FI FTH DI VI SI ON

REESE, P. J.

, M A RKLE and COLVI 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.

P le a s e r e fe r to the S upr e m e C our t of G e or gia Judic ia l

E m e r ge nc y Or de r o f M a r c h 1 4

, 2 0 2 0 for fur the r

infor m a tion a t (https ://w w w

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

M ay 21, 2020



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A2 0 A 0 2 1 7

, A2 0 A0 2 18

. A LSTON & BIRD, LLP v. HATCHER

M ANAGEM ENT HOLDINGS, LLC; an d v i ce v ers a.

C O LV I N

, J u d g e.

Th i s i s t h e s eco nd ap p earan ce o f t h i s l eg al m al p ract i ce m at t er b efo re t h i s Co u rt

.

In a pri o r i n t erl o cu t o ry ap p eal

, we h el d t h at t o t h e ex t en t t h at d efen d an t Al s t o n & Bi rd

co u ld p ro v e t h at n o n p art i es s u ch as M au ry Hat ch er, t he fo rm er m an ag er o f p l ai n t i ff

Hat ch er M an ag em en t Ho l d i n gs (HM H), b reach ed a d u t y p ro x i m at el y cau s i n g i n ju ry

t o H M H

, th e ju ry wo u l d b e al l o wed “ t o as s i g n ‘ fau l t ’ t o ” M au ry

. (Pu n ct u at i o n

o m it t ed .) Al

s to n & Bi r d LLP v. Ha t ch er Ma n a gemen t Ho l d i n g s

, LLC

, 3 3 6 Ga. Ap p.

5 2 7

, 53 0 (7 8 5 SE2 d 5 4 1 ) (2 0 1 6 ) (“ Ha t ch er I ”), q u o t i n g Za ld i va r v. Pr i cket t

, 2 9 7 Ga.

5 8 9

, 6 0 4 (2 ) (7 7 4 SE2 d 6 8 8 ) (2 0 1 5 ). Aft er fi n di n g M au ry 6 0 % at f a u l t

, a ju ry

award ed HM H co m

p en s at o ry d am ag es

, i nt eres t

, an d at t orn ey fees t o t al in g m o re t h an$ 2 .1 m i l l i o n

. O n t h e rat i o n al e t h at t h e ju ry h ad fo u n d Al s t o n & Bi rd o n ly 3 2 % at

fau l t

, t h e t ri al co u rt red u ced HM H’ s award t o $ 68 3 ,5 2 2.0 7

.

On ap p eal in Cas e No

. A2 0 A0 2 1 7, Al st o n & Bi rd arg ues th at t h e ev id en ce was

i n s u ffi ci en t o n t h e i s s u e o f p ro x i m at e cau s e an d t h at t h e t ri al co urt erred wh en i t

s u b m i t t ed th e i s su e o f preju d gm en t i n teres t t o t h e ju ry

. On cro ss -ap p eal i n Cas e No

.

A2 0 A0 21 8

, HM H arg u es t h at t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s red u ct i o n o f HM H’ s co m pen s at o ry an d

at t o rn ey fee aw a r d s w a s e rro n eo u s an d t h at th e co u rt erred i n g ran ti n g A l s t o n &

Bi rd ’ s m o t io n i n l i m i n e co n cern i n g pro ceed i n gs i n p ri o r l i t i g at i o n i n v o l v i n g M au ry

Hat ch er. W e affi rm t he ju ry ’ s v erd i ct

, b u t w e rev ers e an d rem an d wi t h d i rect i o n as

t o p reju d g m en t i n t eres t , co m p en s at o ry d am ag es , an d at t o rn ey

fees

.

W h ere a ju ry ret u rn s a v erd i ct an d i t h as t h e ap p ro val o f t h e t ri al ju d g e,

t h e s am e m

u s t b e affi rm ed o n ap peal if t h ere i s an y ev i den ce to s up p o rt

i t as t h e ju ro rs are th e s ol e an d ex cl u s iv e ju d g es o f t h e wei g h t an d cred i t

g i v en t he ev i d en ce. Th e ap p el l at e co u rt m u s t co ns t ru e t h e ev i d en ce w i t h

ev ery i n feren ce an d p res um p t i o n i n fav o r o f u p ho l d i n g t h e v erd i ct

, an d

aft er ju d g m en t

, th e ev i d en ce m u s t b e co ns t ru ed t o up h o l d t h e v erd i ct

ev en wh ere t h e ev i d en ce i s i n co n fl i ct

. As l o n g as t h ere i s so m e ev i d en ce

t o s u p p o rt t he v erd i ct

, t he d en i al o f d efen d an t ’ s m o ti o n fo r new t ri al wi l l

n o t b e d i s tu rb ed

.

2(Fo o tn o te o m i t t ed .) Qu a y v. Her i t a g e Fi n a n ci a l

, In c.

, 27 4 Ga. Ap p

. 3 58

, 3 6 2-3 6 3 (4 )

(6 1 7 SE2 d 6 1 8 ) (2 0 0 5 ).

Th u s v i ewed i n fav o r o f t h e v erd i ct

, th e r e c o r d s h o ws th at in 2 0 00

, M au ry

Hat ch er h i red Al s t on & Bi rd an d i t s p art n er, Jack Sawy er, t o f o r m an d rep res en t

HM H , a h o l d i n g co m

p an y fo r t h e Hat ch er fam i l y

fo rt u n e. Sawy er p rep ared HM H’ s

o p erat i n g ag reem en t an d pres en t ed i t t o fam il y m em b ers at a M arch 2 0 0 1

o rg an i zat i o n al m eet in g

. T h e op erat i n g ag reem en t i n cl u d ed p ro v i s i o n s t h at an y

m em b er “ s h al l h av e t he ri g h t at an y t i m e, fo r an y p u rp os e reas o n ab ly rel at ed t o s u ch

[m ] em b er’ s [m ] em

b ers h i p [i ] n t eres t

, t o i n s p ect an d co p y fro m [t h e co m p an y ’ s ] b o ok s

an d do cu m en t s ,” an d t h at th e m an ag er(s ) wo u ld b e res p on s ib l e fo r d el i v eri n g a y earl y

“ pr of it a n d los s s tat em en t” an d “ a b al an ce sh eet ” rep res en t i n g t h e “ fi n an ci al co n d i t i o n

o f t h e [c] o m

pan y as o f th e d at e in d i cat ed [,] ” as w el l as q u art er l y “ s t a t em en t [s ]

s h o wi n g t h e a mo u n ts d i s tr i bu t ed t o ea ch [ m] emb er d

u r i ng [ ea ch ] ca len d a r q u a r t er ”

o f t h e fi s cal y ear. (Em

p has i s s u p p l i ed .) T h e fam i l y m e m b e r s si g n ed t h e op erat i n g

ag reem en t ev en t h o u gh i t d i d n o t l i s t t h e i n d i v i d ual m em b ers ’ o wn ers hi p i n teres t s (as

was t h e n o rm i n s u ch ag reem en t s ), b u t d id al l ow M au ry t o s ee s u ch i n fo rm at i o n (as

em po wered at M au ry ’ s req u es t ). Sawy er di d n o t p o i n t o u t t h es e fea t u r e s t o t h e

m em b ers p res en t at t he o rg an i zat i o n al m eet i n g

.

