THI RD DI VI SI ON
M I LLER, P. J.

, M CFA DDEN and M CM I LLI A N, JJ.

N O T IC E : M otions for r e c ons i de r a tion m us t be ph y sic a l ly r e ce iv ed i n our c le r k ’s offic e w ithin te n da y s of the da te of de c is ion to be de e m ed tim e ly file d.

http://w w w .ga a ppe a l s .us /r ule s

Nov em ber 15, 2016



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 6 A0 72 2

. D OUGLAS ASPHALT COM PANY v

. M ARTIN

M ARIETTA AGGREGATES et al

.

M C F A D D E N , J u d g e.

Do u gl as As p hal t Co m

p an y ap p eal s t h e gran t o f s u m m ary ju d g m en t t o M art in

M a r i et t a Ag g reg at es o n D o ug l as As p h al t Co m p an y ’ s co u n t ercl ai m fo r b reach o f

co n tract

. It al s o ap p eal s t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s d i s m i s s al o f i t s am en d ed co un t ercl ai m . W e

affi rm t h e ju d g m en t t o M art in M ari et t a Ag g reg at es b ecau s e Do u g l as As p h al t h as

fai l ed t o po i n t t o ev id en ce g iv i n g ri s e t o a t ri ab l e i s s ue. W e affi rm t h e d i s m i s s al o f t h e

am en d ed co u nt ercl ai m b ecau s e Do ug l as As p h al t di d no t o b t ai n l eav e o f co u rt b efo re

fi li n g i t

.

1

. Fa ct s

.M art i n M ari et t a Ag g reg at es fi l ed a s u i t o n acco un t ag ai n s t Do u g l as As p h al t

Co m p an y an d D o u g l as As ph al t Pav i n g , In c. It a lleg ed t h at D ou g l as As p h al t Co m p an y

o wed i t $ 5 4 7 ,0 5 6 on an o p en acco u n t / li n e o f cred i t u n d er wh i ch M art i n M ari et t a h ad

p ro v id ed ag g reg at e m at eri al t o Do u g l as As p h al t Co m p an y o n n u m ero us o ccas i o n s

.

It fu rt h er al l eg ed th at Do u g las A s p h al t Pav i ng was t h e s u cces s o r t o Do u g las As p h al t

Co m p an y an d h ad as su m ed i t s d eb t s

.

T h e d efen d an t s an s wered t h e co m p lai n t an d Do u g l as As p hal t Co m p an y fi l ed

a co u n t ercl ai m , al l eg in g t h at “ p u rs u an t t o o n e o r m o re ag reem en t s ” b et w een Do u g l as

As p hal t Co m

p an y an d M art i n M ari et t a, M art i n M ari et t a was req u i red t o p ro v i d e

ag g reg at e m at eri al wi t h i n a s p e c i f i c sch ed u l e, b u t

, o n n u m ero u s o ccas i o ns , i t h ad

fai l e d t o d o so

. Do u g l as As p h al t Co m p an y di d n o t s p eci fy t h e o ccas i o n s o n wh i ch

M art i n M ari et t a al l eg ed l y fai l ed t o m e e t a s p eci fi c s ch ed u l e, b u t in t he co u rs e o f

l i ti g at i o n , i t cl ari fi ed t hat i t s o ug h t d am ag es fo r d el ay s i n reg ard to sev en p art i cu l ar

p ro ject s t h at i t i d en ti fi ed as t h e Bran t l ey Co u n t y pro ject

, t h e M o n ro e Co u n t y p ro ject

,

t h e Cri s p / Tu rn er pro

j ect

, t h e Baco n / W are p ro je c t

, t h e Ap p li n g p ro

ject

, t h e

Ap p l i n g / W ay n e p ro

ject , an d t h e Barco -Du v al p ro ject

.

