FI RST DI VI SI ON

PHI PPS, C. J.

, ELLI NGTON, P. J.

, and M CM ILLI A N, J.

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 ls .us /r ule s /

Febr uar y 24, 2015



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 4 A2 26 5 . LOW RY v . FENZEL.

M C M ILLI A N , J u dg e.

Heat h er E. L o wry

, as a d m i n i s t rat ri x fo r t h e es t at e o f W il l iam B. Lo wry

(“ Lo wry ”), ap p eal s fro m t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s gra n t o f s u m m ary ju dg m en t t o d efen d an t

Ro b ert a K. Fen zel f/ k / a Ro bert a K. L o wry (“ Fen zel ”), d irect i n g t hat Fen zel h as t h e

ri gh t t o fu n d s h el d i n v ari o u s acco u n t s u po n t h e d eat h o f h er ex -h u s b an d

, W i l l i am B.

Lo wry (“ d eced en t ”). Lo wry al s o as s ert s as erro r t h e t ri al co urt ’ s fai l u re t o gran t h er

m o ti o n to s t ri ke th e affi d av it o f a w i t n e s s su b m i tt ed b y Fen zel i n s u p po rt o f h er

m o ti o n fo r s u m

m ary ju dg m en t

. Fo r t h e reas o n s t h a t fo l l o w

, w e affi rm in p art an d

rev ers e i n p art

.

“ Su m m ary ju d g m en t s en

jo y n o p res u m

p t i o n o f co rrect n es s o n ap p eal , an d an

ap p el l at e co u rt m

u st s at i s fy i ts el f d e n o v o t h at t h e req u i rem en t s o f OCGA § 9 -1 1 -5 6(c) h av e been m et .” (Ci t at i o n s an d p u n ct uat i on om i t t ed .) R ol l i n s v. Ro l li n s

, 3 2 9 Ga.

Ap p

. 7 6 8, 7 7 2 (3 ) (a) (7 6 6 SE2 d 1 6 2 ) (2 0 1 4 ). An d i n o u r d e n o vo rev iew o f t h e g ran t

o f a m o t i o n f

o r s u m m ary ju d g m en t

, we vi ew t h e ev id en ce, an d al l reas o n ab l e

i n feren ces d rawn t h erefro m , i n t h e l i g h t m o st fav o rab l e t o t h e n o n m o van t . Id

.

Th e re l ev an t fact s are larg el y u n d i s p u t ed

. Fen zel an d d eced en t were m arri ed

o n M ay 6, 1 9 9 5

. O n Oct o b er 1

, 2 00 8

, Fen zel an d d eced en t ex ecu t ed a “ Set t l em en t

Ag reem en t ” t h at was i n co rp o rat ed i n t o t h e “ Fi n al J ud g m en t an d Decree o f Di v o rce”

en t ered b y t he Su p e r i o r C o u r t o f Co bb Co u nt y o n Oct o b er 9, 2 0 08

. Deced en t d i ed

i n t es tat e o n M arch 1 4

, 2 0 11

, an d Lo w ry

, h i s n i ece, w as ap p o i n t ed t h e ad m i n i s t rat ri x

o f h i s es tat e. At th e t i m e o f h i s deat h

, d eced en t h el d sev eral ch eck i n g an d i nv es t m en t

acco u n t s wi t h v ari o u s fi n an ci al i n s t it u t i o n s as fo l l o ws :

1

. Am eri p ri s e Fi n an ci al Serv i ces , In c. b ro k erag e acco u n t i n t h e

am o u nt o f $ 2 2 5 ,1 1 6 .4 9 (“ Am eri p ri se”);

2

. At l an ta Po s t al Cred i t Un i o n d raft ch eck in g acco u n t an d

cert i fi cat es o f d ep o si t t o t al i n g $ 1 7 4 ,4 2 4 .3 4 (“ A PCU”);

3

. GEM C Fed eral Cred i t Un i o n ch eck i ng acco u n t i n th e am o u n t

o f $ 5 1 ,7 3 4.9 8 (“ GEM C”); an d

24

. LGE Co m m u ni t y Cred i t Un i o n ch eck in g acco u nt co n t ai n i n g

$ 2 7 ,3 88

. 5 7 (“ LGE”).

Th e A m eri p ri s e acco u n t an d t h ree o f t h e cert i fi cat es o f dep o s i t hel d wi t h APCU

–

wi t h a s u b t o t al o f $ 6 0 ,5 2 5 .8 4

– were h el d s ol el y i n deced en t’ s n a m e w i t h Fen zel

l i st ed as t h e b en efi ci ary or tran sfer-o n -d eat h reci p i en t

. Al l o t her acco u nt s were h el d

jo i n t ly i n d eced en t an d Fen zel ’ s n am es

. Fen zel ad m i t s t h at s he accep t ed t r a n s fer o f

al l fu nd s fro m t h e Am eri p ri s e, APCU, an d GEM C acco u n t s

.