3Fo r t h e n ex t sev en y ears

, M au ry m an ag ed HM H an d was t h e o n l y m em b er in

reg u l ar co n t a c t w i t h Sawy er. St art i n g i n 2 00 5

, h o wev er, M au ry b eg an em b ezzl i n g

co m p an y fu n d s

, ev en tu al l y p ay i n g h i m s el f $ 8 7 6

, 5 0 0 i n co m p en s at i o n an d $ 2 1 8 ,0 0 0

i n d i s tri b u t i on s

. In t h e sp ri n g o f 2 0 0 8

, o t h er fam i l y m em b ers

, i n cl u di n g M au ry ’ s

b ro t h er Jerry

, rai s ed co n cern s ab o u t a l ack o f i n fo rm at i o n ab ou t co m p an y affai rs

. In

res p o n s e t o t h es e co n cern s, an d at M au ry ’ s req u es t, Sawy er i s s u ed a M ay 2 0 0 8 l et t er

d es cri b i ng M au ry ’ s b ro ad au t h o ri t y b u t n o t res p o n di n g t o m em bers ’ req u es t s t o s ee

co m p an y reco rd s

.

On J u n e 5

, 2 0 08

, M au ry s en t a l et ter t o J erry as k i ng h i m t o wi t h d raw fro m

HM H

. On J ul y 2 1

, M au ry sen t a s e co n d l et ter t o Jerry s ay i n g t h at Sawy er h ad

“ i n di c a t e d ” t h at J erry was n o t en t i t l ed t o i n fo rm at i o n ab o u t m em b ers ’ o wn ers h ip

i n t eres t s an d in co m e. At t ri al

, HM H’ s ex p ert w i t nes s tes t ifi ed th at t h i s s t at em en t was

i n co rrect an d th at t he m em b ers ’ o w n ers h i p i n t eres t s s ho u ld h av e b een d i s cl o s ed to

J erry

.

At a fam il y m eet i n g h el d o n Au g u s t 2

, 2 0 0 8

, Mau ry ’s b ro t h er Barry as k ed

M au ry w h y m em

bers “ w e r e n ’t b ei n g al l o wed t o s ee i n fo rm at io n ” ab o u t m em b ers ’

d raws o r p ay

, o b

ject i n g t h at “ we h av e n o way [o f] h av i ng ch eck s an d b al an ces ” o v er

M au ry ’ s m an ag em en t an d “ si m p l y t ak e y ou r wo rd fo r i t .” W h en M au ry as s u red Barry

4t h at th e o perat i o n s o f t h e co m p an y w ere “ reco n ci l e d

, ” Barry s ai d t h at “ al l t h e

m em b ers ex cep t y o u h av e t u n nel v i s i on an d can n ot k n o w ” wh et h e r th e co m p an y ’ s

affai rs were b ei n g co n du ct ed e q u i t ab l y an d i n acco rd an ce wi th “ t h e ru l es an d

b y l aws .” Barry th en rai s ed t he p o s s i b i li t y o f cal l in g i n h i s o wn acco u nt an t t o as k

M au ry ab o ut t h e co m

p an y ’ s affai rs

, b ut M au ry sai d t h at h e wo u ld “ n o t n eces s ari l y ”

res p o n d t o su ch i n q u i ri es

. Barry ag ai n as k ed fo r a l i st i n g o f t h e m em b ers ’ “ percen t ag e

o wn ers hi p an d t h e am o u n t th ey d raw ev ery y ear,” b u t M au r y a g a i n res p o n d ed t h at

t h i s was “ n o t ap p ro p ri at e.”

In t h e co u rs e o f an d fo l l o wi n g t h is ex ch an g e, Sawy er co n fi rm ed t h at m em b ers

co u ld h av e t he i n fo rm at i o n on l y i f th ere were m ajo ri t y ap p ro v al fo r rep l aci n g M au ry

o r fu ll d i s cl o s u re, o r i f t he o t h er m em b ers “ w en t t o [c] o urt ” an d o b tai n ed a ru l i n g to

“ co m p el M au ry t o t u rn t h at i n fo rm at i o n o v er[.] ” Sawy er al s o s u g g e s t ed t h at “ fu l l

d i s cl os u re” wo u l d co st t he fam i l y “ $ 2 5 ,0 0 0 a y ear.” As we h av e n ot ed

, h o wev er, t h e

o p erat i n g ag r e em en t req u i red t h e m an ag er t o p ro vi d e m em b ers wi th “ a s t at em en t

s h o wi n g t h e am o u n t s d i s t ri b u ted t o each [m ] em b er

. . . fo r each p rev i o us cal en d ar

q u art er du ri n g t h e fi s cal y ear.” Sawy er tes t i f i e d at t ri al t hat h e d i d n o t recal l t h i s

p ro v is i o n an d i t s rep o rt i n g req u i rem en t s w h en h e ad v i s ed t h e m em b ers as h e d i d

, an d

t h at h e d i d n o t refer t o t h e ag reem en t o r i t s t erm s at t h e Au g u s t 8 m eet in g

,

5In t h e w eek s fo l l o wi n g t h e m eet i n g

, M au ry d is cu s s ed red eem i n g h i s an d h i s

i m m ed i at e fam i l y ’ s i n t eres t i n HM H wi t h Sawy er at l eas t t h ree t i m es

, an d al s o t o ld

Sawy er t h at h e p l an ned t o m o v e t o Fl o ri da. On Oct o b er 3 1

, M au ry red eem ed h i s

fam i l y ’ s i n t er e s t s

, pay i n g h i m s el f $ 3 9 7 ,0 0 0 m o re t han t h ey were wo rt h

. Nei t h er

Sawy er n o r M au ry d is cl o s ed t h e red em p t i o n t o t h e res t o f t h e m em b ers b efo re M au ry

an n ou n ced h i s res ig n at i on o n J an u ary 2

, 2 0 0 9

, s o o n aft er wh i ch h e m o v ed t o Fl o ri d a

an d b o u g h t a h o u s e. At t ri al

, Barry t es t i fi ed t h at i f h e an d o t her fam i l y m em b ers

“ [h ad ] kn o wn [at t he t i m e o f t h e Au g u s t 2 0 08 m eet i n g ] t h at we were en t i t l ed to

[HM H’ s ] reco rd s

. . . , w e wo u l d h av e s een th at M au ry h ad b een s t eal i n g m o n ey fro m

t h e co m p an y ” an d “ co u l d h av e f i l e d su i t ag ai n s t M au ry t o h av e t h e fu nd s

reco v ered [.] ” Sawy e r ad m i tt ed at t ri al t h at HM H co ul d hav e u sed M au ry ’ s

m em b ers h i p i n t eres t t o rep ay

m u ch o f wh at h ad b een s t o l en

.

