FOURTH D I VI SI ON

DOYLE, P. J.

, COOM ER and M A R KLE, 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

M ar ch 12, 2020



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 9 A2 21 9

. W INNEBAGO INDUSTRIES, INC. v

. SIM PSON et al

. CO-0 8 0

C O O M E R , J u d ge.

Th i s d i s p u te ari s es o ut o f t h e p u rch as e o f a m o t o r h om e an d t h e ap p l icat i o n o f

OCGA § 1 0-1 -7 80 et s eq

., Geo rg i a’ s Lem o n Law, i n co n n ect io n wi t h s ai d p u rch as e.

W i nn eb ag o In d u s t ri es

, In c., (“ W i n n eb ag o ”) ap p eal s t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s o rd ers d en y i n g

i t s m o t i o n fo r su m

m ary j u d gm en t an d g ran t i n g fi n al j u d gm en t i n fav o r o f J am es an d

St u art

- L yn n Si m

p s o n (co ll ect i v el y

, t h e “ Si m p so n s”) fo ll o wi n g a b en ch t ri al

.

W i nn eb ag o co nt en d s t he t ri al co u rt erred i n d en y i n g i ts m o t i o n fo r s um m a r y ju d g m en t

an d award i n g rel ief t o t h e Si m p s o n s b ecau s e i t was n o t t he m an u fact urer o f t h e

m al fu n ct i o n i n g part s o f t h e m o t o r h o m e an d th u s i t co u l d no t b e l i ab l e u n d er OCGA

§ 1 0 -1 -7 8 2 (1 4)-(1 5). W in neb ag o al s o arg u es t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n award i n g t h e

Si m p s on s a rep l acem en t m ot or h o m e b ecau s e t h e s eal an t fai l u res were t h e res u l t o fn at u ral d et eri o rat i o n an d t he Si m p so n s ’ fai l u re t o pro p erl y m ai n t ai n t h e m o t o r h o m e.

W i nn eb ag o ch al l en g es t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s fact u al fi n d in g t h at t h e s eal an t fai l u res were

co v ered by warran t y

, th at t h e rep ai r at t em p t s w ere u n s u c c e s s fu l

, t h at t h e s eal an t

fai l u res co n s t i t u t ed d efect s

, an d t h at t he m o t or h o m e w as o u t o f s erv i ce fo r m o re t h an

3 0 day s o n acco u n t o f n o n -co nfo rm i t i es

. Las t l y

, W i nn eb ag o arg u es t h e t r i al co u rt

erred i n award in g t h e Si m p so n s at t o rn ey fees b ecau se t h e co n d i t i on s u n d er OCGA §

1 0 -1 -7 8 6 (e) w ere n o t s at i s fi ed an d t he Si m p s o n s fai l ed t o p ro v e t h e reas o nab l en es s

o f t h ei r fees . Fo r t h e reas o n s t h at fo l l o w, we affi rm

.

W e ap p l y a d e n o v o s t a n d a r d o f rev i ew t o an y q u es ti on s o f l aw

d eci ded by t h e t ri al co u rt ; fact u al fi n d i ng s m ad e aft er a b en ch t ri al sh al l

n o t b e s et as i d e u nl es s cl earl y erro n eo us

, an d d u e reg ard s h al l b e g i v en

t o t h e op p o rt u n i t y o f th e t ri al co u rt t o ju dg e t h e cred i b i li t y o f wi t n es s es

.

ALA Co n s t r

. S

vcs

., LLC v. Co n t r o l led Acces s

, In c.

, 3 51 Ga. Ap p

. 8 4 1

, 8 4 1 -8 4 2 (8 3 3

SE2 d 5 7 0 ) (2 0 1 9 ) (ci t at io n o m i t t e d ). So v i ewed

, t he reco rd s h o ws th at o n o r ab o ut

J u l y 8

, 2 0 1 4

, t h e Si m

ps o n s p u rch as ed a 2 0 14 It as ca M eri d i an IKP. 3 6 M m o t o r h o m e

(t he “ m o t o r h o m e”) fro m Cam p i n g W o rl d

, an au th ori zed d eal er fo r W i n n eb ag o

. Th e

m o to r ho m e was m an u fact u red by W i n n eb ag o an d Frei g h t l i n er Cu s t o m Ch as s i s

, In c.,

(“ Frei g h t l i n er”). Frei g h t l i n er su p p l i ed t h e ch as s i s

, bu t W i n ne b a g o as s em b l ed t h e

2m o to r h o m e b y ad d i n g t h e d as h b o ard

, d r i v e r an d p as s en ger s eat s

, wi n d s h i el d,

wi n do ws , an d b y

ap p l y i ng t h e s eal an t d u ri n g t h e en d-s t ag e o f p ro d uct i on

.