M art i n Mari et t a m o ved fo r s um m ary ju dg m en t o n t h e co u n t ercl ai m i n J u n e

2 0 1 0

. Am o n g o t h er arg u m en t s , M art in M ari et ta co n t en ded t h at i t was en t i t l ed to

2s u m

m ary ju d g m en t b ecau s e t h e p art i es had n o t en t ered an en fo rceab l e ag reem en t fo r

t h e s al e o f g o o d s an d th at Do u g l as As p h al t Co m p an y n ev er p ro d u ced t h e c o n t ract s

t h at u n d erl i e i t s co u n t ercl ai m

.

On No v em

b er 2 8

, 2 0 1 2

, m o re th an th ree y ears aft er fi l i n g i t s an s wer an d

co u nt ercl ai m , D o ug l as A s p h al t Co m p an y fi l ed an am en ded co u n tercl ai m , s eek i n g

rel i ef o n a th eo ry of p ro m i s s o ry es t o p p el

. It al l eg ed t hat it had rel i ed t o i t s d et ri m en t

o n M art i n M ari et t a’ s p ro m is es t o s u p p ly al l ro ck o n n u m ero u s Geo rg i a Dep art m en t

o f Tran s p o rt at io n co n t ract s

.

M art i n M ari et ta m o v ed t o d i s m i s s th e am en d ed co u nt ercl ai m as D o u g l as

As p hal t Co m

p an y h ad n o t o b t ai n ed l eav e o f co u rt b efo re fi l i n g i t

. Do ug l as As p h al t

Co m p an y t h en m o v ed fo r l eav e t o fi l e i t s am en ded co un t ercl ai m

.

In b ri ef o rd ers , t h e t ri al co u rt g ran ted M art i n Mari et t a’ s m ot i on fo r s u m m ary

ju d g m en t o n Do u g l as A s p h al t Co m p an y ’ s co u nt ercl ai m an d i t s m ot i o n t o d is m i s s t h e

am en d ed co u n t ercl ai m

. Aft er M art i n M ari et t a d i sm isse d its p en d i n g cl ai m s o n t h e s u i t

o n acco u n t , Do u g l as As p h al t Co m p an y fi l ed t h i s ap p eal

.

2

. S u mma r y j u d g men t

.

On s u m m ary ju d g m en t

, Mart i n M ari et t a, wh i ch wo u l d n ot b ear t h e b u rd en o f

p ro o f at t ri al o n Do u g l as As ph al t Co m pan y ’ s co u n t ercl ai m ,

3n eed no t affi rm at i v el y d i s p ro v e [Do u gl as As p h al t C o m p an y ’ s ] cas e;

i n s t ead

, t h e b u rd en o n [M art i n M ari et t a o n s u m m ary ju dg m en t ] m ay be

d i s ch arg ed b y p o i n ti n g ou t b y referen ce t o t he affi d av i t s , d ep o s i t i o n s

an d o th er d o cu m en t s i n t h e reco rd t h at t h ere is an ab sen ce o f ev i d en ce

t o s u p po rt [Do u g las As p h al t Co m p an y ’ s ] cas e. If [M art i n M ari et t a]

d i s ch arg es t h is b u rd en , [Do u gl as As ph al t Co m p an y as ] t h e n o n m o v i n g

p art y can n o t r e s t o n it s p l ead i n g s , bu t rat h er m u s t p oi n t t o s p eci fi c

ev i d en ce g i v i n g ri s e t o a t ri ab l e i s s u e.

BAC Ho m e Lo a ns Ser vi ci n g
, L.P. v. W

ed er ei t

, 2 97 Ga. 3 1 3

, 3 1 6 ( 7 7 3 S E2 d 7 1 1 )

(2 0 1 5) (ci t at i o n o m i t t ed ).