On No v em

b er 1

, 2 0 1 2, LGE fi l ed an in t erp l ead er act i o n in t h e Su p eri o r Co u rt

o f Co b b C o u n t y

, n am in g b o t h Lo wry an d Fen zel as d efen dan t s an d al l eg i n g t h at

Lo wry h ad p res en t ed a de m a n d f o r p ay m en t of t h e fu n d s o n d ep os i t i n d eced en t ’ s

acco u n t an d t h at Fen zel i s l is t ed as t h e jo in t o wn er of t h e acco u n t . On Decem b er 4

,

2 0 1 2

, Lo wry fi l ed s u i t ag ai n s t Fen zel i n Fu lt o n Co u n t y o n b eh al f o f d eced en t ’ s es t at e

t o reco v er al l fu n ds fro m t h e Am eri p ri se, APCU, an d GEM C acco u n t s a f t er Fen zel

refu sed t o ret u rn t h o s e fu n d s t o d eced en t ’ s es tat e. 1 O n M arch 11

, 2 0 1 3, t h e Co b b

Co u n t y act i o n was t ran s ferred t o Fu l to n Co u n t y wh ere LGE w as d i s m i ss ed as a p art y

1 Lo wry al so as s ert ed cl ai m s wi t h res p ect to t wo l i fe i n s u ran ce p o l i ci es in

wh i ch Fen zel was i d en t ifi ed as t h e b en efi ci ary

, b ut l at er co n ced ed t h at t h e es t at e h ad

n o cl ai m t o t h o s e p o l i ci es b ecau s e T erry Ho pk i ns

, a fri en d o f d eced en t, w as l i s t ed as

t h e s u cces s o r b en efi ci ary

.

3fo l l o w i n g d ep o s i t o f t he in terp l ead er fu n d s i nt o t h e c o u r t reg i s try

, an d Lo wry was

r e a l i g n ed as t h e p l ai nt i ff. Th e cas e was t h en reas s i g n ed t o t he ju d g e wh o h ad b e e n

as s i g n ed t o t h e D ecem

b er 2 0 1 2 act i o n fi l ed b y

Lo wry . Th e t ri al co u rt s u bs eq u en t l y

g ran t ed t he p art i es ’ m o t io n t o co n s o l i dat e t h e t wo act i o n s i n t o o n e cas e. 2 Fo l l o wi n g

d i s co v ery

, Fen zel fi l ed a m o t i o n fo r s u m m ary ju d g m en t

, wh i ch t h e t ri al co u rt g ran t ed

aft er a h eari n g

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

.

1

. In h er fi rs t an d s eco n d en u m erat i o n s o f erro r, Lo wry as s ert s t h at t h e t ri al

co u rt erred i n g ran t i n g s u m m ary ju d gm en t t o Fen zel as t o t h e acco u n t s hel d s o l el y in

d eced en t ’ s n am e, wi t h F e n z e l l i s t ed as a b en efi ci ary

. It i s u n d i s p u t ed t h at d eced en t

n ev er co m

p l et ed an y ch an ge o f b en efi ci ary fo rm s or rem o v ed Fen zel ’ s n am e fro m t h e

acco u n t s. Rat h er, Lo wry arg ues t h at Fen zel wai v ed h er i n t eres t i n an y s u ch acco u n t s

t h ro u g h t h e Set tl em en t A g r e e m e n t en t ered i n t o b y Fen zel an d d eced en t, p o i n t i n g

s p eci fi cal l y t o Parag rap hs 3 an d 8

. Parag rap h 3 i s en t i t l ed “ PERSONAL PROPERTY

(GENERAL)” an d p ro vi d es , i n t o t o :

2 Fen zel arg ues t h at t h e t wo cas es s h ou l d b e t reat ed s ep arat el y fo r cert ai n

p u rp os es

, i n cl u d i ng o n ap peal

. Ho wev er, al t ho u g h Fen zel co n t in u ed t o t reat t h e t wo

cas es s ep arat el y b el o w, i t is u n cl ear fro m t h e reco rd t h at t h e t r i a l co u rt i n t en d ed

an y t h i n g o t h er t h an t o c o n s o l i d at e t h e t w o cas es i n t o o ne as u rg ed b y b o t h p art i es

b el o w. Th u s

, we wi l l rev i ew t he t ri al co u rt ’ s gran t o f s u m m ary ju d g m en t o n al l cl ai m s

i n t hi s ap peal

. See Th oma s v. Br o wn

, 3 0 8 Ga. Ap p. 5 1 4, 5 1 4 -5 1 5 (1 ) (7 0 7 SE2 d 9 0 0 )

(2 0 1 1).

