THI RD DI VI SI ON

BA RNES, P. J.

, BOGGS and BRA NCH, 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 ls .us /r ule s /

M ar ch 18, 2015



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 4 A1 64 3

. BEFEKADU v

. ADDIS INTERNAT I O NAL MONEY

TRANSFER et al

.

B R A N C H , J u d g e.

Ad d is In t ern at io n al M o n ey Tran s fer, L LC (t h e “ L LC”), an d a m ajo ri t y o f i t s

m em b ers (co l l ect i v el y

, “ Ad d i s ”) s u ed Ts eg a Befek ad u fo r co nv ers i o n an d

m i s ap p ro p ri at io n of t h e LLC’ s as s et s an d fo r breach o f fi d u ci ary d u t y

. Du ri n g t h e fi rs t

t ri al o f t h o s e cl ai m s, t h e t ri al co u rt d i s q u a l i f i ed Befek ad u ’ s co u n s el an d d ecl ared a

m i s t ri al . Befek ad u p ro ceed ed p ro s e at t h e s eco n d t ri al

, an d th e ju ry award ed Ad d i s

co m p en s at o ry d am ag es fo r t h e co n v ers i o n cl ai m

, at t o rn ey fe e s an d ex p en s es

, an d

p u n i t i v e d am ag es . Th e t ri al co u rt s u b s eq uen t l y en t ered an ord er an d fi n al ju d g m en t

b as ed o n t h e ju ry ’ s v erd i ct

. Befek ad u ap peal s t h at o rd er an d t h e d i sq u al ifi cat i o n o rd er

fro m t h e fi rs t t ri al

. W e co n cl ud e t h at t h e t ri al co urt d i d n ot a p p l y t h e co rrect l eg als t an d ard s wh en d i s q u al i fy in g co u nse l f or B e f e ka du a n d t h erefo re v acat e t he ju d g m en t

an d rem an d th e cas e t o t h e t ri al co u r t fo r p ro ceed i n g s co n s i s t en t wi t h t h i s o p i n i o n.

Wi t h r e s pect t o Befek ad u ’ s ap p eal o f th e fi n al ju d g m en t, we co n cl u d e t h at h e h a s

ab an do n ed t h e erro rs h e en u m erat ed wi t h res p ect t o t he s eco n d t ri al b ecau se h e fai l ed

t o s u p p o rt t h em

wi t h arg u m en t o r ci t at io n o f au t ho ri t y

.

Th e LLC was fo rm ed i n 20 0 6 as a sm al l m o n ey t ran s ferri ng co m pan y t h at was

p ri n ci p al l y i n v o lv ed in t ran s ferri n g fu n d s b et w een t he U n i t ed St at es an d Et h i o p i a.

Th ere were o ri g i n al ly fo u r m em b ers o f t he LLC

— M es fi n Sh i b es hi

, Befek ad u,

Th o m as Tes h o m e, an d W o i n s h et Des t a. Sh i b eshi w a s t h e p res i d en t

, Befek ad u was t h e

t reas urer, Tes ho m e was t h e s ecret ary

, an d Des t a was a cas h ier. Al l o f t h e m em b ers

h ad co n t ri b u t ed at l eas t $ 7 ,0 0 0 .0 0 to b eco m e a p art o f t h e LLC. T h e LLC co n d u ct ed

b u s i n es s wi t h o u t a wri t t en o p erat i n g ag reem en t

.

I n 2 0 1 0

, Befek ad u w ro t e s ev eral ch eck s o n t h e LLC’ s acco u n t t hat wer e

al l eg ed l y n o t au t h o ri zed

, i n cl u d i n g a p ay m en t of ap p ro xi m at el y $ 2 0 ,0 0 0 t o h i m s el f.

