2 8 7 Ga . 3 34

F INAL COP Y

S 15 A0 1 8 3 , S 1 5X0 1 8 4 . TAF EL v . LION ANTIQUE CARS &

INVES TMENTS , INC.; a n d v ic e v e rsa

.

THOMP S O N, Ch ie f Ju stic e

.

Th is a p p e a l a n d c ro ss-a p p e a l in v o lv e a lo n g sta n d in g fin a n c ia l d isp u te

b e t w e e n a

p p e lla n t a n d c ro ss-a p p e lle e

, Jim Ta fe l, a n d a p p e lle e a nd c ro ssa p p e lla n t, Lio n A n tiq u e C a rs & In v e stm e nts, In c

., a/k /a Lio n An t i q u e

In v e stm e n ts & C o n su ltin g S e rv ic e s, In c

., in v o lv in g two F e rra ri ra c e c a rs. In th e

m a in a p p e a l, Ta fe l c o n te n d s, a m o n g o th e r th in gs, th a t th e tria l c o u rt e rr e d i n

d e c lin in g to e x e rc ise its e q u itab le p o we rs to m a rk sa tisfie d a ju d g m e n t th a t Lio n

An tiq u e h a d o b ta in e d a g a in st h im

. In th e c ro ss-a p pe a l, Lio n An tiq u e a rg u e s th a t

th e tria l c o u rt e rre d in v a lu in g th e ra c e c a rs fo r p u rp o se s o f o ffse ttin g a p a rt o f

th e ju d g m e n t th a t it h a d ob ta in e d a g a in st T a fe l. F o r th e re a so n s th a t fo llo w, we

a ffirm

. 1

1

. Th is c o n tro v e rsy ste m s fro m a De c e m b e r 2 00 7 “ R a c e Ca r Lo a n

1 Co n tra ry to L io n An tiq u e ’s c o nte n tio n

, we c o n c lu d e th a t th is c a se fa lls

with in o ur e q u ity ju risd ic tio n

. S e e Ga

. Co n st. o f 19 83

, Art. V I, S e c

. VI, P a r. III.Ag re e m e n t,” in wh ic h Lio n A n tiq u e a g re e d to p u rc h a se two F e rra ri F 4 3 0 GT

ra c e c a rs a n d lo a n th e m

to Ta fe l fo r h im to ra c e

. Th e a gre e m e nt p ro v id e d th a t

Lio n An tiq u e wo u ld h o ld title to th e ra c e c a rs; th a t a t th e e n d o f th e 2 0 0 8 se a so n

,

Ta fe l e ith e r ha d to p u rc h a se th e ra c e c a rs o r se ll th e m to a th ird pa rty ; a n d th a t

th e p ro c e e d s fro m a n y sa le wo u ld g o to Lio n An tiq u e

, with Ta fe l b e in g

re sp o n sib le fo r p a y in g Lio n An tiq u e fo r a n y d iffe re n c e b e twe e n th e sa le s p ric e

a n d th e o rig in a l p u rc h a se p ric e o f th e c a rs.

Du rin g th e 2 0 0 8 se a so n

, Lio n An tiq u e a ss e r te d Ta fe l c o m m itte d a

te c h n ic a l d e fa u lt o f th e a g re e m e n t b y fa ilin g to su ffic ie ntly in su re th e c a rs a n d

file d su it a g a in st T a fe l in Ca lifo rn ia

. In De c e m b e r 2 0 0 8

, Lio n An tiq u e o b ta in e d

a stip ula te d ju dg m e n t a g a in st Ta fe l fo r a b o u t $1

. 5 m illio n

, i n c lu d in g

$ 1 ,4 4 3 ,6 0 3.3 8 a s th e a gre e d p u rc h a se p ric e o f th e two ra c e c a rs.

S h o rtly th e re a fte r, o n Ja n u a ry 1 4

, 2 0 09

, Lio n An tiq u e file d a “ Pe titio n fo r

Ne Ex e a t” a g a in st Ta fe l i n Ge o rg ia

, a lle g in g th a t Ta fe l still h a d p o sse ssio n o f

th e ra c e c a rs a n d th a t Lio n An tiq u e h a d a re a so n a b le fe a r th a t h e wo uld re m o v e

o r se ll th e ra c e c a rs to its de trim e n t. Lio n An tiq u e so ug ht, a m o n g o th e r th in g s,

a n in ju n c tio n re q u irin g Ta fe l to su rre n d e r th e c a rs to it. S im u lta n e o usly

, Lio n

An tiq u e file d a se p a ra te a c tio n se e k in g to do m e stic a te th e Ca lifo rn ia ju d g m e n t.

2Th e tria l c ou rt h e ld a n e m e rg e n c y h e a rin g o n L io n An tiq u e ’s n e e x e a t

p e titio n

, a n d

, o n Ja n u a ry 2 0, 2 0 0 9

, issu e d a “ Tu rn o v e r Ord e r” d ire c tin g Ta fe l

t o tu rn th e ra c e c a rs o v e r to Lio n An tiq u e a n d ord e rin g Lio n An tiq u e to

im m e d ia te ly m a rk e t a

n d se ll th e c a rs a n d to re p o rt th e sa le s p ric e s to th e c o urt

so th a t th o se a m o u n ts c o uld b e d e d u c te d fro m Lio n An tiq u e ’s ju d g m e n t a g a in st

T a f el. Ta fe l tu rn e d th e ra c e c a rs o v e r to L io n An tiq u e o n Ja nu ary 2 2

, 2 0 0 9

.

