Chalk v. Poletto. , 346 Ga. App. 491 ( 2018 )

FIRST DIVISION
BARNES, P. J.,
MCMILLIAN and REESE, JJ.
NOTICE: Motions for reconsideration must be
physically received in our clerk’s office within ten
days of the date of decision to be deemed timely filed.
http://www.gaappeals.us/rules
June 21, 2018
In the Court of Appeals of Georgia
A18A0563. CHALK v. POLETTO.
REESE, Judge.
Herschel E. Chalk, III, filed a petition to legitimate his two biological sons.
Their mother, Ketty Poletto, opposed the petition, and the Superior Court of Cobb
County held a bench trial on February 7, 2017. After Chalk rested his case, the court
granted Poletto’s motion for a directed verdict, and issued a written order denying the
legitimation petition. The court subsequently entered an order denying Chalk’s
motion for new trial and granting Poletto’s petition for attorney fees, litigation costs,
and guardian ad litem fees. Chalk appeals from this order. For the reasons set forth,
infra, we affirm.
The record is undisputed that Chalk is the biological father of two minor
children born to Poletto in 2011 and 2012. Chalk and Poletto lived together with the
children until October 2015, when Poletto evicted Chalk from her apartment. In
November 2015, Poletto obtained a six-month family violence protective order
prohibiting Chalk from contacting her or the children.1 Chalk consented to the
protective order, but immediately filed a petition to legitimate the children.
In the legitimation action, the trial court appointed a guardian ad litem for the
children and required Chalk and Poletto to split the cost of the guardian ad litem’s
services. When Chalk failed to pay his portion, the guardian ad litem petitioned for
a citation of contempt against him, and the trial court scheduled a hearing on the
matter. Chalk, who was an Army reservist, asked for a continuance and provided the
guardian ad litem with a copy of military orders purporting to send him to training on
the date of the hearing. On the day of the scheduled contempt hearing, Chalk instead
attended a marketing conference out-of-state. After holding the hearing in Chalk’s
absence, the trial court held Chalk in contempt for failing to pay the guardian ad
litem, failing to cooperate with her investigation, and delaying the completion of the
legitimation action.
1
Just before the protective order expired in May 2016, Poletto obtained a 12-
month protective order with the same prohibitions.
2
At the subsequent bench trial on Chalk’s petition to legitimate in February
2017, Chalk testified that he had financially supported the children while he lived
with Poletto and enjoyed a close relationship with them. On cross-examination,
however, Chalk was unable to say how much support he had provided, had no
documentation of any such support, and conceded that Poletto had paid for rent and
childcare while they lived together. He also admitted that, after Poletto evicted him,
he provided no support for the children. Chalk testified that he had received a
bachelor’s degree from Georgetown University, but admitted that he had not held
remunerative employment since he quit his job in 2012,2 and that he owed over
$200,000 in debt, primarily in student loans. Further, Chalk admitted that, in 2002,
he had pled guilty in Virginia to the felony of making false statements to receive
benefits, and he was still paying off the fine associated with his sentence for that
charge when he filed the legitimation action.
At trial, Chalk claimed to have zero assets. But, in 2016, he had taken a six-
week trip to South America that included attending the Olympic Games in Brazil,
2
Chalk testified that he solicited contributions from members of his church to
go on “mission trips” abroad. The evidence also showed that he had a significant
internet and social media presence, where he advertised himself as a “social
entrepreneur” and branding consultant.
3
hiking in Machu Picchu, and riding the “Swing of Death” and taking a dune buggy
tour in Ecuador. He had also traveled to Thailand, Costa Rica, Las Vegas, Orlando,
and Opryland. The exhibits introduced on cross-examination showed that Chalk had
documented these travels on social media. In addition, in 2016, Chalk had paid for
indoor skydiving, laser hair removal, college classes, and renewal of his private
pilot’s license.
In granting Poletto’s motion for directed verdict, the court ruled that Chalk had
abandoned his opportunity interest to establish a relationship with his children and
that legitimation was not in the children’s best interests. The court stated: “If this man
says today was Tuesday, I would look at my calendar. He’s lucky he’s not jailed now
for perjury. He’s a liar.” The court then issued a written order denying the
legitimation petition. Chalk filed a motion for new trial. After a hearing, the trial
court entered an order denying that motion and awarding $30,034.953 to Poletto under
OCGA § 19-9-3 (g).