Acco rd in g t o Sh i b es h i

, h e co n t act ed Befek ad u n um ero u s t i m es as k in g h i m t o ex p l ai n

t h e u n au t h o ri zed tran s act i o n s

, b u t Befek ad u di d n o t res p o n d

. I n Ap ri l 20 1 1

, b efo re

t h e l a ws ui t was fi l ed

, co u n s el fo r Ad d i s co n t act ed Larry Ol dh am

, t he at t o rn ey wh o

h ad s et u p t h e LLC, as k i n g fo r a co p y o f t h e o p erat i n g ag reem en t

. Ol d h am res p o n d ed

2t h at h i s wo rk o n b eh al f o f th e LLC co n si s ted o f fi l in g t h e art i cl es o f i n co rp o rat i o n an d

o b t ai n i n g an em

p l oy er id en t i fi cat i o n n u m b er, an d t h at h e n ev er p rep ared an op erat i n g

ag reem en t fo r t h e co m

p an y

. Ol d h am al s o n o t i fi ed co u n s el fo r Ad d i s t h at he wo u l d b e

rep res en t i n g Befek ad u i n t he d i s p u t e. In Decem ber 20 1 1

, Ad di s fi l ed s u i t ag ai n s t

Befek a d u

, s eek i n g t o reco v er t h e am o u n t s al l eg ed l y t ak en fro m t h e LLC, p l u s

at t o rn ey fees an d ex p en s es , an d p u n i t i v e d am ag es

.

Du ri n g t h e fi rs t t ri al

, Sh i b es h i was t he fi rs t w i tn es s an d Ol d h a m w a s c ro s s

ex am i n i n g h i m wh en t h e t ri al co u rt ex cu s ed th e ju ry fo r t h e d ay an d t h e fo l l o wi n g

t ran s pi red :

THE COURT: M r. Ol d h am

[COUNSEL] : Yes , Yo u r Ho n o r.

THE COURT: Tel l m e wh y y o u are n o t d i s q u al i fi ed fro m rep res en t i n g

t h e Defen d an t i n t h i s cas e.

[COUNSEL] : Yo ur Ho n o r, al l I d i d i s fo rm t h e - -

THE COURT: I do n ’ t care w h at al l y o u d id was

. W hy are y o u n o t

d i s q u al i fi ed ?

[COUNSEL] : I d o n ’ t b el i ev e t h at I am d i s q ual i fi ed

.

[ADDIS’ S COUNSEL] : W e req u es t ed t hat an d h e s ai d n o

.

THE COURT: Yo u ’ re d i s q u al i fi ed

. Yo u i n co rp o rat ed th i s co rp o rat i o n

an d n ow y o u ’ re u p h ere fu s s i n g ab ou t wh at was do n e an d wh en i t w as

d o n e an d h o w i t was d o n e. An d y o u r n a m e ap p ears o n al l t hes e

d o cu m en t s

. Th at ’ s a d i sq u al i fi cat i o n

. Yo u can ’ t d o i t o n b o t h s id es

.

3Yo u ’ re t ry i n g to d o i t o n b o t h s i d es

. . . . W h at d o t h e Pl ai n t i ffs wan t t o

d o ?

[ADDIS’ S COUNSEL] : W e’ re h ap p y t o l et h i m

b e d i s q ual i fi ed

.

THE COURT: Th en y o u’ re d is q u al i f i e d an d we’ l l h av e t o - - I wi l l

d i s ch arg e t h e ju ry

.

[COUNSEL] : Y o ur h o n o r

, I wo u l d l i k e to s ay t h at we d i d d i s cu ss t h i s

b ack earl y

o n . Al l t hat I d i d , o n b eh al f o f t h i s co m p an y , was t o - -

THE COURT: Th e m i n u t e y o u s ay

, al l t h at I d i d

, i s en o u g h t o d is qu al i fy

y o u

.

[COUNSEL] : Ok ay . I fi led t h e art i cl es o f i n co rp o rat i o n

.

THE COURT: Th at ’ s t h e ru l es

. L e t m e s a y t h i s. I’ v e ju s t b een

d i s q u al i fi ed fro m a cri m i n al cas e becau s e I rep res en t ed t h e v i c t i m ’ s

m o t h er i n 1 9 9 5. On ce y o u t o u ch i t

, y o u ’ re in t r o u b l e. So I’ m g o i n g t o

h av e t o d ecl are a m i s t ri al

.