4Al l i tem s o f p ers o n al p ro p ert y o f ev ery k in d

, n at u re an d d es cri pt io n

, an d

wh erev er l o cat ed

, cu rren t l y in t h e po s ses s i o n o f t h e res p ect i v e p art i es

,

i n ad d i t i o n t o al l t ran s fers h erei n p ro v i d ed

, s h al l

, u p o n t h e s i g n in g o f

t h i s A g reem en t

, b e t h e s o l e an d ex cl u s i v e p ro pert y o f t h at p art y. E a ch

s h a l l o w n an d en

jo y t h is p ro p ert y in d ep en d en t ly free an d cl ear o f al l

c l a i m s o r ri g h ts o f t he o t h er; h o wev er, i n t h e ev en t a p ro v i s io n b el ow

p ro v i d es fo r t h e l at er t ra n s fer o f an y p ers o n al p ro p ert y

, t h at p ro v i s i o n

s h al l co n t ro l

.

An d Parag rap h 8

, en t i t l ed “ PERSONAL PROPERTY (SPECIFIC),” i n cl u d es

a sp eci fi c l i s t o f h ou s eh o l d an d p ers o n al i t em s to b e g i ven t o Fen zel an d t h e m an n er

i n wh ich s h e m ay ret ri ev e t ho s e i t em s . Parag rap h 8 al so s t at es t h at

[e] x cep t as m ay ot h erwi s e b e s t at ed in t h is Ag reem en t

, each p art y sh al l

b e en t i t l ed to an y an d a l l b an k acco u n t s

, m o n ey acco u n t s

, i nv es t m en t

acco u n t s

, i n cl u d i n g s t o ck p o rt fo li o s

, i n t h at p art y ’ s n am e an d t h e o t h er

p art y sh al l m ak e no cl ai m wh at s o ev er, leg al

, eq u i t ab l e, o r o t h erwi s e, t o

s am e.

“ Set t l em en t ag reem en t s i n d i v orce cas es m u s t b e co ns t ru ed i n t h e s am e m an n er

an d u n d er th e s am e ru l es as al l ot h er co nt ract u al ag reem en t s .” Sch wa r t z v. S ch wa r t z

,

2 7 5 Ga. 1 0 7

, 1 0 8 (1 ) (5 6 1 SE2 d 9 6 ) (2 0 02 ). An d, “ [c] o n s t ru ct i o n o f a co n t ract b y t h e

co u rt i n v o l v es t hree s t ep s

. Fi rs t

, i f no am bi g ui t y ap p ears

, th e t ri al co u rt en fo rces t h e

co n tract acco rd i n g t o i t s t erm s i rres p ect i v e of al l t ech n i cal o r arb i t rary ru l es o f

5c o n s tru ct i o n

. ” (Ci t at i o n s o m i t ted .) Fr i er v. Fr ier

, 3 0 3 Ga. Ap p. 2 0

, 2 1 ( 6 9 2 S E2 d

6 6 7 ) (2 0 1 0 ). Th en

, i f am bi g u i t y d o es ap p ear, t h e e x i s t en ce o r n o nex is ten ce o f an

am bi g ui t y i s a q u es t i o n o f l aw fo r t h e co u rt

. Id

. Th u s, “ a j u r y q u e s t i o n ari s es o n l y

wh en t h ere ap p ears t o b e an am b i g u i t y i n t h e co n t ract wh i ch can n o t b e n eg at ed b y t h e

co u rt ’ s ap p l i cat i o n o f t h e s t at u t o ry ru l es o f co n s t ru ct i o n .” Id

.

W e d i s cern no am

b ig u i t y i n t h e l an g u ag e o f t h e Set t lem en t Ag reem en t h ere.

“ Am bi g u i t y i n a co nt ract i s d efi n ed as du p l i ci t y

, i n d i s t i n ct n es s

, o r an u ncert ai n t y o f

m ean i n g o r ex p res s i o n .” (Ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed .) Fr i er

, 3 03 G a. Ap p

. at

2 1

. As an in i t i al m at t er, Para g r a p h 3 o f t h e Set t l em en t Ag reem en t p ro vi d es fo r t h e

d i v i s i on o f pers o nal p ro p e r t y i n t h e po s s es s i on o f t h e part i es at t h e t i m e o f t h e

ag reem en t an d d o es n o t ap pl y t o t h e fi n an ci al acco u n t s at i s s ue h ere. Rat h er, t h e m o re

s p eci fi c l an g u ag e o f Parag rap h 8 g o v ern s t h e d i v i s io n o f t h e p art i es ’ acco u n t s

. See

Ho l la n d v. Ho l la nd

, 28 7 G a. 8 6 6

, 8 6 8 (1 ) (7 00 SE2 d 5 7 3) (2 0 1 0 ) ( “ In co n s t ru i n g

co n tract s, a s p eci fi c p ro v i si o n wi l l p rev ai l o v er a g en eral o n e.”).