Th e re a fte r, Lio n An tiq u e sh ip p e d o n e o f th e c a rs o v e rse a s to ra c e a nd sh ip p e d

th e se c o n d c a r to Ne v a d a wh e re it sa t in a g a ra g e fo r th e re m a in d e r o f 20 0 9

. On

Ju n e 29

, 2 0 0 9

, Lio n An t i q u e ’ s Ca lifo rn ia ju dg m e n t wa s do m e stic a te d in

Ge o rg ia

.

On Ap ril 2 8

, 2 0 1 0

, Ta fe l file d a m o tio n fo r sa tisfa c tio n o f j u d g m e n t,

a rg u in g th a t Lio n An tiq u e ’s ju d gm e n t a g a in st Ta fe l sh ou ld b e m a rk e d sa tisfie d

b e ca u se Lio n An tiq u e v io la te d th e tria l c o u rt’s Tu rn o v e r Ord e r b y fa ilin g t o

im m e d ia te ly m a rk e t a n d se ll th e ra c e c ars. F o llo win g a h e a rin g

, th e tria l c o urt

issu e d a n o rd e r o n Ju ly 2 1

, 2 0 1 0

, d e n y in g Ta f e l ’ s m o tio n

, b u t a gre e in g to

sc h e du le a ju ry tria l to d e te rm in e th e v a lu e o f th e c a r s as o f th e d a te o f th e

Tu rn o v e r O rd e r so th a t th e a m ou n t o f th e j u d g me n t c ou ld b e re d u c e d b y th a t

a m o u n t. Th e su p e rio r c o u rt’s o rd e r a lso pro v id e d th a t u p o n c o m p le tio n o f th e

3ju ry tria l th e c ou rt wo u ld h e a r a d ditio n a l e v id e n c e in o rd er t o r u l e o n th e

e q u itab le is s u e s r a ise d b y Ta fe l, in c lu din g w h e th e r Lio n An tiq u e v io la te d th e

Tu rn o v e r Ord e r.

In Ju n e 2 0 1 3

, th e ju ry fo u n d th a t th e v a lu e o f th e c a rs a s o f th e d a te o f th e

Tu rn o v e r Ord e r wa s $ 6 9 3

, 0 0 0. Th e re a fte r, in a n tic ip a tio n o f a fin a l b e n c h tria l

o n th e r e ma i n i n g e q u itab le issu e s, th e tria l c o u rt a llo we d th e p a rtie s to p u rsu e

a d d itio n a l d isc ov e ry

. Du rin g th is d isc o v e ry p e rio d

, T a fe l o b ta in e d a p re v io u sly

u n p ro d u c e d in su ra n c e b in d e r wh ic h in d ic a te d th a t th e ra c e c a rs h a d b e e n in su re d

b y Lio n An tiq u e a t th e tim e o f th e Tu rn ov e r Ord e r fo r $ 4 5 0 ,0 00 e a c h

.

On Ju n e 1 0

, 20 1 4

, th e tria l c o u rt he ld a fin a l h e a rin g w h e re in it c o n sid e re d

th e re m a in in g e q u i t ab l e i s s u e s a s we ll a s th e a p p ro p ria te a m o un t b y wh ic h to

o f fse t th e ju d g m e n t. In its fin a l o rd e r e n te re d Ju n e 3 0

, 2 0 1 4

, th e t r i a l c o u r t

d e te rm in e d

, a m o ng o th e r th in g s, th a t su b tra c tio n o f th e fa ir m ark e t v a lu e o f th e

ra c e c a rs a s o f th e d a te o f th e Tu rn o v e r O rd e r fro m th e ju d g m e n t re m e d ie d a n y

d a m a g e s su ffe re d b y T a fe l. S a y in g th a t th e ju ry ’s v e rd ic t wa s a d v iso ry a n d th a t

th e in su ra n c e d o c u m e n ts wo u ld h a v e b e e n re le v an t to th e ju ry ’s d e lib e ra tio n a n d

v e rd ic t, th e c o urt e x e rc ise d its “ e q u i ta b le p o we rs” a n d a d

ju ste d th e ju ry ’s

v e rd ic t, fin d in g th a t th e c o m b in e d fa ir m a rk e t v a lu e o f th e ra c e c a rs wa s

4$ 9 0 0,0 0 0

, a n a m o u n t wh ic h it th e n o ffse t fro m th e ju dg m e n t a s o f th e d a te o f th e

Tu rn o v e r Ord e r. Th e tria l c o u rt ru le d th a t Lio n An t i q u e ’ s j u d gm e n t a g a in st

Ta fe l w a s liq u id a te d a n d de n ie d Ta fe l’s m o tio n fo r a tto rn e y fe e s a n d e x p e n se s

p u rsu a n t to OCGA § 9 -1 5 -1 4 (b ).

