SECOND DI VI SI ON

M I LLER, P. J.

, DOYLE, P. J.

, and REESE, J.

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

M ar ch 2, 2018



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 7 A1 52 0 . W ILSON v . PERKINS.

R E E S E
, J u d g e.

M at t h ew W i l s on ap p eal s t h e g ran t o f a fi n al o rd er of a m o d i f i c at io n o f ch i ld

cu s t o d y reg ard i n g m i no r ch i l d E

. W

., an d t h e award o f at t o rn ey fees t o Deb ra Perk in s

.

He arg u es , i n t er al i a, t h at : (1 ) t h e r e w a s n o m at eri al ch an g e i n ci rcu m s t an ces

warran t i n g a ch i l d cu s t o d y m o d i fi cat i o n act i o n ; (2 ) t h e tri al co u rt erred i n ad m i t t i n g

ev i d en ce o f h i s n ol o co nt en d re p l ea; (3 ) t he t r i a l c o u rt erred i n ad m i t t in g h arm fu l

an d /o r cl earl y erro n eo us h eari ng t es ti m o n y ; an d (4 ) t h e award of at to rn ey s fees was

i m p ro p er. Fo r t h e fo l l o wi ng reas o n s , we rev ers e i n p art

, v acat e in p art

, an d rem an d.

W i l s o n an d Perk in s are fo rm er s po u ses wh o di v orced i n 2 0 1 2 an d were

award ed jo i n t l eg al an d p h y s i cal cu s to d y o f E. W., b o rn i n 2 0 0 9

. In 2 0 1 2

, Perk i n sd eci d ed t o m o v e t o Fl ori da, an d W i ls o n p et i t io n ed to m od i fy cu s t o dy of E. W

. W i l so n

was award ed p ri m ary

p h y s i cal cu s t o d y

o f E. W ., wi t h Perk in s recei v i n g v i si t at i on

.

In 2 0 14

, Perk in s ’ s m o t her, C

. G

. , co n t act ed l o cal l aw en fo rcem en t ab o ut

b ru i s es fo u n d on t h e b u t t o ck s area o f E. W . A Ci t y o f Dal las p at ro l o ffi cer wro t e in

a fam i l y v io l en ce rep ort i s su ed i n c o n n ect i o n wi t h th e i n v es t i g at i o n , “ I o b s erv ed

s ev eral bru i s es o n [E. W

. ] a r o u n d t h e b ut t o ck s an d u p p er l eg area. I as k ed [E. W .]

wh ere t he b ru is es cam e fro m

. [E. W .] t o l d m e h is d ad h i t h i m wi t h a b el t a co u p l e o f

d ay s ag o b ecau s e h e t o o k s o m et h i n g t h at w as n o t h is .” W il so n wa s a r r e s t ed an d

c h a rg ed wi t h o n e co u n t each o f fam i l y v i o len ce b at t ery an d b at t ery an d two c o u n t s

o f s i m p l e b at t ery

ag ai n s t E. W . Perk i n s s o u gh t an d o b t ai ned a t em p o rary p ro t ect i v e

o r d e r o n b eh al f o f E. W

. In D ecem b er 2 0 1 4

, W i l s o n an d Perk in s , each wi t h o u t

at t o rn ey rep res en t at i o n , m et wi t h a ch u rch p as t or an d s ig n ed a d o cu m en t wh erei n t h ey

ag reed t o s h are jo i n t l e g a l an d p h y s i cal cu s t o dy o f E. W

., an d Perk i n s ag reed to

d i s m i s s t he p ro t ect i v e o rd er.

2W i l s o n en t ered a n o l o co n t e n d ere p l ea as t o o ne co u nt o f fam i l y v i o l en ce

b at t ery ag ai n s t E. W

. o n M ay 4

, 2 0 1 5

. 1 Su b s eq u en t l y , t h e p art i es ex ecu t ed a co n s en t

fi nal ord er, as t o cu s t o d y

o f E. W . wh i ch was fi l ed o n J u n e 3 , 2 0 1 5

.

