FI FTH DI VI SI ON

DI L LA RD, P. J.

, REESE and BETHEL, 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

Febr uar y 23, 2017



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 6 A1 61 3 . TATE v

. TATE.

R E E S E

, J U D G E

.

Th i s cas e ari s es fro m a co m p l ai n t fo r m o d i fi cat i o n o f ch i l d s up p ort an d ch i ld

cu s t o d y fi l ed by A p pel l ee M i st y Tat e. Acco rd i n g t o t h e co m p l ai nt

, Ap p el l e e w as

award ed p ri m ary p h y s i cal cu st o d y o f t h e p art i es ’ m i n o r ch i l d

, G. T., o n Ap ri l 7

, 2 0 0 4,

p u r s u a n t t o a fi n al ju d g m en t an d d ecree o f di v o rce i n Ro ck d al e Co u n ty Su p er i o r

Co u rt . Per t h e co m

pl ai n t , o n M arch 1 5 , 2 01 0

, t h e co u rt m o d ifi ed cu s t o d y b y g i v i n g

Ap p el l an t Geo rg e Tat e p ri m ary p h y si cal cu s t o d y , p u rs uan t t o a fi n al co n sen t o rd er.

Ap p el l ee fi l ed a co m

p l ai n t fo r m o d i fi cat i o n o f cu s t o d y an d ch il d s u p p o rt o n J u l y 6,

2 0 1 5

, o n ce ag ai n s eek in g p r i m ary p h y si cal cu st od y

. T h e t ri al co u rt i ss u ed an o rd er

award i n g i m

m ed i at e t em

p o rary cu s t o d y of G. T. t o Ap pel l ee, su s p en d i n g Ap p el l ee’ s

ch i l d s u p p o rt p ay m en t s t o Ap p el l an t

, an d i n st ru ct i n g t h e p art i es t o at t en d a h eari n go n Au g u s t 1 3, 2 0 1 0

. 1 Th e reco rd d o es n o t co n t ai n a ju dg m en t o rd eri n g Ap p el l an t to

p ay ch i l d s up p o rt or n on -co v ered h eal t h care ex p en s es p ri o r t o t he t ri al co u rt ’ s fi n d i n g

o f c o n t e m

p t

. Ap p el lan t s eek s rev i ew o f t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s ord er h ol d i n g h i m in

co n tem p t fo r fai l i n g t o p ay ch i l d s up p o rt

, n o n -co vered heal t h care ex p en s es an d

at t o rn ey fees as s o ci at ed w i th t h e p ro s ecu t i o n o f co n t em p t. Fo r t h e reas o n s s et fo rt h,

i n fra, we rev ers e.

On J an u ary 5

, 20 1 6

, Ap p el l ee fi l ed a p et i t io n o f co n t em p t, as k i n g t h e t ri al co u rt

t o h o l d Ap pel l an t i n co n t em p t fo r fai l i n g t o res po n d t o Ap p el l an t ’ s co u n s el ab o u t a

p ro p os ed fi n al o rd er t o p ay ch i l d s u p p o rt a n d p a r t of t h e n o n -co v ered h eal t h care

ex p en s es o f G. T., at t o rn ey fees an d co st s o f l i t i g at io n as s o ci at ed wi t h b ri n g i n g t h e

co n tem p t m o t i on

. Fo l l owi ng a h eari n g on J an u ary 1 4

, 2 0 16

, th e t ri al co u rt i s s u ed an

o rd er fi n d i ng Ap p el l an t i n co n t em p t o n J an u ary 15

, 2 0 1 6

, n u n c p r o tu n c t o Au g u s t

1 3

, 2 0 1 5

. 2 On ap p eal

, A p pel l an t arg u es th at t h e tri al co u rt erred b y fi n d i n g h i m in

co n tem p t fo r fai l i n g t o p ay ch i l d s u p p o rt an d p art o f t h e n o n

- co v ered h eal t h care

ex p en s es fo r G. T., erred i n i s s ui n g th e fi n al o rd er n u n c p ro t u n c t o Au g us t 1 3

, 2 0 1 5,

an d erred i n award i n g Ap p el l ee at t o rn ey fees

.

1 Th e co u rt l i k el y

m ean t “ Au g u s t 1 3

, 2 0 1 5” rat h er t h an “ Au g us t 1 3, 2 0 1 0 .”

2 Th ere i s n o h eari n g t ran s cri p t i n t h e reco rd

.

