FOURTH D I VI SI ON

DI L LA RD, P. J.

, RI C KM A N, P. J.

, and BROWN, 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.

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

.

A pr i l 22, 2021



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A2 0 A1 98 7 . SM ITH v . TIBBITS, EXECUTOR ET AL.

D I LLA R D , Pres i d i n g J u d g e.

Les l ie Sm i t h w as an as pi ri n g real es t at e ag en t wh en s h e m et W ay n e Ti b b i t s— a

w i l d l y s u cces s fu l real es tat e d ev el o p er— i n 2 0 0 4

. T h ey q ui ck l y b eg an dat i n g a n d

Ti b b it s s o o n i n v i t ed Sm i t h an d h er t wo ch i l d ren t o m o v e i n t o h i s h o m e i n Hi ram

,

Geo rg i a. An d fo r t he fi rs t fi v e y ears o f t h ei r rel at i o n s h i p, al l was wel l . Bu t i n 2 0 0 9,

Ti b b it s b eg an dri n k i n g h eav i ly an d en g ag i n g i n a p at t ern o f ab u s i ve b eh av i o r. Ev en

s o

, Sm i t h rem ai ned in t hi s J ek y l l -an d -Hy d e rel at i on s hi p wi th Ti b b i t s u nt il h i s p as s i n g

i n 2 0 1 8

— cari n g fo r h i m u nt i l t he v ery en d

. No w, i n t he wak e o f Ti b b i t s ’ s d eat h

, t h ere

i s a d i s p u t e b e t w een Sm it h an d Ti b bi t s’ s s o n

, Ru s s el l

, o v er t h e o wn ers h i p o f t h e

Hi ram p ro pert y

, a 20 16 wh i t e Cad i l l ac Es cal ad e, a n d c e rt ai n jewel ry

. Sm i t h cl ai m s

t h at Ti b b i t s g av e h er al l th ree, wh i l e Ru ss el l m ai n t ai ns t h at t hey bel o n g t o h i s fat h er’ ses t at e. Th e o nl y q u es t i o n b efo re u s i s wh et h er Sm i t h g et s t o h av e her d ay i n co u rt

. W e

co n cl u d e t h at s h e d o es

.

Th i s cas e co m es t o us aft er t he t ri al co u rt ’ s gran t o f su m m ary j u d gm en t i n fav o r

o f Ru s s el l Ti b b it s

, i n di v i d u al l y an d as ex ecu t o r o f t h e Es t at e o f W ay n e A. Ti b b i t s

. 1

Sm it h arg u es th at t h e t ri al co u rt erred in g ran t i n g su m m ary ju d g m e n t a g a i n s t h er

wh en t h e ev id en c e s u p p o r t e d a fi n d i n g t h at (1 ) a deed fo r real t y fo r t h e Hi ram

p ro p ert y was d el i v ered t o h er, (2 ) W ay n e gi ft ed h er t h e wh it e Cad i l l ac Es cal ad e, an d

(3 ) W ay n e al s o g ift ed h er cert ai n jewel ry

. An d b ecau s e w e a g r e e wi th Sm i t h t h at

g en ui n e i s s u es o f m at eri al fact rem ai n as t o t h es e m at t ers , we rev ers e.

Vi ewed d e n o vo i n t h e l i g h t m o s t fav orab l e t o Sm i t h ( i .e.

, t h e no n m o v an t ), 2 t h e

reco rd s ho ws t h at W ay n e was a real es t at e d ev el o p er wh o o w n ed m u l t i pl e h o m es in

m u lt i p l e s t at es

. In 2 0 04

, h e b eg an d at i n g Sm i t h

, an d Sm i t h m o v ed i n t o W ay ne’ s h o m e

i n H i ram

, Geo rg i a. Sm i th q u i t h er jo b as a real es tat e ag en t at W ay n e’ s req u es t an d

t h e t wo were i n a m o st l y

co n ti n u o u s rel at i o n sh i p u n t i l W ay n e’ s d eat h i n 20 1 8

. An d

1 Fro m t hi s p oi n t fo rward

, we refer t o Ru s sel l an d W ay n e b y t h ei r fi rs t n am es

fo r t h e s ak e o f cl ari t y

.

2 S ee, e.g

. , Ro b er

s o n v. McIn t o s h Cn t

y. S ch

. Di s t

. , 3 2 6 Ga. Ap p

. 87 4

, 8 7 4 (7 5 5

SE2 d 3 0 4 ) (2 0 1 4 ) (“ A t ri al co u rt ’ s g ran t o f s u m m ary ju d g m en t i s rev i ewed d e n o v o

o n ap p eal , co n s t ru i n g t h e ev i d en ce i n t h e l i g ht m o s t fav o rab le t o t h e n o n m o v an t .”).

2d u ri n g t he co u rs e o f t h ei r rel at i o n s h i p

, W ay n e g av e Sm i t h ho rs es

, m o n ey

, a Ran g e

Ro v er, fu rn i t u re, an d m an y o t h er t hi n g s

.

Th e co u p l e co n t i nu e d l i v i n g t o g et h er on W ay n e’ s Hi ram p ro p ert y

, wh i ch

c o n s i s t e d o f ap p ro x i m at el y 2 1 acres an d i n cl ud ed

, am o n g o t h er t h in gs

, a m ai n

d wel l i n g

, a l ak e h o us e, an d a h o rs e b arn

. An d i n 2 0 0 9

, W ay ne t o l d Sm i t h t h at h e was

“ g o i n g t o d eed t h e [Hi ram ] h o u s e t o [h er] .” So

, s h e acco m p an i ed W ay n e t o h i s

at t o rn ey ’ s o ffi ce on M ay 1 1, 2 0 0 9

, wh ere t h ey d i s cu s sed t h e d e e d a n d Sm i t h was

g i v en an o p po rt u ni t y to rev i ew an d ap p ro v e i t

. Ad d i t i o n al l y

, t h ey d i s cu s s ed an d

ex ecu t ed a n o p t i o n co n t ract

, wh i ch wo u l d g i v e W ay n e th e ab i l i t y t o p u rch as e t h e

p ro p ert y b ack fro m Sm i th s h o u l d t h e n eed ari s e.

A t t h e co n cl u s i o n o f th i s m eet in g, Sm it h was g i v en co p i es o f t h e t w o

d o cu m en t s an d b el i ev ed W ay n e h ad p o ss es s i o n o f t h e o ri g i n al s

. An d i t w as h er

u n d ers t an d i n g t h at sh e o b t ai n ed o w n ers h i p o f t h e Hi ram h o u s e t h at d ay

. It was al s o

h er un d ers tan di ng th at t h e d eed n eed n o t b e reco rd ed b ecau s e W ay n e co n t i n u ed to

p ay t h e t ax es an d o t h e r e x pen s es d u ri n g t h e co u rs e o f th ei r rel at i o ns h ip

— al t h o u g h

W ay n e d i d t el l Sm i t h t o i m m ed iat el y reco rd t h e d eed i f “ so m et h i n g h ap p en ed ” t o h i m

.

Sh o rt l y aft er t h i s m eet i n g

, Sm i t h g rew co n cern ed ab ou t w h at wo u l d h ap p en to

t h e H i ram h o u s e i f sh e d ied b e f o r e Wa y n e, an d s o

, s h e d eci d ed t o ex ecu t e a wi l l

3l eav i ng t h e h o us e an d o t h er as s et s t o W ay n e i n t h e ev en t of h er d eat h

. W ay ne ag reed

t h at s h e n ee d e d a wi ll fo r t h i s p u rp os e, s et up an ap po i n t m en t wi t h o n e o f h i s

at t o rn ey s , h i red t h e at t o rn ey , an d acco m pan i ed Sm i t h t o t h e m eet i ng

.

Du ri n g th e fi n al y ears o f t h ei r s o m et i m es tu m u l t u ou s rel at io n s hi p (wh i ch was

i m p act ed b y W ay n e’ s s u b s t an ce ab u s e an d t em p er), Sm i t h co n t i n u ed t o res i d e i n t h e

“ m ai n ” h o u s e o n t h e Hi ram p ro p ert y wh i l e W ay n e o ft en s t ay ed i n t h e l ak e h o u s e. At

o n e po i n t

, wh i l e i n c r e d i b l y i n eb ri at ed

, W ay n e cal l ed t h e p o li ce t o h av e Sm i th

rem o v ed as a tres p a s s e r

, cl ai m i n g t h at h e o w n ed t h e p ro p ert y ; b u t Sm it h s h o wed

o ffi cers h er co py

o f t he afo rem en t i o n ed d eed an d was al l o wed t o rem ai n

.

