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 8, 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 51 3 . CALLAW AY, et al v . GARNER, et al

.

D I LLA R D , Pres i d i n g J u d g e.

Th e Es t at e o f Cas on J. Cal l away

, J r. (t h e “ Es t at e”), t h ro u g h i t s ex ecu t o r, Ken

Cal l away , ap p eal s t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s d i s m i s s al o f i t s n o ti ce o f ap p eal fro m t h e co urt ’ s

e n t r y o f f

i n al ju d g m en t i n fav o r o f Larry Garn er, Sr. an d L arry Garn er, J r. (t h e

“ Garn ers ”) i n t h ei r ci v il act i on ag ai n s t t h e Es t at e, wh i ch s o u g h t s peci fi c p erfo rm an ce

o f Cas o n Cal l away ’ s ag reem en t t o p u rch as e s t ock fro m t h e G arn ers

. On ap p eal , t h e

Es t at e arg u es t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n (1 ) d i s m i s s i n g i t s ap peal wi t h ou t m ak i n g a

fi nd i ng th at i t cau s ed an u n reas o n ab le an d i n ex cu s ab l e d el ay i n t he d o ck et i n g o f t h e

ap p eal

, an d (2 ) fi n d i n g t h e Es t at e fo rfei t ed t h e s up ers ed eas co l l at eral t h at it p o s t ed

d u ri n g th e l i t i g at i o n ( i .e.

, t h e s t o ck ) b ecau se i t was wo rt h les s

. Fo r t h e reas o n s s et fo rt h

i n f r a , we affi rm

.In 2 0 1 4

, th i s C o u r t affi rm ed t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s o rd er req u i ri n g t h e Es t at e to

p erfo rm an ag reem en t m ad e b y Cas o n Cal laway p ri o r t o h is d eat h t o p u rch as e s h ares

o f Cal l away Bl u e Sp ri n g s W at er Co m pan y fro m t h e G arn ers fo r $ 1,2 0 0 ,0 0 0 an d

award i n g t h e Garn ers p reju d g m en t i n t eres t an d at t o rn ey fees (“ Ca l l a wa y I ”). 1 W h i l e

t h at ap p eal was p en d i ng

, t h e Es t at e po s t ed cert ai n s u p ers ed eas co l l at eral , i n cl u d i n g

t h e s t o ck t h at w as th e s u b j ect o f t h e l aws u i t

. Su b s eq uen t l y

, t h e S u p rem e Co u rt o f

Geo rg i a rev ers ed Ca l l a w a y I

, i n p art

, o n l y as t o t h i s Co urt ’ s ap p ro val o f t h e

p reju d g m en t-i nt eres t award an d rem an ded t h e cas e fo r t h e t r i al co u rt t o res o l v e

cert ai n q u es t i o n s in v o l v in g t h at award (“ C a l l a w a y II ”). 2 Up o n rem an d

, o n Oct o b er

1

, 20 1 5, t h e t ri al co u rt i s s ued a fi n al ju d g m en t t h at

, as au t h o ri zed b y Ca l l awa y I an d

Ca l la wa y II

, t h e Garn ers w ere en t i t l ed t o reco ver $ 1,2 0 0 ,0 0 0 fro m t h e Es t at e fo r t h e

s al e o f t h e s t o ck

. In ad d i t io n

, t h e t ri al co u rt fo u nd t h at

, b as ed o n t h e ev i d en ce

1 S ee Ca l l a wa

y v. Ga r n er , 3 2 7 Ga. Ap p . 6 7 (7 5 5 SE2 d 5 2 6) (2 0 1 4 ) (p h y s i cal

p rece d e n t o n l y ), af

f i r m ed in pa r t a n d r ever

s ed i n p a r t b

y Es t a t e o

f Ca l l a wa

y v.

Ga r ner , 2 9 7 Ga. 5 2 (7 7 2 SE2 d 6 6 8 ) (2 0 15 ).

2 S ee E s t a t e o f Ca l l a wa

y

, 2 9 7 Ga. at 5 4

- 5 5 ( 2 )

. W e n o t e t h at al t h ou g h t h e

Su p rem e Co u rt fo u n d t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n award i n g p reju d g m en t in t eres t u n d er

OCGA § 1 3 -6 -1 3

, i t n ev ert hel es s rem an d ed th e cas e fo r t h e t ri al co u rt t o d et erm i n e

wh et h er an award o f p reju d g m en t i n t eres t was au t h o ri zed b y OCGA § 7 -4 -1 5

. See

Es t a t e o f Ca l l a wa

y

, 2 9 7 G a. at 5 2 -5 5 (1 ), (2 ). Th e Su p re m e Co u rt affi rm ed t h i s

Co u rt ’ s h o l d i n g s as t o t h e m eri t s o f t h e Ga r n e r s ’ u n d erl y i n g s p eci fi c-p erfo rm an ce

cl ai m an d t h e award o f at t o rn ey fees

. S ee i d

.

2p res en t ed at a Sep tem b er 3 0

, 2 0 1 5 h eari n g

, t h e Es tat e fo rfei ted th e s t o ck t hat i t p o s t ed

as co l l at eral b ecau s e i t h ad b eco m e wo rt h les s

.

