THI RD DI VI SI ON

M I LLER, P. J.

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

N O T IC E : M otions for r e c ons i de r a tion m us t be

ph y sic a l ly r e ce iv ed i n our c le r k ’s offic e w ithin te n

da y s of the da te of de c is ion to be de e m ed tim e ly file d.

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

June 30, 2016



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 6 A0 69 2 . HILL v

. DAVIS

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

Al o n zo Q. Hi l l ap p eal s fro m a tem po rary o rd er o f t h e t ri al co u rt t h at h el d h i m

i n co n t em

p t

. H i l l en u m erat es m

u l t i p l e erro rs on ap p eal

. As t o co n t em p t

, H i l l ’ s

arg u m en t s are wi t h o u t m eri t

. Bu t we v acat e t h e award o f at t o rn ey ’ s fees b ecau s e t h e

t ri al co u rt d i d n o t s peci fy a s tat u t o ry

b as i s fo r t h e award

.

Hi l l an d Ch an es t i a Dav i s are t h e paren t s o f a m i n o r ch il d

, bo rn o u t of wed l o ck

i n 2 00 5 an d l eg i ti m at ed in 2 0 0 6

. Dav i s h ad jo i n t l eg al an d p ri m ary p h y s i cal cu s t o dy

o f t h e m in o r. H i l l fi led n u m ero u s co n t em p t act i o n s ag ai n s t Dav i s

. On Ju n e 2 0 1 2,

ru l i n g o n o n e s u ch m ot io n

, th e t ri al co u rt o rd ered th e part i es t o recei v e jo i nt

p s y ch o lo g i cal co u n s el i n g , an d wro t e o ut a s ch ed u l e fo r v i si t at io n

.In Sep t em b er 2 0 1 2

, aft er Hi l l fi l ed an o th er co n t em p t act i o n

, t h e co u rt hel d Hi l l

i n co n t em p t

, fi n di n g th at “ [t ] h e s h eer v o l um e o f tex t m es sag es [s en t b y Hi l l t o Dav i s ]

. . . dem o n s t rat es t o t h e [c] o urt an ex ces s iv e co m p u l s io n t o co n t ro l ev ery as p ect o f t h e

ch i l d ’ s l ife.” Th e co u rt o rd ered t h at Hi l l s en d n o m o re t h an t en tex t m es s ag es t o Dav i s

each m o n t h.

Hi l l fi l ed y et an o t h er m o t i o n fo r co n tem p t i n No vem

b er 2 0 1 4

, a r g u i n g t h at

Dav is h ad fai l ed t o ad h ere t o t h e v i s i t at i o n s ch ed u l e an d f a i l ed to at t en d t h e

co u ns el i n g m an dat ed i n t h e p ri o r o rd er. Dav i s fi l ed a co u n t ercl ai m , as k i n g t h at Hi l l

b e h el d i n co n t em

p t fo r h i s co n t i n u o u s haras s m en t o f Dav i s i n v i o l at i on o f t h e p ri o r

co u rt o rd er. In an ord er en t ered o n Au g u s t 25

, 2 0 1 5

, t h e t r i a l co u rt d en i ed Hi l l ’ s

m o ti o n fo r co n t em

p t

, bu t gran t ed Dav i s ’ s

. He fo u n d Hi l l i n co n t em p t an d award ed

Dav is at t o rn ey ’ s fees

. Th is ap pe a l f o l l o wed

. Al t h o u g h t h e tri al co urt al so g ran t ed

Dav is fu l l l eg al an d fu l l p h ys i c a l c u st o d y o f t h e m i n o r, H i l l ap p eal s o n ly t h e t ri al

co u rt ’ s h ol d in g o f co nt em p t

.

1

. Def i ci en ci es i n Hi l l ’s b r i ef

As a t h res h o ld m at t er, we ad d res s t h e d efi ci en ci es i n Hi l l ’ s b ri ef, w h i ch fai l s

t o co m p ly wi t h o u r ru l es

. No t ab l y

, H i l l’ s b ri ef d oes n ot co n t ai n p ro p er ci t at i o n s t o t h e

s p eci fi c p ag e n u m

b ers o f t h e reco rd o r t ran s cri p t t h at are es s e n t i a l t o c o n s i d erat i o n

2o f t h e en um erat ed erro rs

, n o r d o e s h e i n cl u d e a co n ci s e s t at em en t of t h e ap p l i cab l e

s t a n d a r d o f r ev iew. See Co urt o f Ap p eal s Ru l e 2 5 (a) (1 ), (a) (c) (2 ) (i i ). In t h e

ab s en ce o f pro p er reco rd ci tat i o n s

, we n eed n o t “ s earch fo r o r co ns i d er s u ch

en u m erat i o n .” Co u rt of Ap p eal s Ru l e 2 5 (c) (2 ) (i ). “ Bri efs t h at d o n o t co n fo rm t o o u r

ru l es hi n d er o u r ab i l i t y t o d et erm i n e t h e bas i s an d su b s t an ce o f an ap p el l an t ’ s ap p eal

.