On J an u ary 1 6, 2 00 9

, t h e m em bers fi red M au ry as m an ag er an d ap p o i n t ed J erry

an d Barry i n h i s s t ead . On Feb ru ary 2 , an d d es p i t e a warn i n g fro m a ju n i o r at t o rn ey

ab o ut an act u al co n fl i ct o f i n teres t

, Al st o n & Bi rd s en t J erry an d Barry a ceas e-an d

d es i s t l et t er d em an di n g t hat t hey s t o p i n t erferi n g w i t h HM H’ s i n t eres t s

. In earl y

F e b r u a r y

, as t hey wo rk ed on a s eco nd ceas e-an d -d es i st l et t er, t he ju n i or at t o rn ey

ag ai n warn ed Sawy er o f t h e co n fl i ct b et ween th e fi rm ’ s rep res en t at i o n o f M au ry an d

6t h at o f th e co m p an y u n d er n ew m an ag em en t

. On Feb ru ary 27

, M au ry an d Sawy er

p res en t ed J erry an d Barry wi t h a u n i v ers al rel eas e fro m an y cl ai m s or l it i gat i o n

, t o b e

s i gn ed i n ex ch an g e fo r t h e ret u rn o f HM H’ s reco rd s

. J erry refu s ed t o s i g n t h e rel eas e,

h o wev er.

In Au g u s t 2 0 0 9

, HM H h i red an acco u n t an t

, Mark Zy l a, t o ex am i n e t h e

co m p an y ’ s reco rd s. Al t h o u gh M au ry refu s ed t o p ro v i d e wh at ap peared t o b e m i s s i n g

d o cu m en t s

, Zy la d et erm i n ed t h at M au ry h ad m i s ap p ro p ri at ed ap p ro x i m at el y $ 1 .4 9 2

m i l l io n fro m th e co m

p an y b y m ean s i n cl u d in g i m p ro p er di s t ri b u t i on s

, i m

p ro p er

co m p en s at i o n

, an d o v erv al uat i o n o f h i s i nt eres t i n HM H at t h e t im e o f red em p t i o n.

Zy l a al s o cal cu lat ed t h e i n t eres t d u e o n t h i s su m

, fro m M au ry ’ s Oct ob er 2 0 0 8

red em pt i o n t o t ri al

, at $ 97 1 ,0 4 4. In D ecem b er 2 0 0 9

, HM H s u ed M a u r y, e v en t u al l y

recei v i ng a ju d g m en t o f o v er $ 4 m i l l i o n , wh i ch HM H h as n o t b een ab l e t o co l l ect

.

In M ay 2 0 1 2

, HM H f

i l ed t h i s act i o n ag ai ns t A l s t o n & Bi rd fo r l eg al

m al p ract i ce an d b reach o f fi d uci ary d u t y

. Th e l aw fi rm m o v ed fo r s u m m ary ju d g m en t

o n g ro un d s i n cl u d i n g t h at HM H’ s d am ag es were n o t p ro x i m at el y cau s ed b y t h e fi rm

.

Aft er a heari n g

, t h e t ri al co u rt d en i ed t h e m o t i o n

. Th e l aw fi rm ’ s m o ti o n fo r a d i rect ed

v erd i ct was t ak en u n d er ad v i s em en t

. At t ri al

, HM H in t ro d u ced ev i d en ce i n s u p p o rt

o f a ju ry award (i n cl u d in g co m p en s at o ry d am ag es

, in t eres t, an d li t ig at io n ex p en s es

,

7b u t n o t i ncl u d in g p u n it i ve d am ag es ) o f o v er $ 2

. 5 m i l l i on . Th e ju ry fo u n d Al s t o n &

Bi rd l i ab l e fo r b o t h l eg al m al p ract i ce an d b reach o f fi d u ci ary d u ty an d award ed

co m p en s at o ry d am ag es o f $ 6 9 7,6 1 4

, p reju d g m en t in t eres t o f $ 3 4 1

, 8 31

, an d at t o rn ey

fees an d co s t s o f $1 ,0 96

, 5 6 1

. 4 8

, fo r a t o t al award o f $2 ,1 3 6

, 0 0 6 .4 8

. 1 Th e ju ry al s o

ap p ort i o n ed fau l t fo r Al s to n & Bi rd at 3 2 %, HM H at 8 %, an d n on -p art y M au ry at

6 0 %. Th e t ri al co urt th en red u ced t h e v erd i ct by 68 % an d en t e r e d j u d g m en t

acco rd i n g l y . Aft er a rem an d fro m t h i s Co u rt

, t h e t ri al co u rt d en i ed Al s to n & Bi rd ’ s

m o ti o n f o r j u d g m en t no t wi t h s t an d i ng th e v erd i ct i n a d et ai l ed o rd er. Th i s ap p eal

fo l l o w ed

.

Cas e No . A2 0 A0 2 1 7

1

. Al s t o n & Bi rd d o es n o t d i s p u t e t h at Sawy er an d t h e fi rm o wed HM H o n e o r

m o re d u t i e s an d t h at t h ey b reach ed t h o se d u t i es

. On ap p eal

, an d wi t h o ut

d i s t i n gu i sh i n g b et w e e n t he leg al m al p ract ice an d breach -o f-d u t y cl ai m s

, t h e fi rm

cl ai m s t h at b ecau s e t h e ev id en ce was i n s u ffi ci en t t o s h ow th at an y breach o f d u t y was

t h e p ro x i m at e cau s e o f HM H’ s i n ju ry

, t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n d en y i ng it s m ot i o n fo r

ju d g m en t n o t wi t h s t an d in g t h e v erd i ct . W e d i sag ree.

To m ak e o u t a cl ai m

fo r l eg al m al p ract i ce,

1 Th e ju ry d ecl i n ed t o award p u n i t i v e d am ag es

.

8a p l ai nt i ff h as t h e b u rd en o f p ro v i n g t h e t h ree el em en t s o f su ch an

act i o n : (1 ) em

p l o y m en t of t h e d efen d an t at t o rn ey (i .e., t h e p l ai n t i ff h ad

an at t o rn ey -cl ien t rel at i o n s hi p w i t h th e at t o rn ey ); (2 ) fai l u re o f th e

at t o rn ey t o ex erci s e o rd in ary care, s k i ll , an d d i l i g en ce; an d (3 ) t h at t he

at t o rn ey ’ s n eg l i g en ce was th e pro x i m at e cau s e o f t he p lai n t i ff ’s

d am ag es

.