Fo l l owi n g th e m i s t ri al

, t h e t ri al co u rt is s u ed an o rd er d i s q ual i fy in g Ol d h am as

co u ns el fo r Befek ad u

. T h e o rd er h el d t h at an at t o rn ey can n o t rep res en t a p art y ag ai n s t

a p art y h e h as p rev i o u s ly rep res en t ed

, an at t o rn e y c a n n o t cro s s -ex am i ne a wi t n es s

ab o ut m at t ers ari s i ng o u t o f h i s p rev io u s rep res en t at i o n of t h a t w i t n e s s

, an d an

at t o rn ey can n o t b e a wi t n es s i n a t ri al ex cep t fo r t h e i s s u e o f at to rn ey fees i n t h at cas e.

B e fek ad u fi l ed a m o t i o n fo r reco n s i d erat i o n o f t h e di s q u al i fi cat i o n o rd er i n w h i c h

Ol d ham s t at ed i n hi s p lace t h at t h e o n ly leg al s erv i ce h e h ad p ro vi ded t o t he LLC was

t h e fi l i n g o f t h e art i cl es o f i nco rp o rat i o n

, at Befek ad u’ s req u es t

. O l d h am al so s t at ed

4t h at t h e i s s u e o f di s qu al i fi cat i o n h ad b een di s cu ss ed wi th Ad d i s ’ s co u ns el an d t h at h e

h ad en co urag ed t h em t o fi l e a m o t i on wi t h t h e co u rt t o res o l v e t h e i s s u e, b u t t h at t h ey

h ad fai l ed t o d o s o

. Th ree d ay s l at er an d b efo re an y res p on s e was fi l ed b y Ad d i s

, t h e

t ri al co u rt d en i ed t h e m o t i o n fo r reco n s i d erat i o n

.

1

. Befek ad u co n t en d s t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred b y en t eri ng t h e di s q ual i fi cat i o n

o rd er i n t h e fi rs t t ri al an d l eav i n g h i m wi th n o p ract i cal al t ern at i v e b u t t o rep res en t

h i m s el f at t he s eco n d t ri al

. Becau s e t h e co rrect s t an d ar d s were n o t ap p l i ed to

d et erm i n e wh et h er Ol d h am s h ou l d h av e b een d is qu al i fi ed as co un s el fo r Befek ad u,

we rem an d t h e cas e t o t h e t ri al co u rt fo r co n s i d erat i o n o f t h i s i s su e p u rs u an t t o t h e

s t an d ard s o u t l i n ed i n t h i s o p i n i o n

. See Ber n o cch i v. Fo r cu cci

, 2 7 9 Ga. 4 6 0

, 4 6 3 -4 6 4

(2 ) (6 14 SE2 d 7 75 ) (2 0 0 5 ).

(a) In i t i al l y

, w e ad d res s Ad d i s ’ s arg u m en t t h at Befek ad u ’ s ap p eal o f t h e

d i s q u al i fi cat i o n o rd er s h o ul d b e d i s m i s s ed b ecau s e he d id n ot o b t ai n a cert ifi cat e o f

i m m ed i at e rev i ew at th e t i m e t h e o rd er was en t ered

. Al t h o u g h d i s q u al i fi cat i o n o rd ers

are in t erl o cu t o ry an d s ub ject t o t he i n t erl o cu to ry ap p eal p ro ced u re, “ rel i ef fro m an

erro neo u s d i sq ual i fi cat i on o rd er i s [al s o ] av ai l ab le o n ap p eal fro m a fi n al j u d g m en t .”

S e t t en do wn Pu b l ic Ut i l i t

y v. W a t er s ca p e U t i li t y

, 3 2 4 G a. Ap p

. 6 5 2

, 6 54

, 6 5 7 ( 7 5 1

5SE2 d 4 6 3) (2 01 4 ). T h u s

, Befek ad u ’ s ap p eal o f t h e d is q u al i fi cat i o n o rd er i s n ot

s u b ject t o d i s m i s s al fo r fai l u re t o p u rs u e an i nt erl o cu t o ry ap p eal

.