W i l s o n was arres t ed i n earl y J u n e 2 01 5

, an d i n carcer a t e d o n c h arg es o f

ag g rav at ed as s au lt

, fal s e i m p ri s o n m en t

, an d sex u al b at t ery ag ai n s t an ad u l t fem al e,

S. G. W i l s o n rem ai ned i n carc e r a t e d u n t i l Au g us t 20

, 2 0 1 5

. W i l so n t es t i fi ed t h at h e

co n tact ed Perk i n s u p o n h i s rel eas e fro m i n carcerat i o n , i n ten d i n g t o p ick u p E. W

.

W h i l e W i l s o n was i n carcerat ed

, Perk i n s fi l ed a p et i t io n t o m o d i fy cu s t o d y , o f E. W

.

o n J u n e 1 5 , 2 0 1 5

.

Perk i n s o bt ai n ed a t em

p o rary p ro t ect i v e o rd e r o n b eh al f o f E. W

. ag ai n s t

W i ls o n o n Au gu s t 2 1, 2 0 1 5

. In S e p t e m b e r 2 0 1 5

, aft er a heari ng , a fam i l y v i o l en ce

t wel v e-m o n th p ro t ect i v e ord er was en tered o n beh al f o f E. W

. t h ro u g h Sep t em b er

2 0 1 6

. 2 In J an u ary 2 01 6

, W i l s o n p et i t i o n ed t o m o d i fy th e t em p o rary p ro t ect i v e o rd er

i n t he Su p eri or Co urt o f Co b b Co u n t y , an d was d en i ed

.

1 On e co u n t o f b at t ery an d t wo co un t s of si m p l e b at tery were m erg ed i n t o t h e

o n e co u n t o f fam i l y

v i o l en ce b at t ery

.

2 Up o n t h e p et i t i o n o f Perk i n s , t h i s p ro t ect i v e o rd er was e x t e n d ed fo r s ix

m o nt h s

.

3At t h e cu s t o d y m o d i fi cat i o n h eari n g i n Decem b er 2 0 1 6

, Perk i n s t es t i fi ed

, t h at

aft er t h e i s su an ce o f t h e perm an en t p ro t ect i v e o rd er, W i l so n t w i ce fi l ed p et i t i o n s , in

Pau ld i n g Co un t y M ag i s t rat e Co u r t t o h av e warran t s i s s u ed ag ai n st Perk i n s fo r

cu s t o d i al i n t erferen ce reg ard i n g E. W . Sh e fu rt h er t es t i fi ed t hat on e o f t he p et i t i on s

was d en i ed an d t h e o t h er d i s m i s s ed

.

W i l s o n an d t h e wo m an he h ad b een accu sed o f as s au l t i n g , S. G., b o th t es t i fi ed

t h at t h e ch arg es ag ai n s t W i l s o n reg ard i n g S. G. h ad b een d ro p p ed an d ex p u n g ed fro m

h i s reco r d

. W i l so n t es t i fi ed th at h e d i d n o t cau s e t h e b ru i s es fo un d o n E. W

. He

fu rt her t es t i fi ed t h at h e b el i ev es “ i n s p an k i n g ” ch i l d ren an d “ [d o es n ’ t ] s ee an y t h i n g

wro ng w i t h i t .” He t es t i fi ed t hat Perk i n s , i n t h e p as t

, h ad b ro u g h t u p h er co n cern s to

h i m ab o u t s p an k i ng E. W

.

Aft er t h e cu s t o d y h eari n g , t he t ri al co u rt g ran t ed Perk i n s ’ s req u es t fo r t h e

m o di fi cat i o n o f cu s t o d y o f E. W

., fi n di n g t hat a m at eri al ch an g e i n ci rcu m s t an ces h ad

o ccu rred s i n ce t he J u n e 3 , 2 0 1 5 fi n al o rd er. Th e t ri al co u rt g ran t ed Perk i n s p ri m ary

p h y s i cal cu s to dy

o f E. W . an d t erm i n at ed W i l s o n ’ s v is it at i o n

.

