FOURTH D I VI SI ON

DI L LA RD, P. J.

, RI C KM A N, P. J.

, and BROWN, 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.

https ://w w w

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

D E A D LIN E S A R E N O LO N G E R TO LLE D IN T

H I S

C O U R T. A LL FILIN G S M U ST B E S U B M I TTE D WITH IN

TH E TIM E S S E T B Y

O U R C O U R T R U LE S

.

Januar y 28, 2021



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A2 0 A1 77 5

. SDM INVESTM ENTS GROU P, LLC, et al

. v

. HBN

M EDIA, INC.

A2 0 A1 77 6

. SDM INVESTM ENTS GROUP LLC, e t a l

. v

. HBN

M EDIA, INC.

A2 0 A2 03 6

. HBN M EDIA, INC. v

. SDM INVESTM ENTS GROUP

LLC, et al

.

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

Th es e co n s o l i d a t e d ap p eal s ari s e fro m an act i o n fi led by HBN Med i a, In c.

ag ai n s t SDM In ves t m en t s Gro u p ; Sco t t M il l er, o n e o f HBN’ s i n i t ial i n v es t o rs an d

SDM ’ s p ri n ci p al ; an d Ed Lai n e, o n e o f M i l l er’ s b u s i n es s p art n ers

. 1 Sp eci fi cal l y

, HBN

s u ed t h e d efen dan t s

, al l eg i n g b reach -o f-co nt ract cl ai m s an d v i o l at i o n s o f t h e Geo rg i a

1 Fo r eas e o f referen ce, SDM In v es t m en ts Gro u p

, Sco t t M i l ler, an d Ed Lai n e

are co l l ect i v el y

referred t o as t h e “ d efen dan t s ” t h ro u g h o u t t hi s o p i n i o n

.Trad e Secret s Act o f 1 9 90

. Fo l l o wi n g a b en ch t ri al

, t h e t r i a l c o u rt fo u n d i n HBN’ s

fav o r, award i n g i t n o m i nal d am ag es an d at t o rn ey fees

.

In Cas e N o

. A 2 0 A1 7 75

, t h e defen d an t s ap p eal t h at ju d g m en t

, arg u i n g t h e t ri al

co u rt erred i n (1 ) fi n d i n g t h at M i l l er s i g n ed an i n i t i al co nfi d en t i al i t y ag reem en t i n h i s

p ers o n al ca paci t y ; (2 ) co n cl u d i n g t h at th ey breach ed a s eco n d co n fi den t i al i t y

ag reem en t ; (3 ) d et erm i n i n g t h at HBN m ai n t ai n ed reas o n ab l e s t ep s t o k eep t h e

i n fo rm at i o n at i s s ue co n fi d en t i al ; an d (4 ) award i ng HBN at t orn ey fees

. In Cas e No

.

A2 0 A2 03 6

, H BN ap p eal s t h e d en i al o f i t s m o t io n t o d i s m i s s t he ap p eal in Cas e No

.

A2 0 A1 77 5

, arg u in g th at t h e t ri al co urt erred i n fi n d i n g (1 ) t h e d efen d an t s ’ d el ay in

fi li n g t h e t ri al t ran s cri p t was reas o n ab l e; (2 ) t h e d el ay was n ot s o l el y cau s ed b y t h e

d e f e n d a nt s ; (3 ) th e d el ay was ex cu s ab l e b ecau se t he d efen d an t s b el i ev ed t h e

t ran s cri p t h ad b een fi l ed an d had n o t recei v ed n o t i ce fro m th e co u rt t h at i t n eed ed to

b e fi l ed ; an d (4 ) t h e req u i rem en t t h at a t ran s cri p t b e t i m el y fi l ed d o es no t ap p l y wh en

t h ere i s a p en di ng m o ti o n fo r at t o rn e y fees

. Fi n al l y

, i n Cas e No

. A2 0 A1 7 7 6

, t h e

d efen d an t s ch al len g e t h e t ri al co u r t ’s den i al o f a m o t i o n t h ey fi l ed

, wh i ch s o u g ht

rei m b u rs em en t fo r L ai n e’ s at t o rn ey fees an d co s t s

. Fo r t h e reas o n s set fo rt h i n f r a

, we

rev ers e i n Cas e No

. A2 0 A2 0 36

, d i s m i ss Cas e N o

. A2 0 A1 7 7 5

, an d affi rm i n Cas e No

.

A2 0 A1 77 6

.

2Th e reco rd s h o ws t h at HBN 2 o p erat es a web si t e fo r t eam s o f real es tat e ag en t s

an d han d l es “ al l t h i n g s el ect ro n i c an d t ech n i cal fo r t h e t eam s .” 3 On e o f HBN’ s

s erv i ces i s t o g en erat e l ead s fo r real es t at e ag en t s fo r p o t en ti al h o m e b uy ers

, m an y o f

wh o m al s o h av e a h o m e t o s el l

. Pri o r t o HBN’ s fo rm at i o n, a co n feren ce cal l w as h el d

wi t h p o t en ti al i n v es t o rs

, i n cl u d i n g M i l l er. An ad v i s o ry b o ard was al s o es t ab l i s h ed fo r

HBN, an d M i l l er was ap p oi n t e d t o b e o n e o f i ts m em b ers

. Th ereaft er, t h e ad v i s o ry

b o ard h el d a m eet i n g

, at wh i ch al l o f t h e at t en d ees

— i n cl u d i n g M il l er— were req u i red

t o s i g n a n o n d i s cl o s u re ag reem en t b ecau s e HBN’ s fo u n d er di d no t wan t t h e

i n fo rm at i o n b ei n g d i s cu s s ed t o fi n d i t s way i n t o t he m ark et p l ace an d res u l t i n s i m i l ar

p l at fo rm s b e i n g c r e at ed

. M i l l er u l t i m at el y becam e an i n v es t o r an d recei v ed

s h areh o ld er u p d at es t h at i n cl u ded i n fo rm at i o n v al u ab le t o HBN.

In th e en d

, H BN rai s ed $ 1 7 8 ,0 0 0 t o l au n ch i t s p l at fo rm ; an d w h en i t d i d

, SDM

al s o b ecam e an i n v es t o r. In as s o ci at io n wi t h SDM ’ s i n ves t m en t

, M i l l er ex ecu t ed

d o cu m en t s o n b eh al f o f SDM i n a su b scri p t io n p ack ag e, wh i ch i n cl u d ed a

2 In i t s o rd er, t he t ri al co u rt s o m et im es refers t o HBN as “ Ci n c.”

3 As d i s cu s s ed m o re fu l l y i n f ra

, t h e d efen dan t s

, in an am en ded no t i ce o f ap p eal

,

s p eci fi cal l y em

p h as i zed t h at t h e t ri al t ran s cri p t sh o ul d n o t b e in cl u d ed i n t h e ap p el l at e

reco rd

. Ab sen t t h at t ran s cri p t

, we g l ean t h e u n d erl y in g fact s n eces s ary fo r co n t ex t an d

t o res o l v e t h i s ap p eal fro m t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s d et ai l ed 5 4 -p ag e o rd er.

3co n fi d en t i al i t y ag reem en t

. It i s u n d i s p u t ed t hat M i l l er fo rward ed t h ree s h areh o l d er

u p d at es t o D an i el Reed

, h i s b u s i n es s p art n er i n V -4 So ft ware, a co m p et i t o r o f HBN.

M i l ler ack n o wl ed g ed t h at h e s h o u l d n o t h av e fo rward ed t h i s i n fo rm at i o n t o an y o n e

an d t h at h e d i d n o t h av e p erm i s s i o n t o d o so

. Th e i nfo rm at i o n in t h e s h areh o l d er

u p d at es was co n fi d en ti al

, i n cl ud i n g

, i n t er al i a

, r e v e n u e

, m et ri cs

, g o al s

, an d a n et

p ro m o t er s co re. 4 M i l l er an d Reed t h en u s ed co n tract o rs i n Ch i n a t o fo rm V-4

So ft ware.