(Fo o tn o te o m i t t ed

. ) Es t a t e o f Ni xo n v. Ba r ber

, 34 0 Ga. A p p

. 1 0 3

, 1 0 5 (1 ) (7 9 6 SE2 d

4 8 9 ) (2 0 1 7 ). M o re s p eci fi cal l y

, an d t o es t ab l i s h pro x i m at e cau s e i n an act i o n fo r l eg al

m al p ract i ce o r b reach of fi d u ci ary d u t y

,

a p l ai n t iff m

u s t s h o w a leg al ly at t ri b u t a b l e cau s al co n n ect i o n b et w een

t h e d efen d an t ’ s co n d uct an d t h e al l eg ed i n ju ry

. Th e p l ai n t i ff m

u s t

i n t ro d u ce ev id en ce w h ich affo rd s a reas o n ab l e b as i s fo r t h e co n cl u s i o n

t h at i t i s m o re l i k el y t h an n o t t h at t h e c o n d u ct o f t h e d efen d an t was a

cau s e i n fact o f t h e res u l t

. A m ere p o ss i b il i t y o f s u ch cau s at i o n i s n o t

en o u g h ; an d w h en t h e m at t er rem a i n s o n e o f p u re s pecu l at i o n o r

co n ject u re, o r th e p ro b ab i l it i es are at b es t ev en l y b al an ced

, i t b eco m es

t h e d u t y o f t h e co urt t o g ran t [a d i rect ed v erd i ct ] fo r t h e d efen d an t

.

(Ci t at i o n o m i t t ed .) W

h i t es i d e v. Decker

, Ha ll m an

, Ba r ber & Br ig g s

, 3 1 0 Ga. Ap p

. 1 6,

1 8 -1 9 (1 ) (7 1 2 SE2 d 8 7 ) (2 0 1 1 ). Bu t “ [t ] h e m ere fact th at t h e p l a i n t i f f’ s i n ju ri es

wo u l d n o t h av e b een s u st ai n ed h ad o n l y on e o f t h e act s o f n eg l ig en ce o ccu rred wi l l

n o t o f i t s el f o p erat e t o l i m i t th e o t h er act as co n s t i t ut i n g t h e p ro xi m at e cau s e.”

9(Fo o tn o te om i t t ed .) Gl i s s o n v. Fr eema n

, 2 4 3 Ga. Ap p

. 9 2

, 1 0 8 (5 3 2 SE2 d 4 4 2 )

(2 0 0 0).

Here, a ju ry was au t h o ri zed t o co n cl u d e fro m t h e ev i d en ce o u t l in ed ab o v e t h at

as a res u l t of Sawy er’ s i n co rrec t a d v i c e i n res p o n s e t o d i rect in q ui ri es

, fam i l y

m em b ers l eft t he A u gu s t 2 0 0 8 m eet i n g u nd er t h e m is tak en b el i ef t h at t h ey were n ot

en t i t l ed t o i n fo rm at i o n o n m em b ers ’ i n t eres t s, an d t h at as a res u l t

, t h ey were d ep ri v ed

o f t h e o p p o rt u n i t y t o t ak e act i o n to rem ed y M au ry ’ s frau d

. Th e j u ry was al s o

au t h o ri zed t o i n fer t h at wh en Sawy er d i d n o t d i s cl o s e Mau ry ’ s red em p t i o n o r m o v i n g

p l an s t o th e m em

b ers an d wh en h e d raft ed l et t ers dem an d i n g t h at Jerry an d Barry s t o p

i n t erferi ng wi t h Mau ry (ev en aft er rep eat ed warn i n g s fro m a ju n i o r at t o rn ey ), Sawy er

v i o l at ed h i s d u t i es o f care an d l o y al t y t o HM H. Fu rt h er, an d al t h o u g h Al st o n & Bi rd

p o i n t s t o ev i d en ce t h at M au ry ’ s t h eft s o ccu rred b efo re t h e Au g u s t 2 0 0 8 fam i l y

m eet i n g

, Sawy er hi m s el f tes ti fi ed t h at had m em b ers l earn ed o f M au ry ’ s t heft b efo re

t h e r ed emp t i o n

, t h e co m

p an y co u l d h av e u sed hi s rem ai ni n g m em b ers h i p i n t eres t to

rep ay a p o r t i o n o f wh at h ad b een s t o l en

. W e al s o no t e, m o reo v er, t h at t h e ju ry ’ s

award o f co m

p en s at o ry d am ag es was wel l wi t h i n t h e ran g e o f t h e ev i d en ce.

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

, t he t ri al co u rt d i d n o t err wh en i t d en i ed Al s t o n & Bi rd ’ s

m o ti o n fo r d i rect ed v erd i ct an d fo r ju d g m en t n o t wi t h s t an d in g t h e v erd ict

. See Bo th

10v. Fr a nt

z

, 2 7 8 Ga. Ap p

. 5 5 6

, 5 5 9 (2 ) (6 29 SE2 d 42 7 ) (2 0 0 6 ) (rev ers in g a g ran t o f

s u m m ary ju d g m en t o n p l ai n t i ffs ’ cl ai m fo r b reach o f fi d u ci ary d u t y wh en t h ei r l eg al

m al p ract i ce cl ai m was “ s t i l l an i s s u e” an d w h en th e at to rn ey s m i g h t h av e h ad t h e d u t y

t o “ av o i d co n fl i ct s o f i n t eres t aft er t h e t erm i n at i o n o f an at t o rn ey -cl i en t rel at i o n s h i p ”)

(fo o t no t es o m i t t ed ); Tr a u b v. W a s h i n g t on

, 2 6 4 Ga. Ap p

. 5 4 1

, 5 4 3-5 4 4 (1 ) (5 9 1 SE2 d

3 8 2 ) (2 00 3 ) (affi rm in g d en i al o f s u m m ary ju dg m en t on a cl ai m fo r l eg al m al p ract i ce

wh en ex p ert tes t i m o n y su p p o rt ed a co n cl us i o n t h at t h e at t o rn ey h a d i g n o red a

co n fl i ct

, res u l t i n g i n d a m a g e t o t h e cl i en t ); Gl i s s o n

, 2 4 3 G a. Ap p

. at 1 0 8 (5 )

(rev ers in g a gran t o f s u m m ary ju d g m en t wh e n a ju r y co u l d fi n d t h at a fi d u ci ary ’ s

m i s rep res en t at i o n s were t h e p ro x i m at e cau se of an i m p ro p er t ran s fer o f p l ai n t i ff’ s

fu n d s). Co m

p are W hi t es i d e

, 3 1 0 Ga. A p p

. at 1 9 (wh ere t he o nl y ev i d en ce o n

p ro x i m a t e cau s e cam e fro m t h e ex pert o n l eg al m al p ract i ce, t h e cl ien t h ad n ot

es t ab l i s h ed t h at el em en t o f t h e cl ai m ).

2

. A l s t on & Bi rd al s o as s ert s t h at th e tri al co u rt erred wh en i t i n s t ru ct ed t h e ju ry

t h at i t co u l d award p reju d g m en t i n t eres t i n t h i s t o rt act io n

. W e ag ree.

Th e reco rd s h ows t h at wh en HM H s o u g h t an in s t ru ct i o n on p reju d g m en t

i n t eres t

, Al s t o n & Bi rd o bject ed t h at b ecau s e HM H’ s d am ag es were u n l i q u i d at ed

,

“ p reju dg m en t in t eres t d oes n o t ap p l y

. . . . It i s no t fo r t h e j u ry t o co n s i d er.” Th e t ri al

11co u rt o v erru l ed t h e o b ject i o n

, an d l at er ch arg ed t h e ju ry t h at i t co u l d award

p reju d g m en t in t eres t at t he an n u al rat e o f 7 p ercen t “ fro m t h e t i m e o f th e b reach u n t i l

t h e t i m e o f t h e reco v ery .”