W i l s o n ap p eal s , arg ui n g t h at t here was n o t a m at eri al ch an ge i n ci rcu m s t an ces

warran t i n g a m o d i f

i c a t i o n o f t h e cu s t o dy o rd er, t h e t ri al co u rt i m p ro p erl y ad m i t t ed

4ev i d en ce t h at was preju d ici al t o W i l s o n , an d t he award o f at t o rn ey fees i n t h e am o u nt

o f $ 2 7,2 3 0 .8 5 t o Perk i n s was i m p ro per.

Gen eral ly

,

[a] t ri al co u rt faced wi t h a p et i t i on fo r m o d ifi cat io n o f ch i ld cu s t o d y i s

ch arg ed wi t h ex erci s in g i t s d i s cret i o n t o d et erm i n e wh at i s in t h e ch il d ’ s

b es t i n t eres t. A t ri al co u rt ’ s d eci s i o n reg ard in g a ch an g e i n

c u s t o d y / v is i t at i o n wi l l b e u p h el d o n ap peal u nl es s i t i s s h o wn t h at th e

co u rt cl earl y ab u s ed i t s d i s c r et i o n

. W h ere t h ere i s an y ev i d en ce t o

s u p p o rt t h e tri al co u rt ’ s ru l i n g o n cu s to d y o r v is i t a t i o n , a rev i ewi n g

co u rt can no t s ay

t h ere was an ab u s e o f d i s cret i o n

. 3

Al s o ,

t h e b e s t i n t eres t s o f t he ch i l d are co n t ro l l in g as t o cu s to d y ch an g es

. W h et h er p art i cu l ar ci rcu m s t an ces warran t a ch an g e i n cu s t o d y i s a fact

q u es t i o n d et erm i n ed u nd er t h e u n iq u e s i t u at i o n i n each in d i v i du al cas e.

In co n t em

p lat i n g a cu s t o d i al ch an g e, th e t ri al co u rt m u s t ex erci s e i t s

d i s cret i o n t o d et erm i ne wh et h er a ch an g e i s i n t h e b es t in t eres ts o f th e

ch i l d

. Th e ci rcu m s t an ces war r a n t i n g a ch an g e i n cu s to d y are n o t

co n fi n ed to t h o s e o f t h e cu s t o d i al p aren t : an y n ew an d m at eri al ch an ge

i n ci rcu m s t an ces t h at affect s t h e ch i ld m u s t al s o b e co n s id ered

. 4

3 M a r ks v. S o l es , 3 3 9 Ga. Ap p

. 3 8 0 (7 9 3 SE2 d 5 8 7) (2 0 1 6 ) (ci t at i o n s an d

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

4 Nea l v. Hi bb a r d

, 2 9 6 Ga. 8 8 2

, 8 8 4 (1 ) (7 7 0 SE2 d 6 0 0 ) (2 0 1 5 ) (ci t at i o n s an d

p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t e d ) ; s e e a l s o OCGA § 1 9 -9 -3 (a) (2 ) (“ Th e ju d g e m ay t ak e i n to

5“ W e are m i n d fu l t h at th e So l om o n i c t as k o f m ak i n g cu s t o d y d eci s i o n s l ies s q u arel y

u p o n t h e s h o u l d ers o f t h e j u d ge wh o can s ee an d h ear t h e p art i es an d th ei r wi t n es s es ,

o b s e r v e t h ei r d em ean o r an d at t i t ud es , an d as s es s t h ei r cred i b i l i t y .” 5 W i t h t h e s e

g u i d i n g p ri n ci p l es i n m i n d , we t u rn n o w t o W i ls o n ’ s s p eci fi c cl ai m s o f erro r.