(b ) Nex t, we co n s i d e r B e f ek ad u ’ s co n t en t i on t h at Ad d i s h as wai v ed an y

p o s s i b l e g ro u n d s fo r di s qu al i fy i n g Ol d h am as hi s co u n s el

. Befek ad u co rrect l y p o i n t s

o u t t h at ev en i f a co n fl i ct o f in teres t ex i s t s

, s u ch co n fl i ct can b e wai v ed b y fai l i n g to

rai s e t h e i s s u e wi t h reas o n ab l e p ro m p t n es s aft er a p art y di sco v ers t h e fact s t hat wo u ld

s u p p ort a m o t i o n t o d i s q u al ify

. See Res ci g n o v. Ves a li

, 3 0 6 G a. Ap p. 6 1 0

, 6 1 3 (1 )

(7 0 3 SE2 d 6 5) (2 0 1 0 ). Here, h owev er, t h e d i s qu al i fi cat i on is s u e was rai s ed an d ru l ed

o n b y th e t ri al co urt b efo re an y p o t en t i al wai v er co u l d b e co ns i d ered

. On re m an d,

Befek ad u wi l l hav e t h e o p po rt u n i t y t o arg u e t h at Ad d i s w ai v ed an y co n fl i ct o f i n t eres t

an d h av e t h at i s s u e co ns i d ered b y t h e t ri al co u rt

.

(c) Fi n al ly

, we co n s id er wh et h er t h e t ri al co u rt p ro perl y di s q u al i fi ed

Befek ad u ’ s co u n s el

.

T h e r i g ht to co un s el i s an i m p o rt an t i nt eres t wh i ch req u i res th at a n y

cu rt ai l m en t o f t h e cl i en t ’ s ri g h t to co un s el o f ch o ice b e ap p ro ach ed w i t h

g reat cau t i o n

. In d et erm i n i n g wh et h er t o d i s q u al i fy co u n s el

, t h e t ri al

co u rt s h o ul d co n s i d er t h e p art icu l ar fact s o f t h e cas e, b al an ci n g t h e n eed

t o en s u r e et h i cal co n d u ct o n th e p art o f l awy ers ag ai n s t t h e l i t i g an t ’ s

ri gh t t o freel y ch o sen co u n s el

. W e rev i ew t h e co u rt ’ s ru l in g fo r ab u s e o f

d i s cret i o n

.

6Cl o ug h v. R i c h e l o

, 2 7 4 G a. Ap p

. 1 2 9

, 1 3 2 (1 ) (6 1 6 SE2 d 8 8 8 ) (2 0 0 5) (ci t at i o n an d

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

Co n trary t o t he t ri al co u rt ’ s d i s q u al i fi cat i o n o rd er, an at t o rn ey i s no t p rev en t ed

fro m “ t ak i n g em

p l o y m en t i n a cas e m erel y becau s e h e prev i ou s l y rep res en t ed

. . . an

o p p o s i t e p art y t o t h e cas e.” To o l e v. I. T. T. Gr i nn el l Co rp

. , 1 5 6 Ga. Ap p

. 5 9 1

, 5 9 2

(4 ) (2 7 5 SE2 d 9 7) (1 9 8 0) (ci t at i o n s an d p u n ct uat i on o m i t t ed ). An at t o rn ey i s

,

h o wev er, “ d is q u al i fi ed fro m rep res en t i n g a p art y ag ai n s t a fo rm er cl i en t i n a m at t er

t h at i s ‘ s u b s t an t i al l y rel at ed ’ to t h e l awy er’ s p ri o r rep res en t at i o n

. ” Res ci g n o

, 3 0 6 Ga.

