T HIRD DIVISIO N

BA RNES, P. J

., BO G G S a n d BRA NCH, J J

.

NO T I C E : Mo ti o n s fo r reco n si d erati o n mu st b e

p h ys i cal

l y r ecei ved i n o u r c l e rk’ s o ffi ce w i th i n ten

d a ys o f th e d a te o f d eci s i o n to b e d eemed ti mel y fi l ed

.

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. g aap p eal s. u s/ ru l es/

O c t o b e r 2 1 , 2 0 1 4



# I n t h e C o u rt

o f Ap p eal s o f Geo rg i a

A 14A 0873. CI T Y OF S T O CK B RI DGE v

. S T UA RT

, I N H I S

OF F I CI A L CA P A CI T Y A S T H E M A Y OR OF T H E CI T Y OF

S T O CK B RI DGE

.

B OGGS

, J u dg e.

T h e Ci ty of S tockbr i dg e ( “ th e ci ty ”) appeal s f r om a tr i al cou

r t or der g r an

ti n g L ee

S t u ar t, th e th en M ay or of th e Ci t y o f S t ockbr i dg e ( “ th e m ay or ”)

, i n ju n cti ve a n d

decl ar ator y r el i ef

, an d attor

n ey f ees

, i n this di s pu

t e i n v ol v i n g th e ex ten s i on of Ray

Gi b s on ’ s em

pl oy m en t con tr act as th e ci ty adm

i n i s t r ator

. 1 F or th e f

ol l owi n g r eas on s

, we

af f i r m

.

1 I n th e s am e or d er

, th e tr i al cou r t den i ed th e ci ty ’ s p e t it io n f or a wr i t of

m an dam u s

. The cr os s

- appeal s i n th i s acti on wer e or i g i n al l y f i l ed i n th e Geor g i a

S u p r em e Cou r t, bu t th at cou r t f ou n d th at th e den i al of m

an dam u s r el i ef i s m

oot becau s e

th e m ay or “ h as l ef

t o f f i ce an d a n ew ci ty adm

i n i s tr ator h as been appoi n ted. ” T h e cou

r t

th en tr an s f

er r ed th e appeal of th e i n

j u n cti v e an d d ecl ar ato r y r e l i ef an d awar d of

attor n ey f ees t o th i s cou

r t on th e g r ou

n d th at th o s e i s s u es ar e n ot wi th i n i ts ju r i s di cti on

.T h e r ecor d r ev eal s th at i n A pr i l 2011, th e m ayo r a nd c it y cou n ci l adopted an

or di n an ce cr eati n g th e pos i ti on of ci ty adm i n i str ator

. T h i s or di n an ce, wh i ch am en ded

th e ci ty ’ s Code of Or di n an ces

, pr ov i ded th at th e m ay or d es i r ed t o del eg ate cer tai n of

h i s power s an d du

ti es to th at pos i ti on pu

r s u an t to S ecti on 3. 21 of th e S tockbr i dg e Ci t y

Ch ar ter ( “ th e ch ar

ter ”) ( 1991 Ga. L aws 4359- 4392)

. T h e n ew or d i n an ce al s o pr ov i ded:

( a) Wi th i n si x ty ( 60) day s of a v acan cy i n th e p o s it ion of ci ty

adm i n i s tr ator

, th e m ay or s h al l r eco m m en d to t

h e cou n ci l at l eas t ( 2)

qu al i f i ed can di date( s ) f

or th e pos i ti on of ci t

y adm i n i s tr ator

. I n th e ev en

t

th e cou n ci l r ejects th e m ay or ’ s r ecom m en ded can di dates

, th e m ay o r s h al l

h av e an addi ti on al f

i f teen ( 15) day s t o i n

ter v i ew qu al i f

i ed can di dates an d

m ake addi ti o n al r ecom

m en dati on s t o th e cou

n ci l

. T h e cou

n ci l m ay accept

or r eject th e m

ay or ’ s addi ti on al r ecom

m en d ed can di d ates

.

( b ) T h e counc i l s h al l em

pl oy a ci ty adm

i n i s tr ator pu

r s u an t to a wr i t ten

con tr act an d s h al l f

i x th e ci ty adm

i n i s tr ator ’ s com

pen s ati on th er ei n

. S ai d

adm i n i s tr ator s h al l s er

v e at t h e pl eas u r e of th e m ay or an d ci ty cou n ci l

. .

. .