Fen zel co n ced es t h at Parag rap h 8 ex t i n gu i s h ed an y cl ai m s s h e m ay

h av e h ad

t o t h e acco u n t s h el d s o l el y i n d eced en t ’ s n am e t h at aro se b y v i rt u e o f t h ei r m arri ag e.

Ho wev er, s h e arg u es th at h er b en efi ci ary i n teres t i n th os e acco u n t s i s n o t b y v i rt u e

o f h er m arri ag e t o d eced en t , b u t rat h er t h ro u gh t h e co n t ract u al ag reem en t s b et ween

6d eced en t an d t h e fi n an ci al i n s t i t u t i o ns an d t hat s he d id no t wai v e h er e x p e c t a n c y

i n t eres t i n t h o s e acco u n t s

. Lo w ry co nt en d s

, ho wev er, t h at t h e l an g u ag e of Parag rap h

8 i s b ro ad en o u g h t o wai v e Fen zel ’ s ri g h t to pay m en t as a b en efi ci ary

, p o i n t i n g u s to

t wo cas es th at ad d res s ed s i m i l ar w a i v er l an g u ag e. 3 W e ag ree an d fi n d t h at Fen zel

w a i v e d her ex p ect an cy i n t eres t as a b en efi ci ary t o t he acco u n t s h el d i n d eced en t ’ s

n am e.

Kr u s e v. To d

d

, 26 0 Ga. 6 3 (3 8 9 SE2 d 4 8 8 ) (1 9 9 0), i s part i cu l arl y i n s t ru ct i ve.

I n t h a t cas e, t h e ad m in i s t rat ri x o f t h e d eced en t ’ s es t at e an d t h e deced en t’ s ex -wi fe

b o t h cl ai m ed an i nt eres t i n a l i fe i n s u ran ce po l icy an d an IRA i n w h i c h t h e ex -wi fe

rem ai n ed t h e d es i g n at ed b en efi ci ary at th e t i m e o f t h e d eced en t ’ s d eat h

. Th e d i v o rce

s et t l em en t ag reem en t p ro vi ded i n p art :

3 A t h i rd cas e ci t ed b y Lo wry i s i ns t ru ct i v e b u t fac t u al l y d i s t i ng u is h ab l e. In

Ba r net t v. P l a t

z

, t h e p art i es t wi ce m arri ed an d d i v o rced

. 2 6 1 Ga. A p p

. 5 1 (5 8 1 SE2 d

6 8 2 ) (2 0 0 3 ). Acco rd i n g t o t h e term s o f t h e fi rs t d i vo rce s et t l em en t ag reem en t

, i f t h e

h u s b an d s o l d t h e m ari t al res id en ce, rem arri ed

, or d i ed

, t h e wi fe wo ul d recei v e h al f o f

t h e h o m e’ s eq u i ty

. Th e s eco n d ag reem en t

, h o wev er, p ro v i d ed t hat “ t h e p art i es s h al l

an d d o m u t u al l y rem is e, rel eas e, an d fo rev er d i s ch arg e each ot h er fro m an y an d al l

act i on s

, s u i t s

, d eb t s

, cl ai m s

, d em an d s an d an y an d al l o b li g at i o n s wh at s o ev er ag ai n s t

each o t h er” an d th at “ ‘ each p art y h ereb y wai v es an y p as t

, p res en t or fu t u re cl ai m o r

ri gh t wh i ch h e m ay h av e ag ai ns t t h e o t h er p art y .’ ” Id

. at 5 2

. Th i s Co u rt fo u n d t h at t h e

rel eas e i n cl u d ed t he h u s b an d ’ s co n t i n g en t ob l i g at i on t o g i v e t h e wi fe h al f t h e h o m e’ s

eq u it y . Id

.

7An y s to ck s

, b o n d s, IRA’ s o r an y o t h er m o n i es wh erev er l o cat ed

p res en t ly i s (s i c) th e so l e an d ex cl u s i v e p ro pert y o f th e d es i g n at ed

d ep o s i to r o r n am ed o wn er o r reci p i en t

, an d t h e o t h er p art y s h al l h av e n o

i n t eres t t h erei n

.

Ex ce p t as o th erwi se ex p res s l y p ro vi d ed

, t he part i es s h al l an d d o

m u t u al l y rem i s e, rel eas e, an d fo rev er d i sch arg e each o th er fro m an y an d

al l act io n s

, s u i t s

, cl ai m s

, d em an d s

, an d o b l i g at i o n s

, wh at so ev er, b o t h i n

l aw an d i n eq u i t y

, wh i ch each of th em ev er h ad

, no w h as

, o r m a y

h ereaft er h av e ag ai n s t t h e o t h er u po n o r b y reas o n o f an y m at t er, cau s e,

o r t h i n g u p t o t h e d at e o f t h e ex ecu t i o n o f t h i s Ag reem en t

.