3
This number represents $25,680.27 in Poletto’s attorney fees, Poletto’s half
of the guardian ad litem fees of $3,190.46, and costs totaling $1,164.22.
4
We review a trial court’s decision whether to award attorney fees for an abuse
of discretion.4 Similarly, “[w]e review a trial court’s ruling on a legitimation petition
for an abuse of discretion and will sustain the trial court’s factual findings if there is
any evidence to support them.”5 “In a bench trial, where there is no verdict by a jury,
a motion for directed verdict is treated as a request for involuntary dismissal under
OCGA § 9-11-41 (b).”6
A dismissal under O.C.G.A. § 9-11-41 (b) does not require the trial court
to construe the evidence most favorably for the non-moving plaintiff.
Since the trial court determines the facts as well as the law, it necessarily
follows that an involuntary dismissal may be warranted even though
plaintiff may have established a prima facie case. Thus, despite the rule
that a motion for a directed verdict in a bench trial is construed to be a
motion for involuntary dismissal, we cannot treat a dismissal pursuant
to OCGA § 9-11-41 (b) the same as a directed verdict in a jury trial,
which may be upheld only if the evidence demands a particular verdict.
At a bench trial, the trial court can determine when essential facts have
4
Odum v. Russell, 342 Ga. App. 390, 393 (2) (802 SE2d 829) (2017).
5
Durden v. Anderson, 338 Ga. App. 565 (1) (790 SE2d 818) (2016) (citation
omitted).
6
Magnus Homes v. Derosa, 248 Ga. App. 31 (1), n. 2 (545 SE2d 166) (2001)
(citation omitted).
5
not been proved. The trial court’s determination as a trier of fact will be
reversed only where the evidence demands a contrary finding.7
With these guiding principles in mind, we turn to Chalk’s claims of error.
1. Chalk argues that the trial court clearly erred when it denied his legitimation
petition because his testimony was clear and undisputed on many areas of his parental
involvement over a nearly five-year period, and this involvement ended only when
Poletto ejected him from the home. Chalk contends he did not abandon his
opportunity interest but filed to legitimate the children as soon as Poletto sought to
exclude him from their lives.
In considering a petition to legitimate, the trial court must first
determine whether the father abandoned his opportunity interest to
develop a relationship with the child. In that respect, a biological father
is afforded an opportunity to develop a relationship with his offspring.
If the father grasps that opportunity and accepts some measure of
responsibility for the child’s future, he may enjoy the blessings of the
parent-child relationship and make uniquely valuable contributions to
the child’s development. Unwed fathers gain from their biological
connection with a child an opportunity interest to develop a relationship
with their children which is constitutionally protected. This opportunity
interest begins at conception and endures probably throughout the
7
Smith v. Ga. Kaolin Co., 269 Ga. 475, 476 (1) (498 SE2d 266) (1998)
(citations and punctuation omitted).
6
minority of the child. But it is not indestructible. It may be lost. It is an
interest which can be abandoned by the unwed father if not timely
pursued.8
As Chalk points out, no other witnesses testified at trial. However, the court
admitted multiple exhibits during Chalk’s cross-examination that demonstrated his
extensive travel, including his “six-week journey throughout Latin America,” all
while reporting very little annual income from wages, and negative net self-
employment income. As noted above, Chalk did not introduce any documentation to
support his claims that he had ever provided financial support for the children.
Giving due regard to the opportunity of the trial court to judge the credibility
of the sole witness,9 particularly given Chalk’s prior felony conviction for making
false statements and his attempt to perpetrate a fraud upon the court in this case,10 the
8
Wilbourn v. Lumpkin, 327 Ga. App. 385, 386 (759 SE2d 262) (2014)
(punctuation and footnotes omitted).
9
See Magdangal v. Hendrix, 313 Ga. App. 522 (722 SE2d 130) (2012).
10
The guardian ad litem had called Chalk’s commanding officer to verify the
military training orders and learned they had been falsified. Chalk later admitted
under oath that he had forged them.