Ap p

. at 61 2 (1 ) (ci t at i o n s an d fo o t n o t e o m it t ed ). 1 A su b seq u en t cas e m ay b e d eem ed

s u b s t an t i al l y rel at ed t o a p ri o r rep res en t at i o n i f t he t wo h av e m at eri al an d l o g i cal

co n ne c t i o n s

. Du va l l v. Bl ed s o e

, 2 7 4 Ga. Ap p. 2 5 6

, 2 5 9 (6 17 SE2 d 60 1 ) (2 0 0 5 ). In

ad d it i o n , Co m

m en t 3 t o Ru l e 1 .9 (a) p ro v i d es t h at :

1 See al so Ru l e 1 .9 (a) o f t h e Geo rg i a Ru les o f P r o f e s s i o n a l Co n d u ct wh i ch

p ro v id es as fo l l o ws :

A l awy er wh o h as fo rm erl y rep res en ted a cl i en t i n a m at t er

s h al l n o t t hereaft er rep res en t an o t h er p ers o n i n t h e s am e o r

a s u b s t a n t i al l y rel at ed m at t er i n wh i ch t h at p ers o n ’ s

i n t eres t s are m at eri al l y ad v ers e t o t h e i n teres t s o f t h e

fo rm er cl i en t u n l e s s t h e fo rm er cl i en t g i ves i n fo rm ed

co n s en t , co n fi rm ed i n wri ti n g

.

7M at t ers are “ s ub s t an t i a l l y rel at ed ” fo r p u rp o s es o f t h i s Ru l e i f t h ey

i n v o l v e t h e s am e tran s act i o n o r l eg al d i s p u t e o r i f t h ere o th erwi se i s a

s u b s t an t i al ri s k t h at co n fi d en ti al i n fo rm at i o n as wo u l d n o rm al l y h av e

b een o bt ai n ed i n t h e p ri o r rep res en t at i on wo u l d m at eri al ly ad van ce th e

cl i en t ’ s p os i t i o n i n t h e s u b seq u en t m at ter.

Acco rd in g ly

, o n rem an d

, th e t ri al co u rt sh o u l d d et erm i n e wh et her Ad d is c a n s h o w

t h at Ol d h am ’ s p ri o r l eg al s erv i ces o n b eh al f of th e LLC were s ub s tan t ial l y rel at ed to

Ad d i s ’ s l i t i g at i o n ag ai ns t Befek ad u.

An at t o rn ey i s al so d i s q u al i fi ed fr o m r e p r e sen t i n g “ a cl i en t ag ai n s t a fo rm er

cl i en t in an act i o n t h at i s o f t h e s am e g e n e r a l s u b ject m at t er, an d g ro w s o u t o f an

ev en t t hat o ccu rred du ri n g t h e t i m e of s u ch rep r e s en t at i o n.” Cr a m er v. Co u n ty of

S p a l d i n g

, 2 6 1 Ga. 57 0

, 57 1 (1 ) (4 0 9 SE2 d 3 0 ) (1 9 9 1 ), q u o t i n g Cr a wf o r d W

. Lo n g

Mem. Ho s

p

. v. Y er b y

, 2 5 8 Ga. 7 2 0

, 7 2 2 (3 ) (3 7 3 SE2 d 7 4 9 ) (1 9 88 ). Di s q ual i fi cat i o n

i n t h at s i t u at i o n i s l im i t e d t o cas es wh ere “ t h e l awy er was act iv el y rep res en t i n g t h e

p art y

. . . wh en t he ev en t s gi v i n g ri s e to t he cas e i n q u es t i o n o ccu rred .” Cr a mer

, 2 6 1

Ga. at 5 7 1 (1 ) (ci t at i o n o m i t ted ). Al t h o u gh i t do es n o t ap p ear fro m t h e ex i s t i n g reco rd

t h at Ol d h am w a s a c t i v e l y rep res en t in g t h e LLC wh en t h e ev en t s g iv i n g ri s e t o t h e

8cl ai m s ag ai n s t Befek ad u aro s e, we wi l l l eav e t h at d et erm i n at i o n fo r t h e t ri al co u rt o n

rem an d. 2

Th e t ri al co urt al s o ru l ed t h at an at t o rn ey m ay n ot b e a w it nes s i n a cas e ex cep t

fo r t h e i s s u e o f at t o rn ey fees in t h at cas e, 3 wh i ch i s n o t en t i rel y accu rat e. Ru l e 3 .7 (a)

o f t h e Geo rg i a Ru l es o f Pro fes s i o n al Co n du ct p ro vi d es t h at :

A l awy er s h al l n o t act as ad v o cat e at a t ri al i n wh i ch t h e lawy er is l i k el y

t o b e a n eces s ary wi t n es s ex cep t wh ere: (1 ) t h e t es t i m o n y rel at es to an

u n co n t es t ed is s u e ; (2 ) t h e t es ti m o n y rel at es t o t h e n at ure an d v al u e o f

l eg al s erv ices ren d ered i n t h e cas e; o r (3 ) d i s q ual i fi cat i o n o f th e l awy er

wo u ld wo rk s u b s t an t i al h ard s h i p o n t h e cl i en t

.

