FI FTH DI VI SI ON
RI CKM A N, C. J.

, M CFA DDEN, P. J.

, and SENI OR A PPELLA TE JUDGE PHI PPS

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.

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. ga a ppe a ls .us /r ule s

Januar y 20, 2022



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A2 1 A1 50 9 . NAYANI v

. HASSANALI et al

.

M C F A D D E N , Pres id i n g J u d g e.

Kam al Nay an i ap p eal s fro m t h e o rd er g ran t i n g part ial s u m m ar y j udgm e n t t o t h e

d efen d an t s i n h i s l aws u i t al l e g in g , am o n g o t h er t h i n gs , t hat Am in a Has s an al i

co m m i t t ed frau d t o i nd u c e h i m t o p u rch as e s hares i n h er p ro fes s i o n al co rp o rat i o n,

Am i n a M ed i cal Co ns u l t an t

, P.C. W e h ol d t h at N a ya n i m a y n o t pu rs u e h i s cl ai m s

b ecau s e h i s co n t ract to pu rch as e s h ares i n t h e p ro fes s i o n al co rp orat i o n i s v oi d

. So we

affi rm

.

1

. Fa ct u a l

a n d p r o ced u r a l b a ckg r o u n d

.

“ Su m m ary ju d g m en t i s p ro per ‘ i f th e p l ead in g s , d e p o s i t i o n s , an s wers to

i n t erro g at o ri es , an d ad m i ss io n s o n fi l e, t o g et h er wi th t h e affi d av i t s , i f an y , sh o w t h at

t h ere i s no g en u in e i s s ue as t o an y m at eri al fact an d t h at t he m ov i n g p art y i s en t i t l edt o a j u d gm en t as a m at t er o f l aw.’ OCGA § 9 -1 1-5 6 (c).” Co wa r t v. W i den er , 2 8 7 Ga.

6 2 2

, 6 2 3 (1 ) ( a ) ( 6 9 7 SE2 d 7 7 9 ) (2 0 1 0 ). “ On ap p eal fro m th e d en i al or g ran t o f

s u m m ary ju d g m e n t

, t h e ap p el l at e co urt m u s t co n d u ct a d e n ov o rev i ew o f t h e

ev i d en ce t o d et erm i n e w h et h er t h e r e e x i s ts a g en u i n e i s s u e o f m at eri al fact

, an d

wh et h er t h e un d i s pu t ed fact s , v i e w e d i n t h e l i g h t m o s t fav o rab l e to t h e n o n m o v i n g

p art y , warran t ju d g m en t as a m at t er o f l aw.” News t r o m v. Au t o -Own er s In s. Co

. , 3 4 3

Ga. Ap p . 5 7 6 , 5 7 7 (1 ) (8 0 7 SE2 d 5 0 1 ) (2 0 1 7 ) (ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ).

So v i ewed

, th e reco rd s h o ws t h at Has s an al i i s a p ri m ary care p h y s i ci an

. In 1 9 9 9

o r 2 00 0

, s h e o rg an i zed a p ro fes s i o n al co rp orat i o n , Am i n a M ed i cal Co n s u l t an t

, P.C.,

t o p ract i ce m ed i ci n e. In Ap ri l 2 0 1 8 Nay an i an d h i s wi fe ap p ro ach ed Has s an al i ab o ut

en t eri n g a p art ners h i p

. T h e t h ree ag reed t h at H as s an al i w o u ld s el l Nay an i a 4 0 p ercen t

o wn ers h i p i n t e r e s t i n her p ro fes s i o n al co rp orat i on an d t h at s h e wo u l d ret ai n a 6 0

p ercen t o wn ers h i p in t eres t.

On M ay 4

, 2 0 1 8, Nay an i

, Has s an al i

, Am i na M ed i cal Co n s u l t a n t

, an d

Has san al i ’ s co m

p an y Am i n a Pro p ert y , LLC, t h e m ed i cal p ract i ce’ s l an dl o rd

, en t ered

an ag reem en t fo r th e s a l e o f s h ares i n an d t h e m an ag em en t of Am i n a M ed i cal

C o n s u l tan t

. Nay an i h ad g iv en t h e t erm s t o an at to rn ey , wh o d raft ed t he ag reem en t

.