Bas ed o n t h e fo reg o i ng

, HBN f i l e d a c o m

pl ai n t ag ai n s t SDM

, M i l l er, an d

Lai n e, al l eg i n g

, i n t er a l i a

, b reach -o f-co nt ract cl ai m s w i t h res p ect t o t h e t wo

co n fi d en t i al i t y ag reem en t s an d v i o l at i o n s o f Geo rg i a’ s Tra d e S e cret s Act o f 1 9 9 0

. 5

Fo l l o wi ng a b en ch t ri al

, t h e t ri al co u rt en t ered i t s ju d g m en t

, award i ng HBN $ 2 0 ,0 0 0

i n n o m i n a l d am ag es an d $2 4 1 ,2 5 0 i n at t o rn ey fees an d co s t s o f li t i g at io n

. Th e

d efen d an t s ap p eal t h at ju d g m en t i n Cas e No

. A2 0 A1 7 7 5

, rai s i n g t h e en u m erat i o n s o f

erro r s et fo rt h s u

p r a

.

4 A n et p ro m ot er sco re “ i s a m an ag em en t t o o l u s ed as a m eas u re of cu s t o m er

s at i s fact i o n an d h as b een s h o wn t o co rrel at e wi t h r e v e n u e gro wt h rel at i v e to

c o m p et i to rs .” h t t p s : / / en .wi k i p ed i a.o rg / wi k i / Net

_ Pro m o t er (l as t vi s i t ed J an u ary 2 5

, 2 0 2 1 ).

5 S ee OCGA § 1 0 -1 -7 6 0

.

4Sev eral m o n t h s fo l l o w i n g t h e fi n al ju d g m en t

, H BN fi l ed a m ot i o n t o d i s m i ss

t h e fo reg o i n g ap p eal b ecau s e, al t h o u g h t h e d efen d an t s ’ n ot i ce o f ap p eal in d i ca te d t h at

a t ri al t r a n s c r i p t wo ul d b e i n cl u d ed i n t h e ap p el l at e reco rd

, t h ey had y et t o fi l e t h e

t ran s cri p t

. Th e defen d an t s res p o n d e d t o H BN’ s m o t io n

, an d th e t ri al co urt h el d a

h eari n g o n t h e m at t er. Ul t i m at el y

, t h e t ri al co u rt d en i ed HBN’ s m o t i o n t o di s m i s s t h e

ap p eal , an d HBN ap p eal s t h at o rd er i n Cas e No . A2 0 A2 0 3 6

.

Fi n al l y

, al t h o u g h L ai n e w as i n i t i al l y n am ed as a d efen d an t

, he was u l t i m at el y

d i s m i s s e d fro m t h e cas e p ri o r t o t ri al

. E v en s o

, t h e d efen d an t s su b s eq u en t ly fi l ed a

m o ti o n fo r Lai n e t o b e award ed at t orn ey fees an d co s t s

, wh i ch t h e t ri al co u rt d en i ed

.

An d i n Cas e No . A2 0 A1 7 7 6

, t h e d efen d an t s ch al l en g e t h at d eci s io n

.

A2 0 A 2 0 3 6

1

. In s ev eral cl ai m s of erro r, HBN arg u es t hat t h e t ri al co u rt ab u s ed i t s

d i s cret i o n i n d en y in g i t s m o t io n t o d is m i ss t he d efen d an t s’ ap p eal o f t h e t ri al co urt ’ s

fi nal ju d g m en t i n i t s fav o r b ecau s e t h ei r fai l u re t o t im el y fi l e th e t ri al t ran scri p t was

u n reas o nab l e an d i nex cu s ab l e. W e ag ree.

Al t h ou g h t ri al co u rt s h av e “ wi d e d is cret i o n w h en ru l i n g o n a m o t i o n t o d i s m i ss

a n ap p eal b as ed o n a fai l u re t o t i m el y fi l e a t ran s cri p t

, t h at d i scret i o n i s n o t

5u n l i m i t ed .” 6 So

, wi t h t h i s d eferen t i al s t an d ard o f rev i ew i n m i n d

, we t u rn t o t h e cas e

at h an d

.

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

[n ] o ap p eal s h al l b e d i s m i s s ed b y t h e ap pel l at e co u rt n or 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 p art y t o cau s e th e

t ran s cri p t o f ev id en ce an d p ro ceed i n g s t o b e fi l ed w i t h i n t h 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 he tri 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, o rd er t hat t h e ap peal b e d i s m is s ed w h ere t h ere

h as b een an u n reas o n ab le d el ay i n t he fi l i n g o f t he t ran s cri pt an d i t i s

s h o wn t hat t h e d el ay

was i n ex cu s ab le an d was cau s ed b y s uch p art y

.

As t o a t ri al co u rt ’ s d i s m i s sal o f an ap p eal

, ou r Su p rem e Co u rt has hel d t h at “ [a] d el ay

i n ex ces s o f 3 0 d ay s i n fi l i n g a t ran s cri p t aft er a n ot ice o f ap p eal i s fi l ed i s p ri m a faci e

u n reas o nab l e an d i n ex cu s ab l e, b u t t h i s p res u m pt io n i s s u b

ject to reb u t t al i f t h e p art y

co m es fo rward wi t h e v i d en ce t o s ho w t h at t h e del ay w as nei t h er u n reas o nab l e n o r

i n ex cu s ab l e.” 7 An d i n ev al uat i n g t h e t h res h o ld q u es t i o n o f wh et h er th e d e l a y w a s

6 Newt o n v. Fr eema n

, 3 5 3 Ga. Ap p

. 7 04

, 7 0 7 ( 1 ) ( 8 39 SE2 d 2 0 3 ) (2 0 2 0 )

(p u n ct u at i o n om i t t ed ); a cco r d Mer cer v. Mu nn

, 3 2 1 Ga. A pp

. 7 2 3

, 7 2 5 (1 ) (7 4 2 SE2 d

7 4 7 ) (2 0 1 3 ); Mo rr el l v. W es t er n S vcs

. , 2 9 1 G a. Ap p

. 3 6 9

, 3 7 0 (6 6 2 S E 2 d 2 1 5 )

(2 0 0 8); Co

p t i c Co n st . Co

. v. Ro l l e , 2 7 9 Ga. Ap p . 4 5 4 , 4 56 (6 3 1 SE2 d 4 7 5 ) (2 0 0 6 ).

7 Kel l y v. Da ws o n Ct

y.

, 2 8 2 G a. 1 8 9

, 1 8 9 (6 4 6 SE2 d 5 3 ) (2 0 07 ) (p u n ct u at i o n

o m it t ed ); a cco rd HTTP Hyp o t h er mi a Th e r apy v

. K im be rly

- C

lark C o r p

., 3 3 0 Ga. Ap p.

8 5 7

, 8 5 9 -6 0 (1 ) (7 68 S E 2 d 5 4 2 ) (2 0 1 5 ); Ad a ms v. Heb er t

, 2 7 9 Ga. Ap p

. 1 5 8

, 1 5 9

6u n reas o nab l e, “ we co n si d er b ot h t h e l en g t h an d effect o f t h e d el ay .” 8 Th i s Co u rt wi l l

al s o co n s i d er a n

y d el ay i n tran s m i t t i n g t h e ap p el l at e reco rd un reas o n ab le 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 po s i t i 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 i t 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 to 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

o 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 i n g t h e d o ck et i n g o f th 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

. 9

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

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

p y

, 3 3 0 Ga. Ap p

. at 86 0 (1 ); a cco r d Pi s t a cch i o v.

Fr a ss o

, 3 1 4 Ga. Ap p

. 1 1 9 , 1 2 1 (7 2 3 SE2 d 3 2 2 ) (2 0 1 2 ); Am. Na t

. P ro p

. & Ca s

. Co

.

v. Po t t s

, 2 4 3 Ga. A p p. 6 4 5

, 6 4 6 (5 3 4 SE2 d 1 2 3 ) (2 00 0 ); s ee S el l er s v

. N o d v i n

, 2 6 2

Ga. 2 0 5

, 2 0 6 (1 ) (b ) ( 4 1 5 SE2 d 9 0 8 ) (1 9 9 2 ) (“ Th e t h res h o l d q u es t i o n wh et h er t h e

d el ay was u n reas on a b l e r e fers p ri n ci p al l y to t h e l en g th an d effect o f t h e d el ay .”