1

. W i l s on arg u es t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erre d i n ad m i t t i n g an d co n s i d eri n g

ev i d en ce o f h i s n o l o co n t en dere p l ea o f fam i l y v i o l en ce b at tery ag ai n s t E. W

. d u ri n g

t h e ch i l d cu s t o d y an d m o d i fi cat i o n h eari n g an d

, as a res u l t, t h ere was n o ev i d en ce to

s u p p ort a fi n d i n g o f a m at eri al ch an g e i n ci rcu m s t an ces . W e ag ree.

Geo rg i a l aw p ro v i d es “ [e] x cep t as o t herwi s e p ro vi d ed b y l a w , a p l ea o f n o lo

co n ten d ere s h al l no t b e u s ed ag ai n s t t h e d efen d an t in an y o t h er co u rt o r p ro ceed i ng s

as an ad m i s s i o n o f g u i l t o r o t h erwi se o r fo r a n y p u rp o s e[.] ” 6 Th i s Co u rt h as

co n si d erat io n al l t h e ci rcu m s t an ces o f t he cas e, i ncl u d i n g th e i m p ro v em en t o f t h e h eal t h o f t h e part y s eek i n g a ch an g e i n cu s to d y p ro v i s i o n s , i n d et erm i n i ng to wh o m

cu s t o d y o f t h e ch i ld s h ou l d b e award ed

. Th e d ut y o f t h e ju d g e i n al l s u ch cas es s h al l

b e t o ex erci s e d i s cret i o n to l o o k t o an d d et erm i n e s o l el y wh at i s fo r t h e b es t i n t eres t

o f t h e ch i l d an d wh at w i l l b es t p ro m o t e t h e ch i ld ’ s wel fare an d h ap p i n es s an d t o m ak e h i s o r h er award acco rd i n g ly .”).

5 B a n ks t o n v. W

ar b in g t o n , 3 3 2 G a. Ap p

. 2 9

, 3 0 (7 7 1 SE2 d 7 26 ) (2 0 1 5 ) (ci t at i o n an d p u nct u at io n o m i t ted ).

6 OCGA § 1 7 -7 -9 5 (c) (em p h as is s u p p l i ed ).

6p rev i o u s l y h el d

, i n t h e co n t ex t o f a ch il d m o d i fi cat io n p ro ceed i n g , a n o l o co n t en d ere

p l ea can n o t b e u s ed ag ai n st a d efen d an t fo r an y p u rp o se. 7

Th e reco rd r e f

l e c t s th at t h e t ri al co u rt

, o v er W i ls o n ’ s o b j ect i on , al l o wed

Perk i n s t o p res en t ev i d en ce o f h i s no l o co n t en d ere pl ea, st at in g “ [t h e t ri al co u rt wi l l ]

al l o w i t fo r p urp o s es of ex p lai n i n g [Perk i n s ’ s] co n d u ct .” Fu rt h er, t h e t ri al co u rt

, i n i t s

fi nd i ng s o f fact i n i t s fi n al m o d i fi cat i o n o f ch i l d cu s t o d y o rd er, fo u nd W i l so n

“ u t il i ze[d ] i n ap p ro p ri at e p u ni s hm en t t act i cs wh i l e [E. W

. ] [was ] i n h i s cu s t o d y an d

co n tro l ” an d W i l s o n “ [was ] o v erl y h ars h p h y s i cal l y , an d en g ag e[d ] i n p h y s i cal l y

p u n i t i v e b eh av i o rs t o ward [E. W .] t h at [were] i n ap p ro p ri at e an d h u rt fu l .”