Ca se No

. S 1 5 A0 1 8 3

2

. Ta fe l c on te n d s th a t a w r i t o f n e e x e a t m a y on ly b e use d to re stra in a

p e rso n fro m le a v in g th e Sta te a n d th a t th e tria l c o u rt th u s e rre d in th e Tu rn o v e r

Ord e r by issu in g a w rit o f n e e x e a t o rd e rin g h im to tra n sfe r th e two ra c e c a rs to

Lio n An tiq u e

. We fin d n o e rro r in th e tria l c o u rt’s Tu rn ov e r Ord e r, a s th e tria l

c o u rt d id n o t, in su b sta n c e , issu e a writ o f n e e x e a t.

Ta fe l c o rre c tly n o te s th a t OCGA § 2 3-3 -2 0 sa y s th a t “ [t] he w rit o f n e

e x e a t sh a ll issu e to re stra in a p e rso n fro m le a v in g th e ju risd ic tio n o f th e sta te ”

a n d th a t it g iv e s fiv e e x a m ple s o f wh e n a p e rso n m a y b e re stra in e d fro m le a v in g

th e sta te

, OCGA § 2 3 -3 -2 0 (1 )-(5 ). Ho we ve r, a lth o u g h Lio n An tiq u e sty le d its

c o m p la in t a s a p e titio n fo r a writ o f n e e x e a t, th e su b sta n c e o f its c o mp l ai n t

so u g h t th e e q u itab le re lie f o f th e tra n sfe r o f t h e two ra c e c a rs. Be c a use

“ ‘su b sta n c e

, ra th e r th a n n o m e n c la tu re

, g o v e rn s p le a d in gs,’ ” Ku ria tn y k v

.

Ku ria tn y k

, 28 6 Ga

. 58 9, 5 9 0 (6 9 0 S E2 d 39 7 ) (2 0 1 0 ), th e sty le o f Lio n A n tiq u e ’s

5c o m

p la in t d id n o t ba r th e tria l c o u rt fro m o r d e rin g th e tra nsfe r of th e c a rs

p u r s u a n t to its e q u itab le po we rs. Mo re o v e r, th e a pp e lla te re c o rd d o e s n o t

c o n ta in th e tra n sc rip t o f th e h e a rin g o n th e p e titio n fo r writ of n e e x e a t. Be c a use

Ta fe l b e a rs th e b urd e n to sh o w e rro r a nd b e c a use th e tra n sc rip t is n e c e ssa ry to

d e te rm in e wh e th e r th e tria l c o u rt e rro n e o u sly re lie d o n n e e x e a t p rin c ip le s in

g ra n tin g re lie f o r p ro pe rly re lie d o n e q u itab le p rin c ip le s in d o in g so

, we “ ‘m u st

a ssu m e

. . . th a t th e re wa s su ffic ie n t c o m p e te n t e v id e n c e t o s u p p o rt th e tria l

c o u rt’s fin d in g s

, ’” a n d th a t “ ‘th e ju d g m e n t

. . . wa s c o rre c t a n d a ffirm .’”

Ba rn we ll v

. TP CII, LLC, 2 95 Ga

. 1 5 3

, 1 5 4 (7 5 8 S E2 d 2 8 1 ) (2 0 14 ) (c ita tio n s

o m itte d ).

3

. Ta fe l n e x t c o n te n d s th a t th e “ Ra c e Ca r Lo an Ag re e m e n t” is g o v e rn e d

b y th e Un ifo rm Co m m e rc ia l Co d e (“ UCC” ), se e OCGA § 1 1-9 -1 0 1 e t se q

., a n d

th a t th e tria l c o u rt e rre d b y n o t ru lin g th a t, u n d e r th e U CC, wh e n L io n An tiq u e

re ta in e d th e ra c e c a rs in ste a d o f im m e d ia te ly se llin g th e m

, it a c c e p te d th e ra c e

c a rs in sa tisfa c tio n o f th e ju d g m e n t. Ta fe l, h o we ve r, d id n o t ra ise th is issu e

b e lo w a nd th e re fo re m a y n o t ra ise it o n a p p e a l. S e e Re lia nc e Tru st Co

. v

.

Ca n d le r, 2 9 4 Ga

. 1 5

, 1 8 (7 5 1 S E2 d 4 7) (2 0 1 3) (“ Issu e s n e ve r ra ise d a t tria l will

n o t be c o nsid e re d fo r th e first tim e on a p p e a l .” (c ita tio n a n d p u n c tu a tio n

6o m itte d )).