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

9 HTTP Hyp o t h er mi a Th er a p y

, 3 30 Ga. Ap p

. at 8 60 (1 ); acco r d Mer cer , 3 2 1

Ga. Ap p

. at 7 2 6 (1 ) (p u n ct u at i o n om i t t ed ); P i s ta cch i o

, 3 1 4 Ga. Ap p

. at 1 2 1 -2 2;

Va u gh n v. Fa u l

kn er , 2 88 Ga. Ap p . 7 9 8 , 7 9 8 -9 9 (6 5 5 SE2 d 6 8 6 ) (2 0 0 7).

7In d eed

, we h av e rep eat ed l y rec o g n i z e d t h at “ 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 i g an t wh o was s u cces s fu l i n t h e lo wer co u rt an d w h 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 .” 1 0

In t h i s cas e, t h e t ri al co u rt en tered i t s ju d g m e n t i n f a v o r o f HBN o n M ay 1 0,

2 0 1 9

, award i n g i t n o m in al d am ag es

, at t o rn ey fees

, an d c o s t s o f l i t i gat i o n

. Th e

d efen d an t s fi l ed a t i m e l y n o t i ce o f ap p eal fro m t h at ju d g m en t o n J un e 7

, 2 0 1 9

, 1 1

wh i ch n ot ed

, i n t er al ia

, t h at t h e “ [t ] ran s cri pt of ev i d en ce an d pro ceed i n g wi l l b e fi l ed

fo r i ncl us i o n i n t h e reco rd o n ap p eal .” Un d er s u ch ci rcu m s t an ces

, t h e t ri al tran s cri pt

was d ue t o b e fi l ed b y

J u l y 7 , 2 0 1 9 ( i .e. , 3 0 d ay s l at er), an d an y d el ay p as t t h at d at e

wo u l d be co n s i d ered 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. 1 2 Bu t o n Decem b er

1 7

, 2 0 1 9

, wh en t h e d efen d an t s h ad s t i l l n ot fi l ed a t ri al t ran s cri p t

, H BN fi l ed a m o t i o n

t o d i s m is s th ei r ap p eal

. Sp eci fi cal l y

, HBN arg u ed t h at t h e ap p eal s h ou l d be d i s m i s s ed

b ecau s e t h e d efen d an t s were req u i red to fi l e t h e t ran s c r i p t b y J u l y 7

, 2 01 9

, at l eas t

1 0 N ewt o n

, 3 5 3 Ga. Ap p

. at 7 0 8 (1 ) (p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed ); a cco r d HTTP

Hyp ot h er mi a Th er a

p y

, 3 3 0 Ga. Ap p

. at 8 60 (1 ); As h l ey v. JP M o r g a n Ch a s e Ba nk,

N.A.

, 3 2 7 Ga. A p p

. 2 3 2

, 2 37 (1 ) (7 5 8 SE2 d 13 5 ) (2 01 4 ); Bu s h v. R eed

, 3 1 1 G a. Ap p.

3 2 8 , 3 3 2 (a) (7 1 5 SE2 d 7 4 7 ) (2 0 1 1 ); Ad a m s

, 2 7 9 Ga. Ap p . at 1 5 9

.

1 1 S ee OCGA § 5 -6 -3 8 (a) (“ A n o ti ce o f a p p eal s hal l b e fi l ed w i t hi n 3 0 day s

aft er en t ry o f t h e ap p eal ab l e d eci s i o n o r ju d g m en t co m p l ai n ed o f . . . .”)

1 2 S ee s u p r a n o t e 7 & acco m

p an y i n g t ex t

.

8t wo t erm s o f t h i s C o u r t h ad p as s ed s i n ce t h at d ue d at e, an d t h e defen d an t s n ev er

req u es t ed an ex ten s i o n o f t i m e t o fi le t h e t ran s cri p t. HBN a l s o m ai nt ai ned t h at t h e

d e f en dan t s ’ fi v e-m o n t h d el ay i n fai l i n g t o fi l e th e t ran s cri p t was u n reas o n ab l e an d

i n e x cu s ab l e. 1 3 A n d i n s u p p o rt o f th i s co n ten t i o n

, HBN p res en t ed ev i d en ce t h at t h e

t ran s cri p t was p rep ared as of Jan u ary 3

, 2 0 1 9

, m o n t h s b efo re t h e d e f en d an t s were

req u i red t o fi l e i t. T h en

, o n Feb ru ary 2 1

, 2 0 2 0

, t wo m o n th s a f t er HBN fi l ed i t s m o t i o n

t o d i s m i ss t h e ap peal

, t h e defen d an t s —rat h er t h an fi l i n g t h e t ran s cri p t— fi l ed an

am en d ed n o t i ce of ap p eal

, wh i ch em p has i zed t h at “ Tran s cri p t o f ev i den ce an d

p ro ceed in g s i s n ot

req u i red fo r i n cl u s i o n i n t h e reco rd o n ap p eal .” 1 4

1 3 T h e fi v e-m o n t h d el ay H BN referen ces w as n o t t h e l en g t h o f t im e i t t o o k t h e

d e f e n d a n t s t o fi l e t h e t ran s cri p t aft er i t was d ue. In s t ead

, i t was m erel y t h e t i m e

b et ween wh en t h e t ran scri p t was d u e t o b e fi l ed an d wh en HBN fi l ed t h ei r m o t i o n to

d i s m i s s t he ap p eal b ecau s e i t h ad s t i l l n o t b een fi l ed

.

1 4 In i t s s u pp l em en t al b ri ef fi l ed aft er o ral arg um en t, o t h er t h an reas s e rt i n g

arg u m en t s rai s ed i n i t s i n i t i al b ri ef, SDM arg u es th at HBN’ s ap p eal i n Cas e No

. A2 0 A2 03 6 m

u s t fai l be c au s e i t d i d n o t fi l e a co m p l et e reco rd wi t h t h i s Co u rt

. Sp eci fi cal l y

, SDM arg u es t h at HBN d i d n o t p ro v i d e th i s Co u rt wi th a b ri ef t h at was

“ h an d -fi l ed wi t h th e [t ri al ] co u r t ” a t t he h eari n g o n HBN’ s m ot i on t o d i s m i s s t h e

a p p e a l an d t hat H BN sh o u l d h av e fi l ed a m ot i o n t o s u p p l em en t t h e reco rd wi t h t h e

b ri ef u n d er Co u rt o f A p peal s Ru l e 41 (c). Bu t SDM i g no res t h at i t co u l d h av e fi l ed

s u ch a m ot i o n i f i t b el i ev ed t h e b ri ef was n eces s ary o n ap p eal

. See Ct

. Ap p

. R. 4 1 (c)

(p ro v i d i n g t h at “ co u n s el ” is p erm i t t ed t o fi l e a m o ti o n t o s u p p l em en t al reco rd wi t h o ut

l i m i ti n g t h e ru le t o co u n sel fo r a p art i cu l ar p art y ). Ad d i t i o nal l y

, we n eed n o t ad d res s

t h i s arg u m en t b ecau s e SDM rai s es i t fo r t h e fi rs t t i m e i n i t s s u p p l em en t al b ri ef. See

W e Ca r e Tr a ns

p

. , In c. v. Br a n ch Ba n ki ng & Tr

. Co

. , 3 3 5 Ga. Ap p

. 2 9 2

, 2 96 (2 ) (7 8 0

9Th e d efen d an t s res p o n ded t o HBN’ s m ot i o n

, an d t h e t ri al co u rt h el d a h eari n g

o n t h e m at t er. Th ereaft er, o n Ap ri l 8

, 2 02 0

— el even mo n t h s a ft er i t s fi n al

j u d g m en t

— t h e t ri al co u rt d en i ed HBN’ s m o t i o n to d i s m i s s t h e ap p eal

. In d o i n g s o

,

t h e t ri al co u rt fo u n d t h a t ( 1 ) t h e d e fen d an t s pai d t h e co st s fo r t h e ap p eal ; (2 ) t h ei r

co u ns el s u b

ject i v el y b el iev ed t h at p ay i n g fo r t h e t ran s cri p t an d h av i n g a d i s cu s s i o n

wi t h t h e s t en o grap h er a t tr i a l cau s ed t h e tri al t ran s cri p t t o b e fi l ed ; (3 ) a n o t i ce t h e

co u rt s en t t o t h e d e f

e n d an t s ’ co u n s el “ wi t h n o t ice fo r fi l i n g t h e t ran s cri p t ” was

ret u rn ed t o t h e co u rt fo r an ex cu s ab l e ad dres s i s su e; (4 ) a d el ay i n HBN fi l i n g t h e t ri al

ex h ib i t s was n o t s o l el y

t h e fau l t o f t h e d efen d an ts an d s erv ed t o d el ay d o ck et i n g o f

t h e ap p eal ; (5 ) t h e t ran s cri pt had b een fi l ed i n th e t ri al co u rt at l eas t b y t h e t i m e o f i t s

Ap ri l 8 o rd er; an d (5 ) HBN “ co n t i n u ed to l i t i g at e th e m at t er i n t h e t ri al co u rt

, wh i ch

al s o d el ay ed t h e d o ck et i n g o f t h e ap p eal .”