No n et h el es s

, we wi l l rev i ew [Hi l l ’ s ] cl ai m s o f erro r t o th e ex t en t t h at we can as cert ai n

h i s arg u m en t s .” G a r

y v. Do l l a r Th r i

f t y Au to

. Gr o u

p

, 32 9 Ga. Ap p

. 3 2 0

, n

. 1 (7 6 3

SE2 d 3 5 4) (2 0 1 4) (ci t at i o n o m i t t ed ).

2

. Ref u s al t o h o l d Da vi s i n co n t emp t

.

In h i s fi rs t en um era t i on o f erro r, Hi l l co nt en d s t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred by

fi nd i ng t h at Dav i s was n o t i n co n t em p t o f t h e J u ne 2 0 1 2 ord er. Hi ll fi rs t arg u es t h at

Dav is had prev i ou s ly b een h el d i n co n t em p t o f t h at o rd er. Bu t th e reco rd i s d ev o i d o f

an y o rd ers h o ld in g Dav i s i n co n t em p t. “ Th e p art y as s ert i n g e r r o r o n a p peal h as t h e

b u rd en t o s h o w it affi rm at iv el y b y t h e reco rd

. ” McCl a s key v. Ji ff y Lu b e

, 1 9 7 Ga. Ap p.

5 3 7 (3 9 8 SE2 d 8 2 5 ) (1 9 9 0 ) (ci t at i o n o m i t t ed ). “ Th i s co u rt i s a co u rt fo r t h e co rrect i o n

o f erro rs an d i t s d eci s i o n m u st b e m ad e o n t h e reco rd s en t t o t h is co u rt b y t h e cl erk

o f t h e co u rt b el o w an d n o t u po n t h e b ri efs o f co u n sel .” S hef f i el d v. Zi l i s

, 1 7 0 Ga. Ap p.

6 2

, 65 (2 ) (3 1 6 SE2 d 4 9 3) (1 9 8 4 ) ( C i t a t i o n an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ). It t h erefo re

3m

u st b e as s u m ed t h at t he ev i den ce s u p p o rt ed t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s fi n d in g t h at Dav i s h ad

n o t p rev i o u s l y b een h el d i n co n t em p t

.

Hi l l al s o arg u es th at t h e tri al co u rt erred becau s e h e m ad e a fact u al fi n d i n g t h at

b o t h p art i es fai l ed t o co m p l y wi t h t h e co u rt o r d er b y n o t at t en d i ng t h e jo i nt

p s y ch o lo g i cal co u n s el i n g s es s i o n s an d b y n ot fo l l o wi n g t h e v i s i t at i o n s ch ed u l e, y et

d i d n o t fi n d Dav is i n co n t em pt

. Tri al co u rt s h av e “ b ro ad d is cret i o n to d et erm i n e i f a

p art y i s i n co nt em

p t of i ts ord er, an d t h e ex erci s e o f t h a t d i s cret i o n wi l l n o t b e

rev ers ed o n ap p eal u nl es s g ro s s l y ab u s ed .” Ba ker v. S ch r i ms h er

, 2 91 G a. 4 8 9

, 4 9 1

(7 3 1 SE2 d 6 4 6 ) (2 0 1 2) (Ci t at io n s o m i tt ed .) Here t h e t ri al co u rt d i d n o t fi n d t h at ei t h er

p art y ’ s fai l ure t o ad h ere t o t h e p ri o r co u rt o rd er ro s e t o t h e l ev el o f co nt em p t

, an d Hi l l

fai l s to sh ow an y ab us e of t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s d i s cret io n i n fai li n g t o h o l d Dav i s in

co n tem p t

. See Hi g d o n v. Hi g do n

, 32 1 G a. A p p

. 2 6 0

, 26 2 (b ) (7 3 9 SE2 d 4 9 8 ) (2 0 1 3 ).

3

. Hi l l ’s co n temp t

.