4

. Ta fe l a lso c o n te n d s th a t, e ve n if th e UCC d oe s n o t d ire c tly g o v e rn th e

p a rtie s’ tra n sa c tio n, th e tria l c ou rt, n e v e rth e le ss, sh o u ld h a v e a p p lie d it u n d e r th e

p rin c ip le t h at e q u ity “ fo llo w s th e a n a lo g y o f th e la w wh e re n o ru le [o f la w] is

d ire c tly a p p lic a b le .” OCGA § 2 3 -1 -6

. Ta fe l sa y s th a t u nd e r OCGA § 1 1 -9 -6 1 0

,

a p ro v isio n o f th e UCC, a n d th is Co ur t ’ s d e c isio n in C o nte sta b ile v

. Bu sin e ss

De v

. C o rp

. of Ga

., 2 5 9 Ga

. 7 8 3

, 7 8 3 (3 8 7 S E2 d 13 7 ) (1 9 9 0 ) (“ Co n te sta b ile I” ),

a c re d ito r fo rfe its th e rig ht to re c o v e r a d e fic ie n c y if it c o n d u c ts a c o m m e rc ia lly

u n re a so n a

b le s a l e of c o lla te ra l; th a t Lio n An tiq u e ’s fa ilu re to imm e d ia te ly

m a rk e t a n d se ll th e c a rs a fte r ta k in g p o s s e ssio n o f th e m wa s c o m m e rc ia lly

u n re a so n a

b le ; a n d th a t th e tria l c o u rt th e re fo re e rre d in fa ilin g to ru le th a t Lio n

An tiq u e h a d fo rfe ite d its rig h t to e n fo rc e th e Ca lifo rn iaju d g m e n t.

Ta f e l ra ise d th is issu e b e lo w, b ut th e tria l c o u rt d id n o t e rr in fa ilin g to

fo llo w Ta fe l’s c o n te n tio n

. To b e g in

, Co n te sta b ile I c re a te d c o n fu sio n b y sta tin g

th a t if a fo re c lo su re sa le “ is d e te rm in e d to b e c o m m e rc ia lly u n re a so n a b le

, th e

c re d ito r lo se s n o t m e re ly th e rig h t to re c o v e r a p e rso n al j u d g me n t a g a in st th e

d e b to r, b u t a lso th e rig h t to re c o v e r th e d e f i c ie n c y .” Th is is th e la n gu a g e o n

wh ic h Ta fe l re lie s. T h is Co u rt, h o we v e r, c la rifie d th is p a rt o f Co n te sta b ile I in

7a la te r d e c isio n i n t h e sa m e c a se

. S e e B u sin e ss De v

. Co rp

. o f Ga

. v

.

Co n te sta b ile

, 2 61 Ga

. 8 8 6

, 8 8 6 -8 8 7 (4 1 3 S E 2 d 44 7) (1 9 9 2 ) (“ Co n te sta b ile II” ).

We n o te d th a t, u n d e r Em

m o n s v

. Bu rk e tt, 2 5 6 Ga

. 8 5 5 (3 5 3 S E2 d 90 8) (1 9 8 7 ),

wh e n a c re d ito r fo re c lo se s o n se c u re d p ro p e rty with o u t t h e

sta t u t o r ily re qu ire d n o tic e to th e d e b to r, o r wh e n th e c re d ito r

c o n d u c ts a c o m m e rc ia lly u n re a so n a b le sa le

, a re b u ttab le

p re su m p tio n is c re a te d th a t th e v a lu e o f th e c o lla te ra l is e q u a l to th e

in d e b t e d n e ss. Th e c re d ito r m a y re b u t th e p re su m p tio n b y

in tro d uc in g (1 ) e v id e n c e of th e fa ir a n d re a so n a b le v a lu e o f th e

se c u re d p ro p e rty

, a

n d (2 ) e v id e nc e th a t t h e v a lu e o f th e c o lla te ra l

wa s le ss th a n th e d e b t. If th e c re d ito r re b u ts th e p r es u mp tio n

, h e

m a y m a in ta in a n a c ti on a g a in st th e d e b to r o r g ua ra n to r fo r th e

d e fic ie nc y (th e d iffe re n c e b e twe e n th e fa ir a n d re a so n a b le v a lu e o f

th e c o lla te ra l a n d th e a m o u n t o f th e d e b t). An y lo ss su ffe re d b y th e

d e b to r a s a re su lt o f th e fa ilu re to g iv e n o t i c e o r t h e c o m m e rc ia lly

u n re a so na

b le sa le is re c o v e ra

b le un d e r O CGA § 1 1 -9 -5 07 a n d m a y

b e se t o ff a g a in st th e d e fic ie n c y

.

Co n te sta b ile II, 2 6 1 Ga . a t 8 86

.

We th e n e x p la in e d th a t Co n te sta b ile I

in v o lv e d a c re d ito r wh o wa s se e k in g to re c o v e r a g a in st a g u a ra n to r

a fte r h a vin g so ld th e p rim a ry c o lla te ra l with o u t n o tic e to th e d e b to r

o r g u a ra n to r. Th e g u a ra n to r c o n te n d e d th a t th e c o lla te ra l ha d b e e n

s o l d a t a c o m m e rc ia lly u n re a so na b le sa le

— b e lo w fa ir m a rk e t

v a lu e

. We c o u ld n o t a sc e rta in fro m th e re c ord wh e th e r th e sa le wa s

in d e e d c o m m e rc ia lly u n re a so n a ble a n d wh e th e r th e c r e d i t o r h a d

re b u tte d th e pre su m

ptio n th a t arise s fro m a c o m m e rc ia lly

u n re a so na

b le sa le

. It a

p p e a re d

, h o we v e r, th a t th e tria l c o u rt h a d n o t

c o n sid e re d th e E m m o n s re b u ttab le p re su m ptio n ru le

. Th e in te n t o f

o u r o p in io n wa s to re m a n d fo r p ro c e e d in gs c on siste n t w ith