Bu t no n e o f t h e fo reg o i n g fi n d i n g s b y t h e t ri al co u rt are s u ffi ci en t ex cu s es

u n d er Geo rg i a l aw fo r s i g n i fi can t l y d el ay i n g t h e d o ck et i n g o f an ap p eal

. Im p o rt an t l y

,

aft er fai l i n g t o fi l e t h e t ran s cri p t fo r fi v e m on t h s

, t h e d efen d an t s wai t ed t wo

a d d i t i o n a l mo n t h s aft er HBN fi l ed i t s m o ti o n t o d i s m i s s t he ap p eal t o i n fo rm t h e co u rt

SE2 d 78 2 ) (2 0 1 5 ) (d ecl in i n g to ad dres s an arg u m en t rai sed fo r t he fi r s t t i m e i n a

s u p p lem en t al b ri ef). Las t l y , SDM h as n o t i d en t i fi ed an y t h i n g co n t ai n ed i n t h e b ri ef

t h at wo u l d al t er t h e res o l u t i o n o f t h i s ap p eal

.

10t h at a t ran s cri p t was s u d d en l y n o l o n g er n eces s ary fo r t h e ap peal

. An d d es p i t e t h e t ri al

co u rt ’ s fi n d i ng s t o th e co n t rary

, p ay i n g fo r a t ran s cri pt an d s u b ject iv el y b el i ev i n g i t

h ad b een f

i l e d d o es n o t rel i ev e an ap p el lan t o f i t s ob l ig at i o n t o act i vel y en s u re t h at

a t ran s cri p t was fi l ed o r to

, at a m i n i m u m

, req u es t an ex t en s i o n t o fi le i t

. Ap p aren t l y

,

t h e d efen d an t s rel i ed s o lel y o n a co n v ers at i o n t h ei r at t o rn ey had w i t h t h e co u rt

rep o rt er at t ri al i n b el i ev i n g th e t ran s cri p t had been fi l ed ; b u t we h av e rep eat ed l y h el d

t h at i t i s n o t t h e co urt rep o rt er’ s res p on s i b i l it y t o e n s u r e a t ran s cri pt i s fi l ed

. 1 5 So

,

wh i le i t i s cert ai n ly t ru e th at t he co u rt ’ s n o ti ce to th e d efen dan ts o f t h e n eed t o fi l e t h e

t ran s cri p t was n o t recei v ed d u e t o an ex cu s ab l e ad dres s i ss u e, an ap p el l an t i s n ot

e n t i t l ed t o s u ch a n o t ifi cat i o n b efo re sat i sfy i n g i t s s t at u to ry d u t y t o ti m el y fi l e a

1 5 See As h l e

y

, 3 2 7 Ga. Ap p

. at 23 7 (1 ) (“ T h e s t at u t o ry d ut y t o fi l e t i m el y a

t ran s cri p t d o es n o t res t wi th t he co u rt rep o rt er; rat her t h e d u ty to o rd er t h e tran s cri pt

i s ves ted u p o n t h e ap pro pri at e ap p eal i n g p art y

. It wo u l d creat e an u n accep t ab l e an d

i m p ract i cal b u rd en o n t h e co urt rep o rt er’ s o ffi ce t o req u i re t h em t o co nt act at t o rn ey s

o r p art i es an d rep o rt o n t h e s t at u s o f al l o rd ered t ran s cri p ts

. ” (p u nct u at i o n o m i t t ed ));

In th e In t er es t of T. H

. , 3 11 G a. Ap p

. 6 4 1

, 64 4 (7 1 6 SE2 d 7 2 4 ) (2 0 1 1 ) (s am e);

J a cks o n v. Beech Ai rcr a

f t Co r p

., 2 17 Ga. Ap p

. 49 8

, 5 0 1 (4 5 8 SE2 d 3 7 7 ) (1 9 9 5 )

(s am e). Cf

. Go r d o n v. Den n i s

, 3 4 7 Ga. Ap p

. 1 1 0

, 1 1 4 (1 ) (8 1 7 SE2 d 5 6 1 ) (2 0 1 8 )

(“ [A] d el ay i n t h e fi l i n g o f a t ran s cri p t i s ex cu s ab l e wh en t h ere i s ev i d en ce t h at i t was

cau s ed b y th e b ack l o g o f t h e co u rt rep o rt er rat h er t han b y an act o r o m i s s i on o f t h e

ap p el l an t .”). In t h i s cas e, t h e tran s cri p t was p rep ared b y t h e co u rt rep ort er o n J an u ary

3

, 2 0 1 9

, s even mo n t h s befo re t h e d efen d an t s were req u i red t o fi l e i t

. So

, wh i l e a d el ay

i n fi li n g a t ran scri p t bas e d o n a co u rt rep ort er’ s b ack l o g i s ex cu s ab l e, t h ere was n o

b ack lo g in t h i s cas e. Th e d efen d an t s n e v e r f o l l o w e d u p wi th an y o n e t o en s u re t h e

t ran s cri p t was fi l ed

.

11t ran s cri p t

. 1 6 A d di ti o n al l y

, t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s fi n d i n g t h at

, as o f i t s Ap ri l 2 0 2 0 o rd er

(al m o s t t en mo n t hs aft er t he tran s cr i p t was d u e t o be fi l ed an d two mo n th s aft er t h e

d efen d an t s n o t ifi ed t h e c o u r t t h a t t h e t ran s cri p t w as n o l o n g er neces s ary ), t h e

t ran s cri p t h ad u l ti m at el y b een fi l ed d o es n ot ex cu s e t h e d efen d an ts fro m t h e

req u i rem en t t h at t h ey fi l e i t i n a t i mel y m an n er. W ere i t o t h erwi s e, an ap p el lan t co u ld

wai t as l o n g as i t w an t ed t o fi l e a t ran s cri p t as l o n g as i t d i d s o b efo re th e t ri al co u rt

ru l ed o n th e m ot i o n t o d i s m i ss

. 1 7 An d s ig n i fi can t l y

, t he d efen dan t s n ever req u es t ed

an ex ten si o n t o fi le t h e t ran s cri p t

. 1 8

1 6 Cf

. Kel l y

, 28 2 Ga. at 1 9 0 (“ [Th e ap p el l an t ] . . . s eek s t o s h i ft res p on s i b i l i t y

f o r t h e t ard i n es s i n fi l i n g t h e t ran s cri p t b y as sert in g i t h ad b een s en t to t h e wro n g

at t o rn ey

, b u t d i d n o t es t ab l i sh o n t h e reco rd h o w t h at erro r p rev en t ed t h e t i m el y fi l i n g

. . . .”); Cr o wn Di a mo n d Co

. v. N.Y

. Di a mo n d Co r

p

., 2 4 2 Ga. Ap p

. 6 7 4

, 6 77 (4 ) (5 3 0

SE2 d 8 0 0 ) (2 0 0 0) (h o l d i n g t h at a d el ay i n fi l i n g a t ran s cri p t wa s i n e x cu s ab l e wh en

ap p el l an t fo rg o t t o “ ch eck t o s ee” i f t h e t r a ns cri p t w o u l d be fi l ed wi t h in 3 0 d ay s o f

t h e n o t i ce o f ap p eal

, fo rg o t t o req u es t an ex t en s i o n t o fi l e i t

, an d d i d n o t ch eck o n t h e

s t at u s o f t h e t ran s cri p t ).