Aft er co m

p l et in g a t es t d ri v e o f t h e m ot o r h om e o n Ju l y 8

, 2 0 1 4, wh en J am es

at t em p t ed t o st ep o u t o f t h e m o to r h o m e fro m t h e dri v er’ s s eat

, wat er p ou red i n fro m

o v erh ead i n t o St u art -Ly nn ’ s l ap an d o n t o t h e d as h

. Th e Si m p s on s rep o rt ed t h e l eak

t o t h e s erv ice m an ag er an d w ere t o l d i t wo u l d b e t ak en care o f. Th e Si m ps o n s s p o k e

wi t h t h e sal es m an wh o t o ld t h em t h at t h ere h ad b een a b i g rai ns t o rm s h o rt ly b efo re

t h ey arri v ed an d t hat it was p o s s i b l e w at er g o t i n t o t h e v eh icl e wh en t h e awn i n g was

ret ract ed

. Th e Si m

p so n s wen t t hro u g h wi t h t h e p u rch as e o f t h e m o t o r h o m e b el i ev i n g

t h e l eak i s s u e wo u ld b e t ak en care o f, b u t t hey d i d n ot t ak e p o s s es s i o n o f t h e m o t o r

h o m e u n t i l J u l y

1 6 , 2 0 1 4 , b ecau s e i t was b ei n g rep ai red an d p rep p ed fo r d el i v ery

.

Aft er t ak i ng del i v ery o f t h e m o t o r h o m e, t h e Si m p s o n s t o ok i t o n a t ri p wh ere

t h ey ex p eri en ced wat er l eak i n g i n t o t h e m o t o r h om e o n t h e d ri v er’ s s i d e aro u n d t h e

wi n do w. Aft er s ev eral o ccas i on s o f wat er l eak i n g i nt o t h e m o t o r h o m e, t h e Si m p s on s

s u b m i t t ed t h e m ot or h o m e fo r rep ai rs t o Cam p in g W o rl d i n Decem

b er 2 0 1 4

. Aft er t h e

l eak rep ai rs i n Decem

b er 20 1 4

, t h e m o t o r h om e co nt i n u ed t o ex peri en ce l eak s o n t h e

d ri v er’ s s i d e i n t he wi n d o w ov er t h e d as h

. In Decem b er 2 0 1 5

, t h e Si m

p so n s t o o k t h e

m o to r h o m e b ack to Cam p i n g W o rl d wi t h co m

p l ai n t s o f wat er l eak i n g. Aft er t h e

3m o to r h o m e u n d e r w e n t rep ai rs

, wat er co n t i nu ed t o l eak i n t o t h e m o t or h om e i n t h e

s am e area. Th e Si m

p s o n s t o o k t h e m ot o r h o m e i n fo r rep ai rs i n Feb ru a r y 2 0 1 6 an d

co m p l ai n ed o f wat er g et t i n g in to t h e co ach fro m ab o v e t h e d ri v er’ s si d e wi n d o w. Th e

Si m p s on s p ro v i d ed ph o t o grap h s an d a v id eo o f th e l eak i n em ai l s t o t he s erv i ce rep ai r

t ech n i ci an s. Th e m o t o r h o m e co n t in u ed t o ex p eri en ce wat er l eak s i n t h e s a m e area

wi t h i n t wo m o n t h s o f t h e Feb ru ary 2 0 1 6 rep ai rs

. Th e Si m ps o ns di d n o t i n cu r an y o u t

o f-p o ck et co s t s i n rel at i o n t o t he s eal an ts o n t h e m o t o r h o m e.