HM H s o u g h t d am ag es u n d er OCGA § 1 3-6 -1 3

, wh i ch p ro v i d es : “ In al l cas es

wh ere an am o u nt as cert ai n ed wo u l d b e t h e dam ag es at t h e t i m e o f th e b reach [o f

co n tract ]

, i t m ay b e i n creas ed b y t h e ad d i t i on o f l eg al i n t eres t fro m t h at t i m e u n t i l t h e

reco v ery .” Al t ho u g h H M H p o i n t s to l aw au t h o ri zi n g t h e reco very o f p reju d g m en t

i n t eres t in t o rt cas es

, 2 s u ch a reco v ery i s au t h o ri zed o nl y wh en t h e t o rt act io n i n v o l v es

a b reach o f a d u t y “ ‘ ari s [i n g ] fro m a co n t ract ual ri gh t .’ ” Mi l l er v. Lyn ch

, 3 5 1 Ga. Ap p.

3 6 1

, 3 7 0 -3 7 1 (4 ) (8 3 0 S E 2 d 7 4 9 ) (2 0 1 9 ), qu o t i n g To wer Fi n a n ci a l S vcs

., In c. v.

S mi th

, 2 0 4 Ga. A p p

. 9 1 0

, 9 16 (2 ), 9 1 8 (4 ) (4 2 3 SE2 d 25 7 ) (1 9 9 2 ). Th e Su p rem e

Co u rt au t h ori t y ci t ed b y t h i s Co u rt i n To wer li m i ted i t s el f, m o reo v er, t o t h e q u es t i o n

“ wh et h er i t i s erro r, i n a br ea ch o f co nt r a ct ca s e w h ere t he d am ag es are u n l i q u i d at ed

,

fo r t h e co u rt t o i n s t ru ct t h e ju ry t h at i t m ay ret u rn a verd i ct s t at i n g i n t eres t s ep arat el y

,

rat h er th an i n cl u d i n g i t as p art o f t h e d am ag es award ed .” (Em p h as i s s up p li ed .) Br a n er

2 See, fo r ex am

p l e, t h e di ct a i n S ims v. Hea t h

, 25 8 Ga. Ap p

. 6 8 1

, 6 83 (3 ) n

. 6

(5 7 7 SE2 d 7 8 9 ) (2 0 02 ), di sap pro v ed o n ot h er gro u n d s, Ro ckd a l e Ho s p. v. Eva n s

, 3 0 6

Ga. 8 4 7

, 8 5 3 ( 2 ) n

. 4 (8 3 4 SE2 d 7 7 ) (2 0 19 ); an d i n To wer

, in fra at 9 1 8 (4 )

(au t h o ri zi n g p reju d g m en t i n t eres t as t o t h e t o rt o f wro n g fu l fo recl o su re ari s i n g fro m

p l ai n t i ff’ s s ecu ri t y

d eed ).

12v. S

o u th er n Tr u s t In s

. Co

., 2 5 5 Ga. 1 1 7

, 1 1 9 (1 ) (3 3 5 SE2 d 54 7 ) (1 9 8 5 ). A n d t h i s

Co u rt has recen tl y h el d th at an act i o n fo r b reach of fi d uci ary d ut y (s uch as l o y al t y o r

c a r e ) t h a t d o es n o t ari s e fro m an y s p eci fi c co nt ract do es n o t au t h o ri ze an award o f

p reju d g m en t i n t eres t u nd er OCGA § 1 3-6 -1 3

. Mi l ler

, 3 5 1 Ga. Ap p

. at 3 7 0 -3 7 1 (4 ).

See al s o H & H Su b s v. Li m

, 2 2 3 Ga. Ap p

. 6 5 6

, 6 59 -6 6 0 (3 ) (4 7 8 SE2 d 6 3 2 ) (1 9 9 6 )

(rev ers in g an award o f p reju d g m en t i n t eres t u n der OCGA § 1 3-6 -1 3 wh en p l ai n t i ffs

h ad el ect ed t o s u e d efen d an t i n t o rt rat her t h an i n co n t ract an d wh en th ey had s o u g ht

p u n i t i v e d am ag es , “ wh i ch are n o t reco v erab le o n a co n t ract cl ai m ”).

HM H d i d n ot in cl u d e a b reach of co n t ract cl ai m i n i t s s ui t

, an d n ei t h er s i d e h as

p o i n t ed t o an y s p eci fi c co n t ract i n t h e reco rd w h i ch m ig h t g ro u n d a cl ai m fo r

p reju d g m en t i n t eres t u n d er OCGA § 1 3 -6 -1 3

. Becau s e t h ere i s n o ev i den ce b efo re u s

o f a s p eci fi c co n t ract fro m wh i ch t h e d u t i es i n t hi s cas e m i g ht h a v e a r i s en

, an d

b ecau s e HM H ’ s s u i t s o u n ded i n t o rt

, i n cl u d i ng a cl ai m fo r p u n i t i v e dam ag es

, we m u s t

co n cl u d e t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred wh en i t au t h o ri zed th e reco v ery o f p reju d g m en t

i n t eres t h ere. H & H S

u b s

, 2 2 3 Ga. Ap p. at 6 59 -6 6 0 (3 ). 3

3 T h is Co u rt ’ s d e c i s i o n i n Ha mi l t o n v. Po wel l

, Go ld s t ei n

, F r a z er & Mu r

p hy

, 1 6 7 Ga. Ap p

. 4 1 1 (3 0 6 SE2 d 3 4 0 ) (1 9 8 3 ), ci t ed b y H M H, d o es n o t co m p el a d i fferen t

res u l t

. T h ere, we h el d t hat a cl ai m fo r l eg al m al pract i ce was a “ cau s e o f act i o n in

t o rt ,” s u ch t h at t h e p l ai n t i ff h ad “ t wo y ears t o b ri n g an act i o n fo r t o rt

, an d fo u r y ears

t o b ri n g an act io n fo r b reach of co nt ract .” (Ci t at i o n s o m i t ted .) Id . at 4 1 4 (1 ). As we

13Cas e No . A2 0 A0 2 1 8

3

. HM H fi rs t a r g u e s t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred in red u ci n g t h e ju ry ’ s award by

t h e p ercen t ag e o f t h e fau l t o f M au ry as wel l as HM H. 4 W e ag ree.