( P u n c t u at i on o m i t t ed .) Id

. at 6 5

. Th e Su prem e Co u rt h el d t h at t he ag ree m e n t

ex p res s ed n o i n ten t t h at t h e w i fe rel eas e h er ex p ect an cy i n t eres t as a b en efi ci ary o f

t h e h u s ban d’ s li fe i n s u ran ce p o l i cy

, fi n di n g t h at “ u p to t h e d at e o f t h e ex ecu t i o n ” t h e

wi fe h ad n o cl ai m o r ri g h t ag ai n s t t he h u s b an d t o b e n am ed b e n e f i c i ary o f h i s l i fe

i n s u r a n c e po li cy an d h e was u nd er n o l eg al o r eq u i t ab l e o b l i g at i o n t o m ai n t ai n t h e

wi fe as b en efi ci ary

. Id

. at 6 7 (1 ). Th u s

, an y ri g h ts t h e wi fe h ad t o t h e p ro ceed s aro s e

aft er t h e hu s ban d ’ s d eat h

, an d an y cl ai m t o t h e p ro ceed s was ag ai ns t t h e l i fe i n s u ran ce

co m p an y an d n o t ag ai n st t h e h u s b an d . Id

.

Ho wev er, i n ad d res si n g t h e wi fe’ s cl ai m t o an IRA acco u n t

, o n wh ich s h e al s o

rem ai n ed t h e b en efi ci ary at t h e t i m e o f t h e h u sb an d ’ s d eat h

, t h e Co u rt fo u n d t h at t h e

8l an g u ag e cl earl y an d un am b i gu ou s l y ex p res s ed t he p art i es ’ i n t e nt tha t t h e wi fe rel eas e

an y in t eres t i n an y IRA o f wh i ch t h e h u s b an d was t h e d es i g n at ed d ep o s it o r an d was

s u ffi ci en t l y

b ro ad t o i ncl u d e h er ex p ect an cy i n t eres t i n t h e IRA. Id . at 6 9 -7 0 (5 ).

An d i n an o th er s i m i l ar cas e, Y o u n g v. S tu mp

, 2 9 4 Ga. Ap p

. 3 5 1

, 3 5 3 (6 6 9 SE2 d

1 4 8 ) (2 0 0 8 ), t he ex ecu t ri x o f t h e d eced en t ’ s es t at e an d t h e d eced en t’ s ex -wi fe b o th

cl ai m ed an i n t eres t i n a n I RA i n wh ich t he ex -wi fe rem ai n ed t he d es i g n at ed

b en efi ci ary at th e ti m e o f deced en t ’ s d eat h

. Th e di v o rce s et t l em en t ag reem en t i n t h at

cas e p ro v i d ed :

Hu s b an d s h al l h av e al l ri g h t

, t i t le an d e q u i t y i n an d to an y ret i rem en t

acco u n t wh i ch i s p res en t l y t i t l ed i n hi s n am e, o r wh i ch was es t ab l i s h ed

fo r h i s b en efi t

, i n cl u di n g

, b u t n o t l i m i t ed t o IRAs

. W i f e s h a ll m ak e n o

cl ai m t o o r a g a i n s t a n y s u ch acco un t an d h erewi th sp eci fi cal l y wai v es

an d rel i n qu is h es an y

an d al l cl ai m s wh i ch s h e m ay h av e t o s am e.

(Pu n ct u at i on o m i tt ed .) Id

. at 3 5 1

. Th i s Co u rt fo u n d t h e l an gu ag e sh o wed t h at t h e wi fe

i n t en d ed t o d i s cl ai m an y an d al l i n t eres t i n t h e h u s b an d ’ s r e t i r e m en t acco u n t s an d

o p erat ed as a wai v er o f h er b en efi ci ary d es i g n at i o n . Id

. at 3 5 3 (1 ).