Th e al l eg ed ab u s e t h at res u l t ed i n t h e n o l o co n t en dere p l ea t oo k p l ace b efo re

t h e J u n e 3

, 2 0 15 co n sen t cu s t o d y o rd er. Th u s, t h e t ri al co urt erre d i n a d m i t t i n g t h e

ev i d en ce t o t h e ex t en t i t co n s i d ered t he ab u s e wh en d eci di n g wh et h er th ere h ad b een

a m a t e r i al ch an g e of ci rcu m s t an ces s i nce J u n e 2 0 1 5

. Th e n o l o co n t en d ere p l ea i s

7 Va ug hn v. S ta

f f o r d

, 30 6 Ga. Ap p

. 5 3 6

, 5 3 8 (7 0 2 SE2 d 7 6 1) (2 0 1 0 ) (Th e t ri al

co u rt was no t au t h o ri zed

, u n d er OCGA § 1 7 -7 -9 5 (c), t o co n s i d e r a p a ren t ’ s n o lo

co n ten d ere p l ea o f cru el t y t o a ch i l d i n t h e t h i rd d eg ree i n a m o d i f i c a t i o n o f ch i ld

cu s t o d y p ro ceed i n g .).

7i n ad m is s i b le b ecau s e, u n l i k e a g u i l t y p l ea, a n o l o co n ten d ere p l ea i s n o t an ad m i s s i o n

b y W i l so n o f h av i n g co m

m i t t ed t h e act s at i s s u e. 8

Des p i t e Perk in s ’ s as s ert i o n s t o t h e co n t rary , n ei t h er t he t ri al co u rt

, n o r Perk i n s

i n h er b ri ef, h as p o i n t ed t o an y ex cep t i o n to O CGA § 1 7 -7 -9 5 (c) t h at i s ap p l i cab l e

h ere. 9 It fo l l o ws t h at th e t ri al co u rt erred i n ad m i t t i n g W i l s o n ’ s n o l o co n t en d ere p l ea

d u ri n g t h e h eari n g

. 1 0

Fu rt her, t h e t ri al co u rt fo un d t h at W i l s on “ h a[d ] a h is to ry o f p hy s i cal l y ab u s i n g

[E. W .] b y u s i n g co rp o ral p un i s h m en t t o t h e ex t en t t h at b ru i s es [were] left o n [E. W .]

o n m o re t h an o n e o ccas i o n o v er t h e p as t sev en (7 ) y ears .” Ho wev er, t h e t ri al co u rt d id

n o t i d en t i fy

, i n i t s J an u ary 2 6

, 2 0 1 7 m o di fi cat i o n o rd er, a n y s p eci fi c i n st an ce o f

W i ls o n “ p h y s i cal l y ab u s i n g” E. W

. s in ce th e en try o f t h e Ju n e 3, 2 0 15 ch i l d

m o di fi cat i o n o rd er. Th is Co u rt h as s t at ed t hat

,

[a ] p e t i t io n t o ch an g e ch i l d cu s t o dy s h o u ld b e gran t ed o n l y i f t h e t ri al

co u rt fi n d s t hat t h ere h as b een a m at eri al ch an g e o f co n di t i o n affect i n g

t h e wel far e o f t h e ch i l d s i n ce t h e l as t cu s t o d y award

. If t h ere h as b een

8 Id

.

9 See OCGA § 1 7 -7 -9 5 (c); s ee al so Va u g h n , 3 0 6 Ga. Ap p. at 5 3 8

.

1 0 See Va ug h n , 3 0 6 Ga. Ap p . at 5 3 8

.

8s u ch a ch an g e, t h en th e co urt s h o u ld b as e i t s n e w cu s t od y d eci si o n o n

t h e b es t i n t eres t o f t h e ch i l d

. 1 1

Becau s e th e t ri al co urt d i d n o t i d en t i fy an y ev en t s t h at o ccu rred aft er th e en t ry

o f t h e Ju n e 3

, 2 0 1 5 ch i l d m o di fi cat i o n o rd er t h at d em o n st rat ed a m at eri al ch an g e in

ci rcu m s t an ces affect i ng th e wel fare o f E. W

. , 1 2 an d th e tri al co u rt erred i n co n s i d eri n g

W i ls o n ’ s n o lo co n t en d re p l ea, we co n cl ud e t h at t he t ri al co u rt ab u s ed i t s d i s cret i o n

i n m o d i fy i n g t h e J un e 3

, 2 0 15 cu s t o d y o rd er an d a w a r d i n g cu s t o dy o f E. W

. to

Perk i n s

. Acco rd i n g ly

, we m us t rev ers e t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s J an u ary 2 6

, 2 01 7 m o d i fi cat i o n

o rd er.