I n M ay 2011, t

h e ci ty adopted a r e s o luti on appr ov i n g t h e appoi n tm en t of Ray

Gi b s on as ci ty adm

i n i s tr ator

. T h e r es ol

u ti on p r ov i ded t

h at th e m ay or “ wi sh es to appoi n t

Ray Gi b s on to f

i l l th e v acan t pos i ti on of Ci ty A dm i n i str ator t

h r o u g h Decem

ber 31,

2011. ” T h e ci ty ’ s con

tr act wi th Gi bs on pr ov i ded th at t h e t er m o f em pl oy m en t w as f r om

2M ay 3, 2011 to D ecem ber 31, 2 011, an d al s o p r ov i ded th at ci t y adm i n i s tr ator s er

v es

at th e pl eas u

r e of th e m ay or an d ci ty cou n ci l ; t h at t h e m ay or m ay r ecom

m en d, an d t

h e

ci ty cou n ci l m ay r em ov e or s u s p en d, th e ci ty adm i n i str ator ; an d th at “ th e M ay or m ay

r ecom m en d an d u

pon h i s r ecom

m en dati on

, th er eaf

ter th e Ci ty Cou

n ci l m ay ter

m i n ate

Ci ty A dm i n i s tr ator ’ s em

p l oy m en t at an y t i m e, a s p r o vid e d i n th i s A g r eem en t. I f t h e

Ci ty Cou n ci l ter m i n ates th e Ci ty A dm

i n i s tr ator ’ s em

pl oy m e n t, th en th i s A g r eem en

t

s h al l ter m i n ate. ”

I n D e c e m

b e r 2011, th e ci ty cou n ci l

, by r es ol

u t i on

, ex ten ded Gi bs on ’ s

em pl oy m en t con tr act f or th r ee m on th s

, u n ti l M ar ch 3 0, 2012. T h e m ay or di d n ot s i g n

th i s r es o l u

ti on

, bu t th e par ti es ag r ee th at h e acqu i es ced i n th i s ex ten s i on of Gi bs on ’ s

con tr act.

On M ar ch 5, 2012, h owev er

, th e m ay or s u bm i tted two can di dates f

or Gi bs on ’ s

pos i ti on f or con s i der ati on by th e ci ty cou n ci l i n accor dan ce wi th th e o r di n an ce, becau s e

i n h i s v i ew, th e pos i ti o n wou l d be v acan t as of M ar ch 31, 2012. B u t du r i n g a m eeti n g

th e day af ter th e m ay or ’ s s u bm i s s i on

, th e ci t

y cou n ci l i n t r odu ced a r es ol

u ti on to ex ten d

Gi b s on ’ s con

tr act to Decem

b e r 3 1

, 2 013. T h e m ay or ag ai n r ef u s ed to s i g n t

h e

3r es ol

u ti on

, 2 an d on M ar ch 26, 2012, h e f i l ed a v er i f

i ed com p l ai n t aga ins t th e ci t

y

s eeki n g an i n

ter l ocu t or y i n ju n cti on

, a decl ar ator

y ju dg m en

t, an d attor

n ey f e es

.

S u b s equ en tl y

, on A pr i l 3, 201 2

, t h e m ay or ag ai n pr es en ted h i s n om

i n ati on s f or t h e

pos i ti on of ci ty adm

i n i str ator to th e ci ty cou

n ci l

.

T h e m ay or ’ s com

pl ai n t s ou g h t a decl ar ati on th at th e ci ty cou n ci l ’ s acti on s to

ex ten d Gi b s on ’ s con

tr act wer e i l le ga l a nd u l tr a v i r es

, an d to tem por ar i l y an d

per m an en tl y en joi n th e ci ty f

r om th e “ i l l eg al appoi n

tm e nt o f R ay Gi bs on as Ci t y

A dm i n i s tr ator bey o n d M ar ch 30, 2012. ” T h e m ay or al s o s ou g h

t to en joi n th e ci ty f

r om

f i l l i n g t h e pos i ti on of ci ty adm

i n i s tr ator ex cept i n accor d an ce w i th th e o r di n an ce.