Has san al i d i d n o t h av e h er o wn at to rn ey

.

2Un d e r t h e ag reem en t, Has s an al i s o l d Nay an i 4 0 p ercen t o f t h e p ro fes s i o n al

co rp o rat i o n fo r $ 2 0

, 0 0 0

. Th e ag reem en t pro v i ded t h at H as s an al i wo u l d b eco m e t h e

m ed i cal d i rect o r o f t he p ract i ce wi t h a s al ary o f $ 8

, 0 0 0 p er m o n t h

, p ro rat ed s h o u ld

s h e wo rk m o re o r fewer t h an 1 3 s h i ft s p er m o n t h

, an d t h at Nay an i wo u l d b eco m e t h e

m an ag i n g d i rect o r of t he p ract ice, w i t h a s al ary o f $ 6,0 0 0 per m o n t h

. Th e ag reem en t

fu rt her p ro v i d ed t h at Has s an al i wo u l d recei v e 6 0 p ercen t o f t h e p ro fi t s an d Nay an i

wo u l d recei v e 4 0 p ercen t o f t h e p ro fi ts

.

Th e p art i es am en d ed t he ag reem en t i n No v em b er 2 0 1 8 a n d a gai n i n J an u ary

2 0 1 9

.

It w as no t l on g b efo re H as s an al i reg ret ted en t eri n g th e ag reem en t an d d eci d ed

t h at s h e was n o t g o i n g t o fo l lo w i t

. I n Jan u ary 2 0 19

, Has s an al i t o l d Nay an i an d h i s

wi fe t h at i f t h e p ract i ce di d n o t s h o w a p ro fi t wi t h i n t h e nex t t w o m o n th s , s h e wo u ld

t ak e b ack t he m an ag em en t o f t h e p ract i ce.

Has s an al i to ok o v er i n Ap ri l 2 0 1 9, i n st ru ct in g h er s taff n o lo ng er t o g i v e

p at i en t b il l s t o Nay an i fo r p ro ces s i n g. Sh e ch an g ed t h e l o ck s o n t h e b us i n es s b ecau s e

Nay an i an d h i s wi fe h ad rem o v ed fro m th e p rem i s es t h e k ey s t o t h e cas h b o x an d t h e

m ai l b o x . Sh e al so rem ov ed Nay an i ’ s acces s t o t h e b u s i n es s ’ s ch eck i n g acco u n t

.

3O n Ap ri l 3 0

, 2 0 1 9, Nay an i fi l ed t h e co m p lai n t ag ai n s t Has s an al i

, Am i n a

M ed i cal Co n s ul tan t

, an d Am in a Pro p ert y

. He as s ert ed cl ai m s o f frau d an d b reach o f

co n tract ag ai n st Has s an al i an d Am i n a Pro p ert y ; a cl ai m o f b reach o f fi d u ci ary d u t y

ag a i n s t Has s an al i ; a d em an d fo r an acco u nt i n g ag ai n s t al l t h ree defen d an t s ; an d a

cl ai m fo r t h e ju d i ci al d i s s o lu ti o n o f Am i n a M ed i cal Co n s u l t an t

.

Has s an al i an d A m i na Pro p ert y m o v ed fo r p art i al s u m m ary ju d g m en t

. Th e t ri al

co u rt g ran t ed s u m

m ar y j u d g m en t t o t h e defen d an t s o n Nay an i ’ s cl ai m s fo r frau d

ag ai n s t H a s s a n a l i an d Am i n a Pro p ert y ; b reach o f co n tract ag ai n s t Am i n a Pro p ert y ;

b reach of fi d u ci ary d u t y ag ai n s t Has san al i ; an acco un t i n g as to al l defen d an t s ; an d

ju d i ci al d i s s o l u ti o n o f A m i na M ed i cal Co n su l t an t

. Nay an i fi l ed t h i s ap p eal ; h e d o es

n o t ch al l en g e t h e g r a n t o f s um m ary ju dg m en t o n h is frau d cl ai m ag ai n s t Am i n a

Pro p ert y

.