2

. W i l s o n arg u es t h at t h e t ri al co urt erred i n award i n g at t o rn ey fees t o Perk in s

.

Perk i n s arg u ed s ev eral b as es fo r t h e award of at t orn ey fees at t ri al

, an d t h e t ri al co u rt

o rd ered at t o rn ey fees u n d er “ OCGA [§ § ] [9 ] -1 5-1 4 , 1 9 -6 -2 [an d ] 1 9 -9 -3 .” 1 3 Fo r t h e

1 1 Lyn ch v. Ho rt o n , 3 0 2 G a. A p p

. 5 9 7

, 6 0 0 (4 ) (6 9 2 SE2 d 3 4) (2 0 1 0 ) (ci t at i o n

an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed , em p h as i s s u p pl i ed ).

1 2 See Hel m v. Gr a h a m , 2 4 9 G a. Ap p

. 1 2 6, 1 2 9 (5 4 7 SE2 d 3 4 3 ) (2 0 0 1 ) (“ If t h e

o ri g i nal cu s t o dy ord er h as b een m o d ifi ed

, t h e fo cu s s h i ft s t o t h e l a t e s t cu s t o dy

award [.] ”); s ee OCGA § 1 7 -7 -7 5 (c); s ee al s o V a ug h n , 3 0 6 Ga. Ap p

. at 5 3 8.

1 3 V i s ku p v. Vi s ku p , 2 91 Ga. 1 0 3

, 10 7 (3 ) (7 2 7 SE2 d 9 7 ) (2 0 1 2 ). (OCGA § 1 9

- 6 -2 (a) i s i n ap p li cab l e t o ch il d cu s t o dy m o d i fi cat i o n act i o n s .).

9reas on s s h o wn b el o w, we co n cl u d e t h at at l eas t s o m e of t h e at to rn ey fees award ed to

Perk i n s were n o t au t h o ri zed

.

As an i n i t i al m at t er, “ an o rd er award i n g at t o rn ey fees p urs u an t t o [OCGA § 9

-

1 5 -1 4] m u st s p eci fi cal l y s tat e wh et h er t h e award is m ad e u n d er OCGA § 9 -1 5 -1 4 (a)

o r (b ).” 1 4

[T] h e co u rt m

u s t m ak e ex p res s fi n di n gs o f fact an d co n cl u s io n s of l aw

as t o th e s t at u t o ry b as i s f o r a n y s u ch award an d t h e co n d u ct wh ich

wo u ld au th o ri ze i t

. Sp eci fi ci t y i n t he award is i m p o rt an t b ecau s e th e

s t an dard s o f ap p el l at e rev i ew are d i fferen t u n d er each s u b s ect i o n: th e

s t an dard u n d er su b s ect i on (a) i s t h e an y ev i d en c e r u l e ; t h e s t an dard

u n d er s u b s ect i o n (b ) i s ab u se o f d is cret i o n. 1 5

Th e t ri al co urt ’ s o rd er s t at ed t h at W i ls o n ’ s c l a i m fo r p ri m ary p hy s i cal cu s t o d y o f

E. W

. wh i l e a fam i l y v i o l e n c e p ro t ect iv e o rd er o n b eh al f o f E. W

. was i n effect

,

s h o wed “ a co m

p let e ab s en ce of an y ju s t i ci ab l e i s su e o f l aw o r fact t hat i t i s n o t

reas on ab l e t o b el iev e [t h e t ri al co u rt ] wo u l d accep t t h e as sert ed cl a i m ” an d “ l ack s

s u b s t an t i al ju s ti fi cat i o n an d was i n t erp o s ed fo r d el ay an d h aras s m en t

. ”

1 4 La n d r y v. W a l s h

, 3 4 2 Ga. Ap p

. 2 8 3

, 2 8 6 (2 ) (8 0 1 SE2 d 5 53 ) (2 0 1 7 ) (ci t at i o n

o m it t ed ).