2Co n tem p t ci t at i on s are cri m i n al

, ci v i l

, o r b o t h

. 3 W hereas cri m i n al co n t em pt

i m p o s es un co n d i t io n al p u n i sh m en t fo r p ri or a c t s o f d i so b ed ien ce, “ ci v i l co n t em pt

i m p o s es co n d i t io nal p un i s h m en t as a m ean s o f co erci n g f u t u r e co m

pl i an ce wi t h a

p ri o r co u rt o rd er.” 4 A fi nd i n g o f cri m i n al co n t em p t “ i m p o s es u n c o n d i t i o n al

p u n i s h m en t fo r p ri o r co n t em p t

, t o p res erv e t h e co u rt ’ s a u t h o r i t y an d t o p u n i s h

d i s o b ed ien ce o f it s ord ers .” 5 Th e s t an d ard o f rev iew i n cri m in al co nt em p t act i o n s i s ,

“ aft er v i ewi n g t h e ev i d en ce i n t he l ig h t m o s t fav o rab l e t o t h e p ro s ecu t io n , an y rat i o n al

t ri er of fact co u l d h av e fo u n d t h e es sen t i al el em en t s o f th e cri m e b ey o n d a reas o n ab l e

d o u b t .” 6 In ci v i l co n t em

p t ap p e a l s , w e wi l l affi rm , “ i f t here i s an y ev id en ce fro m

wh i ch t h e t r i a l co u rt co u l d h av e co n cl u d ed th at i t s ord er h ad b een v i ol at ed .” 7 W i th

t h es e gu i di n g p ri n ci p l es i n m in d, we t u rn n o w to A p p el l an t ’ s s p eci fi c cl ai m s o f erro r.

3 Ha r r i s o n v. CGU In s

. Co

. , 2 6 9 Ga. Ap p. 5 4 9

, 5 5 5

, n. 2 (6 04 SE2 d 6 1 5 ) (2 0 0 4) (fo o t n o te, ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ).

4 Id . (ci t at i o n an d p u nct u at i on o m i t t ed ).

5 S t ewa r t v. Tr i co r d, LLC

, 2 9 6 Ga. Ap p. 8 3 4, 8 3 7 (2 ) (a) (6 7 6 SE2 d 2 2 9 ) (2 0 0 9) (ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ).

6 Id . (ci t at i o n an d p u nct u at i on o m i t t ed ).

7 Id . (ci t at i o n an d p u nct u at i on o m i t t ed ).

31

. Ap p el l an t as s ert s t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred b y f i n d i n g hi m i n co nt em

p t fo r

fai l u re t o p ay Ap p el l ee $ 3 ,1 2 9 .1 5 o n o r b efo re J an uary 14

, 2 0 1 6, b ecau s e th ere was

n o co u rt o rd er req u i ri n g th at h e m ak e s u ch p ay m en t s

. “ Th e q u es ti o n o f wh et h er a

co n tem p t h as o ccu rred i s fo r t h e t ri al co u rt

, an d it s d et erm i n at i o n wi l l b e o v ert u rn ed

o n l y i f t h ere h as b een a g ro s s ab u se o f d is cret i o n.” 8

Th e reco rd s ho ws t ha t

, a t t h e t i m e t h e t ri al co u rt i s s u ed i t s fi n al o rd er, ch i ld

s u p p ort p ay m en t s b y Ap p el l ee were su s p en d ed an d t h e co u rt h ad n o t o rd ered

Ap p el l an t t o p ay ch i l d s u pp ort

. Th e t ri al co u rt ’ s fi nal o rd er s t at es t h at o n Au g u s t 1 3,

2 0 1 5

, d uri n g a pre-t ri al d i s cu s s i o n am o ng s t t h e t ri al co u rt an d co un s el fo r t h e p art i es ,

t h e co u rt p ro v id ed “ g ui d an ce” to co u n s el

. Ap p el l ee co n ten d s t h at th e p art i es ’ co u n s el

h ad reach ed an ag reem en t t h at Ap p el l an t o w ed A p p el l ee $3 ,1 2 9

. 1 5 p ri or t o J an u ary

1 4

, 2 0 1 6

, i n ch il d su p p o r t

, n o n -co v ered h eal t h care ex pen s es an d at t o rn ey fees

,

t h e r e b y neg at i ng t h e n eed fo r a wri t ten co u rt o rd er. In s u p p o rt of t h i s co n t en t i o n,

Ap p el l ee at t ach ed d ocu m en t at i o n l ab el ed “ Ap p el l ee’ s Ad ded R-5 6 ” an d “ Ap p el l ee’ s

Ad d ed R-5 7 ” t o h er b ri ef.