OCGA § 5 1 -1 2 -3 3 p ro vi d es i n rel ev an t p art :

(a) W h ere an act i o n i s b ro u g ht ag ai n s t on e o r mo re p ers o n s fo r i n ju ry t o

p ers on o r p ro p ert y an d t h e p l ai n t if f i s t o s o me d

eg r ee r es p o n s i b l e fo r th e

i n ju r y o r d am ag es cl ai m ed

, t h e t ri er of fact

, in i t s d et erm in at i o n o f th e

t o t al am o u nt o f d am ag es t o b e award ed

, i f a n y, s h al l d et erm i n e th e

p ercen t ag e of fau l t o f t h e p l ai n t i ff an d t h e ju d g e s ha l l r ed

u ce t h e a m o u n t

o f d ama g es o t h er wi s e a wa r d ed t o t h e p l a i n ti

ff i n pr o po r t i o n t o h i s o r

h er p er cen t a g e o

f f a u l t

.

(b ) W h ere an act i o n i s b ro u g h t ag ai n s t mo r e t h a n o ne p ers o n fo r i n ju ry

t o p ers o n o r p ro p ert y

, th e t ri er o f fact

, i n it s d et erm i n at i o n o f t h e t o t al

am o u nt o f d

a ma g es to b e award e d

, i f a n y

, s h al l aft er a red uct i on o f

d a ma g es p u rs u an t t o s u b s ect i o n (a) o f t h i s Co d e s ect i o n

, i f an y

,

n o t ed

, m o reo v er, “ i f t h e b reach co m p l ai n ed o f is n ot m ere n eg l ect o f a du t y ex p res s l y

p ro v id ed fo r b y th e t erm s o f t h e co n tract i t s el f, th e co m p lai n in g part y m ay el ect as to

h i s rem ed y

, an d rel y ei t h er up o n h i s ri g h t u n d er t he co nt ract o r p ro ceed fo r d am ag es

as fo r a t o rt .” (Ci t at i o n an d p un ct u at i o n om i t t ed .) Id

. at 4 1 3 (1 ). Here, o f co u rs e,

HM H el ect ed t o p ro ceed i n t ort

.

4 Th e ch arg e i n s t ru ct ed t h e ju ry t h at “ [i ] f y o u b el i ev e t h at t h e p l ai n t i ff i s

en t i t l ed t o reco v er an d fu rt h er fi n d t h at t h e p l ai n ti ff i s t o s o m e d eg ree res p o n s i b l e fo r

t h e i n j u ry o r d am ag es cl ai m ed

, y o u s ho u l d n ot m ak e an y red u c t i o n b ecau s e o f t h e

n eg li g en ce, i f an y

, o f t h e p l ai n t i ff[.] ” HM H co nced es t h at t h e t ri al co u rt sh o u l d h av e

red u ced th e co m

p en s at o ry award b y 8 %.

14ap p o rt io n it s award o f d a ma g es am o n g th e p ers o n s w h o are l i ab l e

acco rd i n g to t h e p ercen t ag e o f f a u l t of each p er s o n. D am ag es

ap p o rt io n ed b y th e t ri er of fact as p ro v i d ed i n t h i s Co d e s ect io n s hal l be

t h e l i ab i li ty o f each p ers o n ag ai n s t wh o m t h ey are award ed

, s h al l n o t be

a jo i n t l i ab i l i t y am o n g th e p ers o n s l i ab l e, an d s hal l n o t b e s u b ject t o an y

ri gh t o f co nt ri b u t i o n

.

(c) In as s es s i n g p ercen t ag es o f f a u l t , t he t ri er o f fact s h al l co ns i d er th e

fau l t o f al l p ers o n s o r en t i t i es wh o co n t ri b u t ed t o t h e al l eg ed i n ju ry o r

d am ag es

, reg ard les s of wh et h er t he p ers on o r en t i t y was

, or co u l d h av e

b een , n am ed as a p art y

t o t h e s u i t.

. . .

(f)(1 ) As s es s men ts of

p er cen t a ges o

f f au l t o f n o n pa r ti es s h al l b e u s ed

o n l y i n t h e d et er mi n a t i o n o

f t h e p er cen ta g e o

f f a u l t o f n a m ed p a r t i es

.

( 2 ) W h ere fau l t i s as s es s ed ag ai n s t n o n p art i es p urs u an t to th is Co d e

s ect i o n

, fi n d i n gs o f fau l t s h al l n o t s u bject an y n o n part y t o l i ab i l it y i n an y

act i o n o r b e i n tro du ced as ev id en ce o f l i ab i l i t y i n an y act io n

.

(g ) No t wi t h s t an d in g t h e p ro v i s i o n s of t h i s Co d e s ect i o n or an y o t h er

p ro v i s i o n s of l aw wh i ch m i g h t b e co n st ru ed t o t h e co n t rary

, t h e p l ai n ti ff

s h al l n o t b e en t i tl ed t o recei ve an y d am ag es if t h e p lai n t i ff i s 5 0 percen t

o r m o re res p o n s i b l e fo r t h e i n ju ry o r d am ag es cl ai m ed

.

15(Em

p h as i s s u p p li ed .) 5

“ W h en we co n s i d er t h e m ean i n g of a s t at u t e, we m u st p res u m e t hat t h e Gen eral

As s em b l y m ean t w h at it s ai d an d s ai d wh at i t m ean t .” ( C i t a t i o n an d pu n ct u at i o n

o m it t ed .) Dea l v. Co lema n

, 2 9 4 Ga. 1 7 0

, 1 72 ( 1 ) ( a ) ( 7 5 1 SE2 d 3 3 7 ) (2 0 1 3 ). W e

t h erefo re “ read t h e st at ut o ry t ex t i n i t s m o s t n at u ral an d reas on a b l e w ay

, as an

o rd i n ary sp eak er of t h e En gl i s h l an g u ag e wo u l d .” (Ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at io n o m i t t ed .)

FDIC v. Lo u d

er mi l k

, 2 9 5 Ga. 5 7 9

, 5 8 8 (2 ) (7 61 SE2 d 3 3 2 ) (2 0 1 4 ). “ Th e co m m o n an d

cu s t o m ary u s ag es of t h e wo rd s are im p o rt an t

, b u t s o is t h ei r co nt ex t .” (Ci t at i on s

o m it t ed .) Ch a n v. El l i s

, 2 96 Ga. 8 3 8 , 8 3 9 (1 ) (7 7 0 SE2 d 8 5 1) (2 01 5 ). “ Fo r co n t ex t

,

we m ay l o o k t o o th er p ro v i s i on s o f t h e s am e s t at u t e, t h e s t ru ct u re an d h i s to ry o f t h e

wh o l e s t at u t e, an d t he ot h er law

– co n s t i t u t i o n al

, s tat u to ry

, an d co m m o n l aw al i k e

–

t h at fo rm s t h e l eg al b ack gro u n d o f t h e s t at u to ry p ro v i s i o n i n q ues t i o n .” (Ci t at i on s

o m it t ed .) Ma

y v. S t at e , 2 9 5 Ga. 3 8 8 , 3 9 1 -3 9 2 (7 6 1 SE2 d 3 8 ) (2 0 1 4 ).