9W e are u n p ers u ad ed by Fen zel ’ s at t em p t to d i st i ng u i s h t h es e cas es

. 4 Sh e arg u es

t h at t h e Set t l em en t Ag reem en t do es n o t co v er an y b en efi ci ary i n t eres t s ari s i n g outsid e

o f t h e m arri ag e an d t h at h er cl ai m s t o t h es e fu n d s ari s e f r o m t h e c o n tract s wi t h t h e

fi nan ci al i n s t i t ut i o n s

. In s up p o rt o f h er arg u m en t

, Fen zel po i n t s t o Parag rap h 5 o f t h e

Set t l em en t Ag reem en t

, as s ert i n g t h at i t m ak es cl ear t h at t h e Ag reem en t o n l y g o v ern s

4 No r are we p ers u ad ed b y Fen zel ’ s rel i an ce o n Fr i er

, i n wh i c h th e h u s b an d

d i e d f o l l o w i n g t h e co u p l e’ s d iv o rce, h av i n g l eft h i s ex -wi fe as t h e b en efi ci ary t o a

cert ifi cat e of d ep o s it acco un t

. 3 03 Ga. Ap p. 2 0

. Th e s et t l em en t ag reem en t i n t h at cas e

p ro v id ed t h at t h e p art i es “ s h a l l h a v e an d recei v e an y s u m s of m o ney i n t h ei r

res p ect i ve ch eck i ng acco u n t s

, s av i n g s acco u n t s

, IRAs

, ret i rem en t fu n d s o r acco u n t s

o r o t h er p ro p ert i es in t h ei r o wn i n d i v i d u al n am es .” (Pu n ct u at i on an d fo o t n o t e

o m it t ed .) Id

. at 2 0

. In fi n d i n g th e wi fe h ad n o t wai v ed h er ex pect an cy i n t eres t (i f an y )

as a d eat h b en efi ci ary

, t h is Co urt no t ed t hat

– u n l ik e i n t h e cas e at b ar

– t h e p art i es ’

ag reem en t d i d n o t co n tai n an ex p l i ci t wai v er o f an y p art y ’ s i n t eres t. Id . at 2 2

.

10“ m at t ers ari s i n g o u t o f t he di v o rce.” 5 Ho wev er, t h e s et t l em en t ag reem en t i n Kr u s e

al s o i n cl u d ed a s i m il ar cl au s e:

Ex cep t fo r t h os e ri g h t s an d cl ai m s fo r wh i ch t h i s Ag reem en t p ro v id es

,

an d ex cep t fo r t h e p r o v i s i o ns o f an y v al i d Las t W i l l an d Tes t am en t o f

t h e o t h er, eac h p a r t y h ereb y wai v es an d rel eas es h i s o r h er res p ect iv e

ri gh ts an d cl ai m s a ga i n s t t h e o t h er o r t h e es t at e o f th e o t h er i n cl u d i n g

b u t n o t li m i ted t o

, al i m o n y

, d i v i s i o n o f p ro pert y

, cu rt es y

, y ear’ s su p po rt

,

an d an y ri g h t s o r c l a i m s h e o r s h e m ay h av e ag ai n s t t h e o t h er o r th e

es t at e o f t h e o t h er b

y r ea s o n o

f t h e ma r r i a ge o f t he p art i es

.

(Pu n ct u at i on o m i tt ed ; em

p h as i s s u pp l i ed .) Kr u s e

, 2 60 Ga. at 6 5 -6 6

. No t wi t h s t an d i n g

t h at cl au s e, t h e Su p rem e Co u rt h e l d t h e ag reem en t ’ s wai ver l an g u ag e cl earl y

5 Parag rap h 5 , en t i t led “ FINAL SETTLEM ENT,” p ro v i d es :

Th e p art i es ack n o wl ed g e t h at t h e p ro v is i o n s o f t h is Ag reem en t fo r th e

p ay m en t o f fu n d s an d d i s p o s i t i o n o f as s et s, t ran s fer of t i t l e t o as set s an d

al l o t h er m at t ers pert ai n i n g t o t h e d i v i s i o n o f as s et s were arri ved at

t h ro ug h n eg o t i at io n s an d t h at t h i s Ag reem en t co n s t i t u tes a co m p l et e an d

fi nal s et tl em en t

, acco rd an d s at i s fact i on an d rel eas e o f each p art y to an d

o f t h e o t h e r

, fo r an y an d al l cl ai m s wh i ch ei t h er m ay h av e ag ai n s t th e

o t h er fo r an y m at t ers ari s i n g ou t o f t he d i v o rce. Th i s Ag reem en t i s

ack n o wl ed ged b y each p art y t o b e s u ffi ci en t sat i sfact i o n an d set t l em en t

o f al l cl ai m s o f each p art y ag ai n s t t h e o th er.