Em m o n s, su p ra

. Ap p a re n tly

, be c a u se w e d id n o t re sta te th e e n tire

8Em

m o n s ru le

, th e o p in io n c re a te d so m e c o nfu sio n . We sa id th a t if

th e c re d ito r c o n d u c ts a c o m m e rc ia lly u n re a so n a b le sa le

, h e lo se s th e

rig h t to re c o v e r th e d e fic ie n c y a g a in st th e d e b to r o r th e g u a ra n to r.

Co n te sta b ile

, 2 5 9 Ga

. a t 78 4

. A m o re c o m ple te sta te m e nt o f th e

ru le is: If th e c re d ito r c o n d u c ts a c o m m e rc ia lly u n re a so n a b le sa le

a n d d o e s n o t re b u t th e p re su m p tio n th a t th e v a lu e o f th e c o lla te ra l

is e qu a l to th e in d e b te d n e ss, h e lo se s th e rig h t to re c o ve r th e

d e fic ie nc y a g a in st th e d e b to r a n d th e g ua ra nto r. If th e p re su m p tio n

is re b u tte d

, th e rig h t to re c o v e r th e d e fic ie n c y re m a i n s as h e ld in

Em m o n s.

Co n te sta b ile II, 2 6 1 Ga . a t 8 86 -8 8 7 (e m p h a sis o m itte d ).

Th u s, e v e n a ssu m in g th a t Lio n An tiq u e ’s a c tio n s we re c o m m e rc ia lly

u n re a so n a

b le

, u n d e r th e c orre c t UCC ru le

, L io n A n tiq ue d id n o t fo rfe it its rig h t

t o re c o v e r a d e fic ie nc y so lo ng a s it sh o we d

, a s th e tria l c o u rt fo un d

, th a t t h e

v a lu e o f th e ra c e c a

rs wa s le ss th a n th e ju d g m e n t.

Mo re im p o rta n tly

, a tria l c o u rt h a s “b ro a d disc re tio n to f a s h i o n a n

e q u itab le re m e d y b a se d u p o n th e e x ig e n c ie s o f th e c a se ,” a n d “ a n a pp e lla te c o urt

su sta i n s th e tria l c o u rt’s a c tio n wh e re su c h d isc re tio n h a s n o t b e e n a b u se d .”

Ba rn g ro v e r v

. City o f Co lu m b u s, 2 9 2 G a

. 4 8 6

, 4 8 9 (7 39 S E2 d 3 7 7 ) (2 0 1 3 ).

He re

, th e tria l c o u rt fo u n d th a t it w a s e q u itab le fo r Lio n An t i q u e t o h a v e its

ju d g m e n t e n fo rc e d

, m in us th e fa ir m a rk e t v a lu e o f th e ra c e c a rs a s o f th e d a te o f

th e Tu rn o v e r Ord e r, a n d fo r Ta fe l to h a v e a c re d it a g a in st th a t ju d g m e n t fo r th e

v a lu e o f th e ra c e c a rs a s of th e d a te of th e Tu rn ov e r Ord e r, so a s to pro te c t h im

9fro m a ny po ssib le h a rm th a t m a y h a v e o c c urre d if th e v a lu e o f t h e ra c e c a rs

d ro p p e d b e twe e n th e tim e o f th e Tu rn o v e r O rd e r a n d th e tim e o f a n a c tu a l sa le

.

Th is ord e r, in e ffe c t, f

o llo w e d th e a na lo g y o f UCC la w, c o rre c tly a pp lie d a s

sta te d in Co n te sta b ile II, 2 6 1 Ga

. a t 8 8 6 -8 8 7

, th a t Ta fe l a sk e d th e tria l c o u rt to

fo llo w. We c a n n o t c o n c lu de th a t th e tria l c o u rt a b u se d its d isc re tio n in d e v isin g

th is e q u itab le re m e d y . S e e Ba rn g ro v e r, 2 9 2 Ga

. a t 4 8 9

.

5

. Ta fe l c l a i me d th a t th e ju d g m e n t in fa v o r of Lio n An tiq u e sh o u ld b e

d e e m e d fu lly sa t isfie d b e c a u se Lio n An tiq u e h a d u n c le a n h a nd s b y fa ilin g to

fo llo w th e T u r n o v e r Ord e r. In re je c tin g th a t c la im

, th e tria l c o u rt sa id th a t,

in ste a d o f n o w se e k in g to ha v e th e j u d g me n t d e e m e d fu lly sa tisfie d

, Ta fe l

s h ou ld h a v e e a rlie r m o v e d to h a v e Lio n An tiq u e h e ld in c o n te m p t. Th e c o u r t

a d d e d th a t “ to th e e xte n t th a t [Ta fe l] wa s ha rm e d ” b y Lio n A n tiq u e ’s v io la tio n

o f th e Tu rn o v e r Ord e r, th e “ h a rm will b e re m e d ie d by th e d e te rm in a tio n o f th e

ra c e c a rs’ va lu e a s o f th e Tu rn o v e r Ord e r a n d th e su b tra c tio n fro m th e ju d g m e n t

o f t h e s a me .” T h e c ou rt a lso sa id th a t b e c a u se Ta fe l d id no t file a m o tio n fo r

c o n te m pt, “ th e Co urt is p re c lu d e d fro m m a k in g a c on te m p t fin din g with re g a rd

to th e a lle g e d v io la tio n o f th e Tu rn o v e r Ord e r.”