1 7 S ee ACCC In s

. Co

. v. Pi

z z a H u t o f Amer i ca

, In c

., 3 1 4 Ga. A p p

. 6 55

, 6 5 8 n

. 4

(2 0 1 2) (“ Bu t [t h e ap p el lan t ] o nl y am en d ed t h e no t i ce o f ap p eal

. . . ap p ro x i m at el y fi v e

m o nt h s aft er t h e n o t i ce o f ap peal was fi l ed

. . . an d s o i t s am en d m en t do es n o t al t er

o u r an al y s i s o f wh et h er t h e d el ay i n fi l i n g t h e t ran s cri pt was u n reas o n ab l e.”).

1 8 S ee Pi s t a c c h i o

, 3 1 4 G a. Ap p

. at 1 2 1 (“ [T] h e fai l u re t o ob t ai n t h e req u i red

ex t en s i o n o f t im e i s o n e o f t h e fact o rs co n s id ered in wh et h er a del ay in fi l i n g a

t ran s cri p t i s u n reas o n ab l e an d i n ex cu s ab l e.” (p u nct u at i o n o m i tt ed )); In t h e In t er es t

o f T. H

. , 3 1 1 Ga. A p p. at 6 43 (“ Al t h o u g h a fai l u r e t o t i m e l y req u es t an ex t en s i o n,

s t an d i n g al o ne, i s n o t s u ffi ci en t t o ju s t i fy d i s m i s s a l o f an ap p eal

, i t i s o n e o f t h e

12Fu rt herm o re, t h ere i s n o ev i d en ce t o s u p p o rt th e t ri al co u rt ’ s fi n d i n g t h at

an y o n e o th er t han t h e d efen d an t s was res p o n s i b l e fo r d el ay i n g t h e d o ck et i n g o f t h ei r

ap p eal

. In d eed

, ev en i f HBN was l at e i n fi l i n g cert ai n ex h i b i t s

, t h e d efen d an t s co u ld

h av e as k ed fo r an ex t en s i o n o f ti m e t o fi l e t h e t ran s cri p t o r fi l ed t h e t ran s cri p t wi t h o ut

t h e ex h i b i t s an d m o v ed t o s u p p l em en t t h e ap p el l at e reco rd l at er. 1 9 Al s o

, p res u m ab l y

,

n o t ri al ex hi b i t s were n eces s ary fo r t h e ap p eal wh en t he d e fen d an t s d o n o t ev en

b el i ev e t h e t ri al tran s cri p t i t s el f was n eed ed

. M oreo v er, it i s u n cl ear ex act l y wh at t h e

t ri al co u rt m ean t wh en i t fo u n d t h at HBN co n t i n u ed to l i t i g at e t h e m at t er i n t h e t ri al

co u rt a f t er t h e fi n al ju d g m en t was en t ered

. B u t reg ard l es s

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

ju ri s d i ct i o n t o am en d o r al t er i t s fi n al ju dg m en t aft er t h e n o t i ce o f ap p eal was fi l ed

,

fact ors co n s i d ere d i n d et erm i n i n g wh et h er a d el ay i n fi l in g a t ran s cri p t i s

u n reas o na b l e an d i n ex cu s ab le.”); Mo r r el l

, 2 91 Ga. Ap p

. at 3 7 3 (2 ) (“ [F] ai l u re to

o b t ai n t h e req u i red ex t en s i on o f t i m e i s o n e o f t h e f a c t o r s co ns i d ered i n wh et h er a

d el ay i n fi l i n g a t ran scri p t i s u n reas o n ab l e an d i n ex cu sab l e.”).

1 9 S ee Da ma n i v. S t a t e

, 2 8 4 Ga. 3 7 2

, 3 7 3 (1 ) (6 6 7 SE2 d 3 7 2 ) (2 0 0 8 ) (“ [W ] h en

i t w a s d i s c ov ered p o rt i o n s of t h e reco rd h ad n ot been t ran s m i t t ed fo r ap peal

, ei t h er

p art y c o u l d h av e m o v ed t o su p p l em en t th e reco rd i n th e t ri al co u rt as l o ng as t h e

m o ti o n was m ad e p ri o r t o t h e ap p el l at e deci s i o n o r

. . . in t h e Co u r t o f Ap p ea l s b efo re

o r aft er it ren d ered i t s d eci s i on .” (em p h as is s u p p l i e d ) ) ; In t h e In t er es t of T. H

., 3 1 1

Ga. A p p. at 64 3 (n o t i n g t hat an at t o rn ey ack n o wl ed g ed t hat a t ran s cri pt co u l d h av e

b een fi l ed wi t h o ut ex h i bi t s ). HBN cl ai m s th at i t was no t as k ed t o p ro v i d e an y ex h i b i t s

fo r t h e ap p eal u n t i l J an uary 6, 2 0 2 0

, s i x m o nt hs aft er t h e t r a n s c r i p t was d u e t o b e

fi led

.

13an d as a res u l t

, an y p os t -ju d g m en t fi l i n gs o r m o t i o ns b y HBN h ad n o effect o n wh en

t h e ap p eal was u l t im at el y d o ck et ed

. 2 0 Su ffi ce i t t o s ay

, t he ev i den ce p lai n ly s h o ws t h at

t h e d e f e n d an ts are so l el

y res p o n s ib l e fo r t he s ev en -m on t h d el ay b et w een wh en t h e

t r a n s c r i p t was d u e t o b e fi l ed an d wh en t h ey ev en t u al l y i n fo rm ed t h e co u rt n o t to

i n cl u d e a t ran scri p t i n t h e reco rd o n ap p eal

.

Las t ly

, t he tri al co u rt

— wi t h o u t ex p l an at i o n —s u m m ari l y co n cl u d ed th at HBN

was n o t p reju d i ced b y th e s u b s t an t i al d el ay at is su e, b u t “ a d el ay i s u n reas o n ab l e i f

i t affect s an ap p eal ei th er b y d irect l y p reju d i ci n g t h e p o si t io 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 i t i o n s o r o t h erwi s e res u lt i ng i n i n eq u i t y

, o r b y cau s i n g

t h e ap p eal t o b eco m e st al e, fo r i n s t an ce b y d el ay i n g d o ck et i ng an d h eari n g i n t h i s

2 0 S ee U p to n v

. J o n es

, 2 8 0 Ga. 8 95

, 8 9 6 (1 ) (6 35 SE2 d 11 2 ) (2 00 6 ) (“ [T] h e

fi li n g o f t h e n o t i ce of ap p eal o p erat es as a s u pers ed eas an d dep ri v es th e t ri al co u rt o f

t h e p o wer t o affect t he ju dg m en t ap p eal ed

, so th at s u bs eq u en t p ro ceed i n g s p u rp o rt i n g

t o su p p l em en t

, am en d

, al t er o r m o d i fy t he ju dg m en t

, wh et h er p urs u an t t o s t at u t o ry o r

i n h eren t p o wer, are wi t h o u t effect .” (p u n ct uat i o n o m i tt ed )); F r ed Jo n es En t er

s

, LLC

v. W i l l ia ms

, 3 3 1 Ga. Ap p

. 48 1, 4 8 3 (1 ) (7 71 SE2 d 16 3 ) (2 0 1 5 ) (“ A no t i ce o f ap p eal

d i v es t s th e t ri al co urt o f ju ri sd i ct i o n t o s u p p l em en t

, am en d

, al t er, o r m o d i f y t h e

ju d g m en t wh i l e t h e ap p e a l o f t h at ju d g m en t rem ai n s pen d in g .” (p u n ct u at i o n

o m it t ed )). Acco rd i n g t o t h e d efen d an t s

, HBN at t em p ted t o co nti n u e l i t i g at i n g t h e cas e

b y s eek in g t o “ am en d t he [j] ud g m en t t o ad d l eg al fees .” Bu t as j u s t d is cu s s ed

, t h e t ri al

co u rt lack ed ju ri s di ct i o n t o am en d i t s ju d g m en t aft er t h e d efen d an t s fi l ed t h ei r n o t i ce

o f ap p eal o n J u ne 7 , 2 0 19

.