In Ap ri l 2 01 6

, t he Si m

p so n s s u b m it ted a Fi n al Rep a i r Op p o r t u n i t y No t i ce to

W i nn eb ag o v i a c e rt i fi ed m ai l

. In res p o n s e t o t he n ot i ce, W i n n eb ag o as k ed i f t h e

Si m p s on s wo u ld del i v er t h e m o t o r h o m e t o Cam p i n g W orl d wh ere i t wo u l d b e d ri v en

t o Io wa t o rep ai r t he l eak

. W h i l e i n t h e Io wa fact o ry

, t e c h n i c i an s wo rk i n g o n t h e

m o to r h o m e ex p res s ed d iffi cu l ty i n g et t i n g th e s eal an t t o ad h ere t o t h e m o t o r h o m e’ s

fi berg l as s

. So m e t i m e aft er t h e fi n al rep ai rs w ere co m p l et ed

, th e Si m

p so n s co n t i n u ed

t o ex p eri en ce l eak i n g i n t h e sam e area o f t h e m ot o r h o m e as b efo re. T he Si m p s on s

s u b m i t t ed a req ues t t o W i nn eb ag o fo r t h e m o to r h o m e t o b e rep u rch as ed o r rep l aced

o n M arch 1 4 , 2 0 1 7

. W i n n eb ag o d i d n o t rep u rch as e o r rep l ace t h e m o t o r h om e.

Th e Si m p s o n s f i l e d an ap p l i cat i o n u n d er th e Geo rg i a Lem o n Law s t at eo p erat ed arb i t rat i o n pro gram i n M ay 2 0 1 7

. Fo l l o wi n g a h eari n g

, a p an el o f t h ree

4arb i t ers d eci d ed i n fav o r o f t h e Si m p s o n s

. W i n neb ag o ap p eal ed th e arb i ters ’ d eci s i o n

t o th e s up eri o r co u rt pu rs u an t t o OCGA § 10 -1 -7 87 (a). In J an u ary 2 0 1 8

, W i n n eb ag o

fi led a m o t i o n fo r s u m

m ary j u d g m en t

, wh i ch t h e t ri al co u rt d en i ed i n t wo i d en t i cal

o rd ers fi l ed o n J u n e 2 5

, 2 0 18 an d Au g u st 1

, 2 0 1 8

. On Decem b er 1 2

, 2 0 1 8

, t h e p art i es

ap p eared fo r a b en ch t ri al i n s u p eri o r co u rt reg ard in g W i n n eb ag o ’ s a p p eal o f t h e

arb i t ers ’ d eci s i o n . Th e t ri al co urt en t ered a fi nal ju d g m en t i n fav o r o f t h e Si m p s on s

o n J an u ary 1 5

, 2 01 9

. T h e Si m p s o n s rem ai n in po s ses s i o n o f t h e m o t o r h o m e b u t h av e

n o t u s ed i t s i n ce M ay

2 0 1 7

. Th i s ap p eal fo l l o wed

.

1

. W i n n eb ag o arg u es t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n d en y i n g i t s m ot i o n fo r s u m m ary

ju d g m en t an d l at er award i n g rel i ef i n fav or o f th e Si m p s o n s becau s e t h e p art s o f t h e

m o to r h o m e w h ere fai l u res occu rred were n o t p art s o f a m o t o r ho m e t h at are co v ered

u n d e r Geo rg ia’ s Lem o n Laws

. M o re s p eci fi cal l y

, W i n n eb ag o co n t en d s t h at i n i t s

o rd ers d en y i n g W i n neb ag o ’s m o t i o n fo r s u m m ary ju d g m en t an d en t eri ng a fi n al

ju d g m en t

, t h e t ri al co u rt i g n o red t h e s t at u t o ry la ngu ag e o f Geo rg ia’ s Lem o n Laws an d

i n s t ead creat ed new s t an d ard s fo r l iab i l i t y o f m an ufact urers t h at are co n t rary t o s ai d

l aws . W e d i s ag ree.

In rev i ewi n g t h e g ran t o r d en i al of a m o t i o n fo r s u m m ary j u d gm en t, we

ap p l y a d e n o v o s t an d ard o f rev i ew, an d we v i ew t he ev i d en ce, an d al l

5reas o n ab l e co n cl u s i o n s an d i n feren ces d rawn fro m i t , i n t h e l i g h t m o s t

fav o rab le t o th e n on m o v an t

.

Ed wa r d s v. Mo o re

, 3 5 1 Ga. Ap p

. 1 4 7

, 1 4 7 (8 3 0 SE2 d 4 9 4 ) (2 0 1 9) (ci t at io n o m i t t ed ).