1 5 F u l t o n Co u n t

y S ch o ol Di s t

. v. Her

s h

, 3 2 0 G a. Ap p

. 8 0 8, 8 1 4 -8 15 (2 ) (7 4 0

SE2 d 7 6 0) (2 0 1 3) (ci t at i o n s an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ).

10Ho wev er, t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s award o f at t orn ey fees do es n o t ad d res s t h e

reas on ab l en es s of t he at t orn ey fees o r s peci fy t h e p o t en ti a l l y s an ct i on ab l e co n d u ct

u n d er OCGA § 1 9 -9 -3 (g ). 1 6 F u rt h er, t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s o rd er award i n g at t o rn ey fees

u n d er OCGA § 9 -1 5 -1 4

, d i d n o t i d en t i fy th e s ub s ect i o n o f t he s tat u t e u n d er wh i ch t h e

t ri al co u rt award ed th e at t o rn ey fees

. 1 7 Al s o , al t h ou g h t h e reco rd refl ect s th at t h e t ri al

1 6 See Mo o r e v. Mo or e-McKi n n ey , 2 97 Ga. A p p

. 7 0 3

, 7 1 2 (4 ) (6 7 8 SE2 d 1 5 2 ) (2 0 0 9) (“ OCGA [§ ] 1 9 -9 -3 (g )

. . . affo rd s w i d e d i s cret i on t o th e t ri al co urt t o award

r e as o n ab le at t orn ey fees an d ex p en ses i n ch i l d cu s t o d y act i o n s t o b e p ai d b y t h e

p art i es i n p ro p o rt i o n s an d at t i m es d et erm i n ed b y t he ju d g e.”) (p u n ct u at i o n an d

fo o t n o t e o m i tt ed ).

1 7 OCGA § 9 -1 5 -1 4 (a) s t at es : In an y ci v i l act io n i n an y co u rt o f reco rd o f t h i s s t at e, reas o n ab l e an d

n eces s ary at to rn ey ’ s fees an d ex p en s es of li t i g at io n s h al l b e award ed t o

an y p art y ag ai n s t wh o m

an o t h er part y h as as s ert ed a cl ai m , d efen s e, o r

o t h er p o s i t io n wi t h res p ect t o w h i ch t h ere ex i st ed su ch a co m p l et e ab s en ce o f an y ju s t ici ab l e i s s u e o f law o r fact th at it co ul d n o t be

reas o n ab l y bel i ev ed t h at a co u rt wo ul d accep t t h e as s e r t ed cl ai m , d efen s e, o r o t h er p o si t i on

. At t o rn ey ’s f e e s an d ex pen s es s o award ed

s h al l b e as s es s ed ag ai ns t t h e p art y as s ert i n g s u ch cl ai m , d efen s e, o r o t h er

p o s i t i o n , o r ag ai n s t t h at p art y ’ s at to rn ey , o r ag ai ns t b o t h i n s u ch m an n er

as i s ju s t

.