14Co u rt .” 2 1 An d i n t hi s cas e, t h e d efen d an ts ’ n ot ice o f ap p eal was fi l ed o n J u n e 7

, 2 0 1 9,

b u t t h e ap p eal was n o t d o ck et ed i n t h i s Co u rt u nt i l A p ri l 2 9, 2 0 2 0

. T hi s m ean s t h at

i f t h e d efen d an t s h ad t i m el y fi l e d th e t ran s cri p t o n J ul y 7

, 2 0 2 0, t h ei r ap p eal co u ld

h av e b een d o ck et ed i n t hi s Co u rt ’ s 2 0 1 9 Ap ri l t erm o f co u rt

. Bu t b ecau s e t h ey fai l ed

t o u p d at e t h ei r n ot i ce o f ap p eal u n t i l Feb ru ary 2 1

, 2 0 20

, t h e ap p eal was n o t d o ck et ed

u n t i l t h e 2 02 0 Ap ri l t erm o f co u rt

. 2 2 So

, ev en if t h ere were n o d ir ect p rej u d i ce to

HBN, t h e s ev en -m o n t h d el ay was s ti l l u n reas o nab l e as i t d e l ay ed d o ck et i n g fo r at

2 1 Newt on

, 35 3 G a. A p p. at 7 0 9 ( 1 ) ( p u n ct u at i o n o m i t ted ); a cco r d S t a t e v.

Br i en z a

, 3 5 0 Ga. Ap p. 6 72

, 6 7 9 (1 ) (8 2 9 SE2 d 8 9 4) (2 0 1 9 ); P os t el l v. Al f a In s

. Co rp

. , 3 3 2 Ga. Ap p

. 22

, 2 5 (2 ) (a) (i ) (7 7 2 SE2 d 7 9 3 ) (2 0 1 5 ); As h l ey

, 3 2 7 Ga. Ap p

. at 2 3 5

(1 ); Bu s h , 3 1 1 Ga. Ap p . at 3 3 1 -3 2 (a); Ad a ms , 2 7 9 Ga. Ap p . at 1 5 9

.

2 2 T h e Co urt ’ s t erm s

— i n cl u d i n g an y m o t i o n fo r reco n s id erat i o n peri o d

— are

a s f o l l o w s : (1 ) th e Decem

b er t erm b eg i n s t h e fi rs t M on d ay in D ecem b er an d e n d s

M arch 3 1 t h e fo l l owi ng y ear; (2 ) t h e Ap ri l t erm beg i n s t he fi rs t M o nd ay i n Ap ri l an d

en d s J u l y 1 7 ; an d (3 ) t h e Au g us t t erm b e g i n s t h e fi rs t M on d ay i n Au g u s t an d en d s

No v em b er 1 8

. S ee Ct . Ap p . R. 1 2

.

15l eas t o n e t erm of Co u rt

. 2 3 Gi v en t h e fo reg o i n g

, t h e t ri al co u rt ab us ed i t s d i s cret i o n in

d en y i n g HBN’ s m o t i o n t o d i s m i s s t h e ap p eal at i s su e ( i.e , Cas e No

. A2 0A1 7 7 5 ). 2 4

2 3 S ee Br i en z a

, 3 5 0 Ga. Ap p

. at 6 7 9 (1 ) (h o l d i ng t h at fi v e-m o n t h d el ay i n fi l i n g

t ran s cri p t was u n reas o nab l e wh en i t d el ay ed d o ck et i n g i n t h i s Co u rt ); Po s t el l

, 33 2 Ga.

Ap p

. at 2 6 (2 ) (a) (i ) (h o l d i n g th at fo u r-an d -a-h al f-m on t h del ay w as u n reas o nab l e an d

d el ay ed d o ck et i n g i n t h is Co u rt ); A s h ley

, 32 7 Ga. A p p

. at 2 3 5 -3 7 (1 ) (h o l d i n g t h at

ei g h t -m o n t h d el ay cau s ed ap p eal t o b e do ck et ed at l eas t on e t erm l at er th an i t s h o u ld

h av e b een d o ck et ed ); McAl i s ter v. Ab a m-S ams o n

, 3 1 8 Ga. Ap p

. 1

, 6 -7 (2 ) (7 3 3 SE2 d

5 8 ) (2 01 2 ) (co n cl u d in g t h at d el ay res u l ted i n d o ck et in g fo r a lat er t erm o f co u rt );

Pi s t a cch i o

, 3 1 4 G a. Ap p

. at 1 2 2 (“ Th e [t h ree-m o n th ] d el ay h ere d i scern ib l y d el ay ed

d o ck et i n g o f t h e reco rd i n t h e ap p el l at e co u rt an d prev en ted an ap p el l at e d eci s i o n o n

t h e m eri t s at t h e earl i es t p o s s i b l e d at e.”); Bu s h

, 3 1 1 Ga. A pp

. at 3 3 2 (a) (h o ld i n g t h at

t en -m o n t h d el ay “ p rev en t ed t h e cas e fro m bei n g d o ck et ed an d h eard i n t h e earl ies t

p o s s i b l e a pp el l at e t erm of co u rt ”); Mo rr el l

, 2 91 Ga. Ap p

. at 3 7 4 (2 ) (h o l d i n g t h a t

5 1 -d ay d el ay cau s ed d el ay o f ap p eal fro m o n e t erm to an o t h er); A d ams

, 2 7 9 Ga. Ap p.

at 1 5 9 (co n cl u d in g th at 1 5 0-d ay d el ay res ul t ed i n d el ay ed d o ck et i n g fro m o n e t erm

t o an o th er).

2 4 S ee B r i en z a

, 3 5 0 Ga. Ap p

. a t 6 7 9

- 8 0 (1 ) (rev ers i n g tri al co u rt ’ s den i al o f

ap p el l an t ’ s m o t i o n to d i s m i s s St at e’ s ap p eal i n l i g h t of th e fi v e-m o n t h d el ay i n fi l i n g

t ran s cri p t an d th e fact th at St at e fai l ed t o s h o w t h at s u ch d el ay was n o t u n reas o n ab l e

o r i nex cu s ab l e); Mer cer

, 3 2 1 Ga. Ap p

. at 7 2 6 -2 7 (1 ) (rev ers i ng tri al co urt ’ s d en i al o f

p s y ch i at ri s t’ s m ot i o n t o d is m i s s p at i en t’ s ap peal g i v en t h at p at i en t fai led to p res en t

ev i d en ce t o reb u t t h e p res u m p t io n o f u n reas o n ab l en es s ari s i n g fro m t h e d el ay o f m o re

t h an a y ear

, a n d d e l ay d i s cern i b l y d el ay ed d o ck et i n g o f t h e reco rd i n t h e ap p el l at e

co u rt an d p rev en t ed an ap pel l at e d eci s i o n o n t he m eri ts at t h e earl i es t p o ss i b l e d at e);

Co p t ic Co n s t r

. Co

. , In c

., 2 7 9 Ga. Ap p

. at 4 5 6 -5 7 (rev ers i n g t ri al co u rt ’ s o rd er

d en y i n g h o m eo wn er’ s m o t i on t o d i s m i s s c o n t ract or’ s ap peal gi v en l at t er’ s

i n ex cu s ab l e d el ay o f m o re t h an n in e m o n t h s i n fi l i n g t h e t ran s cri p t

, w h i ch d el ay ed

ju s t d i s p o s i t i o n o f cas e); Am. Na t

. Pr op

. & Ca s. Co

. , 2 43 Ga. Ap p. at 6 4 6– 4 7 (fi n d i n g

t h at a m o n t h -an d-a-h al f d el ay i n fi l i n g a t ran s cri pt was u n reas o n ab l e an d p rev en t ed

d o ck et i n g o f t he ap p eal on t h e earl i es t p o s s i bl e cal en d ar); Lemmo n s v. Newt o n

, 2 6 9

Ga. Ap p . 8 8 0 , 8 8 2 (6 0 5 SE2 d 62 6 ) (2 0 0 4) (affi rm i n g d i s m is s al o f ap p eal w h ere t h e