Ta fe l c o n te n d s th a t th e tria l c o u rt e rre d in ru lin g th a t, in th e a b se n c e o f a

1 0c o n te m

pt m o tio n b y Ta fe l, it wa s p re c lu de d fro m fin d i n g L io n An tiq u e in

c o n te m pt o f th e Tu rn o v e r Ord e r. T a f e l is c o rre c t th a t a tria l c ou rt m a y su a

sp o n te ra ise a n issu e of c o n te m p t. S e e Ch a tfie ld v

. Ad k in s-Ch a tfie ld

, 2 8 2 Ga

.

1 9 0

, 1 9 4 (6 4 6 S E2 d 2 47 ) (2 0 0 7 ). Ho we v e r, be c a u se Ta fe l n e v e r m ov e d to h a v e

Lio n An tiq ue h e ld in c o n te m p t, h e m a y n ot c o m

p la in a b o u t th e tria l c o u rt’s

fa ilu re to d o so on its o wn mo t i o n

. S e e In re A d a m s, 2 92 Ga

. 6 1 7

, 6 1 7 (7 4 0

S E2 d 13 4 ) (2 0 1 3 ) (h o ld in g th a t a pp e lla n t’s c o n te n tio n th a t th e tria l ju d g e sh o u ld

h a v e s u a s po n te re c u se d him se lf fro m a c o n te m p t p ro c e e d in g w a s wa iv e d

b e c a u se a p p e lla n t d id n o t file a m o tio n to re c u se ); Bra le y v . S ta te

, 2 76 Ga

. 4 7

,

5 1 (5 72 S E2 d 5 8 3 ) (2 0 0 2 ) (h old in g t h a t

, “ [b ] y fa ilin g to o b je c t a t tria l,

Ap p e lla n t wa iv e d h is rig h t to c o m p la in th a t th e tria l c o urt, su a sp o n te

, e x c u se d

a p ro sp e c tiv e ju ro r” ). Mo re o v e r, e v e n a ssu m in g th a t th e tria l c o u rt e rre d in

fa ilin g to e x e rc ise its po we r to su a sp o n te a d d re ss th e c o nte m pt issu e

, Ta fe l m

u st

sh o w h arm a s w e ll a s e rro r. S e e He n d e rso n v

. St a t e

, 2 9 5 Ga

. 3 3 3

, 33 7 (7 5 9

S E2 d 8 2 7 ) (2 0 1 4 ). Be c a

u se th e tria l c o u rt d id no t a bu se its d isc re tio n in fin d in g

th a t to th e e x te n t Ta fe l wa s h a rm e d b y Lio n An tiq u e ’s v io la tio n o f th e Tu rn o v e r

Ord e r, th e p ro p e r re m e d y wa s th e e q u i t a b l e o n e it h a d c ra fte d

, Ta fe l c a n n o t

sh o w h a rm fro m th e tria l c ou rt fa ilin g to su a sp on t e ad d r e s s wh e th e r Lio n

1 1An tiq u e wa s in c o n te m p t o f th a t o rd e r.

6

. Ta fe l m o v e d fo r a tto rn e y fe e s u nd e r OCGA § 9 -1 5 -1 4. To su p p o rt th e

a wa rd

, Ta fe l’s le a d c o u n se l, b a se d o n h is re vi ew o f a ll re le v a n t b illin g

sta te m e n ts, p re se n te d a su m m a ry o f th e h o u rs wo rk e d b y a ll a tto rn e y s a n d

p a ra le g a ls o v e r th e fiv e y e a rs o f t h e l i t ig a tio n

. Th e tria l c o u rt e x c lu d e d th is

su m m ary fro m e vid e n c e

, 2 a nd Ta fe l c o n te n d s th a t th is wa s e rro r, sa y in g th a t th e

su m m ary wa s a d m issib le u n d e r OCGA § 2 4 -1 0 -1 0 0 6 o f o u r ne w Ev id e n c e

Co d e

. 3 We d isa g re e

, a s Ta fe l n e v e r m a d e th e u n d e rly in g b ill i n g s ta te m e n ts

2 Co n tra ry t o T a f

e l ’s c o n te n tio n

, th e tria l c ou rt d id n o t ru le th a t th e

su m m ary w a s a d m issib le a t th e h e a rin g

. In ste a d

, a fte r Lio n A n tiq ue ’s o b je c tio n

to th e su m m a ry

, t h e t r i a l c o u rt sa id th a t it wo u ld ta ke “ th e e v id e n c e u n d e r

c o n sid e ra ti o n ” a n d “ e n te r a n o rd e r.” In its writte n o rd e r, th e tria l c o urt

a d d re sse d t h e p a rtie s’ a rg u m e n ts a b o u t th e a d m issib ility o f th e su m m a ry a n d

ru le d th a t it wa s in a d m issib le h e a rsa y

.

