

w o u ld n o t b e ad m i s s i b l e i n ot h er s t at es

. Th erefo re, i n i nt erp ret i ng a n d

ap p l yi n g t h i s Co d e s ect i o n

, t h e co u rt s o f t h i s s t at e m ay d raw fro m th e

o p i n i o n s of t h e Un i t ed St at es Su p rem e Co u rt i n Da u b er t v. Mer r el l Do w

Ph a r ma ceu t i ca l

s, In c.

, 5 0 9 U. S. 5 79 ( 1 9 93 ); G en er a l El ect ri c Co

. v.

Jo i n er

, 5 2 2 U. S. 13 6 (1 9 9 7 ); Ku m h o Ti r e Co

. Lt d

. v. Ca r mi ch a el

, 5 2 6

U. S. 1 3 7 (1 9 99 ); an d o t h e r c a s e s i n fed eral co u rt s ap p l y i n g th e

s t an dard s an n o u n ced b y th e Un i t ed St at es Su prem e Co u rt i n t h es e cas es

.

13t h at t he i m

p ro p er j o i n t s p aci ng cau s ed t h e d ri v eway ’ s crack i n g

. A cco rd i n g l y

, t h e t ri al

co u rt ab u s ed i t s di s cret io n b y fai l i n g t o act as t h e g at ek eep er on t h e W i l so n s’ ex p ert ’ s

t e s t i m o n y t h at t he i m

p ro p er jo i n t s p aci n g cau sed th e d ri v eway ’ s crack i n g

, an d w e

v acat e i n p art an d rem an d fo r t h e t ri al co u rt t o p erfo rm i t s g at ek eep i n g fu n ct i o n an d

t o an al y ze th e W i l s o n s ’ ex pert ’ s t es t i m o n y o n t h i s i s s ue u n d er OCGA § 24 -7 -7 0 2 an d

Da u b er t

. See An v. Act i ve Pes t Co n t r ol So u t h

, In c.

, 31 3 Ga. Ap p. 1 1 0, 11 1 (7 2 0 SE2 d

2 2 2 ) (2 0 1 1 ) (v acat i n g an award o f s u m m ary j u d gm en t an d r e m an di n g fo r t h e t ri al

co u rt to ru l e on m o t i o n s t o ex cl u d e th e o p i n i o n s o f ex pert wi t n es s es , wh i ch h ad n ot

b een ru l ed u p on ).

4 . Red m o n d n ex t arg ues t h at t h e t ri al co urt ab u s ed i t s d i s cret i on b y fai l i n g t o

co n si d er wh et h er t h e W i l s o n s ’ ex p ert em p l o y ed a rel i ab l e m et h o d ol og y t o co n cl u d e

t h at cl ay n eed ed t o b e rem o v ed fro m t h e W i l s o ns ’ dri v eway s i t e a n d r e p l a c e d wi th

t wo feet o f s an d

. W e d i s ag ree.

G e ne r a lly

, r e lia

bility i s ex am i n ed th ro u gh co n s id erat i on o f m an y fact or s,

i n cl u d i n g wh et h er a t h eo ry o r t ech n iq u e can be t es ted

, wh et he r i t h as

b een s u b ject ed t o p eer rev i ew an d p u b l i cat i on

, t h e k n o wn o r p o ten t i al

rat e o f erro r fo r th e t h eo ry o r tech n i q ue, t he gen eral d e g r ee o f

accep t an ce i n t h e rel ev an t s ci en ti fi c o r p ro fes s i o nal co m m u n i t y

, an d th e

ex p ert ’ s ran g e o f ex p eri en ce an d t rai n i n g

.

14(Ci t at i o n an d pu nct u at io n o m i t t ed

. ) Ca s h v. LG El ect r o ni cs

, In c.

, 34 2 Ga. Ap p

. 7 3 5,

7 3 7 (1 ) (8 0 4 SE2 d 7 1 3 ) (2 0 1 7). “ Th i s i s n ot an ex h au s ti v e l i s t o f fact o rs

, an d co u rt s

m ay co ns i d er t hem i n a ‘ fl ex i b l e’ m an n er.” (Ci t at io n o m i t t ed .) Id

. “ Th e t ri al co u rt m ay

n o t ex cl u d e an o t h erwi s e s uffi ci en t ex p ert ‘ s i m p l y b ecau se i t b el i ev es t h at th e o p i n i o n

i s n o t —i n i t s vi ew—

p a r t i cu l arl y s t ro n g o r p ers u as i v e. T h e wei g ht t o b e g i v en to

ad m i s s i b l e ex p ert t es t i m on y is a m at t er fo r t h e ju ry .’ ” (Ci t at i o n o m i t t ed .) Id

.

Here, th e W i l s on s ’ ex p ert t es t i fi ed i n h i s d ep o s i t i o n t h at t h ere was a d rai n ag e

i s su e cau s ed b y “ cl ay -t y

p e so i ls ” u nd er t h e d ri v eway an d t h at Red m o n d sh o u l d h av e

rep l aced t h e cl ay wi t h two feet o f s an d

. Th e W i ls o n s’ ex p ert fu rt her t es t i fi ed t h at h e

k n ew t h at cl ay was p res en t u n d er t h e d ri v eway be c a u s e th e rep o rt p rep ared by

Red m o n d ’ s ex p ert

, wh i ch he rev i ewed

, referen ced cl ay u n d ern eat h t h e d ri veway an d

t h at t h e cl ay was p ro b ab l y i n th e o ri g i n al so i l u n d ern eat h t h e d ri v eway an d t h at cl ay

wo u l d n at u ral l y

ex i s t i n t h e area wh ere t h e d ri v eway was b u i l t . In i t s o rd er d en y i n g