On Oct o b er 9

, 2 0 1 5, t he Es tat e fi l ed a t i m el y no t i ce o f ap p eal fro m t h e t ri al

co u rt ’ s fi n al ju d g m en t, w h ich no t ed

, i n ter a l i a

, t h a t “ [ t ]h e cl erk s h al l o m i t n o t h i n g

fro m t he reco rd o n ap p eal ” an d “ [a] t ran s cri p t o f ev id en ce [s ho u l d ] b e fi l ed fo r

i n cl u s i o n i n t h e reco rd on ap p eal .” Th en

, o n N o v em b er 4

, 2 0 1 5

, t h e Es t at e fi l ed a

m o ti o n t o reco n s t ru ct t h e reco rd

. An d in t h at m o ti o n

, t h e Es tat e ack n o wl ed g ed t h at

n o co u rt rep o rt er was p res en t d uri n g t h e Sep t em b er 3 0

, 2 0 1 5 heari n g

, b u t al s o al l eg ed

t h at i t s co u n s el h ad reco rd ed t h e h eari n g w i t h t h e p erm i s s i on o f t h e co u rt

. Fu rt h er, t h e

Es t at e as s e r t e d t h at t h i s reco rd i n g h ad si nce b een t ran s cri b ed b y a cert i fi ed co u rt

rep o rt er an d t h at co un s el fo r t h e Es t at e s t i l l p o ss es s ed t h e o ri gi n al reco rd i n g

. Fi n al l y

,

t h e E s t at e co n t en ded t hat

, u p o n t h e g r a n t o f i ts m o ti o n t o reco n s t ru ct t he reco rd

, i t

wo u l d “ fo rward t h e o ri g i n al t ran s cri p t an d reco rd i n g t o t h e Cl erk fo r i n cl u s i o n i n t h e

reco rd .”

On No v em

b er 2 0

, 2 01 5

, t h e Garn ers fi l ed a m o t i o n t o d i s m i s s t h e Es t at e’ s

n o t i ce o f ap p eal

, arg u i n g th at

, d es p i t e t h e Es t at e’ s rep res en t at i o n i n i t s n o t i ce o f

ap p eal th at i t wo u l d fi l e a tran s cri p t fo r i n cl u s i o n in t h e reco rd

, it h ad fai l ed t o d o s o.

Fu rt h erm o re, as t o t h e Es tat e’ s req u es t t o reco n s t ru c t t h e reco rd

, t h e Garn ers n o t ed

3t h at i ts co u n s el had y et to p ro v i d e th e co u rt o r an y o n e el s e wi t h a co p y o f t h e

reco rd i n g o f t h e h eari ng o r an y t ran s cri p t o f t hat reco rd i n g

. Ad d i t i o nal l y

, t h e Garn ers

cl ai m ed t h at t h e Es t at e’ s co un s el o n l y reco rd ed t he seco n d hal f o f t h e heari n g

. Th u s

,

t h e Garn ers m ai n tai n ed t h at b ecau se t h e Es t at e i n d i cat ed i n i t s n ot i ce o f ap p eal t h at

i t wo u l d fi l e a n o n ex i s t en t t ran s cri p t

, t h e t ri al c o u rt was req u i red t o d i sm i s s t h e

ap p eal

. Th en

, ju s t o v er t wo -an d -a-h al f m o nt h s lat er (o n Feb ru ary 1 0

, 2 0 16 ), t h e t ri al

co u rt d en i ed t h e E s t at e’ s m o t i on t o reco n st ru ct t h e reco rd an d g ran t ed t h e Garn ers ’

m o ti o n t o d i s m i s s t he Es t at e’ s ap p eal . Th i s ap p eal b y t h e Es t at e fo l l o ws

. 3

3 As an ex h ib i t t o i ts no t i ce o f ap p eal

, t h e Es t at e at t ach ed a d o cu m en t en t i t l ed

“ Tran s cri p t o f Tap e Reco rd ed Heari n g ,” wh i ch ap p ears t o b e an i n co m p l et e tran s cri pt

o f a h eari n g h el d i n t hi s cas e. T h ere i s

, h o w ev er, n o i n d i cat io n o f wh en t h e h eari n g

o ccu rred

. Th e co u rt rep o rt er wh o creat ed th e t ran s cri pt i n cl u d ed t h i s d i s cl ai m er: “ Th e

fo l l o w i n g t ran s cri p t h as b een p rep ared b y t h e co u rt rep o rt er fro m a t ap e[ ] reco rd i n g.

Th e co u rt rep o rt er was n ot p res e n t d u ri ng t h e ab o v e-referen ced p ro ceed i n g s

. Th e

s p eak ers are id en t i fi ed bas ed u p o n rep res en t at i o n s m ad e b y o t h ers .” Bu t reg ard l es s

o f t h e au th en t i ci t y o f t h i s t ran s cri p t

, t h e Es t at e su b m it s it fo r th e fi rs t ti m e o n ap p eal

,

an d we wi l l n o t co n s i d er ev i d en ce t hat was n ot pres en t ed t o t h e t ri al co u rt

. See Gi ven s

v. Ich a u wa

y, In c

., 2 68 Ga. 71 0

, 7 1 2 (1 ) (4 9 3 SE2 d 1 4 8 ) (1 9 97 ) (“ [A] p p el lat e co u rt s

wi l l rev i ew o n l y ev i d en ce p res en t ed t o t h e t ri al co u rt befo re i t s ru l i n g o n t he m o t i o n.

Ad d i t i o n al ev i d en ce wi l l no t be ad m i tt ed on ap p eal .” (p u nct u at i o n o m i t t ed )); Mea d e

v. Hei ma n s o n

, 2 3 9 Ga. 1 7 7, 1 8 0 (2 3 6 SE2 d 3 5 7) (1 9 7 7 ) (s am e); RC Co l a Bo tt l i n g Co

.

v. Va n n

, 2 2 0 Ga. Ap p

. 4 7 9

, 4 80 (1 ) (4 6 9 SE2 d 5 2 3 ) (1 9 9 6) (s am e); s ee a ls o Jo n es v.