F ol l owi n g t

h r ee h ear i n g s on th e m atter

, t h e tr i al cou

r t en ter ed an o r der g r an

ti n g

th e m ay or a per m an en t i n ju n cti on

, r es t

r ai n i n g an d en

joi n i n g th e ci t

y f r om “ taki n g an

y

acti on th at i n an

y way r el i es on th e v al i di ty of t h e ex ten s i on of G i bs on ’ s ter m of of f i ce

or h i s em pl o y m en t con tr act as Ci ty A dm

i n i s tr ator

. ” T h e cou

r t al s o g r an ted th e m ay or ’ s

r equ es t f or a d ecl ar ator

y ju dg m en t f i n di n g t h at th e acti o n s by t

h e ci ty cou

n ci l

s eeki n g to u

n i l ater al l y ex ten d th e Con tr act of Ray G i bs on wer e wi th ou t

au th o r i ty

, wer e ultr a vir es

, an d ar e v oi d. Ray G i bs on ’ s Con tr act ex pi r ed

2 E ach r es o l u

ti o n to ex ten d Gi bs on ’ s e m p lo y m en t con t r act pr ov i ded th at t

h e

r es ol u ti on was “ ef

f ecti v e on th e date of i ts appr ov al by th e Ci ty Cou n ci l an d M ay or as

pr ov i ded i n th e Ci ty Ch ar ter

. ”

4by

i ts ter m s on M ar ch 31, 2012, an d th e r es ol u ti on s eeki n g to ex ten d

h i s

Con tr act i s n u l l an d v oi d. I t i s f

u r th er decl ar ed th at o n l y th e M ay or m ay

n om i n ate o r appoi n

t i n di v i du al s to th e pos i ti on of Ci ty A dm i n i str ator an d

th e Ci t y Cou n ci l m ay th en accept or r eject s u ch n om i n ees

.

F i n al l y

, t h e cou r t awar ded t

h e m ay or attor

n ey f ees pu r s u an t to B os w ell v. B r amlett

, 274

Ga. 50, 5 2- 53 ( c) ( 549 S E 2d 100) ( 2001)

.

1. W h i l e a n a ppeal f

r om th e r el i ef g r an

ted to th e m ay or i s ar g

u abl y m oot n ow

th at Gi b s on i s n o l o n g er em pl oy ed by th e ci t

y

, 3 w e m u s t n ev er th el es s addr es s t

h e m er i ts

of th e ci ty ’ s appeal i n l i g h t of th e tr i al cou

r t’ s awar d o f attor

n ey f ees to th e m

ay or on

th e g r ou n d th at h e “ was s u cces sf

u l i n as s er

ti n g h i s pos i ti on .” S ee B a bies R ight Star t

v. Ga. D ept. of

P ublic Health

, 293 Ga. 553, 555 ( 2) ( a) ( 7 48 S E 2d 404) ( 2013) ( cl ai m s

f or i nju n cti v e r el i ef to stop d i s qu al i f i cati on an d f

or a decl ar ator

y ju dg m en

t th at

di s qu al i f i cati on w as i m

pr oper

, wer e m

oot becau se t er

m of di s q u a lif

i cati on ex pi r ed;

r el i ef wou l d h av e n o ef

f ect) ; s ee al so Gr een P

ar ty of T ennes see v. Har

g ett

, 2014 U.

S

. A pp. L E XI S 16207 ( I I ) ( E ) ( 1 ) ( 6th Ci r

. 2014) ( pu r s u an t t o f eder al s tatu

te al l owi n g

attor n ey f ees f or “ pr ev ai l i n g p ar

ty

, ” wh er e pl ai n

ti f f s s u cceed i n obtai n i n g r el i ef s ou g h t,

3 I t i s u n di s pu ted th at th e Gi bs on i s n o l on g er em pl o y ed as ci ty adm

i n i str ator an d

th at S t u ar t i s n o l on g er m ay or

. T h e par ti es as s er t th at Gi b s on v o l u

n tar i l y l ef t of f i ce on

M ay 24, 2012.

5ev en t h o ugh i n ter v en i n g ev en

t r en der ed cas e m

oot on appeal

, pl ai n

t i f f s ar e s ti l l

“ pr ev ai l i n g p a r t i es ” f or p u r p os es of attor

n ey f ees ) ; Donovan v. T

he P unxs utaw ney A r ea

School B d.

, 336 F

. 3d 211, 2 18 ( I V) ( 3r d Ci r

. 2003) ( al th ou g h cl ai m f or decl ar ator

y an d

i n ju n cti v e r el i ef i s m

oot, attor n ey f ee cl ai m p r es en

ts l i v e con tr ov er s y )

. Com

par e B abies

R ight Star t

, s u

pr a ( pr ay er f

or a t t o r ne y f

ees wi th ou

t actu al awar d of f

ees

, does n ot

pr ecl u de a deter

m i n ati on th at cas e i s m

oot)

.

