Source: https://www.scribd.com/document/285895386/Pro-Se-Defendant-s-Motion-for-Award-of-Attorneys-Fees-and-Costs-Expenses-of-Litigation-O-C-G-a-9-15-14
Timestamp: 2019-01-22 12:32:03
Document Index: 461569222

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 9', '§ 9', '§ 9', '§ 9', '§ 915', '§ 9', '§ 915', '§ 9', '§ 9', '§ 9', '§ 9', '§ 9', '§9', '§9', '§ 9', '§ 9']

Pro Se Defendant's Motion for Award of Attorneys Fees and Costs Expenses of Litigation O.C.G.a. 9-15-14 | Discovery (Law) | Lawsuit
Pro Se Defendant&#39;s Motion for Award of Attorneys F...
3:09-cv-02292 #264
MIDLAND FUNDING LLC ASSIGNEE OF CHASE)
BANK(USA), N.A.,
JILL SHERIDAN,
10-07271-4
DEFENDANT'S MOTION FOR AN AWARD
OF ATTORNEY'S FEES AND COSTS & EXPENSES OF LITIGATION
COMES NOW, Defendant Jill Sheridan, pro se, hereby files this Motion for
Attorney's Fees and Expenses & Costs of Litigation pursuant to O.C.G.A. § 9-1514(a) and to
O.C.G.A. § 9-15-14(b). In support of this motion, Defendant relies on the legal
authority and arguments set forth in Defendant's Brief in Support of her Motion
for an Award of Attorney's Fees and Expenses & Costs, Affidavit and Exhibits
being filed contemporaneously herewith. Defendant incurred these attorney’s
fees and costs and expenses in the defense of the
Plaintif’s groundless and frivolous claim and absurd conduct during the litigation
claim, including abuses of discovery.
This Motion is brought within Forty-Five (45) days of this Court granting
§ 9.JillianSheridan.com • www. Defendant requests that pursuant to O.disposition in favor of the Defendant in the above-styled action.com 2 .15-14. a hearing should be set at which time the Defendant will Jillian@JillianSheridan.A.C.G.
and Exhibits. the Defendant respectfully requests that the Court grant a hearing on this matter at which an Order be entered against the Plaintif and its Attorneys awarding the Defendant Attorney's Fees and costs and expenses of litigation incurred in defending the above-styled action. Attorney at Law. pursuant to O. This 24th Day of January. Mr. Respectfully Submitted. GA 30152 (678) 636 9406 . Silverbach’s witness testimony. In addition. WHEREFORE. Ted Silverbach.C. § 9-15-14(d) including costs for Mr. Silverbach will testify as to the reasonableness and necessity of his fees and be available to the Plaintif’s counsel for cross examination. Defendant hired Mr. At the requested hearing. NW Kennesaw. Jill Sheridan. pro se 3266 Stonewall Dr. based on the pleadings and for the reasons set forth more fully in the attached Brief. Affidavit. Silverbach for legal representation in defense of the Plaintif’s claim.G.A. the Defendant requests an award for costs that will be incurred in the future to prosecute this motion.present her witness. 2011.
JillianSheridan.Jillian@JillianSheridan.com 3 .com • www.
§ 915-14. Defendant ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) Civil Action No 10-07271-4 DEFENDANT'S BRIEF IN SUPPORT OF HER MOTION FOR AN AWARD OF ATTORNEY'S FEES AND COSTS & EXPENSES OF LITIGATION COMES NOW.. § 9-15-14(a) and O. she satisfied the requirement of converting this counterclaim to a motion during trial by bringing it to the trial court’s attention orally her motion for Attorney’s Fees and Costs and by the filing of this motion within 45 days of final judgment in this action.C. Defendant.A.G.C. While the Defendant did include in her Answer a counterclaim pursuant to O.A. JILL SHERIDAN.G. Glover.IN THE STATE COURT OF GWINNETT COUNTY STATE OF GEORGIA MIDLAND FUNDING LLC ASSIGNEE OF CHASE BANK(USA). proceeding pro se in the above styled action.A. Jill Sheridan.A. Plaintif v.G. § 915-14(b) to award a hearing on this matter at which an award be order against the Plaintif for the Defendant’s Attorney’s Fees and Costs and Expenses of Litigation. and moves this Honorable Court. N. pursuant to O. See Glass v.C. .