To s u s t ai n d i s q u al ifi cat io n u n der Ru l e 3 .7

, t h e p art y s eek i n g d i s q u a l i fi cat io n m u s t

s h o w t h a t t h e l a wy er “ i s li k el y t o b e a n eces s ary wi t n es s b y d em o ns t rat i n g t h at t h e

l awy er ’s t es ti m o n y i s rel ev an t t o d i s p u t ed

, m at eri al qu es t io n s o f fact an d t h at t h ere

i s n o o t h er ev i d en ce av ai l ab l e to p ro v e t h o s e fact s .” Cl ou g h

, s u pra, 2 7 4 Ga. Ap p

. at

2 Th e t ri al co u r t a l s o s t at ed t h at an at t orn ey can n o t cro s s -ex am i ne a wi t n es s

ab o ut m at t ers ari s i n g o u t o f h i s p rev io u s rep res en t at i o n o f t h at wi t n es s

. Th i s d o es n ot

ap p ear t o b e a s ep arat e bas i s fo r d i s qu al i fi cat i o n

, b u t m erel y t h e tri al co u rt ’ s rat i o n al e

fo r i t s d eci si o n t o d i s q u al i fy co u n s el b as ed o n h i s p ri or rep res en tat i on o f Ad d i s

.

3 O l d h am was l i s t ed i n t h e p ret ri al ord er as a wi t n es s t h e pl ai n t i ffs m ay h av e

p res en t at t ri al

, b ut h e h ad n o t t ak en t h e s t an d as a wi tn es s i n t h e cas e befo re h e was

d i s q u al i fi ed

. T h e tri al co u rt di d

, h o wev er, s u s tai n an o b ject i o n fro m co u n s el fo r Ad d i s

t h at Ol d ham was t es t i fy i n g d u ri n g Sh i b es h i ’ s cro s s -ex am i n at i o n an d s t o p p e d t h e

ex am i n at i o n at an o t h er p o i n t an d t o l d Ol d h am t h at h e was t es t i fy i ng

.

91 3 2 (1 ) (ci t at i o n

, pu n ct u at i o n an d f o o t n o t e o m i t t ed ). Th e t ri al co u rt s h o u l d em p l oy

t h es e s t an d ard s o n rem an d t o d et erm i ne wh et h e r t o d i s q u al ify Ol dh am o n t h e b as i s

o f t h e l awy er act i n g as a wi t n es s

.

Al t h ou g h an ev i d e n t i a r y h eari ng i s n o t req u i red b efo re co u ns el can b e

d i s q u al i fi ed

, S

h u tt l ewo r t h v. R a n ki n -S

h u t t lewo r t h o

f Ga

. , 3 2 8 Ga. Ap p 5 9 3

, 5 9 7 (2 )

(7 5 9 SE2 d 8 7 3) (2 0 14 ), i t i s n e c e s s a r y i n t h i s cas e t o al l o w th e p art i es t o s u bm i t

ev i d en ce i n s u p p o rt o f t h ei r p o s i t io n s b efo re t h e t ri a l c o u r t d et erm i n es wh et h er

d i s q u al i fi cat i o n i s ap p ro p ri at e. If, fo l l o wi n g t h a t h e a ri n g

, t he t ri al co u rt d et erm i n es

t h at d i s q u al i fi cat i on was ap p ro p ri at e, t h e t ri al co u rt s h al l rei ns t at e t h e ju dg m en t an d

Befek ad u wi l l h av e t he ri g h t t o ap peal t h at deci s i o n

. If t h e tri al co urt d et erm i n es t h at

d i s q u al i fi cat i o n w as n o t ap p ro p ri at e, t he ju d g m en t wi l l rem ai n v acat ed an d Befek ad u

wi l l h av e t h e ri g ht t o p u rs ue a n ew t ri al

. In ei t h er in s t an ce, t h e tri al co urt i s i n s t ru ct ed

t o i ss u e an o rd er wi t h n eces s ary fi n d i n g s o f fact

.