16A2 0 A 1 7 7 5

2

. Bas ed u p on o u r h o l d i n g i n Di v i s i o n 1 su p r a

, t h i s rel at ed ap p eal i s

d i s m i s s ed

. 2 5

A2 0 A 1 7 7 6

3

. Fi n al l y

, t h e d efen d an t s arg u e t h at t h e t ri al co u rt a b u s e d i t s d i s cret i o n in

d en y i n g t h ei r m o t i o n t o award at t o rn ey fees an d co s t s of l i t i g at i o n t o L ai n e— wh o was

ap p el l an t d i d n ot s eek an ex t en s i o n o f t i m e fo r fi li n g t h e t ran s cri p t o r m ak e i n q u i ri es

t o t h e co urt rep o rt er co n cern i n g t h e t ran s cri p t u n t i l aft er t h e fi l in g o f t h e ap p el l ees ’

m o ti o n t o d i s m i s s ); Pi r

kl e v. Bel l

, 2 70 G a. 4 3 8

, 4 3 8 (5 1 0 SE2 d 8 1 4 ) (1 9 9 9) (affi rm i n g

t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s di s m is s al o f an ap p eal w h en t h ree-m o n t h d el ay wa s cau s ed by

ap p el l an t ’ s d es i gn at i o n in th e n o t i ce o f ap p eal t h at a no n -ex i s t en t t ran s cri p t wo u l d b e

i n cl u d ed 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 o n t h e s t at u s o f t h e ap p eal );

Ha meed v. Ha l l

, 2 34 Ga. Ap p. 8 9 0

, 8 92 (1 ) (5 0 8 SE2 d 6 8 0 ) (1 99 8 ) (h ol d i n g t h at a 7 2

-

d ay del ay i n fi l in g a t ran s cri p t i den t i fi ed i n t he n o ti ce o f ap p eal was u n reas o nab l e an d

i n ex cu s ab l e r eg a r d l es s o

f wh et h er t h at t r a n s cr ip t wa s n eces s a ry ); Ja cks o n

, 2 1 7 Ga.

Ap p

. at 5 0 3

- 0 4 (2 ) (h o l d i n g t h at t h e t ri al co u rt ab u s ed i t s d i s cret io n i n d en y i n g

ap p el l ee’ s m o t i o n t o di s m i s s t h e ap p eal w hen

, al t ho u gh t h e ap p el l an t so u gh t an d was

g ran t ed n u m ero u s ex t en si o n, t h ey d i d n o t fo l l o w u p wi t h t he co urt rep o rt er to

d et erm i n e t h e t ran s cri p t p rep arat i o n s t at u s fo r a fi v e-m o n t h p eri o d ).

2 5 S ee, e.g

, Newt o n

, 3 53 Ga. Ap p

. at 71 0 (2 ) (d i s m i s s i ng t h e rel at ed ap p eal aft er

h o l d i n g t h e t ri al co u rt ab u s ed i t s d i s cret i on i n den y i n g th e ap pel l e e ’s m o t i o n to

d i s m i s s t hat ap p eal ); Mer cer

, 3 2 1 Ga. A p p

. at 72 7 (2 ) (s am e); Co p t i c Co n s t

. Co

. , 2 7 9

Ga. Ap p . at 4 5 7 (s am e); Ja cks on , 2 1 7 Ga. Ap p . at 5 0 3 (s am e).

17d i s m i s s ed fro m th e cas e b efo re t r i a l

— b ecau s e HBN h ad no fact u al b as i s t o p u rs u e

an y cl ai m ag ai n s t h i m

at an y t im e. 2 6 W e d i s ag ree.

On No v em

b er 3 0

, 2 0 1 8, p ri o r t o t ri al

, HBN v ol u n t ari l y d i s m i s s ed L ai n e fro m

t h e cas e wi t h pr ej u d i ce an d wi t h t h e c o n s en t of al l p art i es

. Ap p ro x i m at el y s ev en

m o nt h s lat er, o n J u n e 2 4

, 2 0 1 9, t h e defen d an t s fi l ed a m o t i o n fo r Lai n e t o b e award ed

at t o rn ey fees an d co s t s o f l i t i g at i o n

, arg u i n g t h at Lai n e was en ti tl ed t o s u ch fees an d

co s t s u p u n t i l t he t im e h e was d is m i s s ed fro m t h e cas e u n d er OCGA § 9 -1 5 -1 4 (a) an d

(b ) b ecau s e H BN’ s cl ai m s ag ai n s t h i m w ere wh o l l y u ns u p p ort ed

. Sp eci fi cal l y

, t h e

d efen d an t s co n t en d ed th at b ecau s e Lai n e p ai d h al f of t h e fees an d co s t s o f t h e en t i re

l i ti g at i o n i n cu rred u n t i l h e was d i s m i s s ed

, h e was en t it l ed t o 5 0 p ercen t o f a l l t h e fees

an d co s t s i n cu rred u n t i l t h at t i m e.

In res po ns e t o t h e d efen d an t s ’ m o t i o n, HBN p ri m ar i l y arg ued t h at i t m u s t b e

d en ied b ecau s e i t was un ti m el y u n d er OCGA § 9 -1 5 -1 4 (e). Th en

, o n Oct o b er 2,

2 0 1 9

, th e t ri al co u rt s u m

m ari l y d en i ed t h e m o t i o n

. W e ag ree wi t h HBN t h at t h e t ri al

co u rt d i d n o t ab u s e i t s d is cret i o n i n d o in g s o

.

2 6 In i t s s u pp l em en t al b ri ef, SDM arg u es t h at a rem an d in Cas e No

. A2 0 A1 7 7 6

i s warran t ed b ecau s e a m o t i o n fo r l eg al fees i nv o l v es “ i n t en s i ve fact u al fi n d i n g s .” Bu t

b ecau s e SDM rai s es t h i s arg u m en t fo r t h e fi rs t t i m e i n i t s s u p p l em en tal b ri ef, we n eed

n o t ad d res s it

. S

ee W e Ca r e Tr a n s

p

., In c

. , 3 3 5 G a

. Ap p

. at 2 96 (2 ) (d ecl i n i n g to

ad d res s an arg u m en t rai s ed fo r t h e fi rs t t i m e i n a s u p pl em en t al b ri ef).

18OCGA § 9 -1 5 -1 4 (a) p ro v i d es

In an y ci v i l a c t i o n i n an y co u rt o f reco rd o f t h i s s t at e, reas o n ab l e an d

n eces s ary at to rn ey ’ s fees an d ex p en s es o f l i t i g at i o n sh al l b e award ed t o

an y part y ag ai n s t w h om an o t h er p art y h as as s ert ed a cl ai m

, d efen s e, o r

o t h er p o s i t io n wi t h res p ect t o w h i ch t h ere ex i st ed su ch a co m p l et e

ab s en ce o f an y ju s t ici ab l e i s su e o f l aw o r f a c t t h at it co ul d n o t be

reas o n ab l y bel i ev ed t h at a co u rt wo u l d accep t t h e as s ert ed cl ai m

,

d efen s e, o r o th er p o s i t i o n

.

An d OCGA § 9 -1 5 -1 4 (b ) p ro v i d es :

Th e co u r t m ay as s es s reas o n ab l e an d n eces s ary at t o rn ey ’ s fees an d

ex p en s es of l i t ig at i o n in an y ci v i l act i on i n an y co u rt o f reco rd i f, u p o n

t h e m o t i o n o f an y part y o r t h e co u rt i t s el f, i t fi n d s t h at an at t o rn ey o r

p art y b ro u g h t o r d efen d ed an act i o n

, o r an y p art t hereo f, t h at lack ed

s u b s t an t i al ju s t i fi cat i o n o r t h at th e act i o n

, o r an y p art th ereo f, w as

i n t erp o s ed fo r d el ay o r h aras s m en t

, or i f i t fi n d s t h at an at t o rn ey o r p art y

u n n eces s ari l y ex p an d ed t h e p ro ceed i n g by o t h er i m pro p er co n d u ct

. . .

B ut i m por t a ntly

, O C G A § 9-1 5 -1 4 (e) p ro v i d es

, “ [a] t t o rn ey ’ s fees an d ex p en s es

t h i s Co de s ect i o n m a y b e r e q u es t ed b y m o t i o n at an y t i m e d u ri n g th e co u rs e o f t h e

act i on b u t n o t l at er t h an 4 5 d ay s aft er t h e f i n al d i s p o s it i on of t h e act io n .” 2 7 An d wh i l e

t h e d e f e n d a n t s w ere al l p art i es t o t h e m o t i on fo r at t o rn ey fees

, i n su b st an ce, t h e

2 7 (Em p has is s u pp l i ed ).