5 Pres en t s u b s ect io n (a) w a s ad d ed i n 2 0 0 5

. 2 0 0 5 Ga. L

. Act 1 (S.B. 3 ), § 1 2

(effect i ve Feb ru ary 1 6

, 2 0 0 5 ). Befo re t h e 2 0 0 5 am en d m en t

, t h e s t at u t e ad d resse d onl y

t h e cl as s o f act i on s no w co vered b y s u b sect i o n (b )

– t h at i s

, act i o n s “ b ro u g h t ag ai n s t

m o re t h an o n e pers o n fo r i n ju ry t o p ers o n or p ro p ert y ” i n wh i ch “ t h e p l a i n t i f f i s

h i m s el f t o s o m e d eg ree res p on si b l e[.] ” Fo rm er OCGA § 5 1 -1 2 -3 3 (a) (1 9 8 7 ); 1 9 8 7

Ga. L. p . 9 1 5 , § 8

.

16As a p rel im i na r y m a t t e r

, we no t e t h at t he cu rren t act i o n w as b ro u g h t ag ai n s t

o n l y o ne p art y

, Al s t o n & Bi rd

, an d co n cl u d ed wi t h a det erm in at io n b y t h e ju ry t h at

t h e pl ai n t i ff HM H was 8 % at fau l t fo r i t s o wn i nju ry

. On i t s face, th en

, O CGA § 5 1

-

1 2 -3 3 (a) i s t h e ap p l i cab l e p o rt i o n o f t h e s t at u t e. Id

. (ap p l y i n g t o act io n s ag ai n s t “ o n e

o r mo r e p ers o n s fo r i n

ju ry t o p ers o n o r p ro p ert y a n d t h e p l a i n t i f f i s t o s o m e d

eg r ee

r es p o n s ib l e fo r t h e i n

ju ry o r d am ag es cl ai m ed ”) (em ph a s i s s u p p li ed ); s ee al s o

Za l d iva r

, 2 9 7 Ga. a t 5 9 3 (“ Su bs ect i o n (a) s p eci fi es ex act l y wh at i s t o b e d o n e wi th

t h e ‘ fau l t ’ o f th e p l ai n t i ff”). Co m p are OCGA § 51 -1 2 -3 3 (b ) (ap p l y i n g t o act i on s

b ro u gh t ag ai n s t “ mo r e t ha n o n e p ers o n fo r in ju ry t o p ers o n o r p ro pert y ”) (em p h as i s

s u p p li ed ).

As we n o t ed i n o u r p rev i o u s o p i n io n

, m oreo v er, t h e ap p o rt i o n m en t s t at u t e

o b l i g at es u s t o d i st i n g ui s h bet ween t h e t ri er o f fact ’ s d et erm i n at i o n of dam ag es an d

t h at o f fau l t. Ha t ch er I

, 3 3 6 Ga. Ap p

. at 52 8 (“ ap po rt i o n i n g fau l t

, n ot d am ag es

, [was ]

t h e i s s u e” i n t h at i nt erl o cu t ory ap p eal ). Su bs ect io n (a) st at es t h at th e t ri al co u rt “ s h al l

red u ce t h e am o u n t o f d

ama g es o t h erwi se award ed t o t h e p l ai n t i ff i n pro p o rt i o n t o h i s

o r h er percen t ag e o f fau l t .” (Em p h as i s s u p p li ed .) O CGA § 5 1 -1 2 -3 3 (a). As we

co n st ru ed a fo rm er vers i o n o f t h e s t at ut e an d rev ers ed a t ri al co u rt ’ s ru li n g th at a ju ry

co u ld ap po rt i o n d am ag es co n cern i n g a n o n -p art y

, we m ad e cl ear t h at “ OCGA § 5 1

-

171 2 -3 3[] d o es no t au th o ri ze a ju ry t o ap p o rt i on d am ag es ag ai n s t a n o n p art y

. ” (Fo o t n o t e

o m it t ed ). Fr aker v. C. W

. Ma t t h ews Co n t r a ct i ng Co

., 2 7 2 Ga. Ap p

. 8 0 7

, 8 1 0 (1 ) (6 1 4

SE2 d 9 4 ) (2 0 0 5 ). See al s o S ch r i ever v. Ma d

d o x

, 2 5 9 Ga. Ap p. 5 58

, 5 6 1 (2 ) (c) (5 7 8

SE2 d 21 0 ) (2 0 0 3 ) (b ecau se a d efen dan t was n o l o n g er a p art y

, “ a n i n s t ru ct i o n o n

ap p ort i o n m en t w i t h h i m w o u l d h av e b een i n ap p ro p ri at e” u n d er a fo rm er v ers i o n o f

OCGA § 5 1 -1 2 -3 3 ). By co n t ras t

, we em p h as i zed i n Ha t ch er I t h at “ fau l t ” wo u ld

d et erm i n e t h e id en t i t y o f t h o s e i n cl u d ed in Al s t o n & Bi rd ’ s n o t i ce o f n o np art y fau l t

.

Ha t ch er I

, 33 6 Ga. Ap p

. at 5 3 8

, 5 3 0 (t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n s t ri ki n g A l s t o n & Bi rd ’ s

n o t i ce o f n on p art y

fau l t ). 6

Here, t h e ju ry a w a r d e d co m p en s at o ry d

a ma g es i n t h e am o un t o f $ 6 9 7 ,6 1 4.

Becau s e t h i s i s an act i o n i n v o l vi n g o n l y o n e d efen d an t

, an d b ecau s e t h e ju ry fo u n d

t h at HM H was 8 % res p o n s i b l e fo r t he i n ju ri es i t s u ffered

, t h e tri al co u rt s h o u l d h av e

red u ced t h i s award o f co m p en sat o ry d am ag es b y

8 % rat h er t han 6 8 %. OCGA § 5 1

-

1 2 -3 3 (a).

4

. HM H al so arg u es t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n red u ci n g t he at to rn ey fee an d

co s t s p o rt i o n o f t h e award . Ag ai n , we ag ree.

6 As o u r Su p rem e Co u rt h as e x pl ai n ed

, “ Th e as s i g n m en t o f ‘ fau l t ’ i s t h e

m ech an i s m b y w h ich t h e ‘ l i ab il i t y ’ o f a n am ed defen d an t i s m eas u red

, b ut ‘ fau l t ’ d o es

n o t l i t eral l y

m ean ‘ l i ab i l i t y

. ’ ” Za l d i va r , 2 9 7 Ga. at 6 0 0 (1 ) n .7

.

18W h ere fau l t i s i nd i v i s i b l e, t h e ap p o rt i o n m en t s t at u t e i s i n ap p l i cab l e. FDIC v.