O’Da y

, 3 0 3 Ga. Ap p. 1 5 9

, 1 6 2 n .4 (6 9 2 SE2 d 77 4 ) (2 01 0 ) (h ol d i n g t h at a d ep o s i t i o n

t h at was n o t pres en t ed t o t h e t ri al co u rt co u l d n o t b e co n s id ered o n ap p eal ); Ga

. Fa r m

Bu r ea u Mu t . In s . Co

. v. S h o o k

, 2 1 5 Ga. A p p

. 6 6

, 6 7 -6 8 (4 4 9 SE2 d 6 5 8 ) (1 9 9 4 ) (“ It

i s t ru e t h i s [C] o urt can n o t co n si d er ev i d en ce n o t p res en t ed t o t h e t ri al co u rt .”).

41

. Th e Es t at e fi rs t arg u es t h e t ri al co urt erred i n d i s m i s s in g it s ap p eal wi t h o ut

m ak i n g t h e n eces s ary fi nd i n g s t h at i t cau s ed an u nreas on ab l e an d i n ex cu s ab l e d el ay

i n t he ap p el l at e p ro ces s . W e d i s ag ree.

OCGA § 5 -6 -4 8 (c) p ro v i d es t h at

[n ] o ap p eal s h al l be d i s m i s s ed b y t he ap p el l at e co u rt no r co n s i d erat i o n

o f an y erro r t herei n refu s ed b ecau s e o f fai l u re o f an y part y t o cau s e th e

t r a n s cri p t of ev i d en ce an d p ro ceed i n g s t o b e fi l ed wi t h i n th e t i m e

al l o wed b y l aw o r o rd er o f co u rt ; b u t t h e t ri al co u rt m ay

, aft er n ot i ce an d

o p p o rt un i t y fo r h eari n g ,[ 4 ] ord er t h at t h e ap p e a l b e d i s m i s s ed wh ere

4 In i t s o rd er d is m i ss in g t h e Es t at e’ s ap peal

, t h e t ri al co u rt n o t e d t h at n ei t h er

p art y req u es t ed a h eari n g o n t h e Garn ers ’ m o t i o n to d is m i s s

, an d t h e Es t at e d o es n ot

ch al l en g e t h e co u rt ’ s fai l u re t o h o l d s uch a heari ng

. M o reo ver, al th o u g h t h e Es t at e

d o es n o t m ai n t ai n t h a t i t was n o t g i ven an o p p ort u n i t y t o res p on d t o t h e m o t i o n to

d i s m i s s

, we rei t er a t e t h a t t h e m o t i o n was p en d i n g fo r o v er t w o -an d -a-h al f m o n t h s

b efo re t h e t ri al co u rt i s s u ed i t s ru l i n g , an d s o l on g as t h e p art y o p p o s i n g t he m o t i o n

t o d is m i s s h as an o

p p o r t u n it y t o res p o n d o n t h e r e c o r d

, n o heari n g i s req u i red

. See

Mi t ch el l v. 3 2 8 0 Pea ch t r ee 1

, LLC

, 2 8 5 Ga. 5 7 6, 5 7 6 (1 ) ( 6 7 8 S E2 d 8 8 0 ) (2 0 0 9 )

(affi rm i n g t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s g ran t o f a m o t io n t o d i s m i s s wh en i t d i d n ot h o ld an o ral

h eari n g on th e m o ti o n b ecau s e t h e ap p el l an t was g i v en “ am p le no t i ce an d o p p o rt u n i t y

t o res po n d ” t o t h e m o t i o n s uch t h at h i s d u e p ro ces s ri g h t s were n o t v i o l at ed ); Gr a nt

v. Ko o b y , 3 1 0 Ga. Ap p . 4 83 , 4 8 6 (7 1 3 SE2 d 6 8 5 ) (2 01 1 ) (h o l d i n g t h at a h eari n g o n

a m ot i o n t o d i s m is s an ap p eal i s n o t req u i red if t h e p art i es are g i v en an o p p o rt u n i t y

t o res p on d o n t h e reco rd ); Lem m o n s v

. Newt o n

, 2 69 G a. A p p

. 8 8 0

, 88 2 (6 0 5 SE2 d

6 2 6 ) (2 0 0 4 ) (h o ld i n g t h at t h e t ri al co u rt d i d n o t err b y fai li n g t o h o l d an o ral h eari n g

o n a m o t i o n t o d i s m i s s an ap p eal b ecau s e th e ap p el l an t was affo rd ed a fu l l

o p p o rt u ni t y t o res p on d t o t h e m o t i o n). Reg ard l es s, t h e Es t a t e h a s a b an do n ed an y

cl ai m s o f erro r reg ard in g th e t ri al co u rt ’ s deci s io n n o t to h o l d a h eari n g b ecau s e t h e

i s su e is n ot ad d re s s e d i n t h e Es t at e’ s ap p el l at e b ri ef, m u ch l es s su p po rt ed by

5t h ere h as been an u nreas o n ab l e d el ay i n t h e fi li n g o f t h e t ran s cri p t an d

i t i s s h o wn t h at t h e d el ay was i n ex cu s ab l e an d was cau s ed b y s u ch p art y

.

In ap p ly i n g t h i s s t at u t o ry fram ewo rk

, t h e det erm in at i o n o f wh et h er t h e d el ay i n t h e

fi li n g o f t h e t ran scri p t was u n reas o n ab l e, i n ex cu s ab l e, an d cau sed b y t h e ap p el l an t i s

“ a fact i s su e fo r th e t ri al co u rt an d wi l l n ot be d i s tu rb ed o n ap p eal ab s en t an ab u s e o f

d i s cret i o n .” 5 W i t h t h i s d eferen t i al s tan d ard o f rev iew i n m i n d

, w e t u rn n o w t o t h e

Es t at e’ s fi rs t en u m erat i o n o f erro r.

m ean i n g fu l arg u m en t. S

ee Pa yt o n v. Jo h n s o n

, 2 2 8 G a. 8 1 0, 8 12 (1 ) (1 8 8 SE2 d 5 0 4 )