Ad d i t i o n al l y

,

[w] h en we co n s i d er t h e m ean i n g o f a s t at u t e, we m us t p res u m e t h at t h e

Gen eral As s em

b l y m ean t w h a t i t s ai d an d s ai d wh at i t m ean t

. To t hat

en d

, we m u st affo rd t he st at u t o ry t ex t i t s p l ai n an d o rd in ary m ean i n g

, we

m u s t v i ew t h e s t at u t o ry t ex t i n t h e co n t ex t i n wh i ch i t ap p ears

, an d we

m u s t read t h e s t at u t o ry t ex t i n it s m o s t n at ural an d reas on ab l e way

, as an

o rd i nary s p eak er o f t h e En g l i s h l an g u ag e wo u l d

. . . . [I] f t h e s t a t ut o ry

t ex t i s cl ear an d u n am

b i g uo u s

, we at tri b u t e t o t h e st at ut e i t s p l ai n

m ean i n g , an d o u r s earch fo r s t at ut o ry m ean i n g i s at an en d

.

Dea l v. Co l ema n

, 2 9 4 Ga. 1 70

, 1 7 2 -1 7 3 (1 ) (a) (7 5 1 SE2 d 33 7 ) (2 01 3 ) (ci t at i o n s an d

p u n ct u at i o n o m i t ted ). W i t h t h es e g u i d i n g p ri n ci p l es in m in d

, u n d er Geo rg i a’ s Lem o n

Law, t he t erm

“ n ew m o to r v eh i cl e” m ean s

an y s e l f-p ro p el l ed v eh i cl e p ri m ari l y d es ig n ed fo r th e t ran s p ort at i on o f

p ers on s or p ro p ert y o v er t he p u b li c h i g h way s t h at was l eas ed

,

p u rch as ed

, o r reg i st ered i n t h i s s t at e b y t h e co ns u m er o r l es s o r t o wh om

t h e o ri g i n al m o t o r v e h i cl e t i t le w as i s s u ed wi t h o u t p rev i o u s l y h av i n g

b een i s s u ed t o an y pers o n o t h er t h an a n ew m o to r v eh i cl e d eal er.

. . . If

a n ew m o t o r veh i cl e is a m o t or h o m e, t h i s art i cl e s h a l l ap p l y t o th e

s el f -p r op el l ed

veh i cl e a n d

ch a s si s

, bu t d o es n o t i n cl u d e t ho s e p o rt i o n s

6o f t h e v eh icl e des i g n at ed

, us ed

, o r m ai n t ai n ed pri m ari l y as l i v i n g

q u art ers , o ffi ce, o r co m

m erci al s p ace.

OCGA § 1 0 -1 -7 8 2 ( 1 5 ) (em p h as i s s u p p l i ed ). T he term “ m an u fact u rer” m ean s “ an y

p ers o n en g ag ed i n t h e b u s in es s o f co n st ru ct i n g or a s semb l i n g n ew mo to r veh i cl es [.] ”

OCGA § 1 0 -1 -7 8 2 (1 4 ) (em p h as i s s u pp l i ed ).

W i n n eb ag o co n ten d s t he t ri al co u rt ’ s ap p li cat i o n o f O CGA § 1 0 -1 -7 8 2 (1 5 ) to

t h e l o cat io n o f t h e wat er l eak s co m p lai n ed ab o ut b y t h e Si m p s on s

— th at i s

, t h e

d ri v er’ s s i d e wi n d ow, wi nd s h i el d

, an d ab o ve t h e d ri v er’ s s eat

— i s erro n eo us b ecau s e

t h e l eak s d i d n ot o ri gi n at e i n t h e “ ch as s i s o r s el f-p ro p el l ed v eh i cl e.” W hi l e th e s t at u t e

d o es n o t d efi n e t h e t erm “ s el f-p ro p el l ed v eh i c l e ” sp eci fi cal l y

, Geo rg ia’ s At t o rn ey

Gen eral ’ s p ro m

u l g at e d a dm in i s t rat iv e ru l es pro v i d e ad d i ti o n al gu i dan ce an d d es cri b e

t h e t erm “ m o t o r h o m e” t o m ean

t h e s el f-p ro p el l ed v eh i cl e an d ch as s i s

, i n cl ud i n g bu t n o t l i m i t ed t o th e

v eh i cl e ex t eri o r

, d r i v er an d p as s en g er co m p art m en t s

, an d p art s an d

co m p on en t s i d en t ical o r s i m i l ar i n fu n ct i o n to t ho s e fo u nd o n an y o t h er

n ew m ot o r v eh i cl e as d efi n ed at O.C.G.A. § 1 0-1 -7 8 2 (1 5 ), b u t s h al l n o t

i n cl u d e t h o s e p o rt i o ns o f t h e v e h i c l e des i g nat ed

, u s ed

, o r m ai n t ai n ed

p ri m ari l y as l i v in g q u art ers , o ffi ce, o r co m m erci al s pace.