Hi l l arg u es t h at t h e tri al co urt erred b y h o l d in g h i m i n i nd i rect c r i m i n al

co n tem p t becau se t ri al co u rt d i d n o t w it nes s an y d i s res p ect fu l o r c o n tu m aci ou s

co n du ct fro m Hi l l d u ri n g th e h eari n g

. Bu t wh et h er Hi l l en gag ed i n co n d u ct t h at was

d i s res p ect fu l o r co n t u m aci o u s i s i rrel ev an t t o wh et h er h e was p ro perl y h el d i n i n d i rect

cri m i n al co n t em

p t

. “ [T] h e p ro ced u re[s ] t h at a t ri al co u rt m u s t fo l lo w to h ol d a p ers o n

4i n co n t em

p t d ep en d u po n wh et h e r t h e a c t s al l eg ed t o co n s t i t u t e t h e co n tem p t are

co m m i t t ed i n t h e co u rt ’ s p res en ce (d i rect co n t em p t ) o r are co m

m i t t e d o u t o f t h e

co u rt ’ s pres en ce (i n d i rect co n t em p t ).” Ra mi rez v. S ta t e

, 2 7 9 Ga. 1 3

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

6 4 5 ) (2 0 0 5 ) (Ci t at i o n s o m it ted ). In d i rect co n t em p t “ m ay i n v o l v e s o m e fo rm o f wi lfu l

d i s res p ect t o ward t h e co urt ; it m ay i n v o lv e i nt en t i o n al di sreg ard fo r o r d i so b ed i en ce

o f an o rd er o r co m

m an d o f t he co u rt

, o r i t m ay i n v o l v e co n du ct wh i ch i n terferes wi th

t h e co u rt ’ s au t h o ri t y to ad m i n i s t er ju s ti ce.” Do ga n v. Dep ’t o f Hu ma n Res

., 2 7 8 Ga.

Ap p

. 9 0 5, 9 0 7 (1 ) (6 3 0 SE2 d 1 4 0 ) (2 0 0 6 ) (Ci t at i o n s an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i tt ed ). Here,

t h e t ri al co u rt bas ed hi s d eci s i o n t o h o l d Hi l l in i n di rect cri m i n al co n t em p t o n Hi l l ’ s

fai l u re t o ad h ere t o th e p ri or co u rt o rd er b y s en d i n g h u n d red s o f t ex t s t o Dav i s

. Su ch

co n du ct w as an i n t en t i o n al v i o l at i o n o f a pri o r co u rt ord er, an d t h e t r i al co u rt was

au t h o ri zed t o h o ld Hi l l i n i nd i rect co n t em pt fo r t h es e act i o ns

.

4

. Fa i l u r e t o s et o u t

f i n d i n g s o f f a ct

.

Hi l l arg u es t hat t h e t ri al co u rt erred b y fai l i n g t o s et o u t fi n d in g s o f fact i n h i s

o rd er. Th i s co n ten t i o n i s w i t ho u t m eri t

. Th e t ri al co u rt s peci fi cal l y fo u n d t h at Hi l l was

i n v i o l at i o n o f a p ri o r co u rt o rd er wh en h e fai l ed t o li m i t h is t ex t s t o t en p er m o n t h.

Th at was s uffi ci en t

. “ To h o ld i n co n t em p t

, t h e co u rt m

u st fi n d t h at th ere w as a wi lfu l

5d i s o b ed ien ce of t h e co u rt ’ s d ecree o r ju d g m en t .” B eckh a m v. O’Br i en

, 1 7 6 G a. Ap p.

5 1 8 , 5 2 2 (3 3 6 SE2 d 37 5 ) (1 9 8 5 ) (ci tat i o ns o m i t t ed ).

5

. Hea r s a y.

Hi l l arg ues t h at hears ay ev i d en ce wh i ch was ex cl u d ed at t he h eari n g was u s ed

t o fi n d t hat h e was i n co n t em p t

. Hi l l cl ai m s t h at t h e t es t i m o n y o f t h e s ch o o l ’ s

p ri n ci p al “ w h o st at ed t h at [a] t each er t o l d h e r [ Hi l l ] h ad berat ed h er at s ch o o l an d

i n t i m i d at ed h er,” was h ears ay t h at t h e t ri al co urt us ed to fi nd Hi l l i n co nt em p t

. At t h e

h eari n g

, t h e pri n ci p al t es t i fi ed ab o u t an i n ci den t t h at o ccu rred wh en Hi l l co n fro n t ed

a t each er aft er h i s s o n was d i s ci p li n ed

. At t h e h eari n g

, Hi l l d i d n o t o b ject t o t h i s

t es t i m o ny

. As s u m i ng wi t h o u t d eci d i ng t hat t he t es t i m o n y was h ears ay

, t h ere i s n o

ev i d en ce t h at t h e al l eg ed h ears ay ev i d en ce ci t ed b y H il l was co ns i d ered b y t h e t ri al

co u r t

. T h e o rd er s h o ws t h at Dav i s was fo u nd i n co n t em p t so l el y b ecau s e o f h i s

v i o l at i o n o f t h e t ex t m es sag e p ro v i s i o n o f t h e p rev i ou s o rd er. T h i s co n t en t i o n i s

t h erefo re wi t ho u t m eri t

.