2. T h e ci ty ar g

u es th at th e tr i al cou

r t er r ed i n g r an

ti n g th e m ay or i n

ju n cti v e an d

decl ar at o r y r e lief

. “ T h e g r an

t or d en i al of i n

ju n cti v e r el i ef i s a m atter wi th i n t h e

di s cr eti o n of th e tr i al cou

r t, an d appel l ate r ev i ew of th e tr i al cou r t’ s deci si on i s l i m

i ted

to a deter m i n ati on of wh eth er th e tr i al cou r t abu s ed i t s di scr eti on

. ” ( Ci tati on om i tted. )

T eague v. City of Canton

, 267 Ga. 679, 680 ( 1 ) ( 482 S E 2d 237) ( 1997)

. A n d “ [ i ] n a

decl ar ator y ju dg m en

t acti on

, th e tr i al cou

r t i s s peci f i cal l y au th or i zed to g r an

t i n ju n cti v e

r el i ef to pr es er

v e th e s t atu s qu o pen di n g t h e adju di cati on on th e m er i ts

. ” ( Ci tatio n s

om i tted. ) Scott v. P

rime Sales & L eas ing

, 276 G a. A pp. 283, 287 ( 2) ( 623 S E 2d 167)

( 2 005)

.

We beg i n o u

r an al y s i s wi th th e r el ev an t p r ov i s i on s of th e S tockb r id ge Ci t y

Ch ar ter

. S ecti on 3. 22 ( 2 ) of th e ch ar te r p r o vid e s th at th e m ay or s h al l “ [ a] ppoi n t an d

r em o v e, f or cau s e, wi th con f

i r m ati on of appoi n

tm en t or r em ov al by th e cou

n ci l

, al l

6of

f i cer s

, depar

tm en t h eads

, an d em

pl oy ees of t

h e ci ty ex cept as oth er

w i s e p r ov i ded i n

th i s ch ar ter

. ” A n d S ecti on 3. 21 pr ov i d es th at t h e m ay or “ s h al l h av e th e au th or i t y to

del eg ate an

y on e o r m o r e ex ecu

ti v e or adm

i n i s t r ati v e p ower s to a per s on o r per s on s

em pl oy ed by th e ci ty

an d qu al i f

i ed i n m an ag em en

t an d adm i n i str ati on

. ”

T h e r ecor d h er e r ev eal s th at on A pr i l 18, 2011, th e m ay o r

, pu r s u an t to S ecti on

3. 21 of th e ch ar

ter

, d el eg ated cer tai n of

h i s au t h o r i t y an d power s by o r di n an ce to t h e

pos i ti on of ci t

y ad m in i str ator

. T h e m ay or th en

, pu r s u an t to th e ci ty cou

n ci l ’ s M ay 2

,

2011 r es ol

u ti on

, appoi n

t ed Gi bs on to th e p os i t i on

, an d th e ci ty cou n ci l appr ov ed th at

appoi n tm en t. T h e ci t y th en en ter ed i n to an em pl oy m en t con tr act wi th Gi bs on ef

f ecti v e

M ay 3, 2011 to Decem

b e r 3 1

, 2 0 11. T h e r es ol

u ti on an d con

tr act both pr ov i ded or

an ti ci pated th at G i

bs on ’ s c o nt r act wou l d ter m i n ate on Decem

ber 31, 2011. A

n d t h e

par t i es ei th er con s en

ted to, or acqu i es ced i n

, th e ex ten si on of Gi bs on ’ s con tr act th r ou g h

M ar ch 3 0, 2 012. T h e qu es t i on pr es en ted h er e, t h en

, i s wh eth er th e ci ty cou n ci l h ad t h e

au th or i ty to u

n i l ater al l y ex ten d Gi bs on ’ s con tr act b ey on d t

h e en d of th e con

tr act ter m

.