(1 9 7 2) (d eem i ng t w o en u m erat i o n s o f erro r ab an d on ed wh en t h ey were n o t s u p p o rt ed

i n t h e ap p el l an t’ s b ri ef b y ci t at i o n t o au t h o ri t y o r b y arg um en t ); Ca r i n g Ha n d s

, In c.

v. Dep ’t o f Hu ma n Res

. , 2 2 2 G a

. A p p

. 6 0 8, 6 0 9 (2 ) (4 7 5 SE2 d 6 6 0 ) (1 9 96 ) (“ Th e

fai l u r e t o s up po rt t h e en u m erat ed erro rs b y ci t at i o n o f au t h o ri ty o r arg u m en t

co n st i t u t e s an ab an d o n m en t of s uch en u m erat ed erro rs .” (p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ));

Ha r tf o r d Acc. & In d

em. Co

. v. Ta

yl or , 1 4 4 Ga. Ap p . 6 4 , 6 6 (2 4 0 SE2 d 5 7 5 ) (1 9 7 7 )

(“ Th e fai l u re t o s u p p ort th e en um erat ed erro r b y ci t at i o n o f au th o ri t y o r arg u m en t in

t h e b ri ef l eav es n o t h i ng fo r t h i s co u rt t o co n si d er an d co n s t i t u t es an ab an do n m en t o f

t h e erro r en u m erat ed i n t h i s ap p eal .”).

5 HTTP Hyp o t h er mi a Th er a p y v. Ki mb er l

y Cl ar k Co r

p

., 3 3 0 Ga. Ap p

. 8 5 7

, 8 5 8 -5 9 (7 6 8 SE2 d 5 4 2 ) (2 0 1 5) (p u n ct u at i o n o m i tt ed ); acco r d B u s h v. Reed

, 3 1 1 Ga.

Ap p

. 3 2 8, 3 3 1 (7 1 5 SE2 d 7 4 7 ) (2 0 1 1 ); s ee P r op s t v. Mo r g an

, 2 8 8 Ga. 8 6 2

, 8 6 3 (7 0 8

SE2 d 2 9 1) (2 01 1 ) (n o t i ng t h at a tri al co u rt ’ s ru l i n g o n wh et h e r a d e l a y i n fi l i n g

t ran s cri p t i s i nex cu sab le an d cau s ed b y t h e ap p el l an t wi l l b e rev i ewed o n ap p eal o n l y

fo r ab u s e o f d i s cret i o n ); S & S Fo o d S vcs

., In c. v. Dep ’t o

f Tr a n s p

. , 2 22 Ga. A p p

. 5 7 9,

5 8 2 ( 3 ) (4 7 5 SE2 d 1 9 7) (1 9 9 6 ) (“ In rev iewi n g a fi n d i n g o f u n reas o n ab l e a n d

i n ex cu s ab l e d el ay i n f

i l i n g a t ran s cri p t

, t hi s co u rt wi ll n o t d i s tu rb t h e l o wer co urt ’ s

fi nd i ng ab s en t an ab u s e o f d i s cret i o n .” (p u n ct u at i on o m i t ted )).

6As t o a t ri al co urt ’ s d is m i s s al o f an ap p eal

, o u r Su prem e Co u rt has hel d t h at a

d e lay in ex ces s of 3 0 d ay s i n fi l i n g a t ran s cri p t aft er a n o t ice o f ap p eal i s f i l e d i s

p r i ma f aci e u n reas o n ab l e an d i n ex cu s ab l e, b ut t h i s p res u m p t i o n i s “ s u b

ject t o reb u t t al

i f t h e part y co m es fo rward wi t h e v i d e n c e t o s h o w t hat t h e d el ay was n ei t h er

u n reas o nab l e n o r i n ex cu s ab l e.” 6 An d i n ev al u at i n g t h e t h res ho l d q u es t i o n o f wh et h er

t h e d el ay was u n reas o n ab l e, we co n s id er b o t h t h e l en g th an d effect o f t h e d el ay

. 7 Th i s

Co u rt wi l l al s o co n si d er a ny d el ay i n t ran s m it t i n g t h e ap pel l at e reco rd u n reas o n ab l e

wh en i t m ay

affect an ap p eal b y :

(a) di rect l y p reju d i ci n g t h e p o s i ti o n o f a part y b y al l o wi n g an

i n t erm ed i at e ch an g e o f co n d it i o n s or o t h erwi s e res u l t i n g i n i n eq u i t y ; o r

(b ) cau s i n g t h e ap p eal t o b e s t al e, s u ch as

, b y d el ay in g ju s t d i s p os i t i o n

6 H TTP Hyp ot h er mi a Th er a

p y

, 3 3 0 Ga. Ap p. a t 8 6 0 ( p u n ct uat i o n o m i t t ed );

a cco rd Kel l

y v. Da ws o n Ct

y.

, 2 82 Ga. 1 8 9

, 1 8 9 (6 4 6 SE2 d 5 3 ) (2 0 0 7 ); In r e T.H.

, 3 1 1

Ga. Ap p

. 6 4 1

, 6 4 3 (7 16 SE2 d 7 2 4 ) (2 0 1 1 ); Ad a ms v. Heb er t

, 2 79 Ga. Ap p

. 1 5 8

, 1 5 9

(6 3 0 SE2 d 6 5 2 ) (2 0 0 6 ).