W e h o l d t h at t h e ag reem en t fo r t h e p u rch as e o f s h ares in t h e p ro fes s i o n al

co rp o rat i o n i s v o i d b ecau s e i t v i o l at es Geo rg i a l aw. A n d b ecau s e t h e a g r e e m en t i s

v o i d , Nay an i can n o t p u rs u e h i s cl ai m s . So we affi rm

.

2

. La w o f p ro f es s i o n a l co r

p o r a t i o n s

.

U nde r the G e or gia P r of

es s i o n al Co rp o rat i o n Act

, OCGA § § 14 -7 -1 t h ro u g h 1 4

-

7 -7

, “ [s ] h ares i n a p ro fes s i o n al co rp o rat i on m ay o n l y b e is su ed t o , h el d b y , o r

4t ran s ferre d t o a p ers o n wh o i s l i cen sed t o p ract ice t h e p ro fes s io n fo r wh i ch t h e

co rp o rat i o n i s o r g an i zed an d wh o , u n l es s d i s ab l ed

, i s act i vel y en gag ed i n s u ch

p ract i ce as an act i v e p ract ici n g m em ber of t h e is s u in g co rp o rat i on

. . . .” OCGA § 1 4

-

7 -5 (a). So t he ag reem en t at i s s u e

— wh i ch was fo u n d ed o n a p r o m i s e t o t r a n s fer

s h a r e s i n Am i n a M ed i cal Co n s u l t an t

, a p ro fes s io n al co rp o rat i o n fo r t h e p ract i ce o f

m ed i ci n e, t o Nay an i

, wh o i s n o t l i cen s ed t o p ract i ce m ed i c i n e

— v i o l at es OCGA §

1 4 -7 -5 (a).

[W ] h ere a s tat u t e p ro v i d es t h at p ers o n s pro p o s i n g t o en g ag e i n a

cert ai n bu si n es s s h al l p ro cu re a l i cen se b efo re b ei n g au t h o ri zed t o d o so ,

an d wh ere i t ap p ears fro m t h e t erm s o f t h e s t at u t e th at i t w as en act ed n o t

m erel y as a rev en u e m eas u re b ut was in t en d ed as a reg u l at i on of s u ch

b u s i n es s i n t h e i nt eres t o f t h e p u b l i c, co n t ract s m ad e i n v i o l at i o n o f s u ch

s t at u t e are v oi d an d un en fo r c e a b l e

. W h ere a s t at ut e en act s , fo r th e

p u rp o s e o f s ecu ri n g a m o re effect u al co m p l i an ce wi t h i t s req ui rem en t s

i n res p ect t o t h e l i cen s i n g o f cert ai n o c c u p a t i o n s , t h at n o o n e sh al l

en g ag e i n o r carry o n an y s u ch o ccu p at io n u nt i l h e s hal l h av e o b t ai n ed

t h e l i cen s e as p ro v i ded b y l aw, i t i s an ex p res s p ro hi b i t i o n wi t h o u t m o re

p art i cu l ar wo rd s

.

Mo o r e v. Di

xo n , 2 6 4 G a. 7 9 7

, 7 9 9-8 0 0 (2 ) (4 5 2 S E2 d 4 84 ) (1 9 9 4 ) (ci tat i o n s an d

p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ). A cco rd Ga

. Cen t

. Cr ed i t Un i o n v. W eems , 1 5 7 Ga. Ap p

. 4 3 9,

4 4 0 (1 ) (2 7 8 SE2 d 8 8 ) (1 9 8 1 ). See al s o OCGA § 1 3 -8 -1 (“ A co n t ract t o do an

. . .