7Ga. Co m

p. R. & Reg s., r. 60 -2 -1 -.0 2 (1 1 ). See al s o La ne v. W i l l i a m s P l a n t S

vcs

. , 3 3 0

Ga. Ap p

. 4 1 6

, 4 1 6 -4 1 7 (7 66 SE2 d 4 8 2) (2 0 1 4 ) (“ W h ere s t at u t o r y p r o v i s i o n s are

am bi g uo u s

, co u rt s s h o u l d g i v e g reat wei g h t t o t h e i n t erp ret at i o n ad o p t ed b y t h e

ad m i n is t rat i v e ag en cy ch arg ed wi t h en fo rci n g t h e s t at u t e. Co u rt s s h o u l d d efer t o an

ag en cy i n t erp ret at i o n s o lo n g as i t co m p o rt s wi th l eg i sl at iv e i n t en t an d i s reas o n ab l e.”

(ci t at i o n s an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed )).

Here, t h e t ri al c o u r t e s s en t i al l y ag reed wi t h t he arb i t ers ’ co n cl us i o n t h at t h e

areas wh ere t h e Si m

p s o n s ex peri en ced t h e wat er l eak p ro b l em s were in areas o f t h e

m o to r h om e n o t ex cl u ded b y s t a t u t e

, b u t i n cl u d ed u n d er th e s t at u t e’ s d efi n i t i o n o f

n ew m o t o r v eh i cl e, an d t h u s c o v e r e d b y t h e s t at u te. A s t h e as sem b l er o f t h e m o t o r

h o m e, W i n n eb ag o m eet s t he s t at u t e’ s d efi n i t io n o f a m an u fact u rer wh o m ay b e

s u b ject t o l iab i l i t y u n d er Geo rg ia’ s Lem o n Law. Acco rd in g l y

, we fi n d n o erro r i n t h e

t ri al co u rt ’ s ap p l i cat i on o f t h e s t at u t e to t h e fact s o f t h i s cas e, i t s d en i al o f

W i nn eb ag o ’ s m o ti o n fo r s u m m ary ju d g m en t , o r i t s g ran t o f rel ief t o t h e Si m p s o n s

.

2

. W i n n eb ag o n ex t arg ues t h e t ri al co u rt err e d b y award i n g t h e Si m p s o n s a

rep l acem en t veh i cl e b e c au s e t h e s eal an t fai l u res res u l t ed fro m t h e n at u ral

d et eri o rat i on o f th e s eal an t s fro m ex p o s ure t o t h e el em en t s an d t h e Si m ps o ns ’ fai l u re

t o p ro p erl y

m ai n t ai n t h e m o t o r h o m e. W e fi n d n o erro r.

8It i s wel l es t ab l i sh ed t hat t h e “ fact u al fi n di n gs m ad e at a b en ch t ri al s ho u l d o n l y

b e s et as i d e w h e r e t h ey are cl earl y erro neo u s

, an d t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s fi n di n g s o f fact

s h o u ld b e u p h el d i f t h ere i s an y ev i d en ce t o s u st ai n t h em .” Mo ses v. Pen n eb a ker

, 3 1 2

Ga. A p p

. 6 2 3, 62 8 (2 ) (a) (7 1 9 SE2 d 52 1 ) (2 0 11 ) (ci t at i on o m i t t ed ). In i t s fi nal o rd er,

t h e t ri al co u rt m ad e sev eral fi n d i n g s o f fact

. Th e t ri al co u rt fo u n d t h at W i n n eb ag o

m an u fact u red t h e m ot o r h o m e p u rch as ed b y th e Si m p s o n s an d o n t h e d ay t h e

Si m p s on s to o k a tes t d ri v e of t h e m o t o r ho m e, wat er l eak ed i n t o t h e d ri v in g p o rt i o n

o f t h e m o t o r h o m e. Th e s erv i ce m an ag er o f t h e d eal ers h ip as s u red t h e Si m p s o n s t h at

t h e l eak wo u ld b e han d l ed

, an d t h e S i m p s on s p u rch as ed t h e m o t o r ho m e b as ed o n

s ai d as s u ran ces

. D u ri n g t h ei r po s s es s i o n o f th e m o t o r h o m e

, a l l o f t h e wat er l eak s

o ccu rred o v er an d i nt o areas w h ere t h e d ri v er an d p as s en g er s eat s are l o cat ed an d t h e

Si m p s on s t o o k t h e m o t o r h o m e t o W i n n eb ag o ’ s au t h o ri zed ag en t s at Cam p i n g W o rl d

fo r rep ai rs t o t h o s e areas

. T h e at t em p t ed wat er leak rep ai rs were co v ered b y w arran t y

.