In M ay 2 0 1 7

, t h e co u p le b ri efl y sep arat ed

, a t w h i c h p o i n t Sm it h d ro v e to

Co l orad o i n an Es cal ad e t h at W ay n e p rev i ou s l y s ai d was h ers an d s t ay ed at a ran ch

o wn ed b y W ay n e i n t hat s t at e. Nev ert h el es s

, s h e rem ai n ed i n co n t act wi t h W ay ne,

wh o was ev en t u al ly ad m i t t ed t o a d ru g -an d -al co h ol reh ab i l i t at i on faci l i t y

. Aft er

l eav i ng reh ab

, W ay n e fl ew t o Co l o rad o i n O c t o b er 2 01 7 t o reu n i t e w it h Sm i t h an d

ret u rn ed ag ai n i n No v em

b er. W ay n e t hen t o l d Sm i t h t h at h e was i ll an d wi s hed fo r h er

t o ret urn t o Geo rg i a t o t ak e care o f h i m , wh i ch s h e d i d

.

W ay n e w as h o s p i t al i zed o n Feb ru ary 4

, 2 0 1 8, an d su ccu m bed t o h i s i l l n es s o n

Feb ru ary 2 3

, 2 0 1 8

. Sm i t h rem ai n ed wi t h W ay n e at t he h o s pi t al d u ri n g t hi s t i m e. Bu t

4b efo re W ay n e pas sed

, h e g av e Sm i t h cert ai n p i eces of h i s jewel ry (a n eck l ace, wat ch

,

an d t wo ri n g s ), tel l i n g h er t o “ g o ah ead an d t ak e i t n o w ” becau s e h e wan t ed h er t o

h av e i t

. Sev eral week s aft er hi s d eat h

, Sm i th ret u rn e d t o Wa y n e’ s Co lo rad o h o u s e.

An d wh en s h e d ep art ed

, Sm i t h l eft al l o f h er b el o n gi n g s in t h e m ai n h o u s e b ecau s e

s h e i nt en d ed t o ret u rn t o Hi ram i n a few week s

. W ay n e’ s s on

, Ru s s el l

, ag reed to

m an ag e ev ery th in g wh en Sm i t h d ep art ed

, p ro vi d ed h er wi t h n e w k ey s t o l o ck s t h at

were ch an g ed

, an d g av e h er t h e al arm s y s t em co d e. Bu t R u s s e l l l a t er cl ai m ed t h at

Sm it h ’ s d eed was “ n o g o o d ” b ecau s e i t was n ev er reco rd ed

.

On Oct o b er 1 2

, 2 01 8

, Sm i t h fi l ed a co m p l ai n t fo r d eed an d m o t i o n f o r

t e m po rary i n ju n ct i on ag ai n s t Ru s s el l i n h is v ari ou s cap aci t i es

. In d o i ng s o

, s h e

as s ert ed t h at in M ay 2 0 0 9

, wel l p ri o r t o h i s d eat h in M arch 2 01 8

, W ay n e d eed ed h i s

Hi ram ho m e t o h er. Sh e fu rt h er as s ert ed th at W ay n e g i ft ed t o h er t he afo rem en t i o n ed

p i eces o f jewel ry

, wh i ch Ru s s el l h ad s i n ce t ak en i nt o hi s o wn p o s s es s io n an d refu s ed

t o ret u rn

. Fi n al l y

, Sm it h al l eg ed t h at W ay n e al s o g av e h er t h e Cad i l l ac Es cal ad e t h at

s h e dro ve t o Co l o rad o

, t o wh i ch Ru s s el l refu sed t o h an d o v er ti t l e. As a r e s u l t

, s h e

s o u g ht ret u rn o f t h e jewel ry

, t i t l e t o t he Es cal ad e, an d fo r th e c o u r t t o e s t ab l i s h fee

s i m p l e ti t l e t o t h e real pro pert y an d t em p o rari l y en

jo in i n t erfere n c e wi t h h er

o wn ers hi p an d p o s ses s i o n o f s am e.

5At t ach ed t o Sm i t h ’ s co m p l ai nt was a co py

o f t h e q u it cl ai m

d eed ex ecu t ed o n

M ay 1 1

, 20 0 9

, w h i ch pu rp o rt ed t o g ran t ti tl e o f t h e H i ram p ro p ert y fro m W ay n e to

Sm it h

. Ad d i t i o n al l y

, Sm i t h at t ach ed a co p y o f t h e o p t i on co nt ract

, al so d at ed M ay 1 1,

2 0 0 9

, w h i ch g av e W ay n e t he ex cl u s i v e o p po rt u n i t y t o rep u rch as e t h e p ro p ert y fro m

Sm it h fo r $ 6 0 ,0 00

.

In res p o ns e t o t h i s act i on

, Ru s s el l d en i ed th at Sm i t h o w ned th e afo rem en t i o n ed

real p ro p ert y

, E s cal ad e, o r jewel ry

. He co un t ercl ai m ed o n g ro u n ds o f co n v ers i o n,

t res pas s t o p ers o n al p ro p ert y

, t res p as s t o r eal t y

, u n j u s t en ri ch m en t

, an d s o u g h t an

award o f at t o rn ey fees

. Ru s s el l i n cl ud ed a co p y o f W ay n e’ s l as t wi ll an d t es t am en t

,

i n wh ich W ay n e l eft h i s en t i re es t at e t o Ru s s el l in fee s i m p l e

. Th en

, o n Au g u s t 1,

2 0 1 9

, Ru s s el l m ov ed fo r p art i al s um m ary ju d g m en t o n Sm i th ’ s cl ai m s o f o wn ers h ip

an d h i s co u n t ercl ai m fo r co n v ers i o n

.

Fo l l owi n g a heari ng o n t h e m at t er, t he t ri al co u rt g ran ted ju dg m en t in fav o r o f

Ru s s el l

, co n cl ud i n g t h at S m i t h h a d n o t es t ab l i s h ed d el i v ery o f t h e d eed t o t h e real

p ro p ert y o r d el i very of t h e Es cal ad e, en t i tl i n g Ru s s e l l t o h i s cl ai m fo r co n v ers i o n

6reg ard i n g t h e Es cal ad e, an d t h at s h e co u ld n ot sh o w t h at W ay n e g i ft ed th e jewel ry to

h er. 3 Th is ap p eal b y

Sm i t h fo l l o ws

.

Th e tes t fo r ev al u at i n g t h e g ran t o r d en i al o f a m o t i o n fo r s u m m ary ju d g m en t

i s wh et h er “ t h ere rem ai n s aft er co n s i d erat i on o f t h e p l ead i n gs

, d ep o s it i on s

, an s wers

t o t h e i n terro g at o ri es

, ad m i s si o ns o n fi l es an d affi d av i t s an y gen u i n e i s s u e o f m at eri al

fact

. ” 4 W i t h t h e fo reg o i n g i n m i n d , we ad d res s Sm it h’ s co n t en t i o n s o n ap p eal

.

1

. Fi rs t

, Sm i t h arg u es t h at t h e t ri al co urt erred i n g ran t i n g s u m m ary ju d g m en t

t o Ru s s el l wh en th e ev i d en ce s u p p o rt ed a fi n d in g t h at a deed fo r th e real p ro p ert y was

d el i v ered t o h er. W e ag ree wi t h Sm i t h t h at g en u i ne i ss u es o f m at eri al fact ex i s t o n t h i s

i s su e an d t h at t h e g ran t o f s u m m ary ju d g m en t was i m

pro p er.