Here, Do u g l as As p h al t Co m p an y al l eg ed an u n s p eci fi ed n um b er o f b reac h e s

o f co n t ract ual t erm s rel at i n g t o s ev en p art icu l ar p ro ject s

. It arg u es t h at t wo d i fferen t

k i n d s o f co nt ract s b et ween M art i n M ari et t a an d Do u g l as As p h al t Co m p an y g o v ern ed

t h e s ev en p ro

ject s

. Th e fi rs t k i n d o f co n t ract was a jo b req u i rem en ts co n t r a c t

, i n

wh i ch M art i n M ari et t a wo u l d s u b m i t a q u o t at i on t o su p pl y t he m at eri al s fo r a s p eci fi c

jo b

. Acco rd i n g t o Do u g l as As ph al t Co m p an y , i f D o u g l as A s ph al t s el ect ed M art in

M ari et t a a s a s u pp l i er, t h en M art i n M ari et t a wo u ld p rep are a s al es o rd er an d

o ccas i o n al l y s en d an ack n owl ed g m en t o f o rd er to Do u gl as As p h al t Co m p an y fo r i t s

fi les

. Do u g l as As p h al t Co m pan y c o n t en d s t h at t h e Cri s p / T u rn er, Baco n / W are,

4Ap p l i n g , Ap p li n g / W ay n e, an d Barco -D u v a l p ro ject s at i s s u e i n t h i s cas e were

g o v ern ed b y

t h i s t y p e o f jo b -s p eci fi c ag reem en t

.

T h e s eco n d k i n d of co n t ract

, acco rd i n g to Do ug l as As p h al t Co m p an y , was a

“ p l an t req u i rem en t s ag ree m e nt. ” U nde r this ty pe of a gr e e m en t

, M art i n M ari et t a wo u ld

p ro v id e Do u g l as As p hal t Co m p an y wi t h a q u o t at i o n fo r t h e p ri ce per t o n o f m at eri al

fro m i t s q u arri e s f

o r a cert ai n p eri o d o f t i m e. Acco rd i n g t o Do u g l as As p h al t

Co m p an y , th e Bran tl ey Co u n ty an d M o nro e Co u n t y p ro ject s at i s s u e i n t h i s cas e were

g o v ern ed b y

t h i s t y p e o f ag reem en t

.

Do u gl as As p h al t Co m

p an y arg u es t h at bo t h ki n d s o f ag reem en t s are ev i d en ced

b y t w o ty p es of d o cu m e n t s : t h e q u o t at i o n t hat M art in M ari et t a wo ul d p ro v i d e to

Do u g l as As p h al t Co m

pan y an d ei t h er a s al es ord er or ack no wl ed g m en t o f o rd er t h at

M art i n M ari et t a wo u l d s u pp ly o n ce Do u g l a s As p h al t Co m p an y h ad accep t ed t h e

q u o t at i o n

. It arg u ed t h at u n d er OCGA § 1 1-2 -3 0 9, M art in M ari et t a h ad t o d el i v er t h e

m at eri al w i t h i n a reas on ab l e t i m e. It al s o arg u ed t hat th e part i es ’ co u r s e o f co n d u ct

es t ab l i s h ed t h at a reas o n ab l e d el i v ery t i m e was o n e week

.

To d is ch arg e i t s bu rd en o n s u m m ary j u d gm en t

, Mart i n M ari et t a p o i n t ed o u t by

referen ce t o t h e d o cu m en t s i n t h e reco rd t h at t here was an ab s en ce of ev i den ce o f an y

co n tract s rel at i n g t o t he sev en p ro ject s at i s s u e

. M art i n M ari et t a ob s erv ed t h at in

5res p o n s e t o i ts req ues t fo r d o cu m en t s ev i d en ci n g t h e p art i es ’ ag reem en t s , Do u g l as

As p hal t Co m

p an y p ro d u ced i n d i s co v ery m o re t h an 1 0 0 q u o tat i o n s an d s al es o rd ers

.

Bu t

, M art i n M ari et t a n ot ed

, Do u g l as As p h al t Co m pan y fai l ed t o l i n k t h e q u o t at i on s

an d s al es o rd ers t o an y

o f t h e s ev en p ro

ject s fo r wh ich i t s o u g h t d am ag es

.