Red m o n d ’ s m o ti o n

, t h e t ri al co u rt fo u n d t h at “ t h e m et h o d ol o g y b y wh i ch [ t h e

W i ls o n s’ ex pert ] reach e[d ] h i s co n cl u s i o n s ap p e a r [ e d ] t o t h i s [C] o urt t o b e

s u ffi ci en t l y rel i ab l e t o s u rv i ve th i s m o t i o n

. . . [t he W il s on s ’ ex p ert ] d et ai l ed t h e b as es

fo r h i s op i n i o n s as t h ey rel at ed t o t h e fact u al ci rcu m s t an ces i n t h e cas e, i n cl u d i n g b ut

n o t li m i t ed t o : hi s o p i n i o n t h at

. . . t h e d ri v eway h ad a d rai n ag e i s s u e du e t o i t s ‘ cl ay

15t y

p e s o il s ’ u n d er i t[.] ” So

, t h e W i l s o n s ’ ex p ert ex p l ai n ed h i s m et h o d ol o g y

, t h e co u rt

rev i ewed i t an d fo u n d i t s u ffi ci en t

, an d we co n cl u d e th at t h e t ri al co urt ’ s o rd er

ad eq uat el y d em o n s t rat es t h at th e t ri al co u rt p erfo rm ed i t s ro le as gat ek eep er as t o t h i s

o p i n i o n

. See Geo rg i a Dep t

. o f Tr a n s p

. v. Mi l l er

, 3 0 0 Ga. Ap p

. 85 7

, 8 6 3 (2 ) (c) (6 8 6

SE2 d 4 5 5 ) (2 0 0 9 ); CS

X Tr a n sp

., In c. v. McDo wel l

, 2 9 4 G a

. Ap p

. 8 7 1

, 8 7 3 (1 ) (a)

(6 7 0 SE2 d 5 4 3 ) (2 0 0 8 ).

Ad d it i on al l y

, a n y c o n t en t i o n s t h at t h e W il s on s ’ ex pert m i s read Red m o n d ’ s

ex p ert ’ s rep o rt an d drew erro n eo u s co ncl u s io n s go t o t he wei g h t

, rat h er t h an t h e

ad m i s s i b i l i t y o f t h e ev i d en ce. See Q u i et Tech n o l o gy DC-8 v. Hu r el -Du b oi s UK Lt d

. ,

3 2 6 F3 d 1 3 3 3

, 1 3 45 (II) (C) (1 1 t h Ci r. 2 0 0 3 ) (t h e id en t i fi cat i o n o f a fl aw i n g en eral l y

rel i ab l e s ci en t i fi c ev id en ce i s t h e ro l e o f cro ss -ex am i nat i o n an d an y su ch i n ad eq u acy

g o es t o t he wei g h t

, rat h er t h an th e ad m i s s i b i l i t y o f th e ev i d en ce); Ol d Rep ub l i c Na t

.

Ti t l e In s

. Co

. v. RM Ki d

s

, LLC

, 3 3 7 Ga. Ap p 6 3 8

, 6 4 6 -6 4 7 (4 ) (7 8 8 SE2 d 5 4 2 ) (2 0 1 6 )

(affi rm i n g t ri al co u rt ’ s o r d er d en y i n g m o t io n t o ex cl u de ex p ert t es t i m o n y al l eg ed l y

n o t b as ed o n rel i ab l e d at a or reco g n i zed m et h o d o l o gy w h ere th e ex p ert was p ro p erl y

q u al i fi ed an d t h e fact s rel i ed u p o n were w i th i n t h e b o u n ds o f ev i d en ce; q u es t i on s

ab o ut w h et h er t h ere was s u ffi ci en t k n owl ed ge u po n wh i ch t o b as e an o p i n i o n wen t

t o t h e wei g h t an d cred i bi li t y o f t h e tes t i m o n y

, n o t i t s ad m i s s i b i l i t y ); Emo r y U n i v.

, 3 5 5

16Ga. Ap p

. at 5 44 (1 ) (“ [A] t ri al co u rt ’ s g at ek eep er ro l e u n d er Da u b er t is n ot i n t en d ed

t o su p p l an t t h e ad v ers ari al sy s t em o r t h e ro l e o f t h e ju ry

. Qu i t e th e co n t rary

, v i g o ro u s

cro s s -ex am i n at i o n, p res en t at i o n o f co n t rary ev i d en ce, an d carefu l in s t ru ct i o n o n t h e

b u rd en of p ro o f are th e t rad i t i o n a l a n d a p p ro pri at e m ean s o f at t ack i ng s h ak y b ut

ad m i s s i b l e ev i den ce. ” ) ( q u o t i n g Qu i et Tech n o l og y DC-8

, 3 2 6 F3 d at 1 3 4 1 (II) (A)

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

, Red m o n d h as n o t s h o wn t h at t h e t ri al c o u rt ab u s ed i t s

d i s cret i o n i n d en y i ng i t s m o t i o n t o ex cl u de t h i s o p i n i o n ev i d en ce o n t h i s b as i s

, an d

we affi rm t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s ru l i n g o n t h i s i s s u e.

Ju d g men t i n Ca s e No

. A2 1 A0 50 6 a f f i r med

. Ju dg men t i n Ca s e No

. A 2 1 A0 5 0 7

a f f i r med i n p a r t, va ca t ed i n p a r t

, a n d rema n ded

. M

c F a d d en

, C. J., an d S

en i o r

Ap p el l a te Ju d

g e Her b er t

E. Ph i p p s co n cu r

.

17