T h e ci ty ar g

u es th at o n l y th e ter

m s o f Gi bs o n’ s c o nt r act ex pi r ed an d th at h i s

appoi n tm en t n ev er ex pi r ed, th at both th e ch ar

ter an d th e or di n an ce g av e th e ci ty cou n ci l

th e f i n al au th or i ty to h i r e an d f

i r e th e ci ty adm

i n i str ator

, an d th at wh i l e t h e or di n an ce

i s s i l en t r eg ar di n g th e pr ocedu

r e to t er m i n ate th e ci ty adm

i n i s tr ator

, i t m

u s t be as s u

m ed

7th at S ecti on s 3. 22 ( 2) an d 4. 10 ( e) ( cou n ci l m ay ov er

r i de m ay or ’ s s u s pen s i on or

r em o v al of di r ector s) of th e ch ar

ter g ov er n s ter m i n ati on s.

Gi b s on ’ s em

pl oy m en t con tr act w i th th e ci ty pr ov i des t h at i t can be ex ten ded “ on

a day to day or m

on t h to m on th b as i s i n a s epar ate wr i t ten A g r eem en t ex ecu ted by both

par t i es i f appr ov ed by th e Ci ty pu r s u an t to th e pr ocedu

r e al l owed f

or by th e Ch ar

ter an d

Or di n an ces of th e Ci ty

. ” B u t n ei th er th e ch ar

ter n or th e or di n an ce pr o v i de a p r ocedu r e

f or th e ex ten s i o n of a ci ty em pl o y ee’ s con

tr act. T h e pr ocedu

r e f or th e employment of

a ci ty em pl oy ee, h o w ev er

, i s g ov er n ed by th e ch ar

ter

- th e m ay or appoi n

t s an d th e ci t

y

cou n ci l con f i r m s

- wh i ch i s con s i s ten

t wi th both th e or di n an ce’ s cr eati o n of th e pos i ti on

of ci ty adm

i n i s tr ator an d ci ty cou

n ci l ’ s appr ov al of th e m ay or ’ s appoi n tm en t of Gi bs on

.

Wh i l e th e or di n an ce pr ov i des th at wi t h i n 60 day s of a v acan cy

, t h e m ay or sh al l

r ecom m en d can di dates to f

i l l th e pos i ti on wh i ch t

h e ci ty cou

n ci l can accept or r eject,

an d t h e ci ty cou

n ci l poi n ts to oth er l an g

u ag e i t cl ai m s g i v es i t th e au th or i ty h i r e an d f

i r e

th e ci ty adm

i n i s tr ator

, n ei th er th e l an g u ag e r el i ed u

pon b y t he c it y n or an

y oth er

l an g u ag e i n th e or di n an ce, r es o l u ti on

, or con

tr act, can al ter th e m ay or ’ s a uth or i ty to

appoi n t a ci ty em pl oy ee p u r s u an t to th e ch ar

ter

. “ Wh at can n ot be don e by an or di n an ce

can n ot be d on e by con

tr act. ” ( Ci tati on an d pu

n ctu ati on o m

i tted. ) CSX T

rans p. v City

of G ar den City

, 277 G a. 248, 249 ( 1) ( 588 Ga. A pp. 688) ( 2003)

.

8T h e ci ty ar g u es th at becau s e th e em

p l oy m en t con tr act was b etween Gi bs on an d

th e ci ty

, an d t

h e ch ar ter g r an ted th e ci ty cou

n ci l th e p ower to con

tr act on beh al f of t

h e

ci t y, th e ex ten s i o n o f Gi bs on ’ s con tr act was wi t

h i n th e ci ty cou

n ci l ’ s power

. Wh i l e

pu r s u an t to S ecti o n 1. 12 ( b) ( 7 ) o f t he ch ar t er

, th e ci t

y h as th e power to en

ter i n to

con tr acts wi th pr i v ate per s o n s

, th at power i s n o t u n l i m i ted. S ee City of

M cDonough v.

Campbell

, 289 Ga. 216, 218 ( 2) ( 710 S E 2d 537) ( 2011)

. T h e con tr act h er e, f

or t h e

pos i ti on of ci t

y adm i n i s tr ator

, ex i s ts by v i r

tu e of th e m ay or ’ s del eg ati on of h i s au th o r i t y

an d h i s p ower to appoi n

t of f i cer s an d em

pl oy ees of th e ci ty

. T h er ef or e an y em pl oy m en t

of G i bs on

, bey on d wh at was p r ov i ded f or i n th e ch ar

ter an d or d ina nc e, m

u s t be

g ov er n ed by th e s am e p r ocedu

r e s et f o r th i n th e ch ar

ter f or th e m ay or ’ s del eg ati on of

au th or i ty an d power to appoi n t. T h e ci ty cou l d n ot ex ten d th e m ay or ’ s del eg ati on of h i s

adm i n i s tr ati v e power s wi t

h ou t h i s per m i s s i on to do s o. Cf

. i d. ( w h i l e ch ar

ter al l ows ci t

y

to en ter i n to con tr acts o f em

pl oy m en t, i t cou l d n ot bi n d h an ds o f s u cces s or cou n ci l s )

.