In Geo rg ia, a d eed t o l an d s s h al l b e “ i n wri t i n g

, s i g n ed b y t he m ak er, an d

at t es ted b y an offi cer as p ro v id ed i n Co d e Sect i o n 4 4 -2 -1 5

, an d at t es ted b y o n e o t h er

wi t n es s ,” an d i t s h al l b e “ d el i v ered t o t h e p urch as er o r h is o r h er rep res en t at i v e an d

3 Pri o r t o t h is o rd er, t h e t ri al co u rt i s s u ed a co n s en t o rd er t h at au t h o ri zed

Ru s s el l t o ret ai n p o s s es s i o n o f t h e real p ro p ert y wh i l e Sm it h ret ai n ed p o s s es s i o n o f

t h e Es cal ad e fo r 12 0 d ay s. At t h e co n cl u s i o n o f t h at p eri o d

, t h e co u rt t er m i n a t e d

Sm it h ’ s ri g h t of po s s es s io n o f t h e Es cal ad e b u t l eft Ru ss el l i n p os s es s i o n of t h e real

p ro p ert y

.

4 W a t ki n s v. W a t ki n s

, 2 5 6 Ga. 5 8 , 6 0 (1 ) (3 4 4 SE2 d 2 2 0) (1 98 6 ).

7b e m ad e o n a g oo d o r v al uab l e co n s i d erat i o n

. ” 5 In d eed

, th e Su prem e Co u rt o f Geo rg i a

h as ex pl ai n ed t h at “ [d ] el i v ery is es s en t i al t o t he v al i d i t y o f a d eed , an d t h ere can b e

n o d el i very

, aft er t h e d eat h o f t h e a l l e g e d g ran t or, o f a d eed wi th th e p o s s es s i o n o f

wh i ch h e h ad n ev er i n an y m an ner p art ed .” 6 An d i t i s i nd i s pen s ab le t o t h e d el i v ery o f

a d eed t h at it “ p as s b e yo n d t h e co n t ro l o r d o m i n i o n o f t h e gran t o r; an d wh ere a

g ran t o r ret ai n s a d eed wh i ch h e ex ecu t es i n h i s p o s s es s i on an d co n t ro l u n ti l h i s d eat h

wi t h o u t d o i n g an y t h i n g t o in di cat e an i nt en t i o n t o del i v er i t

, i t i s v oi d fo r wan t o f a

5 OCGA § 4 4-5 -3 0 ; s ee OCGA § 4 4 -2 -1 5 (“ An y of t h e i n st ru m en t s en u m erat ed

i n Co d e Sect i o n 4 4 -2 -1 4 m ay b e at t es t ed b y a ju d g e o f a co u rt o f reco rd

, i n cl u d i n g a

ju d g e of a m

u n i ci pal co u rt

, o r b y a m ag i s t rat e, a n o t ary p u b l i c, o r a c l e r k o r d ep u t y

cl erk o f a s u p eri o r co urt o r o f a ci t y co urt creat ed b y sp eci al Act o f t he Gen eral

As s em b l y

. W i t h t h e ex cep ti o n of n o t ari es pu b l i c an d ju d g es o f co u rt s o f reco rd

, s u ch

o ffi cers m ay at t es t s uch i n s t ru m en t s o n ly i n t h e co un t y i n wh i ch t h ey res p ect i v el y

h o l d t h ei r o ffi ces .”); s ee a l s o OCGA § 4 4 -5 -8 0 ( 3 ) ( “ T h e g i ft m u st b e d el i v ered o r

s o m e act wh ich u n d er l aw i s accep t ed as a s ub s ti t ut e fo r d el i v ery m u st b e d o n e.”).

6 D a ws o n v. Kei t t

, 2 3 2 Ga. 1 0

, 1 1 (2 0 5 SE2 d 3 0 9 ) (1 9 7 4 ); a cco rd E q u i t a b l e

Mo r t g a g e v. Br o wn

, 1 0 5 Ga. 4 7 4

, 4 7 4 (2 ) (Sy l l ab u s ) (3 0 SE 6 8 7) (1 8 9 8 ) (Per

Cu ri am ); s ee M

cCr a y v. Ca ves

, 2 1 5 Ga. 3 8 0

, 3 8 2 ( 1 ) (1 10 SE2 d 6 55 ) (1 9 5 9 )

(“ Del i very

, act ual o r co n s t ru ct i v e, o f a d eed m u s t b e m ad e d u ri n g t he l i fet i m e o f t h e

g ran t o r.”); s ee a ls o Va t a cs Gr p

., In c. v. U.S

. Ba n k, N.A.

, 2 9 2 Ga. 4 8 3

, 4 86 (7 3 8 SE2 d

8 3 ) (2 0 1 3 ) (“ [E] xecu t i on an d d el i v ery o f a v al i d d eed i s n eces sary t o co n v ey t i t l e[.] ”);

S t i n s o n v. D a n i el

, 19 3 Ga. 8 44

, 8 4 9 (2 ) (2 0 SE2 d 2 5 7 ) (1 94 2 ) (“ Th e d el iv ery o f a

d eed i s es s en t i al t o t h e t r a n s fer o f ti t l e. It i s t h e fi n al act wi th o u t wh i ch al l o t h er

fo rm al i t i es are i n effect u al .” (ci t at i o n o m i t t ed )).

8d el i v ery .” 7 Pu t an o t h er way

, t he t ru e t es t of d el i v ery o f a d eed of co n v e ya n ce i s

“ wh et h er o r n ot t h e g ran t o r i n ten d ed t o res erv e t o h i m s el f t h e l o cu s p en i t en t i ae,” 8

wh i ch i s t h e “ o p p ort u n i t y fo r ch an g i n g o n e’ s m i n d; an o pp o rt un i t y t o u nd o w h at o n e

h as d o n e[; ] a ch an ce t o wi t h d raw fro m a co n t em p lat ed b arg ai n o r co n t ract b efo re i t

res u l ts i n a d efi n i t e c o n tract u al l i ab i l i t y ; a ri g h t t o wi t h draw fro m an i nco m p l et ed

t ran s act io n .” 9

7 Jo h n s o n v

. Jo hn s o n

, 3 2 7 Ga. Ap p

. 6 0 4

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

(p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed); a cco r d S mi t h v. Lo ckr i d

g e

, 2 88 Ga. 1 8 0

, 1 8 3 -8 4 (3 ) (7 0 2 SE2 d

8 5 8 ) (2 01 0 ); Ro b in so n v. W i l li a ms ex r el

. Es t a t e o

f Du n n

, 2 8 0 Ga. 8 7 7

, 8 7 9 (2 ) (6 3 5

SE2 d 1 20 ) (2 0 0 6 ) ; s ee S t i n s o n v. W o o d l an d Ba n k

, 1 5 4 Ga. 2 54

, 2 57 (1 4 1 SE 1 8 1 )

(1 9 2 2) (“ Th e g ran t o r’ s u n d i s cl o s ed in t en ti o n al o n e t h at th e i n s t ru m en t s ho u l d b e

effect i v e as a d eed wi l l n o t co n s t i t u t e d el iv ery

. Hi s p u rp o s e t o d ep ri v e hi m s el f o f

p o wer an d co n tro l o v er t h e in st ru m en t fo r t h e ben efi t o f t h e g ran tee m u st b e s h o wn .”).

8 Mo r r i s v. Jo hn s o n

, 2 1 9 Ga. 8 1

, 8 9 ( 2) (d ) (1 3 2 SE2 d 4 5 ) (1 9 6 3 ); a cco r d

S mi th

, 2 8 8 Ga. at 1 8 4 (3 ); Kees ee v. Co l l u m

, 2 0 8 Ga. 3 8 2, 38 6 (6 7 SE2 d 1 2 0 ) (1 9 5 1 );

S t i n s o n , 1 9 3 Ga. at 8 5 1 (2 ); Jo h n s o n

, 3 2 7 Ga. Ap p

. at 6 0 6.

9 Mo r r i s

, 2 1 9 G a

. a t 8 9 (2 ) (d ) (ci tat i on an d p u n ct u at i on o m i t t ed ); a cco r d

S mi th

, 2 8 8 Ga. at 1 8 4 (3 ); Jo h ns o n

, 3 2 7 Ga. Ap p

. at 6 06 -0 7; s ee Kees ee

, 2 0 8 Ga. at

3 8 6 (“ So l o n g as t h ere rem ai n ed an op p o rt u n i t y fo r h i m t o ch an g e h i s m i n d

, an d t h i s

p eri o d co n t i n u ed u n t i l i t w as d el i v ered

, t h e t i tl e d i d n o t pas s b y v i rt u e o f t h e

ex ecu t i o n o f t h e d eed , ev en t ho u g h i t h ad b een reco rd ed at h i s o wn i n st an ce.”).