Lo u d er mi l k

, 3 0 5 G a. 5 5 8

, 5 7 2 (8 2 6 SE2 d 1 1 6 ) (2 0 1 9 ). An award o f l i t i g at i o n fees

u n d er OCGA § 1 3 -6 -1 1 a l s o “ s t an d [s ] al o n e” an d ap art fro m an award o f

c o m p e n s at o ry d am ag es

. W

i l l i ams v. Ha r r i s

, 2 0 7 Ga. 5 7 6

, 5 7 8 (3 ) (6 3 SE2 d 3 8 6 )

(1 9 5 1) (affi rm in g a ju ry ’ s award o f at t o rn ey fees wh en it fo u n d t hat a d efen d an t h ad

act ed i n b ad fai t h ). Sp eci fi cal l y

, “ o b t ai n in g so m e b u t l es s t h an al l o f t he rel ief s o u g ht

i s su ffi ci en t t o au th ori ze an award o f at t o rn ey fees .” Ma gn et i c Res o n a nce P l u s

, In c.

v. Ima g i n g S

ys t ems In t er n

. , 27 3 Ga. 5 2 5

, 5 28 (3 ) (5 43 SE2 d 32 ) (2 0 01 ). Ou r Su p rem e

Co u rt ’ s M

a g n et i c Res o n a n ce o p i n i o n al s o n o ted wi th ap p ro v al t h i s Co u rt ’ s “ carefu l

an d accu rat e an al y s i s ” co n cl ud i n g t h at “ ‘ wh ere t h ere i s act u al b ad fai th o r s t u b b o rn

l i ti g i o u s n es s i n t h e ev i d en ce, at t o rn ey fees are au t h o ri zed u n d er [OCGA § 1 3 -6 -1 1 ]

,

r eg a rd l es s o

f th e a mo u n t o

f t h e r eco ver

y .’ ” (Em p h as i s s u pp l ied .) Id

. at 5 2 8 (3 ),

q u o t i n g G eo r

g i a -Ca r o l i n a Br i ck & Ti le Co

. v. Br o wn

, 15 3 Ga. Ap p

. 7 4 7

, 7 5 4 (2 ) (2 6 6

SE2 d 5 3 1 ) (1 9 80 ). Th is i s s o b ecau s e “ [t ] h e p res en ce o r ab s en ce o f b ad fai t h o n t h e

p art o f a d efen d an t l ies s o l el y i n th e ev i d en ce of h i s co n d u ct i n deal i n g s wi t h t h e

p l ai n t i ff o u t o f wh i ch t h e s u i t aro s e[,] an d n o t i n t h e pl ai nt i ff’ s ab i l i t y t o p ro v e u p h i s

d am ag es [.] ” (Ci t at i o n an d pu n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ; em p h as i s su p p l i ed

. ) Ge o r

g i a

Ca r o l i n a Br i ck , 1 53 Ga. Ap p . at 7 5 0 (2 ) (B).

19HM H i n cl u d ed a cl ai m fo r at to rn ey

fees an d co s t s u n d er OCGA § 1 3-6 -1 1 in

i t s co m pl ai n t an d s u b m i t t ed ev id en ce at t ri al s u p p o rt i n g t h e i n feren ce t h at Al s t o n &

Bi rd ’ s bad fai th had cau s ed i t t o s p en d $ 1 ,0 9 6

, 5 6 1 .4 8 i n s u ch fees an d co st s

. Al s t o n

& Bi rd h as n o t ch al len g ed t h e s u ffi ci en cy o f HM H’ s ev i d en ce i n t h is reg ard

. Th e ju ry

fo u n d t h at Al s t o n & Bi rd h ad co m m i t t ed b o t h l eg al m al p r a c t i ce an d b reach ed i t s

fi du ci ary d u t y ; as s u ch

, HM H was t h e “ p rev ai l i n g p art y ” o n t h es e cl ai m s an d was

en t i t l ed t o s eek i t s at t o rn ey fees u n d er O CGA § 1 3 -6 -1 1

. Th e ju ry al s o fo u n d t h at

Al s t o n & Bi rd h ad “ act ed i n b ad fai t h ” an d award ed HM H fees an d co s t s i n t h e fu l l

am o u n t t h e co m

p an y h ad req u es t ed

– $ 1,0 9 6 ,5 6 1 .4 8. Gi v en t h at t h e co u rt ’ s 68 %

red u ct i o n i n t h e award res ul ted i n a fi n al ju d g m en t o f $6 8 3 ,5 2 2

. 0 7

– l es s t h an t h e

ju ry ’ s award o f fees an d co s t s al o n e

– i t i s cl ear t h at th e tri al co u rt i ncl u d ed t h e fee

award as p art o f “ al l dam ag es award ed b y t h e ju ry .” As HM H p o in t s o u t

, m o reo v er,

t h ere i s n o th i ng i n t h e ju ry ’ s v erd i ct t o i n d i cat e t hat t h ere was an y al l ocat i on o f b ad

fai t h to an y o n e o t h er t h an Al st o n & Bi rd

.

Becau s e HM H was t h e p rev ai li n g p art y o n i t s cl ai m s

, an d b ecau s e “ wh ere t h ere

i s act ual b ad fai t h o r st u bb o rn l i t i g i ou s n e s s i n t h e ev i d en ce, at t o rn ey fees are

au t h o ri zed u n d er OCGA § 1 3 -6 -1 1

, reg ard l es s o f t h e am o u n t o f reco v ery ,” t h e t ri al

co u rt erred wh en i t red u ced t h is ju ry ’ s fee award

. G eo r g ia -Ca r ol i n a Br ick & Ti l e

, 1 5 3

20Ga. Ap p

. at 7 5 4 (2 ) (B) (affi rm i n g an award o f fees u n d er O CGA § 1 3 -6

- 1 1 e v e n

wh en p l ai n t i ffs h ad fai l ed t o p ro v e al l t h ei r co m p en s at o ry d am ag es ).

5

. HM H rep res en t s t h at i n t h e ev en t th at we rev ers e t he t ri al co u rt o n t h e i s s u es

o f ap p o rt i o n m en t an d fees

, it d o es n o t s eek a ret ri al o n i t s as s ert i on th at t h e t ri al co u rt

erred i n g ran t i n g Al s t o n & Bi rd ’ s m o t i o n i n l i m i n e co n cern i n g t h e fi rm ’ s arg u ab l y

i m p ro p er wi t hh o l d in g o f d o cu m en t s . W e t h erefo re d o n o t reach t h i s i s s u e.

In su m

, we affi rm t h e s u bm i s s i o n of HM H’ s s u b s t an ti v e cl ai m s to t h e ju ry

, b ut

we rev er s e t h e t r i al co u rt ’ s s u b m i s s i o n o f p reju dg m en t in t eres t to t h e ju ry

, i t s

red u ct i o n o f t h e j u ry ’ s co m p en s at o ry award by 6 8 % rat her t h an 8 %, an d i t s red u ct i o n

o f an y p o r t i o n o f HM H’ s l it ig at i o n co s t s

. On rem an d

, t h e t ri al co urt i s d i rect ed to

en t er a n ew ju d g m en t i n acco rd an ce wi t h t hi s o p i n i o n

.

J u d g men t a f f i r med i n p a r t a n d rever sed i n pa r t i n Ca s e No

. A2 0 A0 2 1 7,

j u d g men t a f f i r m ed i n p ar t a n d r ever

s ed i n p a r t i n Ca s e No

. A2 0 A 0 2 1 8

, a n d ca s es

r ema n d ed wi t h d ir ect i on . Mi l l er

, P. J., a n d

Rees e, P. J., co n cu r

.

21