. W e are u nab l e, h o wev er , t o c o n s i d er t h e ev i d en ce

at t ach ed t o t h e bri ef. “ A b ri ef can n ot b e u s e d i n li eu o f t h e reco rd o r t ran s cri p t fo r

8 In r e Hu g h es , 2 9 9 Ga. Ap p

. 6 6

, 6 8 (2 ) (6 81 SE2 d 7 4 5) (2 00 9 ) (ci t at i o n an d

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

4ad d in g ev i d e n c e t o t h e reco rd ; we m u s t t ak e o u r ev i d en ce fro m t h e reco rd an d n ot

fro m t h e b ri efs o f ei t h er p art y .” 9

Th e cas es rel i ed u p o n by Ap p el lee, as au t ho ri t y , are d i s t i n g u i s h ab l e fro m t h i s

act i on

. 1 0 In b o t h cas es , t h e p l ai n t i ffs were as k i ng t h e co u rt t o en fo rce a set t l em en t

ag reem en t t h ey h ad w i t h t h e o p p o s i n g p a r t i e s

. 1 1 Th ey were n o t as k i n g t h e co u rt to

h o l d t h e o p p o s i n g p art i es in co n t em p t fo r v i o l at i n g th e ag reem en t s , as in t h i s act i o n.

In t h e p res en t cas e, t h e reco rd d o es n o t s h o w t h ere was an o ral or wri t t en ag reem en t

b et ween t h e part i es ’ co u n s el

. M o reo v er, ev en i f t h e p art i es h ad reach ed an ag reem en t

,

t h ey fai l ed t o s u b m i t i t t o t h e t ri al co u rt an d o bt ai n a co n s e n t o rd er. 1 2 Th u s, a ju d g e

i s no t au t h o ri zed t o h o l d a p ers o n i n co n t em p t o f a v erb al ru l i n g th at has no t b een

9 Lo cke’s Gr a

ph i c & V i nyl S i g n s v. Ci t i co r

p V en d o r Fi na n ce , 2 8 5 Ga. Ap p. 8 2 6

, 8 2 7 (2 ) (6 4 8 SE2 d 1 5 6 ) (2 0 0 7 ) (fo o t n o t e an d p un ct u at i o n o m i t t e d ) ; s ee al s o Co u rt o f Ap p eal s Ru l e 2 4 (g ).

1 0 Ra y v. Ra y , 2 6 3 Ga. 7 1 9 (4 3 8 SE2 d 78 ) (1 9 94 ); S t o n e v. Ki n g , 1 9 6 G a. Ap p. 2 5 1 (3 96 SE2 d 4 5 ) (1 9 9 0 ).

1 1 See Ra y , 2 63 Ga. at 7 1 9 ; S t o n e , 1 9 6 Ga. Ap p. at 2 51

.

1 2 “ OCGA § 9

- 1

- 5 8 ( b ) p ro v i des t hat

, u n l es s t h e co u rt o t h erwi s e di rect s , n o ju d g m en t s h al l be effect i v e fo r an y p u rp o s e u n t il i t h as been s i g n ed b y t h e ju d g e an d

fi led wi t h t h e cl erk

. Un t i l an o rd er i s si g n ed b y t he j u d ge an d fi l ed

, i t i s i n effect i v e fo r

an y p u rp o s e.” S

h i r l ey v. Ab s h i r e , 2 8 8 Ga. A p p

. 81 9 (6 5 5 SE2 d 6 9 4 ) (2 00 7 ) (fo o t n o t e

o m it t ed ; em

p h as i s i n o ri g in al ).

5red u ced t o w ri t i n g , s i gn ed b y t h e ju dg e, an d fi l ed wi t h t h e co u rt cl erk

. 1 3 Becau s e t h ere

i s no co u rt o rd er fo r Ap p el l an t t o pay ch i l d s u p p o rt an d p art of t h e n o n -co v ered

h eal t hcare ex p en s es fo r G. T., t h e t ri al co u rt was no t au t h o ri zed t o fi n d Ap p el l an t in

co n tem p t fo r fai l u re t o p ay . Th erefo re, we rev ers e.

2 . Ap p el l an t arg u es t h at t h e t ri al co urt erred i n o rd eri ng hi m t o p ay $ 1 ,6 0 0 t o

Ap p el l ee b y 4 : 0 0 p .m

. o n J an u ary 1 4

, 2 0 1 6

, t o p u rg e h im sel f o f co n tem pt or g o t o jai l

.