19m o ti o n o nl y s o u g ht fees fo r Lai n e b ecau s e h e h ad been d i s m i s s ed fro m t he cas e. Th e

o t h er d efen d an t s were no t d i sm i s s ed fro m t h e cas e an d a ju d g m e n t was en t ered

ag ai n s t t h em at t ri al

. Th o s e defen d an t s h av e n ev er s u g g es ted t h at t h ey are s ep arat el y

en t i t l ed t o at t o rn ey

fees u nd er OCGA § 9 -1 5 -1 4

.

HBN arg u es th at t h e d efen d an ts ’ m ot i o n fo r Lai n e’ s at to rn ey fees was p ro p erl y

d en ied as u n t im el y u n d er OCGA 9 -1 5 -1 4 (e). Th e d efen d an ts d i d n o t fi l e a rep l y b ri ef

t o ad d res s t h i s arg u m en t

, b u t bel o w t h ey arg u ed t h at t h ei r m o t i on w as t i m el y b ecau s e

i t was fi l ed wi t h i n 4 5 d ay s of t h e t ri al co urt ’ s fi n al j u d gm en t aft er t ri al

. Bu t as n o t ed

s u p r a

, t h e d efen d an t s d id n ot s e e k at t o rn ey fees fo r L ai n e un t i l n earl y s even

mo n t h s aft er h e was d i s m i s s ed wi t h p reju di ce fro m t h e cas e. An d as ou r Su p rem e

Co u rt h as ex p l ai n ed

, i t i s “ cl ear t h at a v o lu n tary d i s m i s s al wi t h p reju d i ce co n s t i t u t es

a fi n al di s p o s i t i on o f t h e u n derl y i n g act i on o n l y as far as t h e p art i es i n v o l v ed i n t h e

v o l u n t ary d i s m i s s al are co n cern ed .” 2 8 Th us

, as t o Lai n e

, t he fi n al d is po s it i on o f t h e

2 8 Hed q u i s t v. Mer r i l l

Lyn ch , Pi er ce, Fen n er

& S mi t h , In c ., 2 7 2 Ga. 2 0 9 , 2 1 1

(2 ) (5 2 8 SE2 d 5 0 8 ) (2 0 0 0 ); acco r d Ma t een v. Di cu s

, 2 8 6 Ga. Ap p

. 7 6 0

, 7 61 (2 ) (6 5 0

SE2 d 2 7 2) (2 0 0 7 ). Cf

. S h el l ey v. To wn of Tyr o n e

, 3 02 Ga. 2 9 7

, 3 0 8 (3 ) n .1 5 (8 0 6

SE2 d 53 5 ) (2 0 1 7 ) (“ In cas es in wh i ch t h ere h a s b e en a v o l u n t ary d i s m is s al o f an

act i on wi t h p reju di ce u p o n ag reem en t o f t h e p art i es an d acco m p l i s h ed wi t h an o rd er

o f co u rt

, we h av e h el d t hat th e di s m is s al o p erat es as an ad ju d i cat i o n u p o n th e m eri t s

an d b ars th e ri g h t t o b ri n g an o t h er act i on on t h e s am e cl ai m ag ai n s t th e s am e p art i es .”

(p u n ct u at i o n om i t t ed )); W PD Ct r

., LLC v. W

at er s hed

, In c

., 3 3 0 Ga. Ap p

. 2 8 9

, 2 9 0 (1 )

(a) (7 6 5 SE2 d 5 3 1 ) (2 0 1 4 ) (“ Fo r p u rp o s es o f res j u d icat a, a v o l u n t ary di s m i s s al wi th

20cas e was w h e n h e w as d is m i s s ed wi th p reju d i ce p ri o r t o t ri al

, n ot wh en t h e fi n al

ju d g m en t was en t ered af

t er t ri a l

, d u ri n g wh i ch h e was n o lo n ger a p art y t o t h e cas e.

An d b ecau s e th e d efen d an t s wai t ed s ev en m o n t hs t o fi l e a m o t i o n, req u es t i ng at t o rn ey

fees o n beh al f o f Lai n e o n l y

, t h e m o t i o n was u n t i m el y

. Un d er s u ch ci rcu m st an ces

, t h e

t ri al co u rt d i d n o t err i n d en y i ng i t

. 2 9

p reju d i ce o p erat es as an ad ju d i cat i o n o n t h e m eri t s .”); Na t ’l Fo u nd

. Co

. v. Po s t

, Bu ckl ey, S

ch u h & Jer n ig a n

, In c

., 2 1 9 Ga. Ap p. 4 31

, 43 2 (1 ) (4 65 SE2 d 72 6 ) (1 9 9 5 )

(“ As a g en eral ru l e, v ol u n t ary di s m is s al wi t h p reju d i ce p art i cu l arl y wh en en t ered wi th

t ri al co u rt ap p ro v al o f an en t i re s u i t co n s t i tu t es a fo rm o f ‘ fi n al j u d gm en t’ u n d er t h e

ap p el l at e p ract i ce act .” (p u nct u at i on o m i t t ed )).

2 9 See Fa i r b u r n Ba n ki n g Co

. v. Ga f f o r d

, 2 6 3 G a. 7 9 2

, 7 9 4 (4 3 9 SE2 d 4 8 2 )

(1 9 9 4) (“ [T] here i s a ‘ wi n d ow o f o p p o rt u n i t y ’ fo r seek i n g at t o rn ey fees u n d er OCGA

§ 9 -1 5 -1 4 wh i ch b eg i n s wi t h t he en t ry of fi n al ju d g m en t . . . an d en d s 4 5 d ay s l at er.

Si n ce t h e m o t i o n wh i ch t h e t ri al co u rt g ran t ed i n th e p res en t cas e was n o t fi l ed wi t h in

t h at wi n d o w o f o p p o rt u n i ty

, t h e t ri al co u rt l ack ed ju ri s d i ct i o n t o co n s i d er i t .”);

Ho r es h v. DeKi n d

er

, 29 5 Ga. Ap p

. 82 6

, 8 3 1 (2 ) (6 7 3 SE2 d 3 1 1 ) (2 0 0 9) (“ Becau s e t h e

[ap p el l ees ] fai l ed t o m o v e fo r at t o rn ey fees [u n d er OCGA § 9 -1 5 -1 4 ] wi t h i n 4 5 day s

fo l l o w i n g t h e t ri al co urt ’ s en t ry o f j u d g m en t

. . . , t h ei r m o t i o n wa s u n t i m el y

. Acco r d i n g l y

, th e o rd er o f t h e t ri al co u rt gran t i n g t he [ap p el l ees ’ ] m o t i o n i s

rev ers ed .”); Gi s t v. DeKa lb Ti r e Co

., 2 2 3 G a. Ap p

. 3 9 7, 39 8 (1 ) (4 77 SE2 d 6 1 6 )

(1 9 9 6) (“ Becau s e t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s ord er o f d i sm i s s al w as f in al

. . . , [t h e ap p el l ee’ s ]

OCGA § 9 -1 5 -1 4 m o t i on s ho u l d h av e b een fi l ed w it hi n the f ollo wi ng 4 5 -d ay w i n d o w.

In l i g h t o f [t h e ap p el l ee’ s ] fai l u re t o m eet t h i s d ead l i n e, t he t ri al co u rt erred in h o l d i n g

t h at [t h e] m o ti o n was t i m el y .”); s ee a l s o Ma rch ma n & So n s

, In c. v. Nel s o n

, 2 5 1 Ga.

4 7 5

, 4 77 (3 0 6 SE2 d 2 9 0 ) (1 9 8 3 ) (“ A d i s m i s s al wi t h p reju d i ce op erat es as an

ad ju d i cat i o n o n t h e m eri t s. It i s a fi n al d i s p os i t i o n. It b ars t h e ri gh t t o b ri n g an o t h er

act i on o n t h e s am e cl ai m

o r cau s e.”).

21Ju d

g men t a f f i r med i n Ca s e No

. A2 0

A1 7 7 6 ; d i s mi s s ed i n Ca s e No

. A2 0 A1 7 7 5 ;

a n d r ever s ed i n Ca s e No . 2 0

A2 0 3 6 . Ri ckma n, P. J., a n d Br o wn , J., co n cu r

.

22