7 HTTP H yp o t h er mi a Th er a

p y

, 3 3 0 Ga. Ap p

. at 8 5 9-6 0 (p u n ct u at i on o m i t t ed );

a cco rd Pi s ta cch io v. Fr a s so

, 3 1 4 Ga. Ap p

. 1 1 9

, 1 2 1 (7 2 3 SE2 d 3 22 ) (2 0 12 ); Am. Na t

. Pr o p. & Ca s

. Co

. v. P o t t

s

, 2 4 3 Ga. Ap p

. 6 4 5

, 6 46 (5 3 4 SE2 d 12 3 ) (2 0 0 0 ); s ee Pr o ps t

, 2 8 8 Ga. at 8 6 3 (“ OCGA § 5

– 6 –4 8 (c) req u i res th e t ri al co u rt t o d et erm i n e t h e l en g th

o f t h e del ay

, t h e reas on s fo r t h e d el ay

, wh et h er t h e ap peal i n g p art y cau s ed t h e d el ay

,

an d wh et h er t h e d el ay w as i n ex cu s ab le, an d th en t o ex erci s e d i s cret io n i n d eci d i n g

w h e t h e r t o d is m i s s t h e ap p eal .”); S el l er s v. No d vi n

, 2 6 2 Ga. 2 0 5

, 2 0 6 (1 ) (b ) ( 4 1 5

SE2 d 9 0 8) (1 99 2 ) (“ Th e t h res h o l d q u es t i o n w h e t h e r t h e d el ay was u n reas o n ab l e

refers p ri n ci pal ly

t o t h e l en g t h an d effect o f t h e d el ay .” (p u nct u at i o n o m i t t ed )).

7o f t h e cas e, b y p rev en t in g p l acem en t o f t h e cas e o n t h e earl i es t po s si bl e

ap p el l at e co u rt cal en d ar, o r b y d el ay in g t h e d o ck et i n g o f t h e ap p eal an d

h eari n g o f t h e cas e b y

an ap p el l at e co u rt

. 8

In d eed

, we h av e rep eat ed l y reco g n i z e d t h a t “ ju s t i ce d el ay ed fo r ev en o n e d ay i s

ju s t ice den ied to t h e l i t ig an t wh o was s u cces s fu l i n t h e l o wer co u rt an d wh o i s en t i t l ed

t o h i s ju dg m en t u n les s t h e cas e i s p ro p erl y rev ers ed .” 9

On ap p eal

, rat her th an arg u i n g th at i t s co n d u ct d i d no t co n s t i t u t e an

u n reas o nab l e an d i n ex cu s ab l e del ay i n fi l i n g a t ran s cri p t o f t h e Sep t em b er 3 0

, 2 0 1 5

h eari n g

, t h e Es t at e arg ues t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred b y d i s m is s in g t he ap p eal wi t h o ut

m ak i n g cert ai n “ n eces s ary fi nd i n g s ” reg ard in g t h e del ay

. In rel ev a n t p art

, t h e

Su p rem e Co u rt o f Geo rg i a h as em p h as i zed t h at OCGA § 5-6 -4 8 (c) “ req u i res t h e t ri al

co u r t t o d et erm i n e t he len g t h o f th e d el ay

, t h e reas o n s fo r t h e d el ay

, w h et h er t h e

ap p eal i n g part y cau s ed t he d el ay

, an d wh et h er t h e d el ay was i n ex cu s ab l e” b ef o r e

8 H TTP Hyp ot h er mi a Th er a

p y

, 3 3 0 G a

. A pp

. at 8 6 0 (p u n ct uat i o n o m i t t ed );

a cco rd Mer cer v. Mu n n

, 3 2 1 Ga. Ap p

. 72 3

, 7 2 6 (1 ) (7 4 2 SE2 d 7 4 7 ) (2 0 1 3 );

Pi s t a cch i o

, 3 1 4 Ga. Ap p

. at 1 2 1 -2 2 ; Va u g h n v. Fa u l kn er

, 2 8 8 G a. Ap p

. 7 9 8

, 7 9 8 -9 9

(6 5 5 SE2 d 6 8 6 ) (2 0 0 7 ); Ad a ms , 2 7 9 Ga. Ap p . at 1 5 9

.

9 H TTP Hyp ot h er mi a Th er a

p y

, 3 3 0 Ga. Ap p. at 8 6 0 ( p u n c t u at i o n o m i t t ed );

a cco rd As h l ey v. JP Mo r

g an Ch a s e B a n k, N.A.

, 32 7 Ga. Ap p

. 2 3 2

, 2 3 7 (1 ) (7 5 8 SE2 d

1 3 5 ) (2 0 1 4 ); M

er cer

, 3 2 1 Ga. Ap p

. at 7 2 7 (1 ); Bu s h

, 3 1 1 Ga. Ap p

. at 3 32 (a); Mo r rel l

v. W

. S er vs

. , LLC

, 29 1 Ga. Ap p

. 3 6 9

, 3 7 4 (2 ) (6 62 SE2 d 2 1 5 ) (2 0 0 8 ); Ad a ms

, 2 7 9 Ga.

Ap p . at 1 5 9

.

8ex erci s i ng i t s d i s cret i o n i n “ deci d in g wh et h er t o d i sm i s s t h e ap p eal .” 1 0 A n d wh en

t h ere i s n o i n d i cat i o n i n t he reco rd t h a t a t ri al co u rt m ad e s u ch d et erm i n at i o n s

, we

m u st vacat e t h e d i s m i s sal o rd er an d rem an d t h e cas e wi t h d irect i o n t h at t h e req u i si t e

fi nd i ng s o f fact b e en t ered

. 1 1

Here, t o s u p p o rt i t s cl ai m t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred b y d i s m i s s in g i t s ap p eal

wi t h o u t m ak i n g t h e req u is i t e fi n d i n g s o f fact

, t h e Es t at e rel ies s o lel y o n c a s e s in

wh i ch t h e t ri a l c o u r t e s s en ti al l y ru l ed o n a m o t i on t o d i s m is s i n a s um m ary o rd er

1 0 Pr o p s t

, 2 88 Ga. at 86 3 ; a cco r d Gr a n t

, 3 1 0 Ga. Ap p

. at 4 8 5 ; see Ba ker v. S.