9Bu t d el i very m ay b e i n fer r ed fro m v ari o u s ci rcu m s t an ces

. 1 0 Reco rd i n g a d eed

,

a reci t al o f d el i v ery w i t hi n a d eed

, a d eed fo u n d i n t h e cu s t o dy o f t h e g ran tee, an d a

g ran t ee wi t h p os s es s i o n o f th e rel ev an t l an d are al l ci rcu m s t an ces t h at g i v e ri s e t o a

1 0 See M a ys v. F l et ch er

, 1 3 7 Ga. 2 7, 2 8 (2 ) (7 2 SE 4 0 8 ) (1 9 1 1 ) (“ Th e d el i v ery

o f a d eed i s n eces sary to i t s v al i d i t y

, b u t del i very m ay b e i n ferred fro m v a r i o u s

ci rcu m s t an ces

. ”); s ee a l

s o OCGA § 4 4 -5 -8 2 (“ A ct u al m an u al d el iv ery is n o t es s en t i al

t o t h e val i d i t y o f a g ift

. An y act wh i ch i n di cat es a ren u n ci at i o n o f do m i n i o n b y t h e

d o n o r an d t h e t ran s fer of d o m i n i on t o t h e do n ee s h al l co ns t i t u te a co n s t ru ct i v e

d el i v ery .”). S

ee g en er a l ly W

i l l i n g h a m v. S

m i th

, 1 51 Ga. 1 0 2

, 1 18 (1 0 6 SE 1 1 7 ) (1 9 2 1 )

( “ Th e ex p res s i o n ‘ d el iv ery ,’ as ap p l i ed to wri tt en i n s t ru m en t s

, h ad it s i n cep t i o n in

co n nect io n wi t h wri t t en co n v ey an ces o f l an d s

. Nev ert h el es s th e q u es t i on o f d el i v ery

s eem s i d en t i cal

, wh at ev er t h e ch aract er o f t h e d eed or co v en an t. In t h e earl y En g l i s h

cas es t he d el i very o f a d eed o f gran t was reg ard ed as i n effect th e sy m b o l i cal t ran s fer

o f t h e lan d i t s el f, an al o g o u s t o l i v ery o f s ei s i n

. Hen ce a p h y s i cal o r m an u al d el i v ery

was d eem ed es s en t i al

. Co n t rary to th e d o ct ri n e o f t h e earl i e r c a s e s

, th e m o d ern

E n g l i s h v i ew s eem s t o b e t h at d el i v ery i s l arg el y a q u es t i o n o f i nt en t i o n.” (ci t a t i o n

o m it t ed )).

10p res u m

p t i o n o f d el iv ery o r, i n o t h er wo rd s

, t h at are p ri m a faci e ev i d en ce o f d el i v ery

. 1 1

Of co urs e, t h e p res u m

pt io n o f d el i v ery

i s reb u tt ab l e, 1 2 an d

1 1 S ee Co r l ey v. Pa r

s o n

, 2 3 6 Ga. 3 4 6

, 3 4 7 (1 ) (2 2 3 SE2 d 7 0 8 ) (1 9 7 6 ) (h o l d i n g

t h at p res u m

p t i o n o f d el i v ery fo r reco rd ed d eed w as reb u t t ed b y t h e fact t h at

reco rd at i o n o ccu rred m an y y ears a f t er gran t o r’ s d eat h, b ut “ [o ] t h er pres u m p t i o n s o f

d el i v ery ari s e fro m

t he reci t al o f d el i v ery i n t h e d eed

, wh en th e d eed i s fo u n d i n t h e

cu s t o d y o f t h e g ran t ee, an d wh en t he g ran t ee h as p o s s es s i o n o f t h e l an d ,” an d

p l ai n t i ffs h ad fai l ed t o reb u t t h os e p res u m p t i o n s

, au t ho ri zi n g ju ry t o fi n d t h at

b el at ed l y reco rd ed d eed wa s p ro p erl y d el i v ered ); W h i d do n v. Ha l l

, 15 5 G a. 5 7 0

, 5 7 7

(2 ) (1 1 8 SE 3 4 7

, 3 5 0 ) (1 92 3 ) (“ T h e reco rd o f a d eed i s p ro of o f d el i very

. Th e fact t h at

a d eed was at t es t ed b y a p ro p er o ffi cer an d p u rp o rt ed o n i t s face t o h av e b een

d el i v ered r a i s e s a pres u m pt io n o f del i v ery

. Po s ses s i o n o f a deed b y a g ran t ee i s

p res u m p t i v e ev i d en c e o f i t s d el i v ery

. Th e d el i v ery o f a d eed m ay b e i nferred fro m

p o s s es s i o n o f t h e lan d co n v ey ed .” (ci tat i on s o m i t t ed )); Ma y s

, 1 3 7 Ga. at 2 8 (2 )

(“ At t es t at i o n o f a d eed b y an o ffi cer au t h o ri zed to wi t n es s a deed i s p res u m p t i v e

p ro o f of d el i v ery

. Po s s es s i o n o f a d eed b y a g ran tee

, o r o ne t ak in g an i n t eres t

t h ereu n d er, rai s es a p res um p t i o n o f d el i v ery

. Th e reco rd o f a p ro p erl y ex ecu t ed d eed

i s s uffi ci en t , b u t n o t co n cl u s i v e, ev i d en ce o f d el i v ery

. ” (ci t at i o n s o m it t ed )).

1 2 S ee Mo rr i s

, 2 19 G a. at 8 9 ( 2 ) ( d ) (“ Al th o u g h a p res u m pt i o n o f d el i v ery i s

rai s ed b y s uch fact o rs as p o s s es s i o n o f t h e d eed b y t h e g ran t ee, a reci t al o f d el i v ery

i n t h e deed ’ s at t es t at io n cl au s e, an d res erv at io n o f a l i f e es t at e b y t he g ran to r, s u ch

p res u m p t i o n m ay b e reb u t t ed b y ev i d en ce t h at i n fact t h e d ee d h ad n o t b een

d e l iv ered .” (ci t at i o n s o m i t t ed )); Fu l l er v. F u l ler

, 2 1 1 Ga. 2 0 1

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

(1 9 5 4) (“ Th o u g h a p res u m p t i o n of d el i very ari s es fro m t h e d u e a t t e s t at i o n an d

reg i s trat i o n o f a deed

, s u ch p res u m p t i on m ay b e reb u t ted b y p ro o f t h at t h e d eed was

n ev er d el i v ered .”); S t i n s o n

, 1 9 3 G a. at 85 0 (2 ) (“ [A] s t at em en t i n t h e at t es t at i o n

c l au s e is m erel y p ri m a faci e ev i d en ce of d el i v ery

. Si n ce n ei t h er of t h e m at t ers

m en t i o n ed rai s ed a co n cl us i ve p res u m p t i o n o f a d el i very

, t h e q u e s t i o n i s wh et h er

t h ere w as p ro o f s u ffi ci en t t o au t h o ri ze a fi n d i n g b y th e ju ry th at t h i s p res u m p t i o n h ad

b een reb ut t ed .”).