com • www.2d 272 (2009) (reversed denial based upon lack of motion). Hagemann v.com 4 . Nesbit. 650 S.JillianSheridan. Motion may be oral at hearing or trial and may convert counterclaim to motion.E.625 S. Jillian@JillianSheridan.E. Nuckols v. 145. Nesbit v.2d 363 (2007). but see Williams v. 280 Ga.2d 754 (2006). Cooper.E. App. 295 Ga. 194 (486 SE2d 194) (1997). App. 287 Ga.673 S. 1. accord. App. City of Marietta.241 Ga. Nuckols. 838 (528 SE2d 262) (2000). 763. App. 226 Ga.
the Plaintif voluntarily dismissed the action without prejudice after the defendant requested evidence of the assignment. Attorney for Plaintif at the Magistrate hearing. brought the above styled suit against the Defendant. The first case was filed by the Plaintif in Magistrate Court of Gwinnett County. the scheduled trial date. In fact.CASE BACKGROUND Plaintif. alleging it had acquired. On March 18. . the legal right to collect a debt allegedly owed. from Chase Bank USA NA. 2010. 2009. Like the above styled action. On multiple occasions. through assignment. The above styled case is the second time the Plaintif has filed suit against the Defendant for the same groundless claim. and the plaintif could not provide any. the Plaintif attached no supporting documentation to the Statement of Claim and described the alleged indebtedness as no more than “delinquent debt”. Clay Moseley. the Defendant requested evidence of the alleged debt owed and evidence that any assignment ever took place. responded to the Defendants request for evidence of an assignment by matter of factly stating. Jill Sheridan. Case #09M39244 on December 29. The Defendant has no knowledge whatsoever of any assignment entitling Midland Funding LLC to collect any amount whatsoever. Midland Funding LLC.
or position is not based upon any justiciable issue of law or fact. App. The instant action here in State Court is the “re-filing” of that claim. Smith v. 536 (2002) Jillian@JillianSheridan.C. Gwinnett County.“You’re never going to get it” and “We’ll just re-file”.A. defense.C.A.G.G. § 9-15-14 was created to deter and punish claims precisely like those asserted in this case.com 5 .JillianSheridan. O. § 9-15-14(a) provides for a mandatory recovery of attorney’s fees and expenses against a party where that party's claim. ARGUMENT AND CITATION OF AUTHORITY O.com • www. 533. 256 Ga.
G.E. Cobb County School District v.G. See Ellis v. § 9-15-14(b) provides for the recovery of attorney fees and costs "if an attorney or party brought .2d 157 (2002) (affirming award under 9-15-14 where litigant maintained a theory throughout the case while presenting no evidence at all to support it).C. App. substantially groundless or substantially vexatious. Jill Sheridan whatsoever. Furthermore. 431-432 (2004). Plaintif’s claims were "substantially frivolous" and "substantially groundless. Mat Factory.C.C.." O. 697. 568 S. 'lacked substantial justification' means "substantially frivolous. or any part thereof. 215 Ga.A. O.A. that lacked substantial justification. v. 256 Ga." O. 294. Stanford. an action..G. Midland Funding LLC has presented no admissible evidence in support of its claim of assignment from Chase Bank USA NA.. no admissible evidence has been presented that Midland Funding LLC ever had any standing to sue the Defendant. Inc. Therefore. The phrase.. Bircoll et al. Defendant is entitled to Attorney’s Fees and costs & Expenses of litigation due to the Plaintif’s and its counsel’s pursuit of a claim which they knew could not prevail. 431. § 9-14-15(b). and no presentation of evidence whatsoever to support that claim. 703 (1994). § 9-15-14(b). Rosenthal et al.(affirming grant of attorney fees against Plaintif bringing inverse condemnation actions pertaining to property he did not own at the time of bringing suit).A. Besides identifying itself as a successor in interest in the style of its complaint. App. 267 Ga." as the suit Plaintif filed was not . App.