Th e reco rd s h o ws t hat $1 ,6 0 0 p ay m en t i s p art o f t h e $3 ,1 2 9

. 1 5 t h e t ri al co u rt o rd ered

Ap p el l an t t o p ay Ap p el l ee as p art o f t h e fi n d in g o f co n t em pt , wi th t h e rem ai n d er o f

$ 1 ,5 2 9 .1 5 to b e p ai d i n i n s t al l m en t s

. In l i g h t o f ou r fi n di n g in Di v i s i o n 1

, su p ra, t h at

t h e co u rt was n o t au t h ori zed t o h o l d Ap p el l an t i n co n tem pt

, we rev ers e th e p ay m en t

o f $ 1

, 6 0 0 t o Ap pel l ee.

3

. A p p e l l a n t co nt en d s t hat t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n award i n g at t o rn ey fees to

Ap p el l ee fo r t h e co s t o f b ri n g i n g t h e p et i t i o n fo r ci t a t i o n of co n t em p t

. In i t s fi n al

o rd er, t h e t ri al co u rt award ed Ap p el l ee at t o rn ey fee s f o r t h e p ro s ecu t i o n o f t h e

co n tem p t p et i t i o n ; h o we v e r , n o leg al au t h ori t y o r s p eci fi c fi n d in g s o f co n d u ct by

Ap p el l an t w as g i ven as t h e b as i s f o r t h e award o f at to rn ey fees t o Ap p el l ee. In

co n tem p t act io n s , “ at t orn ey

fees are award ed o n ly

wh ere s o m e ex p res s au t h o ri t y o r

1 3 Id

.

6p o wer ex i s t s

. No au t h o ri ty ex is t s t o award at t o rn ey fees m erel y b ecau s e t h e act i o n i s

fo r co n t em

p t .” 1 4 Pret erm i t t i n g t h e l ack of l eg al au t h ori t y o r sp eci fi c fi n d i n g s o f

co n du ct b y A p p el l an t to award t h e at t o rn ey fees

, g iv e n o u r h o l d i ng i n Di v i s i o n 1,

s u p ra, th at t h e co u rt was n o t au t h o ri zed t o h o l d Ap pel l an t i n co n t em p t

, w e rev ers e t h e

award o f at t o rn ey fees

.

4

. Ap p el l an t arg u es t h at th e t ri al co u rt erred i n i s s ui n g t h e fi nal o rd er n u n c p ro

t u n c t o Au g u s t 1 3

, 2 0 1 6. W e ag ree. 1 5 Th e tri al co u rt d i d n o t ru le u p o n t h e i s s u es

co n tai n ed in t h e fi n al o rd er u n ti l J an u ary 1 5

, 2 0 16

. T herefo re, i t m ay n o t d eem s u ch

ru l i n g as h av in g b een i n effect s i nce th e p rev i o u s Au g u s t

. Th u s, bas ed o n t h e

fo reg o i n g , we rev ers e.

Ju d g men t r ever sed . Di l l a r d

, P. J., a n d

Bet h el , J., co n cu r

.

1 4 Mi n o r v. Mi n o r , 2 57 Ga. 7 06

, 7 0 9 ( 2 ) (3 6 2 SE2 d 20 8 ) (1 98 7 ); s ee Ci t y of

Cu mmi ng v. Rea l t

y D ev. Co r

p

. , 2 6 8 Ga. 4 6 1

, 46 2 -4 6 3 (2 ) (4 9 1 SE2 d 60 ) (1 99 7 ) (Th e

g ran t o f at t o rn ey f

e e s was i m

p ro p er b ecau s e t he t ri al co u rt ’ s o rd er l ack ed s p eci fi c fi nd i ng s o f t h e co n d u ct ju s t i fy i n g t h e award o f at t orn ey fees ).

1 5 “ A n un c p ro t un c en try i s fo r t h e p u rp os e o f reco rd i n g s o m e act i o n t h at was

t ak en o r ju d gm en t ren d e r e d p r e v i o us l y t o t h e m ak i n g o f th e en try

, wh i ch i s t o t ak e effect as of t h e fo rm er dat e. Su ch an act io n can n ot b e m ad e t o s erv e t h e o ffi ce

. . . o f

s u p p ly i n g no n -act i on on th e part o f t h e co u rt .” Co l ema n v. Co l ema n , 24 0 Ga. 4 1 7,

4 1 8 (1 ) (2 4 0 SE2 d 8 70 ) (1 9 7 7 ) (ci t at io n s an d p un ct u at i o n o m it ted ).

7