11t h e ev id en ce o f an u n im p each ed wi t n es s t h at t h e d eed was n o t d el iv ered

rai s es a co n f

l i ct b et ween s uch p res u m p t i v e ev i d en ce o f del i v ery an d

s u ch d irect ev i d en ce o f n o n d el i v ery , wh i ch can o n l y b e d eci d ed b y th e

ju ry

, as i t can n o t b e s ai d

, as a m a t t e r o f l a w

, t h at t h e ju ry i s bo u n d t o

accep t ev i d en ce as t ru e, al t h o u g h n o t co nt rad i ct ed b y d i rect ev i den ce. 1 3

An d wh en t h ere i s “ a n

y evi den ce as t o t he del i ver y o f a d eed , i t i s a q u es t i on o f fact

fo r th e ju ry

, an d n ot a q u es t io n fo r t h e C o u r t t o deci d e wh et h er t h ere has b een a

d el i v ery o f t h e d eed .” 1 4 To t h at en d

, i n cert ai n cas es

, “ wh ere t h e ex i st en ce o r

n o n ex i s ten ce o f t h e fact i s t o b e d et erm i n ed i n wh o l e o r i n part fro m ci rcu m s t an ces

,

an d w h ere reas on ab l e [p e o p l e ] m i gh t d raw o pp o s i t e co n cl u s i o n s fro m t h e s am e

u n d i s p u t ed t es t i m o n y, i t i s t h e ju ry ’ s p ro b l em t o fi nd w h at i s t h e t ru t h t o b e d rawn

t h erefro m .” 1 5 Th u s

, i t i s en ti rel y co n cei v ab l e th at “ o n e ju ry m i g h t fi n d o ne v erd i ct an d

1 3 McCr ay

, 2 15 Ga. at 3 8 2 (1 ); s ee Al l en v. Bemi s

, 1 9 3 Ga. 5 5 6

, 56 3 (2 ) (1 9

SE2 d 5 1 6 ) (1 9 4 2) (“ Th e d eed i n q u es t i o n hav i n g been d ul y reco rd ed

, t h i s reco rd i s

p res u m p t i v e ev i den ce o f i t s d el i v ery . Bu t t h is p res u m p t i on i s reb u t tab l e, an d wh ere

t h ere i s ev i d en ce o f n o n-d el i v ery o f a d eed an is s u e o f fact ari s es an d it i s fo r t h e ju ry

t o d eci d e wh et h er o r n o t t h e d eed was i n fact d el i v ered .” (ci tat i on s o m i tt ed )).

1 4 Al exa n d

er & Ho wel l v. Li et h

, 3 9 Ga. 1 8 0

, 1 8 6 (1 8 6 9 ); a cco r d Pa t t er s o n v.

Pa t t er s o n

, 2 1 0 Ga. 3 59

, 3 5 9 (7 ) (8 0 SE2 d 3 1 0) (1 9 5 4 ); W h i dd o n

, 1 5 5 G a. at 5 7 7 (2 );

s ee S t in s o n

, 1 9 3 Ga. at 8 5 0 (2 ) (“ W h et h er th e fact s co n s ti t ut e a del i v ery of t h e d eed

i s a q u es ti o n of l aw; wh et h er su ch fact s ex i s t i s a q u es t i on fo r t h e ju ry .” (p u n ct u at i o n

o m it t ed )).

1 5 S t i n s o n , 1 9 3 Ga. at 8 5 0 (2 ).

12an o th er ju ry an en t i rel y d i fferen t v erd i ct o n t he s am e ev i d en ce, an d y et i t co u l d n ot

b e ru l ed as a m at t er o f l aw t h at ei t h er fi n di n g i s co n t rary t o t h e ev i d en ce.” 1 6

In res p o n s e t o Sm i t h’ s cl ai m o f o wn ers h i p o v er t h e Hi ram h o m e

, R u s sel l

p res en t ed an affi d av i t fro m t h e at to rn ey wh o p rep ared t he d eed

, i n wh ich h e av erred

t h at W ay n e w as u n s u r e o f wh et h er h e wan t ed t o “ ret ai n t h e p ro p ert y i n h i s n am e,

t ran s fer it t o [Ru s s el l]

, or p u t i t i n t h e n am e o f h i s g i r l f r i e n d

, Les l i e Sm i t h .” As a

res u l t, W ay n e a s k e d t he at t o rn ey t o “ g o ah ead an d p rep are a d eed t ran s ferri n g t h e

p ro p ert y t o M s

. Sm it h ” b u t t ol d t h e at t o rn ey “ h e wo u ld deci d e l at er wh et h er h e wo u ld

act u al l y p ro ceed wi t h t h e t ran s fer.” Th e at t orn ey fu rt h er av erred th at

, on th es e o rd ers

,

h e prep ared b o t h t h e d eed a n d t h e o pt i on ag reem en t b ecau s e W ay n e wan ted t o b e

ab l e t o reacq u ire th e p ro p ert y s h o u l d h e d eed i t t o Sm i t h ; bu t h e t o ld t h e at t o rn ey to

“ h o l d t h e o ri g i n al Deed an d Op t i o n Ag reem e n t u n t i l h e d eci d ed wh at h e wan t ed to

d o .” To t h at en d

, t h e at t o rn ey s ai d Sm i th was t o l d W ay n e’ s s i g n at ure u p o n t h e d eed

was n o t act u al ly t i tl i ng o r co n v ey i n g th e p ro p ert y t o h er at t hat t i m e an d t h at s h e

“ wo u l d n o t recei v e t i t le u n l es s an d u n t i l W ay n e d eci d ed h e wan t ed to p u t i t i n h er

n am e b y f

i li n g t h e d eed .” Fi n al l y

, t h e at t o rn ey av erred t hat he was n ev er i n s t ru ct ed

t o reco rd o r d el i v er t h e d eed t o Sm i t h an d

, t h u s

, t h e o ri g i n al d ee d an d o p t i o n

1 6 Id

.

13ag reem en t rem ai n ed at h is o ffi ce. An d i t i s un d i s p u t ed t h at Sm i t h n ev er p os s es s ed t h e

o ri g i nal d eed

, t h at h er co p y d i d n o t i n cl u d e a s ep arat e p ro p ert y d es cri p ti o n

, an d t h at

t h e d eed was n ev er reco rd ed

.

Nev ert h el es s

, t h e d eed co n t ai n s a reci t al th at i t was “ s i g ned

, s e a l ed

, an d

d el i v ered ” i n t h e p res en ce o f th e t wo wi t n es s es req u i red b y OCGA § 4 4 -2 -1 5

, wh i ch

rai s es a p res u m

p t i on o f d e l iv ery

. 1 7 Ad d i t i o n al l y

, t h ro u gh o u t t h e m an y y ears t h at

fo l l o w ed b et ween ex ecu t io n o f t h e d eed an d W ay n e’ s d eat h

, Sm i th co n ti n u ed t o l i v e

i n t h e rel ev an t “ m ai n ” ho u s e o r k ep t h er b el o n g i n g s i n t he h om e wh i l e W ay n e l i v ed

i n t h e lak e h o u se. Th is

, t o o

, rai s es t h e p res u m p t i o n o f d el i v ery

. 1 8 Nev ert h e l es s

,

1 7 See Myer

s v. Ph i l l i p s

, 1 9 7 Ga. 5 3 6, 5 4 1 (4 ) (2 9 SE2 d 7 0 0 ) (1 9 4 4 ) (“ Th e

fo rm al ex ecu t io n o f t h e d eed an d t h e l an gu ag e o f t h e at tes t at io n cl au s e rai s ed a p ri m a

faci e p res u m

p t io n t h at t h e d eed was d el i v ered

. ”); Bo u r q u i n v. Bo u r q u i n

, 1 1 0 Ga. 4 4 0,

4 4 6 (4 ) (3 5 SE 7 1 0 ) (1 9 0 0 ) (“ [T] h e d efen d an t cau s ed t h e d eed t o b e ex ecu t ed i n t h e

p res en ce o f an o ffi cer wh o se d u t y i t w a s t o s ee t h at t h e deed was ex ecu t ed in

acco rd an ce wi t h l aw; an d

, d el i v ery b ei n g o n e o f t h e es s en t i al req u i rem en t s

, t h e fact

t h at t h e d eed was at t es ted by s uch an o ffi cer, a n d p u r p o rt s o n i t s face to h av e b een

d el i v ered

, rai s es a p res u m p t i o n o f d el i very .”); Ro ss v. Ca mp bel l

, 7 3 Ga. 3 0 9

, 3 1 5

( 1 8 8 4 ) (h o l d i n g t h at pro of o f co m p l et e d el i v ery i n cl ud ed d eed ’ s at t es t at i o n o f

d el i v ery ).