5i l leg al th i n g i s v oi d .”). In o t h er wo rd s , a co n tract t h at i s o n l y p erm i t t ed t o be en t ered

i n t o b y a p ers o n h o l d in g a l i cen s e i s s u ed as a reg u l at o ry m eas u re i s v o i d i f t h e p ers o n

d i d n o t h o l d s uch a l i cen s e at t h e t i m e t h e co n t ract was en t ered i n t o

. JR

Co n s t r ./ El ect r i c, LLC v. Or dn er Co n s t r

. Co

. , 2 9 4 Ga. Ap p

. 45 3

, 45 4 (6 6 9 SE2 d 2 2 4 )

(2 0 0 8).

“ Co n tract s t hat o b v i o u s ly an d d irect l y ten d i n a m ark ed d eg ree t o b ri n g ab o ut

res u l ts t h at t h e l aw s eek s t o p rev en t can n o t b e m ad e th e g ro u n d o f a su cces s fu l s u i t

[an d ] are ag ai n s t pu bl i c po l i cy .” Or ki n Ext er mi n a t i ng Co

. v. Dewb er r y , 2 0 4 Ga. 7 9 4,

8 0 9 (2 ) (5 1 SE2 d 6 69 ) (1 94 9 ) ( ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at i o n om i t t ed ), o v erru l ed i n p art

o n ot h er gro un d s i n B a r ry v. S ta n co Co mmu n i ca t i o n s P r o d u ct s, 2 4 3 Ga. 68

, 7 1 (3 )

( 2 5 2 S E2 d 4 91 ) (1 9 7 9). An d s u ch co nt ract s “ w i l l no t b e en fo rced ev en i f t h e

d efen d an t fai l s t o rai s e t h i s is s u e as an affi rm at i v e d efen s e.” Ga

. Recei va b l es v. Ki r k

,

2 4 2 Ga. Ap p . 8 0 1 , 8 0 2 (2 ) (5 31 SE2 d 3 9 3 ) (2 0 0 0).

Nay an i arg u es t hat ev en i f t h e l aw p ro hi b i t s h i m fro m b ei n g an o wn er o f t h e

p ro fes s i on al co rp o rat i o n , th at d o es n o t m ean t h at t he p art i es ’ ag reem en t i s vo i d

, g i v en

t h at t h e p art i es act ed as p art n ers fo r a y ear. Bu t h e d o es n ot ex p l ai n h o w th e p art i es ’

b u s i n es s rel at i on s h ip s av ed t h e ag reem en t fro m b ei n g i ll eg al

.

6Nay an i arg u es t hat t h e ag reem en t re q u i r e d t he p art i es t o co o p erat e, s o t h ey

co u ld h av e co n v ert ed t he pro fes s i o n al co rp o rat i o n in t o a co rp o rat i on fo r p ro fi t

. Bu t

,

ag a i n , h e d o es n o t ex pl ai n h ow Has s an al i ’ s p ro m i s e (i n t h e vo i d ag reem en t ) to

co o perat e s av ed t h e ag reem en t fro m b ei n g i l l eg al

.

Nay an i arg u es t hat u n der OCGA § 1 4 -7 -5 (e)

, t h e pro fes s i o n al co rp o rat i o n

wo u l d au t o m at i cal l y b eco m e a fo r-p ro fi t co rp o rat i o n by o p erat i o n o f l aw. T h at

s u b s ect i o n o f t h e Act p ro vi d es :