T h er e i s n o ev i den ce h er e th at th e m ay or del eg ated h i s pow e r s a nd au th or i ty to t

h e

pos i ti on o f ci ty adm

i n i s t r ator af ter M ar ch 30, 2012, n or i s th er e e vid e nc e of an y

appoi nt m e n t a n d con f

i r m ati on of Gi bs on to th e pos i ti on af ter th at date. Rath er t

h e

ev i den ce s h owed th at th e m ay or ex pr es s l y del eg ated h i s a ut ho r i ty to th e pos i ti on

th r ou g h Decem

ber 31, 2011, an d acqu i es ced i n t h e s am e th

r ou g h M ar ch 30, 2012.

9I n pr ov i di n g th at em pl oy ees of t

h e c it y ar e appoi n

t ed ( an d r em o v ed) by

con f i r m ati on

, th e ch ar

ter an ti ci pates th at th e m ay or an d ci ty cou n ci l wi l l act i n con cer t.

Nei th er par

ty cou l d act al on e in t he ex ten s i on of Gi bs on ’ s con tr act. 4 S ee City of

Jones bor o v. Shaw

- L i ghtcap, I nc.

, 112 Ga. A

p p. 890, 892 ( 1) ( 147 S E 2d 65) ( 1966)

( w h en ch ar

ter au th or i zed g ov er

n m en tal acti on b y m ay or an d cou n ci l as a body

, m ay or

cou l d n ot act al o n e to bi n d ci t y )

. T h e ci ty was th er ef

or e wi th ou

t au t h or i ty to u n i l ater al l y

ex ten d Gi bs on ’ s con

tr act bey on d th at d ate. S ee i d

.

B ecau s e th e ci ty cou

n ci l cou l d n o t u

n i l ater al l y ex t en d Gi bs on ’ s con t r act, th e tr i al

cou r t di d n o t er

r i n con cl u di n g th at an

y ex ten s i on bey on d M ar ch 3 0, 2012, was u l tr a

v i r es

, or v oi d, an d i n g r an

ti n g th e m ay or th e r el i ef s ou g h t. S ee, e. g

. , City of B aldw in v.

W oodar d & Cur ran

, 2 93 Ga. 19, 27 ( 2) ( c) ( 743 S E 2d 381) ( 2013) ( ci ty con tr act u l tr a

v i r es an d v o i d wh er e m

ay or s i g n ed bu

t ci ty cou n ci l n ev er appr ov ed as r equ i r ed by t h e

ci ty ch ar ter )

. T h i s h ol di n g

th er ef or e r equ i r es u s to con s i der th e tr i al cou r t’ s awar d of

attor n ey f ees

.

4 We n o te th at S ecti on 2 .10 of th e ch ar t er p r ov i des th at t

h e l eg i s l ati v e au

th o r i t y

of th e g ov er

n m en t o f th e ci ty

, u

n l es s oth er

wi s e pr ov i ded, i s v es ted i n a ci t y cou n ci l

com pos ed of th e m ay or an d f

i v e cou n ci l m em ber s.