Un d ou b t ed l y th e p art i es h ad a co n t ract ual rel at i o n s h i p s t em m i n g fro m t h e o p en

acco u n t /l i n e of cred i t ag reem en t u p o n wh i ch Mart in M ari et t a i n it ial l y fi l ed s u i t

. Bu t

Do u g l as As p h al t Co m

p a n y’s b r each o f co n t ract cl ai m d ep en d s u p o n ev i d en ce t h at

M art i n M ari et ta v i o l at ed t he co n t ract u al t erm s g o v ern i ng t h e sev en p ro ject s at i s s ue.

“ [A] s t h e p art y al l eg i n g th at a co n t ract ex is ts

, [Do u gl as As p h al t Co m p an y wo u ld

h av e] t h e b u rd en o f p ro vi ng i t s ex i s t en ce an d i t s t erm s .” Swa n s t r o m v. W el l s Fa rg o

Ba n k

, 3 2 5 Ga. Ap p

. 7 4 3

, 7 4 4 (2 ) (7 5 4 SE2 d 7 8 6) (2 0 1 4 ) (ci tat i o n o m i t t ed ). Do u g l as

As p hal t Co m

p an y al leg e d t h at M art i n Mari et t a was req ui red t o p ro v i d e ag g reg at e

m at eri al w i t h i n a sp eci fi c s c h e d u l e, b u t

, o n n um ero u s o ccas i o n s , i t h ad fai l ed t o d o

s o

. Yet i t h as fai l ed to p o i n t t o ev i d en ce o f t h e co n t ract u al t erm s i m p o si n g t he s p eci fi c

s ch ed u l es , o r, i n ot her wo rd s , t h e d at es b y wh i ch M art i n M ari et t a h ad t o d el i v er t h e

ag g reg at e m at eri al fo r t h es e s ev en p ro j ect s

. “ A co nt ract can n o t b e e n f o r ced i f i t s

t erm s are i n co m

p l et e, v ag u e, i n d efi n i t e[,] o r u n cert ai n.” Bu r n s v. Dees

, 2 5 2 Ga. Ap p.

5 9 8 , 6 0 1 -6 0 2 (1 ) (a) (5 5 7 SE2 d 3 2 ) (2 0 01 ) (ci tat i o n o m i t t ed ). An d al t h o u gh

6s o m e det ai l s m i g h t b e s u p p l ied un d er th e d o ct ri nes of reas o n ab l e t i m e

o r reas o nab l e req u i rem en t s [,]

. . . i nd efi n i t en es s [i s ] n o t cu red

. . . wh ere

t h e ag reem en t rel i ed u p o n was s o v ag u e, i n defi n i t e an d u n cert ai n as t o

m ak e i t im

p os s i b l e fo r co u rt s t o d et erm i n e wh at

, i f an y th i n g , was ag reed

u p o n , t h erefo re ren d eri n g i t i m p o ss i b l e t o d et erm i n e w h et h er t h ere h ad

b een p erfo rm an ce.

Ja cks o n v. W

i l l i ams , 20 9 G a. Ap p

. 6 4 0

, 6 4 2 -6 4 3 (1 ) (4 3 4 SE2 d 9 8 ) (1 9 9 3 ) (ci t at i on s

an d pu n ct u at i o n o m i t ted ) (fi n di n g co n s t ru ct i o n ag reem en t u n en fo rceab l e wh ere t h ere

was n o ag reem en t reg ard i ng th e m at eri al t o u se i n co n s tru ct i o n , t h e p reci s e l o cat i o n

o f t h e co n s t ru ct io n , t h e t i m e p eri o d fo r co ns t ru ct i o n). W i t h o u t p o i n t i n g t o ev i d en ce

o f t h e co n t ract u al ly req u i red d el i v ery d at es fo r t he m at eri al s fo r t h e s ev en p ro je c t s ,