2

. W i t h res p ect t o t h e s eco n d t ri al

, Befek ad u co n t en d s t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred

b y n o t al l o wi ng h im t o b e rep res en t ed b y co u n s el o f h i s ch o i ce, al l o wi n g t h e ju ry to

h ear t es t i m o ny ab o u t h i s p ri o r co u ns el ’ s d i s q u al i fi cat io n

, o v erru l in g nu m ero u s

o b ject i on s

, al l o wi n g t h e j u ry t o en t er an i m p ro p er an d co n fu s i ng verd i ct

, fai l i n g to

g i v e ju ry i n s t ru ct i o n s t h at h ad been req u es t ed i n t h e fi rs t tri al

, an d fai li n g to d ecl are

10a m i s t ri al wh en t h e ju ry ret u rn ed a p un i t i v e d am ag es award d u ri n g t h e fi rs t p h as e o f

t h e t ri al

. Becau s e Befek ad u fai l ed t o s u p p o rt t h es e co n t en t i on s i n h i s ap pel l an t ’ s b ri ef

wi t h arg u m en t o r ci t at io n o f au t h o ri t y , h e ab an d o n ed t h em o n ap p eal

.

Befek ad u d i d n o t ad d res s t h e al l eg ed erro rs fro m t he s eco nd t ri al i n h i s i n i t i al

b ri ef, b u t d id s o i n h i s rep l y b ri ef. 4 Co u rt of A p p eal s Ru l e 25 (a) (3 ) p ro v i d es t h at t h e

ap p el l an t ’ s b ri ef s h a ll co n t ai n arg u m en t a n d ci t at i o n o f au t h o ri ti es

. W h ere an erro r

i s en u m erat ed b u t n o t d i s cu ss ed i n t h e b o d y o f t h e b ri ef, i t i s d eem ed ab an d o n ed

.

To b er ma n v. La r os e Lt d

. Pa r t n er s h i p

, 28 1 Ga. Ap p. 77 5

, 7 8 0 (3 ) ( 6 3 7 S E 2 d 1 5 8 )

(2 0 0 6); Co u rt o f Ap p eal s Ru l e 2 5 (c) (an y en u m erat i o n o f erro r t h at i s n o t s u p p o rt ed

i n th e b ri ef b y ci tat i o n of au th o ri t y o r arg u m en t m ay be d eem ed ab an do n ed ). On ce an

erro r has b een ab an d o n ed in an i n i t i a l b ri ef, i t can n o t b e res u rrect ed b y s u p p l y i n g

arg u m en t an d ci t at i o n o f au t h ori t y i n a rep l y bri ef. La n g v. B ech a m

, 2 4 3 Ga. Ap p

. 1 3 2

(5 3 0 SE2 d 7 4 6 ) (2 00 0 ); Ja cks o n v. S t a t e

, 21 3 Ga

. A p p

. 4 2 0

, 4 2 1 (4 4 4 SE2 d 8 5 4 )

(1 9 9 4). Th u s

, Befek ad u h as ab an d o n ed th e erro rs h e h as en u m erat ed wi t h res p ect to

t h e s eco n d t ri al

.

Ju d g men t va ca t ed a n d ca s e r ema n ded wi t h d i r ect i o n

. Ba r n es

, P. J., a nd Bo g g s

,

J., co n cu r

.

4 Befek ad u s t at ed t h at h e d i d no t ad d res s t h es e i s s u es i n h i s i n i t i al b ri ef b ecau s e

o f s p ace li m i tat i o n s

, b u t t here i s n o i n d i cat io n i n t h e reco rd t hat h e m o v ed to ex ceed

t h e p ag e l i m i t at i o n s as p ro vi ded fo r i n Co urt o f Ap p eal s Ru l e 2 5 (f).

11