11ex p res s ed t h e i n t e n t o f t h e p art i es an d was s u ffi ci en t l y b ro ad t o i n cl u d e t h e wi fe’ s

ex p ect an cy i n t eres t i n t h e IRA. Id

. at 6 9 -7 0 (5 ). W e reach t h e s a m e res u l t h ere an d

h o l d t hat t h e l an g u ag e i n t h e Set t l em en t Ag reem en t p ro v i d i n g t h at “ each p art y s h al l

b e en t i tl ed t o a n

y a n d al l b an k acco u n t s

, m o n ey acco un t s, i n ves t m en t acco u nt s

,

i n c l u d i n g s t o ck p o rt fo l i o s

, i n t h a t p a r ty’s n a m e an d th e o th er p art y s h al l m ak e n o

cl a i m wh at s o ev er

, l eg al

, eq u i t ab l e, o r o t herwi s e, t o s a me ” i s u n am b i g u o u s in

ex p res s i n g Fen zel an d d eced en t’ s i n t en t t hat t h e A m eri p ri s e an d APCU acco u n t s h el d

s o l el y i n d eced en t ’ s nam e wo u l d rem ai n t he p ers o n al p ro p ert y o f d eced en t an d t h at

Fe n zel wai v ed an y cl ai m t o t h o s e acco un t s

, i ncl u d in g an y ex p ect an cy i n t eres t

t h erei n

. 6 (Em

p has is s up p l i ed ). Acco rd i n g l y

, t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n g ran t i n g s u m m ary

j u d g m en t to Fen zel as t o th e Am eri pri s e an d APCU acco u n t s t h at were h el d i n

d eced en t ’ s n am e.

2

. In h er t h ird an d fo u rt h en um erat i o n s o f erro r, L o wry co n t en ds t h at t h e t ri al

co u rt erred in g ran t i ng s u m m ary ju d g m e n t t o F e n zel as t o t h e acco u n t s t h at were

jo i n t ly hel d b y Fen zel an d deced en t

. As ex p l ai n ed in D i v i s i o n 1

, Parag rap h 8 g o v ern s

t h e d i v i s i o n o f t h e part i es ’ fi n an ci al acco u n t s

. Ho w ev er, i t m erel y s t at es t h at each

6 As i n Kr u s e

, w e no t e t h e reco rd s ho ws t h at Fen zel was aware o f t he ex i s t en ce

o f t h e Am eri p ri s e an d t h e APCU acco u n ts b efo re t h e S e t t l e m en t Ag reem en t was

ex ecu t ed . See Kr u s e , 2 6 0 Ga. at 7 0

.

12p art y s h al l b e en t it l ed t o al l s u c h acco u n t s i n t h at p a r t y’s n ame

. No wh ere d o es t h e

S e t t l em en t Ag reem en t ad dres s acco un t s t h at were jo in tl y h el d by t h e p art i es

. Th u s

,

“ [t ] h e ag reem en t is no t am b ig u o u s ; rat h er, i t co m

p l et el y fai l s t o d es cri b e an d d i s p o s e

o f t h e pro p ert y ” at i s su e. Newb o r n v. Cl a y

, 2 6 3 Ga. 62 2

, 6 2 3 (4 3 6 SE2 d 6 54 ) (1 9 9 3 )

(“ ag reem en t i s n o t am

b i g uo us s i m

p l y b ecau s e it fai ls t o d i s p os e o f o r m ak e referen ce

t o t h e d i sp o s i t i o n o f p ro p ert y i n wh i ch b o t h p art ies hav e an i n t eres t ”). An d wh ere t i t l e

t o pro p ert y i s no t d es cri b ed i n t h e d i v orce d ecree, i t i s u naffect ed b y t h e d ecree an d

rem ai n s t i t l ed in t h e n am e of th e o wn er. Id

. at 6 2 3 -6 24

. See al s o Go n za l ez v. Cr o cket

,

2 8 7 Ga. 4 3 0

, 4 3 2 (6 9 6 SE2 d 6 2 3 ) (2 0 10 ) (“ a d i v orce d e c r e e m u st s peci fi cal l y

d es cri b e an d d i s po s e o f p ro p ert y i n wh i ch bo t h p art i es hav e an in t eres t o r t h e d ecree

wi l l n o t d i ves t ei t her p art y of t h ei r i n t eres t i n t h e p ro p ert y ”) (ci t at i o n o m i t t ed ).

An d u n d er Geo rg ia l aw, “ [s ] u m s rem ai n i n g o n d ep o s i t at t h e d eat h o f a p art y

t o a jo i n t acco u nt b el on g to t he s u rv i v i n g p art y as ag ai n st t h e es t at e o f t h e d eced en t

,

u n l es s t h ere i s cl ear an d co n v i n ci n g ev i d en ce o f a di fferen t i n ten t i o n at t h e t i m e t h e

acco u n t is creat ed . OCGA § 7 -1 -8 1 3 (a).” (Pu n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed

. ) Tr u s t Co . Ba n k v.

Th o r nt o n

, 2 0 4 Ga. Ap p

. 9 0 3, 9 0 4 (1 ) (4 2 0 SE2 d 8 1 7 ) (1 99 2 ). See al s o OCGA § 7 -1

-

8 1 5 (“ A n y t ran s fers res u l t i n g fro m t h e ap p l i cat i o n o f [OCGA 7 -1 -8 13 ] are effect i v e

13b y reas o n o f t h e acco u n t co n t ract s i n v o l v ed i n t h i s art i cl e an d are n o t t o b e co n s i d ered

t es t am en t ary .”).