If a p ro fes s i o n al co rp o rat i o n at an y t im e ceas es t o h av e a s h areh o l d er

l i cen s ed o r o th erwi se au th o ri zed t o p ract i ce an d act u al ly p ract i ci n g , th e

p r o fes s i on fo r wh i ch t h e co rp o rat i o n i s o rg an i zed

, o r i f a p ro fes s i o n a l

co rp orat i o n d o es n o t red eem , can cel

, o r t ran sfer t h e s h ares o f a

d i s q u al i fi ed

, ret i red

, o r d eceas ed p ers on in acco rd an ce wi t h t h i s Co de

s ect i o n , t h e co rp o rat i on sh al l ceas e to b e a p ro fes s i o n al co rp o rat i o n an d

s h al l o p erat e as a co rp o rat i on fo r p ro fi t o rg an ized u n d er Ch ap t er 2 o f

t h i s t i t l e f or t h e s o l e p u r

p o s e o f l iq u i d a t i o n

. T he co rp o rat i o n m ay at an y

t i m e aft er i t ceas es t o b e a p ro fes s i o nal co rp o rat i o n ch an g e i t s p u rp o s e

b y am en d i n g i ts art icl es

.

OCGA § 1 4 -7 -5 (e) (em

p has i s ad d ed ). By it s t erm s , h o wev er, t hat s u bs ect i o n s i m p l y

al l o ws a p ro fes s i o n al co rp o rat i o n t h at d oes n o t red eem , can cel

, o r t ran s fer t h e s h ares

o f a d is q ual i fi ed p ers o n t o o perat e as a co rp o rat i o n fo r p ro fi t “ fo r t h e s o l e pu rp o s e o f

l i qu i dat i o n .” Co n t rary t o Nay an i ’ s arg u m en t , t h e s u bs ect i o n d o es n ot au t o m at i cal l y

7co n vert a p ro fes s i o n al co rp o rat i o n i n t o a fo r-p ro fi t co rp o rat i on t h at can co n t i n u e i n

b u s i n es s

.

Fi n al l y , N ay an i arg ues t ha t unde r G e or gia S u pr e m e C our

t a uth o ri t y , t h e p art i es ’

ag reem en t i s n o t v o id

. He rel i es o n S h er r er v. Ha le

, 2 4 8 Ga. 7 9 3 ( 2 8 5 SE2 d 7 1 4 )

(1 9 8 2), bu t S

h er r er i s di s t i ng u i s h ab l e. In th at ca s e , o u r Su p rem e Co u rt affi rm ed an

i n t erl o cu t o ry i nju nct i o n th at ord ered t h e rev ers i on o f a p ro fes si o n al co rp o rat i o n i n to

a trad i t i o n al b u si n es s co rp o rat i o n an d t he rei n s tat em e n t o f a n o n-p ro fes s i o n al ’ s

s h areh o ld er i n t eres t i n th at t rad i t i o n al b u si n es s co rp o ra ti o n

. Id

. at 7 9 3

. Th e d efen d an t

,

a li cen s ed p h y s i ci an , h ad co n v ert ed h i s b u s in es s fro m a pro fes s i o n al co rp o rat i o n i n to

a t rad i t io n al b u s in es s co rp o rat i o n in o rd er t o p erm i t t h e n o n -p ro fes s io n al p l ai n t i ff to

b eco m e a s h areh o l d er. Id

. So m e y ears l at er, t h e d efen d an t -p h y s i ci an recei v ed l eg al

ad v ice t h at th e co n v ers i o n o f t h e b u s i n es s f r o m a p ro fes s i o n al co rp o rat i o n to a

b u s i n es s co rp o rat i o n was v o id b ecau s e o n l y a m ed ical p ro fes si o n al co rp o rat i o n can

b e i n v o l ved i n t he p ract i ce o f m ed i ci n e

. I d

. at 7 9 4

. So t h e d efen d an t -p h y s i ci an

d ecl ared t h e p l ai n t i ff’ s s h ares v o i d an d co n v ert ed t h e co m p an y b ack i n t o a

p ro fes s i on al co rp o rat io n

. Id

. at 7 9 5

. In a ffi rm i n g t h e p l ai n t i ff’ s i n t erl o cu t o ry

i n ju n ct i o n , t h e Co u rt h el d :