com 6 .actionable. The Plaintif and its counsel were aware of this the first time they filed claim in Magistrate court.JillianSheridan. Plaintif’s stubborn actions forced Defendant to incur further expense in defending against this baseless suit. Because Plaintif knew it could not assert these claims against Jillian@JillianSheridan.com • www.
Because of the fact that the Plaintif’s filing and maintenance of this litigation was ultimately aimed to force payment from the Defendant and without the intention of ever proving their claim at Trial. Mr. “The Plaintif rests”. Attorney for the Plaintif at Trial on December 9. Thus. this litigation was for improper reasons. 2010. or any part thereof was interposed for delay or harassment…” The Plaintif and its counsel engaged in abusive discovery tactics aimed to stonewall the Defendant’s attempts to complete discovery and obtain necessary documents . James Freaney. presented the Plaintif’s case in three words. Defendant is entitled to attorney fees and costs against Plaintif and its Attorney.Defendant but nevertheless proceeded with attempts to do so. the Defendant is entitled to an Award for Attorney’s Fees and Costs & Expenses of Litigation under OCGA §9-15-14(b) which provides award if “an action. Bringing a case all the way to trial without presenting a shred of evidence or testimony is further evidence of the Plaintif and its counsel’s attempts to use the legal system as a proverbial wrench to force the Defendant into pay a debt which was not legally collectable. namely harassment to coerce payment.
Jillian@JillianSheridan. as the Plaintif quickly moved to rest their case.com • www. This conduct is outlined in the Defendant’s Motion to Compel. but not limited to.JillianSheridan. or in the Alternative. this motion and it’s evidence of these abusive discovery tactics will be presented at such hearing requested on this matter which fulfill the requirement for an award for Attorney’s Fees and Costs & Expenses of Litigation under OCGA §9-15-14(b) for finding that the attorney or party unnecessarily expanded the proceeding by other improper conduct. The motion was not ruled on at Trial. including. However. abuses of discovery.com 7 .and information for her defense at trial. Motion in Limine filed with this Honorable court on December 6th 2010.
Despite his agreement to supplement their previous deficient discovery responses. Moseley injected himself simply to delay the Defendant from filing her Motion to Compel. It is the Defendants contention that Mr. sent a courtesy follow-up letter. interjected himself into the above styled case and pointed out that the Plaintif will easily win their case with documents and witnesses which were undisclosed to Defendant in her discovery requests. and ultimately forcing the Defendant to file her Motion to Compel. non-verified interrogatories.Included in these discovery abuses are evasive and incomplete discovery responses. Clayton Moseley. further delaying and stonewalling the litigation. and Mr. Plaintif’s counsel at the Magistrate trial. Motion in Limine. and no response from any attorney of record in regard to Defendant’s attempt to resolve discovery issues. creating a further expanding of wasteful and . the Plaintif’s counsel did not do so. non-sensical objections and responses. The Defendant incurred costs due to this misconduct in re-propounding discovery providing the opportunity for the Plaintif to correct and supplement their responses. or in the Alternative.