Bas ed o n t h e ev id en ce p res en t ed

, t h e t ri al co urt u l t i m at el y co n cl u ded t h at t h e wat er

l eak s were n ot t h e res u l t o f t h e Si m p s o n s’ n eg l ect or fai l u re t o p ro p erl y m ai n t ai n t h e

m o to r h om e.

W i n n eb ag o as s ert s t h at Geo rg i a’s Lem o n Law o n l y p ro v i d es rel i ef fo r

“ d efect i v el y

m an u fact u red n ew m o t or v eh icl es ,” an d t h at t h e ev i den ce p res en t ed at

9t ri al d i d n o t su p p ort a fi n d i n g t h at t h ere were m an u f a c t u r i n g defect s t o t h e m o t o r

h o m e. Ho wev er, t h e reco rd sh o ws th at W i n n eb ag o as s em b l ed th e p o r t i o n s o f t h e

m o to r h o m e wh ere t h e l eak s o ccu rred

. Th e reco rd fu rt her sh o w s t h at wh i l e th e m o t o r

h o m e was b ei n g rep ai red at W i n n eb ag o ’ s fact o ry i n Io wa, t ech n ici an s n ot i ced t h at t h e

s eal an t t h ey i n s t al l ed was no t ad h eri n g t o t he fi b erg l as s

. It to o k W i nn eb ag o 9 d ay s to

ad d res s t h e l eak i s s u es wh i l e i t was at i t s fact o ry i n Io wa.

OCGA § 1 0-1 -7 8 2 (1 7 ) d efi n es n on co n fo rm i t y a s “ a d efect

, a seri o u s s afet y

d efect

, o r a co n d i t i o n

, an y o f wh i ch s u b s t an ti al l y i m p ai rs t h e u s e, v al u e, o r s afet y o f

a n ew m o t or v eh i cl e t o t h e co ns u m er o r ren ders t h e n ew m o t o r v e h i c l e

n o n co n fo rm i n g t o a w arran t y . A n o n co n fo rm i t y d o es n o t i n cl u d e a defect

, a s eri ou s

s afet y d efect

, o r a co n d i t i o n t h at i s t h e r e s u l t o f ab u s e, n eg l ect

, o r u n au t h o ri zed

m o di fi cat i o n o r al t erat io n o f t h e n ew m o t o r v eh i cl e.” O CGA § 1 0-1 -7 8 2 (1 7 ). OCGA

§ 1 0-1 -7 8 4 (a) (1 ) p ro v id es i n p art t h at

If a co n su m er rep o rt s a n o n co n fo rm i t y d u r i n g t h e lem on l aw ri g h t s

p eri o d

, th e m an u fact u rer, i t s au t h ori zed ag en t, or t h e n ew m o t o r v eh i cl e

d eal er s h al l b e al l o wed a reas o n ab l e n um b er o f at t em

p t s t o rep ai r an d

co rrect t h e n on co n fo rm i t y

. A reas o n ab l e n u m b e r o f at t em

p t s sh al l be

d eem ed t o hav e b een u nd ert ak en b y t he m an u fact u r e r

, i t s au t h ori zed

ag en t

, o r th e n ew m o t o r v eh i cl e d eal er i f, d u ri n g t h e l em o n l a w r i g h t s

p eri o d :

. . . [t ] he sam e n o n co n fo rm i ty h as b een s u b ject to rep ai r t h ree

10t i m es an d t h e n o n co n fo rm i t y h as n o t b een co rrect ed ; or [t ] he v eh i cl e i s

o u t o f s erv i ce b y reas o n o f rep ai r o f o n e o r m o re n o n co n fo rm i t i es fo r a

cu m u lat i v e t o t al o f 3 0 d ay s

.