Lo wry u rg es us

, h owev er, t o fi n d t h at t h e jo i n t acco u nt s were i n cl u ded wi t h in

t h e p ro p ert y

s et t l em en t as d efi n ed b y

Parag rap h 1 3 o f t h e Set tl em en t Ag reem en t :

In co n s i d erat i o n of an y an d al l cl ai m s

, act i o n s

, an d d em an d s t h at th e

Pl ai n t i ff m ay o t herwi s e h av e ag ai n s t t h e Defen d an t

, as a res u l t o f th e

p art i es ’ m arri ag e, an d th e p ro p ert y accu m u l at ed t h erei n

, an d in o rd er t o

eq u i tab l y d i v i de s ai d m ari t al p ro p ert y

, t h e [h u s b an d ] s h al l p ay t o th e

[wi fe] t h e t o t al s u m o f $ 1 8 6

, 0 0 0 .0 0 as a co m p let e an d fi n al sat i sfact i o n

o f s am e. . . .

Bu t

, b y i t s ex p res s t erm s

, Parag rap h 1 3 ap p li es to t h e s et t l em en t o f al l cl ai m s ari s i n g

fro m t h e p art i es ’ m arri ag e an d i n cl u d es n o ex p li ci t w ai v er o f an y ad d i t i o n al i n t eres t

ei t h er p art y m ay h av e ari s i n g o u t s i d e o f t h e m arri ag e. Becau s e Fen zel d i d n ot

s p eci fi cal l y wai v e h er i n t eres t i n t h e jo i n t acco u n t s, t h e fu n d s rem ai n i ng t h erei n u p o n

d e c e de n t ’ s d eat h were t ran s ferred t o h er acco rd i n g to t h e acco u n t co nt ract s

. See Fr i er

,

3 0 3 Ga. Ap p . at 2 2 (“ al t ho u g h [wi fe] h ad n o i n teres t i n t h e acco u nt b y v i rt u e o f h er

m arri ag e, [wi fe’ s ] ex p ect an cy i n t eres t (i f an y ) as a d eat h b en efi ci ary was n ot

wai v ed ”). See al s o F

l o yd v. Fl o y d

, 2 9 1 G a

. 6 0 5

, 6 1 2

, n

. 1 2 (7 3 2 SE2 d 2 5 8 ) (2 0 1 2 )

(d i v o rce d ecree d id n ot affect t i t l e o f g o l d an d s i l v er i t em s n o t s u ffi ci en tl y d es cri b ed

14t h erei n ). T herefo re, t h e t ri al co u rt d i d n o t err i n g ran t i n g s u m m ary ju d g m en t t o Fen zel

as t o Lo wry ’ s cl ai m s reg ard in g t h o s e acco u n t s h el d jo i n t l y in b o t h d e c e d e n t an d

Fen zel ’ s n am es

.

3

. In h er fi n al en u m erat i on o f erro r, Lo wry as s ert s t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred by

fai l i n g t o gran t h er m o t i o n t o s t ri k e th e affi d av it o f Terry Ho p k i n s

, wh i ch was

s u b m i t t ed b y Fen zel in s u p po rt o f h er m ot i o n fo r s u m m ary ju d g m en t

. Ho wev er, s h e

fai l ed t o s u p p o rt h er en u m erat i o n wi t h an y b ri efi n g

, m uch l es s ci tat i o n t o au t h o ri t y

,

an d i t is d eem ed ab an d o n ed

. See Co u rt o f Ap p eal s Ru l e 2 5 (c) (2 ). M o reo v er, t h ere

i s no t h i n g in t h e reco rd t o i nd i cat e t h at t h e t ri al co u rt i s s u ed a ru l i n g ei t her g ran t i n g

o r d en y i n g h er m o t i o n t o s t ri k e. An d

, “ [i ] ss u es w hi ch h av e n o t b een ru l ed on b y t h e

t ri al co u rt m ay n o t b e rai s ed o n ap p eal .” (Ci t at i o n an d p u n ct uat i o n o m i t t ed .) Fo r u m

Gr o up a t Mo r a n La ke Nu r s in g a n d Reh a bi l i t a t i o n Cen t er

, LLC v. Ter h un e

, 3 1 8 Ga.

Ap p . 2 8 1 , 2 8 9 (8 ) (7 3 3 SE2 d 8 0 8 ) (2 0 1 2 ).

Ju d g men t a f fi r med i n pa r t a n d r ever

s ed i n p a r t

. Ph i

p ps

, C. J., a n d El l i n g t o n,

P. J., co ncu r

.

15