8It i s n o t ag ai n s t t h e p ub l i c p o li cy o f th i s s t a t e f o r a p ro fes s i o nal

co rp orat i o n t o co n v ert t o a b u s i nes s co rp orat i o n ; i t i s ag ai n s t t h e pu b l i c

p o l i cy fo r a b us i n es s co rp o r a t i o n t o p erfo rm act s wh i ch co n s ti t u t e th e

p ract i ce o f m ed i ci n e. T h u s , a l t h o ug h t he act s o f a co rp o rat i o n m ay be

d ecl ared v o i d as i l l eg al an d ag ai n s t p ub l i c p o li cy , an d i n s o m e i n s tan ces

s u ch act s m ay b e en

jo i n ed

, t h e co rp o rat i on i ts el f d o es no t ceas e t o b e a

co rp orat i o n

.

Id

. at 7 9 7 (1 ) (ci tat i o n o m i t t ed ). Here, o f co u rs e, Am i n a M ed i cal Co n s u lt a n t h as

al way s been a p ro fes s i o n al co rp o rat i o n

. An d we h ol d

, n ot t h at t h e p ro fes s i o n al

co rp o rat i o n i s vo i d

, b ut o n l y t hat t h e co n t ract fo r t he s al e o f s h ares i n t h e p ro fes s i o n al

co rp o rat i o n t o a n o n -p ro fes s i o n al i s v o id

. So S h er r er d o es n o t s u p p ort N ay an i ’ s

arg u m en t

.

W e o b s erv e t h at t h e Act co n t em p lat es a p ro ced ure f

o r a p ro fes s i o n al

co rp o rat i o n t o fo l l o w wh en a s h areh o l d er i s d i s q u al i fi ed . It p ro v i d es t h at :

[t ] h e s h ares h e l d b y a s h areh o l d er

. . . wh o i s d i s q u al ifi ed as a

s h areh o l d er u n d er [OCGA § 1 4 -7 -5 (a)] s h al l b e

. . . red eem ed

, can cel ed

,

o r t ran s ferred [t o a pers o n au t h o ri zed to h o l d t h em ] wi t h i n 9 0 d ay s aft er

t h e d i s q u al ifi cat io n b eco m es fi n al

. In t h e ab s en ce o f an art i cl e or b y l aw

p ro v i s i o n o r an ag reem en t p ro v i d i n g f o r t h e red em

pt i o n o r t ran s fer o f

s u ch s h ares o r, i f th e sh ares are n o t red eem ed o r t ran s ferred pu rs u an t t o

s u ch a p ro v i s i o n or ag reem en t wi th i n t he req ui red peri o d o f t i m e, th e

co rp orat i o n i s au t h o ri zed t o an d s h al l can cel t h e sh ares on i t s bo o ks at

9t h e t erm i n at i o n o f t h e req u i red p eri od

. If v al u at i o n an d p ay m en t t erm s

are n o t fi x ed u n d er s u ch an ex i s t i n g pro v i s i o n o r ag reem en t an d are n o t

a g reed u p o n ei t h er p ri o r t o o r at an y t i m e aft er t h e t erm in at i o n o f t h e

req u ired p eri o d

, t h e fai r v al u e o f t h e red eem ed o r can cel ed s h ares sh al l

b e d et erm i n ed an d p ai d i n t h e s a m e m an n er as i f th e

. . . di s q u al i fi ed

s h areh o l d er, were a sh areholde r e n t i t l ed t o v al u at i o n an d p ay m en t fo r h i s

s h ares u n d er Co d e Sect i o n 1 4 -2 -1 3 27

.

O C G A § 1 4 -7 -5 (c). Bu t Nay an i h as n ot as s ert ed a cl ai m fo r rel ief un d e r t h i s

s u b s ect i o n

.

So k eep i n g i n m i n d t h at t h e p art i es ’ ag reem en t i s v o i d an d u n en fo rceab l e, we

ad d res s Nay an i ’ s arg u m en t s

.

3

. Cl a i ms a g a i n s t

Ha s s a n a li

.

(a) Fr a u d

.