Hi l l al s o arg u es t h at “ t h e co u rt al lo wed [Hi l l ’s ] b l o g t o b e ad m i t t ed i n to

ev i d en ce d e s p i t e t h e fact th at s ai d b l o g w as hears ay

. ” On ce ag ai n, t h e t ri al co urt ’ s

co n tem p t h o l d i n g was b as ed s o l el y o n th e ex ces si ve t ex t m es s ag es sen t fro m Hi l l to

6Dav is , an d t h ere i s n o ev i d en ce t h at t h e b l o g was co n s i d ered b y th e t ri al co u rt

. Th i s

co n ten t i o n i s al s o wi th o u t m eri t

.

6

. At t o r ney Fees

Hi l l co n t en d s t h at t h e tri al co u rt erred b y award i n g at t o rn ey fees

. Becau s e t h e

t ri al co u rt d i d n ot s p eci fy t h e s t at u t o ry b as i s fo r t he award

, we ag ree

. D a v i s s o u g ht

t h e award o f at t o rn ey fees i n h er co u n tercl ai m wi t h ou t s t at i n g a s t at u t o ry bas i s fo r t h e

award

, an d t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s o rd er s t at es n o s t at u t o ry bas i s fo r h i s awa r d o f at t o rn ey

fees t o Hal l

.

“ As a g en eral ru l e, Geo rg i a l aw d o es n o t p ro v i d e fo r t h e award of at t o rn ey fees

ev en t o a p r e v a i l i n g part y un l es s au t h o ri zed b y s t at u t e o r b y co n t ract .” Co t h r a n v.

Meh o s ky , 2 8 6 Ga. Ap p . 6 40 , 6 4 1 (6 4 9 SE2 d 8 3 8 ) (2 0 0 7 ) (Ci t at io n an d p u n ct u at i o n

o m it t ed ). Si n ce Hi l l o ri g i n al l y b ro u g h t t h i s act i o n t o m o di fy ch i ld cu s t o dy

, t h e t ri al

co u rt was au t h o ri zed t o award at t o rn ey fees u n d e r O C G A § 1 9 -9 -3 (g ) or OCGA §

1 9 -6 -1 5 (k ) ( 5 )

. S e e V

i s ku p v. Vi s ku

p

, 2 9 1 Ga. 10 3

, 1 0 6 -1 0 7 (1 ) (7 2 7 SE2 d 9 7 )

(2 0 1 2). An d becau s e t he reco rd s h ows m u l t i p le st at ut o ry b as es fo r th e at t o rn ey fees

award

, “ it w as i n cu m

b en t up o n t h e t ri al co urt t o i n d i cat e wh i c h s t at u t e w as rel i ed

u p o n i n m ak i n g i t s award .” Ha l l v. Ha l l , 3 3 5 Ga. Ap p . 2 0 8 , 2 1 2-2 1 3 (2 ) (7 8 0 SE2 d

7 8 7 ) (2 0 1 5 ).

7Geo rg i a ap p el l at e co urt s h av e rep eat ed ly h el d : W h en t h ere i s m o re t h an

o n e s t at ut o ry b as i s fo r t he at t o rn ey -fee award an d n ei t h er t h e st at ut o ry

b as i s fo r t h e award n o r th e fi n d i ng s n eces s ary t o s u pp o rt an award i s

s t at ed i n th e ord er an d a rev i ew o f th e reco rd d o es no t rev eal t h e b a s i s

o f t h e award

, t h e cas e i s rem an d e d f o r a n ex p l an at i on o f t h e st at ut o ry

b as i s fo r t h e award an d t h e en t ry o f an y fi n di n g s n eces s ary t o su p po rt i t

.

Id . at 2 1 0 (ci t at i on s o m i t t ed ).

W e t h erefo re m

us t v acat e t h e award o f at t o rn ey fees an d rem an d t h e cas e fo r

t h e t ri al co u rt to ex p l ai n t h e s t at u t o ry b as i s fo r t h e award an d t o en t er an y n eces s ary

fact ual fi n d i n g s.

Ju d g men t a f f i r m ed i n p a r t

, va ca t ed i n p a r t a n d ca se r ema n ded . Mi l l er , P. J.,

co n cu r s

. McMi l l i a n, J., co n cu r

s f u ll y i n Di vi s i o n s 1

, 2

, 3

, 4, 5

, a n d i n t h e j u d g men t

o n l y i n Di vi s io n 6

.

8