R y

. Co

. , 2 6 0 Ga. 1 1 5

, 1 1 6 (3 9 0 SE2 d 5 7 6) (1 99 0 ) (“ [T] he t ri al co u rt h as d i s cret i o n

t o d i s m is s an ap peal fo r fai l u re t o ti m el y fi l e a t ran s cri p t o n ly i f 1 ) t h e d el ay i n fi l i n g

was u n reas o n ab le; 2 ) t he fai l u re t o t i m el y fi l e was i n ex cu s ab l e i n t hat i t was cau s ed

b y s om e act o f t h e p art y res p o n s i b l e fo r fi l i n g t h e tran s cri p t.” (p un ct u at i o n o m i t t ed )

(em p h as i s s u pp l i ed )); Gr u n er v. Th a cker

, 32 0 Ga. Ap p

. 14 6

, 1 4 8 (1 ) (7 3 9 SE2 d 4 4 0 )

( 2 0 1 3 ) ( “ O C G A § 5

– 6

– 4 8(c) req u i res t h e t ri al co u rt t o d et erm i n e t he l en gt h o f t h e

d el ay

, t h e reas o n s fo r th e d e l a y

, wh et her t h e ap p eal i n g p art y cau s ed t h e d el ay

, an d

wh et h er t h e d el ay was i nex cu s ab l e, a n d t h en t o ex e r c i s e d i s cret io n i n d eci d i n g

wh et h er t o d i s m i s s t h e ap p eal ” (p un ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ) (em p h as is s u p pl i ed )).

1 1 S ee Gr a n t

, 3 1 0 Ga. Ap p

. at 48 5 -8 6 (v acat i ng t h e t ri al co u rt ’s o r d e r

d i s m i s s i n g an ap p eal wh en t h ere was n o th i n g i n t h e reco rd to s h o w t h at t h e t ri al co u rt

en g ag ed i n t h e an al y s i s req u i red b y OCGA § 5 -6 -4 8 (c) an d rem an di ng t he cas e wi th

d i rect i o n t h at fi n d in g s of fact b e i s s u ed ); Ro g er s v. No rr i s

, 26 2 Ga. Ap p. 85 7

, 8 5 7 -5 8

(1 ) (5 8 6 SE2 d 7 4 7 ) (2 0 0 3 ) (“ Fai l u re t o m ak e [ f i n d i n gs o f fact ] m an d at es t h at we

v acat e t he o rd er d i s m i ss i n g th e ap p eal an d rem an d t h e c a s e w i t h t h e d irect i o n t h at

fi nd i ng s of fact b e en t ered o n t h es e i s s ues .”); Cr en s h a w v. G a

. Un d er wr i t i n g As s ’n

, 2 0 2 G a. A p p

. 61 0

, 6 1 1 (1 ) (4 1 4 SE2 d 9 1 5) (1 99 2 ) (rev ers i ng a n d r e m an d i n g t h e

d en ial o f a m o t i on t o d i s m i ss an ap peal wh en t h e t ri al co urt fai l ed t o m ak e fi n d i ng s

o f fact , an d i n st ead

, ru l ed o n t h e m o t i o n “ wi t h ou t el ab o rat i o n”).

9wi t h o u t an y fi n di ng s o f fact o r fu rt h er el ab orat i o n

. 1 2 Bu t i n th is cas e, al t h o u g h t h e

t ri al co u rt ’ s o rd er d o es n o t u s e t h e wo rd s “ u n reas o nab l e” o r “ i n ex cu s ab l e,” t h e co u rt

m ad e s u ffi ci en t fi n d i n g s o f fact t o d em o n s t rat e t h at it co ns i d ered t h e rel ev an t fact o rs

d el i n eat ed i n OCGA § 5 -6 -4 8 (c). An d Geo rg i a co u rt s h av e affi rm ed d i sm i s sal o rd ers

u n d er su ch ci rcu m s t an ces

, ev en wh en t h e t ri al c o u r t d i d n o t u s e t h e s p eci fi c

1 2 S ee P o s tel l v. Al

fa In s

. Co r

p

., 3 2 7 Ga. Ap p. 1 9 4

, 19 6 (7 5 7 SE2 d 6 6 1 ) (2 0 1 4 )

(v acat i ng a t ri al co u rt ’ s o rd er th at “ su m m a ri l y d i s m i s s ed t h e n o t i ce o f ap p eal ” an d

rem an di n g fo r t h e t ri al co u rt t o m ak e fact u al fi n d i n g s as t o i t s b as is fo r t h e di s m i s s al );

Ro g er s , 2 6 2 Ga. Ap p . at 8 5 7 (1 ) (v acat i n g a t ri al co u rt ’ s d i sm i s s al o f an ap p eal an d

rem an di n g t h e cas e wh en “ [t ] h e t ri al co u rt s i m p l y gran t ed t h e m o t i o n wi t h o ut

el ab o rat io n an d fai led t o m ak e t h e n eces s ary fi nd i n g s as t o w h et h er t h e d el ay was

u n reas o nab l e, in ex cu s ab l e, an d cau s ed b y [t h e ap p el l an t ] ”); W o o d v. No t t e

, 2 3 8 Ga.

Ap p

. 7 4 8

, 7 4 9 (1 ) (5 1 9 SE2 d 9 2 3 ) (1 9 9 9 ) (rev ers i n g t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s d i s m i s s al o rd er

a n d r em an d i n g t h e cas e fo r t h e t ri al co u rt t o m ak e fact u al fi n di n g s wh en t h e o r d e r

“ m erel y g ran ted t h e m o t i o n t o d i s m i ss ” wi t h ou t m ak i ng fi n d i n g s as t o t h e

reas on ab l en es s an d ex cu s ab i li t y o f t h e d el ay

as wel l as o n t h e i s s ue o f cau s at i o n ).