Nay an i arg u es t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n g ran t in g s um m ary ju d g m en t o n h i s

frau d cl ai m ag ai n s t Has s an al i b ecau s e he h as p o i n t ed t o ev i d en ce t h at Has s an al i

i n t en t i o n al l y m ad e fal s e rep res en t at i o n s , o ne t o i n d u ce h i m t o en t er t h e ag reem en t an d

t h ree i n t h e ag reem en t i ts el f.

T h e i l leg al i ty o f t he co n t ract b ars th i s cl ai m

. “ (T)h e t es t fo r d et erm i n i n g

wh et h er a d em an d co n n ect ed wi t h an i l leg al t ran s act i o n i s cap ab l e o f en fo rcem en t at

l aw i s wh et h er p l ai n t i ff req u ires an y ai d fro m t h e i l l eg al t ran s act i o n t o es tab l i s h h i s

10cas e.” Fi ve S t a r At h l et e M g mt

. v. Da vi s , 3 5 5 Ga. Ap p. 7 74

, 7 7 8 (1 ) (8 4 5 SE2 d 7 5 4 )

(2 0 2 0) (ci t at io n an d p u n ct u at io n o m i t t ed ). Nay an i ’ s en t i re frau d cl ai m d ep en d s u p o n

t h e i l leg al co n t ract

. So H as s an al i was en ti t l ed t o s u m m ary ju d g m en t o n t h e fra u d

cl ai m

.

(b ) Br ea ch o

f f i d u ci a ry d u t y

.

Nay an i arg ues t h at ev en i f t he part i es ’ co n t ract i s v oi d

, Has s an al i o w ed h i m a

fi du ci ary d u t y , s o 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 e b reach

o f fi d u ci ary

d u t y cl ai m . W e d i s ag ree.

“ A cl ai m fo r b each o f fi du ci ary d u t y req u i res p ro o f o f t h ree el em en t s : (1 ) t h e

ex i s t en ce o f a fi d uci ary d u t y ; (2 ) b reach o f t hat d u t y ; an d ( 3 ) d am ag e p ro x i m at el y

cau s ed by t h e b reach

. Th e p art y as sert i n g th e ex i s t en ce o f a fi du ci ary o r co n fi d en t i al

rel at i o n s h i p b ears t h e bu rd en o f es t ab l i s h i n g i ts ex i s ten ce.” Ag S o ut h Fa r m Cr ed i t

,

ACA v. W

es t

, 3 52 Ga. Ap p

. 7 5 1

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

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

Nay an i cl ai m s as t h e s o u rce o f t h e fi d u ci ary d u t y t h e p art i es ’ b u s i n es s

rel at i o n s h i p

. Sp eci fi cal l y , h e arg u es t h at Has s an al i , as a m ajo ri t y s hareh o l d er i n t h e

p ro fes s i on al co rp o rat i o n , owed a fi du ci ary d u t y t o Nay an i

, as a m i n o ri t y s h areh o l d er

i n t h e p ro fes s io n al co rp o ra t i o n

. Th i s cl ai m d ep en d s u p o n th e es tab l i s h m en t o f a

11s h areh o l de r r e la t ionsh i p ari s i n g fro m t h e i l l eg al co n t ract

. Al t ern at i v el y , h e arg u es t h at

Has san al i o wed h i m a fi d u ci ary d u t y t h at aro s e fro m t h em act i n g as p art n ers

. Bu t h e

ci t es n o au t h o ri t y to s up p o rt h i s co n t en t i o n t h at t h e p art i es ’ rel at i on s hi p prem i s ed o n

t h e v o i d co n t ract b ecam e a p art ners h i p

. Nay an i has n o t s ho wn t h at th 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 o n Nay an i ’ s b reach o f fi d u ci ary d u t y cl ai m

.

4

. Br ea ch o

f co n t ra ct

cl a i m a g a i n s t Ami n a Pr o p er t y

.