7
trial court was not required to believe his testimony, including his assertions that he
had a close relationship with the children and had supported them financially.11
Moreover, there was evidence that undermined or contradicted Chalk’s
testimony. Chalk did not attempt to legitimate the children until after Poletto evicted
him from her apartment in October 2015, when the children were approximately two
and four years old. Chalk then consented to a protective order that prevented him
from having any contact with the children. Additionally, there was no documentary
evidence that Chalk ever financially supported the children, either while he was living
with Poletto or after she evicted him, even though he spent significant sums of money
on his own travel and personal enrichment. Under these circumstances, there was
evidence to support the trial court’s finding that Chalk abandoned his opportunity
11
See Taylor v. Taylor, 288 Ga. App. 334, 338 (2) (654 SE2d 146) (2007)
(“Credibility of witnesses and the weight to be given their testimony is a
decision-making power that lies solely with the trier of fact. The trier of fact is not
obligated to believe a witness even if the testimony is uncontradicted and may accept
or reject any portion of the testimony.”) (punctuation and footnote omitted).
8
interest,12 and the court did not abuse its discretion in denying Chalk’s legitimation
petition.13
2. (a) Chalk contends that the trial court erred in awarding attorney fees and
costs under OCGA § 19-9-3 (g), which Chalk argues only applies to custody cases.
Because legitimation was denied, the court never addressed custody.
“Generally an award of attorney fees is not available unless supported by
statute or contract.”14 OCGA § 19-9-3 (g) provides in relevant part:
Except as provided in Code Section 19-6-2, and in addition to the
attorney’s fee provisions contained in Code Section 19-6-15, the judge
may order reasonable attorney’s fees and expenses of litigation, experts,
and the child’s guardian ad litem and other costs of the child custody
action and pretrial proceedings to be paid by the parties in proportions
and at times determined by the judge.
12
See Wilbourn, 327 Ga. App. at 387 (“Factors supporting a finding of
abandonment of a father’s opportunity interest include, without limitation, a
biological father’s inaction during pregnancy and at birth, a delay in filing a
legitimation petition, and a lack of contact with the child.”) (punctuation and footnote
omitted).
13
See Smith v. Soligon, 254 Ga. App. 172, 173-174 (2) (561 SE2d 850) (2002)
(affirming denial of legitimation petition where biological father lived with child for
several years, but provided no significant emotional or monetary support and
maintained only sporadic contact after child moved away).
14
Sinkwich v. Conner, 288 Ga. App. 320, 321 (654 SE2d 182) (2007).
9
“OCGA § 19-9-3 (g) affords wide discretion to the trial court to award reasonable
attorney fees and expenses in child custody actions[.]”15
As the trial court noted in its order, Chalk’s petition for legitimation included
a prayer that the parties share joint legal custody of the children. The petition also
included a prayer for “liberal visitation.”
Chalk has provided no authority, and we have found none, to support his
argument that OCGA § 19-9-3 (g) does not apply in legitimation cases16 that include
claims for custody or visitation.17 “[W]hen a legitimation petition is filed[,] the
amount of child support is one of the issues to be determined, along with custody and
visitation.”18
15
Moore v. Hullander, ___ Ga. App. ___ (2) (d) (Case No. A18A0592, decided
Apr. 25, 2018).
16
Compare Appling v. Tatum, 295 Ga. App. 78, 83 (5) (670 SE2d 795) (2008)
(reversing trial court’s award of attorney fees because OCGA § 19-6-2 (a), which, by
its plain language, governs the grant and enforcement of attorney fees in alimony and
divorce cases, was not applicable to legitimation petition) (footnote omitted).
17
See Dellinger v. Dellinger, 278 Ga. 732, 733 (1) (609 SE2d 331) (2004)
(“[V]isitation rights are a part of custody and changes in one parent’s visitation rights
necessarily affect the custodial rights of the other parent.”) (citations omitted).
18
Dodson v. Walraven, 318 Ga. App. 586, 591 (3) (734 SE2d 428) (2012)
(footnote omitted).