As d i s cu s s ed i n Di v i s io n 1 o f t h i s o p in i o n

, Geo rg i a’ s Lem o n Law ap pl i es t o t h e

area wh ere t he l eak s o ccu rred

. W i n n e b a g o co n t en d s t h e s eal an t fai lu res d ev el o p ed

o v ert i m e d u e t o po o r m ai nt en an ce an d en v i ro nm en t al ex p o s u re, an d were no t

, as t h e

t ri al co u rt fo un d

, t h e res u l t o f d efect s i n t h e s eal s

. Ho wev er, t h e reco rd d em o n s t rat es

t h e m ot o r h o m e ex peri en ced l eak s i n t h e s eal an t du ri n g t h e Si m ps o ns ’ t es t d ri v e, t h e

Si m p s on s rep o rt ed t h e m o t o r h om e’ s n o n co n fo rm i t y d u ri n g t h e ap p l icab l e l em o n l aw

ri gh t s p eri od t o W i n neb ag o v ia Cam p i n g W o rl d

, 1 W i n neb ag o an d Cam p in g W o rl d

m ad e reas o n ab l e at tem

p t s t o rep ai r t h e m ot o r h o m e’ s n o n co n fo rm i t y

, an d t h e m o t o r

h o m e was o u t fo r s erv i ce d ue t o rep ai rs u n dert ak en b y W i n n eb ag o fo r m o re t h an 3 0

d ays

. T h u s

, th e tri al co u rt ’ s fi n d i n g t h at th e wat er l eak s m et t h e s t at u t e’ s d efi n i t i o n

1 O CGA § 1 0 -1 -7 8 2 (1 0 ) d efi n es t h e lem o n l aw ri g h t s p eri o d t o m ean “ t h e

p eri o d en d i n g t wo y ears aft er t he d at e o f th e o ri g in al d el i v ery o f a n ew m o t o r v eh i cl e

t o a co n s u m er o r t h e fi rs t 2 4 ,0 0 0 m i l es o f o p erat i o n aft er d el i v ery o f a new m o t o r

v eh icl e t o t h e o ri g i n al co n s u m er, wh i ch ev er occu rs fi rs t.” Th e reco rd sh o ws t h e

Si m p s on s fi rs t rep o rt ed t h e n on co nfo rm i t y t o W i n n eb ag o aft er t ak i n g p os s es s i o n o f

t h e m o t o r h o m e i n Decem b er 2 0 1 4

.

11o f a n on co n fo rm i t y was n ot cl earl y erro n eo u s an d W i n n eb ag o fai l ed t o d em o n s t rat e

an y b as i s fo r rev ers al

.

3

. L as t l y

, W i n n eb ag o ch al l en g es t he t ri al co u rt ’ s award fo r fees u n d er OCGA

§ 1 0

- 1

- 7 8 6 (e) an d arg u es th e Si m p s o n s are n o t en t i t l ed t o Lem o n Law rel i ef.

W i nn eb ag o co nt en d s the S im p s o n s ’ at t o rn ey fees affi d av i t was i n s u ffi ci en t t o s u p p o rt

an award o f fees b ecau s e i t fai l ed t o s h o w t h e reas o n ab l en es s o f t he fees

. W e fi n d n o

erro r.

OCGA § 1 0 -1 -7 8 6 (e) p ro v i d es as fo ll o ws :

If t h e arb i t rat o r o r arb it rat o rs d et erm i n e: (1 ) Th at a reas o n ab l e n um b er

o f at tem p t s h as b een u n d ert ak en t o rep ai r an d co rrect t h e n o n co n fo rm i t y

an d th at t he m an u fact u rer was g i v en t h e o p p o rt u n i t y t o m ak e a fi nal

at t em pt t o rep ai r an d c o r r e c t t h e n on co nfo rm i t y an d was u n ab l e t o

co rrect it ; o r (2 ) T h at a n ew m o to r veh i cl e was o u t of s erv ice b y reas o n

o f rep ai r o f o n e o r m o re n o n c o n f o rm i t ies fo r a cu m

u l at i v e t o t al o f 3 0

d ay s wi t h i n t h e lem on l aw ri gh t s p eri o d, t h e co n s u m er s h al l b e award ed

rep l acem en t o r rep u rch as e o f t h e n ew m o t o r v eh i cl e as p ro v i d ed u nd er

Co d e Sect io n 1 0 -1 -7 8 4

. Th e arb i t r at o r o r arb i trat o rs al so m ay award

at t o rn ey ’ s fees an d t ech n i cal o r ex p ert wi t n es s fees t o a co n s u m er wh o

p rev ai l s

.