103. T h e ci ty ar g u es th at th e tr i al cou

r t er r ed i n awar di n g th e m

ay or attor n ey f ees

i n th e am ou

n t s t ated becau s e th e f

ees wer e n ot s u

ppor ted by com

peten t ev i den ce, an d

th e au th or i t y al l owi n g f

or f ees s h ou l d n ot appl y to a ci ty of f i cer

. T h e m ay or ’ s v er i f

i ed

com pl ai n t con t ai n ed a pr ay er f

or attor n ey f ees an d cos ts o f l it i gati on

. T h e par ti es

wai v ed a h ear i n g on t

h e i s s u e an d ag r eed to pr es en t ar g u m en t r eg ar di n g attor

n ey f ees

by br i ef an d af

f i dav i t

. T h e m

ay or ’ s c o u

n s el th en f

i l ed an af f i dav i t as s er

ti n g th at t h e

l eg al wor k h e pr ov i ded to t

h e m ay or am ou

n ted to $22, 29 7

. 0 0 i n attor n ey f ees an d

$ 5 2 2. 21 i n cos ts

, an d th at th e am ou n t b i l l ed to th e m ay or was “ r eas on abl e an d

appr opr i ate i n th e l eg al m ar ketpl ace. ” A

ttach ed to cou

n s el ’ s a f f i dav i t i s an i n

v oi ce

l i s ti n g th e dates of s er

v i ce, th e tas k com

pl eted, t h e h ou r s ex pen d ed, t he c os t f

or t h e

h ou r s ex pen ded, an d

th e i n i ti al s of th e attor

n ey wh o p er f

or m ed th e tas k.

A f ter con s i der ati on of th e ev i den ce, th e tr i al cou r t awar d ed th e m

ay or $8, 500 i n

at t o r n ey f ees

, l es s th an h al f of th e am ou n t r equ es ted, i n accor dan ce wi th B os w ell

,

s u pr a, 274 Ga. 50. I n B os w

ell

, th e G eor g i a S u

pr em e Cou

r t h el d th at

a l ocal g ov er

n m en t m u s t pay a l ocal o f

f i ci al ’ s attor

n ey f ees ( 1) wh en th e

of f i ci al

, acti n g i n h i s of

f i ci al capaci ty

, i s r equ i r ed to h i r e ou ts i de cou n s el

to as s er t a l eg al pos i ti o n th e l o cal g ov er n m en t attor n ey c a nno t as s er

t

becau s e h e or s h e h as a con f l i ct ar i s i n g f

r om h i s o r h er r epr es en

tati on of

th e l ocal g ov er

n m en t, an d ( 2) wh en th e of

f i ci al i s s u cces s f

u l i n as s er

ti n g

11h i s or h er pos i ti on

. T h i s i s n ot becau s e of an y bad f ai th o r im

p r o p er

con du ct o n th e par

t of th e l ocal g ov er

n m en t. Rath er

, attor

n ey f ees i n th i s

i n s tan ce ar e s i m

pl y an ex pen s e o f g ov er

n m en t oper ati on

.

( Ci tati on s

, pu

n ctu ati on an d f

ootn o tes om

i tted. ) I d

. at 52- 53 ( 3)

.

T h e ci ty u r g es th i s cou

r t t o h ol d th at becau se OCGA § 45- 9

- 21 ( e) ( 2) ( def en s e

of acti on s i n l i eu of i n s u

r an ce) appl i es to attor

n ey f ees s peci f i cal l y f or a cou n ty of f i cer

,

i n ter al i a, we s h ou l d i n

ter pr e t B os w ell to appl y on l y to a cou n t y of f i cer

. B u t B os w ell

does n ot r el y u

pon th i s Code s ecti on f

or i t s h ol di n g an d pr ov i d es s peci f i cal l y th at i ts

r u l e appl i es to “ an of

f i ci al

, acti n g i n h i s of

f i ci al capaci ty

. ” I d

. at 5 2 ( 3)

. B os w ell r el i es

u pon Gw innett County v. Y ates

, 265 Ga. 504, 508- 509 ( 2) ( 458 S E 2 d 791) ( 1995)

, an d

Gr iffies v. Cow eta Count

y

, 2 7 2 G a

. 506, 509 ( 2) ( 530 S E 2d 718) ( 2000)

, n ei th er of

wh i ch i s l i m

i ted i n i ts appl i cati on

. We f i n d n o au th o r i t y lim it ing th e appl i cati on of

B os w ell on l y to cou

n ty of f i cer s

, an d we decl i n e t o do so h er e.