1 8 S ee Do ol it t l e v. Ba g wel l , 1 9 9 Ga. 1 5 5 , 1 5 8 (1 ) (3 3 SE2 d 4 3 7 ) (1 9 4 5 ) (“ W e

h av e i n th e i n s t an t cas e th e fu rt h er al l eg at i o n th at t h e p lai n t i ffs w en t i n t o p o s s es s i o n

o f t h at p o rt i o n o f t h e p ro p ert y t o wh i ch t h ey were en t i t l ed u n d er t h e t erm s o f t h e

d eed s s o u g h t t o be can cel l ed

. T h i s i s t ru e fo r th e reas o n t h at

, co ns t ru i n g t h e p et i t i o n

m o st s t ro n g l y ag ai n s t th em

, as m u s t b e d o ne, t h ey cert ai n l y co u l d n o t ag ree to

s u rren d er p o s s es s i o n if t h ey were n o t i n p o ss es s i o n .” (ci t a t i o ns o m i t ted )); Gr i ce v.

14wh et h er o t h er ev i d en ce s u cces s fu l l y reb u t s t h es e p res u m p ti o n s i s a q ues t i o n fo r a ju ry

t o res o lv e. 1 9 Acco rd in g l y

, th e t ri al co u rt e r r ed i n g ran t i n g s um m ary ju d g m en t in

Ru s s el l ’ s fav o r o n t h is m at t er. 2 0

2

. Nex t

, Sm it h arg u es t h e t ri al c o u r t erred i n gran t i n g s u m m ary ju d g m en t in

fav o r o f Ru s s el l ’ s cl ai m o f co n v e r s io n wh en t h e ev i d en ce s u p po rt ed a fi n di n g t h at

Gr i ce

, 1 9 7 Ga. 6 8 6

, 6 9 3 -9 4 (3 0 SE2 d 1 8 3 ) (1 9 4 4 ) (“ [Th e d eed ] ap p ears t o h av e b een

d u l y at t es t ed b y t wo wi t n es s es

, o n e o f wh o m was an o ffi ci al s o au t h o ri zed b y l aw,

an d t h e at t es t i n g cl au se reci t ed d el i v ery

. Th i s w as s u ffi ci en t t o rai s e a p ri m a faci e

p res u m p t i o n t h at t h e d eed was del i v ered .”); Bo u r q u i n

, 11 0 Ga. at 4 4 6 (4 ) (“ Th e fact

t h at t h e g ran t o r treat s t h e p ro pert y as t he p ro p ert y o f t h e gran t ee rai s es a p res u m p t i o n

o f d el i very .”).

1 9 S ee Kees ee

, 2 0 8 G a

. a t 3 87 (ex p lai n in g th at co n fl i ct i n g ev i d en ce as to

d el i v ery v ers u s n o n -d el i v e r y p res en t ed q u es t i o n o f fact fo r ju ry t o res o l v e); s ee

s u p r a n o t es 1 3 -1 5 & acco m p an y i n g t ex t. It i s n o tewo rt hy th at s ev eral o f t h e cas es

rel i ed u p o n b y ap p el l ees are i n ap p o si t e t o t h e p ro ced u ral p o s t u re o f th i s cas e or d o n ot

m en t i o n at t es t at i o n s o f d

el i ver y

.

2 0 S ee McLemo r e v. W

i l b o r n

, 2 5 9 G a. 4 5 1

, 4 51 (3 8 3 SE2 d 8 9 2 ) (1 9 8 9 )

(rev ers in g g ran t o f s u m

m ary ju d g m en t wh en ev i d en ce creat ed q u es t i o n s o f fact as to

wh et h er real p ro p ert y was g i v en t o ap p el l an t as a g i ft ). Cf

. S m i t h

, 2 88 Ga. at 1 8 4 (3 )

(affi rm i n g g ran t o f s u m

m ary ju d g m en t b ecau se “ [d ] el i very d o es n o t o ccu r w h e n a

p aren t ex ecu t es a d eed n am in g h i s m i n o r ch il d as th e g ran t ee b u t r e t a i n s i n h i s

p o s s es s i o n b o t h t h e u n reco rd ed d eed an d t he p ro p ert y ”); Br i n s o n v. McMi l l a n

, 2 6 3

Ga. 8 0 2

, 8 0 2 (3 ) (4 4 0 SE2 d 2 2 ) (1 9 9 4 ) (h o ld i n g t h at

, al t h o u g h ap pel l an t d i d n o t h av e

t h e ori g i n al d eed i n h er p o s ses s i o n

, “ [a] co p y o f t he d eed i n t h e reco rd i n d i cat es t h at

i t was del i v ered i n t h e p res en ce o f th e wi t n es s es

, w as p ro p erl y wi t n es s ed t o en t i t l e i t

t o reco rd

, an d was reco rd ed o n Sep t em ber 19

, 19 7 7 ” an d “ [t ] hi s ev i d en ce i s su ffi ci en t

t o wi t h s t an d s u m

m ary ju d g m en t o n t h e i s su e o f d el i v ery ”).

15W ay n e gav e h er t h e wh i t e Cad i l l ac Es cal ad e. Ag ai n

, we ag ree t h at t h e t ri al co u rt

i m p ro p erl y g ran t ed s u m

m ary ju d g m en t wh en g en u i n e i s s u e o f m at eri al fact rem ai n

as t o t h i s i s s u e.

To es t ab l i s h a p r i ma f

a ci e cas e o f co n v ers i o n

, Ru s s el l was req ui red t o s h o w

“ t i t l e t o th e p ro p ert y o r t h e ri g h t o f po s s es s i o n, act u al p o s ses s i o n i n d efen d an t

,

d em an d fo r i t s ret urn

, an d defen d an t ’ s refu s al .” 2 1 An d h ere, it i s un d i s p u t ed t h at t h e

wh i te Cad i ll ac Es cal ad e, wh i ch W ay n e p u rch as ed i n 2 0 1 6

, was t i t l ed i n t h e n am e o f

Pau ld i n g Co u nt y Pro p ert i es

, In c. (wh i ch was s ol el y o wn ed b y W ay n e), an d t i t l e was

n ev er t ran s ferred ou t o f t h at en t i t y ’ s n am e. Ru s s el l av erred t hat t h e Es cal ad e was fo r

W ay n e’ s p ers o n al t ran s p o rt at io n wh i l e i n Co l o rad o

, b u t t h at wh en W ay n e d i ed

, Sm i th

rem ai n ed i n Co l o rad o an d “ t oo k t he k eys t o h i s Es cal ad e an d b eg an d ri v i n g t h e

v eh icl e wi t h o ut [Ru ss el l ’ s ] p erm i s s i o n .” A nd t h ereaft er, Sm it h r e f u s e d Ru s s el l ’ s

d em an d s

— o n b eh al f o f W ay n e’ s es t at e— t o ret u rn t h e v eh i cl e.

Bu t acco rd i n g t o Sm i t h, W ay n e t o l d h er t h at t h e wh i t e Cad il l ac Es cal ad e was

h ers as a g i ft an d t h a t h e wo u ld b u y an o th er o ne fo r h i m s el f, wh ich h e d i d

. Sm i th

t es t i fi ed t h at s h e was t h ereaft er i n ex cl us i v e p o s s es s i o n of th e Es cal ad e s i n c e i t s

2 1 Ho o ks v. Co bb Ct r

. Pa wn & Jewel r y Br o ker s, In c.

, 2 41 Ga. A p p

. 3 0 5

, 3 0 8

(5 ) (5 2 7 SE2 d 5 6 6 ) (1 9 9 9 ); a cco r d Tr ey In ma n & As so c., P.C. v. Ba n k of Am., N.A.

, 3 0 6 Ga. Ap p . 4 5 1 , 4 5 7 (4 ) (7 02 SE2 d 7 1 1 ) (2 0 1 0).

16p u rch as e i n 2 0 1 6 an d d ro v e i t t o an d fro m G eo rg i a an d Co l orad o wh i l e W ay n e d ro v e

a b l ack Cad i l l ac Es ca l a d e

. A n d s h o rt l y b efo re h i s d eat h

, W ay n e to l d Sm i th t h at h e

“ n eed [ed ] to t it l e [t h e Es cal ad e] t o [h er] .” 2 2 As a res u lt

, Sm i t h as s ert ed t h at

, t i t l e

n o t wi t h s t an d i n g

, s h e was t h e ri g h t fu l o wn er o f t h e Es cal ad e b ecau s e i t was a g i ft to

h er fro m W ay ne.