10t erm i n o l o g y o u tl i ned i n th e s t at u t e. 1 3 To d o o t h erwi s e wo u l d be t o el ev at e fo rm o v er

s u b s t an ce, an d t h at i s n o t s o m et h i ng OCGA § 5 -6 -4 8 (c) req u i res

.

Sp eci fi cal l y

, t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s d i sm i s s al o rd er fi rs t no t ed t h at th e Sep t em b er 3 0,

2 0 1 5 h eari n g was n o t tak en do wn b y a cert i fi ed co urt rep o rt er, b u t t h e Es t at e’ s

at t o rn ey reco rd ed a p o rt i o n o f i t wi t h a s m art p h on e. T h e co u rt fu rt h er fo u n d t h at

, in

i t s n o t i ce o f ap p eal fi l ed o n Oct o b er 9

, 2 0 1 5

, t h e Es tat e in d i cat ed t hat “ [a] tran s cri pt

o f ev i den ce wi l l be fi l ed fo r i ncl u s i o n i n t h e reco rd o n ap p eal ,” b ut as of Feb ru ary 1 0,

2 0 1 6 (t he d at e o f t he d i s m is s al o rd er), t h e p a r t i e s h a d n o t ag reed t o reco n s t ru ct a

t ran s cri p t n o r h ad t h e Es tat e p ro v i d ed th e co urt o r t h e Garn ers wi t h a reco rd i n g o f t h e

h eari n g o r a co m

p l et e cert i fi ed t ran s cri p t of t h e h eari n g

. In l i g h t o f t h e fo reg o i n g

, t h e

1 3 S ee Mi tch el l

, 28 5 Ga. at 5 7 7 (2 ) (h o l d i ng t h at t h e t ri al co u rt m ad e su ffi ci en t

fi nd i ng s o f fact t o s u p p ort i t s d i s m i s s al o f a n a p p eal wh en th e o rd er s et fo rt h t h e

ci rcu m s t an ces s urro u n d i ng t h e ap p eal i n g p a r ty ’ s 1 6- m o n th de la

y i n pa y ing co u rt co s t s

an d t h e ap p el l ee h ad m o v ed t o d i sm i s s th e ap p eal b as e d o n a n i n ex cu sab l e d el ay

cau s ed b y th e ap p el lan t ’ s fai l u re t o p ay co s t s ); Co o p er v. S t a te

, 2 3 5 Ga. Ap p

. 6 6

, 6 7

(2 ) (5 0 8 SE2 d 44 7 ) (1 9 9 8) (h o l d i n g t hat “ [a] l t h o u gh OCGA § 5 -6 -4 8 (c) s et s fo rt h t h e

co n di t i o n s u p o n wh i ch th e tri al co u rt m ay d i sm i s s an ap p eal fo r d el ay

, i t do es n o t by

i t s term s r eq u ir e t h e c o u r t t o m ak e a fo rm al reci tat i o n o f t h o s e co nd i t i o n s i n i t s

o rd er,” an d affi rm i n g a t ri al co u rt ’ s d i s m is s al o rd er, wh i ch fo u n d th at t h e del ay was

u n reas o nab l e b u t h ad n o ex p res s fi n d i ng t h at t h e d el ay was i n ex cu s ab l e (p u n ct u at i o n

o m it t ed )); A. Ro b er ts Co rp

. v. Ro b er t s

, 2 0 7 Ga. Ap p

. 6 63

, 6 64 (4 28 SE2 d 6 7 1 ) (1 9 9 3 )

(“ Al t h ou g h t h e t ri al co u rt d i d n o t u s e t h e sp eci fi c t erm in o l og y del i neat ed i n [OCGA

§ 5 -6 -4 8 (c)]

, t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s o rd er i n d i cat e[d ] t h at t h e co u rt co n s i dered t ho s e fact o rs

i n co n cl u d i n g t h at t h e d i s m i s s al o f t he ap p el l an ts ’ ap p eal was p ro p er.”).

11c o urt fo u n d t h at i t was au t h o ri zed to d i sm i s s th e Es t at e’ s ap p eal u n d er T e s t o n v

.

Mi l l s

, 1 4 a cas e i n wh i ch t hi s Co u rt set fo rt h t h e fact ors t o b e co n s i d ered u n d er OCGA

§ 5 -6 -4 8 (c) an d affi rm ed t h e t ri a l c o u rt ’ s d i s m i s s al o f an ap peal wh en

, as h ere, t h e

d el ay was d i rect l y

at t ri b u t ab le t o t h e ap p el l an t’ s d es i g n at io n i n h i s n o t i ce o f ap p eal

1 4 2 0 3 Ga. Ap p . 2 0 (4 1 6 SE2 d 1 33 ) (1 9 9 2 ).

12t h at a n on ex i s t en t t ran s cri p t wo u l d b e fi l ed fo r i n cl u si on in th e reco rd o n ap p eal

. 1 5 W e

ag ree wi t h t h e t ri al co u rt t h at Tes t o n i s co nt ro l l i n g i n t he cas e su b j u d i ce

.