Mr. and then agreeing to supplement and correct the Plaintif’s prior discovery responses. With the discovery period coming to a close and the trial date fast approaching.unnecessary litigation expense.com 8 . However. Moseley sought to delay the Defendant filing of a motion to compel by telling her of witnesses and exhibits he was planning to use at trial. Motion in Limine did the Plaintif decide they no longer wanted to pursue the claim. they did not choose to do the right thing and dismiss this groundless action to avoid wasting further time and resources of the Defendant or of this Jillian@JillianSheridan. Therefore. the Defendant is entitled to Attorney’s fees and expenses and costs of litigation. Only when the Defendant was forced to file with this Honorable court her Motion to Compel. but did not follow through.com • www.JillianSheridan. or in the Alternative. through the Plaintif and their counsel’s misconduct during the discovery phase of this litigation.
Of course. in a non-negotiable settlement through Mr. including the filing of this request. The Plaintif refused to negotiate any other terms. and numerous other affiliates and accept as “consideration” the amount the Plaintif was claiming. the Plaintif ofered. Moseley. to dismiss the case with prejudice only if the Defendant agreed to accept their terms of settlement. or in the Alternative. thus unnecessarily expanding the litigation in which they knew they could not prevail and forcing the Defendant to incur further expenses in this case. . the Defendant refused and continued to explain that she simply wanted nothing more than reimbursement for her out of pocket attorney’s fees and costs expended in defense of this ridiculous suit. This forced the Defendant to file her Motion to Compel. while at the same time expecting the Defendant to dismiss her counterclaim. its attorneys.00 (yes. nothing at all). Instead. sign away all of her rights against the Plaintif. The settlement ofer included a compensation amount to the Defendant for her Attorneys Fees and expenses incurred during this ridiculous litigation in the amount of $0.Honorable court. thus incurring a tax liability against the Defendant.
Even during attempts to settle on the morning of Trial. the Plaintif’s counsel was well aware Jillian@JillianSheridan. CACV and Wirth vs. CONCLUSION The Defendant requests this Honorable Court to tax against both Plaintif and its Counsel and award for the Defendant for their shared frivolous pursuit of this claim the Defendant. CACH against Considering that both cases.com • www.JillianSheridan.Motion in Limine on December 6th. Hanna and James Freaney. Ponder vs. 2010. where they ultimately wasted even more of the Defendant’s and this Honorable court’s time by presenting no case at all.com 9 . were cases handled on appeal by Fred J. the Plaintif refused to ofer any reimbursement whatsoever for the Defendant’s costs and pushed this litigation all the way to trial.
264 (547 SE2d 794) (2001). WHEREFORE.G. 498 (64 SE 264) (1909).C. B.C. App. LLC. But an assignment must be in writing in order for the contractual right to be enforceable by the assignee. v. Silverbach’s travel and appearance to provide testimony. 495. not once but twice! "[A] party may assign to another a contractual right to collect payment. Cushman & Wakefield of Ga. App. Scott v. See Southern Mut. In addition. And the writing must identify the assignor and assignee.A. the Defendant is requesting an award for further fees and costs in prosecuting this motion including fees for Mr. 132 Ga. These expenses are evidenced by the Defendant’s Exhibits A. and C filed contemporaneously herewith. 859 (658 SE2d 469) (2008)..of the essential elements and evidentiary requirements of their case. Life Ins. including the right to sue to enforce the right.G. § 9-15-14(b). Durdin. 858. Assn. but nonetheless they continued to pursue their groundless claim on behalf of their client. 289 Ga. 249 Ga.A." Ponder v. Defendant respectfully requests this Honorable Court to grant a hearing in this matter at which an award be ordered for the Defendant’s Attorney’s Fees in the amount of Five Hundred Dollars ($500) and Costs and Expenses of litigation in the amount of Four Hundred Thirty Nine Dollars ($439) for a total award of Nine Hundred and Thirty Nine Dollars ($939) pursuant to O. CACV of Colorado. . § 9-15-14(a) and O.
com • www.This 24th Day of January.com 10 . NW Kennesaw.JillianSheridan. Respectfully Submitted. GA 30152 (678) 636 9406 Jillian@JillianSheridan. 2011. pro se 3266 Stonewall Dr. Jill Sheridan.
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