As we h av e prev i o u s l y ex p l ai n ed

, aft er a p r i ma f a ci e cas e o f o wn ers h i p i s

es t ab l i s h ed b y s h o wi ng ti t l e, t h e d efen dan t h as t h e bu rd en o f o v erco m in g t he p r i ma

f a ci e cas e. 2 3 T h i s m ay b e do ne b y p ro fferi n g ev id en ce t h at an i tem

, s u ch as a v eh i cl e,

was a g i ft

. 2 4 Bu t to co n st i t u t e a v al i d i n t er vi vo s gi ft

, t h e d o n o r m u s t i n t en d t o g i v e t h e

2 2 Wa yn e h ad p rev i o u s ly g i v en Sm it h a Ran g e Ro v er, wh i ch rem ai n ed in

Geo rg i a an d was t i t l ed i n h er n am e.

2 3 M c K i n n e y v. Ti mb er Eq u i

p

. , In c.

, 1 6 0 Ga. Ap p

. 9 0 0

, 9 0 0 (2 8 8 SE2 d 6 1 0 )

(1 9 8 2).

2 4 S ee McKi n n ey

, 1 60 Ga. Ap p

. at 90 0 (“ It i s wel l es tab l is h ed t h at al l k i n d s o f

p ers o n al p ro p ert y wh i ch are cap ab le o f m an u al d el i v ery an d o f wh i ch t h e t it l e ei t h er

l eg al o r eq u i t ab l e can b e t ran s ferred b y d el i v ery m ay b e t h e s u b ject -m at t er o f a v al id

g i ft .” (p u n ct u at i o n o m i t ted )); s ee a l s o Un der wo o d v. Un der wo o d

, 4 3 Ga. Ap p

. 6 4 3,

6 4 5 (6 ) (1 59 SE 7 2 5) (1 9 3 1 ) (“ To reco v er i n a t ro v er c a s e i t i s es sen t i al t h at t h e

p l ai n t i ff s h o w ei t her t i tl e o r ri gh t o f p os s es si o n

, an d i n s o m e cas es i t i s n eces s ary to

e s t ab l i s h b o t h. Th u s

, in t h e i n s t an t cas e, i f t h e i nt es t at e di d i n t ru t h ex e c u t e a n d

d el i v er t h e g i ft , as cl ai m ed b y t h e d efen d an t, t h e d efen dan t t hereb y ob t ai n ed s u ch a

ri gh t o f po ss es s i on as wo u ld d efeat t h e ad m i n i st rat o r’ s act i o n o f t ro v er, reg ard l es s o f

wh et h er t h e d efen d an t m ay h av e acq u i red s u ch l eg al t i t l e as wo u l d au t h ori ze h er to

p ro ceed b y s u i t i n h e r o w n n am e ag ai ns t t h e o b l i g o rs i n t h e ch os es i n act i o n.”

17g i ft

, t h e d o n ee m u s t accep t t h e gi ft

, an d t h e g i ft “ m u s t be d el iv ered o r s o m e act wh i ch

u n d er l aw i s accep t ed as a s u b s ti t u t e fo r d el i v ery m u st be d o n e.” 2 5 Bu t o n t h e q u es t i o n

o f d el i v ery

, “ [a] ct u al m an ual d el i very i s no t es s en t i al t o t h e v al i di t y o f a g i ft ,” an d

“ an y act wh i ch i n d i cat es a ren u n ci at i o n o f d o m in i o n b y t h e d o n o r an d t h e t ran s fer o f

d o m i n i on t o th e d o nee s h al l co n s t it u t e a co n st ru ct iv e d el i v ery .” 2 6 Su ff i c e i t t o s ay

,

“ [t ] h e d el i v ery o f k ey s t o p e r s o n a l p ro p ert y acco m p an i ed b y a decl arat i o n t h at t h e

d o n o r i s gi v in g th e p ro p e r t y t o t h e d o n ee i s s u ffi ci en t ev i d en ce t o s u s t ai n a fi n d i n g

t h at t h ere h as b een a co n s t ru ct i v e d el i v ery o f t h e o b ject

. ” 2 7

Vi ewi n g t h e reco rd i n t h e l i g h t m os t fav o rab l e t o Sm i th

, as we m u s t, 2 8 t h ere i s

s u ffi ci en t ev id en ce t o creat e a g en u i n e i s s u e o f m at eri al fact as t o t ru e o w n ers h i p o f

t h e w h i t e Cad i ll ac Es cal ad e an d

, t h u s

, t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n g ran ti n g s u m m ary

(ci t at i o n o m i tt ed )).

2 5 OCGA § 4 4 -5 -8 0 (1 )-(3 ).

2 6 OCGA § 4 4 -5 -8 2

.

2 7 Ba n ks v. H

a r v e y

, 9 8 Ga. Ap p

. 1 9 6

, 19 6 (1 ) (1 05 SE2 d 3 41 ) (1 9 5 8 ); s ee

Un d er w o o d

, 4 3 Ga. Ap p

. at 6 4 4 -4 5 (3 ) (ev i d en ce was s u ffi ci en t t o s u p p o rt fi n d i n g

o f a v al i d g i ft wh en p aren t ca l l e d d a u g h t e r i n t o ro om an d d el i vered t o h er k ey s to

s afet y d ep o s i t bo x s i t u at ed i n b an k an d k ey s t o o t h er p ers o n al ty , o n ly p art o f wh i ch

was i n ro o m

, w i t h s t at em en t o f co n t en t s o f safet y d ep o s i t b o x

, an d t h at d au g h t er co u ld

h av e ev ery t h i n g ).

2 8 S ee s u p r a no t e 2

.

18ju d g m en t t o Ru s s el l o n h i s cl ai m fo r co n v ers i on

. 2 9 I n d eed

, al th o u g h b o t h t h e t ri al

co u rt an d Ru s sel l as s ert t h at Sm i t h ’ s t es t i m o n y w as m erel y s el f-s erv i n g

, i t was n ot

co n cl u s o ry o r u ns u pp o rt ed

. 3 0 Sh e n o t o n l y t es t i fi ed t h at W ay

n e t o l d h er t hat h e was

g i v i n g h er t he wh i t e Cad i l l ac Es cal ad e b u t t h at h e al s o sai d h e wo u l d b u y an o t h er

Es cal ad e fo r h im s el f, an d i t i s un d i s p u t ed t h at he l at er p u rch as ed an d d ro v e a b l ack

Cad il l ac E s cal ad e. O f co u rs e, o n a m o t i o n fo r s u m m ary ju d g m en t

, wh en “ i t ap p ears

t h at t h e cred i b i l i t y of a wi t n es s o r wi t n es s es u p o n wh os e t es t im o n y t h e g ran t o f t h e

2 9 Cf

. Ba n ks

, 9 8 Ga. Ap p

. at 1 9 6 (3 ) (h o ld i n g, i n act i o n b y es t at e t o r e c o v e r

au t o m ob i l e, t h at ev i d en ce su p por te d t r i al co u rt ’ s v erd i ct i n fav o r o f co m m o n -l aw wi fe

t o wh o m i n t es t at e g av e k ey s t o n ewl y p u rch as ed au t o m o b il e o n t h e d ay p ri o r t o h i s

d eat h an d t o ld h er h e was g i v i n g i t t o h er t h o ug h t i t l e was n o t i n h er n am e); Hi s e v.

M o r g a n

, 9 1 Ga. Ap p

. 55 5

, 5 5 6 (3 ) (8 6 SE2 d 3 7 4) (1 9 5 5 ) (h o l d i ng t h at t h e i s s u e o f

wh et h er an au t om o b i l e was a g i ft o r p ro p erl y s u b ject t o t ro ver was a q u es t i o n o f fact

fo r a j u ry t o res o l ve i n l ig h t of c o n f l i c t i n g ev i d en ce, an d ap p el l at e co u rt wo u l d n ot

o v ert u rn v erd i ct wh en ev i d en ce s u p p o rt s ju ry ’ s v erd i ct ).