3 Th e h e a rin g a t wh ic h Ta fe l o ffe re d th e su m m a ry in su pp o rt o f his m o tio n

fo r a tto rn e y fe e s o c c u rre d in Ju n e 2 0 1 4 , a fte r th e n e w Co d e ’s e ffe c tiv e d a te o f

Ja n u a ry 1 , 2 01 3. OCGA § 2 4 -1 0 -1 0 06 sa y s:

Th e c o n te nts o f oth e rwis e a d m issib le v o lu m in o u s writin g s,

re c o rd in g s, o r p ho t o g r a

p h s wh ic h c an n o t c o n v e nie n tly b e e x a m in e d

in c ou r t m a y b e pre se n te d in th e fo rm of a c h a rt, su m m a ry

, o r

c a lc u la tio n

. T h e o rig in a ls, o r d u p lic a te s, sh a ll be m a de a v a ilab le fo r

e x a m in a tio n o r c o p y in g, o r b o th

, b y o th e r pa rt i e s a t a re a so na b le

tim e a n d p la c e

. Th e c o u r t ma y o rd e r th a t th e c o n te n ts of su c h

writin g s, re c o rd in g s, o r p h o to g ra p h s b e p ro d u c e d in c o u rt.

1 2a v a ilable fo r Lio n An tiq u e to re v ie w. S e e OCGA § 2 4 -1 0 -1 0 0 6 (sa y in g th a t th e

p a rty d e sirin g to in tro d u c e v o lu m in o u s m a te ria l in su m m a r y f o rm m u st

m a k e ” [t] h e o rig in a ls, o r d u p lic a te s, . . . a v a ilab le fo r e x a m in a tio n o r c o p y in g

,

o r b o th

, b y o th e r p a rtie s a t a re a so na b le tim e an d pla c e ” ); Un ite d S ta te s v

.

Aria s-Iz q u ie rd o

, 4 4 9 F 3d 1 1 6 8

, 1 1 8 4 (1 1 th Cir. 2 00 6 ) (sa y in g th a t u n d e r F e d e ra l

Ru le of Ev id e n c e 1 0 0 6

, 4 wh ic h is id e n tic a l in m a te ria l re sp e c ts to OCGA § 2 4

-

1 0 -1 0 0 6

, th is re q u ire m e n t m u st b e sa tisfie d “ prio r to th e a d m i s s i o n o f th e

su m m ary ” ); P a rk e r v

. S ta te

, 2 9 6 Ga

. 5 8 6, 59 2 (7 6 9 S E2 d 3 2 9 ) ( 2 0 1 5 ) (sa y in g

th a t “ wh e re th e n e w Ge o rg ia ru le s [o f e vid e n c e ] m irro r th e ir fe d e ra l

c o u n te rp a rts, it is c le a r th a t th e G e n e ra l A sse m b ly in te n d e d fo r Ge org ia c o u rts

to lo o k to th e fe d e ra l ru le s a n d ho w fe d e ra l a p p e lla te c o u rts h a v e i n t e r p r e te d

th o se ru le s fo r gu id a n c e ” ). 7

. Ta fe l ra ise s o n e o th e r a rg u m e nt, sa y in g th a t it

4 Ru le 1 0 0 6 sa y s:

Th e p ro p o n e n t m a y u se a su m m a ry

, c h a rt, o r c a lc u la tio n to

p ro v e t h e c o n te n t o f v o lu m in o us writin g s, re c o rd in gs, o r

p h o to g ra p h s th a t c a n n ot b e c o n v e n ie n tly e x a m in e d in c o u rt. Th e

p ro p o n e n t m

u st m a k e th e o rig in a l s o r d up lic a te s a v a ilable fo r

e x a m in a tio n o r c o p y in g, o r b o th

, b y o th e r pa rt i e s a t a re a so na b le

tim e a n d pla c e

. An d th e c o u rt m a y o rd e r th e p ro p on e n t to p ro d u c e

th e m in c o u rt.

1 3“ d e se rv e s m e n tio n .” Th e a rg u m e nt c o n c e rn s th e d a te o n wh ic h in te re st o n Lio n

An tiq u e ’s ju d g m e n t b e g a n to a c c ru e

. Ta fe l, h owe ve r, d i d n ot e n u m e ra te th is

issu e a s e rro r, a nd th e tria l c ou rt, a s Ta fe l c o n c e d e s, h a s n e ve r b e e n a sk e d to ru le

o n it. Th e issu e is th e re fo re n o t p ro p e rly b e fo re u s. S e e Le e v

. S ta te

, 2 6 5 Ga

.