Do u g l as As p h al t C o m

p an y can n o t s h o w t h at M art i n M ari et t a fai l ed t o d el i v er t h e

m a t e ri al s i n a t i m el y

m an ner; it h as n o t p o in t ed “ t o s p eci fi c ev i d en ce g iv i ng ri s e t o

a t ri ab l e i s s u e.” B

AC Ho me Lo a ns S

er vi ci n g , 2 9 7 G a

. at 3 1 6

. Do u g l as As p h al t

Co m p an y h as fai l ed t o o v erco m e M art i n M ari et t a’ s m ot i o n fo r su m m ary ju d g m en t

,

an d t h e t ri al co u rt d i d n o t err i n g ran t i n g t h e m o t i o n

.

3

. Amen ded

co u n t er cl ai m

.

Do u gl as As ph al t Co m

p an y h as n o t s h o wn t h a t t h e tri al co urt erred by

d i s m i s s i n g i t s am en ded co u n t ercl ai m

. OCGA § 9 -1 1 -1 3 (f) p ro v i d es , “ W he n a plead er

7fai l s t o s et u p a co u n tercl ai m t hro u gh o v ers i g h t

, i n ad v ert en ce, o r ex cu s ab l e n eg l ect

,

o r w h en ju s t i ce req u ires

, h e m ay b y l e a v e o f c o u rt s et up th e co u n t ercl ai m by

am en d m en t .” Al t h ou gh Do u gl as A s p h a l t C o m p an y fi l ed a m o t i o n seek i ng l eav e to

am en d t h e co u n t e rcl ai m , i t d i d n o t o bt ai n s uch l eav e b efo re fi l in g th e am en d ed

co u nt ercl ai m ; t h e reco rd co n tai n s n o ru l i n g on t h e m o ti o n

. T h e t ri al co u rt

, t herefo re,

d i d n o t err in d i s m i s s in g t h e am en d ed co un t ercl ai m

. Bel l a my v. FDIC

, 2 3 6 G a. Ap p.

7 4 7

, 7 4 9 -7 50 (b ) (5 1 2 SE2 d 67 1 ) (1 9 9 9) (d efen d an t ’ s n ew t heo ri es were ad d i t i o n al

g ro u nd s fo r co m

p u l so ry co un tercl ai m an d

, th u s , were n ew co u n tercl ai m s wh i ch were

b arred wi t h o u t fi rs t o b t ai n i n g l e a v e o f co u rt ); Co r nel i u s v. Au t o An a l ys t

, 2 2 2 Ga.

A p p

. 7 5 9

, 7 6 2 (3 ) (4 7 6 SE2 d 9 ) (1 99 6 ) (OCGA § 9 -1 1 -1 3 (f) ap p l i e s t o b o t h

co m p u l s o ry an d p erm i ss i v e co u n t ercl ai m s ; al t h ou g h d efen d an t so u gh t leav e t o fi l e

ad d i t i o n a l c o u n tercl ai m s , h e d i d n o t o bt ai n l eav e b efo re fi li n g t hem

, s o t ri al co u rt

p ro p erl y d i s m i s sed t h em ); Co n er l y v. Fi r s t Na tl

. B a n k

, 2 0 9 Ga. Ap p

. 6 01

, 6 0 3 -6 0 4

(3 ) (4 3 4 SE2 d 14 3 ) (1 9 9 3 ) (“ Th e s eco n d co un t ercl ai m fi l ed h ere in v o l v ed t o tal l y n ew

t h eo ri es ” bas ed u po n t h e s am e fact s as th e u n d e r ly i n g co m p l ai nt an d fi rs t

co u nt ercl ai m , s o d efen dan t h ad t o o b t ai n l eav e b efo re fi l i n g i t .).

8Ju d

g men t a f fi r med

. McMi l l i a n
, J., c o n cu r s a nd Mi l l er

, P

. J., co n cu r

s i n t h e

j u d g men t o n l y.

9