In s u m

, gi v en t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s fact ual fi n d i n gs reg ard i n g th e Es t at e’ s fai l u re to

fi le a n o n ex i s ten t tran s cri p t, a n d t h e c o u rt ’ s ex p res s rel i an ce o n Tes t o n

, wh i ch

d et ai led t h e req u ired fact u al fi n d i ng s un d er OCGA § 5

- 6

- 4 8 ( c ) an d was d eci d ed

1 5 S ee i d

. at 20

. W e n o t e t hat Geo rg i a co u rt s h av e rep eat ed ly affi rm ed d i s m i s s al

o rd ers t h at were i s s u ed d u e to t h e ap p el l an t ’ s des i g nat i o n i n t h e n o t i ce o f ap p eal t h at

a n o n e x i s t e n t tran s cri p t wo u l d b e i n cl u d ed i n t he ap p el l at e reco rd

. S ee, e.g

. , HTTP

Hyp ot h er mi a Th er ap

y

, 3 3 0 Ga. Ap p. at 8 6 1 (2 ) (affi rm in g t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s d i s m i s s al

o f an ap peal wh en t h e ap p el l an t ’ s i n ad v ert en t referen ce t o a n o n ex i s t en t t ran s cri p t in

i t s n o t ice o f ap p eal res u l t ed i n a 1 5 -m o n t h d el ay b et ween wh en t h e no t i ce o f ap p eal

was fi l ed an d w h en t h e cas e was d i s m i s s ed an d h o l d i n g t h a t t h e del ay was

u n reas o nab l e, i n ex cu s ab l e, an d cau s ed b y th e ap p el lan t ); Pi r kl e v. Bel l

, 27 0 Ga. 4 3 8,

4 3 8 (5 10 SE2 d 8 1 4 ) (1 9 9 9 ) (affi rm i n g t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s d i s m i s s al o f an ap p eal wh en

t h ree-m o n t h d el ay was cau s ed b y ap p el l an t ’ s d es i g n at i o n i n t h e n o t i ce o f ap p eal t h at

a n o n ex i s t en t t ran s cri p t wo u ld b e i n cl u ded i n t h e reco rd an d o n ap p el l an t ’ s fai l u re to

ch eck on t h e st at u s o f t he ap p eal ); Li n d s t r o m v. Fo r

s yt h Ct y.

, 2 2 1 Ga. Ap p. 58 1

, 5 8 2

(4 7 2 SE2 d 1 0 6 ) (1 9 9 6 ) (affi rm i n g d i s m i s s al o f an ap p eal wh en t w o -m o n th d el ay was

cau s ed b y a m i s t ak en d es i g nat i o n i n t h e n o t i ce o f ap p eal th at a n o nex i s ten t tran s cri pt

wo u l d b e i n cl u ded i n th e reco rd an d ap p el lan t m ad e n o effo rt s t o ex ped i t e t h e ap p eal );

Devi n s v. L e a

f m o r e F o r es t Co n d

o

. A s s ’n o f Own er s

, 2 1 3 Ga. Ap p. 8 23

, 8 2 3 (4 4 6

SE2 d 5 3 1 ) (1 9 94 ) (affi rm i n g t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s d is m i s s al o f an ap p eal wh en ap p el l an t

cau s ed a d el ay i n t h e d o ck et i n g o f t h e ap p eal b y m i s t ak en l y d es i g n at i n g a n o n ex i s t en t

t ran s cri p t as p art o f th e reco rd an d b y fai l i n g t o tak e an y s tep s t o ex p ed it e t h e ap p eal );

Jo h ns t o n v. Ga

. Pu b

. S

er v. Co m m ’n

, 2 0 9 Ga. Ap p

. 2 24

, 2 2 5 (4 33 SE2 d 6 5 ) (1 9 9 3 )

(affi rm i n g d i s m i s s al o f an ap p eal wh en t h e s o l e reas on fo r t h e d el ay i n t ran s m i t t i n g

t h e reco rd t o t hi s Co u rt was ap p e l l a n t ’ s i n ad v ert en t des i g nat i o n t h at a n o n ex i s t en t

t ran s cri p t wo ul d b e i n cl u d ed i n t h e reco rd o n ap peal an d t h e earl i es t in q u i ry ab o u t t h e

s t at u s o f t h e ap p eal was n o t m ad e u n t i l “ s ev eral m o nt h s ” aft er t h e n o t i ce o f ap p eal

was fi l ed ).

13b as ed o n ci rcu m s t an ces n earl y i d e n t i cal t o t h i s cas e, t h e co u rt p ro vi d ed su ffi ci en t

fi nd i ng s o f fact t o s h o w th at i t co n s i d ered t h e fact o rs set fo rt h i n th at st at ut e ( i .e.

, t h e

l en g t h o f t h e d el ay

, t h e reas o n s fo r th e del ay

, wh et h er t h e Es t at e cau s ed t h e d el ay

, an d

wh et h er t h e d el ay was i n ex cu sab l e) 1 6

, ev en th o u g h th e co u rt ’ s o rd er d i d n o t ex p res s l y

u s e t h e l an gu ag e d el in eat ed i n OCGA § 5 -6 -4 8

. 1 7

2

. Th e Es t at e al s o arg u es t h at t h e t ri al co urt ’ s v al u a t i o n o f t he s u p ers ed eas

co l l at eral i n t h e u n d erl y i ng fi n al ju d g m en t was erro n e o u s

. B u t reg ard l es s o f o u r

h o l d i n g i n Di v i s i o n 1 s u

p r a

, an y ch al l en ge t o t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s u nd erl y i n g ju d g m en t

reg ard i n g t h e Garn ers ’ s p eci fi c-p erfo rm an ce cl ai m i s n o t p ro p erl y befo re t hi s Co u rt

b ecau s e t h at ju d g m en t i s n o t t h e s u b ject o f t h i s ap p eal

.

Fo r al l o f t h e fo reg oi n g reas o n s, we affi rm th e t ri al co u rt ’s d i sm i s sal o f t h e

Es t at e’ s ap p eal fro m t h e co u rt ’ s f i n al ju d g m en t o n t h e Garn ers ’ cl ai m fo r s p eci fi c

p erfo rm an ce.

Ju d g men t a f f i r m ed . Rees e a nd

Bet h el , JJ., co n cu r

.

1 6 S ee s u p r a no t e 1 0 & acco m

p an y i ng t ex t

.

1 7 S ee s u p r a n o t es 1 3 an d 1 5

.

14