1 1 2

, 1 1 6 (4 5 4 S E2 d 76 1 ) (1 9 9 5 ) (h o ld in g th a t, b e c a u se a p p e lla n t d id n o t ra ise

a n “ issu e in h is e nu m e ra tio n s o f e rro r, we will n o t c o n sid e r it o n a p p e a l ” ) ;

Un ifie d Go v e rn m e n t o f Ath e n s-Cla rk e Co u nty v

. S tile s Ap a rtm e n t s

, In c

., 2 9 0

Ga

. 7 4 0

, 7 4 2 (7 2 3 S E2 d 6 8 1 ) (2 0 12 ) (h o ld in g th a t issu e s th a t a re n o t ru le d o n

b y th e tria l c o u rt m a y n o t b e ra ise d o n a pp e a l).

Ca se No

. S 1 5 X0 1 8 4

8

. In it s c ro ss-a p p e a l, Lio n An tiq u e c on te nd s th a t th e tria l c o u rt wa s

b o u nd by th e ju ry ’s fin d in g th a t th e v a lu e o f th e ra c e c ars wa s $ 69 3,0 0 0 a n d th a t

it th e re fo re e rre d in fin d in g th a t th e v a lu e wa s $ 9 0 0

, 0 0 0

. Ho w e v e r, in its fin a l

o rd e r, th e tria l c o u rt ru le d th a t th e ju ry ’s v e rd ic t wa s a d v iso ry a n d th a t it h a d th e

“ e q u itab le p o we rs” to a d

ju st th e v a lu e to $ 90 0 ,0 0 0 b a se d o n e v id e n c e p re se n te d

a t th e Ju n e 1 0

, 2 0 1 4

, h e a rin g

. Co n tra ry to Lio n An tiq u e ’s c o n te n tio n , we fin d

n o e rro r e ith e r in th e tria l c o u rt’s c o n c lu sio n th a t th e ju ry v e rd ic t wa s a d v iso ry

o r in its a d

ju stm e n t of th e v a lu e o f th e ra c e c a rs. S e e

, e .g

., Kn o tt v

. Ev a n s, 2 8 0

1 4Ga

. 5 1 5

, 5 1 5-5 16 (6 3 0 S E2 d 4 0 2 ) (2 0 0 6 ) (sa y in g th a t, in a n e q u ity c a se

, a tria l

c o u rt h a s th e in h e re nt a

u th o rity to e m

p a n e l a ju ry to fin d fa c ts a n d th a t th e ju ry ’s

fin d in g s a re a d v iso ry a n d n o t b in d in g on th e tria l c o u rt). Mo re o v e r, a t th e fin a l

h e a rin g

, Ta fe l in tro d u c e d e v id e n c e o f th e in su ra n c e p o lic y in w h ic h th e “ a g re e d

u p o n” v a lu e o f th e ra c e c a rs a t th e t i m e o f th e Tu rn o v e r Ord e r wa s $4 5 0 ,0 0 0

e a c h

. Ta fe l a rg u e d th a t Lio n An tiq u e h a d fa ile d to p ro d u c e th e d o c um e n t in

tim e fo r th e ju ry tria l a

n d th a t th e tria l c ou rt sh o u ld ta k e th is n e w e v id e n c e in to

a c c o u nt an d a d

ju st th e ju ry v e rd ic t. Lio n An tiq u e m a d e n o o b je c tio n to th e tria l

c o u rt’s c o n sid e ra tio n o f th e in su ra nc e d o c u m e n ts a nd d id no t c o n te nd th a t th e

ju ry ’s ve rd ic t wa s b in d in g

. Th is issu e is th e re fo re n o t p ro p e rly b e fo re u s o n

a p p e a l. S e e Grisso m v

. S ta te

, 2 9 6 Ga

. 4 06

, 41 1 (7 6 8 S E 2 d 4 9 4 ) (2 0 1 5 )

(h o ld in g th a t th e fa ilu re to sp e c ific a lly o bje c t to e vid e n c e a t tria l b ars a p p e lla n t

fro m ra isin g th a t o b

je c tio n o n a

p p e a l); R e l i a nc e Tru st Co

., 2 9 4 Ga

. a t 1 8

(“ Issu e s n e v e r ra ise d a t tria l will n ot b e c o nsid e re d f o r t h e first tim e o n

a p p e a l.” ). 5

Ju d g m e n ts a ffirm e d . All th e Ju stic e s c o n c u r.

5 Co n tra ry to L io n An tiq u e ’s c o n te n tio n

, its o bje c tio n a t th e b e g in n in g o f

th e fin a l h e a rin g th a t T a fe l h a d fa ile d to p ro p e rly p le a d h i s c l a i ms do e s n o t

p re se rv e th is issu e fo r a

p p e a l.

1 5De c id e d Ju n e 1 5 , 2 0 1 5

.

Eq u ity . F u lto n S up e rio r Co u rt. Be fo re Ju d g e Tu sa n

.

Alsto n & Bird

, No we ll D

. B e r e th

, Bria n D. Bo o n e

, Willia m H. Hu g h e s,

Jr.; Nic h o la s H. Ly

n to n , fo r a

p p e lla n t.

Gre e n b e rg Tra

u rig

, M ic h a e l J. Kin g ; A n d re w N. Ca p e z z uto

, fo r a

p p e lle e

.

1 6