Nay an i ap p e al s t h e g ran t o f s u m m ary ju d g m en t t o Am i n a Pro pert y o n h i s

b reach of co n t ract cl ai m

. He arg u es t h at Am i n a Pro p ert y b reach ed a p ro v i s i o n o f t h e

s al e ag reem en t t h at req u i red i t t o am en d i t s l eas e wi th Am in a M ed i cal Co n s u l t an t to

red u ce th e am o u n t of ren t

. He al s o arg u es th at Am i n a Pro p ert y u n l awfu l l y l o ck ed h i m

o u t o f t h e p rem i s es

.

Nay an i ’ s cl ai m ari s i n g fro m Am i n a Pro pert y ’ s fai l u re t o am en d t h e l eas e wi th

Am i n a M ed i cal Co n s u l t an t “ req u i res

. . . ai d fro m t he il l eg al t ran s act i o n t o es t ab l i s h

h i s cas e[,] ” Fi ve S t ar At h l et e M g mt

. , 3 5 5 Ga. Ap p. at 7 7 8 (1 ) (ci t at i o n a n d

p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ), b ecau s e an y i n t eres t Nay an i m i g h t h av e i n t h e l eas e wo u l d s t em

fro m h is p o s i t io n as a s h a reh o l d er i n Am i n a M ed i cal Co n s u lt an t

. So h e m ay n ot

p u rs u e t h i s cl ai m

.

12As fo r t h e al l eg ed b reach fo r l o ck i n g Nay an i ou t o f t h e p rem i s es , t h e l eas e was

b et ween Am i n a Pro pert y as lan d l o rd an d Am i n a Med ical Co n s u l t an t as t en an t

.

Nay an i was no t th e t en an t an d h as p o i n t ed t o n o t h i n g i n t h e reco rd t hat s h ows t h at h e

h ad t he ri g h t t o p o s s es s t h e p ro p ert y or t h at t he t en an t was ev er l ock ed o ut

. So h e fai l s

t o p o i n t to ev i d en ce creat i n g a q u es t i o n o f fact o n t hi s i ss u e. See S t eed v. Fed

. Na t

.

Mt g

. Co r p. , 3 01 G a. Ap p

. 8 0 1

, 80 4 -8 0 5 (6 8 9 SE2 d 8 4 3 ) (2 0 0 9) (d efen d an t co u l d l o ck

o u t p l ai n t i ff fro m

p rem i s es , as p l ai n ti ff was n o t a t en an t ).

W e affi rm

t h e g ran t o f s u m

m ary ju d g m en t o n t h i s cl ai m

.

5

. Cl a i m a g a i n st a l l t h r ee d ef en d a n t s f o r a n a cco u n t i n g a n d cl a i m f o r

d i s s o l u t i on o

f A mi n a Med i ca l

Co n s u l t a n t

.

N a ya n i ch al l en g es t h e g ran t o f s um m ary ju d g m en t o n h is cl ai m s fo r a n

acco u n t in g an d fo r th e d i s so l ut i o n o f Am i n a M ed i cal Co n s u l t an t

. H i s o n l y arg u m en t

i s th at

, b ecau s e t h e t ri al co u rt g ran t ed s u m m ary j u d gm en t o n t h es e cl ai m s “ fo r t h e

s am e reas o n as t h e b reac h o f f i d u c i ary du t y ,” an d becau s e t h e g ran t o f s u m m ary

ju d g m en t o n t h e breach o f fi d u ci ary d u t y cl ai m was erro neo u s , we s h o u l d al so rev ers e

t h e g ran t o f su m

m ary ju dg m en t o n t h es e cl ai m s

. A s we affi rm t h e g ran t o f s u m m ary

ju d g m en t o n t h e b reach of fi d u ci ary d u t y cl ai m , Nay an i ’ s arg u m en t p res en t s n o t h i n g

fo r rev i ew.

13Ju d

g men t a f f i rmed

. R i ckma n
, C. J., a n d S en i or Ap p el l a t e Ju d

g e H er b er t E.

Ph i p ps co n cu r

.

14