T h e ci ty ar g

u es th at th e ev i den ce i s i n s u f f i ci en t becau s e oth er attor

n ey s ’ i n i ti al s

ar e n oted on th e i n

v oi ce a nd t ho s e attor

n ey s di d n o t s u

bm i t af f i d av i ts

. B u

t cou n s el

av er r ed th at h e was l ead cou

n s el i n th i s cas e, a n d th at th e l eg al r epr es en tati on was

per f or m ed by h i m an d h i s f

i r m

. Cou n s el al s o s tated th at “ th e i n v oi ces attach ed to t

h i s

A f f i dav i t r epr es en

t a tr u e, cor r ect, an d accu

r ate accou

n ti n g of th e t i m e s pen

t b y m y sel f

12an d m

y f i r m i n t h i s cas e an d th e ex

pen s es i n cu

r r ed. ” Cou n s el as s er te d f ur th er th at

“ [ t] h e a m o u

n t of ti m e s pen

t b y t h i s l aw f i r m i n th i s m atter w as r eas on abl e an d

n eces s ar y i n r ela t i o n t o th e di s pu

te en cou n ter ed b etween th e M ay or an d th e Ci ty of

S tockbr i dg e. ” T h i s was s u f f i ci en t to es tabl i s h th at cou

n s el h ad per s on al kn owl edg e of

th e n u m ber of h ou r s of w or k th at h ad been p er f

or m ed by th e m em

b er s of h i s f

i r m

. S ee

F ulton County B d. of A s ses s or s v. Gr eenfield I

nves tment Gr oup

, 314 Ga. A pp. 523,

526 ( 2) ( 724 S E 2 d 828) ( 2012) ( tes ti m on y pr es en ted b y m an ag i n g par

tn er of f i r m th at

h i s par tn er di d m ajor i t

y of wor k an d of th e r eas on abl en es s of h i s p ar tn er ’ s r ate, wh i ch

h e s et, al on g wi th th e f

i r m ’ s bi l l i n g r ecor ds

, was s u f f i ci en t ev i den ce of am ou

n t of f ees

r ecov er abl e)

.

T h e ci ty ci tes to P

aul v. Des tito

, 250 Ga. A

pp. 631 ( 550 S E 2d 7 39) ( 2 001)

, f or

th e p r opos i ti o n t

h at cou n s el ’ s af f i d av i t was i n adm

i s s i ble t o pr ov e th e ti m e s pen t by

oth er attor

n ey s

. B u t th i s cou r t i n P aul af f i r m ed th e t r ia l c o ur t ’ s deci s i on to g r an t a

j. n

. o

. v

. o n th e i s s u e of th e am ou n t of attor n ey f ees becaus e t h e r e wer e n o bi l l i n g

r ecor ds or an

y othe r e vid e n ce des cr i bi n g h ow th e attor n ey s s pen

t th ei r ti m e, an d

cou n sel ’ s cu r s or y tes ti m on y r eg ar di n g th e n

u m ber of h ou r s o th er attor

n ey s s pen t on t h e

cas e an d h ou

r s th ey ch ar g ed was i n s u f

f i ci en t f or a ju r y to cal cu l ate f

ees

. I d. at 642 ( 9)

( cas e r em an ded f

or r eh ear i n g on am ou n t of ex pen s es )

.

13T h e ci ty al s o com pl ai n s th at th e af

f i d a vit di d n ot des cr i be th e l eg al wor k or

ex pen s es

, th at s om

e o f th e en tr i es r el ate to oth er m atter s

, an d th at th e ti m e en tr i es on

each day ar e n o t i tem

i zed by tas k. B u

t th e i n v oi ce con tai n ed en tr i es th at a d e qu atel y

des cr i bed th e tas ks p er f

or m ed i n th i s cas e an d th e ti m e s pen t on each tas k th at wou l d

s u ppor t t h e tr i al cou

r t’ s awar d of $8, 500. S ee Gr eenfield I nves tment Gr oup

, s u

pr a, 314

Ga. A pp. at 526 ( 2)

.

T h e tr i al cou

r t th er ef or e di d n ot abu s e i ts di scr eti on i n con cl u di n g t h at th e m ay or

was en ti tl ed to attor

n ey f ees pu r s u an t to B os w ell

, b ecau s e h e was acti n g i n h i s of f i ci al

capaci ty an d was r equ i r ed to h i r e ou ts i d e cou n s el to as s er

t a l eg al pos i ti on th e ci t

y

attor n ey cou l d n o t as s er

t on h i s beh al f

, 5 an d

, as we h av e h el d i n D i v i s i o n 2 th at th e tr i al

c o u r t d i d n ot er

r i n g r an ti n g th e m ay or i n

ju n cti v e an d decl ar ator

y r el i ef

, h e wa s

s u cces sf u l i n as s er

ti n g h i s pos i ti on

. B os w ell

, s u pr a, 274 Ga. at 52- 53 ( 3)

.

Judgment affir

med. B ar nes

, P

. J.

, and B r anch, J.

, concur

.

5 T h e ci ty attor

n ey r epr es en

ted th e ci t y i n th i s acti on

.

14