OCGA § 9 -1 5 -1 4 (b ) s t at es : Th e co u rt m ay as s es s reas o n ab l e an d n eces s ary at t o rn ey ’ s fees a n d

ex p en s es of l i t ig at i o n in an y ci v i l act i on i n an y co u rt o f reco rd i f, u p o n

t h e m o t i o n o f an y pa r t y o r t h e co u rt i t s el f, i t fi n d s t h at an at t o rn ey o r

p art y b ro u g h t o r defen d ed an act i on , or an y p art t h ereo f, t h at l ack ed

s u b s t an t i al ju s t i fi cat i o n o r t h at th e act i o n, o r an y p art t h e reo f, w as i n t erp o s ed fo r d el ay o r h aras s m en t

, o r if i t fi n d s t h at an at t o rn ey o r p art y

11co u rt i s s ued an o rd er fo r an ev i d en t i ary heari n g p u r su an t t o OCGA § 9 -1 5 -1 4 to

ad d res s Perk i n s ’ s m o t i o n fo r at t o rn ey fees , an ev i d en t i ary

h eari n g d i d n ot o ccu r. 1 8

Pret erm it t i n g t h e ab o v e, i n l i g h t o f o ur ru l i n g i n Di v i s i o n 1

, s u p ra, Perk i n s d id

n o t p rev ai l o n t h e m o di fi cat i o n p et i t i on an d we v acat e h er award o f at t o rn ey fees t h at

d i rect l y aro s e fro m h er J u ne 1 5

, 2 0 1 5 ch i l d cu s t o d y m od i fi cat i o n p et i t i o n

. 1 9 W e

rem an d t h i s cas e fo r t h e tri al co u rt t o reco n s i d er t h e award o f at t orn ey fees in

acco rd an ce wi t h t hi s o p i n i o n

. 2 0

u n n eces s ari l y ex p an d ed t h e p ro ceed i n g b y o t h er i m p ro p er c o n d u ct

, i n cl u d i n g , b u t n o t l i m i t ed t o , ab u s es o f d is co v ery p ro ced u res av ai l ab l e

u n d er Ch ap t er 1 1 o f t h i s t i t l e, t h e “ Geo rg i a Ci v i l Pract i ce Act .” A s u s ed

i n t h is Co d e sect i o n, “ l ack ed s u b s t an t i al ju s t i fi cat io n ” m ean s

s u b s t a n t i al ly fri v o l o u s , s u b s tan t i al l y g ro u n d l es s, o r su b s t an t i al l y

v ex at i o u s

.

1 8 See El l i s , 2 9 0 Ga

. a t 3 4 0 ( 2 ) (b ) (Un d er OCGA § 9-1 5 -1 4 (b ), a p art y i s

en t i t l ed t o an ev i d en t i ary h eari n g t o “ co n fro nt an d ch al l en g e t h e v al u e an d t h e n eed

fo r l eg al s erv i ces cl ai m ed .”)

1 9 Bl u men s h i n e v. H

a l l

, 3 2 9 Ga. Ap p

. 4 49

, 4 5 4 (5 ) (7 6 5 SE2 d 6 4 7 ) (2 0 1 4 ) (“ W h en a part y seek i n g at t orn ey fees h as fai l ed t o p res en t a n e s s e nt i al el em en t o f

p ro o f, b u t t h e t ri al co u rt n ev ert h el es s awar d e d at t o rn ey fees

, we hav e co n s i s t en t l y

rev ers ed o r v acat ed t h at p o rt i o n o f t h e ju d g m en t award i n g t h e at to rn ey fees an d

rem an ded t h e cas e t o t h e t ri al co u rt t o h o l d an ev i d en t iary h eari n g t o al l o w t h e p art y , i f p o s s i b l e, t o cu re t h e m at t er.”)

2 0 Id

.

123

. Bas ed o n o u r co n cl u s i o n i n Di vi s i o n 1

, s u p ra, we n eed no t ad dres s W i l s o n ’ s

rem ai n i n g cl ai m s o f erro r.

Ju d g men t r ever

sed i n p a r t a n d va ca t ed i n p a r t

, a n d ca s e rema n ded wi th

d i r ect i o n. Mi l l er

, P. J., a n d

Do yl e, P. J., co ncu r

.

13