10
OCGA § 19-7-22 (g) provides:
A legitimation petition may also include claims for visitation, parenting
time, or custody. If such claims are raised in the legitimation action, the
court may order, in addition to legitimation, visitation, parenting time,
or custody based on the best interests of the child standard. In a case
involving allegations of family violence, the provisions of paragraph (4)
of subsection (a) of Code Section 19-9-3 shall also apply.19
Because Chalk requested visitation and joint legal custody in his legitimation
petition, the trial court could have awarded visitation and custody under OCGA § 19-
7-22 (g) concurrently with a grant of the legitimation petition. Thus, we conclude that
the trial court had authority to award attorney fees and other costs “of the child
custody action and pretrial proceedings” under OCGA § 19-9-3 (g).
(b) Chalk further complains that the trial court’s inclusion of half of the
guardian ad litem fees in its award to Poletto was inconsistent with its pronouncement
19
OCGA § 19-7-22 (g).
11
at the bench trial. Chalk has cited no authority to support this argument,20 which we
find to be without merit.21
Judgment affirmed. Barnes, P. J., concurs. McMillian, J., concurs fully and
specially.
20
See Court of Appeals Rule 25 (c) (2) (“Any enumeration of error that is not
supported in the brief by citation of authority or argument may be deemed
abandoned.”).
21
See Wachovia Bank Savannah v. Kitchen, 272 Ga. App. 601, 602 (612 SE2d
885) (2005) (“[A trial court is not bound by its oral statements made during the course
of a hearing to the extent that such oral decisions cannot be changed prior to the time
a final written order is entered.”); Andrew L. Parks, Inc. v. SunTrust Bank, 248 Ga.
App. 846, 847 (545 SE2d 31) (2001) (noting that a judgment is not entered until it is
filed with the court clerk and that a trial judge has inherent power during the same
term of court to modify a judgment, even sua sponte).
12
A18A0563. CHALK v. POLETTO
MCMILLIAN, Judge, concurring specially.
I concur fully with the majority’s opinion, but write separately to point out that
the statutory history of OCGA § 19-7-22 (g) and OCGA § 19-9-3 also supports that
a legitimation petition with a request for custody may also be considered a child
custody action such that attorney fees and expenses may be awarded under OCGA §
19-9-3.1 In 2005, Section 19-7-22 was substantially amended, adding subsection (f.1),
which specifically allowed the petition for legitimation to include a claim for
1
Statutory history is the “enacted lineage of a statute, including prior laws
amendments, codifications, and repeals,” and may be properly relied upon in
discerning the plain meaning of the text of a statute, as opposed to legislative history.
See Duncan v. Rawls, 345 Ga. App. 345, 350 (1), n.10 (812 SE2d 647) (2018);
Antonin Scalia & Bryan A. Garner, Reading Law: The Interpretation of Legal Texts
256, 440 (2012) (distinguishing between statutory history and legislative history).
visitation or custody. 2005 Ga. Laws Act 413, § 1.2 Prior to that time, custody issues
could only be adjudicated in a legitimation proceeding by consent of the parties, and
in the absence of the mother’s consent, the father seeking a change in physical
custody was required to file a separate proceeding after the judgment of legitimation
was entered. See Peterson v. Tyson, 253 Ga. App. 431, 432 (559 SE2d 164) (2002).
Subsequently, the General Assembly enacted OCGA § 19-9-3 (g), permitting attorney
fees and expenses of litigation to be awarded in a child custody action. 2007 Ga.
Laws Act 264.
Because it is presumed that the legislature acts with full knowledge of the
existing state of the law,3 it follows that the legislature was aware that the biological
father could seek both legitimation and custody in the same proceeding when it
enacted OCGA § 19-9-3 (g). Accordingly, I fully concur with the majority’s
conclusion that OCGA § 19-9-3 applies in legitimation cases that include claims for
custody or visitation.
2
Subsection (f.1) was subsequently redesignated as subsection (g) in 2016. See
2016 Ga. Laws Act 404.
3
Retention Alternatives, Ltd. v. Hayward, 285 Ga. 437, 440 (2) (678 SE2d 877)
(2009); Duncan, 345 Ga. App. at 349 (1), n.9.
2