OCGA § 1 0 -1 -7 8 7 (c) al s o p ro v i d es t hat

12If t h e m an ufact u rer ap p eal s an d t h e co n s u m er prev ai l s

, reco v ery

, i n

ad d i ti o n to t h e arb i t rat o r’ s award , s h al l i n cl u d e al l ch arg es i n cu rred b y

t h e co ns u m er d u ri n g t h e p en d en cy of, o r as a res u l t o f, t h e ap p eal

,

i n cl u d i n g

, b u t no t l i m i t ed t o

, co nt i n ui n g co l lat eral an d i n ci d en t al co s t s

,

t ech ni cal o r ex p ert wi t n es s fees , at to rn ey ’ s fees , an d co u rt co s t s

.

Th e reco rd s h o w s t h a t t h e arb i t rat i o n p an el d et erm in ed t h at a reas o n ab l e

n u m b er of at tem

pt s t o rep ai r t h e m o t o r h o m e, in cl u di n g a fi n al at t em p t were m ad e by

W i nn eb ag o

, an d t h at t he m o t o r h o m e was o u t o f s erv i ce fo r a t o t al o f 3 0 d ay s wh i l e

t h e ab o v e m en t i o n ed rep ai r at t em p t s were m ad e. Bas ed on t h es e fi n d i n g s

, t h e

Si m p s on s were award ed at t o rn ey f e e s fo ll o wi n g th ei r s tat e-o p erat ed arb i t rat i o n

p u rs u an t t o OCGA § 1 0 -1 -7 8 6 (e). In i t s fi n al ju d gm en t , t h e t ri al co u rt award ed t h e

Si m p s on s $ 6 ,7 0 0 p l u s co urt co st s p urs u an t t o OCGA § 1 0 -1 -7 87 (c) aft er rev i ewi n g

an affi d av i t s u bm it t ed b y th e Si m p s o n s ’ at to rn ey

. A co p y

o f t h e at t o rn ey ’ s affi d av i t

was n o t i n cl u d ed i n t h e reco rd o n ap p eal ; h o wev er, t h e t ri al co urt m ad e t h e fo l l o wi n g

fi nd i ng s :

Th e [c] o u rt fi n d s t h e nu m b er o f h o u rs s et fo rt h b y Pl ai nt i ffs ’ at t o rn ey t o

rep r e s e n t t hem i n t h i s m at t er i s reas o n ab l e. Th e [c] o u rt al s o fi n ds th e

rat e of $2 50 p er h o u r ch arg ed

, co n s i d eri n g t h e l eg al i s s u e s p res en t ed

,

co m p lex i t y o f t h e m at t er, ex p eri en ce o f t h e at t o rn ey an d o t h er

ci rcu m s t an ces

, i s reas o n ab l e an d n eces s ary i n h er rep res en tat i o n

.

13Becau s e t h e reco rd do es n o t co n t ai n a co p y o f t h e affi d av it

, an d W i n neb ag o d id

n o t o b ject t o t h e s u b m i s s io n o f t he a f f i d a v i t a f t er t ri al

, 2 th i s Co urt d oes n o t h av e

s u ffi ci en t b as i s t o rev ers e t h e t r i al co u rt ’ s fact ual fi n d i n g s t h at t h e affi d av i t was

s u f f i c i e n t

. See Jo n es v. Un i

f ied Go vt

. o

f A th en s -Cl ar ke Co u n t

y

, 3 1 2 Ga. Ap p

. 2 1 4,

2 2 2 n

. 3 0 (2 ) (a) (7 1 8 SE2 d 7 4 ) (2 0 1 1) (“ [T] h e t ri al co u rt ’ s d et erm i n at i o n as t o wh at

fees are reas on ab l e an d n eces s ary m u s t b e su s t ai n ed u nl es s th e t ri al co u rt ab u s ed i t s

d i s cret i o n [.] ” (ci t at io n o m i t t ed )).

Ju d g men t a f f i r m ed . Do yl e, P. J., a n d

Ma r kl e, J., co ncu r

.

2 Co m p are G reer v. Da vi s

, 2 4 4 G a. Ap p

. 31 7

, 3 2 1 (4 ) (5 34 SE2 d 85 3 ) (2 0 0 0 )

(er r o r w h e r e d efen dan t o bject ed t o at t o rn ey fees t h at were ad d ed by affi d av i t aft er

t ri al an d d efen d an t n o t g iv en an o p p o r t u n i t y to cro s s -ex am i n e on t h e am o u n t an d

reas on ab l en es s o f t h e fees an d co s t s req ues t ed ).

14