3 0 Cf

. M u l l i s v

. We l c h

, 3 4 6 Ga. Ap p

. 7 9 5

, 8 0 0 (2 ) (c) (8 1 5 SE2 d 2 8 2 ) (2 0 1 8 )

(h o l d i n g t h at sel f-s erv i n g an d co n cl us o ry s tat e m e n t s i n affi dav i t as t o d eced en t ’ s

m en t al s t at e an d s ib l i n g s ’ al leg ed u n du e i n fl u en ce “ o v er t h e y ears ” d i d n o t creat e a

g en ui n e is s u e o f m at eri al f a c t w h e n t he s t at em en t s were u ns u pp o rt ed b y s p eci fi c

fact s); Mi l l er v. Ca l h o u n /

Jo h n s o n Co

. , 2 3 0 G a. Ap p

. 6 4 8

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

(1 9 9 8) (“ Al t h o u g h [ap p el lan t ] t es t i fi ed t h at wh en h e s i gn ed t h e n o t e, ‘ I d i d n o t feel

l i ke I owed W i l l i am s Bro th ers an y m o n ey ,’ an d t h at ‘ I ag reed t o s ig n th e n o t e u n d er

p ro t es t ,’ su ch as s ert i on s are n o t s u p p o rt ed b y an y co rro b o rat i v e ev i d en ce. A l t h o u g h

[ap p el l an t ] m ay w el l h av e h ad an op i n io n th at W il l iam s h ad m i scal cu l at ed t h e

o u t s t an d i n g b al an ce, h e fai l ed t o o ffer an y ev i d en ce t o s up p ort h i s b el i ef. Co n cl u s o ry

s t at em en t s i n affi d av i t s u n su p po rt ed b y fact u al e v i d en ce are i n s u ffi ci en t t o av ert

s u m m ary ju d g m en t .”).

19s u m

m ary ju d gm en t d ep en ds i s at i s s u e i n t h e cas e, n ei t h er th e tri al co u rt n o r t h i s co u rt

wi l l res o lv e t h e m at t er o r is co ncern ed wi th t h e cred ib i li t y b u t wi l l l eav e t h i s m at t er

t o th e j u ry .” 3 1 T h u s

, t h e tri al co u rt was n o t en t i t l ed t o d i s co u n t Sm i t h ’ s t es t i m o n y in

t h es e ci rcu m s t an ces m erel y b ecau s e i t was arg u ab l y

s el f-s erv in g

. 3 2

3

. Fi n al l y

, Sm i t h arg u es th 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

t o Ru ss el l wh en t h e ev i d en ce s u p p ort s a fi n d i n g t h at W ay n e g av e h er t h e j ewel ry at

i s su e. On ce ag ai n , we ag ree t h at t h ere are g en u i n e i s s u es o f m at eri al fact rem ai n i n g

as t o t h i s d i s p u t e.

On t h i s i ss u e, t h e t ri al co u rt ru l ed i n Ru s s el l ’ s fav o r aft er co n cl u d i n g t h at Sm i th

co u ld n o t s at i s fy h er bu rd en of s h o wi n g t h at W ay n e m ad e an en fo rceab l e gi ft o f t h e

jewel ry wh en h er on l y ev i d en ce am o u n t ed t o her o wn s t at em en t s

. Bu t fo r th e reas on s

al read y g i v en i n D i v i s i o n 2 s u p r a

, t he t ri al co u rt erred b y g ran t i n g s u m m ary ju d g m en t

o n t h i s b as i s

.

3 1 Pa t t er s o n v. W r i gh t

, 3 5 4 Ga. A p p

. 2 8 6

, 2 8 8 (2 ) (8 4 0 SE2 d 7 6 2 ) (2 0 2 0 );

a cco rd Ha r d i n g v. Ga . Gen

. In s . Co

. , 2 2 4 Ga. Ap p. 2 2

, 2 5 (4 79 SE2 d 4 1 0 ) (1 9 9 6 ).

3 2 S ee Pea ch Bl o s s o m D ev. C o

., In c. v. Lo we El ec. S u p p ly Co

. , 3 0 0 Ga. Ap p.

2 6 8

, 2 7 1 (6 8 4 SE2 d 3 9 8 ) (2 0 0 9 ) (“ No r was t h e t ri al co u rt en t i t l ed t o d i s co u n t [t h e]

affi d av i t b ecau s e i t was s el f-s erv i n g

. Su ch a n a r g u m e n t as ks t h i s Co u rt t o wei g h

. .

. cred i b i l it y

, b u t o n s u m

m ary ju d g m en t

, n ei th er we n or t h e l o wer co u rt m ay co n s i d er

t h e cre d i b i l i t y o f wi t n es s es

, wh i ch i s a m at t er fo r t h e j u ry t o res o l v e.” (p u n ct u at i o n

o m it t ed )); s ee a l

s o s u p r a no t e 3 1 & acco m

p an y i n g t ex t.

20Ru s s el l av erred th at ap p ro x i m at el y o n e m o n t h aft er W ay n e’ s d eat h

, Sm i t h t o ld

h i m t h at hi s fat h er rem o ved jewel ry b efo re en t eri n g t h e h o s p i t al fo r a fi n al t i m e an d

t h at s h e was h o l d i n g i t fo r safe k eep i n g. An d wh en R u s s e l l a s k ed Sm i t h fo r t h e

jewel ry

, s h e g av e i t t o hi m

. Ru s s el l s ai d h i s fat h er n ev er t o l d hi m t h at h e had g i v en

t h e jewel ry t o Sm i t h

, an d Ru s s el l “ b el i ev ed ” W ay n e wo u l d h av e d o n e s o b ecau s e t h e

jewel ry was “ v ery

s p eci al t o [W ay n e] .”

On t h e o t h er h an d

, th ro u g h h e r t e s t i m o n y

, Sm i t h p u t fo rt h ev i d en ce t h at s h e

g av e th e jewel ry t o Ru s s el l b ecau s e s h e was “ b ei n g t ran s p aren t” an d b ecau s e h e

wan ted t o p l ace th e jewel ry i n W ay n e’ s s afet y d ep o s i t b o x “ u nt i l t h e W i l l [was ]

ex ecu t ed (s i c).” In d eed

, wh en Sm i t h gav e Ru s sel l th e jewel ry

, s he t o l d hi m t h at s h e

h ad wo rn i t t h e d ay b efo re an d t h at W a y n e h a d g i v en h er t he jewel ry

, t o wh i ch

Ru s s el l res p on d ed

, ag ai n

, t h at t h e jewel ry was m erel y b ei n g p l ac e d i n t h e s afet y

d ep os i t b o x t em

p o rari l y

. Sm i t h t ru s t ed t h at Ru s s el l wo u l d ret u rn th e jewel ry

, t h o u g h

s h e d i d n o t u n d ers t an d wh y h e wan t ed i t ; b u t s he d i d n o t wan t t o arg u e wi t h h i m at

s u ch a s en s i t i v e t i m e.

Sm i t h fu rt h er t es t i fi e d t h a t W ay n e t o l d h er fo r y ears t h at sh e co u l d h av e t h e

jewel ry

, w h i ch s h e s o m et i m es wo re, b u t week s b efo re h e was h os p i tal i z e d f o r t h e

fi nal t i m e, h e to ld h er t o “ g o ah ead an d t a k e i t no w” becau s e h e “ wan t [ed ] [h er] to

21h av e i t .” At t h at p o in t

, s h e to ok p o ss es s i o n o f th e j ewel ry an d

, u p o n ret urn i n g t o t h e

m ai n h o u s e, p l aced i t i n a k i t ch en d rawer wi t h o t h er i m po rt an t i t em s

. Fro m t h i s

t es t i m o ny

, t h e cred i b i l it y o f wh i ch a ju ry m u s t w ei g h

, t h ere i s ev i d en ce s u ffi ci en t to

wi t h s t an d s u m

m ary ju d g m en t, an d 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

i n Ru s sel l ’ s fav o r o n t h i s d is p ut e as wel l

. 3 3

Fo r al l t h es e reas o n s

, we rev ers e th e t ri al co u rt ’ s g ran t o f s u m m ary ju d g m en t

.

Ju d g men t r ever sed . Ri ckma n , P. J, a n d

Br own , J., co n cu r

.

3 3 S ee s u p r a n o t e 3 2

.

22